“Does it really have to be this soon?”
Mom looked at Dad anxiously.
“Can’t we wait until Dewi graduates first?”
Mom hoped Dad would give them a little more time. At least until the school year was truly over, so they could calmly prepare all the documents needed to enroll in a new school.
But Dad still shook his head.
“We can’t, Ma.”
“I can’t shake this uneasy feeling.”
Dad sighed.
“Just thinking about Dewi going to and coming home from school every day already worries me.”
He fell silent for a moment before continuing.
“Especially since the central office has already sent word. Jakarta’s situation is expected to reach a Level One Alert over the next few months.”
Mom’s hand, which had been spooning vegetables onto Dad’s plate, suddenly stopped.
“Is it really that serious?”
Dad nodded.
“Dewi, Angga. Come here. Eat first.”
Mom finally realized that we had been sitting silently, listening to their conversation the whole time.
“After the Isha prayer, brush your teeth, wash your faces, and go straight to bed, okay?”
“I want to sleep with Dad,” Angga blurted as Mom fed him a bite.
Dad smiled.
“Dad has to go back to work later, sweetheart.”
“No!”
Angga immediately shook his head.
“Don’t go back to work, Dad. It’s already night. You have to stay home. A ghost might kidnap you!”
Mom and Dad burst out laughing.
I didn’t.
Clang!
My spoon struck the plate.
I had only been playing with my food, not really touching it. My head was bowed, while my chest felt tight.
I was only twelve years old.
My small world consisted of school, friends, playing, joking around, and telling each other about simple things. Every now and then, we talked about puppy love, even though I didn’t really understand what it meant.
And now I had to leave all of it behind?
“Dewi, why aren’t you finishing your food?”
Dad stood behind my chair.
“Are you sick?”
His palm touched my forehead, then my neck.
Mom watched me from across the table.
“No fever,” Dad said.
“Maybe she has a canker sore?”
“Let Dad take a look. Open your mouth and say, ‘Ahh...’”
I obeyed, though I kept my head bowed sadly.
Dad examined my mouth.
“No canker sore.”
He smiled.
“Maybe you just don’t have much of an appetite, huh?”
Dad sat back down.
“Then what do you want to eat? I’ll buy it for you.”
I remained silent.
“Fried chicken?”
I didn’t answer.
“A hamburger?”
I kept my head down.
“Dad’s pretty good, huh? I can guess your favorite foods.”
Dad’s jokes usually made me laugh.
Not that night.
Dad finally gave up.
“Okay. I’ll ask you directly. What do you want?”
My chest grew even tighter.
Tears began to well up in my eyes.
“I don’t want to move!”
The words burst out of me.
“I don’t want to leave my friends!”
My sobs erupted at once.
I ran from the dining table and disappeared behind my bedroom door.
Mom gasped.
She had never seen me that angry.
Dad simply closed his eyes and rubbed his forehead. He looked both shocked and confused, as if he had only just realized that the decision they thought was best had broken my heart.
An hour passed.
Mom busied herself preparing a spare uniform, a towel, and various things Dad would need. It looked like Dad was going to spend the night at the police station to deal with the Level One Alert situation in Jakarta.
Mom’s anxiety multiplied.
She wasn’t only thinking about her husband’s safety, but also about her daughter, who had to face her graduation exam the next day.
Before leaving the house, Dad went over to Mom.
“Ma, don’t forget. Tomorrow night I’m borrowing a friend’s car to take you all to Cicaheum.”
Mom immediately looked at him.
“But, Dad... poor Dewi.”
“I don’t have the heart to do this.”
Mom slowly sank onto the sofa.
Dad then knelt in front of her.
“Ma, please support my decision.”
“This is for all our safety.”
“Please.”
Mom gazed at her husband’s face for a long time.
Finally, she nodded.
“Tomorrow, after Dewi comes home from school, I’ll start packing.”
“I’ll prepare all the important documents for her transfer.”
“As for her report cards and diploma, I’ll take care of them,” Dad said.
Mom nodded again.
That night, they finally reached an agreement.
They would leave the following night.
And for Dewi, **the next day wouldn’t be just the last day of her exams.**
It would also be **her last day as a Jakarta kid.**