The day of the additional examination finally arrived.
Wendi had felt uneasy ever since he woke up. Not because the pain was getting worse, but because his mind kept coming up with all kinds of possibilities on its own.
He sat on the edge of his bed, staring at the clock.
Usually, on a day like this, he'd be busy getting his schoolbooks ready or thinking about unfinished assignments.
But now, his thoughts were focused on only one thing.
What was really happening to his body?
Wendi stood up slowly.
That morning, his body still felt stiff. It wasn't like before, when he could run straight to the bathroom as soon as his alarm went off.
He walked toward his bedroom door.
Before going out, he paused for a moment.
“Don't think about weird stuff,” he told himself.
In the kitchen, Mom had already prepared breakfast.
“Are you ready?”
Wendi nodded.
“Yeah.”
“Sleep well?”
“Pretty well.”
Mom smiled faintly.
“You're more honest now.”
Wendi sat down.
“What do you mean?”
“You used to say you were fine whenever I asked.”
Wendi picked up some fried rice.
“I still say I'm fine.”
“But at least you've started admitting when you're scared.”
Wendi fell silent.
Only then did he realize that something inside him really had changed a little.
Before, he had always refused to admit when there was a problem.
Now he was starting to accept it.
After they finished breakfast, they left.
This time, Wendi wasn't as quiet as before.
Instead, he tried making conversation with Mom.
“Mom.”
“Yeah?”
“When the results come out, don't panic right away.”
Mom chuckled.
“You're the one who's sick, but you're the one reminding me.”
“Yeah, because you always think too far ahead.”
“Whose kid is the one who keeps overthinking?”
Wendi smiled.
“Okay, you win.”
When they arrived at the examination center, Wendi sat and waited.
Not long afterward, someone sat down beside him.
It was a boy around Wendi's age.
He appeared to be carrying a school bag.
“Do you go to school too?” he asked.
Wendi turned to him.
“Yeah.”
“Then we're wearing the same school uniform.”
Wendi looked at his shirt.
“Oh, yeah.”
The boy smiled.
“I'm Ardi.”
“Wendi.”
They shook hands.
“Why are you here?”
Wendi hesitated slightly before answering.
“For a checkup.”
Ardi nodded.
“Same.”
“Do you come here often?”
“Only a few times so far.”
Wendi didn't ask any further.
He didn't feel the need to press him.
A few minutes later, Ardi said,
“You were scared at first, right?”
Wendi smiled faintly.
“Yeah.”
“Me too.”
“And now?”
“Still scared.”
Wendi let out a quiet laugh.
“That's really honest.”
“What would be the point of pretending I'm not scared?”
That answer left Wendi silent.
Here was another person saying something simple but perfectly reasonable.
Sometimes he was so busy trying to look strong that he forgot being scared was normal.
Wendi's name was called.
He stood up.
“Okay, I'm going in.”
Ardi nodded.
“Hope the results are good.”
“Thanks.”
The examination took quite a while.
Wendi patiently followed every instruction.
When it was over, he went out to meet Mom.
“How was it?”
“It's done.”
“Tired?”
“Kind of.”
They went home with some new information.
But they still had to wait for the actual results.
And it turned out waiting was harder than Wendi had imagined.
A few days later at school, Wendi went back to his usual routine.
But his friends were paying even closer attention to him.
During gym class, Wendi chose to sit at the edge of the field.
Dimas came over with a drink.
“Here.”
Wendi took it.
“Thanks.”
“You've been taking breaks a lot lately.”
“Because I'm getting smarter.”
Dimas laughed.
“Impossible.”
“Why?”
“Because the Wendi I know is stubborn.”
“People can change.”
Dimas stared at him.
“Wow, that's a good line.”
“Write it down if you need to.”
“I won't.”
They laughed.
From a distance, Aldi, who had only been back at school for a few days, came over.
“You guys are always joking around, huh?”
Dimas answered quickly.
“No.”
Fajar, who had just arrived, immediately cut in.
“Liar. They argue every day.”
Aldi laughed.
Wendi felt like being around his friends made everything seem lighter.
But when he stood up to grab his bag, his knee suddenly started aching again.
This time, it was bad enough to make him stop.
Aldi saw him and immediately asked,
“What’s wrong?”
Wendi answered reflexively.
“I’m fine.”
Dimas looked at him right away.
“Wendi.”
Wendi sighed.
“Yeah, yeah. It hurts a little.”
Aldi looked confused.
“Are you sick?”
“It’s been a few days.”
“Oh.”
Aldi nodded.
“Hope you feel better soon.”
“Thanks.”
After Aldi left, Dimas looked at Wendi.
“See?”
“What?”
“You almost said you were fine again.”
Wendi smiled sheepishly.
“Habit.”
“Then you need to change it.”
“Yeah, Professor.”
“Good.”
That afternoon, Wendi went home feeling a little different.
He was beginning to realize something.
All this time, he hadn't just been afraid of the pain.
He was also afraid of seeing himself change.
Afraid he wouldn't be able to do the same things he used to.
Afraid people would see him as different.
Even though maybe the people around him had never seen him that way.
That night, Wendi sat with Dad in the living room.
They rarely had long conversations.
Dad was usually quiet after coming home from work.
But that night, Dad started a conversation.
“Something on your mind?”
Wendi turned to him.
“Is it that obvious?”
“Ever since you were little, you get quiet when you have a lot on your mind.”
Wendi smiled faintly.
“Looks like everyone knows me pretty well.”
“Because you're my son.”
Wendi lowered his head.
“Dad.”
“Yeah?”
“If someone suddenly couldn't do something they used to love, what would they do?”
Dad thought for a moment.
“They'd be sad, that's for sure.”
“Then what?”
“Find another way.”
“Is it really that simple?”
“It's not that simple. But you have to try.”
Wendi was silent.
Dad continued.
“The important thing is not to lose your spirit just because your circumstances have changed.”
Wendi looked at Dad.
For the first time, he felt that their simple conversation meant so much.
The night grew later.
Before going to bed, Wendi opened a message from his friends' group chat.
Dimas: Don't forget school tomorrow. Don't suddenly turn into a homebody.
Fajar: He's practically a grandma now.
Naya: Don't listen to him. Get plenty of rest.
Wendi smiled.
He replied:
Thanks.
Dimas answered right away.
Well, this is new. You said thanks.
Fajar: Write down the date again.
Wendi chuckled.
For the first time in several days, he fell asleep without thinking too much about the worst-case scenario.
Even though his examination results hadn't come out yet.
Even though there was still so much he didn't know.
At least now Wendi knew one thing.
He didn't have to face everything alone.