"Is it possible I signed up for the wrong major? Or... is the universe really messing with me on purpose?"
My alarm went off at five in the morning. I'd already turned it off three times, but my eyes still refused to open. Today was my first day of college. It was supposed to be the beginning of a brand-new life filled with excitement, new friends, and beautiful stories straight out of the movies.
Unfortunately, my life had never been as sweet as a movie.
My name is Raka Pradana, a freshman in the School of Economics at Nusantara University. A small-town kid who'd made it in through achievement-based admissions. My parents had been over the moon when my acceptance letter arrived. Mom had even cried while hugging me.
"Study hard, Ka. So you can have a better life than your dad and me someday."
Those words kept echoing in my head.
That was why I'd resolved to start everything perfectly.
I got up earlier than usual, put on a neatly ironed white shirt, tied and retied my tie until it was right, then looked in the mirror.
"Raka... don't embarrass yourself today."
I smiled at my own reflection.
Twenty minutes later...
"OH MY GOD!"
I'd forgotten my wallet.
I ran back to the boarding house, grabbed my wallet, then hurried toward campus on the old bike my uncle left me.
"I still have time... I still have time..."
I pedaled as hard as I could.
I'd only been on the road for five minutes...
BANG!
The back tire went flat.
I stood there frozen.
"...Seriously?"
I looked up at the bright sky, which seemed to be mocking me.
"Okay... it's fine. This is just a little test."
I walked my bike along while searching for a tire repair shop.
Unfortunately...
It was still closed.
The time was 7:10 a.m.
Orientation started at 7:30.
Without thinking twice, I left my bike at the shop and ran toward the bus stop.
The moment the bus arrived, I hopped on.
It took me five minutes to realize...
I was on the wrong route.
"Sir... this goes to Nusantara University, right?"
The driver just laughed.
"Nope, kid. This one goes to the terminal."
I smacked my forehead.
First day.
The universe was already up one to nothing.
At 8:05, I finally arrived at the campus gate, gasping for breath.
The campus was far grander than I'd imagined. Tall buildings stood solidly around manicured green lawns, and students streamed past with confident expressions.
And me?
Wrinkled shirt.
Messy hair.
Sweat pouring down my face.
I hadn't even had time to admire the campus when someone crashed into me from the side.
THUD!
All the folders I was carrying went flying.
"Ow!"
"I'm sorry! I'm so sorry!"
A long-haired girl crouched down beside me and helped gather my documents.
"I was in a hurry..."
I nodded with an awkward smile.
"Yeah, it's okay."
Just as both our hands reached for the same form...
TAP!
Our fingers touched.
I yanked my hand back.
"Oh... sorry."
The girl let out a small laugh.
"You don't have to panic like that."
Her smile was sweet.
Very sweet.
So sweet that I forgot to pick up the form the wind had blown away.
"Hey! The paper!"
We both instinctively chased after it.
Before either of us could catch it...
A tall male student accidentally stepped on it.
CRINKLE!
All I could do was stare at the form, now covered in shoe prints.
First day.
The universe's score went up again.
I ran toward the orientation auditorium.
The moment I opened the door...
Every head turned in my direction.
A bespectacled professor stopped speaking.
"Are you a freshman?"
"Yes... sir."
"Do you know what time it is?"
I glanced at my watch.
"Eight fifteen."
"Orientation started half an hour ago."
"Yes... sir."
"Why are you late?"
I took a deep breath.
"Flat tire."
The professor nodded.
"And then?"
"I got on the wrong bus."
"Then what?"
"Someone crashed into me."
The students started laughing.
I swallowed.
"And someone stepped on my form..."
Now the entire auditorium erupted in laughter.
The professor even took off his glasses and shook his head.
"That's the first time I've ever heard such a complete list of excuses."
My cheeks burned.
"Will you remember my name, sir?"
"Who are you?"
"Raka."
He wrote something on the attendance sheet.
"All right, Raka. Hopefully your luck will be better tomorrow."
"Amen."
The room filled with laughter again.
All I could do was smile in resignation.
When break time arrived, my stomach immediately started growling.
I headed to the cafeteria.
After waiting in line for nearly fifteen minutes, my turn finally came.
"One chicken-and-rice plate, ma'am."
"Sure."
I pulled out my wallet.
Empty.
I froze.
The cash I'd brought was apparently still in the pocket of the pants I'd changed out of that morning.
All I had left was my ATM card.
"Sorry, ma'am... can I pay with QRIS?"
"The machine's broken."
I gave her an awkward smile.
"Could I... pay you tomorrow?"
The cafeteria lady laughed.
"Kid, this is a cafeteria, not a credit union."
The people behind me chuckled too.
I slowly backed away, trying to hold back my embarrassment.
First day of college.
Wrong class.
Flat tire.
Wrong bus.
Late.
The laughingstock of an entire auditorium.
Hungry.
And now...
Unable to eat.
I left the cafeteria and sat in the campus courtyard, staring up at the sky.
"If this keeps happening..."
I sighed.
"Maybe the title of my life really is..."
Why Is College Nothing but Bad Luck?
Without realizing it, the girl who'd crashed into me earlier was watching from a distance with a small smile.
"That guy's kind of strange," she murmured.
Then she slowly walked toward me, carrying a lunch box in her hand.
I didn't know it yet...
But this embarrassing encounter that morning would become the beginning of chaos, friendship, and a story that would change my life forever.