I was still sitting in the campus courtyard, staring at the lunch box in my hands. For some reason, accepting food from someone felt harder than accepting a bad grade.
"Eat."
I looked up.
The girl who had run into me that morning stood in front of me with her arms crossed.
"Is this for me?"
"Yeah."
"Why?"
"Because you've looked like you haven't eaten in three days."
I immediately looked down at my own stomach.
"Am I really that bad?"
"Worse."
I let out a small laugh.
Her name was Naya. She was a freshman like me. As it turned out, we were in the same school—and even the same major. If it hadn't been for what happened that morning, I might never have met her.
I opened the lunch box.
Rice, fried chicken, an egg, and a little bit of vegetables.
"Thank you."
"You're welcome."
I was just about to eat when someone suddenly appeared behind me.
"HEY!"
I nearly dropped the lunch box.
A tall guy with slightly messy hair stood there, panting.
"You're Raka, right?"
I furrowed my brow.
"Do we know each other?"
"Of course we do! We were in the same orientation group earlier."
I tried to remember his face.
Still nothing.
He held out his hand.
"Gilang."
"Raka."
"I know. The upperclassmen have been calling your name all morning."
I nodded.
Gilang sat down beside me without asking.
"What are you two doing?"
"Eating," Naya answered.
Gilang looked at the lunch box in my hands.
"Free food?"
"A loan."
Gilang laughed.
"A food loan?"
I sighed.
"Forget it. Don't talk about it."
Before I could eat, my phone rang.
Ding!
A message came in from the freshman group chat.
All freshmen, please gather in Building B at 1:00 p.m. for class assignments and group-project assignments.
I looked at the time.
12:48.
I shot to my feet.
"Oh my God!"
"What?" Gilang asked.
"We have to get to Building B."
"We've still got twelve minutes."
"That's exactly the problem!"
I ran off, leaving my seat behind.
Gilang ran after me.
Naya could only laugh as she watched us go.
"Raka! Your lunch box!"
I turned around.
"Oh, right!"
I grabbed the lunch box I'd almost left behind.
"I'll bring it back tomorrow!"
"Don't forget!"
I nodded and started running again.
Building B turned out to be much farther away than I'd expected.
I ran while carrying my bag, the lunch box, and the last scraps of dignity that had nearly disappeared since morning.
"Raka!" Gilang shouted.
"What?"
"Turn left!"
I immediately turned left.
Five seconds later...
"Wait, wrong way!"
I stopped short.
"You said left!"
"I know, but I forgot!"
I glared at him.
"If I die because we get lost on my first day of college, you're responsible."
Gilang laughed.
We finally found Building B a few minutes later.
The moment we opened the auditorium doors, every head turned toward us.
An upperclassman looked at his watch.
"What time is it?"
I swallowed.
"Two minutes to one."
"Where are you two coming from?"
Gilang pointed at me.
"Him, bro."
I immediately turned to him.
"Why me?"
"You were the one who ran ahead."
"Because you were the one who gave us the wrong directions!"
The upperclassman sighed.
"Enough. Sit down."
We sat in the back row.
I caught my breath.
At least I wasn't late this time.
A few minutes later, they began assigning groups.
"Group five: Raka, Gilang, Naya, Salsa, and Dimas."
I turned toward Naya.
She smiled.
"Looks like we're in the same group."
Gilang immediately flashed a grin.
"Wow, Raka. Lucky you."
I lightly punched his arm.
"Shut up."
A girl wearing glasses approached us.
"Salsa."
She introduced herself briefly.
"Raka."
"Gilang."
"Naya."
Salsa nodded.
Not long afterward, a guy in a black shirt came over carrying a book.
"Dimas."
We all looked at one another.
Five people.
One group.
Then the upperclassman handed out our assignment.
"Your first assignment is to create a presentation about why each of you chose your major."
Gilang raised his hand.
"When's the presentation, bro?"
"Next week."
Gilang's smile vanished instantly.
I fell silent too.
Next week?
We'd already gotten an assignment on our first day?
Before we could finish processing the shock, the upperclassman continued,
"And don't forget, after your presentation, each of you will receive another assignment from your respective professors."
I looked at Gilang.
"Is this college or forced labor?"
Gilang held back a laugh.
"No idea yet."
After the event ended, we sat in the cafeteria to discuss the assignment.
I opened my notebook.
"So, who wants to be group leader?"
Everyone fell silent.
I looked at them one by one.
No one said a word.
Five seconds.
Ten seconds.
Fifteen seconds.
Gilang suddenly stood up.
"I've got somewhere to be."
I immediately grabbed his shirt.
"Sit down!"
He laughed.
In the end, Naya pointed at me.
"Raka should do it."
I pointed at myself.
"Me?"
"Yeah."
"Why?"
"Because you've been doing most of the talking."
I couldn't argue with that.
And just like that, I became the group leader.
Even though I still hadn't memorized where the classrooms were.
We started dividing up the work.
Salsa would handle the material.
Dimas would find the references.
Gilang would handle the design.
Naya would handle the presentation.
And me?
"Raka can coordinate," Salsa said.
"What does coordinating involve?"
"Coordinating."
I stared at her in confusion.
"Okay, but what does that mean?"
"Making sure everything gets finished."
I sighed.
Being the leader wasn't as easy as I'd imagined.
When the discussion ended, we stood up to leave.
That's when I realized something was missing.
"Uh..."
Gilang turned to me.
"What now?"
"My pen."
"What about it?"
"My pen is gone."
Gilang pulled a pen out of his bag.
"Is this yours?"
I immediately took it.
"Yes!"
I smiled in relief.
"It was still here after all."
Gilang gave me a strange look.
"Raka..."
"Hm?"
"That's my pen."
I froze.
I looked at the pen in my hand.
Then I looked at Gilang.
"Oh."
Gilang held out his hand.
"Give it back."
I handed him the pen.
"Sorry."
Naya laughed.
"You really are funny."
I scratched my head.
"Funny or pathetic?"
"A little of both."
We walked out of campus together.
The first day that had initially felt like a disaster was slowly starting to feel fun.
I still had no idea what college life would be like.
But at least I had friends now.
Gilang, who was loud.
Naya, who was kind.
Salsa, who was serious.
And Dimas, who was mostly quiet.
Maybe college life wouldn't be as bad as I'd imagined.
I smiled as I walked.
But after only a few steps...
THUD!
Someone ran into me from behind.
I nearly fell.
A pile of papers scattered across the road.
I squeezed my eyes shut.
"Don't tell me..."
I slowly opened my eyes.
Gilang stared at the papers.
Naya covered her mouth.
Salsa sighed.
Dimas simply said,
"I think you've really got a talent."
"A talent for what?"
"Making trouble."
I stared up at the sky.
The second day hadn't even started yet.
But something told me...
My bad luck was far from over.