The weather outside is dark. The wind is blowing hard. It’s a sign that the rainy season has arrived. Because it’s raining outside (even grandma knows!). And there’s water pooling everywhere. On the sports field, near the library, and craziest of all, in the school toilet. It’s completely flooded there.
Even on the small streets leading to the main road. The gutters are overflowing with water. It’s a flood. And it hasn’t been raining for long. This morning, when Lupus went to school, the weather didn’t look cloudy. It was still sunny. But now, there’s water pooling everywhere.
Oh, how fertile the nature in Indonesia is.
But Lupus isn’t grateful. Because he has to wait for the rain to stop in order to go home without getting wet. It’s so frustrating. But what can he do? He has to patiently lean against the school wall. While chewing on a piece of gum that tastes like it’s been chewed for ages.
Just imagining it, he’s been chewing for over an hour and still hasn’t thrown it away. Because he’s going through an economic crisis right now. His money is only enough for the transportation fare. And he’s hungry too.
Meanwhile, his other friends are still enjoying themselves in the cafeteria. Eating warm meatballs while waiting for the rain to stop. Some are still busy in the classroom. Working on assignments due tomorrow. But not many. Most of the students from Merah Putih High School have already gone home. Either picked up or using their own vehicles. Some even daringly play in the rain.
Lupus doesn’t belong to either group. He’s also not the type to challenge the rain. Not because he’s afraid of getting sick, but because he’s carrying his drawing assignment that’s due tomorrow. It wouldn’t be funny if it got wet. He worked so hard on it earlier. Projecting various shapes, like an amateur architect. That’s why Lupus doesn’t want his drawing to get wet.
“Hey, Pus, not going home?” suddenly Boim appeared in front of him. Lupus shook his head.
“Why? Afraid of getting wet? Ha… you’re even afraid of water. If you want to be someone charismatic like me, these trivial things won’t be obstacles. Are you afraid that if your hair gets wet, you won’t be able to do the Duran Duran thing anymore? That’s the thing, when your handsomeness isn’t natural like mine. Even if it gets wet, with messy hair like this, I’ll still look cool. Right? Look, I dare to defy the storm!” Boim replied confidently as he walked towards the rain.
“And you know what, Pus,” Boim added, “Boim – as the top playboy in the world – knows exactly how to get a girl’s attention. Do you see Svida taking shelter near the rice stall over there? Well, this is the perfect time to melt her stone-cold heart. Because actually, I have an umbrella in my bag. You didn’t expect that, did you? But let me not use the umbrella. I’ll specially bring it for Svida. She’ll be so touched to see my sacrifice. Getting wet just to protect her from the rain.”
“And you know, Pus,” he suddenly spoke in a low voice, leaning his nose close to Lupus’ ear. Damn, he smells!
He stared at Lupus intently. “A girl usually believes it’s better to date a guy who loves her, even if she doesn’t love him back. And a guy, it’s better to love a girl he loves, even if she doesn’t love him. That’s the principle I’m applying right now. As a concept of my playboy-ness.
That’s true. That’s love! Do you agree with that opinion?”
“Agree,” Lupus replied firmly. “I’d rather date a girl I love, even if she loves me to death!”
Boim nodded approvingly. Then, with warrior-like steps, he walked into the rain, heading towards the queen Svida taking shelter. Leaving Lupus leaning alone again. And he caught a glimpse of a figure looking at him through the dark blue Corona glass that slowly passed by. Poppi. Lupus smiled cutely. But his ex-girlfriend immediately turned away. Oh well, such is life! Lupus quickly shifted his gaze to the kids playing soccer in the muddy field outside the schoolyard.
The rain was pouring harder and harder.
“Hey, Lupus! Don’t you have any desire in your heart to leave this boring place?” a shrill voice suddenly sounded from beside him. Lupus was startled to death. But without even looking, he knew who it was this time. Who else but Gusur, the lost artist and language nerd? Who always speaks like he’s a poet. Trying to be like Rendra. Yeah, he’s a big fan of Rendra. He always carries a suitcase full of his own poems that he claims will be published centuries later. “Because my poems are poems that take a big leap forward. Only to be enjoyed by people in the future,” he once said, still carrying the suitcase.
Many of his friends say he’s a failed artist. But not really. Turns out he’s quite successful. Proof is, every time there’s a big celebration, he’s always called to the front to recite his own poems. And when that happens, tea bottle boxes and food wrappers fly in the air. Adding to the festive atmosphere. Gusur is busy stumbling behind the stage. Pretending to go to the bathroom.
What’s even funnier, he’s the kind of person who likes to act familiar. When he’s walking (usually hunched over and coughing), he greets every person he meets with a false sense of familiarity. According to him, everyone he meets is his fan. He also has a bit of a chubby belly (to look more like Rendra), sometimes causing his pants zipper to have a hard time staying closed. So it’s not uncommon for his belly to go on a picnic everywhere.
At home, he rarely wears clothes. Often goes around half-naked. “To be called sexy, right?” And now, this magical creature is standing next to him.
“Alrighty, Pus, let’s move on. This storm of chaos has been going on for too long!” he pleaded again. But Lupus remained silent. Such a buzzkill. And Gusur kept on persisting.
“Look at that black cloud over there,” he said with a style like Gatotkaca about to fly. “It will come back with countless threats!”
Lupus became even more of a buzzkill. He pretended to ignore Gusur and focused on watching the kids playing soccer. But his eyes kept glancing. And this artist kept on being silly. Still acting all poetic. “Oh, Lupus, know that the raindrops falling are the rhythm of the universe. They invite you to dance.” (While saying this, Gusur twirled around like a ballet dancer. You can imagine how someone so round would ballet-dance. Lupus struggled to hold back a smile. “So let’s go. Getting wet doesn’t matter. It’s better than being here alone, suffering a million torments. Cold, restless, and with worms in your stomach demanding their rights (hungry, that is!).”
Lupus scowled in annoyance. What does he mean by worms in his stomach?
As he scowled, he realized how strange the creature persuading Lupus to go home in the rain looked. His outfit, man – it was complete. An anti-rain suit, complete with a small umbrella that doubled as a hat. You know, the kind street vendors wear when it’s hot. And he had a headband like Bjorn Borg’s, worn on his head. (You know, right? If you don’t, that means you’re more clueless than Gusur.)
And to top it off, his umbrella was in full color. Red, yellow, green, blue, pink. Eye-catching colors.
Wow, it’s so obvious how clueless he is. Bringing an umbrella like that to school. Trying to be cool, huh! But maybe, as an artist, he has a sixth sense. He has inner feelings. Well, the proof is, how did he know it was going to rain? Carrying an umbrella hat combo to school.
Furthermore, because Lupus didn’t pay any attention to his persuasion, he started getting annoyed. With a pouty face, he turned away, avoiding Lupus in annoyance. And finally, he went home alone. Such a show-off. Even crawling a bit. Even though the flood in front was starting to rise. Just using his legs. But before that creature left, he chirped a little. Still being all poetic. “I don’t understand what made you freeze there. Or are you scared? Know this, fear is a misleading shackle. That’s why, Pus, it’s not my fault if I leave you behind. We stand in our own worlds. You’re a coward, I’m brave. Goodbye, Lupus, the rain has called me with its enchanting rhythm. Oh, raindrops, how I long to be enveloped by you!” he said.
Then he went further away on his own. Walking without a care, even though the costume he was wearing looked so complicated. His behavior was as usual. Hunched over. And his lips remained pouty. Always whistling and all that.
Now Lupus was alone again. He was itching to go home, even though the rain was starting to ease up. His stomach was growling with the biting cold.
“Hey, Lupus, haven’t gone home yet?” A soft voice greeted him. Lupus turned around. Ah, now this is a fun friend, he thought when he saw Anggi approaching.
“Not yet, Gi. It’s been raining non-stop. Where are you coming from?”
“From the cafeteria. But it’s so noisy there. I can’t stand it. Better off going home. But it’s still raining, right? I have guitar practice later in the evening!”
A few moments later, they got into an interesting conversation while waiting for the rain to stop. When you’re hanging out with a cute girl like this, hunger just disappears.
Suddenly, a white charade stopped right in front of them. Tejo, a third-year student, smiled sweetly at Anggi from behind the window.
“Want a ride home? I can drop you off so you won’t get cold.”
Anggi seemed hesitant. She looked at Lupus, as if seeking his opinion.
“Come on, what are you waiting for? You want to wait for the rain to stop? Well, it’s not gonna stop, not even until tomorrow morning,” Lupus whispered softly. “Don’t go with that third-year kid, Gi. You might get kidnapped!”
But Tejo kept insisting. Eventually, Anggi gave in. “But bring my friend along too, okay?” Anggi requested. Tejo glanced briefly at Lupus. A not-so-friendly glance. “Fine, I guess… Where does he need to get off?”
“Oh, no need. Thanks anyway. I can go home by myself!” Lupus quickly declined.
Anggi got on the charade after bidding farewell to Lupus. Tejo didn’t say anything. He just sat in his charade and sped away, leaving splashes of water on Lupus’ face.
“Idiot!!!” Lupus shouted in frustration. Kidnapping a friend forcefully, no sense of shame!
Lupus was still annoyed as the Grogol bus he was on moved slowly due to the flooded road. The traffic was completely jammed. Non-waterproof cars had broken down. As a result, the drivers were forced to camp on the road. They couldn’t go home. Lupus was somewhat grateful that the bus he was on could still move, albeit very slowly.
Lupus looked outside. Suddenly, he saw Tejo’s white charade sinking in the water. It couldn’t move at all. Inside, Tejo was busy trying to sweet-talk Anggi, who was upset because she was now running late to go home. With frustration, Anggi got off and ran towards the bus Lupus was on, leaving Tejo confused with his car.
Lupus burst out laughing, especially when he saw Anggi’s shoes and clothes drenched as she got on the bus. Because the rain, which had eased up earlier, was now pouring again.
“Whoa, why are you all wet like this, Gi? You’ll get sick, you know!” teased Lupus as Anggi stood next to him.
“Don’t mock me!” Anggi pouted.
Meanwhile, the rain was still pouring outside. And in the middle of the street, Lupus caught sight of Gusur, the artist, completely soaked after falling into a drain. Yeah, you know, when it floods, those drains become invisible. And let me tell you, this artist is always a bit clumsy when walking. He just goes full speed ahead. And in the end, he got caught up in his own confidence.
Lupus couldn’t hold back his laughter anymore. He burst out laughing so hard. People started giving him suspicious looks. But Lupus didn’t care.
