TYBA 3

Usually, raindrops water the plants and all creatures on Earth. From there, life on Earth can grow and flourish. However, since then, the rain has been dripping with longing for my race. It's also from there that love has blossomed in my soul.

"Juliet, I won't stand for you being owned by a man like Paris. Marry me. I've loved you since we first met at the party," Romeo said, kneeling in front of Juliet.

"That's not it, Romeo, I love you too, but..." Juliet replied.

Before Juliet could finish her response, Romeo stood up, gazed deeply into Juliet's eyes, and kissed her right cheek before embracing her. Instantly, Juliet's face turned as red as a newly bloomed rose.

"What about Rosaline?" Juliet asked after being embraced by the tall and broad-shouldered teenager named Romeo.

"I will leave her for you, Juliet. I never loved her. My family is forcing me to marry that woman someday," Romeo explained. In reality, Juliet was also being forced to marry by her family.

"I'm also being forced, Romeo, I don't love him," Juliet said with a sad expression.

"Let's run away to get married, Juliet. We can live happily," Romeo tightly held Juliet's hand.

"How can I refuse you? I love you too." Instantly, Juliet's eyes sparkled, and she nodded in agreement with Romeo's request. Juliet loved Romeo too.

They both held hands and left the theater stage. Walking away from the audience. The theater performance went very smoothly and was a success.

Romeo and Juliet, as well as Paris and Rosaline, who had just entered the theater stage, stood and bowed, instantly greeted by the enthusiastic applause of the audience.

Indonesian Language teacher, Mrs. Asih, and their classmates, had witnessed a short theater performance about "The Love Story of Romeo and Juliet." Baliroom Theater once again silently witnessed their love story, Adina and Devano.

Home, 08.14 AM.

The theater performance was very sweet, even though it was just a short play. Even though it was just a school assignment. They were all entertained, or more precisely, deeply moved, by each scene of the play. I played the role of Juliet, Devano as Romeo, Ghandi as Paris, and Icha as Rosaline. We all felt very happy. Or more precisely, I did, immersed in Romeo's touch on that stage.

I drowned in Romeo's warm embrace, I mean, of course, Devano. I shouldn't have carried Romeo's sweet gestures and feelings into my life. Although the love story of Romeo and Juliet ended tragically in the play. But my feelings remained sweetly immersed.

"Oh, Adina, you're too lost in your own imagination. Remember who Devano is, who you are." I muttered after spending the day at home, remembering our theater performance yesterday.

The love story behind Romeo and Juliet is actually a scripted work by Shakespeare, created from a poem. In 1562, an English poet named Arthur Brooke created a masterpiece poem titled "The Tragical History of Romeus and Juliet." In fact, Arthur himself translated the poem from an Italian story titled "Mariotto and Ganoza," written by Massuccio Salernitano in 1476.

I was in my room.

"Din, it's time for breakfast," Mom said.

"Yes, Mom, just a moment..."

"Mom's waiting, let's have breakfast together."

"Okay... I'm coming..."

I walked from my room to the kitchen and found Mom's homemade duck fried rice. We had breakfast together at the kitchen table. Although it didn't taste as good as Mbak Lastri's cooking, Mom's food was still delicious. It's my favorite food at home.

"Din, tomorrow I'm going to cook a lot," Mom joked.

"What's it for, Mom?" I asked her.

"Do you forget? It's your birthday tomorrow. What's wrong with you, my child? So young and already forgetful."

Mom replied, shaking her head slowly, while joking with me.

"Oh... right, Mom. I completely forgot."

"You forgot your own birthday?"

"Great... let's eat a lot tomorrow."

"Oh yeah... Your friends were invited yesterday, right? Ask Icha for help in the kitchen."

"Mom, what about Devano?"

"Invite him too, Din. All of you, Adhina. Ghandi too. After all, you're all good friends."

"Okay, Mom," I replied with a happy smile. 

Every time it's my birthday, Mom celebrates it simply. Typically, with Mom's dishes. She prepares yellow rice with some of my favorite sides.

Usually, yellow rice is paired with fried chicken. But in our case, when it's my birthday, fried duck is the perfect match for yellow rice. I don't know why, but I really love that dish. Especially duck fried rice. Hmmmm... it's my absolute favorite. My taste buds can't resist it.

"Van, can you come over tomorrow?" My fingers typed on the phone screen.

This was the first time for Devano to join in celebrating my birthday. I was confused, my fingers were deleting and changing the words on the screen.

"How should I tell Devano that tomorrow is my birthday and invite him to celebrate it at home? Oh... why am I making it so complicated..!" I muttered to myself. I had already sent messages via chat to Ghandi and Icha. They said they would come. Just like last year, they made time to come to my house for the celebration.

Rain danced in the sky. Take me with you. So that he knows that besides the beautiful rainbow, there's also me, who's worth waiting for.

School, 09:00 AM

The bell rang, indicating our first break. The square-shaped chairs, each about 30 centimeters wide, were made of stainless steel, along with the larger desks, just enough for me.

You see, our school is an expensive one with limited class capacity. Each class can only accommodate 20 students with chairs and desks to match the number of students.

All the lessons here are taught using projectors and upgraded methods. Many things here are modern and, of course, expensive. Fortunately, I received a scholarship. So, I could enjoy and make use of all the facilities at Zidduya.

The classroom atmosphere emptied as all my friends headed to the cafeteria. I remained seated, still feeling the same, with emotions I'd never felt before. Embarrassment, confusion, mixed with anxiety about how to tell Devano. Tonight, we would be celebrating my 16th birthday.

"Din..."

A handsome, sweet, tall guy, and unfortunately, someone I had a crush on, suddenly appeared out of nowhere, breaking my reverie. Devano Samuel Escapra, the dream boy of almost all the girls at school, from the ordinary ones to the popular girls like the theater club.

The most popular club in school, especially among teenage girls.

"Ehh....yeah.." I replied, slightly surprised.

"Why are you alone here?" he asked.

"Oh... it's okay. I'm not in the mood for the cafeteria yet."

"Here...!" He handed me a small pink gift box, about five centimeters in size, with pictures of flowers on the can refuse."

"Van, can you come to my house tomorrow?" My fingers typed through the screen of my phone.

This would be Devano's first time celebrating my birthday with me. I was puzzled, my fingers deleting and rewriting the words on the phone screen.

"How should I tell Devano that tomorrow is my birthday? And invite him to celebrate it at my house. Ahh, why is this so complicated!" I muttered to myself. I had already messaged Ghandi and Icha via chat. They said they would come. Just like last year, they had made time to come over and celebrate.

Rain danced in the sky. Take me with you. So he knows that besides beautiful rainbows, there's also me, who's worth waiting for.

School, 09:00 AM

The bell rang, signaling our first break. The square-shaped seats, about 30 centimeters in size, were made of stainless steel, along with the larger desks, could accommodate only me.

You see, our school was an expensive one with limited class sizes. Each class was limited to 20 students with corresponding chairs and desks.

All learning here was done using projectors and upgraded methods. Everything here was modern and, of course, expensive. Luckily, I had a scholarship, so I could enjoy and make use of all of Zidduya's facilities.

The classroom felt empty, with only me sitting there lost in thought. My friends had all headed to the cafeteria. I was the same, with feelings I had never experienced before. Embarrassment, confusion, and anxiety about how to tell Devano. Tonight, we would celebrate my 16th birthday.

"Din..."

A handsome, sweet, tall guy, and unfortunately, I had a crush on him. Suddenly, out of nowhere, he interrupted my thoughts. Devano Samuel Escapra, the dream of almost every girl in school, from ordinary girls to idolized theater club members.

The most popular club in school, especially among teenage girls.

"Umm...yeah..." I answered, a bit startled.

"Why are you alone here?" he asked.

"Oh...it's nothing. I just didn't feel like going to the cafeteria."

"Here...!" He handed me a small, pink gift box about five centimeters in size with flower patterns on the wrapping.

"What's this, Van..?" I still didn't understand what he was doing.

"It's your birthday gift."

"Huh...what...?"

I still didn't grasp what he was saying. He was the first person to give me a birthday gift. I should have been happy, but instead, I felt confused.

"Oh God, what kind of trial is this? He's known for changing girlfriends frequently. Ugh... Why does he have to like me?" I thought to myself.

"That's your birthday gift. If you don't want it, you can give it back...!"

"Ugh...are you serious about giving this or not? Why ask for it back?"

I was a little annoyed with the mischievous guy in front of me. There were no sweet words or gestures that one would expect when receiving a gift. At least something sweet or anything that would make me like him more. Luckily, he's handsome, so I forgave him.

"Yeah...take it already and open it."

"I'll open it then.."

I fell silent for a moment after opening it...

***