That morning, Wendi woke up in a slightly better mood. After several days filled with worry, he was starting to try getting through the day without constantly thinking about the worst.
He sat on the edge of the bed, slowly moving his legs.
There was still some discomfort.
But it wasn't as bad as it had been a few days earlier.
“Not too bad,” he murmured.
He grabbed his school uniform and got ready.
When he looked in the mirror, Wendi gave a small smile.
“Don't overthink it.”
That sentence had become his habit lately.
The difference was that he no longer said it to deny what was happening.
He said it to stay calm.
The house was fairly lively in the kitchen.
Dad was looking for his motorbike keys while Mom prepared lunch.
“The keys are on the table, Dad,” Wendi said.
Dad looked at the table.
“Oh, right.”
Mom smiled.
“You've become the household reminder now.”
Wendi laughed.
“Better than Dad forgetting everything all the time.”
Dad pretended to be offended.
“Wow, kids these days aren't afraid to make fun of their parents.”
“Facts, Dad.”
The three of them laughed.
That simple moment made Wendi feel comfortable.
He was beginning to realize that there were so many little things he'd often overlooked.
After saying goodbye, Wendi left for school.
On the way, he felt more relaxed.
It wasn't like a few days ago, when he thought about his condition every few minutes.
As soon as he arrived at school, Dimas greeted him.
“Look at you, all bright-faced for once.”
“Why?”
“You usually look like someone who just lost a war.”
Wendi set down his bag.
“I'm happy right now.”
“Why?”
“I don't know.”
Dimas nodded.
“Then something's definitely weird.”
“What is?”
“Wendi being happy for no reason.”
Wendi immediately laughed.
“Are you a friend or an enemy?”
“A brutally honest friend.”
“Annoying.”
“Thank you.”
When he entered the classroom, Naya and Fajar were already seated.
Naya looked at Wendi right away.
“Are you feeling better today?”
“Yeah.”
“Really?”
“Really.”
Naya smiled.
“Good.”
Fajar joined in.
“So we don't need to hold a pity party yet.”
“What kind of party?”
“A friends-sitting-in-a-circle-and-saying-don't-give-up party.”
Dimas immediately burst out laughing.
“I can totally picture it.”
Wendi laughed too.
“Don't get any ideas.”
The classroom felt normal.
And that was exactly what made Wendi happy.
There was no special treatment.
No excessive staring.
Everything was still the way it used to be.
During gym class, the teacher reminded Wendi again not to push himself too hard.
“Just do the light activities.”
“Yes, Sir.”
Several classmates glanced in his direction.
But this time, Wendi didn't feel uncomfortable.
He was starting to understand.
They didn't see him as weak.
They were just paying attention.
While his friends played, Wendi sat at the edge of the field with Aldi.
“You're not joining us?” Aldi asked.
“Not today.”
“You used to play every time.”
“Yeah.”
Aldi smiled.
“It's hard, huh?”
“What is?”
“Stopping something you love doing.”
Wendi was silent.
“Kind of.”
Aldi looked out at the field.
“But that doesn't mean it'll be this way forever.”
Wendi nodded.
“I know.”
They fell silent for a while.
Not long afterward, Dimas shouted from the field.
“Wendi!”
“What?”
“Don't fall asleep!”
Wendi laughed.
“Who's sleeping?”
“You've been staring into space this whole time.”
“It's called thinking.”
“Don't overdo it.”
Wendi shook his head.
His friends always found a way to help him relax again.
After school, Wendi stopped by the little shop near his house with Dimas.
They bought drinks and sat on the bench out front.
“I want to ask you something,” Dimas said.
“What?”
“When the test results come back, will you be ready?”
The question made Wendi go quiet.
Dimas quickly continued.
“I don't mean to scare you.”
“I know.”
Wendi looked at the street.
“Honestly, I'm still scared.”
“That's normal.”
“But now I'm more afraid of pretending nothing's wrong forever.”
Dimas gave a small smile.
“There you go. Finally.”
“Finally what?”
“You're growing up.”
Wendi immediately laughed.
“Don't act so old.”
“I'm three months older than you.”
“That doesn't mean you're wiser.”
“Proof?”
“You still forget to bring a pen.”
Dimas fell silent.
“Don't bring that up.”
They laughed.
As evening approached, Wendi went home.
At home, he saw Dad fixing something in the yard.
“Dad.”
“Yeah?”
“Have you ever been scared?”
Dad stopped working.
“Often.”
“Seriously?”
“Why?”
“I thought adults weren't afraid.”
Dad chuckled.
“Adults are human too.”
Wendi sat down beside Dad.
“So what do you do when you're scared?”
Dad thought for a moment.
“You just keep going.”
“Without thinking?”
“Thinking is okay. Being scared is okay. Just don't let it make you stop.”
Wendi nodded slowly.
That night, Wendi opened his examination notes again.
The date was getting closer.
He was still curious.
Still scared.
But now that fear wasn't as big as before.
Because he was beginning to learn one thing.
Not everything in life can be controlled.
Some things have to be accepted.
Some things have to be fought for.
And some things have to be faced one step at a time.
Before going to sleep, Wendi looked at the latest messages from his friends' group chat.
Dimas: Don't be late to school tomorrow.
Fajar: He's definitely going to be late.
Naya: Don't forget breakfast.
Wendi smiled.
He replied:
Yeah, yeah, you guys are so annoying.
Dimas: But you read it, right?
Wendi: Yeah.
Dimas: Then it worked.
Wendi set down his phone.
For the first time in several days, he fell asleep with a lighter mind.
But he didn't know yet that the next examination day would bring news that forced him to see everything from a different perspective.