AUGUST 15, 2013
John POV
This week, I returned to attending lectures after spending a week searching for literature about that foolish organization. I obtained a lot of offensive literature, ranging from criminal records from the police, historical information from the public library, to inspirations from unrelated sources like the toilet, which had nothing to do with Mr. Joe's assignment.
Mr. Joe is incredibly kind and offensive. He has given us a generous two months to complete this assignment, with the deadline being the end of the year. Because of the extensive literature I gathered, I sought help from another professor. Thank you, Ayasha, for providing me with the name of the professor I was looking for. Her name is Mrs. Sri.
Mrs. Sri is a professor from the Faculty of Language and Literature and serves as the General Secretary of the faculty. Her office is not far from the Philosophy Faculty. She has been instrumental in helping her students graduate from this university, especially when it comes to conducting research on data validity.
I met with her to determine whether the data I obtained was valid or baseless.
"Excuse me, ma'am."
"Oh... come in..."
I then entered Mrs. Sri's office, which was filled with paperwork and university data. Mrs. Sri invited me to have a seat.
"Thank you, ma'am."
"Who are you?" Mrs. Sri asked.
"I'm Jon."
"Oh... Jon... which faculty are you from?"
"Philosophy, ma'am."
"Oh... philosophy, I see... What brings you here?"
I took a seat in front of Mrs. Sri. Her desk appeared slightly tidier compared to other parts of the room filled with papers.
"This is it, ma'am. I have an assignment from Mr. Joe, which is to write a research paper on the interpretation of the 7 Deadly Sins with Team Aqua. I have the data."
"And then?"
"I approached you to verify whether this data is valid or not."
"Oh... I see... Let me have a look, please."
Page after page, Mrs. Sri read through the material. The foundational literature consisted of 117 pages and came from 34 different sources. Even before reaching a quarter of the pages, Mrs. Sri drew her conclusion.
"So, what do you think, ma'am?"
"My conclusion is that I need to spend a whole day reading this before I can determine if the data is valid."
"Oh... so I should come back tomorrow, then?"
"Yes, Jon."
"Alright then, thank you, ma'am."
"You're welcome..."
Hmm... I have to come back tomorrow? That's fine. Besides, I still have plenty of time for it. I promptly left Mrs. Sri's office as my watch reminded me that it was time for Mr. Joe's class.
Mr. Joe's class is very enjoyable. The lecture material is easy to comprehend. Today's subject is Basic Philosophy.
Mr. Joe is wearing a white shirt with blue checkered patterns and slightly loose black pants. He stands at the front of the class and starts with some important small talk.
"Alright, everyone. Do you all know what today's subject is?"
"What subject, sir?" some students in the class ask.
"Today, we are continuing with Basic Philosophy."
He pauses for a moment and then begins to open his mouth again.
"Now... Do you know why humans have limitless opinions? Why is that the case?"
Mr. Joe proceeds to write something very simple on the chalkboard. He then explains the meaning behind what he wrote on the board.
"We will always encounter a thesis whenever we express an opinion. Naturally, there will be an antithesis to the thesis. When we combine both the thesis and the antithesis, we arrive at a solution. From that solution, we will discover a new thesis, and so on."
"The essence of it is that every problem has no limits; humans will always face problems," Mr. Joe concludes.
I strongly agree with Mr. Joe's statement. Every human being inevitably faces challenges in their lives. It is impossible for a person to run away from their problems. It is part of the human condition. Therefore, if someone tries to escape from their problems without resolving them, they are cowardly.
During the 40-minute class, when it was time for the break, I realized that an hour had passed. It was already noon, so I needed to have lunch. I had a simple meal consisting of grilled sausages and boiled potatoes with salt seasoning, which was filling enough. I wasn't eating alone; my group of friends was around me. Donnie, Ayasha, Arthur, Zaki, and Martha were all there, and they came from different faculties. Donnie was from Civil Engineering, Ayasha from Language and Literature, Arthur from Applied Biology, and Zaki and Martha from the Medical Faculty. Almost all of my friends were from the science faculties, while Ayasha was from the Language Faculty, and I was from the Social Sciences.
Actually, all of these friends were my friends from high school. Our conversations covered various topics, ranging from discussing our studies to talking about our exes.
To be honest, I don't have a girlfriend because, to me, a woman is someone noble, and I don't want to tarnish her dignity. If I were to enter a romantic relationship, I would have to be convinced that I'm ready to marry her and not just play with her feelings. So, what's the point of being in a relationship for three years only to break up in the end? However, rushing into marriage after just a few weeks of dating is not ideal either. It's better to get to know the person, accept their flaws, show care, engage in meaningful conversations, have a good sense of humor, and be authentic. That's what women appreciate.
Suddenly, our conversation shifted to a topic related to the assignment given by Professor Joe.
"Hey, do you guys know about that famous Team Aqua gang?" Zaki asked.
"Oh, we know about that team. I heard they've been kidnapping people," Arthur replied.
"Eh?! Is that true? It's not a lie, right?" Ayasha exclaimed.
"Oh, I swear it's true. I read it in the newspaper yesterday. That's what they said," Zaki answered.
"Oh, that's dangerous. But what are they kidnapping people for?" Ayasha asked again.
"How would I know?" Zaki replied.
The conversation was not over yet. Arthur continued with the earlier discussion.
"Oh, you should know that the kidnapper is tall, big, scary, and has dark skin. I heard about it a week ago, happened at night," explained Arthur.
Instantly, I started thinking about who could be the person behind those kidnappings. I remembered that the description Arthur provided matched exactly with the person I had a conversation with last week. My mind quickly responded.
"Isn't that Matt?" I replied.
"Huh... Is it really him? How did you know?" Ayasha asked.
"Yeah... I know that person. I forgot his name. I found out about it a week ago. He seemed important," I explained.
"Oh my... Are you okay?" Ayasha asked.
"Of course. He won't bite me," I replied.
"Why is he important? And how did the kidnapping happen?" Arthur was confused.
"Well, someone got the story wrong!" Zaki teased.
Due to Zaki's remark, laughter and jokes filled the air. Soon, the class had to resume as the bell rang loudly, indicating the end of the break and the start of the next class.
The classes continued with various subjects taught, including Pure Sociology, Anthropology, Basic Philosophy, Basic Psychology, and Philosophy-Sociology for this semester. Luckily, all of these classes ended by 2 pm. Although I attended morning classes, I didn't immediately go home. I had to work on daily assignments, especially for Anthropology.
" Oh, thank God, the lectures are finally over."
I returned to my apartment, feeling exhausted and drained from the tiring classes, even though it was only my third semester.
As I entered my inviting apartment, adorned with film posters and shelves filled with philosophy books and drama novels (not Korean dramas), I couldn't help but think of Ayasha. She often visited my apartment and left her drama novels there.
Suddenly, I heard a knock on the door. The knock was loud enough to make me rush to answer it.
"Oh, wait."
When I opened the door, it turned out to be Arthur. He looked breathless, as if he was being chased by a fierce dog.
"Arthur, what are you doing here?"
"Shh, they will find me."
"Who are 'they'?"
"I don't know. Please, if someone asks about me, tell them I'm not here."
Damn it! Why did Arthur choose my apartment as his hiding place? I had no idea who 'they' were referring to. About five minutes later, there was indeed a knock on the door from outside. I heard a few muffled words before opening my apartment door.
"Are you sure that guy is here?"
"I'm not sure, but he passed through here."
I opened the door, and there were two individuals wearing blue and white striped shirts with black bandanas that had a letter 'A' on them. They were wearing gray pants.
"Hey, you! Do you know where that scoundrel is?"
"Wait, who are you referring to?"
"Yeah, that scoundrel in the green shirt with a gray jacket. You know, he insulted us by saying 'hey bastards, do you know you have a gay staff and an idiotic leader.'"
"Wow, that's really rude."
"Well, we won't stand for it. We chased after him, and we saw him running in this direction. Are you hiding that scoundrel?"
"You must have mistaken someone else. That person has never been here. Besides, wouldn't it be impolite if someone came to my room and said 'please help me'?"
The two individuals exchanged glances and seemed somewhat perplexed.
"Fine, sorry if we bothered you."
They both left. I waited until it was safe and checked on Arthur again.
"Hey, Arthur, it's safe now!"
"Huh, thank goodness they're gone."
Honestly, I wasn't angry because Arthur sneaked in without permission. I was furious because his words were beyond reason. I gave him a sharp gaze, locking eyes with him.
"Arthur, what did you say to them?"
"What did I say?"
"What did you say? You're so disrespectful. What did you say?"
"I didn't say anything to them. They started chasing me out of nowhere!"
"Fine, if you didn't say anything. I'm going downstairs to find those two and have them beat you up. Okay?"
Arthur remained silent, unable to find words. He stayed quiet for too long.
"Why did you say that? Just be honest."
"I... I hate them."
"Hate them for what?"
"I just don't like them."
I just heard the most idiotic answer. I ended up slapping Arthur's face after hearing that response. He was completely undeserving of what he did. How could he hate someone and curse at them without even knowing who they were?
"You're so stupid! You're even dumber than them! Do you know what they were doing?"
Arthur looked remorseful and hung his head.
"Huh, go away! You know I have personal matters to attend to here. Go home! Before someone comes looking for you."
Arthur then left my room just like that. It was so
disturbing! He had lied to me. I despised that. I had lost trust in Arthur a long time ago. He had a habit of lying. He was rough and aggressive.
From what I knew, Arthur grew up in a crime-ridden neighborhood, surrounded by criminal activities. His father was a thug, and his mother was involved in drug trafficking. His parents were imprisoned, and Arthur was raised by his grandmother, far away from his parents.
Still, like father like son. He behaved like a thug during classes, enjoyed bullying others. But there was one person he was afraid of—Zaki. Zaki managed to calm Arthur down and helped him become a better person. That's why he had improved and made friends at this university.
I hope Arthur doesn't repeat such behavior in the future.
AUGUST 18, 2013
Jon POV
Okay, this week has been incredibly frustrating. I completely forgot to pick up the analyzed literacy results from Mrs. Sri. I was supposed to get them two days ago.
Apartment rent prices are going up. Tuition fees are increasing. Everything is getting more expensive, even chili prices are rising. My foster parents haven't sent me my monthly allowance yet. Here's what they said:
DEAR JON,
AUNTIE APOLOGIZES FOR DELAYING YOUR MONTHLY ALLOWANCE FOR A WEEK DUE TO YOUR UNCLE'S RECENT TRANSFER AND BUSY SCHEDULE. PLEASE USE YOUR SAVINGS, AND AUNTIE WILL REIMBURSE YOU ACCORDINGLY.
THANK YOU,
AUNTIE MAYA
That's the content of the SMS from Auntie Maya. My uncle just got transferred, and his workload is piling up. I understand that. I have a good amount of savings. But it makes me think, I need a part-time job like they have in Japan.
Part-time jobs in Japan are quite plentiful for students. ¥900 per hour. That much money can cover my weekly expenses. The work is simple too, helping with household chores, office work, and much more.
I want to pick up the analyzed literacy results from campus. I also plan to go to the supermarket to buy supplies for the third week of August.
I start moving my refreshed muscles to step out of my apartment. During the journey, I notice a familiar job application poster.
I read through the points mentioned. The content of the job application poster is not far from what I have read before. It's a recruitment poster for Team Aqua. I take the poster, fold it, and put it in my pants pocket. I continue my journey to the campus.
Upon arriving at the campus, it's still bustling with people. I don't have any classes today. I head to Mrs. Sri's office to pick up the literacy results.
"Excuse me, ma'am," I say while knocking on her door.
"Oh, come in, Jon," she replies while making a phone call.
I enter Mrs. Sri's office. She seems very busy. She's on a call with the university manager. I don't know what they're discussing. It's a campus matter.
"Just a moment," she requests, asking me to wait.
I wait for Mrs. Sri to finish her call. It takes quite a while. During the wait, I manage to chat with Ayasha, check Instagram Stories, browse Twitter, and play a racing game. After a few minutes of waiting, Mrs. Sri finally finishes her call.
"Sorry, Jon. That was a call from the manager. What brings you here?" she asks while handing me the analyzed data.
"It's the literacy results you analyzed yesterday," I reply, receiving my data.
"Oh, yes... that's right. Let me get it for you."
Mrs. Sri starts looking for the literacy results she analyzed yesterday. After a brief wait, she returns to her desk and hands me the data.
"Here's the data, Jon," she says, handing it over.
"So, what are the results, ma'am?" I ask, receiving my data.
"In my opinion, it's good. But you need to add some research. You should delve deeper into what you've written. Don't just rely on books and the internet."
"Oh... okay. Thank you, ma'am."
"You're welcome, Jon."
Out of the 117 pages of the literacy work I created, there was no direct research. That's the fact Mrs. Sri pointed out. I need to incorporate research into it. Well, that feels quite heavy. How can I complete this research? The answer comes to me quickly.
"Just join Team Aqua. You need money too, right?" I think to myself.
It seems like a fitting idea. But I'm afraid my friends won't approve of me doing this. However, it's the only way to complete my final assignment and smoothly enter the fourth semester. I also want to prove Arthur's statement wrong from yesterday, where he claimed his staff member was gay or something and investigating a case of women's abduction. I'm not convinced by Arthur's words, especially since he's a liar.
I need to go to the supermarket for shopping. I head out to buy my weekly groceries. The journey from campus to the supermarket only takes 10 minutes on foot. The supermarket is close to my campus. It's a well-stocked supermarket, offering fruits, vegetables, meat, daily necessities, Chinese tea, and even clothing. The prices are also quite affordable, which is why the supermarket is always crowded.
I do quite a lot of shopping. Noodles, bread, rice, seaweed, and some side dishes that I bought.
"Everything is 6,600 Pokedollars," says the cashier.
6,600 Pokedollars is cheap for that amount of groceries. I have a membership card for the supermarket, so I get a 10% discount. The total comes to 6,000 Pokedollars.
After that, I return to my apartment to cook dinner for later. My meal is quite simple. Fried rice. I really love that dish. I first tried it when I vacationed in Indonesia two years ago.
There, street vendors sell this dish called Nasi Goreng. My mother ordered several portions for my father, mother, older sibling, and me. When I tasted the Nasi Goreng, it felt like a heavenly dish. It was incredibly delicious. I can't fully describe the taste, but it's the best dish I've ever had.
I prepare the dish again. Voila... The fried rice is ready, although it's not as tasty as when I had it in other place. It tastes a bit bland, with not many flavors exploding in my mouth. Everything tastes plain.
While eating the bland fried rice, I read the poster I took earlier. There's a contact number on the poster. I try calling that number.
Ring, ring, ring.
"Hello, this is Team Aqua. How can we assist you?"
"Uh... is the registration for membership still open?"
"Yes, it is. May I know the name, please?"
"Rick"
"How old are you now?"
"20."
Alright. Do you have a phone number?"
I give my phone number.
"Great, you need to come tomorrow for an interview schedule with our boss. Whether you'll be accepted or not will be decided directly by the boss."
"Thank you."
The registration via phone is complete. I feel guilty for using a fake name. I used the alias 'Rick' because I didn't want my real identity to be revealed. You can imagine how embarrassed I would be in front of my friends. Besides, my goal is to observe what Team Aqua is like and how life is within the organization.
I need to prepare for the interview with the boss of Team Aqua, where I'll be accepted or rejected on the spot. When you want to be interviewed, it's not just about the communication skills you need. It's the mental preparation that matters. Be ready in the best and worst-case scenarios.