"Good morning, Nut."
The civil engineer looked up from his desk in the smaller room. There was another person there, Ying, sitting in the cubicle at the opposite. The bespectacled girl glanced up slightly as Solar entered, exchanged a brief nod with the architect, and then returned to her work on the computer.
"Morning, Solar. What's up?" Nut replied.
Adjusting his glasses, Solar sat down in front of Nut and then looked at him seriously. "I have a favor to ask you."
"What's it?" Nut shifted his gaze from the laptop on the table.
"Please check my calculations." Solar spoke almost in a whisper, as if not wanting Ying to hear.
Nut's eyebrows shot up. "Oh? For Mr. Kaizo's project?"
"That's right. Our licensing process is almost complete."
Nut's eyes followed Solar's movement opening his backpack and taking out a thick wad of paper.
"For a six hundred meter high skyscraper. All building contour and stability calculations, soil capacity and strength, shear stress..." Solar took the data one by one and arranged them on the table.
Nut frowned. "Wait a minute, Solar. Isn't Fang on your team? Why not let him check it out?"
Solar glanced over sharply. "Nut, did you forget that Fang is weak in Calculus?"
"Oh," Nut muttered with a nod. "Yes, I forgot. Sorry." He reached for the stack of papers. It was not that Nut felt burdened. It was just, "I'll finish my work here first."
Solar rose to his feet and smiled. The engineer, twelve years older, was always reliable. "Okay. Thanks a lot, Nut."
"You're welcome." Nut looked at the junior. "So, the team for Mr. Kaizo's project is the four of you?"
"Four?" Solar had not yet left the room.
"Mr. Amato, you, Fang, and that mural artist?"
"Oh, right. There are four people. But that last one is not from our bureau."
"Hmm..." Nut thought for a while and Solar waited. "Mr. Kaizo will fund the entire project, right?"
"Yes."
"Shall I help you contact Mr. Tarung's bureau to open a tender for workers? I heard they've added more people. I'll inform Yaya later, so she can take care of the payment."
Solar's smile grew even bigger. "If you're not bothered, that'll be a great help, Nut. Thank you very much."
"My pleasure." Nut smiled back and looked at him meaningfully.
"Later, Ying," Solar said to the female.
"Yes, Solar," Ying replied with a quick wave.
Solar walked out of Nut's office with a happy heart. There was no mistaking the versatile engineer that Amato had nicknamed him and had proven throughout Solar's life history.
A life history that is like a roller coaster.
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Disclaimer: BoBoiBoy © Monsta
A Luta Continua (Latin: the struggle continues) © Roux Marlet
The author gained no material profit from this work of fiction.
Alternate Universe, No Pairing, Grown-up Characters.
Genre: Friendship, Family, Angst.
Rated M (Mature) for the ADDICTIONS theme (to be explained later).
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Important side notes: Tok Aba and Amato here are not father and son.
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Amato and Pian founded Surya Gamma Sentosa, Sdn. Bhd. when Solar was just one year old (so, you could say the bureau is the same age as Solar). For the first seven years, Amato and Pian ran it just the two of them until a pair of twin siblings, Sai and Shielda, joined them. Sai was a civil engineer and Shielda an architect, both fresh graduates but eager to grow with Amato and Pian. One successful client passed it on to an acquaintance, and so on. That's how the name Surya Gamma Sentosa first became known. The bureau grew even more when Nut, a civil engineer with experience in freelance marketing, joined them and there was a lot of promotion through mass media. That was the same year Solar graduated from Sekolah Rendah.
Solar remembered that he had always loved how Nut could do almost everything. When the small partitions of his Lego toys get stuck in the larger ones, Nut would be able to get them out without breaking them. Nut was also good at carpentry, and had even built a mini drawing table for Solar himself before his parents bought it for his 13th birthday. Later that year, Sai resigned from the bureau to join the government and Pian also left the bureau as his business expanded into real estate and clothing, but he remained a shareholder of Surya Gamma Sentosa.
Solar managed to take accelerated classes in two levels of education, so he started studying architecture at the age of seventeen. He was also determined to graduate as an architect in three years, join Surya Gamma Sentosa, and start his civil engineering studies while working.
All of Solar's plans for his future seem as well thought-out and structured as the drawings on paper on his drawing table. Men may plan, but God has a will. Like a tall tower that collapses because of pride, Solar's future collapse may have started on his eighteenth birthday and he was on his way to the highest peak of his life.
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"Happy birthday, Solar!"
Solar was led by his mother, Hanna, to the back of the house with her hands over his eyes. When Amato called out to her, Hanna released his son, and Solar was surprised to see a silver sports car in front of him.
"This car... is for me?"
"For who else?" Amato laughed and ruffled his son's hair.
The twinkle in Solar's eyes did not hide his excitement. Never he had asked anymore for anything architecture-related as he felt that what he had was enough. It was no coincidence that Solar had started taking driving lessons that year, but he thought he would try to learn to drive Amato's sedan.
The two-seater convertible car was a Chevrolet Corvette and the roof could be opened and closed using a remote control. Solar shuddered at the thought of the price of the vehicle. He touched the dashboard gently.
"Thank you, Mom, and Dad. I-this must be expensive..."
Amato gave a simple smile. "Oh, Solar, you don't have to worry. It's not Hanna if she fails to economize."
Hanna giggled. "This car wasn't bought ready-made, it was assembled!"
Solar was stunned. "Assembled? Part by part?"
"Yes. Your father and Nut built it. That's great, isn't it? You can get half the price."
"It was your idea, Hanna." Amato seemed satisfied. "But there was a certain satisfaction in assembling it. Although, Nut did more of the work than I did."
His parents' explanation warmed Solar's heart. Later that day, Solar bought a food parcel for his father's exemplary employee as a token of gratitude. Nut was surprised to receive it.
"Oh, yes! That's right! Happy 18th birthday, Solar! You're an adult now. I hope you graduate as an architect and get a job here soon! And also, that car will make you look great for going on dates!"
It was Solar's last year studying architecture. Solar shyly responded, "Thanks, Nut. I'm not interested in dating anyone yet. I want to focus on my studies."
And indeed, studies were the only focus of Solar's life until a few years later. Then, new people entered his life, one of which was Fang.
When Solar first met Fang at the civil engineering college, it seemed to be the peak of his life.
Fang was late for his first classes due to a broken leg caused by a motorcycle accident. When he finally joined the class, Fang thought that the person at the front of the Calculus class that day was a very young lecturer. He was shocked when the following week the young bespectacled lecturer sat in the student row.
"Uh... Sir? Bang? I thought you were a lecturer?"
"Who? Me?" Solar looked up at him as Fang slowly sat down beside him. "Oh, you're the one who got an accident. I'm a first-semester student, too. Do I look that old?" Solar smiled wryly as Fang looked even more confused.
"Eh? How come you taught Calculus last week?"
"Because this whole class's exam scores are plummeting. You, too, got a C on your make-up exam, right?"
"Ouch," Fang complained. "I'm really weak in Calculus. So, did you get a good grade then?"
"Perfect grades. That's why I was asked to give a tutorial in class."
"Wow? That's great!" Fang looked amazed. "Teach me again, please. Your explanation yesterday was easy to understand!"
"Later, I'll ask the lecturer's permission first, hehe."
"You'd make a good lecturer, I think," Fang praised again.
"Me? Lecturer? I'm not cut out to be a lecturer. No, it's not a matter of mastery. It's just that it doesn't feel like my calling." They both laughed. "Do you want to be a lecturer yourself?"
Being asked that, Fang lowered his head slightly. "Yes, I want to be a lecturer. That's why I have to study hard because I know my weaknesses."
"Good spirit," Solar said with a genuine smile. "Oh, right. What's your name? I'm Solar and I am a bachelor of architecture."
"I'm Fang... so, how old are you?"
"Three years older than you."
"Oh... should I call you Bang Solar?"
"Nope. Just Solar is enough."
"Okay... Solar." Fang extended his hand and Solar took it.
Similar to Solar, Fang was also an ambitious student. They often studied together and competed in many courses besides Calculus, aiming to graduate with a civil engineering degree in less than four years. Solar, meanwhile, had never had a friend as close as Fang during school or his architecture studies. Being friends with Fang made him realize the importance of close friends who support each other and compete fairly. As a result, Fang was the first outsider Solar invited to ride in his car and come to his house.
"Crazy...," Fang joked absentmindedly when invited by Solar to the campus parking lot.
Solar suppressed a smile. "It's an assembled car. It's not that expensive."
"You assembled it yourself?!" Fang was still mesmerized by the flashy vehicle as he settled into the open-top passenger seat. The silver color gave it an elegant look and Solar was very diligent about cleaning the car.
"No, I did not. Nut assembled it with my Dad."
Fang glared even more. "Your father assembled it? And who else is Nut?"
On their way, Solar told Fang a long story about his father, the construction bureau where he worked part-time, and the exemplary employee who helped assemble the car.
"Congratulations, Fang. You're the first friend I've invited to ride this vehicle."
"Huh?" Fang turned his head in astonishment. "Haven't you been able to drive for a while?"
"Yes. Recall my sentence just now," Solar said, focusing on driving.
"I'm the first friend you took on this vehicle...," Fang half-remembered. "What about the other friends?"
Solar smiled slightly. "None."
Fang paused, not knowing how to respond. Does that mean Solar never had any friends, or what?
"Yeah, I never had any close friends." Solar voiced Fang's thoughts with his eyes still on the road. "People only approached me in class because they wanted to cheat on my assignments or tests. Back in Sekolah Rendah, I was bullied for that, and my Dad transferred me to another school. It was my Mom who used to comfort me when something like that happened. They both praised me a lot, saying that I was smart and that I could do well on my own. I could help my friends, but not by cheating. For example, by giving tutorials. But then again, not everyone wants to be taught slowly when there are other shortcuts to getting good grades."
Fang was stunned again. "Yes, you are indeed smart, anyway..."
"Thank you. You're also smart, Fang, in all courses other than Calculus, right? Hehehe. On top of that, you're also sincere. That's why we're friends."
"Aww. I have to be touched, right?" joked Fang, though he was indeed touched.
"You may." Solar's smile brightened. "Well, here we are! Surya Gamma Sentosa Office!"
The office was a simple house with artificial partitions here and there. Solar introduced Fang to his father and all the employees.
"Civil engineering students too?" asked an enthusiastic Amato.
Solar nodded. "When you graduate, you can work here, Fang!"
Fang looked shy as Solar excitedly (and confidently) said this and that about him (and himself).
"The Algebra, Physics, and Chemistry exams were all cleared by Fang! Yep, his one weakness is Calculus. But don't worry, Fang and I can make up for it later."
Amato seemed impressed with Solar's new friend and later on it was indeed one of the considerations in accepting Fang to work at the bureau. Several times, Fang worked on group assignments with Solar at the bureau and also got to know Amato's employees better.
"This car can be used for racing, right?" asked Fang one day, as he was being driven around the city at high speed by Solar again.
"Right. It's a sports car, after all."
Perhaps Fang didn't realize that his words were like a prediction of the future. But the truth is, no one knows what the future holds. Solar could never have predicted that his father, who was always careful about driving, would be involved in a car accident and that his mother would die in the crash. It was only Solar's second year working as an architect at his father's bureau and, in an instant, happiness was taken from him.
Amato suffered from prolonged grief and was constantly confined to his home. The bureau was even closed for a month before reopening with Nut in temporary charge. Inevitably, Solar's mind was also burdened and his studies stalled.
"Come on, Solar. Your Mom wouldn't want you to get discouraged like this. We can graduate in three and a half years."
If it wasn't for Fang, who was constantly scooping his spirit up, Solar's bachelor thesis would have been even more neglected.
That's right. Solar can't be as downcast as his father. Who knows, with him graduating as quickly as he'd hoped, Dad could smile again? At the thought of that, Solar smiled too.
"Thanks, Fang."
On the eve of their last semester on campus, there was a big New Year's party because a famous singer was a freshman that year. Solar and Fang attended, optimistic that it would be their last party as students. It was Fang who dragged Solar along, to change things up since Solar had been moping around for the past few weeks and hadn't been out much.
"You know what, Fang? My exam yesterday? I got all A's and Dad just said, 'Oh, yeah. Good job, Solar.'"
"Yeah, well, it's good, isn't it?" replied Fang as he ate the pudding. He and Solar stood near the long table where the dessert was served.
"Is it okay if I expect him to praise me like he used to?" Solar ate the pudding as he poured out his heart. "Everything has changed since Mom was gone."
"What was your father's praise like back then?"
"Well, it's normal actually. 'Solar is great, Solar is smart.'"
Fang frowned. "Isn't that the same as 'Good job' earlier?"
"The diction is different."
"But it's still a compliment," Fang argued.
"Maybe it's because it's just Dad without Mom to say it."
Solar frowned as well. He should be grateful that Fang would listen to his childish complaints. But Solar had grown up with plenty of praise from his parents. Losing all of that left him frustrated and discouraged from pursuing his final project.
"Should I say it out for you?" suggested Fang half-heartedly. From Solar's many stories about his parents, especially his mother, and his relationship with Amato at the bureau, Fang could see why Solar was so attached to their praise. It was an undeniable fact that Solar was smart, great, and cool; but did it really need to be said so explicitly? At their age?
"Wow, right. Solar is smart and great, isn't he?"
An unfamiliar voice made them both turn their heads.
"Besides being smart and great, he also has a cool car." The young man in front of them, tall and square-jawed, spoke with a lopsided smile. "Unfortunately, he doesn't have the guts to try racing."
"What did you say?" snapped Solar before Fang could speak.
"Isn't it boring, living peacefully under Mom and Dad's armpits?" The young stranger retorted. "I challenge you to a car race, Solar."
"Solar, don't listen to him," Fang snapped quickly.
By then, several people had gathered behind the young stranger. It looked like his gangmates.
"Playing hardball, huh?" Solar barked, recognizing the type of cowardly bully this guy was.
"Huh. Four-eyes like you, how can you beat our gang," said one of the bully's fat friends.
"Why are you even discussing about eyes? I really need glasses to support my studies, you know?" Solar grew bolder as Fang fussed beside him in panic. They were starting to become the center of people's attention.
"What's your minus?" asked the second bully.
"Six," Solar replied with his nose up. Aside from the fact that the young man in front of him was so tall, Solar felt offended that the man had mentioned his parents.
"Hahaha. You have minus six eyes, how dare you race?" The first bully laughed.
"Why not?" challenged Solar.
"Solar!" Fang was still fussing.
"Okay. Tomorrow night at the city park, I'll be waiting for you and your car. If you lose, don't cry and complain to your parents."
The tall man had already turned around, thinking his challenge was enough of a mental attack on Solar, but he was wrong.
"What if I win?" exclaimed Solar loudly, almost matching the music from the speakers.
The young stranger looked back. "We-I and my comrades-will recognize you and praise your prowess. You may join us if you wish."
"Challenge accepted."
And that's how Solar's downfall began due to decisions made in the heat of the moment.
He ignored Fang's words, "They're the reigning champions of the wild race, you know?"
"Fang, I'm blessed with spatial intelligence, able to quickly estimate distance and space. You've seen me speeding before, right?"
"Yes, but-"
"People like them need to be sensitized a little so that they don't continue to be so arrogant."
"But you've never raced with your car, right?"
"Not yet, anyway. But I'm sure I can do it. The city park circle is an easy path."
"Hey. You know who they are, right, Solar?" said Fang softly. "They're the Tengkotak Gang..."
"That gang of deadbeat students whose thesis isn't finished and who are threatened with dropping out next year?"
"That's right, it's them. The chairman is named Bora Ra. Tenth semester at the moment." Fang frowned when he noticed that Solar was smiling broadly.
"Bora Ra, Yoyo, Kikita, Gaganaz, another one I forgot the name of... they repeat Calculus every year, you know. I saw it on the attendance list when I was teaching."
"Oh," Fang commented briefly.
"That's good. I'll prove them wrong and they'll repent and return to their responsibilities."
Fang shook his head, knowing he couldn't argue with someone with such confidence. Solar's intentions sounded noble, too. Or was he just trying to get a little false credit for something he's never done before? Fang accompanied him on his first race and Solar won the six-person speed match.
"I have to admit, you're really good, Solar." Bora Ra finally said the words. "Please forgive my words yesterday."
"I'm welcomed in the gang?" Solar accepted the apologizing hand.
"Yes."
"Solar?" said Fang incredulously. "You still want to race?"
"Yes, Fang. I need a distraction while I finish my thesis. In a little bit, I'll be able to take the exam."
Fang couldn't blame Solar for needing a change of mood. "But if you race at night, you'll be tired in the morning, right?"
"Fang, I've stayed up late a lot while studying architecture. And this race is only on weekends anyway. Right, Bora Ra?"
For Solar, staying up late was nothing new. His classmates now admired him even more because, in addition to being academically smart, he was also good at racing cars. There had even been a few times when new challengers had bet money to beat him in a race, and all had ended up losing. Solar didn't actually want the money; what he constantly sought was the praise of people recognizing his driving prowess. Car racing became an addiction without him realizing it.
After all, all his life, Solar had been a model obedient child. Did he have to be a little naughty once in a while to make his father care about him again? He ignored Fang's advice later when he already had his civil engineering degree and was still hanging out with the Tengkotak Gang.
"You've already made it into their gang. What more do you want?! Since when can't you get out of this stupid bet, Solar?!"
"You don't always have to watch me compete, Fang. Just continue revising your thesis."
Fang still had that expression. A disappointed look on his face. Why would Fang be disappointed in him? In what way had Solar disappointed Fang?
"What else do you want, Solar...?"
Solar pondered Fang's question during another race that night. That might be right. What was the point of him continuing to race like this? Did he enjoy the racing and the stakes, or was it just the thrill? The adrenaline rush of speeding across the asphalt? The dopamine that came from the thrill of winning?
What Solar was looking for was simple: praise and recognition from others. All his life, he'd been used to them. Academic achievements and winning wild races were just the means. Solar didn't want anyone to threaten to take that away from him.
The roar of the surrounding cars snapped Solar out of his reverie.
"Highest bet! Fifty Ringgit for Solar win!"
"Get ready, all!"
Solar adjusted his glasses and readied himself behind the wheel. Come on, one more easy win, and maybe after this Solar will take a break from racing to take care of his graduation ceremony.
Amato's smiling, proud face was in his imagination. A top graduate, with a perfect GPA, in less than four years which was the standard for undergraduate graduation. Amato would probably be shocked to learn that Solar had also won a wild race in between working on a perfect thesis. What time management! Gosh, Solar's head would explode if he didn't get rid of those imaginary compliments himself.
"Ready... set... go!"
Solar stepped on the gas pedal at full speed and immediately took the left lane. Even though this was a wild race at night when the highway was deserted, Solar always obeyed the traffic rules. After all, being in the left lane meant he didn't have to slow down or change lanes if a vehicle came from the opposite direction. Soon, the competitors were left behind and Solar smiled. Oh, surely he would win again just like the other nights.
However, that night was different. The rainy season had arrived, and a drop or two fell on Solar. Clucking softly, he reached for the controller button to close the car's open roof. The heavy raindrops came down in an instant and Solar was distracted by the fact that the roof was stuck. A few cars manage to overtake him, making Solar curse.
By coincidence, the nearby road signs read, 'Reduce speed when it's raining' and 'Caution of slippery roads'. As Solar remembered it, the route chosen this evening had a lot of descents because it was a hilly area.
It was not that Solar was afraid of the rain at night, but the half-open roof of the car meant that rainwater soaked his glasses. The water droplets on its lenses blocked his vision and Solar quickly took it off, placing it on the dashboard. It was not a wise choice either, considering his eyes were minus six; his vision became all blurry. Solar couldn't afford to waste any more time-a few seconds of stopping to wipe his glasses and he was sure to lose-so he squinted and kept going.
A few more seconds passed and Solar managed to overtake the two cars that overtook him earlier. It looked like there were one or two more ahead of him. The road twisted and turned so much that Solar had trouble making sure, his concentration somewhat broken by trying to estimate the distance from the center of the road in the left lane to the road divider at the edge, which was sheltered by high cliffs. The race course was almost over, and Solar needed to catch up with his opponent quickly.
While turning a curve to the right, there was a car coming from the opposite direction. Solar was a little too centered due to his limited vision, so his distance estimation was not accurate. Startled, Solar swerved to the left, grabbed his glasses (which he hoped were already dry) and almost hit the racing car in front of him (which had just put its lights on so he knew too late).
Solar turned too sharply at still high speed and hit the edge of the cliff hard; his hands were pinned between the steering wheel and dashboard and his glasses were shattered. His last thought before passing out was how sorry he was for ruining the car that Dad and Nut had worked so hard to build.
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to be continued.
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Author's Note:
It's a fact that people with myopia have reduced eyesight at night.
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Roux just realized why it's so hard and slow to continue A LUTA CONTINUA (it's been delayed for over a year since the idea was hatched). Solar here turned out to be a reflection of myself hahaha (bitter laughter) why did I not realize all this time? Part of me was thinking about the plot, the other part was in denial that this was just fiction and not a reflection of reality. The context is different, but the meaning is the same, and today Roux sort of accepted it. Wow, it's really late :")
This story will probably end in 3 chapters (if each chapter doesn't get longer).
Finally, take the good things, and hopefully, the moral message can be conveyed ~
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December 16, 2023