Chapter 5 – Meeting the Street Gang

If you're wondering whether I enjoyed staying at home...

No.

I didn't.

Living with Aunt Santi, who always seemed angry, made the house feel suffocating.

That afternoon, after school, I walked home alone from the angkot stop. Yuli had gone home earlier because our classes ended at different times.

Up ahead, I noticed a group of older boys hanging out at the end of the alley.

Something about them made me uneasy.

I tried to take another route.

I had only taken a few steps when—

Thud!

A hard kick slammed into my back.

I crashed face-first onto the ground.

As I struggled to get up, one of the boys crouched beside me with a wide grin.

"Nice to meet you, bro."

Before I could say anything, another boy laughed.

"So you're Yudha... the murderer's son."

A third boy grabbed the front of my school uniform.

"We're Gang One. We know exactly who you are. It's an honor to have the murderer's son join our gang."

They burst into laughter.

I froze.

Instead of beating me up again...

They were inviting me to join them.

I stood and brushed the dust off my uniform.

"Still shocked?" one of them said, chuckling. "Relax. We all live around your neighborhood."

Another boy slipped a small piece of paper into my hand.

"Tomorrow night. Seven o'clock. Be here."

Then they simply walked away.

I stared at the paper for a long time.

The next evening...

I quietly slipped out of Grandma's house without anyone noticing.

I walked through one narrow alley after another until I reached an abandoned building near Grandma's neighborhood.

A chill ran down my spine.

The building was dark.

Several motorcycles were parked outside.

Laughter echoed from inside.

As soon as I stepped through the doorway, everyone turned to look at me.

Then...

They laughed.

One of the boys walked over and patted my shoulder.

"Welcome to Gang One, bro. I'm Andi."

He held out his hand.

"Glad you came."

One by one, the others shook my hand.

That night we talked for hours.

We exchanged names.

Home addresses.

Schools.

They joked with one another and laughed without holding back.

For the first time since moving to Bandung...

I felt like I belonged somewhere.

Before everyone left, Andi smiled.

"We're meeting again this Saturday."

I nodded.

That night I sneaked back into the house as quietly as possible.

The living room was dark.

I let out a relieved sigh.

Just as I was about to walk past—

Click.

The lights came on.

Aunt Santi was already sitting on the sofa with her arms crossed.

"Why are you home so late?"

"Uh... we had a group assignment, Aunt."

I lied.

Her eyes narrowed.

"Next time, tell us! We've been worried sick!"

Strangely...

I wasn't scared.

I was annoyed.

A few days later...

When I got home from school, Aunt Santi was waiting for me again.

Without saying a word, she slammed a pack of cigarettes onto the table.

"What's this?"

I stayed silent.

"Are you smoking now?"

I was exhausted.

I'd spent the whole day at school.

The moment I got home, I was already being judged.

"Whether I smoke or not... isn't your business."

Slap!

Her hand struck my cheek.

"Watch your mouth!"

Grandma hurried out of her room.

"That's enough, Santi. Let Yudha rest first."

I glared at my aunt.

"You're not my mother!"

The room fell silent.

She looked straight into my eyes.

"But you're living in my house."

Her voice was cold.

"If you want to stay here... you follow my rules."

Yuli peeked out from her bedroom.

The moment she saw us arguing, she quietly closed the door again.

Saturday finally arrived.

I met Gang One again.

That night we rode motorcycles around the city.

I sat on the back of one of the bikes.

The cool night wind hit my face.

We laughed.

We shouted into the empty streets.

For some reason...

I felt freer than I ever did at home.

That night felt wonderful.

But the moment I opened the front door...

Aunt Santi was waiting again.

"You're getting wilder every day."

I stayed silent.

A few days later...

She was standing at the front door when I came home.

This time, she looked even angrier.

"Where have you been?"

I didn't answer.

"You skipped school today."

My chest tightened.

"That's the third time."

Her voice trembled with frustration.

"The school called me in because of you. You're becoming nothing but trouble."

I lowered my head without saying a word.

That was my life now.

A student everyone looked down on during the day.

A member of Gang One at night.

And little by little...

Street fights between rival gangs became just another part of my life.

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