Marlon took a deep breath. "Wow, it feels amazing here."
Pak Herman chuckled. "Right? When you have discussions in a place like this, your mind doesn't overheat so easily."
They picked a wooden bench under a large tree. Pak Herman sat back comfortably, while Romo and Riri adjusted their seating. Marlon, on the other hand, chose to sit on the grass, letting his hands touch the slightly damp ground.
Riri looked around. "Honestly, I forgot this city had a place like this."
Pak Herman smiled. "Most people are too busy looking at the traffic, the tall buildings, and the heat on the streets. They forget places like this still exist." He glanced at Marlon. "Just like this country. People focus on the heated drama at the front stage, and forget there are still cooler, calmer parts."
Marlon turned to him, thoughtful. "So you're saying we need to see the world from a broader perspective?"
Pak Herman nodded. "If you only look from one side, you'll only get half the truth."
Romo, who had been quiet, finally spoke. "But we can't deny it, Sir. Most people are only ever shown one perspective. Either because it's hidden from them or because they don't want to look for another."
Pak Herman shrugged. "People feel safer with what they believe to be true. That's why if we want to see the full reality, we need to break free from our habits."
Marlon gave a slight smile. "Kind of like us now, leaving our usual spots to hang out in an urban forest."
Pak Herman chuckled. "Exactly. At least now you can think with a cooler head."
They all laughed lightly as the breeze rustled the leaves above them.
Complaints, Truth, and Social Media
The breeze in the urban forest was cool, causing the leaves to sway gently. The calm atmosphere contrasted with their conversation, which was starting to dive deeper. After listening to Pak Herman, Romo leaned back against the bench, gazing at the sky through the tree branches.
"You're right, Sir," he said at last. "In other words, we as humans often seek justification rather than the truth."
Marlon turned to him curiously. "What do you mean?"
Romo continued casually, "Like on social media nowadays. Back then, people also disliked each other or had tons of complaints. But since there was no platform, they just kept it to themselves. Maybe grumbled to the ceiling in their room."
Riri giggled. "Yeah, back then, if you were upset, you just vented to a friend. Now?"
Romo shrugged. "Now you just open Twitter, TikTok, Instagram. Complain there. And it turns out lots of people feel the same. Eventually, they think, 'Wow, so many agree with me. I must be right.'"
Pak Herman laughed, slapping his thigh. "Hahaha! That's true. In the old days, if you didn't like something, you'd talk about it at the coffee stall. Now? There's a whole platform to rant. Everyone can be an instant commentator."
Marlon shook his head slowly. "What's worse is sometimes people aren't looking for the truth—they're just looking for company to hate something together."
Pak Herman pointed at Marlon with a grin. "Exactly! That's why I say the internet is like a knife. It can be used for cooking—or for stabbing."
Riri frowned. "That's a scary analogy, Sir."
Pak Herman laughed. "Easy to understand though, right? The point is, if we're only looking for people who agree with us, then we're not searching for truth—we're just looking for validation."
Romo nodded. "Right. Like when someone believes the Earth is flat, and then they form a group full of people who believe the same. They won't listen to scientists or real evidence, because they feel, 'so many people agree—therefore we must be right.'"
Marlon added, "Yeah, they think the truth can be decided by a vote."
They all chuckled.
Riri added playfully, "Though on the bright side, thanks to social media, we get to find out there are people who believe the Earth is flat—or believe in all sorts of weird conspiracy theories."
Pak Herman laughed. "Haha, true! Free entertainment!"
Romo smiled, stirring the grass with the tip of his shoe. "But it also proves that humans tend to find comfort in their own beliefs. When someone says something that challenges their convictions, they get defensive."
Marlon sighed. "So in the end, what should we do? Just go along with the crowd or keep chasing the truth?"
Pak Herman looked at each of them and replied wisely, "If possible, keep searching for the truth. But don't forget to laugh once in a while."
Riri laughed. "Wow, that's the quote of the day, Sir!"
Romo smiled. "He's right though—overthinking everything just makes you stressed."
They all laughed again. In the coolness of the urban forest, their conversation flowed freely, tackling heavy topics with a light-hearted tone. It was still early, and despite the seriousness of their discussion, the atmosphere remained pleasant.
As the breeze began to feel a bit warmer, so did the intensity of their discussion. Marlon, Romo, and Riri were still exchanging thoughts about how people on social media often sought validation over truth.
Pak Herman, who had been quietly listening with a small smile, finally raised his hand. "Hey, hey, before your heads overheat again, let me drop an interesting fact."
The three turned to him.
Pak Herman leaned back on the wooden bench, crossing his legs. "Back in the day, if someone complained too freely like they do now? They might've disappeared."
Marlon raised an eyebrow. "What do you mean, Sir?"
Pak Herman chuckled. "Well, before social media, if someone was too vocal, they could vanish—like magic. One day they're shouting at the coffee stall, the next day their seat is empty. And everyone else just pretended not to know them."
Riri held back a laugh. "That's pretty scary, Sir."
Pak Herman nodded firmly. "Scary, but real. Back then, nobody dared to speak out recklessly. Unlike now—have an anonymous account and you can insult anyone without fear of being caught." He shook his head, adding with satire, "Back then, if you complained too much about the government, they'd take you on a little trip. Not to a nice urban forest like this—but more of a... 'lifetime retreat.'"
Romo chuckled. "Haha, yeah—one-way trip, no return ticket."
Pak Herman slapped his thigh again. "That's why I say, you're lucky. Living in an era where you can rant without suddenly being picked up by strangers."
Marlon grinned. "True, Sir. But still, if you speak too bluntly, you might get hit by the ITE Law."
Pak Herman chuckled. "Exactly! Back then, talking was forbidden. Now it's allowed—but you've got to be careful. Not much difference. It's like being handed a mic, but someone else controls the volume."
Riri laughed. "Or they give you a mic, but the cord's not even plugged in."
They all burst into laughter, the mood lightening again.
Pak Herman exhaled. "So yeah, go ahead and rant on social media—but just remember, if you rant too loudly, someone might come and want to 'have a little chat' with you."
Marlon nodded. "So, we've got to stay smart about it, huh?"