After Tio introduced himself, Mbak Hesti reminded us of the tasks we needed to prepare, including the co-card with a formal photo.
"Mbak!" Hari from the Pharmacy Department raised her hand. "Where can I print my photo, Mbak? I don't have a vehicle."
"Hm…" Mbak Hesti thought for a moment. "Anyone have a vehicle but no printed photo?"
Tio immediately volunteered. "No worries, Mbak. I'll take care of it."
Mbak Hesti agreed, since Tio was from Jogja and knew the places. I, without a vehicle, was suggested to buy supplies at Mirota, but Sekar recommended Toko Merah because it was cheaper.
"I don't know where that is," I replied honestly.
Sekar suggested I walk to Mirota, but Mbak Hesti rejected the idea since it was getting close to dusk. Tio then offered to help. I started to think he was a good guy.
On the way, Tio frequently stopped to take pictures of the campus atmosphere, which was romantically beautiful. We talked about photography, and I realized that Tio wasn't as I had imagined—he was friendly and open, even though he was from FEB, a faculty that was often seen as having it all.
We met an elderly man selling floor mops. I bought two for twenty thousand rupiah and gave him a compliment. Tio asked, "Why buy it, out of pity?"
I answered, "I'm a fan of him. Despite his condition, he keeps living with dignity. We shouldn't pity people just because of their appearance or material wealth."
Tio smiled, "Turns out, we think alike."
We grew closer, and from that moment, we started talking more often. Tio was more social than I had expected, and even though many girls liked him, he felt more comfortable with me. After the orientation ended, we remained good friends.
"What do you think Tio felt when he saw Nis like that? Share your guess in the comments! Don't forget to vote if you're curious about what happens next!"