The scent of chalk dust and the whir of the ceiling fan were the soundtrack to Kai Anargya's life. In class XII Science 1 at Harapan Bangsa High School, he was the maestro. His hair was neatly combed, his white shirt impeccably crisp, and his sharp eyes were focused on the complex integral equations on the blackboard.
"Alright, can anyone solve the last problem?" Mr. Danu's voice, belonging to the school's most notoriously difficult math teacher, echoed in the quiet room.
Silence. Most students looked down, hoping to become invisible. But one hand rose, calm and steady. Kai's hand.
"Go ahead, Kai," Mr. Danu said, a faint smile gracing his lips.
Kai walked to the front. His movements were measured, just like his approach to solving problems. He wasn't rushed. He picked up the marker, and within minutes, the board that had held a complicated problem was now filled with an elegant and logical solution. Every step, every formula, was arranged like a verse of poetry.
"Perfect," Mr. Danu hissed as Kai put the marker down. "As always, Anargya. A hundred for you."
Soft applause from a few classmates followed Kai back to his seat. He simply gave a small nod, his expression neutral. This was his world. A world full of certainty, logic, and expectations he always met. He was Kai Anargya, the physics olympiad champion, a future medical student, and his mother's sole pride.
At home, the atmosphere was much the same. Their apartment was small but meticulously neat. Photos of Kai's achievements adorned the living room wall: debate trophies, olympiad medals, and model student certificates. His mother, Riana, was preparing dinner when he arrived.
"How was school today, dear?" Riana asked with a smile. It was a smile that always seemed a little tired, but full of hope when directed at Kai.
"It was good, Mom. I got another hundred on the math test," Kai replied, setting down his bag.
"Smart boy," Riana praised, her eyes shining. "Don't forget, you need to study for the university entrance exams after this. I've already enrolled you in the best tutoring center. Your future has to be bright, Kai. Not like..." Riana didn't finish her sentence, but Kai knew the rest. Not like your father.
Kai nodded. "Yes, Mom."
That night, in his sterile and orderly room, Kai finished all his homework. Thick physics and biology textbooks lay open on his desk. But after making sure his mother was asleep, Kai performed a secret ritual. He crouched down, his hand reaching under his bed, and pulled out an object that was completely out of character for him: a football, its leather worn, with several stitches coming loose.
He hugged the ball. The faint scent of dry grass and earth still clung to it. In his world of perfect scores and certain formulas, only this round object held uncertainty, passion, and a dream he kept tightly hidden.