A Story of a Promise

 

 

Once, there was a little kid named Shadow. Before he was born into this world, his so-called father left. His so-called father was described as an unpleasing person, and because there is a saying, "Like father, like son," he was considered a disappointment to the family. So he was disliked by his family. Since no one acknowledged him at home. he often caused trouble just to be noticed at school. That's one reason why he was transferred from one school to another. He was 6 years old when he was transferred to a private school and was even enrolled in Section B, which is the second-highest section in the school, by his parents, hoping that he would be more attentive at school. But still, he was a laid-back, happy-go-lucky, playful, and troublemaker kid.

One afternoon when he was running around the playground like he always did, he saw Pin-Pin, a very simple yet beautiful young girl. She had long black hair and always wore a hairpin paired with a sweet smile. She always sat near the slide during break time and after class, as if waiting for something. For some reason, he was attracted to her.

Then the unexplainable happened. He didn't know how it started, but he would lie beside Pin-Pin every afternoon rather than running around like he used to do back then. And then Pin-Pin would tell him stories about princesses and knights. They became close and were often together most of the time with another friend named "Ka Dieng." But then one day when Shadow was at the canteen, he got into trouble with an older student from the school. Fearlessly, he faced them, but life is not like a movie, so he ended up being beaten. After losing, he cried beside a tree, and then Pin-Pin saw him. She asked what happened, and he told her. Then suddenly she took out her handkerchief and wiped the dirt and tears from Shadow's face, smiled, and then turned around and said, “Promise me... Do not fight again, because fighting is bad!” Then Shadow replied, “I promise.” Then the bell rang, and they both went back into the class and did their normal routine as kids up until the school year ended. During the summer, Shadow was excited about the next school year, but sadly, he received word from his mother that he would be transferred to another school without getting a chance to say goodbye to his dearest friend. He was too young to travel alone and had no means of communication available to him, so he lost contact with her.

Five years later, he tried to look for this girl but had no luck up until the present. But he never forgot one thing: with those simple words of the girl, a promise was made, and it changed his life from that very moment up until the present. Because of that promise, Shadow learned to face every life challenge in the most peaceful way he knew.

Shadow knows that Pin-Pin might have forgotten about him since they didn't spend so much time together, and a lot has already happened since then, and they were so young back then. But he is still hoping that one day in the future, he might be able to see her again and thank her for making him make that promise.

The End