A New Class, A New Life

Starting 8th grade brought a completely new experience for me. With a new class arrangement, I was finally separated from the classmates who used to bully me in 7th grade. In this new environment, I found new friends, and some of them eventually became my closest companions. One of them, Putra, had actually repeated the grade and joined our class. Despite this, we quickly bonded, and he became one of my best friends.

Putra was considered a "tough guy" at school, and I enjoyed being around kids like him. It felt reassuring—like having a protector by my side. However, as it turned out, we were probably the most rebellious students in the class. We often skipped lessons, sneaking out to ride real motorcycles after school, modifying them, and racing on the streets.

Among us was Rio, who we often teased for being a "mama’s boy." He always went straight home after school and was rarely allowed to stay out late. His mother’s strict rules kept him from joining most of our activities, and we made fun of him for it. Ironically, I also had strict parents who forbade me from staying out late—but unlike Rio, I never followed their rules.

Rio actually owned a motorcycle, but he rarely brought it to school because his mother didn’t allow it. This made us tease him even more. On top of that, he wasn’t the bravest kid and often stayed silent when others picked on him, even though he had the physique to fight back. That’s when Putra and I started "brainwashing" him. We told him that if anyone bullied him again, he should fight back immediately, and we would stand by him.

Surprisingly, Rio listened. One day, he got into a fight and won without much effort. After that, no one dared to mess with him again. Instead, we became the ones constantly getting into fights. We weren’t the type to bully others, but we never hesitated to fight when challenged. If I ever felt the slightest bit threatened, I had no problem challenging someone to a fight. To be honest, I had never lost a fight, even against upperclassmen. No one ever sought revenge on me either. I wasn’t the friendliest person in school, but I could easily get along with troublemakers, which was exactly the kind of company I wanted to keep.

Over time, I gained many friends—both classmates and upperclassmen, especially those considered the "school tough guys." I often went out at night with them, staying out late to hang out. This was something completely new in my life. There were even times when I returned home in the early morning, shocking my parents who had been waiting for me. But just as I had always believed—fear exists only in our imagination. Once you experience something, the fear disappears. I had never truly feared anything in life.

Love and Relationships? Not for Me.

My romantic life remained unchanged. I never felt the need to constantly be in a relationship. Unlike others, I never found comfort in being tied down by emotions or commitments. Having a relationship seemed like more of a hassle than a source of happiness. I often felt lonely, but in a way, that loneliness was exactly what I wanted. My focus was on enjoying my youth, embracing mischief, and living freely—without the complications of love weighing me down.