Dream Is An Alternate Universe
(H)el(l)evator
“Sorry, once again sorry. Your script of drama does not match the market share of our television stations. Maybe you can put it into another,” that friendly smile is very forced. I know because this isn't my first time. In his heart, he was blaspheming me and my work. Like the staff in the office of TV station BCTV yesterday. They easily insulted my hard work, not knowing what I had to go through to get this done. He also asked me to try another TV station! Oh, I guess that's everything in this country. All who open the opportunity to enter the drama script, of course. However, I am not anyone who can be angry at the situation.
So all I did was smile back and say, “Thank you for the chance, Mr.” After that I pulled my script from the table and turned around to get out of the room. A single breath escaped from my mouth as soon as my feet were on the outside of the glass door. This rejection is proof that I may really have no talent, as people in my childhood said.
“Uh, what are you thinking? Excitement, there is still one chance you to be a real writer,” I encourage yourself who is tired. With my steps dragged, I headed for the elevator to get out of this building. I pressed the button attached to the wall to signify that I was waiting for him on this 9th floor. While waiting for the door to open, I saw my reflection in the metal. I am not attractive, what's more beautiful, especially with eye bags that are still clearly visible despite trying to cover it with powder.
The tring!
The metal door opened and I immediately set foot to enter. After that I chose the 1st floor on the button that was on the side of the door before it closed automatically. Inside here there is only myself, along with 4 sides of my shadow that is clearly reflected.
Hey, Mamacita naega a-ya-ya-ya-ya~
Suddenly my phone rings. After seeing the name of his contact clearly stated, from the book publisher, I immediately raised it in hopes of good news.
“Halo ...”
“Oh, hello, good afternoon, with Sister Rumi?” ask the voice of a woman at the end of the line.
“Iya, right,” answered me trying to return to being upbeat and cheerful.
”So this way, our publisher has received the script of the novel Sister titled ‘Elevator Towards Hell’. We have also read the synopsis carefully,” the sound was then paused. My chance to pray, may the next good news, yes, Lord. “We decided ... can not yet publish your book.”
Bruk!
I sat on the cold elevator floor. What should I say to my parents, especially my mother, after I was sure to take this path, but it didn't produce anything?
“Ah .. fine ... thanks for the news,” reply me with lunglai. For years I tried two big steps, writing a novel and a play, instead of a newspaper short story. But this is a rejection for the whole time. I can't say the exact number. That would make me look like a real loser. Now I can't even see my pathetic reflection on the elevator wall. I am a useless person!
Bzzz! Beep it!
The lights inside the elevator flickered wildly without warning. Not only that, the sound of the crackling also adds to the tension. I slowly pressed the elevator door. Unfortunately there was no response whatsoever, nor was the floor button.
Bruk! Bruk!
“Please! Anyone!” I shouted while trying to bang on the door. “Please! Eject me! Has anyone heard?”
Cracks! Srats!
Sure enough, what I was afraid of happened. The elevator dropped can be seen from the floor pointer whose number changed rapidly. Now I can just step back and hold on to the handle embedded in the elevator wall. Is this the end of me, the Amateur Writer?
Ting!
The elevator doors open automatically and reveal white light. Didn't the elevator fall from the 9th floor? Am I dying? Whatever it is, I choose to follow my instincts, get out of there right away. My feet stepped outside and the sight before me made me regret. Why am I in hell, or what normal people call elementary school, this? Soon I turned the bow back to the elevator, but all I found was a light green wooden door. Even more strangely, now I could see myself as an 11-year-old walking into the classroom.
Bluk!
My small steps were crushed by one of the prank students.
“Rumi, if her eyes are pressed, dong!” snatched one of my classmates first. A fella? Oh, what kind of friend wounds his friend? At that moment, I just lowered my head and apologized slowly. Next, I sat in the back seat, near the window. My bag is here, as was my custom as a child. I followed my young self without being the object of their attention, uh, what exactly happened to me until I experienced this strange thing?
“Rumi, Rumi, can you help me answer this math problem?” Yena stood in front of me and thrust a math book in front of me, which was small of course. Ah, I remember right today! If this is a dream, please wake me up before things get worse and hurt my head with all those memories.
“Oh? Can't, huh? Sorry, I'm wrong, you ‘his math is always under seven. If you say Master, you mostly eat stupid! Really not ready?” yena's words were cut off by the laugh by the entire class. It was a long time ago, but the pain of his heart is still there today. Fucking elevator! Why should I be brought to this day?
“Rumi, Rumi, if you're older what would you be?” Yena sneered again.
I small reply steadily, “Author! I want to be a famous writer!”
“Hahaha, if your story is like the one in the wall magazine, you better be nothing, Rum! Who wants to read that? Whahuh? A stupid kid's friendship story? Bizarrely,” one class laughed, as if agreeing to those words and condemning my future. I who saw that could only sigh because indeed, in the future I have not become anything, just like Yena said.
The crane! The crane!
The doorbell rings. Ah, it's a time of mathematics, a science that is not pleasant to me, especially I am bad at that lesson. Unlike Indonesian, it is much better. But who cares? As long as my math score is still bad then I am a fool, so says everyone around. Even those words still surrounded me as an adult. My math teacher at the time, Miss Sylvie came in. However, the door behind it opened and revealed a bright white light. Just as I looked there, I was sucked towards the light without being resisted.
Brak!
I opened my eyes as soon as the sound entered my ears. Reflex I turned my head to the source of that voice which seemed to be my small self. He hit a wall magazine board with lots of paper.
“This is all outrageous,” angrily little me tore the paper containing the mockery while continuing to grumble, “I have to get out of this hell. I gotta get out quick. I should be able to silence them after that.” What does all this mean? Why do I have to see this scene in hell again? With quick steps, my little self came out of the school gate and walked towards the house. I followed his footsteps. After I passed the school gate, I went out in my room. It still feels weird, however, I'm going to go with the flow to know what the elevator means to throw me here.
“Rumi!” a woman called out my name in a high tone, without even looking I knew it was my angry mother. My little one froze on a desk chair while the clattering of maternal footsteps drew closer.
“Rumi! You really are .. Who taught you to lie, huh? How can you hide all your midterm test scores under the bed. Thought you didn't know what?” mom pulled myself small and was about to throw a punch using magic. Quickly, my hand grasped the magic. But I forgot, I'm an adult not seen here. The scene still happens. A scene that not only hurt my ass, but also my heart and soul.
Plaque!
“You so what are you tomorrow big?” the woman I called the mother kept nagging while my little self just fell silent.
“Still want to be a writer? What will you eat later? Money too much! Learn right so you can work right too!” My tears are slowly spilling, without me preventing them. Wonder how I was able to hold it back as a child. I'm really that strong.
Plaque!
“I don't want to know, anyway next repetition should go up!” after smugly abusing me I was small, mother came out.
“I have to prove myself to Mom,” my small monologue while wiping the tears in the corner of her eyes violently, “I have to be able to succeed. I'll learn, get out of these two hells and silence them all.”
“Wah, I was so excited like that first?” my murmur looked at my small self who was even more fiery to work and study after being blasphemed and scolded all day. It should be like that my spirit right now, like it was in the past, when I was in those two hells, my elementary school friend and my mother's doubts. The little Rumi who was engrossed in writing moved out of her chair. Having completely forgotten and curious about what I wrote back then, my feet stepped closer to the table.
For : Rumi In The Future
Don't stop being successful and prove them wrong about you and your goals! Come out of this hell.
Ah, you were right in my childhood, I can't stop before success and prove them wrong.
Kriet ...
The room door suddenly opened wide and revealed a dazzling white light. I walked into the light to know what happened next and ...
Bruk!
I immediately fell on the zinc floor, seemingly tripping while walking.
“Aw, uh, I'm still alive?” I muttered after recognizing the elevator shape of the television station building that I rode before being drawn to the past. At first glance I saw a crumpled paper in front of me. Without suspicion, I took the paper and read it.
For : Rumi In The Future
Don't stop being successful and prove them wrong about you and your goals! Come out of this hell.
“Oh, how is it possible. Did I just go through time? But ...”
The tring!
The LED in the elevator showed the number 1, the floor where I was supposed to go down.
“Gosh, really weird,” I stood up and confirmed the clothes and took my phone which was also lying on the floor before the elevator door opened. I came out of there with a burning spirit. My childhood was hell, but it gave me a new spirit not to give up before it could win the hearts of those who doubted my life choices.