The Staircase
First Semester

Ever since I found out Nina's facebook account, it seemed like my first semester of college was lighter. Although I had to go through a period of introduction to the campus, which I thought was more of a senior introduction - here I first felt the military upbringing. Wake up at dawn, not late from campus hours. Do you know what campus clock means? I honestly think college hours are the same as my cell phone clock. Even if I came at five in the morning according to schedule, but the campus hours were just those on campus who know-I was still punished by crawling, push-ups, occasionally yelled. This is where my geeky nature begins to wear off. Three days of campus introduction, it felt like three years. Even the lunch hour became a precious moment that I waited impatiently for.

You must have heard of the senior rule consisting of two chapters like this: the first chapter, the senior is never wrong. The second article, if the senior is wrong back to the first article. It means that senior will not be wrong and cannot be blamed, as a result of the punishment for the consecutive sentences I received.

"How's ospeknya?" Nina asked tonight, barely going to bed early, but a short message from Nina made my eyes excited again.

"If there's an advanced ospek it looks like I'm going home, Nin." My quick reply gave her a little laugh emoticon.

"We were too. But it's exciting, right?"

"Seru, I'll never forget her and forget you." Maybe if I were indecent with some roommates, they would be astonished and immediately dodge after seeing me like a madman smiling to himself. Fortunately, I am still hitchhiking in Desi's house, which is not too far from campus, fifteen minutes walk away. There was a plan for independence, even though Desi's mom offered me until college to stay at her house. Fifteen minutes of walking is exhausting. Incidentally near the campus there is a special flats for students, but not yet, I have not found a friend for one room.

"Correct? Don't you know from Aga that this is my facebook account?" Nina made fun of me with an emoticon sticking out her tongue.

"Yes, sorry. Your account name is different from what I know. Uh, by the way there's no meeting time?" Wanted to feel free after three days locked up in a wolf cage.

"I have a lot of work, Ki. I'll tell you later, yeah." Reply Nina. I'm not energetic anymore to reply to the message. My eyes were weak.

Tomorrow, "Good morning, Ki. Sleepy night, huh?" Nina's message two minutes ago. The first cell phone thing I look for every morning, it wasn't like this, since it's close to Nina I think it's everything. I'm more excited about holding my phone than a book. Even though the book on my left hand that I immediately read when Missi knocked on my door offered me a meal, but I put it down again when Missi moved away.

"Yes, Nin. I overslept. Three days ospek turned out to be quite draining." It didn't take long, my short message was instantly sent to Nina's phone. As fast as lightning Nina replied.

"Okay, then rest. You guys haven't been to college, have you?"

"Yet. If you have time to tell, yes. We haven't seen each other in a long time." My reply. Curious and long for the smile Nina who half of the smile was decorated with dimples.

"Yes, Ki. Take a break."

I hung up my phone, charged it, headed for the dining room. Miss Desi prepared breakfast for me this morning. Ms. Desi is very kind, friendly and considerate. I owe him a lot. So much I do not want to stay in his house for long, too troublesome, I murmured in my heart.

Until the time comes I'll meet Nina, "In the Garden, I'm leaving now." Answer Nina.

I hurriedly took a shower and put on neat clothes, I was currently indexed near the campus. Indeed, this part is a lot of stories that I have shortened, the full story is in the novel entitled "4 Years".

My footsteps grew even faster after getting a new message from Nina, "I've arrived at the park. Where are you?" Ask.

I accidentally did not answer the message, until five minutes from the message Nina-I arrived at the park, breathing increasingly hunting the air, tight.

"I just got here, Nin. Are you still in the park?"

"You're across, huh? I'm in a garden that's a lot of trespassers." Answer Nina. If only I had a vehicle, without a second thought and a lot of reason maybe I just went to Nina across the street.

"Yes, Nin. I'm near the gazebo. I'm waiting here, yeah. You see, my phone's gonna be out soon, the battery's a little leftover." My reason, but it's true, my phone's battery runs out fast. Understand the used cell phone, this is also grateful to have helped me contact Missi, and Nina.

It was fortunate that I quickly pressed the send button, otherwise; maybe tonight my meeting with Nina was canceled.

"You're Aki, right?" Asked the dimpled woman, she approached me with her girlfriend.

I got out of my seat, "Yes, right. You Nina?"

"Yes, you don't remember me. But your change is drastic, Ki." The answer.

"You've changed a lot, Nin. It's getting pretty." My voice intonated with a shrinking voice, but Nina's friend's smile showed that she heard my appeal. Nina was embarrassed.

"Gombali. So where are we going?"

"I don't know either, Nin. It's my first time here. You know a nice place to hang out?"

"Alright, follow me." I walked beside Nina, occasionally my right hand touched her left hand.

"Oh, yes. What's your name?" I asked Nina's friend. This fast-paced heartbeat made me forget to just get to know his friend. Even the three college assignments of the week I haven't finished, as if they don't exist. Dizziness, tiredness, and other personal problems such as financial depletion are instantaneous. The vibration on my finger that came into contact with Nina was warm and knocked on the door of my heart, really, the door was already wide open. No one can enter, except for Nina who is beside me at the moment.

"I'm Cindy, bang." Answer the woman next to Nina.

It is better when dating, do not occasionally bring friends; if we are not disturbed, then our friends are lonely. Nina's friend just quietly listened to the two of us talk about the days of Elementary School.

"You weren't like this, Ki. Remember, didn't you, Aga threw your hat?" Nina giggles.

"I remember Nin. Uh, you're changing now, too, loh. Your hair is getting longer."

There was no distance between the two of us, the occasional garden chair whining in pain holding our weight. Nina's friend sat beside her.

If only there were no friends, maybe I would have immediately expressed my feelings for Nina tonight. But what to say, Nina and I talked in moderation, until the farewell-expressions of feelings that I had prepared for many days were forced to recant.

"I just got to the cost." Nina's message on my phone.