Chapter 1: Chosen by Destiny

Darren sighed. He laid his face on the table, while his ears faintly listened to the professor in front of the class. His eyes were fixed outside the window right next to his seat. He saw many students walking around with their friends. Of course they seemed to be enjoying their college life. Meanwhile, for Darren, the only fun thing in the world of college was when he could maintain his sleep pattern.

He buried his face in his arms. “I shouldn’t have chosen this major,” he grumbled softly.

He was a civil engineering student. He was now in his third year. Although he had entered his fifth semester, he barely understood any of the lessons from the previous years. It wasn't that he was stupid. But civil engineering, which was full of calculations, was not really his passion. He failed many of his courses, and his grades were below average. If he forced himself to continue with this major, he would probably graduate in fourteen semesters.

“When I started to think, ‘I suck at it not because I’m stupid, but because it’s not my field of expertise.’ Either that’s true, or I’m just making up my own excuses so I don’t feel stupid.”

He was forced by his parents to go to college. At first, he did not really oppose the decision. However, after he found out that his parents forced him to choose a major that he was not interested in, his enthusiasm for college immediately disappeared.

"This country will be filled with development in the future. If you enter this department, it will be easy to find a job."

“Why go into a major that doesn’t have a clear job? It’s better to go into civil engineering. It’s easy to find a job, you can get rich quickly!”

Darren lifted his face in thought.

“They may have a point. But what’s the point if I can’t do it?” he muttered. “All they care about is money, money, and money.”

He was always haunted by feelings of confusion and guilt. All his life, all he could do was follow his parents' wishes. He never really had any ambitions of his own. Even if he did, his parents would just dismiss them as useless and tell him to pursue something more realistic.

“What can I do? I can’t argue with them. If I did, I’ll be a disobedient child. But if I keep going, there’s a big chance I’ll fail and it’ll all be in vain.” He buried his frustrated face again. “In the end, it’ll all be my fault. I… I don’t know what else to do…”

The class ended. All the students walked out of the classroom.

Darren walked the halls alone. As usual. The department he was taking was filled with intelligent people. They were a group of elite brains who certainly felt reluctant to associate with Darren who was known for often repeating courses.

But Darren was used to it. If he wasn't used to it, he might have jumped off the top floor of the campus dormitory last year. But, hey! He was still alive. He wasn't that weak. Also, he wasn't completely alone in this world.

“Darren!”

Someone shouted. That is a voice Darren always waited to hear. He turned his head and saw a familiar face.

“Derwin!”

The man was his friend from the astronomy department. His name was Derwin. He was the friend who always accompanied him even though they were on very different paths. One of them observed the beauty and vastness of the sky, while the other was forced to observe the dusty construction land. Although different, their hobbies and interests in similar things were what connected them.

“Oy, Derwin, there’s something I want to show you.”

Darren, who was previously looks lethargic, immediately became excited when he saw him. Then Derwin approached, because Darren seemed to be giving a sign that this was not something common.

"What is it?"

Darren then took something out of his waist bag. A pair of iron sticks connected by a chain, or commonly called nunchaku.

“Just arrived this morning. Fresh from the shipping box.” Darren seemed excited to show it off.

Derwin face is as excited as Darren's. He gently touched the stick while observing it thoroughly.

“Made of iron, huh… And also, the chain isn’t too long. Suitable for acrobatics,” Derwin said.

“You seem to know quite a lot about this stuff.”

“If you often watch kung fu movies, you will definitely know a lot.”

After observing the nunchaku, Derwin folded his arms while looking at Darren doubtfully.

“But, can you use it?” he said.

“It’s easy. Just swing it.”

Darren spun his nunchaku confidently, only to end up hitting himself in the face. His face immediately turned red, either from the pain or from embarrassment. Perhaps both.

“Don’t try to act cool. You better learn it first before embarassing yourself in front of a girl by hitting your own balls,” Derwin said with a laugh.

“I'm not that dumb.”

"Yeah, sure."

Darren He put his nunchaku back into his bag. At the same time, Derwin seemed to remember something.

“Speaking of girls, I actually wanted to give you this.” Derwin took out a letter and lend it onto Darren’s hand.

“What is this? It’s not a detention letter, right?”

“What else if not a love letter.”

Hearing that, Darren took a few steps back while looking at Derwin sarcastically. “Oh, i didn't know you like men.”

“It's not from me, Dumbass! This is just a request from my classmate." Derwin slapped his forehead. “Her name is Niva, she’s in the same class as me. Lately, she’s been asking a lot of questions about you. It seems like she’s been secretly paying attention to you.”

“Oh my... A stalker?”

“Don’t be like that! Why don’t you be positive a bit? There’s a beautiful girl who gave you a love letter. You should be happy.”

Darren turned the letter over. On the other side, Niva's name was written in neat handwriting.

“I’m happy! I just don’t really know what to do,” he said.

“Yeah, that's what i expect from a dude who spent most of his life alone.” Derwin laughed. “Well, no worries. If she failed to catch your interest, I'll be happy to take her out.”

“In your dreams. I ain't gonna let this one slide just like that.” Darren gripped the letter tightly. “This kind of thing only happens once in a century. Of course I’m not going to waste it.”

Derwin smiled. “Splendid. That’s what I wanted to hear,” he replied. “Read the letter then. Go see her and tell what your heart feels." He then turned around.

“You’re not coming?” Darren asked.

“This is your fight, soldier. My duty is merely as an envoy.” Derwin stopped and gave a thumbs up. “I wish you the best, soldier.”

Darren felt touched watching his friend's back walk away proudly. Even though he knew that Derwin was just quoting the words from a novel he had read, it still felt really epic.

“Thank you, soldier.”

He opened the letter and read it.

“The handwriting is very neat. Do all astronomy students have good handwriting? Nah... Derwin’s handwriting looks like a paracetamol.” Darren read the letter to the end. “Meet me behind the cafeteria.”

Darren's heart was pounding. He never thought this day would come. The day the romance genre in his life finally began. He was a little scared, but he had no intention of backing down. He put the letter in his pocket and walked towards the cafeteria.

The cafetaria was crowded as usual. Moreover, it was lunch time. But Darren ignored the crowd and headed straight to the back of the building. But when he arrived there, he didn't find anyone. He was the only one standing in the middle of the noisy crowd that seemed to pull him back to reality.

“Of course. It was too good to be true.” He laughed, but he was hurt. “How could a woman be so serious about writing a love letter just for someone like me.”

He didn't feel sad, just a little disappointed. He thought this was just one of Derwin's many jokes. He was about to walk away from there, when suddenly a woman's voice called his name.

“Darren Aswan.”

Then Darren was surprised. The voice was very soft to the ear, as soft as a cashmere silk that melted when it touched the skin. He immediately turned around and saw a beautiful woman. Her hair was white like silver, and her skin was white like pearls. Her appearance was too unique, to the point that Darren thought she was a transfer student from abroad.

“You're… Niva?” he asked hesitantly.

The woman was silent. Not shy silent. But her expression did feel so calm like the sea without waves. Darren himself was confused because he couldn't read her expression. But from the look in her eyes, Darren could feel that this woman had no evil intentions such pranking him.

“I have been waiting for you for a long time,” said the woman.

Darren was still doubtful whether the woman in front of him was really Niva or he was just mistaken. But hearing her words just now, Darren felt that the woman in front of him seemed to already know him.

“Excuse me, who are you?” Darren asked. “Have we met before somewhere?”

The woman suddenly ran towards him and hugged him. Her embrace felt warm, despite her cold appearance. But there was another feeling from the embrace. A heavy feeling of longing. At first glance, it felt like a reunion after a thousand years of separation.

Darren was silent as the woman hugged him. He didn't know what to do. He knew that if someone saw them, there would be a big misunderstanding. But at that moment, his hands felt too heavy to let go. He couldn't move, his body wouldn't allow it. He didn't understand. All he could do was trying to talk to her.

“I... I'm sorry. Can you let me go? I don't want anyone to see us like this.”

But the woman suddenly tighten her hug and whispered in Darren's ear.

“Sorry, Darren. Right now, I just feel like the peak of my happiness is being by your side. So, let me be like this for a little longer.”

A few minutes later, the woman finally let go of Darren. Their eyes then exchanged glances.

“Wow, that was… so sudden.” Darren scratched his hair. “I was hoping you could explain what happened first.”

The woman stretched out her hand and touched Darren's forehead with the tip of her finger.

“Your friend’s job was to bring you here. And mine is to take you somewhere else,” the woman said. “And as for the explanation… your journey shall give you the answer.”

Suddenly, a dazzling white light shone. Darren was shocked. He wanted to run. But his body couldn't move. He could only see how the woman in front of him looked at him with a look full of happiness.

"See you again, Darren. In a new world, in a new life."

[To be continued]