(Hello..!! You are reading the Season 1 Finale of The Transition Series. Read Episode 9 here)
Under the Autumn Stars
Ceritasakti.com - The small backyard behind Jun’s apartment building felt entirely different tonight. A large, worn-out round wooden table stood directly in the center of the dry grass. The autumn night sky above them looked incredibly clear, displaying thousands of bright silver stars over the quiet city.
The five friends gathered closely around the edges of the table. They did not have any pizza tonight. They only had cheap paper cups filled with warm instant chocolate, but nobody seemed to mind.
Jun leaned against the thick wooden edge of the table. He took a deep breath of the freezing air. His return flight to Indonesia departed in exactly twelve hours, but he refused to feel sad.
Odinn rested his massive elbows on the table's surface. He looked much more relaxed. "I spoke to my warehouse manager today," Odinn broke the comfortable silence. "I requested a morning shift for next month. I want to start attending night classes at the community college."
Lanny clutched her warm paper cup tightly. She smiled brightly at Odinn. "That is incredible news. The warehouse is just a stepping stone, Odinn. You are going to build something massive."
Otto perched carefully on a small wooden stool near Kiki. He pushed his thick glasses up the bridge of his nose.
"I received my final test scores this morning," Otto announced quietly. His hands trembled slightly. The entire group stopped breathing for a second. "I passed. I secured the minimum required score for the university scholarship."
Kiki immediately reached across the table and hugged Otto’s shoulders. Jun cheered loudly, completely ignoring the sleeping neighbors in the building above them. The heaviest burden on Otto's chest finally disappeared into the night sky.
Kiki pulled away and looked at her friends. "I mailed my final university application yesterday," she confessed. "The adult world terrified me a few months ago. It felt like a giant machine trying to pull us apart. But looking at this table right now, I am not scared anymore."
They understood her completely. The transition from carefree high school kids to struggling young adults nearly broke their spirit. They survived early morning bus rides, lonely coffee shops, and the brutal distance of different time zones.
The Unbreakable Bond
Jun placed his hands flat on the rough wooden table.
"We are going to change," Jun stated firmly. "Next year, we will be entirely different people. We will have new jobs, new schools, and heavier responsibilities. I will be thousands of miles away fixing engines in Jakarta. But distance and time cannot destroy this table."
Lanny stepped closer, resting her hand on top of Jun's hand. Kiki quickly added her hand to the pile. Otto smiled and placed his hand on top of Kiki's. Finally, Odinn reached over with his massive arm and covered all of their hands together.
The cold autumn wind blew across the backyard, rustling the dry leaves on the ground. But around the old wooden table, the warmth of their friendship burned brighter than the city lights.
They stood together under the starry sky, completely ready to face tomorrow. The transition was finally over. The real journey had just begun.
Author's Note:
Thank you for walking alongside Jun, Kiki, Lanny, Otto, and Odinn throughout "The Transition Series". Growing up is never easy, and we hope their journey brought a little warmth to your day.
