MEMOIR
-Enduring Love-
The story began at school. At that time I met a man who was very handsome and had a kind heart. That first glance he made me felt I was experiencing a miracle called “Love”. At that moment I asked in my heart “What happened? Why did my heart flare up when I saw him?” There was like something crossed my heart and I asked again “Universe!! is this just a dream ? or is it a sense of awe and I shouldn’t have?”. God, I felt in love. That love continued to grow over time. I was very amazed because the felt I had was the same as what he felt. During our school we established this relationship by continuing to think, doing positively and also focusing on our study. Love still continued to flow like the taste of a cup of coffee, sometimes it was sweet but also bitter, that was the love story that happened between us but we still thought clearly and continued to keep the commitments that we made together. All the processes we went through during our first school, now it was time to focus on our goals going forward. I decided to continue my studies and he was looking for a decent job. Although our distance and time were very different but not for the quality of our hearts. Love that was present during school of course did not disappear. Many people said love was abstract, sometimes it could be owned but sometimes it couldn’t be owned. I still believed that I deserved to love him, with all the risk as well, also with him. Until finally the Universe and times would answer the journey of the love affair.
POEM
-I Follow my Dreams-
I get laughed at,
I get ignored,
I often feel trapped,
and I keep my thoughts stored.
People can be cruel and very mean,
but no matter what, I follow my dreams.
Life has waves;
I know that.
But I stand brave
and just take the crap.
I may feel exhausted and totally creamed,
but no matter what, I follow my dreams.
I know what I want,
and I won’t stop trying.
Quitting? I can’t,
for now I’m flying.
It’s impossible it seems,
but no matter what,
I follow my dreams…
SHORT STORY
-It can be good but also can be not good-
One day in an apartment located in the east of Broadway city, there lived two female friends who shared an apartment room. They had been friends since the age of 7 years, since they went to school until recently they also studied at the same university. They were fairly compact, they always ate together, learned, and even whatever activities were done together, it was hard to see them go or walk alone. The most memorable thing was that their shopping, was unique because every clothing they had always in the same color and shape, it made difficult for everyone on campus to distinguish the two. What could be distinguished was only from their names and their physique. One with straight hair and had brown color named Rexa and another who had curly hair that was slightly brownish-black was Shena.
In the campus on Friday, Rexa and Shena planned to visit a public library in the middle of the city on the following day. They planned to spend their time off by working on a quiz given by several lecturers to collect on Monday later. After discussing a joint plan, they decided to spend the rest of Friday going to the newly opened cafe right in front of their campus. In the café the food was fairly cheap and the menu provided was also varied, also what made it interesting was the provision of simple jazz concerts that could make those who came there felt comfortable.
After 1 hour had passed these two friends decided to go home. Their walked and shared stories until their passed through an alley that was almost close to their apartment. While walking and laughing their eyes were fixed on a beautiful necklace on the ground. Both of them wanted to have it, and without thinking they took and fought for it. There in lied the desires of hearts that wanted to have the necklace without thinking, they pulled each other over the necklace. Suddenly, it broke off in the middle. One of them fell in the mud and another one in a drain.
A passerby passed in the area while laughing at the action of the two girls and he told them, “What are you fighting for? Just a necklace? Why should anyone be hurt? Aren’t you friends?” For a moment they were in silent and felt embarrassed. He also said, “If you fight for something positive then do it, but if you fight for something stupid you need to stop it. Think wisely! Both of you are friends.” Immediately they felt guilty by the actions. Shena stood up and threw away the necklace and said “I am sorry, only because necklace that didn’t have value I hurt you”. They hugged each other and while weeping, Rexa said “this kind of stupid thing I do not do anymore. I do not want to hurt my friend just for a necklace. What is the meaning of a necklace? If it is broken it be used and not worth anything, but to me you mean more”.
After that, they both laughed again to see each other’s faces and did not forget to thank the person they did not know before. From him, they realized that sometimes for things that were worth nothing we could just sacrifice something valuable in our lives, but sometimes the situation would realize the importance of something that was far more important, like friendship.
IMAGINATION WRITING
-The First day of School, a Love Note, and a Recipe with Significant Mistake-
This was reality that I had never expected, starting from my first day of entering school after the holidays. Well, in my class I had a friend who had a handsome face, his name was Leon. I remembered at 8 o’clock in the morning I was in class, and I saw a note and it seemed like a love note. I thought that the note was shown to me because I was the first student present in the class at the time. I was interested to open it and tried to read the note. Apparently the note contained a statement of significant mistakes and when I read it to the end I found out the note was from Sarah. Unexpectedly! Sarah and Leo had a secret relationship, and it seemed I was the first person who knew the relationship and also what the contents of the note was about.
BIOGRAPHY
Light from the east it seems that the name is suitable with the characteristics of someone who was born on March 12,1985 in Sorong-Papua and has a full name John Maryano Bieth. He was the last of six siblings of the couple, Mr. Bieth and Mrs. Randongkir.
John who was often called Ojon, studied at the elementary school of the Catholic Education Foundation (YPK-graduated in 1994) finished his first education school at the same Foundation (YPK-graduated in 2000), and finished high school (SMA Negeri 1 – graduated in 2003). Ojon took his final education by completing a law program (bachelor’s degree and graduated in 2013).
In addition to taking education on law ojon had several jobs that were very supportive. He was once a staff member of the Tambrauw-Papua Regency Bawaslu, and then another work that he had was as a waiter at Eco Restaurant and Karaoke. During his time as a waiter at Eco Restaurant and Karaoke, Ojon continued to work to be able to get a better job for himself and his family. The process still continued Ojon still struggled and prayed all the time and did not forget to continue to be active in church youth activities. As he results Ojon carried out something extraordinary, he got a job as a Staff of the Ministry of Cooperatives and Small and Medium Businesses in data analysis section in the capital city of Jakarta. Although the distance and time between Papua and Jakarta were different but it did not reduce his enthusiasm for work and he never forget give thanks to God for all his blessings.
I was so enthusiastic to see him because before getting a job in Jakarta he was a church activist who always worked hard and never forgot to get involved in the worship routine. I was so happy to know him as always shared happiness with people he met. Everytime we worshiped in or outside the church he was always there and took part in it. Not only that, in the family environment Ojon was also known to be very friendly and often shared experiences about his work and sometimes the problems that he had faced. He never forgot to give all his affection to his brothers and sisters, for him family was the most important also the driving factor to be a person that was accepted by many people.
During his life in Sorong-Papua so many things that had already happened were fun and also lessons that we could learn such as his kindness that deserved appreciation. Since moving to Jakarta, he could see sadness on the faces of his friends and family, but the job required him to go. Many challenges he faced while in living Jakarta ranging from adjusting the new environment to work that was so draining energy and mind. Living in Jakarta was not as easy as it seemed and was imagined, so for that he remained who continued to be humble and keep praying.
There were people who were quite familiar with Ojon personally, very close, and one of them was Stevany. Ojon and Stevany were apparently good friends. They came from the same city in Sorong-Papua. In Jakarta they participated in many church activities that they attended and didn’t even have the responsibility to be volunteers for certain activities. The kindness that Ojon had shown was not much different from what he did in the place he came from, that what made the environment where he lived at that time received him well. A lot of goodness that he had shown regardless of differences and religions.
Time continue to run without stopping, the life process that ojon had lived kept continuing. He faced a process in which he was cornered with various problems but he could pass all with gratitude. A day that never crossed in his mind was knowing that he suffered a fairly severe pain, when that complication of the heart became is life partner. Aware of his disease, he never showed sorrow to others including his own family. He still continued to struggle to his life like other normal people and still actively worked and carried out his activities in the church. Everyone knew that Ojon was in good condition to have fairly good work and even continued to present himself as a loyal listener and advisor to his friends. When the disease was getting worse day by day Ojon kept hiding it from his family and friends. To the point where he could not do anything even to work actively as before was not fully done. At that time, some of his close friends finally found out about his heart disease.
They were sad to know about the disaster that happened to Ojon. And finally they decided to help Ojon to fight the disease. Good foods, drink and medicines became the choice for Ojon to survive. Doctors also continued to provide the best care for him. At the time where some of his closest friends ventured to notify their families of the disease that Ojon suffered. The family was so sad and seemed to feel angry because Ojon had never told them from the very beginning before he was diagnosed heart complications. Some families followed Ojon to Jakarta, and when they saw him lying weak and helpless they were sad. Meanwhile the doctor continued to show good quality of his work. At the time the choice of surgery became the best decision and Ojon’s family agreed with that. All the friends in the place where he worked, the friends in the church and his good friends in Sorong-Papua, and even the whole family always prayed for the best for ojon. They were sure that Ojon would recover and become a cheerful person again. In October where the month that had ever been thought before, surgery was carried out. Cheerful atmosphere that was once portrayed on the faces of his friends and family also turned into fear and anxiety. Ojon’s goodness, sincere smile, friendliness with others and kindness with any social environment made him loved and always prayed for the best, so that he struggled with his disease. However, God had his own way to make Ojon smiled again after the surgery was complete.
On October 23, 2019 at the Cikini-Jakarta Hospital, Ojon breathed his last. The doctors could not resist God’s decision. It was the best they had done but the way of God was far better than the way of humans. Hearing the sad news all his family was very sad to feel like losing precious gold, it seemed broken hearts of all Ojon’s close friends. We did not believe that someone who had humility had been taken by God. The family shouldn’t do anything but they just let go of the best person who had a positive influence on their lives, and also to many people who had become part of Ojon’s daily life. Ojon’s figure who had been called home by God, when it was returned to Sorong-Papua where he was born and raised. Sadness and broken heart were in all those who had known Ojon.
In the arrival of Ojon’s corpse in the funeral home, all families and also close friends welcomed with tears. Sadness was unbearable. We could only see the darkness that once shined in the light of the lives of many people. The body lying rigidly left only good memories and also a message to everyone who knew him. The sacrifice during Ojon’s life in carrying out his duties as a very active church youth would always be remembered. His work that had been carried out with full responsibility and deserved appreciation.
Rest in peace John Maryano Bieth. You were brightest that I had met during your life. I had also learned many valuable lessons from you. All your services would be remembered by all those who loved you. Your name had millions of meanings stored in the hearts of many people. Even if we lose your light, your good deeds would keep you brightness for everyone. Rest with all your kindness, and we always love you.
TESTIMONIES
Well, I would tell you something. This is the second time I’ve made my own writing, by the way. I felt very happy because some of my works are inspired by my own personal experiences and also the stories of people around me. My first stories had been included in a magazine that you can find in the Respati Yogyakarta University Library. Initially I thought this would be difficult because, I am not yet perfect in composing some of the words and making my writing acceptable to others. But yess!! with the helps from my lecturer Tri Septa Nurhantoro, S.S., M.Hum. I was be able to complete all of my writings. I hope that from the stories that I had written would help you recognize who I am, I hope so. You should try to start writing stories someday, because in that way you will be able to know the extent to which you can arrange your own writings and also your creativity. Good luck!
CREATIVE WRITING CLASS UNRIYO 