The lingering echo of Aluna’s laughter from last night still hummed in my ears as I stepped through the school gates this morning. It felt like only a few hours ago that I was wrapped in the genuine warmth of that house in Depok. It was a sharp, painful contrast to the reality of Jakarta’s morning air, which already felt thick with humidity and the metallic tang of exhaust fumes.
I hopped off the back of Saskia’s beat-up scooter, smoothing out the wrinkles in my work skirt. The fabric felt stiff against my skin, a reminder of the professional armor I had to do every single day. The commute from Saskia’s cramped apartment had been long, leaving a fine layer of city dust on my shoulders.
“Go get ’em, Miss Independent!” Saskia chirped, swinging her helmet onto the handlebar.
I managed to m
