TIE STORY

ON DUTY

Jacob resumed his routine after a two-month break following Najwa's departure. As BuConnie's assistant, Jacob often stepped in when Bu Connie couldn't teach or was out of town. Sometimes, the classroom was even more crowded when Jacob filled in, especially with sudden fans among the female students. Bu Connie herself joked,

Bu Connie: "You should just take over my classes permanently; it seems like you bring more excitement than I do, hahahahaaa..."

Bu Connie, a liberal democrat, was actually proud and not jealous of Jacob's popularity on campus. She believed that the new generation should be cooler than the previous one; that was her guiding principle. Her fashionable style always made her appear younger than her middle-aged self. Her past in design school left a mark on her fashion choices. But it was an experience one night that changed her life's principles and rekindled her patriotic spirit.

That night, chaos erupted outside the apartment where she studied in Jakarta. Rumors spread that there would be riots. Even the famously fearless Connie hesitated to go out. She decided to venture out at 2 o'clock in the morning, thinking that the situation would likely be relatively safe as the demonstrators would be tired and asleep. Exactly at 2 a.m., she entered the elevator and descended to the basement where her beloved black Mercedes Benz was parked. In her heart, she prayed for her car's safety, caring more about it than herself.

Connie cautiously navigated the streets strewn with burnt tires and remnants of Molotov cocktails. Many police officers were still on guard in the area. By chance, she overheard a police officer standing in front of a small shop.

Police Officer: "Ma'am, do you have any mosquito repellent? There are so many mosquitoes," he said while showing his arms covered in mosquito bites.

Shop Owner: "Yes, sir, how many do you need?"

Police Officer: "Just one, how much is it?"

Shop Owner: "5,000 rupiahs, sir."

The police officer appeared anxious, showing the coins in his hand to the shop owner.

Police Officer: "Sorry, ma'am, I don't have enough. Can I get it tomorrow?"

The shop owner smiled sympathetically and replied,

Shop Owner: "Of course, sir, no problem. You can get it tomorrow," she said as she handed him the mosquito repellent and added a bottle of Sosro tea.

Police Officer: "Thank you very much, ma'am. You're very kind," he said, thanking her repeatedly.

Bu Connie was startled in her seat as she listened to the conversation. Even though it was brief, the intelligent young Connie could read the situation clearly. The state apparatus, in this case, the police, was in a dire economic condition. Their salaries were so meager that they couldn't even afford mosquito repellent.

Since that night, Connie was determined to reform the National Defense system. She didn't want a great country like this to have public servants who were economically disadvantaged.

Now, the young Connie had become an advisor to the Ministry of Defense, a Senior Advisor to the National Defense Institution, and even represented the country as a participant in defense congresses worldwide. As Simon Sinek said,

"When you find a strong and big WHY, then the rest is history."

Now, in front of her stood a bright and global-minded disciple. It would be a great disservice if she couldn't guide this young man to become the best in his field. In her heart, she vowed to support this young man in becoming a figure who would change the world like Soekarno did.