An Awakening Story

Chapter 2 - Oetoesan

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Surabaya, 1914

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Noise from the outside walls of the house filter into the small room, the chicken's crowing and birds chirping greeting the new day. Sunlight softly beams into the room through the window blinds, waking up the figure inside.

The teen, known as Dzaka, yawns as he rubbed his eyes to focus his vision. He sat up from his sleeping position and stretched his arms, it's a new day and it's time to get to work. He proceeds to clean himself up and change into something more appropriate than the clothes he uses for sleeping.

After he buttoned up his shirt and adjusted his blangkon he made his way to the dining room, a smell of fresh hot soup and fritters caught his sense's as he fastened his pace towards the dining room. Upon entering his eyes are set on the table filled with varying foods of fried tempeh, corn fritters, soup's and much more.

"Good morning there Dzaka", a warm greeting came from the other end of the table that broke his attention from the delicious food he set his eyes on.

Dzaka looked at the man who was sitting at the table, he wore a casual outfit a white button shirt with long sleeves as his torso was wrapped with a batik fabric. He was holding a newspaper on his left hand as his other hand held a cup of warm steaming tea. In front of him laid his notebook and pen for him to write anything he needed, either his schedule or things on his mind.

"Sugeng enjing mas", Dzaka said with a smile. He move closer to his older brother and sat down next to him, grabbing a plate in the process.

"Go on and grab the food, i already ate", the man said while drinking his tea.

Dzaka nodded and grab the wooden rice paddle and fill his plate with rice, putting the rice paddle aside he grabs the soup ladle and pour the soup on top of his rice, he then grab some fried tempe and corn fritters to add to his plate and place his morning breakfast in front of him.

He did a quick prayer and ate his food happily.

The man took a few seconds to look at his younger brother, he noticed the outfit he was wearing and chuckled. The other noticed his remark and looked at him confused.

"Sorry, i was just looking at what you're wearing", The man said, Dzaka swallowed his food.

"What about it mas Abi?", Dzaka asked his older brother, the man or Abi smiled.

"Look at you, you're already prepared for the day and then there's me wearing this", Abi said, gesturing to his outfit with his cup. Dzaka snickers at Abi's comment and continues eating his food.

The man only smiled and placed down his cup of tea. He then folded the newspaper and stood up.

"Well I better get dressed, finish your food okay?", Abi said as Dzaka nodded followed with an audible "nggih mas" after swallowing his fried tempeh as he watched his older brother disappear into his room.

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Dzaka put his plate in the kitchen and looked around the small room. His eyes then set on a plate with fried tempeh, he smirk to himself and snatch one from the plate.

"Bu tak ambil ya tempenya!", he said to a woman near the stove, who seemed to be cooking something in a pot. Dzaka then walked away from the kitchen, the woman looked at the young man, she chuckled lightly and shook her head.

"Gusti....", the woman said. It's a regular that Dzaka will snatch one or two tempeh but she gave up on scolding him.

The young man makes his way towards the front of his house, finishing his tempeh in the process and meets with his older brother.