Adam Hanifah lives a quiet life in South Jakarta, Indonesia. At the age of 38 years old, he still single so his world revolves around works, daily prayers routine, family and friends also some anime sessions in his spare times. He often watches Isekai (Parallel World) anime, which he sometime wonders about how people in the stories can live so freely in another world. The protagonist in the stories often depict to be some person who had unfulfilled life before and suddenly can live his life to the fullest.
Adam woke before dawn, the same way he had for years. His house that located in Town House Complex in South Jakarta felt quiet. He liked this hour. No traffic. No noise yet from the bustling city life. Only the distant rumble of some early risers. He made Wudhu (Ablution), then go to the Mosque to prayed. His mind stayed calm through the movement. He always felt most stable when he prayed before the world started pulling him in different directions.
After prayer, he got back to the house to prepared simple breakfast. Nasi Goreng (Fried Rice), eggs, and tea. Nothing special. He ate while scrolling through his phone. News talked about heavy rain coming. Meteorology Office warned about potential flooding again. He sighed. It meant a long day at work.
He opened one of the anime apps and played the last few minutes of an episode he watched last night. It was an isekai show where the main character was reborn as a hero. Adam liked it, but he also laughed at the idea. Reincarnation made no sense to him. A Muslim dies once. There is no coming back as someone else. Still, he understood why people enjoyed the fantasy. Life in Jakarta could feel tight. Traffic, bills, routine. A different world looked tempting.
He turned off the phone, grabbed his bag and car keys, then locked the door. He start his electric car gently. The complex boulevard start to look busy from the residents activities. Adam pass the complex gate. The guard greeted him. "Morning, Pak Adam."
"Morning," Adam answered with a small smile.
Outside, the sky was gray and heavy. Motorbikes rushed past. People held newspapers or plastic covers over their heads. Adam checked the time and drove his car smoothly. His meeting venue was in East Jakarta today. Flood-prone area. He already expected trouble.
His car crossed a flooded underpass. Water reached half the tires. People on sidewalks rolled up pants and walked barefoot. Jakarta's rainy season always pushed people into unwanted adventures. Fortunately he arrived at the meeting venue safe and sound.
After meeting he is having lunch with his buddy, Bagas whom also loves to watch Isekai anime.
"Bro, you finished that isekai yet? Crazy ending right? Imagine if it happened to us." Bagas throw in some argument.
"Yes i finished it already. The ending quiet unpredictable but the cliff hanger is too steep. I'm curious about the next season." Adam start replying.
"It won't happen to us Gas, you're aware as a Muslim we don't believe to reincarnation right?" Adam throwing the counter argument.
"Of course i'm aware Dam. But you watch too much of that stuff. I'm just afraid one day you'll disappear into another world. Hahaha." Bagas replied with some joke.
Adam shook his head and continue to eat. Bagas loved to joke like that. After their lunch, Adam went back to his office.
During Ashr prayer break outside the praying room, he overheard his team members talking about another isekai anime. They laughed about the main character getting hit by a truck before waking in a fantasy world. Adam stayed quiet but listened. He knew the trope well. It appeared in many stories he liked. Death in one world. Rebirth in another. Simple rule. Simple fantasy. He walked back to his office, sat in his desk and thought briefly about it. If something like that happened to him, what would he do? Would he even understand it? Would he lose his identity? Would he still be himself?
He dismissed the thought and focused on his work. Curiosity stayed in the back of his mind, but he never let it grow. For him, such stories were entertainment, not possibility. He finished his work and returned home in the evening. Rain clouds gathered above the city, but only light drizzle fell. He cooked dinner, after got back prayed from the Mosque, and watched another anime episode before sleeping. His life felt normal. Stable. Predictable. He had no idea that tomorrow would break the pattern completely.