Losing his grandmother was the biggest blow in Ben's life. The one person who had always supported and believed in his dreams was gone. His hopes of studying under Mr. Simbolon were dashed, as there was no one to support him. It felt like his world was crumbling before his eyes.
A week after the funeral, Ben returned to his grandmother's grave. He knelt there, expressing all his worries and disappointments. With tears in his eyes, he asked,
"Am I really their biological child? If so, why am I different? Why am I always considered strange?"
In the silence, Ben felt as if he heard his grandmother's soft whisper. He didn't know if it was his imagination or a real sign, but something inside him was reignited. He wiped away his tears and promised himself that he would keep fighting, no matter how difficult the challenges ahead.
Upon returning home with a stronger heart, he was surprised to find his parents handing him a letter. Heart pounding, he opened it and read its contents—it turned out he had been accepted to a high school not too far from home. Initially, Ben had hoped to study in another city for more opportunities to develop, but he realized that his family's financial constraints made that impossible.
However, this decision brought its own challenges. Her school was five kilometers away, and the only way to get there was by walking every day. Despite this, her determination never wavered. She believed that education was the only way out of the hardships that defined her life.
First Day at Junior High School
The first day of school arrived, and Ben was placed in Class 1D. The classroom was filled with 60 new students, each introducing themselves to the class. When the time came, he stood up confidently and stated his name.
In class, Ben sat next to a boy from another town named Akhir. Akhir was the son of a religious teacher and came from a wealthy family. Over time, they became close friends. Akhir excelled in religious studies, while Ben excelled in science and technology. Their combination formed a strong friendship, where they often discussed and collaborated on various topics.
In high school, Ben encountered many new subjects. Physics, English, and computer science further piqued his curiosity. He became more enthusiastic about learning, and his efforts began to pay off. By the end of the first semester, he was ranked first in his class, followed by Akhir in second.
However, the happiness did not last long.
When Ben returned home, proud of his accomplishments, he found his family in a state of despair. His father's crops had been destroyed by pests, worsening their already difficult financial situation. Given these circumstances, Ben knew his chances of continuing his education were slim.
He still had some savings from elementary school, earned from various small jobs. But when he offered the money to help pay for his school fees, his father exploded with anger.
"Where did you get this much money?! Did you steal it?!"
Before he could explain, Ben was beaten repeatedly by his father. His heart was broken. It felt like no one believed him, no one saw how hard he had worked. With bruises all over his body and tears streaming down his face, Ben ran to his grandmother's grave.
There, he cried while holding his wife's tombstone.
"Grandma, I'm sorry… I couldn't keep my promise to fight… I don't know what else to do…"
Just then, Akhir arrived on his father's motorcycle. He invited Ben to his house for dinner, wanting to share his joy at being the top student in their class. At Akhir's house, Ben saw something he had never experienced before—a warm and loving family.
Father Akhir, a wise religious teacher, noticed the sadness on Ben's face and asked what had happened. Hesitantly, Ben told him everything. After listening attentively, Father Akhir gave him some wise advice.
"My child, never stop fighting. This difficulty is a test from Allah. If you give up now, you will lose the opportunity to prove yourself. Continue studying, and don't worry about the costs. Mother will help you."
Hearing those words, Ben felt as if he had been given new hope. However, he knew that if his father found out he was accepting help from others, there would be another outburst of anger. So, he asked Akhir's father to pretend that his school fees were officially paid.
New Opportunity
Back at school, Ben became more focused on his studies. He began spending more time in the computer lab. One day, by chance, he discovered data on the school's computers showing that many students were struggling with their studies and addicted to PlayStation (PS) games. From there, he had a brilliant idea.
With Akhir's help, Ben started a small business. He became a "homework helper" for students struggling with their assignments and sold game cheats to those addicted to the PlayStation. Any profits they earned went directly to Akhir's father to avoid suspicion from Ben's family.
The small business was a success, and for the first time, Ben felt there was a way to survive without sacrificing his principles. He didn't steal, he didn't cheat—he used his skills to help others and support himself.
This small step marked the beginning of a long journey. Now he had a clearer goal—to prove that he could change his destiny without relying on anyone's mercy. Although the road ahead was long and full of challenges, he was confident that as long as he never gave up, there would always be a path to success.