Four o'clock in the afternoon was a sacred time. For other students, it was time for extra lessons or rest. For Kai, it was time to be someone else. Using the excuse of a study group, he would ride his bicycle in the opposite direction from his home, towards the dusty district football pitch.
There, his white and gray school uniform was exchanged for the training jersey of the Harapan Bangsa High School football team. The name on the back wasn't "Anargya," but simply "KAI" with the number 10. On this pitch, he wasn't the physics genius; he was the playmaker.
"Hey, Einstein! You finally made it!" shouted Bima, the team captain and his only friend who knew about his double life. Bima was a big central defender with a booming laugh, the opposite of the quiet Kai.
Kai managed a small smile. "Sorry, there was a pop quiz."
"There's always a quiz for you," Bima grumbled, patting him on the back. "Come on, warm up. First match of the Student Cup is the day after tomorrow. We're against Tunas Jaya High."
The moment his feet touched the grass, the model student persona melted away. Kai's movements became fluid and unpredictable. The ball seemed to dance at his feet. He saw spaces no one else did, sending through-balls that split the opponent's defense with the precision of a surgeon.
"Pass, Kai!"
"Open, Kai!"
His teammates' shouts were a different kind of music from the silence of the classroom. Here, he didn't think; he felt. Every decision was made in a split second, based on intuition and a deep understanding of the game. He was the heart of the team. Without him, Harapan Bangsa's play was monotonous and predictable.
Their coach, Mr. Budi, a senior sports teacher, blew his whistle. "Okay, that's enough! Remember, this year's Student Cup is your last chance. Especially for your year, Kai, Bima. Bring that trophy home to our school!"
As the practice ended and dusk began to fall, Kai felt a pure happiness. His clothes were soaked with sweat, his legs ached, but his soul felt full. This was what he wanted. Not just a hobby, but a calling.
But as he rode his bicycle home, that happiness slowly evaporated, replaced by anxiety. He stopped for a moment under a streetlight to wipe the mud from his football boots with a wet wipe, then wrapped them in layered plastic bags before putting them in his backpack. Every trace of his one world had to be erased before entering the other.