The Monday morning alarm screeched like a factory siren, tearing Kay from the thin, restless layers of her sleep. For a few seconds, she only groaned, pressing her face deeper into the musty pillow. Then—she remembered.
The memory hit like an electric shock.
Her eyes flew open in the dark.
The video.
Her hand shot out automatically, grabbing her phone. Her heart pounded—a war drum of hope and fear. She unlocked the screen. The first notifications weren't from the video app, but from WhatsApp. The Geng Rusuh group chat had been buzzing since dawn. A grin split her face as her fingers danced across the keyboard, replying to her friends' excitement.
Geng Rusuh (3)
Sarah Adinda: *MORNING GUYS, KAY'S VIDEO HIT 100+ LIKES!!! (05:15)*
Dinda Lestari: Told you! Already shared it with the grade group chat, Kay. Sorry not sorry lol, let's make it blow up! (05:16)
Sarah Adinda: Same! Sent it to Riko so he'd spread it to the basketball team. Bima's gonna see it for sure! (05:17)
Kaisya Anjani: OMG STOP!! 🫣 But… hehe thanks guysss, I'm freaking out. (05:21)
Dinda Lestari: Too late, superstar! Brace yourself for school today! (05:21)
Kay chuckled at her own reply. Her pulse raced—equal parts gratitude and nerves. The machine had been set in motion. With bated breath, she switched to the video app.
The numbers had grown.
187 Likes. 2.1k Views. 34 Comments.
Not viral, but real. Alive.
A new energy surged through her. She flung herself out of bed, yanking open her closet. She ignored yesterday's sweat-stiff uniform hanging behind the door and grabbed the spare—clean, ironed. Thank God I have two.
Brushing her hair in the mirror, she felt like she was preparing for a performance.
The kitchen offered its usual sight: a cold cup of instant coffee and a pack of roti sobek on the table. Under the cup, two neatly folded 20,000 rupiah bills—her allowance. Mom must've left them after her night shift. No time to chat, but never forgotten.
Kay grabbed a piece of bread, chewing as she headed out, tucking the money into her skirt pocket. A quiet, solitary morning ritual. Today, the silence at home felt like the calm before a storm.
The storm greeted her in the form of a buzzing classroom. The moment she stepped in, half the room turned. A voice from the back—where the boys lounged—called out:
"Yo, our celebrity's here!"
Laughter. Someone even hummed the Starlight Challenge tune under their breath.
Kay's cheeks burned, but she couldn't fight her smile. This was different. Normally, she slipped in unnoticed. Today, her presence was acknowledged. Sarah and Dinda yanked her into their orbit, hugging her like she'd just returned from war.
"How's it feel to be famous?" Sarah whispered.
"Riko actually posted your vid in his Story," Dinda added, eyes gleaming.
Kay shook her head, laughing. "You're all so extra." But her voice cracked with happiness.
The peak came at lunch.
The school canteen was a social ecosystem. Normally, Kay's table was neutral territory. Today, it was an embassy. Girls from other classes—who usually just nodded in passing—stopped to chat. The topic of the hour? Her.
"Kay, I tried the challenge in my uniform last night—so stiff!" Vira from the next class groaned, sparking laughter. "But that wink? Iconic."
"Deadly," another agreed, mimicking the move dramatically.
"Haha, thanks," Kay mumbled, absorbing every word like a parched sponge.
Then—her gaze snagged.
Across the room, Rafi—her academic rival—was staring. No smile. No curiosity. Just a cold, flat look before he turned away with a sneer.
A chill skittered down her spine—a wrong note in the symphony of praise. But Sarah's elbow jabbed her back to reality.
"Look. Look."
Kay followed her gaze.
Near the juice stand, Bima Adriansyah stood with his friends. Laughing. And for a split second—their eyes almost met.
Bima smirked.
(At his friend, probably. But in Kay's mind? That smirk was hers.)
Rafi's glare was forgotten.
The high lasted until the final bell. Walking home, her steps were lighter. Waiting for the angkot, she dared to check her phone again.
Her breath caught.
The numbers had exploded.
1.2k Likes. 15.6k Views.
The school's chatter had been fuel to a bigger fire. The algorithm was noticing her.
Her pulse thundered for a new reason now. This wasn't just about school anymore.
It was real.
She boarded the packed angkot, barely noticing Jakarta's heat or the exhaust fumes. Her eyes stayed glued to her screen. 112 unread comments glowed red—a treasure chest (or Pandora's box?).
Walking through Pademangan's narrow alleys, her mind wasn't on the familiar cracks in the pavement. It was in that glittering digital world, on the words waiting for her.
At her peeling front door, her hands shook as she turned the key.
She couldn't wait any longer.
She had to know what they were saying.