The Stars Scattered on The Street

by Nilna Almunaa (Indonesia)

I didn't expect to find Indonesia

I love my bed. Especially at night, with the rain outside, my bed would look more seducing. The sheets look fluffier as if asking to be hugged. I would hug it with pleasure, of course. Once upon a rainy night, my bed still looks dazzling. But poor me for being a college student. I had to do a group assignment, outside, far from my buddy bed. "The rain is fine. You should go. End of discussion." A glimpse of a text from my groupmate. What happened next is me riding a motorcycle, wearing a full-bodied raincoat suit, a helmet, and my big myopic glasses, looking like a health officer during an outbreak. I just headed out of my home, but my face already became wet and cold. I couldn't put on my helmet's face cover glass because it has too many scratches on it. It might feel like my myopic eyes become twice more blur in an instant. But thank you to my big glasses, I could still open my eyes and not getting poked in the eyeball by the rain. As I ride, the rain covered my glasses with water dews. I wiped the water down the whole time with my forefinger like a car windshield wiper. After a long dim alley, finally, I made it to the brighter street. I thought I would saw the usual rows of old buildings, dull signboards, and crowded vehicles. But instead, I saw stars, blinking in every color, floating all over the air. "What-" I gasped. I lowered my speed, watched the stars blinking and flashing through my glasses. Ah. My glasses. I get it. The lights from the buildings, vehicle's light bulbs, street lamps and all kinds of light distorted by water dews on my glasses. It created the stars I saw. "Magical," I whispered to myself, "but scientific," After that, I rode slower. My eyes wandering around the sights like an excited tourist. This is weird since this street is my usual route to my college. Suddenly I realized how my relationship with my bed--especially when it rains, prevents me from experiencing this satisfying sightseeing. It usually took only fifteen minutes from my home to college. But that night it probably took an hour. Well, I decided to take another route--the farthest one, just because I enjoyed watching 'stars'. I arrived at my groupmates after that long tour session. Super wet and happy. "Where have you been?" "I went to a galaxy adventure." They did not seem to get it.