Malik & Elsa

My name is Malik.

I am now stepping into the city of Padang.

But in this occasion, I want to go to college.

It's not easy to be me in this moment.

Since people has always looked down on me.

There she is.

That's the girl who brings me fortune.

And that day, she stared back at me, too...

...as if giving me a sign of a good greeting.

Do you know...

...the reason why foreigners colonize Indonesia?

Hello?

What were you saying?

Because they just wanted to.

I'm serious.

- Me, too. - Okay.

So what do you think?

Because they need spices.

They need cloves. They need peppers. That's why they colonized Indonesia.

That's it?

Yes?

Wrong.

How is it wrong?

There's one more thing that's far more important.

- What's that? - Jengkol.

What? Why Jengkol?

That's where they're wrong!

Our teachers forgot to tell us about that.

Maybe it's just you who misheard.

Fine. How about this?

Have you ever eaten your rice with spices or mixed with coffee?

I haven't.

How about Jengkol?

Well, I've seen that.

Then that's a more valid reason.

Why did invaders colonize Indonesia?

Because they're hungry. They need to eat.

Nothing beats Jengkol, especially with spices.

It's so good.

So, the answer is Jengkol.

Really?

That's the fact.

Okay, so I win today.

You have to buy me lunch for a week.

What do you mean I lost?

Oh, right. I'm Malik.

Elsa.

Elsa Marimar.

Jengkol?

Yes, that's Elsa.

Her name indeed sounds funny, but she's pretty.

And she's going to be prettier and funnier...

...because she's going to buy me food.

Where are we going to eat?

Up to you.

Excuse me, who is the man here?

Of course that's me. But it's your treat.

So it's up to me?

That's fine.

All right.

How about eating something similar to European food?

Like rendang-flavored steak?

That sounds delicious. I'm good with that.

Of course it's good.

When you're being treated, what doesn't taste good?

All right, I'll tell you where to go.

There's a really popular cafe over there.

Okay.

I'm not eating. Just drinks for me. Cold milk. I'm on a diet.

What's the favorite menu here?

All of our steaks are favorite.

But the top favorite is rendang steak with topping.

I'll have that one, then.

With one glass of ice tea and cold milk. Thanks.

- Enjoy. - Thank you.

Why aren't you eating the steak?

Instead, you're looking at other people eating.

I was just thinking.

Is the prayer for eating steak the same as when eating rice?

Malik!

Oh, you! Just eat it!

Excuse me, may I take your plate?

- Please. - You may, miss.

Thank you, miss.

You...

...look cute when you're smiling.

- You're too late. - It's better late than never.

Not late like that.

I mean, you're not the first one to say that to me.

But I'm different.

How are you different?

You are the first girl who I called cute.

So consider yourself lucky.

Thanks, Malik.

You're the real thing.

A real glutton.

What's important is that it's halal.

Let me tell you something, I'm starving right now.

Since when was winning a bet considered halal?

What? Are you mad at me?

Fine. I won't pay for your food.

Drink this.

Give me.

Who knows? We might find one of our freshmen inside.

- We can do follow-up hazing. - Okay.

Where's the bathroom?

Over there.

All right. Wait here, okay?

No one's here. Let's go.

Elsa?

­Liandra.

Come.

What is it?

I still didn't expect that we'd be in the same campus.

Yeah.

You weren't in the orientation, were you?

Yes. I had a fever, so I didn't do the orientation.

That's why I didn't see you.

But you should participate next year, okay?

Okay.

Oh no.

Don't tell me Elsa hasn't paid the bill.

Do I have to do the dishes?

Excuse me. Can I help you?

I'm fine.

Okay. Say hi to your mom from me.

See you.

Why are you looking so pale?

Pale? No, I'm not pale.

Where were you?

I was buying napkins from a nearby stand.

How's your stomach? Feels better now?

I'm okay. I just ate too much like usual.

That's why you shouldn't eat too much.

Let's go back to campus. Excuse me?

Back to campus?

Thank you.

Did you forget?

We have an Introduction to General Linguistic class.

Oh, yeah. I forgot.

My luck continued.

From winning a simple quiz, I could get to know Elsa.

But I read somewhere that the guarantee to success isn't talent.

But hard work is.

Sadly, life is not that simple, Malik.

You can't just rely on your talent.

I've always wanted to be a teacher. But that's a sad story.

Especially these days. College fees are expensive.

Living expenses keeps getting higher.

A nation can collapse when its teachers aren't living in prosperity.

Because they can't educate their future generation properly. Right?

But I'm still going to be a teacher.

- One day, whatever it takes. - That Minang proverb is correct.

"We have to live smart in foreign land."

You have my support.

So what do you want to be?

Well, I want to achieve success, make my parents happy, and...

Are you from Padang?

Yeah, but my family lived somewhere else for a long time.

We just moved a year ago from Medan.

My family business thrived here and then we stayed here.

So I continued my studies here.

How about you?

I'm from West Pasaman.

I moved here and stay in a boarding house.

Alone? No relatives?

I'm a single child.

Well, I have a brother. But he's in a boarding school.

Really? So you rarely meet him, then?

Once in a while.

Do you think you're going to like going to college here?

I don't know. It's only been a day.

I bet you'll like it.

Why so?

Why are you so sure about it?

Because I'm here!

Malik! You're too confident, you know that?

- You don't have to be ashamed. - Ashamed? I'm not.

- Peace be upon you. - Peace be upon you too.

Lubis.

How's your first day in college?

My professor said I can work anywhere when I graduate.

And I will have a cupboard full of salary.

Sounds like a legislative candidate. Too many promises.

You can't say that about your professor.

Maybe they were just trying to motivate you.

At least they teach you something.

Oh my gosh, don't be serious, man.

Shut up!

Here's some rice for you.

This is mine.

You're so nice, Lubis.

It's just rice.

It's nothing compared to your passion that you spread to me.

I admire you, not having a problem living a tough life.

I have no other choice, Lubis.

If I wasn't like this...

...I wouldn't get to where I am today.

My mother passed away when I was little.

I lived only with my father in West Pasaman.