Coffee and Contemplation - 1

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  It was a pleasant evening, and I always order a Japanese iced filter whenever I spend time at this particular slow bar in Jakarta. As I sipped my 50k-something coffee, my mind began to contemplate the passage of time. Ten years ago, I only paid 18k for the same menu item, the same beans. I understand how inflation works, and I know that coffee crops depend heavily on nature to thrive. Yet, as I sat there, I realized how drastically prices have skyrocketed over the last decade—not just for coffee, but for everything. Even though my salary has increased fourfold in that time, I still feel as though my buying power has weakened. It wasn't just the price of the beans that bothered me; it was the realization that the cost of living is quietly eroding everything I’ve worked for. I won't go into the weeds of government mismanagement, but it reminded me of a scene in The Trial of the Chicago 7 , where Joseph Gordon-Levitt’s character asks Sacha Baron Cohen’s about his contempt for hi...
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Midnight Doctor 11

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I look at the doctor in awkward. It's been a year since I came here.
'Lets start. How are you doing Shin?'
'Good.' I said that but I'm chocking. And the doctor see that and smile.
'Work's good? Friend? Family?'
'Yeah. Work's fine. Family is now better. Friend. I got some new friends.'
'And this new friend finally bring you back in here?'
I give the doctor a pale smile.
'Yeah. They can't recognize my real age. I'm too old for this. But people my age aren't socializing much.
'I'm losing myself.'
My finger keep fidgeting when I talk. Like I have to trust the doctor like the first time.
'I still have this fear to be loved.
'People think I'm a player. A heartless bitch. But actually I'm just too afraid to get hurt. I'm a child inside.'
My eyes feel teary.
'And what did you do? Still pushing people to leave?'
'Yeah. I can stand a long relationship. Everytime is just a fling one after another. I try to fix my human relationship but it always fall apart. I can't. No matter how hard I try.'
'Actually, Shin, this human relationship, you re talking about romantic relationship right? And we already figure it out that you are not unable to have one. Instead you believe that you unable to have one. Because you don't believe yourself. And you are afraid to look vulnerable just because you are in love.'
'Yeah. Sort of. So I push them away. Before they lose their interest on me. I'm too afraid to let them know what a wacko I am.'
'One year. One year you never came and you didn't change a bit. Why? Why wont you trust people? Why shut yourself out? What did you see lack from yourself?'
'Well, I'm not pretty.'
'Yeah, and so everybody else.'
'I'm crazy.'
'Oh, darling. The crazy one wouldnt know whether they are crazy or not.'
'Okay. I dont have a heart to love others than myself.'
'Because?'
'Because I'm afraid they will leave me in the end. And I can't be without them. Not same at all.
'And I'm not attractive. People wont be with me.'
The doctor's head shakes.
'You are a fine young woman. And you are pretty. Smart. Kind. And happy. Just keep seeing the positive things and tell this to yourself everytime you feel you aren't. Say it now.'
I'm not pretty.
'Come on, say it, Shin.'
I'm not smart.
'You know yourself best.'
I'm a mean person.
'Say it after me. I'm pretty. Smart. Kind. And happy.'
I don't deserve to be happy.
'Shin?'
I start crying.
Tears I've been holding on since forever.
I know why people don't love me.
I don't love me.
.
.
.
Pathetic.

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