[HELLO STRANGERS #02] From No-One to The-One

… And I got myself smiling, unconsciously, seeing him like magic… Tonight he drove me home, and I caught myself smiling. Again. - Sept 2017

So, that was my first impression when I met ‘this stranger’ for the very first time. A ‘he’, with square glasses on his face, a pair of calm and friendly eyes, and a smile. When I met him, he was playing keyboard, enjoying the music and drowned in the rhythms. I was bedazzled just by seeing him.

You know what, what happened next was like the universe supported me and my feeling: our home is in the same direction then he drove me home, hahaha! So, on that night we both were in the car, talking about small stuff (so thankful for the traffic jam which held us only for a minute longer :p) while I kept feeling the butterfly flew freely on my stomach.

I didn’t know who he was, I haven’t met him even knew his name before. He just popped up and I was stunned by him, but at that time I really expected nothing. Running into this weird feeling with this stranger was enough fun for me, because I knew that sometimes, certain things happened just to be remembered.

Time flew. Many things took place in my life, his life. Nothing happened between us until 1 year later, a direct message came into my IG. There was a reply to my IgStory from him. Then I felt the same butterfly from that night a year ago come back into my stomach :)

One thing that I’m grateful for is the fact that he stays. This person has transformed from a stranger into my best friend and my lover, from no one to the one. He stays no matter how careless and forgetful I am. He faces my selfishness patiently. He listens to my stories, even my babble. He has successfully screwed up the wall I have built around for years.

And today, one year has passed since the day he asked me to be with him. Happy anniversary to us, so blessed to have you :)

- February 2020

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[HELLO STRANGERS #01] We are All Family!

A friend may be waiting behind a stranger's face - Maya Angelou

It happened about 8 years ago (2012) at an airport in Bandung. I just graduated from senior high school and would pursue my bachelor degree. At that time, I was in Bandung to join the CAD national competition while waiting for SMBPTN result so I packed all my bags: 1 big size suitcase, 1 big size travel bag and 1 backpack, not for going back to Medan.

I was accepted in Udayana University, Bali. So, I took the flight from Bandung to Bali, alone. That was my first time going that far from home just myself. I have ever taken a flight before, I know the step from check-in until take off, but I don’t know how to react if something unexpected happens. And yes, that happened: my baggage was overweight! I had to pay more or my bags must be left at airport. I was panic. I was like I want to cry but realized that nothing will change if I cry so I decided not to. Well, I was just a teenager who was traveling alone :’D

While I was thinking, the officer saw my ID then a magic happened. She said, “Oh, are you Saragih?”

“Yes, I am.” I answered. Saragih is my family name. I am Bataknese.

“I am Saragih too!” She said, looking interested. “What will you do in Bali? Are you traveling alone?”

“I am going to college. Yes, I am alone.”

Then she kept her eyes on her right and left, and said “Okay, no need to pay for the overweight. This is your boarding pass.” She gave me a piece of paper with a smile on her face.
With happy face I took the boarding pass and said thank you to her and thank you to GOD.

Since then, I have always amazed how the strangers can be so kind to help us in an unexpected way. Like her, it was just because we have the same family name, and I know it means a lot to Bataknese people.

And I believe, there are still so many other nice strangers out there that will cross their path with us, or are we the strangers itself?

- January 2020

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