Riri looked at Pak Herman with enthusiasm."But what we know is just the surface, Sir. We want to hear it directly from you. What does it feel like to face the temptation of greed? What's it like when envy starts to grow? And... how did you manage to rise again after all of that?"
Pak Herman let out a long sigh. His eyes gazed off for a moment, as if staring into the past. Then, he gave a small, meaningful smile.
"You youngsters... always so curious about the things that make life even harder," he said with a chuckle.
Marlon laughed along. "Well, what can we do, Sir? Curiosity is a disease that doesn't have a cure yet."
Pak Herman nodded and looked at each of them one by one. There was a glint of nostalgia in his eyes.
"Alright," he finally said. "If you really want to know, I'll tell you. About my journey, the mistakes I made, and the lessons I've finally learned."
Marlon, Riri, and Romo glanced at each other and smiled widely. They knew this story would be an important part of their journey.
Pak Herman stood up from his chair, brushed off his pants, and looked toward the inside of the house.
"Now, before we get into a long conversation, let me introduce you to my wife and kid. So you know who lives in this little kingdom," he said jokingly.
Marlon, Riri, and Romo exchanged glances. Marlon whispered, "Uh-oh, when there's a family intro, there's usually a follow-up interview too."
Riri rolled her eyes. "This isn't a proposal meeting, Marlon."
Pak Herman chuckled, then called into the house, "Honey! The kids I told you about are here!"
Soon after, a woman in her late 40s with a warm smile and wise eyes came out. Behind her, a shy little boy about eight years old peeked out.
"This is my wife, Bu Santi," said Pak Herman. "And this here is the future heir to the dynasty—his name is Dika."
Bu Santi smiled while wiping her hands on her apron."Oh, so you're Marlon, Riri, and... what was the other one's name again?"
"Romo, Ma'am," Romo replied quickly.
Dika suddenly piped up, eyes sparkling. "Romo sounds like a superhero name!"
Marlon quickly chimed in, "Exactly! He's Romo-man, the justice warrior who loves debating in family WhatsApp groups!"
Riri stifled a laugh while Romo let out a long sigh. "Why is there always a roasting session whenever I'm around?"
Pak Herman chuckled and ruffled his son's hair. "Dika just loves watching movies. Sorry, Romo, if he compared your name to a fictional character."
Romo shrugged. "No worries, Sir. I'd rather be seen as a hero than be mistaken for an arisan group admin."
Bu Santi laughed and looked at Pak Herman. "So, these are the ones who want to interview you for that research?"
Pak Herman nodded. "Yup. They're curious about my life story. The ups and downs of business, and of a man facing sins and virtues. I thought... maybe you could also share your perspective—as a wife."
Bu Santi gave her husband the look of a woman who knows all his habits too well."Herman, are you really planning to tell the truth, or just the filtered version?"
Pak Herman gave a small cough. "Uh... the truth, of course. Within reasonable limits."
Marlon nudged Riri and whispered, "Confirmed—if the wife joins the story, it's gonna be way more interesting."
Riri smiled. "Yup. The husband tells it like he's the hero, but the wife always brings the plot twist."
Bu Santi chuckled. "Alright then, have a seat. I'll make some tea. If this is going to be a serious story, at least let's have some sweet tea to make it less bitter."
Suddenly, Dika exclaimed, "Dad loves tea, but his stories usually get more boring the longer they go!"
Pak Herman looked at his son dramatically. "Dika... you've stabbed your father in the back!"
Everyone laughed, while Bu Santi shook her head as she walked into the kitchen.
Pak Herman let out another breath and sat back down. "Alright, kids. Are you ready to hear the story of a man who once felt like he was on top of the world, then fell, got back up, and fell again?"
Marlon raised his hand. "Sir, if it's a story of constant ups and downs, do we need to wear helmets first?"
Pak Herman burst out laughing. "No need for helmets, but brace yourselves. Life is sometimes crueler than a pothole-filled road."
They laughed again, before the mood gradually settled. Now, the real story was about to begin.