Prologue
Zioh
Jakarta, 2001
I got a friend a few months ago. It was the best, happiest gift I had ever received! Because when I was five years old, I suddenly had two friends.
The first one was named Xa—oh, no, not that—Tsabinu. But he said people often called him Bibu. He liked reading, studying, and counting, just like me! Yesterday, we counted frogs together at the lake, and there were so many!
He was amazing at riding a bike and could even talk to animals! With his little golden dog, Yellow, he could make it sit, give paw, or even pretend to die. It was so cool! I had never been able to do that.
My new best friend was a ‘Golden’ himself!
Just like Mas Zaaem had said, a Golden Boy was someone great and smart, just like Kevin McCallister.
And then there was the second one—his twin sister! Princess Sophia!
She was all pink ribbons and soft, chubby cheeks. I was really shocked when I found out Sophie wasn’t a real princess. Even until now, I still feel like she was lying about that.
After I met her, my days became so much happier! She was sweet, pretty, and very cheerful. It was like she had a special power to turn everything into something fun. So I was sure she was a princess! And the best thing about her was that ever since she came, I started buying more crayons and coloured pencils.
Today, our school held a Christmas performance, and each class took a turn. Sophie’s class and mine were on the first day. My little brother Zeraiah’s class was on the second day. And now, on the last day, it wasGolden’s class.
Bibu was going to play the piano today—and yes, he could even play the piano.
“Come on! We have to go to the hall! They’re going to look for us!” I kept trying to pull Sophie and my little brother away from the swings where they had been playing for hours.
“I’m the highest!” Sophie insisted.
“No, I am!” Zeraiah shot back, refusing to lose. “I swung all the way to that tree branch,” he said, pointing to a branch beside us. “And you didn’t even reach it.”
Sophie kicked her legs on the swing, trying to go higher. “I could go all the way to the top of the tree if I wanted to.”
Not wanting to lose, Zeraiah kicked his legs too, pushing himself farther. “You’re lying, Biba. You can’t.”
“I can!”
“No!”
“I can!”
“Come on! Let’s go! They’re going to be mad at us if we’re late!” Tugging harder at their arms, I tried to lead them away while they continued to bicker.
“Zioh!” they called at the same time.
“Huh? What?”
“Who’s taller?!” they both demanded.
Finally, we reached the hall and sat beside Dad, the twins’ parents, Uncle Prabu, and Mama Sophia. Mum had gone to the restroom, and Mama Sophia was getting her camera ready to record Golden’s performance. It was only a few minutes before it started, and Sophie and Zeraiah still hadn’t stopped. I didn’t know why, but they always fought—anywhere and anytime—and then they would laugh together afterwards.
“Why do you even like that?” Sophie whispered to Zeraiah beside me.
“What about you? Why do you like it?”
“Everyone likes pop songs.”
“I don’t.”
