Chapter 12: Meeting Again After Twenty Years
Hometown - Bab 12
I talked a lot with Run Tu, but I felt the distance between us growing further and further.
Bertemu Lagi Setelah Dua Puluh Tahun
He called me "Young Master," which made me feel very strange. When we were children, we played together as equals, without distinction between master and servant. Now, he treats me as "Young Master," as his master. This feeling makes me very uncomfortable.
Saya banyak berbicara dengan Run Tu, tetapi saya merasa jarak di antara kami semakin jauh.
I wanted to call him "Run Tu," but since he calls me "Young Master," I couldn't call him "Run Tu" anymore. The distance between us is not just the distance of time, but also the distance of identity.
Dia memanggil saya "Tuan Muda," yang membuat saya merasa sangat aneh. Ketika kami masih anak-anak, kami bermain bersama sebagai setara, tanpa perbedaan antara tuan dan pelayan. Sekarang, dia memperlakukan saya sebagai "Tuan Muda," sebagai tuannya. Perasaan ini membuat saya sangat tidak nyaman.
I asked him how his life has been these past years. He said, it's alright, just that days are tight. He has a wife, three children, and has to be busy every day.
Saya ingin memanggilnya "Run Tu," tetapi karena dia memanggil saya "Tuan Muda," saya tidak bisa memanggilnya "Run Tu" lagi. Jarak di antara kami bukan hanya jarak waktu, tetapi juga jarak identitas.
I asked him if he ever thought about leaving the countryside to live in the city. He said, no, he's used to life in the countryside and doesn't know what he could do in the city.
Saya bertanya padanya bagaimana hidupnya selama tahun-tahun ini. Dia berkata, tidak apa-apa, hanya saja hari-harinya sulit. Dia punya istri, tiga anak, dan harus sibuk setiap hari.
I looked at him, feeling very complex. Is this my childhood playmate? Is this my good friend?
Saya bertanya padanya apakah dia pernah berpikir untuk meninggalkan pedesaan untuk tinggal di kota. Dia berkata, tidak, dia terbiasa dengan kehidupan di pedesaan dan tidak tahu apa yang bisa dia lakukan di kota.
Saya memandangnya, merasakan emosi yang sangat kompleks. Apakah ini teman bermain masa kecil saya? Apakah ini teman baik saya?