Kasih Orphanage, Ketapang, West Kalimantan, Indonesia.

January 26, 2113.

Located in the downtown area, the orphanage occupy a sizeable land, although most of the land is empty with only one three story building at the center with a low concrete wall surrounding it, there is a small vegetable garden in the backyard. There is a gathering in the living room, it's a birthday celebration for one of the oldest orphan in the orphanage.

"Happy birthday Arang! How time flies, who would believe the little rascal now is an adult with how small you are." Kasih, the orphanage owner came bringing a slice of cake with small candle lit on it and put it in front of a skinny boy with fair skin and long hair, his hair is tied into a ponytail. His black pupils reflect the candle light.

This boy is Arang, one of the orphans in the orphanage. He turns 18 today to become an adult based on the law and Kasih decide to have a small celebration since they almost never celebrate any birthday of the orphans. This is also might be the last time they can gather together with Arang, since as an adult he need to join the military service for 2 years and after that he can continue serving the military or apply for another job and moving to live on his own if he wants it.

"Hey, I'm not small! I'm just skinny." Arang complained. He have an average height, but since he is skinny he looks smaller than average people so people might mistake his age.

"You should stay small, so I can catch up with you. Happy birthday Arang!" Allyn, another orphan chided in with a playful tone. She just turned 15 last month and started to have feelings for boy, and Arang is her target of affection at the moment. She is your typical girl next door, pure, friendly, cute and brighten the room with her presence. Her body is just starting to develop that's why she wants to catch up with the now adult Arang.

"Happy birthday Arang!!!" Linda and Ham, two of the youngest orphans shouted. They really enjoy this kind of festivities. 12 and 10 respectively, they are the little sisters of everyone else in the orphanage. Ham, specifically, is a little bundle of energy who keep everyone alert with her antics.

The other orphans come in turns to say conglatulations to Arang. They are Willy the bookworm, Tan the quiet guy who often losing himself in his own world, Herman the brute and Leo the cool guy with his rough voice. They are at close age with each other and often spending time together along with Arang.

Then the last orphan come to Arang and hugs him, "Happy birthday Arang!" The last one to congratulate Arang is Siska, one of the idols of the orphans alongside Allyn. She is the devil incarnation, according to Allyn, because Siska have a very well-developed body although she is at the same age with Allyn. Siska enjoys teasing the boys and their gaze at her body. Now that Arang is an adult she went a step further by hugging him.

"Uhh, thanks everyone." Arang mind goes blank when Siska hugs him. He rarely have physical contact with girls so this is a new experience for him, not to mention the feeling of Siska on his body is distracting.

"Now, now. Let Arang blow the candle and make his wish, Siska." Kasih save Arang from further embarassment. The little ones are giggling seeing Arang embarassed, the other boys full of envy, and Allyn come over to separate Arang and Siska.

After the simple birthday celebration Kasih remind Arang that he should get his ID card as soon as possible before going to the military office for his service duty. Everyone then go to sleep, Arang went to his room on the top floor.

The next morning Arang wake up early and do his chores, he greet Kasih in the vegetable garden then getting ready before going to town for his ID and military service. He walks to town and reach the city office around 9 and apply for his ID. After finishing the procedure, he waits for about 1 hour and receive his brand new ID card.

Seeing it still more than 1 hour before lunch break, he continue to military office. At the office he saw some officers going around and stop one of them to ask for direction to register for service duty. It turns out that he will see the counter for applying right away if he actually enter the building. Embarassed, he say thank you and go inside.

Once inside, he saw the counter and go straight at it. There is a lady with neat appearance in military uniform manning the counter.

“Hello, I want to register for the service duty.” Arang said to the receptionist.

“Okay, please fill this form first please.” The receptionist pulls out a thick form from under her counter and give it to Arang. “You can ask me if you have question about the form.”

Arang took the form and went to a desk close by and start filling the form. After about 15 minutes Arang finished filling the form and start checking his answers before handing it back to the receptionist. “I’m finished filling the form.”

“Okay, let me check it. You can wait here if you want, or you can go back here after lunch. It will take some time to process this. Oh, I also need your ID to process the form.” The receptionist took the form and gestured at Arang to give her his ID. Arang complied and give her his ID, he decided to go out for a bit while waiting.

Arang went outside and go to the plaza, he looks for a bench to relax and found an empty one. After sitting he started to remember his life in the last few years. Kasih Orphanage is not in a good situation, so a few years ago he starts looking for various jobs to help funding the operational of the orphanage.

He only finished Junior High School thanks to the government program of 9 years compulsory education (6 years Elementary School and 3 years Junior High School) which reduce the education cost to minimum and affordable. After finishing Junior High School he spent some months helping Kasih take care of the orphanage and realize the situation of the orphanage.

But because he is a minor he only able to work odd jobs which doesn’t give much, his employers don’t want to risk employing a minor which violate the law. So he simply took any jobs that he can do everyday and fit his schedule.

Kasih already forbid him to work before he become an adult, but he simply didn’t listen and keep doing it, he knows the burden on Kasih for the orphanage. Kasih is a widow, she doesn’t have any children from her marriage. She opened the orphanage because she wants to have children in her life. But private orphanage require donors, which she lacks. Now after more than 15 years opening the orphanage she running out of savings and struggling.

“Who will be the leader of this new world? BORNEO awaits you!” The sound of an advertisement on the big screen pull Arang back from his trip down the memory lane. BORNEO, it’s the name of a game that boast realistic virtual experience for the players.

Created by the GUPA Company, led by Bodo Bale, the genius scientist of a millenia. It’s set on a map based on Borneo island enlarged 100 times to be able to contain billions of players with medieval fantasy settings. So far they already show Elf, Dark Elf and Beastkin as native species beside human.

Bodo Bale said to have a love for Borneo island of the past which boast one of the biggest tropical rainforest in the world and home to various wildlife including the famous but endangered orangutan. That’s why he use Borneo island as map and also include some famous wildlife in the game.

Arang watched the advertisement for a bit, and realized it already past the lunch break time. He decide to go back to the military office first to see his registration progress before going back home. Entering the building he saw the lady again at the counter.

“Hello, how is my registration going?”

“Ah, you’re back. I have finished you registration, here is your ID card, thanks for that. Now I need you to sign a contract before we can continue.” The receptionist responded to Arang and give him his ID. She then proceeded to pull another thick document from under the counter and give it to Arang. “You can read it first, then let me know when you are ready to sign.”

“(Contract? Is this to avoid responsibilities when something went wrong during the service?)” Arang can’t help but thinking negatively. He remember at one of his job back then he have to sign a contract that signifies the employer won’t be responsible if he have an accident during work.

Arang read the contract carefully, beside the usual responsibilities and rights that he already knows beforehand he also saw the part about when something went wrong during the service. But instead what he thought, it stated that the government will provide compensation equal to 10 months salary in case of disability or death when on duty.

“(Salary? What salary? Do I get salary during the service?)” Arang continuing checking the contract and found out he will get IDR 3,000,000 (about USD 215) per month as salary during the service period. He suddenly smile brightly and went forward to the receptionist. “I want to sign the contract now!”

Finalizing the contract, the receptionist remind him that he need to report on duty at 09.00 February 1st. Arang went back to orphanage and need to prepare quickly since he only have a few days before leaving on duty. On the way back he keeps smiling because he won’t have to worry about the orphanage during his service period. He arranged that his salary will be given to the orphanage, since during service period he get free meal and room. His greatest worry was how the orphanage will fare when he is not there, and the military service contract just solved it for him, which provide much more compared what he earned doing odd jobs. Now he is really looking forward to the military service duty.