Imagine Indonesia as a student enrolled in University of Southeast Asia.
Indonesia saw Malaysia walking around campus. “Ugh, that guy again,” Indonesia mumbles. Malaysia saw him. Indonesia waves, with a forced smile. Malaysia does exactly the same. Then Malaysia continues his walk, away from Indonesia. They used to be extremely close during elementary school. But then something happened when they graduated. Malaysia went to a British high school while Indonesia went to a Dutch one. After that, it is safe to say they are no longer close friends. But each secretly likes to remember the good old days when they were close. Perhaps this history made their current rivalry that much bitter. Just behind Malaysia, Indonesia saw Singapore sitting alone with his shiny, very powerful, latest edition Apple Macbook. “What that kid is up to now?” Indonesia thinks to himself. “Pfft, I bet he would never let me join his startup.” Singapore is a rich kid who has his own startup. He always work, work, and work. He’s so stiff, diligent, and such a clean-freak. “But at least he always let us play with his video games at his dorm room,” Indonesia thinks. He waves at Singapore. Singapore just looks up and then continues his work. Sitting not far from Singapore, Indonesia saw Brunei. “Look at those fancy, gold-rimmed, sunglasses,” Indonesia think. “That kid’s dad is so filthy rich.” Brunei saw Indonesia walking towards him. “Oh no, he saw me. I bet he wants to do some preaching now. That spoilt son-of-a-sultan won’t stop until he gets what he wants. I better hide.” Indonesia turns away. Indonesia walk into the campus’ cafeteria. He heard loud noises. A crowd is cheering to a kid who’s breakdancing to music from a beatbox. “Ah… it’s Thailand. That party animal. That kid just never stops. I wonder what he takes.” Indonesia wanted to join the crowd. But he never felt comfortable being around Thailand too long. Indonesia feels that that kid secretly hates him. Standing next to the cheering crowd, Indonesia saw Vietnam watching all the commotion. “Hey, that’s the kid with the new band. I don’t understand his music, but he is cool,” Indonesia said to himself. Indonesia also has a band. But he secretly wishes the Vietnam kid’s rising-star band won’t be as famous as his in campus. Especially in the view of those US, Japan, Europe kids who have connections to record labels. Next to Vietnam, Indonesia saw the good looking kid, The Philippines. He’s known around campus to be a photo model with thousands of followers on Instagram. “But I seriously don’t wanna be him,” said Indonesia in his mind. Indonesia heard rumours that The Philippines’ campus grades are falling. And that he has problems at home. The other kids said that his parents are abusive. Indonesia gave a nod to The Philippines, Vietnam, and Thailand who has just finished his dance. At the corner of the cafeteria, Indonesia saw the Laos and Cambodia kids sitting at a table. They’re trying so hard to be accepted. But their close friends, Thailand and Vietnam, don’t seem to like them that much. Indonesia only heard that these guys used to be close in elementary school. Just like him and Malaysia. “Maybe they have a history like what I and Malaysia had,” Indonesia thinks. Just when he’s about to exit the cafeteria, Indonesia saw Myanmar standing alone creepily at the corner. “Something’s not right with that new kid,” Indonesia thinks. Indonesia continues his walk. Then suddenly someone bumped into him. It’s the Timor Leste kid.
“Hey, watch it!” Timor Leste said. “What’s your problem, man?” Indonesia replied. “You know what’s my problem… man,” Timor Leste sneers while walking away.
Indonesia has no comeback. The clock strikes. They all entered the classrooms. They are all students of the same university after all. Each is unique, each seems to have a beef with another particular kid. But at least right now they are studying together, with only minor frictions. Who knows what the future holds for these kids.
