Tears Tasted Sweet
The sky was gloomy that afternoon. Grey clouds hung low as if holding back tears, and light rain began to fall just as the bus slowed near the stop. I stood up, tightening my jacket and clutching my bag close to my chest. The small smile on my face hadn’t faded since earlier.
Today… I want to remember it forever. The day I felt, for the first time, that I hadn’t let anyone down. The day I wanted to go home, to tell someone that I finally made it.
As the bus doors opened, a chill wind rushed in. But my steps felt light. Amid the crowd sheltering under the bus stop roof, my eyes immediately caught one figure.
Dad.
He was standing not far from the roof, just beyond where the rain couldn’t reach. His black jacket was soaked. His hair damp, his shoulders hunched from the cold air. Yet he stood there, as if afraid I might miss him.
It hurt. Why did he have to wait for me in the open? Why did he let himself get drenched just so I could see him right away?
I rushed toward him. “Dad!”
He turned, and that smile, the one I missed every night before sleep, bloomed gently on his weathered face.
“Narin.”
His tone was soft and quiet, as always. But I could hear how tired he sounded. How he carried all the weight without ever really complaining.
“Why didn’t you wait at home?” I asked softly, taking his hand. “What if you catch a cold?”
“It doesn’t matter. You’re here now.” He answered lightly, like he always did. Then, he handed me a black plastic bag. “I bought some bread. They say it’s good.”
But just seconds later, he pulled it back. “Ah… but it’s already cold. Probably not good anymore.”
“Just because it’s cold doesn’t mean it’s not edible,” I said, taking the bag. “I’m really hungry.”
I saw the way the corner of his lips lifted slowly. A hesitant smile that seemed to say: You really don’t mind? You really want to eat that?
We began walking side by side along the damp sidewalk. Dad sneezed a few times, but remained silent. Not a single complaint.
I opened the plastic bag. Soft bread with sugar sprinkled on top, the kind that was going viral at school. The line could take up to two hours. I used to just watch from afar and think, maybe next time, because my money was better saved for other things. But… Dad bought it?
“Dad…” I called softly.
“Hmm?”
“Where did you buy this?”
“The bakery down the road. A coworker said it’s good. I passed by and decided to get it.”
I swallowed hard. “Passed by”? He had to walk quite a distance, past our house, and wait in a long line even kids my age wouldn’t bother with.
I took a bite of the bread. It was soft. Fragrant. So good. Maybe because I was hungry. Maybe because I’d wanted it for so long. But maybe also… because I knew who bought it for me.
“How does it taste?” Dad asked. His tone genuinely curious.
I only nodded. I couldn’t speak. My throat tightened, and my eyes began to sting.
“If you like it, I’ll buy it again, okay?”
We walked on in silence, the sound of raindrops and our steps filling the quiet space. Then I spoke again.
“Dad…”
“Hmm?”
“I have good news.”
He stopped walking. “Yeah? What is it?”
“School rankings came out today. And I… I got first place.”
He looked at me, eyes slowly widening. “First place…?”
I nodded with a small smile. But he didn’t cheer right away. He just stared at me, like he was trying to read more than just the words.
“Why do you look sad? Isn’t this good news?”
I took a deep breath, holding back the sob pushing up from my chest. “I… I’m sorry…”
“Sorry?” He blinked in confusion. “For what?”
“I’m sorry… for only making you proud now.” My voice trembled. “I always felt like I kept failing. That I was never really something to be proud of. And now, when I finally made it, I can’t even smile. I just feel like… I’m too late, Dad…”
Dad gently took my hands, then cupped my face with his rough but warm palms.
“Narin, sweetheart… listen to me carefully, okay?”
His voice was quiet. Gentle. But full of certainty.
“I’m proud of you every single day. Not just because of the ranking. But because you’re strong. Because you keep going. Because you never give up.”
My tears began to fall, slowly.
“Every time you fell and got back up again, I was here, watching it all. You never failed in my eyes. Never. And you’re not late. You came at just the right time.”
I looked down. But finally, that smile came out. Bittersweet, warm, and full of relief.
Dad patted my head. Then suddenly, he pulled out his phone.
“Wait... what are you doing?” I asked.
“I can’t help it. Everyone has to know! They need to know my daughter got first place!”
I panicked. “Oh my god… don’t video call people...”
But Dad had already hit the button. Seconds later, loud cheers came from the speaker. “Wow! Congrats, sir! Way to go, Narin!”
My face flushed. But… something in my heart warmed.
Maybe this… was what people called home.
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Tentu! Ini versi terjemahan naratif gaya novelnya, sesuai dengan gayaku sendiri—lebih natural, smooth, dan berasa suasana hangatnya:
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The moment I told Dad I ranked first in the exam, he immediately suggested we celebrate—even if it was something small at the convenience store.
“No need for anything fancy, as long as the mood’s right!” he said with enthusiasm.
Of course, Hana and I agreed. That night, we gathered in the backyard of the store, setting up a small grill as the cool evening air surrounded us.
The smell of sizzling meat wafted through the air. The small flames danced under the wire rack, occasionally crackling when drops of fat hit the coals. I sat beside Hana, while Dad tended to the grill with a grin on his face.
“You know,” Dad suddenly said, his tone serious. “Back when I was your age, I almost became a chef.”
Hana looked at him with exaggerated curiosity. “Oh? What happened then, Uncle?”
He let out a long, theatrical sigh. “I realized… I was born to run a convenience store instead.”
Hana paused for a moment before bursting into laughter...not because it was funny, but because of how dead serious Dad looked when he said it. I could only shake my head, but a wide smile tugged at my lips.
“Uncle, I’m sure you still could’ve made it as a chef,” Hana teased. “But maybe your restaurant would be more famous for its story than the food.”
“Was that a compliment or an insult?” I asked, raising an eyebrow.
“A compliment, of course,” Hana replied quickly, and we all laughed again.
In the middle of the laughter, Hana’s phone buzzed. She glanced at the screen and turned to me, looking a bit hesitant.
“It’s Da Reum,” she said. “He wants to join us. Is that okay?”
Out of instinct, I glanced at Dad. He noticed my look and raised an eyebrow. “Why are you looking at me? He’s your friend, you decide.”
I nodded, and Hana quickly typed a response. Not long after, Da Reum appeared with a thick jacket, looking a bit tired but trying his best to smile. He stood by the table, a little unsure, before bowing politely.
“Good evening, sir. I’m Da Reum, a friend of Narin and Hana. It’s nice to meet you.”
Dad turned from the grill, momentarily surprised, then let out a hearty laugh. “Ah, so you’re the Da Reum I’ve heard about! Finally, we meet.”
I frowned. “You’ve heard about him?”
Dad shrugged casually. “Yeah, Hana’s mentioned him a few times when she drops by. But you never told me anything.”
I had no idea what to say, and Hana just smiled faintly.
“It’s a pleasure to meet you, sie,” Da Reum said politely.
Dad wiped his hands on his apron and offered a handshake. “Likewise. I’m Narin’s dad, store owner and tonight’s unofficial chef. Hope you don’t mind my cooking.”
Da Reum took his hand with a slight stiffness, but politely. “I’m sure it’ll be great, sir.”
Dad laughed proudly. “Good, this kid knows how to win adults over.”
I shook my head, and Hana giggled. The air grew more relaxed as Da Reum took a seat, easing into the flow of conversation.
A few minutes later, Dad brought over a plate of grilled meat. “You must be cold. Come, sit here,” he said, gesturing for Da Reum to sit beside me.
He sat neatly, resting his hands on his lap. When Dad handed him the plate, he received it with both hands.
“Thank you, sir.”
“So, Da Reum,” Dad asked casually while flipping the meat, “you go to the same school as Narin and Hana?”
Da Reum shook his head. “Not quite. I did go to the same school, but I graduated… about seven years ago.”
Dad froze mid-motion, his eyes wide. “Seven years? So there’s quite an age gap between you and Narin?”
I glanced at Da Reum, who stayed calm despite the blunt question. I felt a little uncomfortable—Dad was digging too deep for someone he just met. But Da Reum nodded slightly, as if he saw it coming.
“I get what you’re thinking, sir. But it’s not like that.”
Of course, a father would worry. His daughter being close to someone that much older? What parent wouldn’t be concerned?
“I may be older than Narin and Hana,” Da Reum continued, “but I followed a slightly different education path. I only did one year of high school, then passed my GED and went straight to university. I graduated two and a half years later and now work at my father’s company.”
We all blinked at him, stunned. Even I had never heard that before. It was… impressive. Dad seemed to take a moment to process it too.
“Wow… That’s really something. So it’s not about Narin having older friends...it’s just that you’re really ahead of your time.”
“I just followed what seemed most efficient for me, sir,” Da Reum replied politely.
Dad nodded thoughtfully, then turned to me. “Narin, you should learn from him. No slacking off.”
I pouted. “But I just got first place, Dad.”
“Yes, yes,” he said quickly with a grin, going back to the grill. “Still, a bit of healthy competition never hurts, right?”
“Daaaad…” I whined playfully.
“Alright, alright.”
Hana turned to Da Reum, teasing, “See? First meeting and you’ve already made her dad compare her to you.”
“Sorry if I did,” Da Reum said softly. “That wasn’t my intention.”
I smiled. “Don’t worry. Dad loves exaggerating.”
Soft laughter filled the air once more, carried by the scent of perfectly grilled meat. Then suddenly, we heard the bell on the store door ring.
“Dad, sounds like a customer. I’ll check....” But before I could finish my sentence, a voice called from the back door.
“Narin.”
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