The End of Time

This morning felt different. It's not about the weather or some big life change. But because I heard the alarm in my head before my phone could scream. My eyes opened on their own, like my body knew: today's not your everyday day.

I was sitting on the edge of the bed, looking at the rented floor that was full of charger cables, leftover shopping receipts, and Indomaret plastic bags. In the corner, a thermos of hot water sits like a retired soldier. I took a deep breath.

Today, I have to make a decision.

Last week, the AltLounge group was busy discussing pre-sale opportunities for a new coin, $SIDRA. CryptoGhost even dropped a special message that had me up for two nights straight.

"If you don't learn to make decisions when you don't have all the information, you'll get left behind by algorithms."

That sentence was like a bolt from the blue. I really wish I'd known that joining the $SIDRA pre-sale meant transferring funds before 2:00 p.m. today. Minimum purchase: Rp300.000. I don't really have the money, but I can make myself have it if I'm willing to go without lunch until the end of the month.

I got up. Wash my face. Look at my face in the little mirror on the wall.

"Don't be a dummy, Andi," I said. But I also know that sometimes you have to be desperate.

My phone lights up. I got a Telegram notification from AltLounge.

CryptoGhost:

"I won't repeat this. $SIDRA isn't about getting rich quick. It's all about the positioning. Who joins now will be sitting at the table when the game starts."

I was totally frozen. My breath caught in my throat.

It felt like I was being forced to make a choice: stay a spectator, or join in the gambling. But this wasn't a casino. This was a world built on codes and trust. But so far, all I've seen is confusion, panic, and people who are too quick to sell their hopes.

I started a private chat with RizkyCrypto.

"I'm really interested in joining $SIDRA. I'm still on the fence. Is this like desperate or stupid?" I asked.

The reply was quick.

"If you wait to be sure, you're late. The world never waits for people who need reassurance."

I leaned against the wall. I was hungry, but it was more from stress.

It was nine forty-five. There were still two hours left. I can still catch my breath. I know that today's decision can make me level up, or send me back to square one.

I decided to go outside for a bit to get some fresh air. I bring my phone, headset, and a wallet that's more full of hope than cash.

Jakarta never sleeps, even during those "leisurely mornings" everyone's always talking about. I hurried down a small alley that led right to Otista Street. The sky is kind of a gray, but not like rain, just kind of a vague threat. I'm on the same page as I was today.

I put on my headset. The loud, electronic music was playing softly in my ears, helping me to relax.

I haven't transferred yet. But I haven't given up either.

I know, to decide to join $SIDRA, I need a stronger reason than just "everyone else is joining." I'm not looking for hype. I was trying to find my footing.

I stopped at a small coffee shop where online motorcycle taxi drivers usually hang out. There's a small internet cafe in the corner. The banner is faded, and the wall paint is peeling off, but the "OPEN" light is still on.

I walked in. The smell of the AC and all the computer dust hit me right away.

"Hey, one hour."

"Four thousand," the internet cafe guard replied, looking at his monitor.

I paid, then sat down at computer number five. The chair was a bit wobbly, but it was comfy enough to sit through an hour of diving into the whitepaper.

I typed: The SIDRA crypto project whitepaper.

A few seconds later, the PDF appears. The title is interesting: A Decentralized Infrastructure for Micro-Workforce in Developing Markets.

I started reading. Sidra is basically a network that helps connect freelancers in developing countries with micro-jobs, like content moderation, data tagging, and survey filling. The cool thing about it is that they use blockchain to make sure payments are made directly and securely.

They even say they've got partnerships with two crowdsourcing platforms in Southeast Asia.

The more I read, the more I was like, "Hmm." This isn't your typical shitcoin. It's not just a meme coin that relies on funny communities and Twitter shills. It had a story, and oddly enough, it resonated with me. I'm a working-class guy who's been trying to climb the ladder through the internet.

I wrote a little note:

1. Tokenomics makes sense. There's only a 1 billion supply, and 20% of it goes to the team and 30% to the ecosystem.

2. It's pretty obvious that the solution is digital.

3. The CEO used to be the CTO of an edtech startup in India.

4. The pre-sale was done transparently on a verified DEX 4.

But it's still early days. The risk is still high. They might just be good at making white papers.

I shared it with the group:

AndiLurker:

"The whitepaper is solid. But how come there's no audit?"

A new user, whose name was: SatoshiNext.

SatoshiNext:

"The audit will be done in Q4. For now, you're stuck with your instincts and logic."

I replied quickly.

AndiLurker:

"If I really want to join today, what's the worst that could happen?"

SatoshiNext:

"You lose 300k and learn a lesson for that price. But if it's true, you buy a position before the world realizes this project exists."

I paused in front of the screen. There was something about the way he spoke. Firm. Rational. It's also kind of mysterious.

I clicked on her profile. It just so happened that he's one of the group's moderators and has been with the group for two years now. I've been interested in altcoins for as long as I can remember.

I kept typing:

AndiLurker:

"If I want to ask directly, can you? In Jakarta?"

A few seconds go by.

SatoshiNext:

"It's about 12:00 at Pasar Baru. I'm usually at the 'Hikari' coffee shop. But only if you're serious."

I glanced at the clock. 10:42.

If I want to meet her, I have to go out now.

Time seemed to melt away as I walked quickly towards the bus stop. My mind was going 100 miles an hour, like the wheels of an approaching TransJakarta. I wasn't sure why I'd agreed to meet a stranger from a Telegram group, but inside I felt like this wasn't just anybody.

I made sure to keep my wallet with cash safe in my jacket pocket. I grabbed my phone and opened the map. It showed the location of a coffee shop called Hikari, which I hadn't heard of, even though I'd been around Pasar Baru.

The bus is packed. But I got in. I was packed in with the other passengers, but it felt like I wasn't really there. I looked at the frosted glass and saw my face reflected there. I wasn't sure, but for the first time, something resembling guts grew from within.

I thought I'd be scared. But actually, I'm even calmer now than when I had to hand in my application to the restaurant manager two years ago.

About fifty minutes later, I arrived at the Pasar Baru Timur bus stop.

Jakarta's heat is intense. I'm moving at a good pace, following the GPS, down the small alleys between fabric and electronics stores. In the midst of all the cardboard boxes and noisy traffic, I finally spotted a tiny black sign with gold lettering that read: Hikari Roastery - Specialty Beans and Silent Booths

The place is minimalist inside, the lights are warm, and there are only four tables.

There's a guy in a black jacket and hat sitting in the corner. He looks like he's up to something, but you can't tell. I've got nothing but a cell phone and a coffee on the go.

I went up to them slowly.

"Excuse me... You're SatoshiNext?"

He looked at me. His eyes were sharp, but not fierce, more like they were calculating.

"You're Andi?"

I nodded.

He pointed to the chair across from him.

"Have a seat."

I did what he said. For a few seconds, no one said a word. Just the sound of the coffee grinder from behind the bar and the air conditioner hissing.

"Why did you come?" he asked finally.

I gave a casual shrug. "I... wanted to know. Here's the scoop on SIDRA. About why you believe in her."

"Everyone wants to know. But most people don't want to put their money on it until the answer is clear."

He leaned in a bit.

"How much money do you have?"

"Rp.300.000."

He nodded.

"Small potatoes for some, but for you, it might be everything."

I looked down at the black coffee cup in front of him.

"So...this is just a matter of opinion?"

"No." He pulled out his phone and showed me something. It's a candlestick chart.

"Take a look at this point. When everyone was freaking out, I decided to buy. I knew this project was about more than just price, it was about momentum too."

He looked right at me.

"SIDRA is in that moment. It's not every week that you get a chance like this. It's like a train coming at midnight, with no lights, no sound. If you're not ready to get on board, you're left behind."

I wanted to say something, but I couldn't.

He kept going. "I don't need you to trust me. I just need you to be honest with yourself. You're here because you're sick and tired of being poor. And you know the only way out is to take unreasonable risks."

That sentence really hit me. It wasn't harsh, but it was too accurate.

I took a deep breath.

"Have you ever failed?"

He laughed softly.

"Not once. More often than not. In the crypto world, you only need one big success to change your life."

He got up.

"I've got to go. But SIDRA has a time limit. The pre-sale for batch 2 ends at 2:00 p.m. If you want, send it through the link that's been locked in the group."

I got up too.

"Thanks, Sis..."

"Don't call me Sis. I'm just the one who fell and bled first."

SatoshiNext just left. Without saying goodbye. No chit-chat beforehand. It's like an algorithm that just finished running.

I got back in my seat. For a long time.

I'll start the meeting. Here's the main message:

SIDRA presale batch 2 is closing in 1 hour and 13 minutes.

Min buy: 100K. Max buy: 500K.

Group comments are going strong. It was like a night market.

MoonSeeker88:

"You all have FOMO. Tomorrow is a live dump."

ChainBeliever:

"Let's not worry about winning or losing. The important thing is to learn." I entered 150k."

NeoProfit:

"SIDRA is a hidden gem. That's why people panic first."

I scrolled down the screen. SatoshiNext's name didn't come up again. It was like he'd come just to talk to me.

My hands were shaking as I opened the crypto wallet app. Balance left: IDR360,000. If I transfer now, it means I'm really all in. No backup. There's no Plan B.

But if I don't send it... I'll be back in the restaurant kitchen, living on a small salary and a dream that's slowly fading.

I could feel my heart pounding in my chest.

I wrote a message to the group:

AndiLurker:

"I transferred 300K. All in."

A few seconds later, a message popped up.

SIDRAModBot:

"Hey, just wanted to let you know that we got a transaction from AndiLurker. Welcome to Phase 2."

I closed my eyes.

Then, out of the blue, the screen blinked. I got an incoming message from an unknown number.

"You're on the right track. But you've got to learn fast. The world isn't going to wait around for you."

I wrote a reply:

"Who are you?"

But there was no reply.

My phone vibrated again. This time it was a notification from my crypto wallet:

Hey, just wanted to let you know that you've officially joined SIDRA Phase 2. Your token will be locked for seven days.

I stare at the screen.

I was already in.

There was no turning back.

I looked out the window at the streets of Jakarta, and I realized that for the first time ever, I wasn't just watching from the sidelines. I'm in on the bet.

I'm not sure yet, though.

Could this be the start of something great?

Or is this the first step to ruin?