The blue sky stretched endlessly above, as if it had no end. In the distance, the waves rolled gently, creating a harmonious blend of sound with the sea breeze and the laughter of tourists filling the beach. Under the shade of a small, humble stall, a 21-year-old young man sat casually, occasionally sipping fresh coconut water straight from the shell.
Marlon let out a deep sigh. His sharp eyes stared at the beach before him, but his mind was wandering far beyond. He tapped his fingers rhythmically on the wooden table, a sign that his thoughts were elsewhere.
"Why is the world always taught as if it's only black or white?" he muttered to himself.
Across from him sat a girl whose face mirrored his—his twin sister, Alesha, or as people usually called her, Riri. She raised her eyebrow in curiosity, her expression shifting from calm to inquisitive in an instant.
"You're starting again, Marlon," she said, putting her glass down on the table. "We just got to this tourist spot and you're already talking philosophy. Can't we just enjoy the moment without overthinking?"
Marlon grinned, but continued. "Look around, Ri," he said, gesturing at their surroundings. "This place used to be simple. People used to say that was better—more natural, more peaceful. But if it had stayed simple, the economy here wouldn't have grown. Now, there are hotels, restaurants, souvenir shops. Tourists are happy, the economy is booming, but look at the consequences. The surrounding forest is disappearing, and the sea's getting dirtier."
Riri leaned back in her chair, taking a closer look around. Her habit of observing made her quick to notice details others might miss. Indeed, the roads were busier now, souvenir shops were selling all sorts of goods that weren't there before, and in the distance, luxurious hotels stood tall, ruining the once-pristine natural landscape.
"So," Riri said at last, "you're saying that simplicity made this place stagnant, but greed made it grow—with consequences?"
Marlon nodded. "That's what I've been thinking. We're always taught that greed is bad, but if no one here had been greedy, maybe this place wouldn't have developed at all."
Riri fell silent. The waves kept coming and going, in a rhythm that matched her spinning thoughts. On one hand, she knew Marlon had a point. On the other, the idea that greed could be something positive clashed with the values she was raised with.
"But we were also taught that simplicity is a virtue," she murmured. "If everyone's greedy, won't things just spiral out of control?"
Marlon chuckled. "Exactly. That's the point. This world isn't as simple as black and white. Maybe what we really need is balance."
Riri let out a sigh, sensing that this conversation was just the beginning of many long discussions to come. And perhaps, the answers they sought wouldn't be found just by sitting at a beachside stall. Maybe they had to see more of the world, observe more, before they could draw any conclusions.
Marlon stood up and patted Riri's shoulder. "Come on, let's take a walk. Look around a bit."
Riri looked at him skeptically. "What for? We've seen plenty from here."
"But we haven't seen the people up close," Marlon replied. "If we just sit here, we're only judging from a distance."
Riri sighed but got up anyway. They began walking through the tourist area, passing rows of vendors selling souvenirs and snacks. Some tourists were busy haggling, while the vendors tried to keep their profits intact.
Marlon pointed to a vendor selling T-shirts with local designs. "Look, Ri. They know tourists want something authentic, so they capitalize on that. It's a form of 'greed' in a lighter sense. They want more profit, so they adjust their products to market demand."
"But is that really a bad thing?" Riri asked, watching a middle-aged woman neatly folding shirts and smiling warmly at customers. "She's selling honestly. She's not forcing anyone to buy."
"Exactly," Marlon replied. "That's why I think greed can be neutral. She wants to make more profit, but not at anyone's expense. But look over there."
He pointed at a seafood stall. A young man was calling out to passing tourists, offering cheap prices for fresh seafood. But behind his cart, Marlon noticed plastic bags filled with fish waste dumped straight onto the sand, spreading a strong, unpleasant smell.
"That's different," Marlon said quietly. "He might want bigger profits, but he's sacrificing the environment because he's too lazy to clean up."
Riri nodded. "So there's a line, huh?"
"Looks like it," Marlon replied. "It's not about erasing greed or simplicity—it's about how you use them properly."
They continued walking, observing more interactions around them. Children played in the sand, street performers entertained tourists for a few bills, and foreign visitors took endless pictures of the place.
After a while, Riri took a deep breath. "Okay, fine. This is interesting. Maybe we really do need to see more before we make conclusions."
Marlon smiled. "Exactly."
"Let's take the train back to Bandung, Ri. I'll explain the history of transportation at the station," Marlon said with a know-it-all grin.
"You're such a smart aleck," Riri replied, rolling her eyes. "Just because you were born a few minutes earlier doesn't mean you know everything."
They began packing their belongings to make sure they left nothing behind. After that, they called a ride to take them to the nearest train station for the journey home to Bandung.
Once they arrived at the station, they went straight to a convenience store to buy e-tickets for convenience. Marlon said, "You know, Ri, I bought the tickets here so we wouldn't have to stand in line at the counter. This train itself exists to indulge human laziness. People in the past had to walk or ride horses everywhere."
Riri frowned. "You're such an idiot, Marlon. It's clearly for time efficiency."
Marlon grinned. "That's what I mean, Ri. Laziness pushed some people to think hard and create time-saving solutions. For others, it's just an excuse to avoid effort—no more walking far or waiting in long lines."
"Okay, fine, your argument kind of makes sense," Riri said, her expression thoughtful as she sat down to wait for the train.
An announcement blared from the speakers, signaling the arrival of their train. They looked around, noticing the diverse crowd—office workers with laptop bags, mothers with groceries, and foreign tourists confusedly looking for their platform.
Once on the train, Marlon and Riri took seats by the window, enjoying the changing scenery—from the beach to rice fields and eventually into urban sprawl. Riri rested her head on the seat, trying to process the day's long conversation.
She stared out the window, watching the green fields give way to factories and concrete buildings. The shift felt like a fast-forward version of their earlier discussion—about the tension between tradition and modernity.
"It's like watching two worlds collide," Riri said, still looking out.
Marlon glanced at her and smiled. "Two worlds that could actually complement each other—if we know how to manage them."
Riri exhaled softly, eyes fixed on the shrinking patches of land being swallowed by buildings.
"Maybe we're too quick to judge things," she whispered, more to herself.
Marlon looked out the window, watching the tracks and electric poles zoom by. "Maybe it's just instinct," he said.
After hours of travel, they finally arrived at Bandung station. They stepped off the train and didn't linger—they headed straight out to find a taxi to take them home to the Ciumbuleuit area.
At home, they were greeted by their mother with a warm hug.
"Oh, my dear kids, finally back from the beach! Go clean up and rest. If you're hungry, I've already cooked something—it's on the table," she said, hugging her twins tightly.
Marlon and Riri headed to their respective rooms to unpack and lie down for a bit to ease their tired bodies after sitting for hours on the train.
Without realizing it, they both fell into a deep sleep that night—without even showering or freshening up—and woke up the next morning feeling surprisingly refreshed.
As usual, Marlon lay in bed daydreaming for a while before getting up. Once he felt his "soul" had returned to his body, he finally left his room to wash his face and...