Waiting a long time

It has been one year, since I came back from my studies in Jordan. The things that I have seen here and the things that I must live with, every night my housemates comes home drunk, all three of them. My name is Yunus, people call me ‘Shark’, but I never like that name, I liked it before I went to further my studies in Jordan, but I am older, so the name kinda grew out from me. now I just go by the name Nas now. My housemates are Joe, Don, and Al. each of them are my old friend, and we work at the same company, but at different divisions. Like Joe he works in the creative department, Don in marketing, Al in import export and me in human resources. We hang out in the day like normal friends, but by night I stay away from them, I used to follow them when we used to only play snooker, or darts, but since they started drinking, it’s a different story, I only follow them once in a while, usually to be their driver. But I don’t mind, since I enjoy the drive and the fresh air, but the occasional scotch scent or vodka scent does annoy me sometime, they are very tempting, much like a girl that wears very revealing clothes and dancing in front of you. I used to live like them before my studies, but after living years abroad, and hating my judgment to live there, but I finally accepted what my purpose there was.

The story is really simple, after my SPM I started to go out with my friends at night, we drank until we started to throw up, we ‘rented’ any woman we can ‘rent’ and heck we even stayed at one club until it closed in the morning. So that was my life, and I thought it was gonna be better when I left for college, but as fate would have brought it, I was chosen to go to Jordan, to further my study in social psychology. I never thought I would end up there, because I always thought that I’d go to Amsterdam, and I would get smashed during class, bang some hot chicks at night, and spend my weekends getting high while listening to some Dutch rock band, or English indie band. But it was my only offer, and my other choice was to find some private universities, but my parent didn’t want me to turn down the offer, because it was a full sponsorship. It was PLKN all over again. The only reason that I think I got in is because I took that extra subject, Arabic Language. I didn’t regret taking those lessons but I really regret passing them. The only reason I took Arabic is because I always wanted to pick up chicks using foreign language, and since nobody ever tried picking up chicks using Arabic I took them, it made me stand out from all the guys, but it also made me go to Jordan.

While I was studying my parent didn’t want me to go back to Kuching, maybe they didn’t want me to go and get smashed with my friends back there, or maybe they just didn’t want me back. But I figured that they wanted me to be a pious guy, but I wasn’t, so I’m not going to be a hypocrite. The first two years was hard, I’ve only have 2 friends and they are Arabic dude, who only talks to me in Arabic or English, but mostly Arabic, since they dig my accent so much. I never thought I would use the language to talk with dudes. I never went out at night mostly because there is no bar near here, even if there were, it would be miles away. And I never got drunk, because there is no alcohol. In the absent of those stuff, I got more time to spare, so I took up writing blogs. At first the only thing that I wrote about is how miserable my life is, that was until my third year, in semester six. I was involve with this freshmen welcoming session, partly I was involve because I wasn’t too active and I was one the few that can talk in three different language, Malay, English and Arabic, and I met this girl, from Malaysia, and she was perfect, and I mean in every way I can think. Her name is Mawar. She was very shy at first, but once I talked to her, she was quite friendly. And I never thought I’d fall for a girl like her, but I did. It took me quite some time to figure out that I was in love with her, and my Arab roommate helped make me realize that I was in love with her, and I was thankful to him. His name is Ahmed, but I call him Matt, and he liked the way I say his name, I never understood why he was so into Malay language, but I found out anyway, it turns out his mother is Malay, his father is Arabic. He’s been living in Jordan since he was small so he never learned anything about his Malay heritage.

Anyway back to my story, I was gonna make her mine, but I didn’t know how to. It was really hard to show her how I really feel for her. I tried giving flowers with a card signed with my name, but she just threw the card away. And I helped her carry her books to class, and ended up carrying all her friends’ books. That was until one night, when I finally got her to meet me alone at the library. We talked about the assignments that she was doing, which I told her I would help. Thankfully some of the new friends that I met this semester helped me get her friends away from her for some time. So there we were, we talked until I stopped explaining to her about the work. She wrote down everything I said, and while I stopped talking, she wrote something else. There I had my momentum, I was gonna express my feeling to her right now.

“Um.. Mawar?”
“Yes, brother Nas?”
“I have to tell you something.”
“What is it? Is it about the calculations that you’ve been telling me about?”
“No, it’s something else. It has something to do with me and you.”
“Me? Is it about the new campus rule?”
“No... Listen its hard for me to say this, especially in the library.”
“Say what?”
“Um... I really like you Mawar!”
“I know, you like me Brother Nas, I’ve always known. I know you sent me those flowers, and all those chocolates. But I’m here to study, I have long years ahead of me, and so do you. I can’t just waste my life with love, I have to be a devout Muslim and think about what others might see me as, if they see me going out with you. You’re not like any of the other guys here, you’re like a libertarian. I know about those blogs you wrote. And I also know that you’re a drinker. But I can’t I’m sorry. But if you really love me, then you’ll change, and you’ll wait.”
“I…”

I couldn’t finish those sentences. It was the first time I ever got rejected. And it hurts. And somehow, I know that she likes me too, but with all I’ve done before in my life, I don’t think I can repent. I knew that I have to change, but I don’t know how, I love her so, but I don’t know what to do. After we were done with the assignments, I grabbed all my stuff, and walk quickly without looking back, I think I heard her calling my name, but I acted as thought I didn’t hear her. As I reached my room, I threw all my stuff on my study table, and jumped on my bed. I turned my laptop MP3 player on and the song Only You suddenly came on. It kinda described how I felt at the moment, and I cried silently, and I cried in my dream, and then I cried hard while I was taking a shower. Then I was ok. I started to realize all my mistakes; I have to change, not for her, not for anyone, but for me. I have to stop writing those blogs, and stop hating my life so much, and start doing what is right. I have to be on the right path again. I have to find Allah again. After that incident I started going to all my class, and attending those nightly Quran sessions that they held at the mosque. I was a newborn Muslim. I am really starting to feel the change, with all those things occupying me, I started acing all my classes, and almost forgotten about Mawar.

I spent almost everyday studying, and praying, and performing my duties to my religion. And due to this change in me, I started to make new friends, best friends, Matt became my best friend here, and we started to hang out, and I even thought him how to speak Malay. And even on occasions I hung out with Mawar and her gang, but I never got close enough to even speak with her. She would only smile at me from a far away, and so did I.

And then finally it was my final semester in University of Jordan, and I just finished my final examination. I’m expecting good result on this paper. I started packing, since my parent was already here a week before my final paper, it was the third time they visited me here, and probably is the last. I’ve already befriended everyone in campus, old and young, stupid and smart, heck I even make friends with the janitor. This was probably my last day spent here in Jordan, aside from my graduation day to come next year.

My things were all packed and ready. I said my goodbye to all my friends, especially to Matt, and since he was my best friends, or more like a brother to me, it was really sad to leave him. But as it turns out, he decided to work in Kuching, because his father’s company is establishing a branch in Malaysia based in Kuching. And he was supposed to be the manager there. So it didn’t turn out to be a sad depart but more of a happy news. He was going to Kuching next week.

Then I met with Mawar, she was the girl that changed me, she made me changed. If I never met her I would have never change, it kinda feels awkward for me to say goodbye to her. She smiled at me, like she always does. And we talked about something unimportant which I do not remember, but I do remember what she said afterwards.

“Well brother Nas, I’m really happy for you.”
“Thanks Mawar. I really appreciate it.”
“He he... I never got to say what I wanted to say to you before.”
“What do you want to say?”
“Well after that day that I told you all those things, I actually wanted to tell you that I also like you. Even when our eyes first meet, at that freshmen meet that day. I never thought that you’d change so drastically. But it was better this way, you a better person than you were before.”
“Yea, I’m happy with what I’d done. And I didn’t regret changing. It was all worth it, all the friends I’ve met, and especially you. And like you said that day, if I love you so much, then I’ll wait. And that’s what I’ll do. I’ll wait for you to come back.”
“Thanks for remembering that. Will you promise me?”
“I promise you, I’ll wait.”

She smiled again, and we said goodbye one last time.

It’s been exactly one year. 3rd of January, the day that I came back from Jordan, and today I’m picking up my fiancé from the airport, she’s coming here to marry me after finishing her studies. While I waited I met this guy named Saf who just came from KL that said he was meeting his girlfriend who he promised to come back to. I met him at McDonald eating a big Mac next to my table. Then after he said goodbye, the announcement saying the arrival of my fiancé’s airplane was made. I stood up and waited outside the arrival hall. She wore red kebaya, and a matching red scarf, she already took her bags and saw me outside. I smiled at her, and felt that all that waiting was worth it.

“Mawar. Welcome back my sayang…”

far away, but never gone...

it has been 13 years since my last visit to Sarawak, i was about 5 at the time. my mom and dad just got a divorce, so i spent one week in Sarawak, and one week in K.L. there was nothing i could do about their relationship, since they haven't seen in other in 12 years. in my I.C it is written Mohamad Safar Bin Ismail, but i barely knew my father. the only man that i knew while growing up is my grandfather, the only reason is because me and my mom live with them, and by them i mean my grandmother and grandfather. my dad visits sometime, but he only sees me for a couple of days, usually when he has a meeting in K.L, or he's on his way somewhere overseas, but mostly he works from his office in Kuching. but enough about them, this story is not about them at all, its about me, Saf, and this girl that i met, whose name i will tell as you read on...


i go to a private college in K.L, or to be specific in Cyberjaya. most of the year i spent with my friends and my cousins in K.L, but this year was a little different, since most of my friend are somewhere in Europe or America, and my cousins are spending time with their family, my mom decided to send me to my father in Sarawak. i pleaded to her so that i don't have to go, but she insisted in me going. i was a little sour when she sent me to the airport, but since she gave me a whole lot of money to be spent there i smiled a little. i waved goodbye to her as she left me alone at the airport. 1 or 2 hours later, i was in Kuching airport.i was amazed, the airport changed a lot from what i remembered, it looked almost as good as KLIA, but not good enough. i waited for my bags to come, i brought about 4 bags for about 3 month here. my dad was already outside waiting. he waved at me and i just nodded my head and walked to him with the trolley filled with my bags. as i walked outside, i saw this most breathtaking sight, which was the new airport's outside. i kinda like it, it suits my mood. and another surprise is that kuching have more fly-over than i can remember, last i came here, Satok was the only place that has a fly-over. but K.L has tons of those things, i mean why do i even bother with these stupid things, i'm telling a story about this girl that i met, and i'm still not telling her name.


i arrive at my father's house. he lived alone, in this really big house all the way in Matang. we didn't talk much, probably because i don't know what to talk about to him, and the only topic that i could think of was how much Kuching changed, but that didn't go far. we arrived at home, the lights were already home, it was bigger than our house in K.L. then at home, i noticed there was someone else in the house because when he didn't used the key, instead he ringed the bell. someone opened the door, i hoped it was not some girl, and it wasn't, it was just my cousin, Danny. i wondered what he was doing here, and my father said he was staying here because his parents is on a honeymoon in Monaco or italy or something. Danny is just 13 years old. i brought my bags to my room, which my father said is upstairs, i opened the door and saw this room, which was like those fancy hotel room, it wasn't to my liking but i guess it will do. i placed my bags into the closet, and jumped on the bed. the room had a HDTV, airconditioning, and its own bathroom. i feel like i'm sleeping in a hotel, only there's no room service, and its free.


i called my mom to tell her that i've arrived at dad's house, and i also told her that about how much kuching have changed too. somehow i felt sleepy all of a sudden, so i turned the tv off, switched off the lights and closed my eyes. but as i closed my eyes i couldn't sleep, so i toss and turned but i still couldn't i guess its because i'm not used to the place yet, so instead i got off the bed and walked to the balcony, figuring probably after some fresh air i could get some sleep.


then while i was standing on the balcony, i saw some lights from a motorcycle or scooter or something, and a few moments later i heard the sound, it was a scooter. i looked even more closer to the scooter and noticed it was a girl riding the scooter. my house was in front of a corner, and it was a hard bend corner, i notice that there was a car coming from the opposing direction, and the car didn't have the lights turned on, and i wanted to warn her but it was too late, she did manage to evade the car but she was thrown in front of the gate of to my house. i just had to help her.


i ran downstairs and noticed that my dad was still in his studies, doing work, so i didn't bother calling him, so i quickly ran downstairs opened the front door, and the front gate. she managed to get the scooter off her but she was still on the ground. i ran to help her. i gave her my hand and she grabbed mine, she tried but she couldn't get up, so i gave her a little pull. she did managed to stand with my help, but her legs were bleeding.


"er.. your leg is bleeding. do you need any help?"

"no its fine, i can still walk, just barely anyway."

"don't worry, lets go inside, i'll fix the cut for you"

"you'd do that for me? thanks."



i gave her my shoulder so she could walk a little bit, and a few shoulder later, we were in front of my house, next she was on the sofa. my dad then came down to find out what i was doing there.



"Saf, really? you've only been here only a couple of hours and you're already bringing home some girl."


"no dad, she was in an accident outside, i helped her. and she's bleeding, do you have any medical kits here?"


" in the kitchen, next to the cutlery."


i ran to the kitchen and grabbed the medical kit, and i wondered why he put it next to the knife and stuff. maybe cause he cuts himself everytime he uses the knife. anyway, i walked to the living room, and opened the kit in front of her. i used the cotton to wipe her blood, and dipped another balls of cotton with iodine.


"its gonna sting a little," then i slowly tapped the cotton on her cut, she bit her a tounge to ease the pain, but i knew she was still in pain. alter i used the bandage to wrap her legs.


there, its all better now."


"thanks, how come you're so good at this?"


"ow, you know, i used to be in the National Service and all."


"oh, i forgot to introduce myself, i'm Hani,"


"i'm Saf, nice to meet you Hani,"


"nice to meet you too, freaky way to meet ain't it?well i best be going then."


"wait do you want me to send you? your leg is still in bandages,"


"its okay, i only live a few houses from yours,"


"then i'll walk you there. your scooter is kinda totaled"


"thanks again."



i showed her the way out. i told my dad that i was sending her home, and then i went out. she was still limping, but it wasn't like before. i pulled her scooter so it could stand, and tried to start it, and it started, but i noticed the tyres were all messed up, so riding the scooter was out of the question. she looked at me, and wanted to grab the handle of the bike, but i wouldn't let her, instead i myself towed the scooter. we walkes side by side, while i pushed the scooter. we talked about stuff, and what kind of stuff i wasn't sure, but it had something to do with what i'm studying and about my dad and my mom. we reached her house, like she said, it wasn't that far from my house, i parked her scooter under the porch. she thanked me again, and i said welcome. i told her to change the bandages in a couple more hours. she smiled at me, and i smiled back. i said my goodbye, but before i left she grabbed my shoulder and as i turned around, she gave me a little kiss on the cheeks, it was a surprise to me, but it felt kinda nice, and kinda right. i said goodbye again to her, and waved at her. i couldn't get the stupid grin off my face, and it didn't went away, even when i was on the bed that night, and probably when i was asleep too, since i dreamt of her that night.

that morning i woke up and that grin was still on my face. i seriously couldn't get that grin off my face. even my dad thinks that grin is stupid, and my little cousin. then i remembered that Danny had an older brother, Dini, who is the same age as me. and it turns out he's here in Kuching too, and but he's still at this camp, thats why Danny is staying here, just untill he's back tomorrow. meanwhile i had to stay here and do nothing. i stopped grinning, and asked my dad if i can borrow his car, and he gave the key to his CR-V.


it took for me quite some time to get used to the car, since back in KL i drive a Kenari, and the CR-V is a little different, but i got used to it. i drove around a few houses then i noticed that i was already in front of Hani's house. i dont really know what i'm doing there but somehow i just gotta meet her again, i was gonna honk but she came out of the house. her hair was tied in this different way than any girl would tie their hair, so that is what i remember about her. she saw me and ran to my car.

"what are you doing here Saf?"
"you know, i was gonna see how you are feeling, after that fall and all."
"i'm fine."
"how's the cut?"
"its okay, its better than it was last night."
"you know what, i'll cut this bullcrap now. i was gonna do this slowly but, do you wanna go for a ride with me? show me aroud Kuching?"
"i'm not sure me 'riding' with you is such a good idea,"
"uh, bad choice of words there."
"why would you wanna around Kuching?"
"i'm a KL boy, so i dont know my way around here. i'm in desperate need of a guide."
"okay, i will show you around this city."

she showed me everything there is to show around Kuching, and she even showed me where the best food place is, and from what she said, and from what i've eaten, i would probably say that Suhai is my favourite place. we spent the entire day and night just driving around Kuching. untill it was very late,then i sent her home. i drove back to my house, and slept easily, with no stupid grin on my face.

the next morning, Danny woke me up to tell me that my father wanted me to pick up Dini from his camp in Damai. so i did what he told me, mostly because i wanted to see that guy again, the last time we met was when i was still i form 1, in Genting, and that was just by accident. anyway, the drive was long, since Damai was like on the edge of this place, but its a nice place if you wanna chill at a beach. when i arrived, Dini was already waiting with his bag by his side, wearing sunglasses, a cap and those mod scarf (the plaided kind). wow he looked so indie rock, or more like mod, or something in between. i unlocked the door, and Danny opened the door and called out to Dini. he noticed us and ran to the car. he placed his bags inside. only when he was inside that he noticed that it was me.

"Saf?"
"Yeah Its me, hey Dini!"
"dude, how long has it been?"
"i think 4 or 5 years?"
" yeah i think so."

we talked all the way back form Damai, and we talked about everything. and i even told him about my meeting with Hani. i asked him what he was doing at Damai, and he said it was for this seminar on advertising or something. i didn't pay enought attention to it. i sent him back to his house in Gita, but he insisted that Danny stay with my dad, because he was going out, and by the looks of it, out all night. he took out his own car, which was a pearl whiteVios. when i saw that i was amazed, it was so shiny, like a new coin, or a metal foil, or a bald guy's head. after i sent Danny back to my house, Dini came to pick me up. he said we were going out to play snooker and hit the town, which of course means go to some bar or club.

i wanted to call Hani to bring her with me, but somehow, i just didn't want to ruin a guy's night out by bringing a girl. so i only texted her the entire time. we hungout the whole night, and then we came home at about 12 or later, but when we got home, i saw an ambulance parked in front of Hani's house. i felt something was wrong, so i asked Dini to drive oevr to her house. it was Hani on the stretcher, being put into the ambulance. i knew something was up, so i got out and asked her mother what happened, and it turns out that she fell down the stairs. so i followed the ambulance to the hospital, with Dini on the wheels. we slept at the hospital that night.

i woke up at 6, and asked the reception where Hani's ward is. it was located at level 4, the bone department. it turns out she broke her leg after falling down. when i was in the ward, her mother greeted me, and started to act as if i;m the first guy friend that she has. and as her mother started to talk it turns out that i was. she said that the reason that she doesn't have any guy friend is because she's really clumsy. but i never recall her being clumsy when i was around her. she woke up a few moments later, and was blushing when she saw me in the ward with her mother. i asked where her father is, and she replied back that he was in europe. then her mother started rambling about how when she was little, she used to fall down bicycles and stuff, and that every guy that she ever encountered was too foolish to get used to her being clumsy, so they never stay. but her mother was thankful that i didn't run when i heard that she broke her leg. i promised her that i won't go. and i got close to Hani after her mother left to buy some food, and slowly told her that i won't leave her, and gave her a little peck on the cheek. she smiled at me, and started to blush. then i told her that i was going home to change my clothes. Dini drove me home, and i changed. i drove my own car to the hospital, and spent my time with her there.

everyday i went to the hospital to check on her, and helped her with therapy for her leg to start walking again. her mother was impressed with what i'm doing for her, and when i was alone with her mother while Hani was in the doctor's office, her mother said that she never made it more than a day without breaking or cutting or even damaging any part of her body by accident. and she thanked me. i only smiled back, since i know that in 2 more weeks that i won't be in Kuching anymore.

my dad knew that i have been spending my time with her at the hospital, he even gave me gas money everyday. Hani was ready to go home, i drove her home with her mother beside her. her legs were still in a cast, but she can walk a little bit. when she was home, my dad came to visit her, and so did Dini. i helped move her around, and for dinner i brought her out to eat at Suhai, it was like her favourite. i'm going back to KL in four more days, i told her already, she seemed okay. it was my last night to eat with her, since tomorrow i had to eat with my dad, then with Dini, then with my other family on my father's side. that night while i was eating, she stared at my me so i stopped eating and looked back at her.

"what's wrong?"
"ow, nothing."
"i'm sorry i have to leave, but its just that i live there."
"its okay. i just wanna say thank you. thank you for helping me go through all this, i don't think i was gonna survive another broken part."
"i did it because i wanted too."
"i kinda like it when you're around, i never feel like i'm gonna screw up or anything, maybe that's why i didn't fall or anything when i was out with you last three weeks. it's like you give me balance, or its like you give me another pair of legs."
"maybe its because when i walk with you, i always held your hand."
"maybe that's it. thanks for always holding my hands, even when they are are cold as ice."
"i promise that i won't forget you. and i did promise not to leave you, i'm sorry i have to break that promise. i'll be back in a few more weeks."

she smiled at me, and a little drop of tear started rolling down her cheeks, i used a tissue paper to rub it off her. after we ate, i helped her into my car. then i drove her home. just in front of her house, i helped her out of the car, and sent her to the door.her father was already home, so i didn't bother to go in, i only sent her up to her front door. before she went in, she gave me one long kiss.

and after i went back to KL, i never forgot about her. i promised that i was coming back, and i will. i'm buying the ticket to Kuching right now. :)

Kiss Me Now That I'm Older

i was 13, young, naive and had no idea whatsoever about girls, or even dating. but this one particular girl came into my life and changed me forever. her name, Melissa. i never met her before, and she never met me before. our meeting at the airport was coincidental, or some might call it fate. but whatever it was, it brought us to meet each other there.





i was doing some of my assignment at the park, some geography assignment. we were to choose, either drawing a map of the place where we live, and write a report about it, or take a photograph of a tree, and write the history of the tree. i for one chose the tree, since the tree in the park had a history to it, the first tree in Kuching, the tree that was there when they declared independence to this state and more. so it was mere of connecting the points that i had . so there i was, dragging my camera on my neck,a sling bag and some file of the things that i already researched at the DBKU library on my hand.





it was hot, and i've been doing the research all day long, since morning to be exact. there was a bench, and so i decided to take a few minutes rest. i put the file next to me while the camera was still hangin on my neck, my bag was also with me. i just relaxed, and stretched my legs a little to get rid of the fatigue. then the most glorious thing happen, this strong wind blew and i felt more comfortable, forgetting my file that was beside me. when i have finally realized the wind blew everything in my file away, it was already too late. all the research notes that i had was already in mid air, and some of it are halfway across the field. in a nanosecond, i ran and grabbed each one that was still flying, and the ones that were on the ground.finally there was one left, which was over the edge of the field, near the road. i ran while holding the notes tightly on my hand.



then just as i was about to grab the last one, i jolted onto someone that was in front of me. i fell on my back, and the pain on my forehead was unbearable. i held my head, and put the rest of the notes inside of my bag. i used both hands now to hold my head to check if there was any bump on my head, and to see if i was bleeding. but i wasn't bleeding and no bumps whatsoever. i finally stood up slowly, and saw the other guy that jolted unto me. it was a girl. she wasn't lying down, but kneeling, and did what i did before, holding the head part. she wasn't screaming or anything, but i'm sure that it wasn't that bad. she finally stood up and grabbed my last note.



"hey wait, thats mine!"

"what are you talking about kid?"

"that note, its mine."

"it is? then tell me what do you know about biology?"

"bio-what? what are you talking about? thats my geography paper!"

"see for yourself."



she showed me the paper and it was a picture of a half sliced frog. i scratched my head, and turned to her face.



"i'm sorry miss. guess it was my fault. i didn't see what it was."

"thats all you could say? at least you could offer me some drinks as a sorry thing!"

"okay. i'm sorry. would you accept my treat for a drink as a token of apologies?"

"sure thing kid."

"you do know thats bullying a kid right?"

"hey! you offered me."

"okay!"



we walked a few blocks away and arrived at Hopoh. i bought her some Cola, while i bought 100 plus. she walked with me for a few minutes and then we found a place to sit. she sat in front of me, staring at me, trying to find something wrong with me. i pretended not to notice her staring at me. then suddenly she grabbed my cheeks and started squeezing it hardly.



"you're so cute kid!"

"what are you doing that hurts."

"sorry kid."

"stop calling me kid. i have a name, its Ben."

"well sorry, Ben. i didn't know your name. i'm Melissa."



she asked me a lot of question, and answered them lightly, and some of them i didn't even answer. afterwards my handphone rang, and i took it out from my pocket. then after my me and my mom finished talking, she grabbed my phone from my hand.

"who's that? you're girlfriend?"

"that was my mom!"

"jeez... mellow out Ben. relax. aren't you too young to have a handphone?"

"it was my brother's. he bought a new one. so he gave me the old one."

"really? well, your model is like mine."

she took out her own handphone, which was the same model as mine, but with a different colour, mine was grey, and hers was blue. she dialled something on my phone, and then did something else to it. then she reached for her phone and did the same thing.

"thats done."

"what did you do?"

"this!"

she dialled a number, and my phone suddenly rang. i looked at the screen and saw her name pop up.

"its so i can call you anytime kid."

"huh?"

"well i gotta go. i have a tuition class this evening. see you there."

"who's picking you up?"

"you kidding? i drive myself, kid."

she got up from her seat, and walked away from me. i decided to follow her. i followed her until the parking lot. i saw her getting in to the car, it was a red Proton Wira, and after reversing, she put on her sunglasses, waved at me and drove away.her car was cool.

after my mom picked me up that evening, i finished my project and turned on my computer. i typed the whole project down so i could print it later, then played dungeon keeper 2, a game that i just bought last week. i played the game until about seven, and i received a text message from Melissa. she texted 'Hello kid!' to me. i texted back, saying 'hello' back to her. she texted to me asking me if i got her biology note. i checked my bag and by chance i did have her note. 'yeah i do' was what i texted back to her. she told me to meet her a place called Pustaka. so i told her that i'll meet her two days later, which was Wednesday.my mom sent me to Pustaka, that Wednesday. it was the very first time i went there since primary 5. Pustaka was better than i can remember, but i wasn't really familiar with the place. i waited for her at the fountain, and waited for her to text me back. she didn't text me back, and i was starting to think she was setting me up on a prank. and i was already giving up, so i stood up and started to walk away, when suddenly someone tapped me on the shoulder. i turned around and saw her smiling at me, wearing red top and Levi's jeans.

i handed her the notes, and she grabbed my hands and brought me outside. we were at the stairs near the lake, and she held my arms tightly.

"Ben, i think i like you."

"you like me?"

"yes!"

"um... i'm just a kid. and you're like seventeen or something."

"age doesn't change the fact that i like you.no! i think i love you."

"love me? i'm 13 and i don't even know how to like a girl, or even treat a girl right."

"don't worry i'll show you how to do it slowly."

"um... so what now?"

"well now, you're my boyfriend! and you know what else?"

"wha.."

just as i was about to finish my sentence, she kissed me on the lips, and hugged me. it was my very first kiss. and it wasn't with some girl the same age as me, or the little kid kiss like the ones you would see in America's funniest home videos. it was very long, and since i was just a kid back then, i almost lost my breath. after she kissed me, she laughed.

"we could work on that later."

END

will you still love me tomorrow?

everything went silent, it was an awkward moment for both of us. she stared straight at me. eventhough she was sitting down, after hearing what i said, i think it made her sit down once again. nobody was expecting this. even me. so in the heat of embarasing myself even more, i ran outside. her party continued on after i ran out. i walked towards my Honda Prelude, and banged the hood. then the weather turned bad. it started to rain. i went inside the car, and just sat there, thinking away. it wasn'talways like this, me and Farah, we are best friends.

it was about six years ago, i was still twelve years old, but i was in form one. it wasn't such a big deal or anything, there were about ten of us in the class, and some few others in the other class. anyway, it wasn't because of my age that made it difficult, it was rather that i just moved here at that time. so it was kind of weird for someone like me to make friends so quickly. so it was my first day in form one in a new place, i had no friends, and i just arrived in class. the teacher inside wanted me to introduced myself to everyone which i did, but all my class mate at that time gave me a weird look. so at first i felt isolated, the teacher told me to get a seat at this desk near some girl. i slowly walked down to my desk, but someone tripped me, and i fell on my knees in front of my desk with all of my books on the floor. the guy that tripped me is Is, my now best friends. nobody would help me, even the teachers told me to stop playing around and quickly pick up my things. so this girl helped me. she grabbed some of my books, and put it on my desk. she smiled and offered her hand to help me up. i reached for her hand, and that was when i saw her, she introduced herself to me, and i now know her name, Farah. since then she helped me adjust to the school, meet new friends, and even made Is apologize to me. the rest of it is history.

in the present day...

i listen to the disc that i played before coming to her house, and that stupid disc was the whole reason i confessed to her at that time. songs by Cake-Strangers in the night, Death Cab-Earth Angel, and other love songs.it sounded really convincing when you wanted to do it, but right at that moment i felt stupid. i didn't knew she had a new boyfriend. that damn guy. the only reason i confessed to her was because i received this offer to study in Australia. i was going to suprised her after we got together, but things kind of got out of hand, and i don't think i will be talking to her in the next few days. thank goodness most of the people that went to her party was friends, not my friends. if Is saw me today, he would laughed his ass off. the rain got heavier, and the time was already late, so i had to go home. but before i drove away, i took the love song CD and threw it outside, there was no need to listen to those gay songs anymore.



for the next couple of days, my life went on as usual, and i started to pack some of my stuff that i needed, like my PS2, and my clothes, and some other crap that i may need. my mom also gave me some money to buy some shirt and pants before i leave. shopping for new clothes always gave me a headache, so usually i brought along Farah to help me, but she usually ended up buying some of her own stuff. anyway, since i couldn't talk to her, i just went on by myself.



shopping alone is harder than it seems, especially, when picking the right colours, and patterns. but i remembered everything Farah told me, always choose one black shirt, and buy the pants with the line things, and when choosing jeans, choose Levi's. i remembered all that and i finished shopping.i was going out to lunch, and since i never eat alone i called Is to meet me up at the foodcourt in TJ. he was always ready to go anywhere, and this was odd, considering that he was already in college. Is attends a private college, and because of that he is proud, or something. he doesn't need to go anywhere, he's gonna inherit his father's company.



i waited for Is at the lift lobby. five minutes after he called me, he was already in front of me, wearing his slick glass, expensive pants, and Armani exchange t-shirt. he was quite a dazzler, but he only dated one girl only, and they are engaged now. i never knew why he settled for this girl, if you saw these two at a party, they look like heaven and hell, the girl is sweet innocent looking, with the bright eyes, while the guy looks like hugh hefner. just by looking at him, you would assume he is a player.



we bought our food, and sat at the table near the window. i looked down and saw all this kids just hanging out at SP, and its kinda lame. a this whole time Is was staring at me. i knew he was about to say something.

"hey Ed?, is there anything new that i should know about?"

"huh? like what?"

"you know, anything....."

"dude! you knew about it!"

"what?! i don't know nothing."

"clear the shit, i've known you for years, i certainly know it when you know something"

"alright... i knew about the incident alright!"

"did Farah told you?"

"no, it was posted in Youtube, under the title 'embarassing confession boy' and this other video called 'awkward situation'. when i saw it it had one hundred thousands view."

"are you serious?"

"of course not. Farah told me yesterday when we were at our grandfather's birthday."

"owh.. how is she anyway?"

"you haven't spoken to her yet?"

"no! why would i? not after that. and not after i knew about her new boyfriend."

"yeah, about that, she broke up with him."

"why did she do that?"

"it turns out the guy was gay. his father forced him to go out with Farah"

"shit! now i'm just confused. i'm going in a few days, and i haven't even apologize for walking out on her party last week."

"make a decision quick jackass!"



after finished having lunch, i quickly got up and ran to the carpark. Is said he was going to get his fiance', so i was left alone once again. i started the car and drove out of the carpark. i drove quickly to Farah's house. i passed a few redlights, and almost hit a few cars but i didn't take it to much. so without regard for my safety i drove more faster. if my fate was with her, then it is, there is nothing in the living world that can go against fate.



as i've said before, its fate, me and Farah are meant to be together, nothing can't stop me. suddenly, there was this cat that was crossing the street, and i was driving so fast that my brake couldn't slowed the car. so i swerved the car and my car ended up inside a ditch.



i wasn't hurt bad or anything, but my car was badly damaged, and that is possibly a sign that its not my fate to be with her. my left hand was a little scratch, and my there was a big cut on my forehead. i reached for my handphone, and dialled Farah's number. she answered after a few moment.

"hello?"

"Farah?"

"Ed?"

"listen, i'm sorry about last week."

"its okay...umm..Ed..."

"i need to say something, this whole time that i wasn't with you, i felt as if i'm empty. as if there is something missing."

"oh Ed.. i..."

"let me just say something. i'm going to Australia this Saturday. remember the university application that we filled together? i got in. i was gonna share the exitement with you, but things happen that shouldn't have happen, and i'm sorry, and i hope you will live happily with someone other than me. it seems that i'm not for you, as you are not for me. bye..."

i called the tow truck, and told them where to find my car. afterwards i climbed out of my car, and waited for someone to pick me up. i didn't care about my car, i'm going to Australia anyway. i waited for the tow truck to come. the truck driver sent me home, while the car was sent to the workshop. i received a neverending call from Farah, but i purposely didn't answer them. i accidently answered this one time but i couldn't speak to her, maybe it was because my heart was to hurt, or maybe because it seems to hard to speak. but i never answered them.

finallythe day came. some of my family member was here to send me away, and some of my friend were here too. i felt the cries of my parent, my cousins and friends, and i cried back. but not because of leaving them but because i never got the chance to love the girl of my life. she wasn't even here, so it hurt me even more. i was going alone, since one of my cousin was already in Australia, and i'm suppose to live with him. the flight gate was already open, so i said my final goodbye to everyone that came, and lined up to the immigration counter. the hand luggage that i carried was only my backpack, and my laptop. i reached for my handphone wanting to off it, but Farah called me. i was hesitant to answer the call, but i made up my mind after thinking that i never will be able to speak to her again.

"hello.."

"Ed! i made up my mind. i love you. i've always have."

"what are you talking about?"

"just like you, my life was empty without you to brighten up my morning. without you to stand there right beside me!"

"Farah, its too late. i'm already going to board the plane."

"i'm outside! i'm with your family now!"

i slowly turned around and saw her just outside the window, waving at me. i ended the call, and ran outside to meether.

"how come you were late?"

"traffic"

she hugged me tightly, and i hugged back. she stared me in the eyes, and slowly, we kissed.

"LAST CALL FOR FLIGHT NUMBER MH44568 MALAYSIA AIRLINES TO SYDNEY!"

The flight announcement surprised the both of us.

"you know Farah, i can stay here..."

"no just go. there will be summer break for you. so make sure you come home okay?"

"i will, i promise."

"i know you would."

i went back to immigration counter and happily checked in. and the inly thing that is still playin in my mind is that will she still love me after all the time have passed? i can't make sure that will love me, but i can try. before going to the boarding gate, i turned around one last time, and saw her still standing outside the glass, looking at me go, she blew me a kiss, and i just smiled while walking away entering the airplane.

THE END?

promise me this

"when you're down, and everythings seems not so right, don't fret. i'm always there."

those were the words that i said to her the time that i we professes our feeling of love. it was night, and the street light that were shing above us gave a very romantic scene, although i was never the romantic type. she made me like this, she turned me into this romantic guy that i never wanted to become. my friends said that i was a fool in love, but i argued that i wasn't. i cut my social lives in two, one for her and her friends, and another one for my friends. and despite that i hated what i've become, i never voiced what i thought to her. i tried many times, but her very presence just turned me into another guy.

she was always with me. but now she may never be with me again. and it was all because of what my friends told her friends told her. i said some very bad things about her, but i never thought she would know of it.

but news travels fast especially if one of your friends are dating one of her friends. it really wasn't that smart talking trash about your girlfriend behind her back, and getting dumped the very next day after she heard it. it all happened last week.

i never saw it coming, i never saw it going, and i felt like it never even happened. i'm still in my room, still crying with no tears, which i have no idea why. all my friends was worried about me, and they all tried to cheer me up by introducing me to a couple of girls and bringing me to some club. but it didn't even move me. without her i was like a living puppet. i can't believe i'm saying this but she gave me what i never had, her breath gave me live, her smile brings me hope, and her presence there give me movement. but most of all, her kiss gives me emotion. i may sound a little gay this time but if you saw me then you would know what i was talking about.

so my friends and a couple of her friend tried to patch things up between us. but i never liked that idea so instead i isolated myself from the world. i rent up a room in Sematan. finally i was alone. i felt i can start new. i stayed there for a week. for the first few days i locked myslef in the room, then afterwards, i started to go out to the beach more. i never knew why but the beach always gave me some kind of forgetting feeling.

i went swimming in the sea for one whole day. then the next day, i used my motorcycle to ride the beach, and then went swimming again. and the routine is still the same for the next couple of days. untill the last night i would be staying here, my mind was clear, i was happy finally. i called my friends over to join in on my barbeque.

the time was almost twelve a.m.

still none of my friends has shown up. i gave up on them about an hour ago. i started the fire, and cooked all the things that are marinated. i used almost one whole bottle of fire starter liquid to start the fire. some even went on my sleves. the beach is really windy at night and i cannot start the fire without the firestarter.

after my chicken was cooked. i placed it all on a big plate. my friends didn't come. or they are still on their way. i did not know, on the way here, you can't get any line. but here the lines great. i sat next to the open barbeque, which was almost done. i cooked almost all the chickens, the hotdogs, and the lamb.

all of a sudden a car pulled up nearby. i thought it was my friend, but it wasn't their car. maybe some other stayers. i walked back to my barbeque. still i waited, and checkd my phone. still no calls from them. the time was eleven thirty five. i fell asleep in front of the fire for a little while. i must have been tired from all the swimming today. a few minutes later i opened my eyes and saw her in front of me.

"Emylia? Am i dreaming again?"

"no you're not Ed. its really me!"

"NO! i'm dreaming! I had this dream before!"

"No, you're not Ed. Its really me, its your Emy!"

i stood up and touched the grill which was kinda hot. i rubbed my eyes. now i know that it wasn't a dream. the pain from the grill was a giveout already. she was here, right in front of me. i asked myself what should i do? my friends all came out from the car that pulled in earlier. they all laughed and screamed at me to go hug her. i smiled back and i'm still thinking what i should do. i left my thoughts and tried to run towards her. but i smelled something burning. it was my hand. my hands was on fire. i ran around screamingmy lungs out. my friends tried to put it out using sand but somehow Emylia succesfully put out the fire using the marinated chicken leftover. the fire was put out somehow.i could still feel the burnt on my arm but i couldn't care. she was here. she wanted me back. and she forgave me for all the things that i said. then she gave me my life back, she hugged me and gave me a kiss. everything was right again. my friends all laugh at me, as it turns out her friends was here all week watching me, in case i did something terrible to myself. guess that's what friends are for.

"when you're aflame i'll put it out for you." she said softly to me. so i replied back to her,

"when you're down, and everythings seems not so right, don't fret. i'm always there."

Pity

22 years old, still young but already in love and living with her boyfriend. that is Chun, she lives with her boyfriend Kang, an architect at some big apartment in Kuching. Kang loved her as mush as he loved himself, so did Chun. but unfortunately time can cause people to fall apart.

one year later, Chun is still living with Kang, but she is not happy. Kang is always busy with his work, and usually when he comes home, he would scream at Chun or beat her. this made their relationship really distant, and as they grew apart, Chun began thinking about her own life.

Chun would go to the rooftop where she and Kang used to go. she remembered the way Kang would hug her, the way he would kiss her. their memory were up here, when both were happy, when both were close, when everything was still Okay.

one day, Kang was having a really bad day. the building plan that he worked on was rejected by his company, so he had to worked on another plan. this made him really angry and he would just spill his anger at anyone that passes near him. when he arrived home, he grabbed Chun's hand and pushed her to the sofa, and started screaming at her, and rhen he started to beat her. but in the middle of the beating, she managed to run out of the apartment. she ran away from the place, until she knew she was safe. she went to a restaurant, which was quite crowded on the outside but empty on the inside. she sat at one of the table inside and ordered her drink. she ordered something heavy to sink everything that happened to her tonight. she just couldn't take it anymore, but she need Kang, she has no one in Kuching left, all her family was in Australia. and Kang was the one that gave her all her money. she was left in a dilemma.

suddenly, there was this guy that sat next to her. he ordered a hot coffee. and just sat there a newspaper, she looked at him, then stared back to her drink while thinking again about her dilemma. while she was in her own mind the guy suddenly came up next to her and asked her, "can i keep you company miss?"

she nodded her head and the guy brought his coffee to her table. he was a scruffy looking fellow with the unshaved beard and untucked shirt. he was carrying a big camera hanging on his neck. Chun continued staring down on the table instead of looking at this stranger. he broke the silence by making small talk about the rising fuel prices, and from there, both talked fondly to each other and didn't feel awkward at all with him. Chun felt really comfortable with this guy, this stranger than the guy he knew at home. she started to forget about the pain that Kang inflicted on her as she talked more to the guy. the restaurant that they were in was almost closing, both lost track of time and after paying for their drink, they went out of the place. then they departed after saying goodbye to each other. but Chun didn't get his name, so did the guy. she regretted she didn't asked him his name as she walked on towards the apartment. just then she felt a light touch on her shoulder.

she turned around and saw the guy she talked with earlier. it seems that she forgot her jacket at the restaurant, and he brought it to her.

"thanks for my jacket," she said happily
"its okay,i'm just being nice. umm... may i know your name?" the scruffy guy asked Chun.
"call me Chun."
"Chun, i'm Ian. nice to meet you."

both talked some more, and then before Ian left, Chun gave him her phone number.

after a few days meeting, Chun felt what she felt when she first met Kang again. she couldn't remember when Kang met her fell that way recently, since the only feeling that she felt was pain. so one night, she was meeting Ian like always, but unfortunately Kang saw her with Ian and fell into a deep rage. Kang ran home and waited for Chun to get home.

Chun was home, Kang was waiting for her. He asked her where she's been, and she answered that she was with her friends. he knew that she was lying to him, so he started his beating on her again, and screamed at her while cursing at her. then after he was done with her, he locked Chun inside her room.

Chun was crying hard, she was hurt, and cannot go anywhere. this was what she had foreseen before. she had talked about this with Ian, Ian knows that this thing was gonna happen sooner or later. so without hesitation, she reached for her handphone and called Ian to help her.

Kang was taking a day off, so he was staying to keep Chun home. then the doorbell rang, Kang went to get the door and saw IAn standing there. he asked for Chun but Kang hesitated, then answered that she wasn't home. then Chun screamed Ian's name from her room. Ian knew she was locked in her room. he tried to get in but Kang stopped him. he choked Ian, but Ian reversed it and punched him several times before Kang fell on the floor. Ian unlocked the door to Chun's room and left Kang all by himself in the apartment.

Five Years later

Chun was on her way home when she saw Kang's apartment. she decided to go see him again. she was hesitant to go there, but she gathered up the courage and walked right into the elevator. it had been five years already, maybe he's change, afterall she did. Chun nows works as a real estate agent, and married to Ian, and already has a son. and she was wondering how thing was for Kang, maybe he changed a lot too.

she went to the apartment room, but there was no one there, the room had been emptied,and was waiting for someone else to rent it. she thought that maybe Kang had moved out. so she went up to the roof to reminisce about the time she used to spent with Kang. she never met Kang again after that.

Unknown to Chun...

after Chun left Kang, Kang felt into a deep depression, where he won't do anything, he lost his job, he lost all his money, and he was getting thinner and more thinner. his parents are concerned about his health, but he never replied their calls. until one day, he purchased a bottle of sleeping pill, because he couldn't sleep. he went up to the roof,and sat on the edge of the roof, and took all the pills in the bottle. he went into overdose mode, he was in a seizure, his mouth was all foamy. then in the middle of it all, he fell from the rooftop, to the ground, and ended his life once and forever.

jinxer(goodbye myself)

people call me Lenny, my real name is Allan. i'm married to the most beautiful woman on this planet, and planning to have a baby. everything is going great in my life. i'm about to get a promotion, although its just a rumor, i'm pretty sure its a sure go.

Thursday, Kuching. i lost my job. my employer fired me because i lost one of our biggest client. the promotion i was about to get went out the window, along with my job. now i have to tell the bad news to my wife. i went to the parking lot in front of the office building, and my car was not there. all thats left at my parking spot was just shattered pieces of glass. my car has been stolen.

i had to take the bus home. so i waited at the bus station. there was no one there but me and two guys. it was probably because its almost evening. the bus arrived just before i came here. so i have to wait for another half-an-hour. almost fifteen minutes went by. the two guys that was at the bus station kept pointing at me. i had a feeling that something bad is about to happen. one of the guy walked slowly behind me, while the other was sitting next to me. suddenly the one behind me grabbed my hand, and held it on my back. the one next to me pulled out a knife from his pocket and pleced it near my neck. the sharp end of the knife, i can feel it on my neck.he demanded that i gave them my wallet. i was powerless, i coudn't do anything. so i gave up. i said in a nervous tone to take my wallet from my pants. they took the wallet, emptied everything, left nothing but my i.d card.

a few minutes later, the bus arrived. i walked in slowly. fortunately i had a few extra extra change in my front pocket to pay for the bus. my bag was scratched by the guys that robbed me. this was the worst day of my life. just then i thought that nothing worse can happen. i was sitting at the seat near the window. i looked outside, the bus stopped at the traffic light. next to the bus was a BMW. a new one. inside i saw someone familiar sitting at the seat next to the driver. at first i coudn't see them clearly. the BMW rolled down its window, and i saw my ex-employer. next to him was, ow shit, its my wife. the day just got worse.

the bus stopped at the station near my house. there were a whole crowd of people in the residential area. a few yards in front was a fire-engine. the hell? my house has just been on fire a few hours earlier. one of the neighbour called the fireman. why wasn't my wife aware of this? she must have been out with my boss.

i'll have to find a place to stay first. i called my wife first, using the public phone. she answered the phone calmly. when i asked her what she was doing , she answered that she was at her mothers. i told her about our house burned down, she was a little surprised. then she asked me where i wanted to stay, i told her i will stay at her mother's place. but she said her brothers just came home from K.L and the house is full. i had to stay at my friends house. i told her that i was staying at my friends house. she said goodbye, and hung up.

so i had to walk another kilometres to the next residential area. by the time i reached there my wife was already waiting for me at the front door. she didn't even gave me hug or a kiss. all she did was handed me a pile of paper, the title of the paper was, Bill of Divorcement.and she just left me. wtihout saying a word.i was frustrated. i screamed inside my head. i have been a nice guy all my life. now all this has happen i don't believe in anything anymore. i knocked on my friends doorand put all the things that is on my hand inside his house. he put me in a bachelor room, much like his. the room was empty, the walls were blank. i better start planning my revenge soon enough. now i am not the guy i used to be, i can make anything happen, for bloody revenge is bloody sweet...

Four-Eyes(I am Not Weak)

i am known as Dex. i am like any other kid in Kuching. i'm just 16, and i go study Tunaz. i only go out once a week, during the weekend. in the weekdays, i just study all the time. i do other things too, like after school activities, and some sport. but this week was different. it was a long break, about one week. i hate this break because i never do anything during the break anyway, usually i just stay at home and just read some comics and graphic novel. this week was different as i said before, my parent wasn't home, they were off somewhere to Europe, and i was left to die here, just kidding, my brother is here.

my cousin just came in today from New Zealand. he just finished his second semester in college, and decided to pay me a visit for 3 month. guess he'd rather be here than there, but me i would rather be there than here. whatever. so today i was to pick him up. i went to the airport via a taxi. i wondered around the airport for quite some time until i found the landing information on the t.v hanging on the wall. i found out that his flight has just arrived. he's been in New Zealand for quite some time. he still has a house here in Kuching, his family moved to New Zealand about three Years ago. i waited at the arrival zone where people started to walked out of the luggage place, some were even running.

i waited for a few minutes until somebody suddenly tapped my shoulder. i thought it was him, but as i turned around, it was a girl. she was carrying a travelers bag, like what some people from overseas would carry,or those camping bags.

"minta maaf, mana tempat nak minta teksi? eh, salah plak, sorry, where do i get the taxi?"

seems she was not a local. she was probably from the west malaysia. plus her accent gives it away. i pointed her the way to a taxi counter which was just a few inches away. she was crowded with bags so i offered to help her. i carried some of her handheld baggage so she could go to the counter with ease. after she got the taxi ticket thing, we waited outside for a taxi. the thing with airport taxi is that, you can easily get a taxi here.i helped her to put the things in the taxi, and afterwards she thanked me. before she went in the taxi, she took out a pen, took my hand and wrote something there. then she went in and left the airport. i slowly waved at her taxi and started walking back in the airport. i glanced at my hand, and a name, a number and a few lines were written on it.'Elly,(her number),"call me when you get a chance"'

then a distance away from the entrance, i saw my cousin, Remmy. he was carrying one big bag of luggage, and a laptop bag was hanging from his shoulder. he was sitting on one of those seat at the airport. he has been watching me all this while. he smiled and i ran towards him. and gave him a friendly hug.

"Only sixteen, and you're getting a girl like that. what will you become when you turn my age?"

i laughed a little and he laughed a lot. then he said "just don't be gay okay?"

we went over to the taxi counter, and booked a taxi. we waited outside and went home afterwards. in the taxi, he grabbed my hand and started to read what Elly wrote on my hand. he told me to call her tonight. i refused but he insisted that i do it tonight, because it was Thursday. tonight was lady's night at any club in Kuching. he told me to ask her out. i refused to ask her out to go clubbing because mainly for one reason, i was underage. he said he'd cover for me about my age. he persuaded me over and over again, even until we reached his house. even until we were inside his house and unpacking his stuff he was still persuading me.i unpacked his PS2 and plugged it into the Home theatre in his entertainment room. we were playing guitar hero 3 and he was still trying to get me to ask the girl out.

"she gave her numbers to you for a reason, stupid. its not a kind of nice things to do after some guy help her. she wants you to ask her out."

i thought some more and still refused,until we were playing the dragon force song, Through the Fire and Flame, he betted if he could finish the song better than me i asked Elly out tonight. i accepted his challenge since i always accepted any challengem,plus i was mediaocre at dragonforce song in guitar hero. he probably never played this song before.

i lost. he played the song perfectly in hard mode. i couldn't even compete with his score. he finished it 100%. I SHOULDN'T HAVE UNDERESTIMATED HIM. so the bet was i asked Elly out. okay. i reached my phone, dialled her number. there was a caller tone, the song by the vines "don't listen to the radio" was playing. then an answer.it was her. i asked if it was her, and she answered yes. i asked how she was doing, she said she had a hard time getting places since she has never been to Kuching before. then i had the chance, i offered to show her around Kuching. she happily answered that it would be great. she then thanked me a lot, and asked me to meet her at the Merdeka Palace.

there i showed to Remmy that i can take the challenge. but the problem was i can't drive because i don't have a license. Remmy told me not to worry, he told me "WE" could use his car. "WE"? what does he mean by that?

Street Punk(Love co-exist)

My Name is Jonhny, short for Junid.i look around.Kuching, no place like it, its unique like the people here.i am an outcast.everywhere i walk everybody would glance at me. they were looking at me as if i were a monster. i never did anything wrong but i knew just by the glances that they were talking bad about me. whisper of people passing by talking of my bad attitude, or that i probably have rob some store, or i was doing drugs, i can hear them all, but i just ignore them. i deafen my ear. this is what happens to me everyday of my life.

the glances can be the most dangerous weapon to ever be used, and the second most dangerous is bad impression. it was probably because of how i dress. i am a PUNK enthusiast.so to symbolize my interest i usually wear my PUNK getup. leather jacket with spike on the shoulder and the back, spiked bracelet, mohawk hair and combat boots. i walk around the city carrying my guitar, and a bag.

Kuching, Friday. my life changed forever. i was just coming back from a jamming session. the studio was on the second floor, i was walking down from the place. on the side walk, i passed a few shops, and a few people. they were glancing at me. then i passed this girl, she was wearing all white, i can smell her perfume from yards away. she saw me so i took my glance away from her. she smiled at me. i didn't know what to do. i never met with a girl like her before so i just walked past her. i was a bit nervous. so i just walked fster. then some guy was running in front of me and he knocked my shoulder. i wanted to retaliate but i wasn't in any mood to fight, especially in public.

the girl i saw earlier was still a few blocks away from where i was walking, she was buying something from a general store near the jamming studio. she was different, i can sense it. her glance, her smile, it wasn't like any other glance, and it wasn't those cynical smile too. her glance was more innocent and her smile was more sweet. i wasn't probably the one for her. a PUNK and an sweetheart will never be together, like a devil can never be with an angel.


suddenly, i could hear a scream, and a loud shouting for help. i turned to my back and i saw the girl sitting on the floor, while shouting for help. no one near her was helping her. she shouted that someone has snatched her handbag. no one cared, there was about a dozen guys there, but all they did was stared at her. i wasn't about to let such a thing happen. i ran as fast as i could to catch the snatch thief. i ran past her, and then the jamming studio. soon i was just a few inches away from the thief. but he provesto be a better runner than me, cause the moment he saw me behind him, he just dashed forward even faster. something was weighting me down, it was my guitar.

i made a one second thought. but i knew i would regret it later, but at hte time i wasn't thinking about anything. i jsut thought about her smile. i threw my guitar at the thief. he went down like a tree. the weight of my guitar was just unbearable to his head. i thought that he was dead. then a few moments later,a police car surrounded me.the police officer asked me to put my hands up. i couldn't do anything. i couldn't even explain. i was arrested for something that i didn't do.

i was in lock up with a few other felons. i didn't know what to do. the guy i threw down was also there, but was lying on the floor with a bandage wrapped on his head. he was conscious when he was put i here. he was still probably in pain. then the police officer that arrested me called my name. and asked me to step out of the cell. then he called another name, and the thief that i knocked down walked out.

we were asked to go in a straight line into a bright litted room. we were asked to stand in one straight vertical line facing a mirror.i knew this was the suspect room. the bloody thief was beside me. then out of nowhere this voice came, and told me to take a step forward. i was given number 7. so i slowly stepped forward. then the voice came again and told number 8 to move forward. after a few minutes the police officer came again to instruct us to get out. we were escorted back to the cell. an hour later, my name was called again. this time i was told that someone made a bail for me. i didn't know who it was, but i was thankful. the bail officer gave me a bag containing what was confiscated from me. my broken guitar. damn. i regretted throwing my guitar. there goes my two month payroll.

i walked slowly out of the station. my spiked mohawk hair was already down, cause i've been splashed with water by the other felons in the cell. i think he was drunk, at least untill i was finished with him(i beated him hard). i tried to fix my hair before i walked out of the station but it didn't work. i walked out with my hair down. it was almost dark in Kuching, Padang merdeka was as empty as ever, cars filled the street. but of course with the road to India Street closed, the whole road was even more crowded than before.

i walked around a bit, just before someone called my name. i thought it was the police officer again. but as i turned my head i saw the girl. she smiled at me. her smile was so sweet. she said something to me, i coudn't hear anything with all the blaring sound of cars and motorcycles beside us. i shrugged my head and she moved closer to me, reached her head near to mine, and whispered "Thank you,my hero" and gave me a kiss on the cheeks. i was blushing. she must have bailed me out. then we introduced ourselves formally to each other. her name is Layla. she held my arms softly and we walked together towards the open air foodcourt.