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Tuesday, October 21, 2014
Chapter 4: School Reopens Chapter 4"School Reopens"
"Riiiiiiing!" the sound of alarm clocks rang ferociously in every house throughout the whole Singapore. Today, the day where every student has to wake up before dawn and move their lazy ass to get ready for school. Holiday was over and finally schools had reopened. And today, the first day of school, marked the start of the second semester.
"Ooooi bangun..." Old man, by rote, woke me up with his annoyingly groan.
"mmmm..." I murmured.
"OI BANGUN LAH!" Old man barked.
I leaped up from bed with my eyes dilated as wide as a goldfish's, shocked by old man's bark, heaved onto my feet and dragged myself to the toilet.
I stepped out from the toilet, with my scrawny body wet and puddled my floor tiles, grabbed a towel and dried myself up while humming.
By rote, I ironed my school uniform, put them on, had my breakfast, socked my feet and slipped them into my whited school shoes which had countless speck of dirt on them, and made my move to school.
"Ding Ding Ding Ding Ding Ding" the digital bell sounded to warn students to hurry up to the parade square for assembly.
I scudded towards the square with my bulky sling bag bobbing at the side of my hip. I slammed my butt down and sit, took off my sling bag and put it aside, and started to converse with my Bill.
"eh how's the detention? best?" Bill sniggered as he whispered.
"fuck no, i wasted my time at school, did almost nothing and sit for few hours. how that possible be best?" I got annoyed by Bill. Well, he loves to annoy me. he loves to see me scowl. can be said, it's part of his hobby. he even love it more when I ever complain to him whenever I have an arguement with old man. At times I got addled by his liking. he seems to like peculiar things. He's weird, though.
"hahahahaha!" he giggled, dabbing his handkerchief to his lips as if not wanting to burst his laughter to alert the teachers who patrolled the square that been for a lookout of students who talk.
"abeh bapak kau cakap apa?" he asked what had my father said.
"dia? tak guna ah. dia ketawekan lagi ade ah cibai!" I replied with a scowl, telling him that old man was useless as he laughed at me about the detention. 'Cibai' is a Hokkien term to say 'vagina'.
"BAHAHAHAHAHA!" finally Bill burst into laughter. This is what he likes 'for old man to laugh at me for making myself look stupid to get caught doing a wrong thing'. This is his favourite- such bastard, he is.
"boys..." a patrolled teacher caught us laughing and warned us to stop.
"bodoh!" I scowled, saying 'stupid' to Bill for laughing a little loud to alert the teacher. And there he went, giggling endlessly.
Then a moment later, a prefect scudded to the front, preparing the microphone to speak.
"School, stand up" By rote, the prefect ordered us to get ready for national anthem and pledge, once done, the prefect would dismiss us class by class, we went back to our classroom and lessons started.
***
"Lepak dulu ah sebelum balek!" Zacky shouted from afar, telling the clan to slack at the void deck first before going home.
Zacky; the most sensitive, full of jealousy, and a bossy motherfucker in the clan. he has no sense of humour. a little jokes on him could hurt. pampered, to be more specific. everything must be done his way and everyone must follow whatever he says. If he says black means black, and if he says white means white. If none follows, he would sulk with a grim carves on his face and keep a grudge onto the one who opposes him. He even ditches and say foul words behind any of us in the clan, if one ever in contact with the girls he knows in this famous social media- at that time- Friendster. Apart from that, he even rejected friend request from any of us as he afraid that we might add more of his girlfriends and have a chatter. Well that, I believe, he must also been aware that he is not good-looking compare with the rest- well to most of us; And for that it made me believe, he afraid that one of us might take his girlfriends away whom he has crush for. As one day, I ever heard his conversation with his best friend who is Antonio. Antonio ever asked him "eh why you rejected friend request from some of us? why don't you accept theirs and let them be in your friend list?" and Zacky replied "later they would steal my girlfriends away" Also there was another time, we were in the computer lab, having our Computer lesson, and every of my classmates were busy surfing the internet, instead of doing assignment. One moment, he sit in ominously silent with a scowl on his face, and stared towards one of us- Bobby. Then, he asked him "you added her?", "please delete her from your friend list", "no, i m going to block you". And that point of time, I know exactly how he is and his behavior. He's just an ignorant fuck who is selfish, pampered and bossy. why does he even exists?...
"Eh lepak Pa Pa Er ah!" another shouted from afar, it was Fish. 'Pa Pa Er' is 882 in Mandarin.
Fish; aka the Google. Almost everything and anything he knows. Never a thing he doesn't have the knowledge of- at least few knowledge of a thing he knows- and that's why we called him Google. He would give a knowledge and information, if any of us doesn't know of anything. And that what also made him a laughingstock in the class. One time, the clan had a conversation regarding about a topic which we had no idea on how to settle the case. Then, Fish joined in, and started his Google explanation. He said 'this and that, and if this and that were to happen, that and those would happen as well' and went on until one of us interrupted him- which is Antonio- and laughed as he said sarcastically "EH FISH YOU LIKE A GOOGLE HAHAHAHA" and that made every of us burst into laughter, suffocating ourselves for the lack of breathing. Till then, he stopped and gave an unhappy look and sat around the corner of the class in silence. Until that point of time, everyone in the class would call him Google every now and then if he ever starts his Google mode. Still, he had yet to learn. After the sarcastic remark said by Antonio and making himself a laughingstock, he still ongoing with his Google advice and tips- up until today. There was also another time, I was having a conversation with Bill and from nowhere he joined in. At that point, me and Bill looked at each other, controlling ourselves not to laugh as we already expected what he going to say and do. As what we expected, he interrupted us and went on his Google mode. So, to stop him, I interrupted him and said the same thing as Antonio. And for that, he had a grudge on me and never like me ever since. Childish as it seems, but I couldn't be bothered. Hail Google Fish!
My clan made our way out and headed towards 882 which is just across the main gate while I went to the fence beside the main gate and unlocked my Piyo-Piyo and pushed it towards the void deck. As we reached, we put down our bags to the side, sit on our usual seats which surrounded a rounded ceramic table, while I parked my bicycle at the pavement outside, took our guitars from the guitar bags and started strumming. This, can be said, typical Mats. 'Mats' is a Malay term to say 'boys' however for this case is a sarcastic term to say 'malay boys who would always make nuisance and noise with their guitars at the void deck'. Like those typical mats, we made nuisance, singing, strumming, shouting and whatsoever until everyone started to feel thirsty.
"gi beli air ah" Bobby said and ordered any of us to buy drinks.
"tah, matin gi beli air ah kau ade bicycle pe?" the rest pointed fingers at me to buy the drinks since I was with my Piyo-Piyo- and that was just one reason but another reason because the rest were just too lazy to walk all the way to Kedai Mama to buy the drink. 'Kedai Mama' is a general term to say 'a convenience store which always located at the void deck and will always run by an Indian owner'
"yelaa yelaa... duit?" Not wanting to argue further so I agreed to go and buy the drinks. So, asked them for money, cupping my palm out like a beggar.
each of us slipped out their fancy wallets from their back pocket, flipped it open, unzipped or unbutton the coin pocket in their wallet, wiggling their fingers to dig out as many coins, and placed them onto the ceramic table. As for me, I don't have to fork out anything since I will be doing the shopping. Lucky but that's also one of our rule. If one volunteers or force to be a volunteer to do the shopping, need not to fork out any money. However at times, if we have a shortage, then it's up to the volunteer to chip in some or just mind his own business. If the volunteer decides to mind his business even we have a shortage then we can just forget about the shopping.
After everyone placed their shares on the table, I stood at the table and started counting, making sure there is no shortage before I make a move.
"ok dah... satu orang ikut ah!" I asked any of them to accompany.
"malas ah..." the rest replied that they're lazy to follow.
"Spikez ikut ah" I insisted Spikez to follow.
"ok lah ok lah" Spikez got annoyed.
He stood up from his seat, walked towards me, pulled his pant up so he could comfortably spread his leg open and clambered the backseat. He slammed his butt down onto the soft cushioned backseat, I stabilised myself, put my right feet on pedal and another feet onto another, he placed both his palms onto my shoulders and we cycled off.
"I dont like this Bobby.." I said in my pompous tone.
"he is too bossy"
"pukimak dia" 'Pukimak' is a Malay vulgar that means "mother's vagina"
"hahahaha" Spikez laughed from the back.
Spikez; the cutest among the clan. he has that chubby ruddy cheeks just like the white buns or 'Paus' filled in with red beans paste that the contrast of the reddish colour could still be seen underneath the skin of the whited bun, and that made most girls at school adore him. One time, I ever saw girls got so cheeky whenever they saw him around the school. The girls would call him out and asked "can I pinch your cheek?","oh my gosh, you are so cute and adorable" And this, however, made me a little jealous as he got that immense attention from many girls while I had none. how unfair! Apart from that, he also has this innocent and decent look that would make everyone relent to whatever mistakes he did and always out of suspicions. One time, my teacher was writing Maths equation on the board, and the class was chaotic. Above the hubbub, shrills and shrieks of girls, boys banging the tables like Aborigines doing their rituals, and Spikez was threwing a ball of paper to the back of my teacher, and at that time I was standing and waving hands in the air like a monkey- out of no clue. My teacher snapped, gestured around and yelled "Aubrey!" I was in disbelief that he suspected me for throwing the paper at him, just because he saw me waving my hands in the air "it was Spikez!" I defended myself, while pointing my fingers on Spikez. And there he was, giving that innocent look with his jowly face, looking at my teacher with his decent gleaming eyes, and pretended nothing wrong had happened. "oh hell no, how can someone like Spikez do such atrocious thing. look at him!?" my teacher declaimed while looking at Spikez. My classmates all burst into laughter for I was unlucky that I got suspected for someone's else sin and Spikez sniggered as he looked at me, giving the air that he managed to escape. Until that time, I spoke to myself that this guy is lucky and that he can be also dangerous. Anytime, anywhere, he can do such sin and you will be the scapegoat.
We were still on our way to buy our drinks and we took longer than usual as the Mama shop we went to earlier, was closed. As for that, we had to turn around and cycled towards the Cheers store which is located few blocks away from our school.
I cycled along the tall school fences beside us, putting my arduous effort to pedal so as to reach our destination as fast as we could. As I reached upon a street, I made my Piyo Piyo to a halt and lookout for oncoming cars that would drive in, and started to pedal again once the road was cleared. While i was cycling, I turned back and continued to gossip about Bobby.
"Oi orang bodoh!" Spikez shouted at me to lookout for two students in front of us.
I turned my head facing the front, feeling panic and swayed my handle bar to the left and let my Piyo Piyo staggered to the side of the pavement. At the same time, I reached out both of my legs as the brakes and put my Piyo Piyo to a halt. I felt relieved after that as I almost crashed onto them- If Spikez did not alert me to look ahead, I was certain of it that I might crashed onto them. So, I gestured my head towards the two students, feeling guilty. And those students were from my school and they were from lower secondary- I knew it by the look of the short school pants they wore. And I knew them as I had seen them before. They were the ones who always with a group of Chinese in my school, and they always claimed themselves as "PaiKia". "Paikia" is a Hokkien term to say "gangster".
"Sorry sorry sorry..." I pleaded.
"cibai..." one of them muttered, a scowl painted on his face
"EH WHAT CIBAI CIBAI!?" I barked
"NOT HAPPY AH!?"
"COME AH ONE ON ONE!?" I provoked him to a fight
The guy walked away, scowled and at the same time took his mobile phone from his pocket, dialed a number and put his phone on his ear. And from there, I knew, he would call his 'so-called brother' to help him to settle this case. such typical gangsters.
"GO GO, GO CALL YOUR BROTHER!?"
"I M NOT SCARED!?" I barked again.
"Dah lah takmo kecoh ah, belah ah" Spikez told me to stop the commotion and just walk off.
I put my feet again on the pedal and cycled off from that place.
As we reached the Cheers store, we bought our drinks and went back to our place. From then, we slacked all the way till late noon and at that time was still early to go home. it was just 4pm.
"dah ah ah aku nak balik ah" I told them 'I had to go home'
"Lepak dulu ah!?" the rest persuaded me to slack a little more but I couldn't. I had a curfew. I must be back home from school at least before 4pm or else I must bare with the consequences. However I can go out back again but only if I go home early right after school and be back before 7pm after that.
"Nanti bapak aku bising ah" I told them that Old man might get piss if I were to go home this late.
"Anak bapak ah kau, k ah bye ah" They labelled me as "Father's boy" as I always obey to whatever Old man told me to do and If I ever disobey, I would fear about the consequences I have to bare later. So, I shook each hand before I made a move, took my bag and scurried back home.
***
"Eh bro, what happened?" I received a message from anonymous.
"what happened, what?" I replied, wondering who had sent the message.
"who's this?"
"me lah, Alson. cibai you, never save my number ah?" Finally, after so long, Alson- my best detention buddy- text me.
"sorry lah, i forgot. anyway what you mean by what happened?"
"No lah, my brother called and said you asked him for a fight" He replied. For this case, what he meant "brother", is not talking about the real brother. What he meant was the "gang brother" or some will say "blood brother".
"Long story ah bro, I tell you once I see you in school next time?"
"Can meet me later?" He asked.
"What time? and where?"
"6pm at Elderly's Corner near school"
"Ok can.." I agreed.
So i put aside my phone and took my shower, then took a short nap while waiting for Old man to come home from work.
Few hours later, Old man finally got home, having the smell of sweat as he opened the door. I scurried towards him and asked, with nothing else to ask, but for permission to go out as I knew, the meeting of Alson was very important. Hence, I really need to meet him.
"Ba, atin keluar jap" I asked politely.
"hmmm..." he groaned.
Without hesitation, I took whatever slippers I saw at the antechamber, I slipped my feet in, went out, banged the door closed, locked the gate and scurried off to meet Alson.
***
I was on my way in a haste, making flip flop sounds as I walked and at the same time, I was perspiring like a pig due to the humid weather that day. I swiped my index finger from the right to left, onto my forehead to wipe the sweats that had been pickling on my skin since just now.
Then few blocks from the location I was, I saw a Chinese guy, with his fringe down and covering his eyes as though he intended not to show his eyes, sitting on the chair at the void deck ahead of me. From there, I knew, that guy must be Alson.
As i got closer and closer, my vision got clearer and able to see every features of the guy. And there he was- Alson- looking at me and smiled as wide as he could.
I slowed down a little and took small steps upon reaching directly towards him, and shook his hand.
"amacam?" I asked. "amacam" is a Malay term used by Malay teens to say "how are you?" but the proper way to say "how are you?" in Malay is "apa macam? and this term, to my surprise, other races such as the Chinese and Indians, also understand its meaning and is used by them as well.
"long time no see you" I said.
"where have you been? So far i never get to see you in school"
"have lah... you don't know" he replied.
We went on talking about how's life to each other for quite long time until we decided to get serious and talk about the case between me and his brother.
"No lah, i almost banged onto him.. luckily, not. so, i said sorry... then he scolded me cibai so I m unhappy with him. that's why i asked for a fight lah" I explained.
"Oooh... then he's fault lah" he accepted my reason and that he blamed his own brother.
"then how alson?"
"you still want him or not?" he asked
"No lah, since he's your brother, just forget about it lah.."
"if that's the case, and since it's a small matter. we sua' " Sua' is the ghetto term to say "case is settle, no more grudge"
"but seriously, you still unhappy with him? if you are, tell me so i can call him right now to come here and give him a slap in front of you" he suggested.
When he said that way, I paused for awhile to think. even if it's his brother's fault and even that guy and him are blood brothers yet he has no right to slap him for his wrongdoing- worse still, to slap him in front of people. The only person that can slap him is his leader. And from there, I started to wonder that Alson might be his leader.
"he your ginna ah?" I asked. "Ginna" is a gangster term to say "soldier"
"cibai how you know..." he startled as I managed to know the truth that he hid from me.
"I know lah... no one can slap him except his ginnatau" "Ginnatau" is a gangster term to say "small boss"
Here, in Singapore, the gangster system is complicated. No matter how much knowledge you try to acquire of its system, it is still confusing to understand. Here, in Singapore, to some of the gangster system are some sort similar to the Japanese Secret Society, The Yakuza. One of its system that is similar is the hierarchy system. Like the Yakuza, the Oyabun who is the overall boss leads his clan; well same goes to the gang in Singapore. There will be one individual leading as the overall boss who mastermind his clan or gang. then his gang has many branches and subsidiary clans. And each subsidiary clan has its own small bosses. And at times, even the subsidiary clans have another subsidiary clans under their control. Like for Alson, he was the small boss for his own clan and he took orders not from his Oyabun or the overall boss, but took orders from another subsidiary clan leader above. However, there is a disadvantage when one gang has plenty subsidiary gangs going about. The disadvantage that would be is the internal conflicts. They have so many clans in one gang that their own people barely know their own subordinates; and that end up to internal conflict; in which out of boredom, the 'ginnas' would find trouble to any random individual who is also a gangster but without knowing that the individual might also be from their own gang as well. And from there, because of few ginnas' foolishness, it leads to internal wars. Clans unhappy with another clans; vengeance; revenge; declaring wars with one another despite knowing the fact that they fall under the same gang. And this internal conflicts and wars have been going on since decades and somewhat this thing is already a practice for them. And this, sparks a confusion in the gang that their people doesn't know who is who and who is under who. Hence, this leads to the downfall of a gang. However the fact that is, the gangs here in Singapore is too hilarious. It is hilarious because as long as you stay faithful in one gang, or to say you have stayed for like 3 months or more, you can actually be a small boss in the gang and able to recruit your own ginnas for your clan afterwards. It just takes 3 months or so and you already have the power to lead people but that depend on your boss to decide for you whether to let you have your own clan or to make you stay put. And this what amaze me so much and boost my interest to become a gangster- to have my own clan and lead.
"yalah, i m his ginnatau... eh but dont tell anyone alright?" he tried to persuade me.
"yea i wont tell anybody... whoa didnt expect you to become a ginnatau sia!" I was amazed and surprised at the same time. Like who wouldn't? a guy like Alson, with a decent and innocent look who has no desire to pick up a fight with anybody, was a ginnatau.
Alson; he has my utmost respect, even for now. Like many other small bosses, they would defend and fight for their own people even though their people are at fault. They would say whatever bullshits to make you at fault. And if you still deny it, they wont stop to batter you until they are fully satisfy and settle the case just like that. such stinky caste they are! However, for Alson, he's different; he's the orthodox boss who has followed the actual rule- the tradition rule. He has never been biased and he will always observe whose mistake it is. If he finds out his own people who are at fault, he would settle the case by teaching them a lesson- which is to slap them in front of the person who his people find trouble with. And if the person who is at fault, then he will batter that person- only him, not as a clan. And for this, I really admired and idolised him. Such bosses like Alson, are rare to find anymore in today's era. Mostly are left are those stinky bastards. And for that, I decided to myself that someday or one day, I would want to be like Alson. To join a gang, stay faithful, follow the tradiotion rule, get the green light to have my own clan, teaches my people the right way and lead my clan.
"ok ah, sua' ah?" Alson asked again.
"you still need me to slap him?"
"dont need lah... forget about it. just sua'" I said.
"ok settle!"
Finally the case between me and Alson's ginna had settled. no grudge. So we both shook hand and parted.
Monday, October 20, 2014
Chapter 3: Friendship Chapter 3"Friendship"
Few months had past, finally Hari Raya- Malay festive season- had ended and so was my second semester holiday, which was last week. All I did during holiday was absolutely nothing. Mostly students would find a part time job to earn a little extra, or to make plans to go out with friends, or to go overseas with family, or coming back to school because they had Curricular Activities .However for me, all i did was sleeping late night till the next morning, woke up, ate, shit, went back to school and repeat. yes, back to school, not because I had Curricular Activities like those others, but because I did something folly that made me came back to school for detention.
Back then before my second term break started, I was too bored at home with nothing much to do that I decided to prank call my NCC mate, Zim.
Zim; he's an ugly motherfucker. what makes him ugly is his upper teeth. his upper teeth will forever protrude from his mouth, looking just like the Brazilian soccer legend- Ronaldinho. Worse still, back then, during my NCC camp on my first term break, one of the camp days, all cadets were to assemble at the school field, and sergeants instructed us to seat and painted camo paints onto our faces. Then, I remembered, Zim took a seat with his droopy eyes, his upper teeth protrude from his mouth, making a slit in between both his upper and lower teeth, and he had painted more brown colours than green, looking exactly like chimpanzee. that, it wasn't me who realised at first, it was Antonio. As he saw and realized Zim looked exactly like chimpanzee, he chortled as he shouted and said "EH EH EH ZIM LOOK LIKE CHIMPANZEE SIA HAHAHAHA!" and everyone took a glance on Zim like owls and burst into laughter, even the sergeants too. Pitying Zim but he did looked like one. However, despite his ugly teeth, some sort I respect him. Even though, he has those ugly teeth, he has the guts and courage to approach girls at school- and those girls are good looking ones. What amazed me even more was that, these girls willingly to accept him and agreed to walk with him to school, almost every morning. And this made me jealous, seriously. Like, who wouldnt? someone with an unattractive teeth and scrawny face can has women- beautiful ones- while someone, like me, with a normal teeth, has none- literally none. life is just unfair.
"Hello, is this Zim?" I prank-called him, snickering while covering the speaker with my left palm.
"yes, this is Zim" he replied in a confused tone, wondering who was the caller.
"AKU DENGAR KAU BULLY KAWAN AKU, DILL KAN? JANGAN SAMPAI AKU REMBAT KAU!?" I snickered as I intimidated him, saying that I heard he had bullied my friend, Dill- which was not true- and for that I will beat the hell out of him.
"huh... mm..ma...mana ade!?" he stuttered in fear.
"takpr besok, kau standby, aku tunggu kau luar gate sekolah lepas sekolah.. tooot toooot" I intimidated him again, saying he better be prepared as after school, I would wait for him outside school main gate. Then, I ended the call and burst into laughter.
After few days had past and I remembered, It was on Saturday, i was playing games looking like a zombie, with unshaven moustache and dark circles around my eyes, I received a message out of sudden. And it was from Dill.
"eh who are you? I heard you included my name when you threatened Hazim on the phone" Dill texted.
"this is no one" I replied, trying not to reveal myself and never replied him after the next messages he sent me.
Upon many times he had sent me messages without getting a reply, he decided to call but I ignored it. After quite some time, feeling annoyed by my ringtone sounded every now and then, so I put my phone on silent, putting it aside, and continued playing games while enjoying the buzz sound made by my phone vibration.
Few hours later, he pestered me again, asking who am I. At first I ignored but after so long, without him giving up, I gave up instead. I revealed myself and then he went silence. Without thinking any further I continued playing games and had my weekends well spent.
***
"Ding Ding Dong Ding Deng Ding Ding Dong Ding Deng" a sound made by my school digital bell, warning every students to rush their way to the Parade Square as it was the time for assembly. and today was my last day of school before our semester break.
"School, stand up!" by rote, the top prefect ordered the students to stand up to standby for our national anthem and pledge.
"Students, you may sit" done with what's necessary, the top prefect ordered us to seat.
"Take out your book and read"
I landed down my butt onto the brick-floor, unzipped my bag pack, fumbled my hands to reach any book I could find, took a book out, flipped it open, covered my face with it and started to converse with my clans nearby.
"eh you guys know, i prank called Zim that day and it was funny as fuck!" I giggled, trying not to burst into laughter and make any sound.
"eh really? really?" Bill got excited, feeling curious as fuck. Bill; he will forever like this kind of stuffs. These stuffs will forever interest him. He would get curious like a cat, wanting to know more details. If any of us, decides not to tell any further, he would sulk and pester you endlessly until you give up and decide to share. If any of us still decides not to share, he will stop pester you for a moment and then pester you again, the next moment. well, that's how he is- fucking irritating fat fuck.
So, I told them all the things I said to Zim and they giggled with one palm covering their mouth and another to hold their book, covering their face with it, trying not to show any teacher or prefect around the parade square, that they had been talking and laughing and not reading their books.
"bastard sia matin" Fid snickered as he muttered.
Moment later, our principle stepped in the front of parade square elegantly and that tell every students that we going to have a-good-morning-to-start. the students really hate this moment. this moment is the moment where the principle is about to give a 'wonderful' speech which would last at least half hour and so. good thing about this is that our lesson will start later than the fixed time but the bad thing is the students will be dying of boredom, listening to the irrelevant speech by the principal.
"Ok students, you may close your book and I have something to say" my principal, Ms Chen, spoke, giving the majestic air with her chin pointed a little above.
"Today... I want to talk about..." the speech had begun.
"Okay, that's all for today" After half hour or so, Ms Chen finally ended her speech, took a step back, and walked off elegantly.
The top prefect took over the parade square, after Ms Chen left minutes ago, adjusting the microphone and ready to dismiss students as per class. Students from each class heaved to their feet and bags upon hearing the dismissal, scuffling their feet as they left the parade square. Then, as the prefect about to dismiss my class- like finally- I saw our school discipline master scudding towards the prefect, telling the prefect to stop us from leaving yet. The discipline master, Mr Silva, took over the microphone and announced "Aubrey stays back, the rest dismissed" upon hearing the announcement, I slumped my shoulders as I know the reason why he called me out; it's about the prank- call case.
I stepped aside, seeing my class leaving the parade square, and frowned and grimaced as my clans were pointing fingers and laughing at me for getting busted. Then, Mr Silva, came towards me with a scowled face and told me to follow him to his office in his pompous tone. He made a move first then followed by me, feeling panicked.
"I want to meet your father tomorrow and I already called him!" He scowled.
"O... o... ok" I stuttered in fear, worrying about what will happen when i comes home later- old man going to fuck me upside down- and that's for sure.
Back then, during primary school years, I was very mischievous. I every bullied my friend because he stole my crush away; I ever threw shoes onto a junior in a bus until his mother came to school to scold me; I ever called my clan out to batter my rival at the field; I even forged old man's signature to sign on my test paper. And that when my teacher realised the signature is no where similar to old man's and that she called me out to the front of the class and interrogated me to answer her honestly on whose doing. I denied at first and said it was old man who had signed this but she doesnt believe any of lies and treachery. She interrogated me overtime until after long minutes of pressure, I finally told her the truth "It was me" That's when she heaved to her feet, scudded out from class and called old man regarding about the case. At that point of time, I muttered "I m fucked" I went back home, looking morosely, as old man hoarse "come here, pukimak, kau bukak seluar kau, kau baring" he ordered me to lay on this bulky pillow we had before, with my pants down, exposing my butt skin. He unbelt his thick leather belt, wrunged it and aimed onto my butt. He lifted up and down slowly until he got a better aim and position, and finally he whipped my butt as hard like a jockey whips his horse in order for it to run faster. I croaked and wailed, persuading him to stop. He ignored and continued until he was satisfied. After endless of whipping, finally he put to a stop. He warned me hoarsely "I TELL YOU, IF YOU EVER DO THIS AGAIN, YOU KNOW THE CONSEQUENCES" Afraid by his monstrous, I assented. And until that point of time, I despised my teacher- this fat nosy pig- Mdm Habibah.
"you may leave now" he ordered me with his eyes staring at me like a hawk, looking for prey to attack.
I swung the door opened, took my leave and scudded to my class.
"apelah kau ni... selalu menyusahkan aku lah" old man got annoyed by my folly action. however this time round, he wasn't mad at me of my doing. he stayed placid like stagnant water. maybe he was in the good mood or maybe he was tired- that only God knows.
I was at home by then, listening to the nagging by both of my parent.
"kan sekarang aku kene gi sekolah kau... tuh lah main game bully lagi, tengok sekarang kau bully orang... dah dah, aku banned kau main tuh game!" he frowned, a little pissed as he had to come down my school and for that he banned me to play my favourite game- the Bully- because I got influenced by it.
The Bully; this game is about this main character named, Hopkins, who was sent by his mother and step-father to this school called Bullsworth, while they enjoy their cruise ship for months. this Hopkins was new to this school and so he has to make new friends there. however the friends he befriended with, turned over him and back-stabbed him. To take revenge, he has to rule the school by defeating every headman of clans in the school. After throughout the journey, he had defeated many of the headmen, finally he took his revenge onto his friends and after that he ruled the school, making every student in the school respect him as the leader of the whole school. And that, I wish to be like Hopkins.
***
Finally my second semester break had started, every student must have taken full advantage of this to sleep long hours and wake up around noon, no longer getting annoyed by the ringing of their alarm clocks early in the morning and finally had found their happiness in life and meaning into it. Except for me; I had to wake up early and so was my old man, just to go back to school to meet up with Mr Silva, Zim and his father.
Not long we had gotten ready, I slammed my house door opened, creaked as I opened my house gate, brought down our bicycles, closed the door and locked, followed by my creaking house gate and offed we go.
We locked our bicycles near the front gate of my school and made a move to Mr Silva's office.
"knock... knock... knock..." i gave soft knocks on the door repetitiously, while my dad towered behind me, looking drawn.
"come in.." a voice groaned inside the office.
I swung the door open and saw Zim and his father with scowled face.
"Hi I am Silva, you must be Brey's father.. and this is Zim and his father... please have a seat" Mr Silva spoke politely, offering us to take a seat.
I took my seat after Old man, at the same time peering at Zim and almost burst into laughter. He was on the corner of the sofa, hunching his body with his chin pointed the ceiling and droopy eyes, his face gleamed by the office's light making his protruded teeth glitters like sparkles of sea wave. I took a breath and settled down.
"Mr Ti, you know, your son had prank called Zim and threatened to batter him outside school" Mr Silva spoke in his pompous tone, with his stern face. "Zim got threatened so he informed his parent... his parent had stopped him from coming to school, at the same time reported to us regarding about this case.. also to the police" He explained to old man every details happened, trying not to miss any "However, we adviced them not to... since this thing involved between two students from the school so we decided to take full responsibility. Also the police adviced the same way. the police stated 'it's best to settle between both parent and the students. if nothing can be settled, we would take actions'"
Nearly snickered to find out that he actually chicken out to inform his parent and was afraid to go school. how ball-less he is. back then, I got threatened by an anonymous through phone once. I wasn't getting affected by it, i settled myself- at least- and look till now, nothing has happen. and till now old man doesn't even know about this.
"AWAK EH DATANG SEKOLAH UNTUK APA? BELAJAR KAN? YANG AWAK NAK ANU ANAK SAYA BUAT APA!?" Zim's father was pissed, grimaced, saying 'what's my purpose to come to school? isn't it to study and not to bully people around' "SAYA TAKNAK AWAK SUSAH ITU SEBAB SAYA TAKNAK POLICE AMEK TINDAKAN..." he scowled as though he was not purely satisfied by my action towards his son. If there was no law in this country, I bet, he would have bring down a parang or kachang panjang to chop off my head, I thought.
"Ok, now thing is not beyond control, let's settle this in a proper way... due to his action, I've decided to put him on detention for a week. he must report to school at 8 am till 12pm outside my office" Silva suggested to ease Zim's father.
"yea... tell him to wash the school toilet as well" old man suggested too. Old man is a bastard; he always love to see me face such harsh punishment if I ever found guilty in something. How can he suggested such thing to Mr Silva? he should help me instead, not kill me! I peered at Old man, giving a sign that I was annoyed by his suggestion. He snickered at me. throwing vulgar in my heart and looked away.
After long minutes of settling the case, finally it has ended. We all shook hands and forgave, and made our way out from the office.
Along the way to the front gate, old man laughed as he spoke "PADAN MUKE KAU KENE DETENTION TIME HOLIDAY, HARI RAYA PULA TUH HAHAHA!" this old bastard laughed for I had to come to school for detention during my holiday and Malay festive season- and that's cruel. Which father would jolly to see his son to face such punishment, tell me which? Annoyed by his laughter, I ignored him.
"but his father is over-reacting" I said in grimace, disgusted by Zim's father reaction.
"alaa bapak dia pun bongok macam anak dia juga" Old man jokingly said that Zim's father is as goofy as his son too, making me burst into laughter. old man is always good in this, he love to slide in jokes at such serious moment. afterall, it was just a prank call; to him it's not a big deal.
We unlocked our bicycles and cycled home.
***
"BANGUN!" old man woke me up joyfully "kan kene gi detention" he chortled, jokingly reminded me that I have to go for my detention "tuhlah sendiri cari penyakit kan kene bangun siang untuk detention. padan muke!" Old man endlessly busting my balls, saying 'It was my fault that I was so stupid that I got into trouble which in the end led me to a detention. and I deserved it!'
I woke up, feeling annoyed by old man, heaved up from bed, dragged my feet to the toilet and took my shower.
By rote, I towel my wet body while singing joyfully, ironed my school uniform, put them on, had my breakfast, slammed the door and the creaked gate open, impatiently slipped into my white shoes while ignoring the teasing by old man, brought out my Piyo Piyo and cycled off, leaving the door and gate open for old man to close.
It is miles away from home to school and finally I had reached at the main gate. I alighted, strolled my Piyo Piyo in and nearby the security point, locked it and strode to Mr Silva's Office.
Upon reaching to Mr Silva's office, I saw a hair fringed down Chinese boy, seating at the corridor outside the office, with a table in front of him, looking surprised as I walked towards the office. I ignored him and gave a soft knock repetitiously on the office door.
In a while, Mr Silva went out from office, forever with his scowled face.
"follow me" he ordered.
We went to a class nearby the parade square, he opened the class door, standing at the threshold, pointing fingers onto one table nearby and ordered again "take the table" I dragged my feet towards the table, a little pissed by his bossiness, lowered my knees and bent down my back forward, took a grip of the table by the legs and carried it up.
"Now, you take this back outside the office, take the chair from the study corner nearby, and seat beside the Chinese boy who you see outside my office"
I carried the table unsteadily back outside the office, put it down beside the boy, took a chair from the study corner and dragged it, making a creaking sound, and took a sit.
As i sat down, he asked "you what case bro?"
"prank call.." I murmured embarrassingly.
"prank call!? hahahaha!" he burst into laughter "what happened bro?" he asked again.
"yea, I prank called my friend and his friend, damn paotokia, that he paoto to my friend and my friend told his parent... and his parent informed Mr Silva and reported the police as well... and for that i kena" I raised my voice a little and explained every detail to him, trying not miss anything. Paoto is a term usually used by gangsters and ghetto people to say 'snitch' and Paotokia is a term to say 'someone that snitch' but now many teenagers has used this terms. And kena, as for this case, is a term to say "got busted"
"hahaha then rembat him ah?" he chortled and suggested me to batter the paotokia.
"cannot lah, you crazy ah? prank call only, almost police case... what else if i rembat him?"
"hahahaha anyway what's your name bro?" he asked politely.
"Aubrey, you?
"Alson.."
Until that time, we became friends. our bond sprouted like a green bean sprouts out its flimsy whited stem from its greenish shell, fumbling into the soil to have its permanent stand so as to grow taller and stronger. our friendship, though it was just a week being together, it felt as though we had known each other for years. We talked, we shared stories, we joked around, we laughed- we did almost everything what true friends do- and at times we kept quiet as he would always fall asleep after a long chatter while I got myself busied in drawing and sketching graffiti on my sketch book. Until then, he made me believe that true friendship does exists. Despite the different race, language or religion we have, he treated me like his own- a little brother, to be specific. He also made me believe that true friendship can be earn not only in a scale of years but also can be in seconds, minutes, hours, days or weeks. Thus, till this day, he had changed my perspective of true friendship that it is not all about how long you have befriend with one, race, language and religion- he had me think that true friendship is about the sincerity in one's heart. And that, I have my utmost respect towards him.
After a week had past, he finally had served all his detention sessions while I had few days more to serve. He teased me and left me, making my remaining sessions dull and boring. No more chatter, laughter, stories, jokes- no more- everything seemed quiet without his presence. And the last word I heard from him was "what's your number?" and left. until then, we had never seen each other again.
|
Nothing's Perfect.
you got to be yourself. |