Chapter 8 - The one that change is not me

One more day I’m back to school. What a day. Now I’m looking for Hana what is she doing, I just saw her making her own food, a flour, butter and sugar with cinnamon. I ask her what is she doing and she said

“I’m making my own cookies…”

“Huh?!”

“Big brother help me how to start the oven”

“Got it…”

She design her own cookies, in a cute way, like stars, animals and many more. Wait until Natalie see this. I hurried find my camera that I got from mom and take her picture her making it. Leave it for memory when she getting older. We only hang around the house for today because we preparing ourself. Someone calling the phone, I pick up the phone. And its Hazlan, yeah I remember that I give him my house number.

“Hey Alex…”

“What’s up”

“What are you doing now?”

“Oh, just hang at my house bored as always”

“Yeah could I hang out at your house?”

“Sure, why not?”

“Mother is not home, so I’m bored in this big house..”

“Yeah…”

He arrived at the front of the house, he was amaze because my house is the same size as his house. He said to me

“You house is also barren like me but even darker.”

“Mom is an avid collector of cultural and historical importance…”

“Wow your mom is an archeologist?”

“Nope, anthropologist”

“Huh!?”

“Someone that focus on culture rather than artifacts”

“Wow never knew you mom that’s cool…”

“yeah….”

A lot of the souvenir came from mom when visited villages. It’s gives me a sense of pride in what mom is. What she went and visit, lots of culture she had experience. Hazlan wanted to meet Hana and Sam where they played together.

“Never had any siblings, so never experience this…”

“Yeah, just hang out with us..”

“Thanks…”

I showed him my room where we hang out, he wondered where is the internet and I explain that we are outdated and most internet work came from the computer that dad setup for us.

“You really are outdated most of us already had internet all over the house…”

“Yeah…but in US I have access to internet…”

“Seems you got it rough…”

I showed him my comic books that I usually read, doremon, dragon ball, GTO, Dragon warrior, and old American comics. Hazlan were amaze to a lot of different comics.

“I only played games, and you only read comics. Must be pretty bored sometimes”

“Yeah, because I only played old games…”

I showed him my laptop which is an old IBM monochrome laptop. Hazlan is impress. Hazlan shared his passion with computers, I explain that I’m good with MSDOS OS.

“That is old school, nowadays we use windows for our daily use, for someone that is using keyboard is still cool in my list.”

Then I show my old pictures when I’m in the states, he saw I was having a lot of fun. But one thing that keep him interested that I’m always with Natalie. And he was wondering that I have a girlfriend.

“Yeah, that was in America…”

“Did you have contact with her?”

“Yeah, email…”

“Email!? You know that we have yahoo!!chat?!”

“Really not sure that she has that…”

“I’m pretty sure…”

Maybe I could ask Mariam for that. She is the only one that is rich enough to make a call in America. I tried to carried more stuff to show to Hazlan, a book drop at his head.

“Hey, careful Alex!! Huh? What is this!?” He saw my secret book…oh shit…. That picture of Natalie in sexy pose, my secret has been found….!!! Oh Shit!!!

“Hey!!! Don’t look at it!!!”

Hazlan suddenly went blush, and close the magazine. Ah!!! Oh shit, shit, shit, shit, shit, shit!!!!

“Hey….this is a secret between us okay Hazlan?”

“Never knew you had that kind of fetish…” 😒

🤯Ah!!! Stop it!!! Its really embarrassing, if Natalie found out. I could get killed~~

😑 Hazlan reaction, now I’m getting even more embarrassed. 😵‍💫

“ummm….promise me….ya…don’t spill it?”

“Yeah….never expected you make a collection of it, but kinda impressed that you only had one girl that you ever watch…”

“But, I’m glad that you also a normal human being”

This being normal!!? No way, if Mariam and Amin found out they will tease me to death. I gotta make sure Hazlan doesn’t spill the beans when in school.

“A full set of his girlfriend….talk about commitment….or obsession”

“Yeah…just leave it at that, is my private stash…okay…”

“Yeah…lets keep it that way…”

We have hang around for at least two hours and he left home.

“Lets meet tomorrow ya…”

“Yeah…” I hope he keep his promise.

I take care Hana and Sam. While asking Hana to prepare for tomorrow, Mom arrived and ask us to get ready for school tomorrow, I wonder what would that be. I just remember, I did not went to the bush this week, dammit because of work that Mr Rahman give. Stupid asshole wait till I’m at school I’m going a piece of my mind.

The next morning mom sent us to school and I’m in for a surprised. They really make a huge wall between factions.

“Oh my, is there renovations in the school?”

“I have no idea mom.”

“Well, so long you have class just continue, if mom is late again, just ride the bus okay…”

“Yeah..”

Mom give us pocket money and drop us at the entrance. The prefect of the elite faction ask us to enter a different entrance. Me and Hana a bit farther, which is the old school section. It was run down, Mariam and Amin is together as usual, which is now even more intimate. Mariam saw us and wave at us.

“Hey Alex, finally you back!!”

“Yo bro, the school hero!!”

“What the hell?!”

“Big brother is famous now”

When I enter, everyone greeted me

“Welcome back ALEX!!!!”

Surprised 😳 I drop my bag, while Hana holding me, I must be in the wrong school.

“Hana I think we’re in the wrong school..”

Mariam pull me and Hana together

“Don’t you run away!!”

“Yeah!!” - Amin

Shit!! Amin you in cahoots with her!! Everyone from the common class is cheering for me and Hana, we really confuse now. I wonder what have happen during my absence for a week. Everyone is seem to be having fun. Like 360° suddenly this school has become even more vibrant. With lots of noise, a real school environment, Hazlan arrived and he is also been surprised by the students greeting him.

“Huh!!? What the!!!?”

His father from the car laugh at him

“Have fun son!! Hahahaha!!!”

“Dad!! Don’t leave me!!”

He is being pull by the students and he saw me and run towards me.

“Huh,huh, huh, this is strange are we in the same school?”

“You’re not the only one…”

“Hey Alex!! Come on let us join our new classroom. Hazlan right?”

“Yeah?”

“You in the same class as us!!”

“Huh?!”

“We all 3 jaya sorry we change our class names now its 3 Buccaneers..”

“Huh!?”

“Yeah remember the former class names jaya, Ruby, Melissa, and Lavender?”

“Okay…”

“Jaya - Buccaneers, Ruby - Unicorns, Melissa - Catsy , Lavender - Patriots there, we name it ourself”

“Okay…”

“Just to mention we rivals with Patriots”

“Huh…wait back up….please there is a lot to absorb here…”

“Don’t worry…there is lot going on now…”

I just saw emblems of each class

Unicorns with their unicorn, Catsy with their cats symbol, Patriots with Malaysian flag symbolise it, and finally buccaneers with pirate symbol!! Now what the hell is going on!?

“If my father hear this, I have no idea what he will react”

The atmosphere is getting even more vibrant by each time reach deeper in school grounds. But the rundown building is still visible. But the teacher is also different compare before. They really friendly and most of them is new here.

Mariam show Hana classroom which she is in Buccaneers as well. Mariam said now there is over 300 students now. Meaning each class have 15 student each for secondary level, for primary is 250 students now each had the name class from the secondary level. We don’t have form 6 because of the standard of studies but Mariam explain that baccalaureate diploma student is involved. They have only one class group, which is 20 students only. Wow the school is really change that fast. The student had also different uniform compared to the student. Which is a simple beige shirt and pants which is khaki color. I felt out of place right now and Mariam suddenly showed us the new stationary shop which they called it the merchant guild. What the?

Its like a supermarket already, I though that they had no money to invest, what the hell?”

When we visited the cafeteria, William handling the place including Melissa. Wow their food is healthy and cheap as well. The environment is like their place in Happy Meow Cafe. But why students involved? William wave at us, and we greet him.

“Hey Alex, just in days we did this!!”

“Yeah talk about a quick change”

Melissa is there as well, she look really happy. She saw me and called me.

“Welcome back Alex and Hana!!”

“How on earth that you manage to get all of this?”

“Well, its simple, crowdfunding…”

“Ooh, where the hell you get that funding?”

“Then ask him…” she is avoiding the question.

She pointed at Mr Rahman enjoying his fried rice. I’m hold my head but I really surprised with the changes. Mr Rahman calling me and Hana

“What do you think?”

“What kind of scheme you trying to pull?”

“ohhh…school that I envision, in my ideas remember what I said before…”

“Yeah…but I taught you said there is no funding in this project?”

“It’s all thanks to Melissa, she manage to gather funding from all around the world using crowdfunding, I told you she is genius, I only pitch in, and money flows like crazy. Hahahahaha!!”

“Hehe…keep like that you will be….”

“UNDP, UNICEF, LIONS CLUBS and many more….have pitch in, even the parents pitch in for the project seems we have lots of sponsor and stakeholders in our school project. But the mission for you will never change only you can make it happen…”

“Huh?!”

“Recruiting new members of talent, we need more, I have the list here for you to start but Hazlan…”

Hazlan is surprised that Melissa calling him,

“Yeah?”

“We need to discuss something later we will meet with the temporary members of the school councils”

“School councils”

“Like prefect but friendlier”

“Oh…”

Yeah I remember we had a school council in America before. Interesting development. I saw new student coming to school as well. Even natives of Malaysia enter this school. I mean ‘orang asli’, this must really big really happen in school. The school ring bells, and announcement made by Mariam

“Alright everyone its time to back to class, see you in lunch!!”

We entered the class of 3 Buccaneers, the same old members in class during jaya including new members Hanie, George, Maya, Amin including Mariam, who suddenly ask everyone.

“This is Alex our team ace!!”

Huh!! What the hell team ace!! I’m not good at anything yet!! Then Mariam ask everyone who will be class monitor, I instantly reject myself of being nominate. Mariam said to me

“Now, now Alex, you must have responsibility for you to be involved.”

“Then choose others!!”

Maya then stand-up and nominate herself as the class leader, and George is the vice leader. Alex has been chosen as the runner of the class. Fine at least not something involved being a leader. Mariam then said to me.

“Hey you will be involved with the student council, the meeting is compulsory”

The teacher enter the class, he is different from any teacher that I have encounter. Bringing a long ruler like a boken (like those hooligans in Japan) his face quite rough like a yankee with beard and classic firebrand expression.

“Alright!! Everyone aren’t you bunch of lousy kids!!!”

He is like a damn pirate captain!! He look at me and shouted

“You must be the new kid, the infamous Alex!! Welcome back, I got one rule, and that’s don’t be stupid!!”

“Yeah fine…”

He introduce himself

“I am Teacher Rahim!!” He wrote in the black board ‘Great Teacher Rahim’ what the fuck does he thinks that he is Great Teacher Onizuka?”

“I’m your homeroom teacher, and teaching history”

Amin enter the class, he been shouted by Teacher Rahim

“Late again Amin!!”

“Hey I was busy with student council!!”

“This is my ship, and I’m the captain!!”

“Got it captain!!” He salute

“Its teacher RAHIM got it AMIN!!”

“WHATEVER!!” 😅 he salute

Everyone laugh, even I laugh.

Hazlan also laugh. Mariam was embarrassed. 😖

“Hey honey, why are you late?”

“Oh, some 1st year student wanted direction”

“Oh, are they girls?”

“ah…no, no….they….boys?”

“Oh…”

“Mariam and Amin, stop your lovey dovey here!! Go find room, or get married !!”

Everyone laugh again.

This class is interesting or because they change syllabus as well. Because its really western style.

The classroom is already mixed together there is no division between gender and status. Hazlan had to sit in front because he has not been in class for a year. The way he teaches is also different, he ask us what about history and share the knowledge to everyone. He also never did once underestimate the student. I as usual sitting at the back near the door. But now I’m really interested in this class, I got my focus back paying attention with teacher Rahim. After history class we had another class before lunch. Its mathematic, Teacher Veronica is teaching us, she is also a different style of teaching, we revise basic first because she need to find out who is weakest in that subject, then she focus on that subject. She is also rarely look back and wrote only the formula in the black board. We did a discussion about the answer. She explain to everyone in a simple way so everyone understand. Hazlan was mesmerise by her, that he followed every direction that she said. After class, it was lunch time. Like usual I meet Hana at the podium, which is now Mariam, Amin, Sylvia, Steward, Hazlan and Hana is there as well. I introduce Hazlan to them.

“I’m Hazlan, i lived close with Alex…”

“Whats up bro!!” Amin shake his hand like a maniac

“Welcome to our humble club” Mariam tap his back 😅

“I’m Sylvia, Alex boyfriend..”

Sylvia!!! 😱

“Huh…but…I…thought….” I stop him before he said it

“Haahaha, Sylvia is just joking right?”

“Do I look like I’m joking…”

“Get away bad girl!! Grr!!!” Hana protecting me

“Big sis….” Steward held his head

Hazlan whisper to me “Hey Alex, I though….that you had a girlfriend…when I look at that picture…”

Mariam overheard it “what picture…!!?” Her eyes become bright🤩

Sylvia overheard it and tried to get closer, only been block by Hana

“Get…..aaway!!! From…..big…brother…..!!”

There goes my first impression with Hazlan. Amin said to me

“Ohh…must some dirty picture huh, Playboy!?Penthouse!?”

Amin🤬 what the fuck!!! You just going to create another misunderstanding. Hana also look at me

“What picture big brother?”

“Nothing just picture of friends in the states, right?!” I step on Hazlan foot

“Yeah, right!!” 😅

Sylvia become even more curious and said something that I forgot.

“But what about my panties..?”

Huh!? Fuck!!! She remembers!!

“…..” everyone look 😒 at me even Steward. Hana was getting angrier and punching me at the back. “Where is it!! Let me burn that evil thing!!!”

“I…..” I could not said any word, I pray for anything for now to distract them. Sylvia become even more seductive and she take her hand hand press at her boobs. It is soft!! Oh god…Mariam look at me and writing something in a note. Please don’t report it to Natalie…I’m going to dig my own grave after this. But Mariam press her boobs and suddenly she is disappointed.

“To hell with big boobs” she is down on her knees.

The fuck!! Is that what you thinking! Hazlan look at me in envy. Amin said to me “you getting popular with girls these day huh…”

Hana pull my arm and started to choke hold on me.

“Let your hand off that bad girl!!”

Sylvia doesn’t want to let go and she is even smiling. Bitch let me go!!! I just felt her nipple !! The fuck!!!

“I’m not wearing any bra…”

“…..” 🤯 the fuck!! Why the hell Sylvia is getting even more aggressive!!

“Bitch let me go!!!” Both my arms are being pulled between Hana and Sylvia. This getting even more stupid, do I look like a rope playing tug of war!! Her boobs is perfectly shape. What the hell am I thinking!!

The commotion suddenly stop with Melissa joining in.

“What a rowdy group of people…”

Sylvia smile at her and she loosen her grip and hug her

“Elder cousin!!” She seems to know her

“You know that thin bra of yours will kill lots of boys you know….”

“Its only for my boyfriend…” Melissa look at me

What the fuck 😨? I’m not her boyfriend she made that up!! Please understand the situation. Melissa thumbs up.

“Yes, good make sure he belong to us. He will produce a very good offspring”

MELISSA!!!😱 don’t you just encourage her like that!!!

“no….no…..I’m not her boyfriend….”

“Soon to be, you’ve got my approval, go get em, cousin…”

Sylvia suddenly turn aggressive like a tiger looking at its prey.

“You will be mine….”

Hana suddenly disappeared I just heard a loud slam to my head, she just flying kick me. I knock out. When I awake, Hana protected me

“Big brother belong to Big Sis!!!!”

Hazlan explain that I just fainted for a minute. That was a mean kick from Hana. Never knew that she is that strong. Dammit I wonder if she kick dad that way. That would be funny.

Melissa explain to us.

“Alex, Mariam, Hazlan, and Amin later after school come to the meeting room”

Sylvia is now in 2 Catsy while Steward in primary 1 Patriots. A funny name for a cat. But they the one that choose it. Sylvia explain that she has class discussion for the subject, while Steward will hang around at the library, I ask Hana to hang around at the library as well.

After the an interesting class, I quickly head to the meeting room, where everyone is there including Mr Rahman. The members are Melissa, Mariam, Amin, Hazlan and me including a new guy form 5 Micheal.

“About time you have arrive Alex…”

“Alright everyone is here”

Mr Rahman explaining to everyone that there will a ceremony of opening of the school.

“We also going to change the name of this school”

“I know, I know, Harlem School!!” - Mariam

No, don’t do that!!

“Maybe Youth high school!!” - Amin

Sounds cliche

“Maybe Raflessia Academy…?” - Hazlan

We are going to get sued

“Magna Carta academy” - Alex

“Sounds boring” - Mariam

That’s disappointing

“What if we use the name of the project that Mr Rahman use for his proposal?”

“You mean the title? Uh.. School of International and Government Model of Assessment or SIGMA project ?”

“Yeah SIGMA Institution that will be better”

“SIGMA sounds cool” - Mariam

“Since we are part experimental project which I will predict it will be use in the future for this country. We could this as the new name of the project”

“Melissa, that is brilliant!! Well Mr Rahim?”

“Yeah we agreed, all the teachers believed that the student is part of this institution. Since we are going to change the study method of this country”

Now sound political, but maybe it will work. At least I’m not going to get bored now. Melissa then added another agenda.

“We are going to start our first public festival for this school, to promote this school what is all about…”

Melissa is no doubt is our leader for this school. But I feel she has other ideas.

“Now then, for that an official body must be form, the student council which consist of managing and promote healthy school environment for student…”

I believed we have another term for it and I said it

“A guild…”

“Huh?! Whats that suppose to mean? Please elaborate Alex”

“A guild is like an association of people for mutual aid or the pursuit of a common goal. Then the student council shall be its umbrella managing the guild. A system of local governance. Within the school. This purpose to supplement control between the school administration and the student body”

“Interesting instead the administrator handling it all of the job, they will only monitor and guide them while the student itself manage the well-being of the student….its a great idea Alex”

“But, not without the guidance of teachers and administrator of school itself…”

“Since clubs is a boring name we could division of its importance…” - Melissa

“Yep, the class monitor will be the representative of the student council, the chairman or president will be the leader or the cansellor of the student council. The guild that will be under the watch of the student council shall be responsible in managing all of the clubs activities and welfare in this school and finally the teachers and administration will monitor and guide the student in the path that the school wanted”

I learn it from Mr Hawk ideas of a future education management should be.

“Then the experience that they will use will be invaluable for their employment creating new talent in local governance, that amazing Alex”

“But we must appointed a school counsellor as part of it”

“Mr Rahman, this is the time when the student need to learn about the real world situation, since this is like real life/time simulator”

“Maybe we could do it, because since this project will be run by the student itself not being lead by the teacher this time…”

“Yep, it will be complex but this system will effectively decrease the problems between senior or juniors that the previous school council commit, Prefect is another form of a position not learning.”

“The administrator will be responsible in documenting official records between guild and student council as proof of record of this project”

“Sounds complicated but this is something that no other school in this country make. It will be a good start to oversea the project”

“Then we shall proceed with this and the timeline of the project will be weeks before the opening of the school festival or we called it open day”

“Melissa what about out funding? Is it sustainable?”

“At the moment, UNDP and UNICEF will provide constant funding for our project as part of their future module”

“So how we have gather?”

“A few…..million….dollars….”

“……” 😐 everyone looking at Melissa

“….Mel…..do you think if the feds finds out about this do you think….”

Melissa smile with confidence

“Well, this school is under the private sector, since the government did not sponsor us we decide the school will be private but still under the ministry approved by them…”

Mr Rahman look in disbelief but he is expression does not convince me that he is surprised.

“Well, that’s what talent looks like Mel, I leave it to you I will handle the leadership of the administration and if any upper level or any buggers that come to this school let me handle it”

“Yep as expected..”

“But Alex, your position in this project is most crucial….”

“And that is…?”

“muscle……our strong muscle….”

“……”

“And your first job for today is this…”

Melissa give me a files that she compile and this time a teacher.

Nur Sahara Binti Hamid, age 24 a former sciences and maths major subject. Also a former student of Borneo College. A real genius anything related with science and maths. She is also a part time pre school teacher and a tuition centre owner. Not married. She graduate her PHD in University Malaya, premier university in Malaysia. A subject of harassment with the higher management of Borneo College.

I look at Mr Rahman 😒

“nope…why are you looking at me ? I didn’t do it, my colleague did do you think I’m that low plus she is not my type”

“huh…”

She is also being bullied with the student and the teachers due to her short size?

I look at one of the picture, she is really short, and her height is 4’9. What a bunch of lolicons….

Currently she is a student assistant teacher with Siti Aishah All-Girls High school. Sounds familiar wait isn’t that Siti’s school? Well I hope I don’t meet her again, my heart is not strong enough to face this kind of situation again. Melissa instruct me to set a time to meet her.

“You need a team to visit that school, since we are preparing for the grand opening of this school, maybe we should start inviting other school to join this festival. Mr Rahman will arrange with the bureaucracy between school, you should choose a team member for your job, however all the muscle work is all on you…” she grin. That bitch!! She already expected this. Micheal introduce himself to us all.

“Hey everyone, I’m Micheal 5 Unicorn, since I’m new here we hope we could get along together..”

“I choose Micheal because everyone is Form 5, believed in him…”

Really or maybe they don’t want it? He look capable though. Slightly taller than me. Good looks and always smiling.

“Yeah what’s up…”

“Welcome senior…”

“Yo….”

“Welcome…senior Micheal”

“Since the form 5 are timid compared to us, they usually less capable in leading the group due to the previous abuse with the elites. Micheal is the only one that I could be believed and handle this”

“Well…since you said that we okay with it…”

Mariam stand-up and said to everyone

“Hey everyone, we forget something that is our anthem and our motto….”

Melissa seem not interested with it, Amin were pushed by Mariam to support her.

“Yeah maybe we could ask the students about this idea…”

“Alex did you sing you school anthem?”

“Nope, just the national anthem…”

“School anthem is another form of brainwashing but since Mariam is the one that had this idea maybe we could give a try…I suggest ask the student and teachers together”

“Yeah we’ll do that!! Amin is our turn now”

“Huh!? Are you sure?”

“Yeah, we together in this right?!” 🥰

Amin gaze at us looking for backup, Hazlan and Micheal looking sideways avoiding his gaze. And he’s looking at me. I’m not into music Asshole!!

“Alex🥺…”

“Buzz off…I’ve got another job you know…look for someone else…”

“Melissa?”

“Do I look I had time for this?”

“Mr Rahman!?” ☺️ Amin pull his arm intimately. Mr Rahman look pissed

“Hey I’m straight, get your dirty hands off me!!”

“Ooh come one teacher…with you on our side, no one will object…you look like you have plenty of time…”

“Yeah, he does since I’m doing his job now…”

“Hey, aren’t you people have any respect for me?”

😏 everyone looking at him.

Mr Rahman had been recruited by Amin and Mariam

“HELPP!!!! Alex help me!!!”

“All the best Mr Rahman…” we wave him goodbye. Melissa said to me that she will make an appointment with the school president. While Hazlan will design a network website for the new method of learning.

“This is something we called Learning Management System or LMS”

“Is that so?”

“Yep, since WIFI is going to be everywhere, The Senior Engineer of TELEKOM Mr. Usman, agreed to my proposal and he is excited.”

I have not met Uncle Usman yet because he is always busy with outstation work. I hope he remembers me. I look up to him because since little he is the only one that listen to me. Always nagging to me about making choices. The phrase ‘Have no fear and face against all odds’ is still vibrate to me. Melissa said to me to research the school first because that school is also next door neighbour to another school which is one of the worst school in Sabah. The All-Boys Lord Edwards School. Never heard it before so, I begin with Siti Aishah School first. When meeting is adjourned, I left the meeting room and Micheal approach me.

“Hey that school that Melissa mention, I heard from my cousin that the school is beyond repair but they had operate it because is a public school. Bunch of them is mostly gangster among the street in KK. You could find them easily in the Sembulan and Tanjung Aru water residence area.”

“Alright, thanks for the info…”

“Be careful, sometimes you may need weapons there just to make sure you don’t get mug”

“Got it…”

Micheal seem to know something that I don’t know about, but is just that I can’t easily trust that info yet. Just like I went into the bushes before. Looks can be deceiving. I tell Melissa explain to me to find out in the internet whether they have website for that school.

“Just use the computer in the library”

I begin to search for the website for the school. I found it.

All-Girls Siti Aishah, I look at the picture is a school mixed religion, the principal is a nun. I wonder what kind of school is this. I have gather all the info I need and report to Melissa. She is still working on the list of talents.

“So found anything?”

“Is an All-girls school but….”

“What is it?”

“Is kind of sketchy for this kind of school but I saw behind it”

“What kind?”

“Some poster I look recent “Perkembangan bersama pelajar dari Badan penjara dan pemulihan”

“So the school is also rehabilitation or we called it juvenile school”

“So the school is…”

“Maybe a hybrid we don’t know but does not hurt to find out, good Alex!! is good start”

It's already late and I brought Hana back home. We ride a public bus and head straight home. Dad is home, and as usual we prepare dinner, followed him to the mosque with Mom and sam. But another person is the second wife is also there. I tried to ignored it. Mom is calm about it, and they chat with her. Dad have not yet talk to me, the scared look in him avoiding me. Hana is with me together and she took Sam from Mom and we had supper in the mosque. Someone calling me it is Zuan.

“Yo whats up”

“Yeah, you alone?”

“Yep, you walking?”

“Yeah…why?”

“I’ll follow you, wanted some fresh air”

“With them?”

“Yeah…”

“Alright then..”

I talk to Mom that we are going back home with friends and I brought Hana and Sam with me. Mom talk to me

“Yeah, maybe its good because mom need sometime alone with them”

Mom give me the house keys and we walk together with Zuan. It’s a warm night, the pathway is quiet, Zuan offer me to join his friends in a jungle track in the weekends.

“Sure, I’m in…”

“I got another guy I wanted to him to join us”

“Yeah if he is okay with it”

“Anything interesting you find in the forest?”

“Maybe some interesting tomb, or a grave because there is legend to it, a Japanese couple that lived before the world war 2, avoiding contact with people lived there. Rumours is that they made a Japanese home out of it, like literary!! Arrie and Yan wanted to find it before anyone else”

“Sounds like fun!!”

“Yeah..!!”

Seems like I had a full schedule this week. I hope they will not commence the work. Once I reach home, we part ways with Zuan, Hana and Sam were fast asleep. Good thing that I’ve always workout. I carried Hana and Sam together in my bed. I went to the computer to check my emails. No message maybe Natalie haven’t replied yet. I head back to my room, and gone to bed for tomorrow. I heard Mom have return, the look in Mom tells me that something has happen. Mom smile at me.

“Is Hana and Sam have gone to bed. 

Yeah.. what about dad?”

“He left after sending me back home, nothing to worry about..”

“Did he said anything about me?”

“He did he said he still scared of you, and wanted to keep a distance between you and dad.”

“Fine by me…”

“Sorry, Alex was not a good mom to you…”

“There is nothing wrong about it, just that I’m a person that doesn’t give a shit about what happen after. Just don’t worry about it, mom.”

“Yeah…goodnight..Alex”

Mom enter her room, I know that look, she is sad. I’m just too tired to think about it, a lot of things have happen, and now seeing her will of the wealth. Maybe Dad is waiting for mom answer to the will. Just for that to the point forcing mom to be back here. Son of a bitch!! I really felt this place is destroying our family. I really just wanted a place where all of us together just like before in America, a tiny house, even it is small but we in that house together without any trouble. I return to my bed. Look at the ceiling thinking about it. The fan spinning slowly.