Chapter 15 - no mood to go to school

Last night I felt asleep at the computer room, mom wake me up, I look in the mirror, I’m a mess. I told mom that I’m not in the mood to go to school today.

“Alex…alright, Hana will go to school…”

“okay…mom…Big Brother….”

Hana knew that I’m a bit down. With the commotion of school and meeting dad, facing Uncle Usman telling what have happen, really taken a toll on me today. When no one is here, I’m alone again. I went out playing basketball. Looking for ways to get me back. Then I remember I had a bicycle and went out. I ride that bicycle to the quiet and serene forest. I did not realise that I ride until seeing on top a hill where my house is. There is a small hill where there is only a single tree there. I sat there, looking at the skies. I hold that picture of Natalie, where she is now a university student in UCLA.

“Dammit not in a mood to do anything now….”

I head into the forest walking deep, looking at nature. I felt this is where I belong. With only a flipper and short pants, only a madman will walk to nature like this. Then I head back where the bicycle is. I sat there closing my eyes listen to sound of the wind, the bristle of the leaves. And the sound of the airplane passing by. I really wanted to fly.

Slowly I found a small cafe that is from out of nowhere, I sit there. Oh shit, I forgot to bring my wallet. An old lady talk to me.

“Child, why are you not going to school?”

“Oh..just not feeling well…”

“huh…kids these day…”

She suddenly give me a cup of tea and some snacks for me.

“I forgot to bring my wallet..”

“Don’t worry, is on the house…”

“I’ll help with the cleaning…”

“Don’t worry son, just drink, you look you need one….”

“Thank you…”

I drink the tea while looking at the clear skies. I realise there is a traditional long house next from here. I see a man is heading here.

“Hi!! Give me the usual…”

“Got it!!”

She makes Bakso a beef ball noodle soup. He eats it and suddenly shouted

“Oh yeah!!! Thats the stuff.!!! This old lady makes the best Bakso here!!”

Sounds interesting but I’m really interested with the saxophone there. Looks rusty, but I unconsciously took it, and play it. I did it once before in the states in school, not even Natalie know about this.

“You know how to play that instrument?”

“oh…yeah a bit…”

“Come on play us some music here…”

I play some blues music I play once. The old lady said to me

“That belong to my husband before he pass away”

“Sorry for hear that…”

“Don’t worry about it, it's seems its found a new owner. No one could even manage to play it rather leave it to rust”

“Then could I play here again…”

“Take it kid…”

“This is really expensive instrument…”

“You seems to know how to take care of it, in return don’t forget this place”

“Got it….”

I keep playing there, as thanks for the drink and this saxophone. I feel relax, and calm playing this music. After an hour there, I return back home, clean the saxophone. Now it gain its shine, I played again. Music really does heal the heart. After that I safely put the music instrument. I feel wanted to draw and do painting. I went inside the storage room, saw mom’s art set during her PHD class research, mom is talented with arts.

I stand outside, and try to think what I want to draw. But the only thing that came to my mind is only Natalie. Then I started slowly paint it, her face, eyes, hair, the colours of her skin, her mouth. Slowly I saw Natalie picture that I paint. It took me hours, to paint it. Just what I picture of Natalie. Without realising that is already noon.

I don’t feel hungry, but I immerse myself with painting, someone is calling from outside, seems that Hana, Sam and Mom is back. They seems early, but I could only focus on painting. Hana went down and said to me

“Its big sis, see I know that big brother love big sis..!!”

She hugged me

“I know big brother miss big sis..mom got a surprised for you…”

“……” I could not reply because I’m focus in painting Natalie’s face. I could not hear them well. Is this obsession? Or just something else. I really hated myself that even I could not look at Hana.

Mom is talking to someone.

“He is here, and he is already getting himself to be crazy….” What is that suppose to mean but I don’t really care about it.

I suddenly hear someone that I wanted to hear again.

“Alex…?”

“Nat…?”

“You okay?”

“…aa…” I could not say anything

“Just like that…hehehe….you really are a klutz…” mom give me the phone

“Aunt Mas said it’s expensive to call there, and this is only once a while…”

I could not say anything next to the microphone is Natalie

“Alex….you know….what…”

“I’m here….its just that I’m could not believed it….”

“Yeah me too, Aunt Mas told me lot of things, what happen there…..at least I’m happy…”

“yeah….”

“ I talk to Hana just now, even her voice is really cute…hehehe” she giggle

“I heard that you gone to UCLA?”

“yeah…sounds crazy right?”

“Yeah…crazy…but…we both have it…”

“You know…at least I know this number, I’m going to call you again….”

“….haha…”

“….I miss you Alex…..”

“Me too….”

“Did Mar find out?” I really wanted to avoid that question but this is Natalie she is going to find out as well.

“Mar hang around with me, along with her boyfriend…”

“Yeah, I know, never knew that she has a thing for a relationship..because she only married to music…”

“Amin is good with music and he had knack of understanding her..”

“Yeah…good for her…maybe this time I going to get her back…”

“Huh!?”

“She is not going to get away this time, she always tease me…”

I wonder what Mar told her

“Hey Natalie, I remember the letter you give me, you know what I will wait for you no matter how long it takes…”

“Alex…..stop it you making me cry again….”

I hear she is crying

“You don’t know how much I had endure a lot of guys trying to hit me!! When I had no one to look after me!! I even hated it when I said that you could hang with girls but when I heard from Hana that you always avoid it, it really makes me glad….”

“You stupid, you know that you mark me…I always had a feeling that you are always with me”

“Shut it…you making me embarrassed again, don’t make me remember that night” I become blushed and embarrassed

“Yeah…we just keep at that…”

“yep…I heard that you not gone to school what happen?”

“ah….”

“Don’t tell me…you just bored….you lucky that I’m not there…”

“ah….haha…” oh shit she is pissed

“Stupid idiot, horny dog…”

“Gah…that hit it to my brain…”

“Hehehe…you know what…oh!! When Mar said that she is going to find out, what did she do?”

“ah…she literary played Oujia”

“Hah!! That girl when I get my hands on her…”

“But nothing happen…”

“Alex don’t be down okay or else I’ll be down like this…”

“right…”

“Tell me what are you doing now…?”

There is no way in chance that I’m painting her face right now.

Suddenly Hana shouted

“Big brother is painting a portrait of big sis!!!”

“Hey Hana!! shut up!!!”

Hana giggle “don’t worry Big sis!! As long I’m here no other girls is going to grab their dirty claws at him!! That is a promise…!!”

Natalie giggle

“Then show me that portrait okay but don’t tell anyone okay? Especially Mar, I will get a dozen of teasing from her later on…”

“Hey Alex…I never seen your picture ever since Arizona could you give your picture”

I ask Hana to get a camera. And she took my picture and her portrait.

I head to the computer and send the image to her.

“What do you think of me now….”

“Gosh you look a mess…I never knew that you like this…but that portrait is really pretty, never knew that you had talents in drawing..”

“Don’t know I just got a feeling to draw then the only thing that come out from my mind is you…”

“gee….that makes me even more wanted to be there….”

“Haha couldn’t wait for that time to come…”

“Be strong okay…you shouldn’t be like this…Aunt Mas told me that you were crying at the computer after seeing my new picture”

“Of course, you don’t know how much I had to endure holding back crazy girls and running away from girl trouble…hehehe”

“Back at ya….hehehe…”

“Stupid Natalie…”

“My Chevejo….”

“Shanay….”

“Thanks Nat…maybe I really need this…”

“Alex…I’m worried that you forgot about me…that is what I’m really scared of”

“Yeah, just a few months, we already start to get crazy…”

“Yeah you better get your butts off that chair…”

“Hahaha every funny..I believed you also stuck in that chair reading all day…”

“At least I’m doing something….”

“Fine, I’m okay now…”

“Yeah, I’m also energize, I’ve got my Alexnium…”

“Huh?!”

“Nothing!! Hehehe”

“Really…”

“Oh one thing…did you beat your dad?”

“ah…how do you know that?”

“Aunt Mas told me what happen right?”

“Gee, Mom…”

“Alex I know that he could be an asshole but he is your father…”

“yeah…sorry about it”

“That’s one thing I worried about, the crazy thing you doing…”

“What else did mom told you?”

“hehehe…sorry its a secret…” not a secret again, 😓

“Here is late night and one thing I’m not in my house, but in dad’s office…”

“You know that your dad will be pissed with the bills”

“Hehehe..he is here with me…”

“ah….then….”

“Yep….I’m dying in embarrassment”

“Alex how are you?”

“Fine sir…”

“Alex you know that she is not going to let you go, I’m also not going to let you go…” sound scary

“Ahh. hahaha..that is not funny”

“Alex I heard from your mom, there is a reason why I choose that name for you…someday your strength will guide people surrounds you, but if you feel down Shanay will always be there for you…”

“Thanks Mr Hawk…”

“You going to be my son-in-law when you old enough. So be prepare okay, you not a boy anymore but a man.”

“Right I will…”

“Good, say hi to Puan Mas for me”

“Yeah…”

“Nat…you got anything to say? She is down as well you know, she cried like a little baby here, to the point I’m getting annoyed, when I heard from you mom that you even cried seems you both have some strong connection together”

“Dad!!!”

“Alex…I’m doing research now with my dad…”

“Yeah…oh could you ask Mr Hawk about my uncle, Uncle Usman”

“Did you know Mr Usman?”

“yeah how is he? Its been a while…”

“He really wanted to meet you again…”

“Oh maybe one of these day but pretty busy making sure Natalie graduate..”

“Sounds crazy hearing from her but I’m impressed”

“Even I heard it crazy as well, seems love making people crazy these day”

“DAD!!”

“One thing Mr Hawk?”

“Yeah?”

“I have a journal of the name Professor Yukimaru Tadashi, do you know him?”

“Ah!! Professor Yukimaru!! And you have his journal?”

“Yeah, we had an expedition going treasure hunting only to find an old Japanese house from the urban legends here.”

I explain what really happen including communicating with the old man in my dreams.

“That journal is really an important artefact among anthropologist!! Could not believed that he is there all along…but going on an expedition, Nat!! Seems you friend here is really is like an Indiana Jones”

“Sounds fun!!! I really wanted to have an adventure with you!!”

“Yeah!!”

“Do you like doing this?”

“Yeah, I kinda enjoyed it, I prefer nature and culture”

“Learn from your mom, she is anthropologist like me as well”

“I will….”

“Alex…”

“Natalie, I’m okay here just kinda miss your voice that is all”

“Yeah I know… but I heard from Puan Mas that you done something to the school”

“Yeah we are now a part of a special project for a experimental school experience, I’m also one of the student council, Mariam is also part of the council as well…”

I explain about the event in school and Natalie seems to be calm as well

“See told ya you could do it”

“But nothing compared to you though…”

“See you Alex…”

“Yeah see you too…Shanay…”

“Hehehe…I’m going to make sure you not going to look at anyone but me…”

“Yeah, and I’ll make sure that you going to see me as they guy you loved…”

“Love you Alex..”

“Love you too Nat…”

She hung up. But this time I’m not sad but felt energise. Hana and Mom is with me and smile

“Seems our boy here is finally back…”

“Welcome back big brother!!”

“Oh geee…that is embarrassing…” I close my face.

“Never knew that my son is good with arts”

“mom…”

“Yeah…”

“I found my answer to my deepest question within me”

“What that will be?”

“I want to be like you mom….”

See look at me, and smile

“In what way?”

“Being an anthropologist and travel around the world seeing and learning cultures”

“Hah…is that what you have been thinking well then…maybe its a good idea that I will bring you to my research centre in Long Pasia…”

“yeah…”

“But…you must enjoy life in school, I’m not like Mr Hawk because school is a part of your life, which I want you to experience. With the new project SIGMA will be another important part of your life there and Hana as well.”

“Got it, thanks mom…Hana” I hugged her together with Hana and Sam.

“We’re family right?”

“Yeah…”

“You’ve got some explaining to your friends in school…”

“Nah just I’m going to tell them I just got a fever…”

“Very well, then about the girls I trust you, because you still an idiot with girls, maybe this could be an experience for you since Hana told me about it.”

“ahaha…don’t worry about it mom”

“My son is getting handsome by the time, how I could see that moment with Natalie when you get married…but as muslim okay, Natalie knew about it, she is now practicing being a muslim.”

“But…I don’t she will going to rush it”

“Don’t about that you know Natalie, she is head strong when it comes to her decision…that is what I like about her…”

“Yeah, still early though but I got a mission that I need to settle before going back to school tomorrow”

“Okay, go on ahead, Hana and me will stay with Sam.”

“And also…where on earth did you get this?” Oh damn, the saxophone!!

“Uh…I went out then I went to cafe at the hills there” I pointed that place. Wait a minute that is the place about that kid, impossible you mean they guy that eat there is close by, the long house.

Mom instantly knock my head

“You idiot!! Come on let us go to that place and apologise to the owner!!”

“Uhh ouch!!”

We head there the cafe is still open, Mom apologise to the old lady and paid her money

“Sorry about my son, he is troublesome!!”

“Oh don’t worry about it!! Hahaha, he is play that saxophone that belong to my late husband, the boy is the new owner. I permit it hahaha”

“Oh darn here is extra for the trouble” my mom just gave a lot of money

“Don’t be my goodness keep that money for your children”

“Sorry about this”

“Sorry but do you know a kid name Jackson Diman?”

“Jackson!? That orphan boy, there he is at the church there, let me call him, OI!! JACKSON!!”

“Yeah?”

“This kid want to meet you…”

“What’s up!?”

“uh..do I know you…”

“You love to play basketball?”

“Huh!? I would love to but I could not afford to go to school…”

My mom approach him

“Maybe you could join my son school…”

“Ah really!!

“When did you stop going to school?”

“After my parents died in a car accident, I could not afford to pay the school fees, 1 year ago”

“Wait…”

Mom is calling someone

“Rahman!?”

“Yeah there is a kid here, Jackson Diman his name he has no money maybe you could arrange him into SIGMA project”

“Good, I will tell him the good news”

“There done, you are now a SIGMA”

“Ah….no one tell about this, what is this all about?”

“Sorry to rush things but I’m Alex, Captain of SIGMA basketball club, we looking for players to be part of the National level and Semi-pro team level.”

“Basketball!! Really can I do it again!!!?”

“Yeah…would you like to join”

He instantly hold my hand and called someone

“Father Jordan!!!”

“What happen?”

“I got a school already, and joining a basketball!!”

“Haleluyah!!! My goodness, thank you ma’am !!”

“Oh its nothing, its like my son visiting this place must have a reason”

“But this is a special project school, It will be different compared to other school”

“So long I going back to school and play basketball, I’m happy!! Father Jordan”

“I’m happy for you!!”

“Seems our dinner will be here..”

“Then let me make fried beehoon here..”

“Don’t worry is all on me”

“Don’t worry ma’am is on the house call the other this called for a celebration!!”

Never expected all of this happen but at least I got the mission from student council. We enjoy eating while Jackson is really excited to back to school.

“Don’t worry kid let me sent you!!!”

“Thanks!!”

“He is the bus driver here”

“Could I ask your service to sent my children to school as well”

“Yes not a problem”

We hang around for a while and return back. I hang Natalie portrait but mom said this picture is the reason that I feel down, so my mom ask me to put it into the storage room. But I keep the saxophone in my room. Finally had a decent rest.