Chapter 49 - exam week, The PMR and a favour

Day 1, our first exam, the first subject is Bahasa Malaysia. Its really tough, with the grammar and writing. I have completely lost it, but at the same time Mariam is also scratching her head in frustration.

“God dammit!!”

“Mariam!! Quiet!!” She got scolded by the teacher for being noisy. It's hard for Amin to help her because the seating arrangement is separate. I started mumbling while taking the exam slowly. It's really hard to write, but I'm getting there. "Hey teacher, let's switch seats, it'll be more peaceful here!" And that creates another crazy commotion with the two of them. During the talk, the teacher warned him, "if you love bird having another discussion again, you can leave the hall." I didn't feel confident about it. For now, Mariam does the craziest things, like tapping on the table and making music. She's losing it, isn't she? I guess you can say I'm studying with a real "symphony" of distractions. This is getting annoying at that time, and I can't concentrate with it, while the others are either trying to hold their laughter or getting annoyed. I can't tell who is more frustrated, me or them! It's getting annoying for me, but I feel her because of the pressure. Looks like this situation is becoming a laughing matter! It will be a matter of time before Mariam exploded herself.

We've been moving slowly for about an hour, the teacher says.

“Alright you have another 5 minutes left before you all stop writing!! Mariam's face was telling me she was going to do something crazy after this. Little did we know, she was about to make this the most unforgettable 5 minutes of our lives. She suddenly gets up and does another crazy stunt and starts doing yoga? All of us, including Amin, were dumbfounded.

She's losing it!! "Everyone started laughing and commotions started. Mr Rahim yelled at Mariam: "Dumb Mariam!! This isn't a yoga exam!" But Mariam wasn't phased and calmly responded, "Yes, but I'm still getting an A for effort! Sorry captain, but I needed a moment to cool off! ” The whole class was in shock, but Mariam was still smiling, thinking to herself, "That's one way to make a statement!"

In response to Mariam, Mr. Rahim told her “Whatever, get it done, and get out of here!”"And then Mariam sat down, everyone shaking in disbelief. I know this is a tough question, but Mariam is losing it. It makes for great entertainment. Who knew exam drama could be so riveting?

It's time to stop writing, and don't forget to include your name before submitting! Mariam suddenly yelled, “Give me another minute to write my own name!” The teacher got annoyed and Mr Rahim had to take over.

Let me check, they're all done, let me take it! ” Mariam quickly shouted back, “No, no! I'm not finished yet! I don't even know if I spelled my name right!” Mr Rahim just shook his head, smiled, and said, “Well, at least you know your own name. That's a start!”

Mariam started having a tug-of-war with Mr Rahim when he tried to hold her paper.

Just give me a sec, Captain!”

“You idiot, it's already over!” Amin then tried to pull her away while Mariam immediately did the German suplex at him, knocking him out. There's a loud slam and I know she's losing it. Ah, the classic German suplex: the only way to solve a disagreement without having to say a single word.

I can see Mariam pulling Amin away while glaring at me. “Alex, lets get out of here!” I know she's going nuts, but my instinct tells me not to follow her.

“I’ll pass...” Her eyes started glowing and pulled me away. My vision went blank, and when I awoke, I was in the podium with Amin comforting Mariam. When I awoke, I saw Mariam and Amin cuddling like two puppies and I said, "Umm, am I in the wrong place?"

Mariam is really letting it out when she says, "Oh my gosh, that paper's hard." I guess sometimes it's better to just sleep on it and hope for the best!

"How's the exam going for you, bro?" Amin asks.

I just let it go with the flow and write about it without thinking about it too much."

Amin started shaking his head in disbelief, while Mariam shouted at me. “Dumbass, at least you're not losing it!” "Amin, you better believe it! I might be dumb, but at least I'm not a lost cause!” As Mariam asks for the afternoon exam paper, she's feeling the heat.

The next paper is geography, Amin says. I'm gonna shine while I remember this is my part. Mariam acts like she just saw a ghost!

“Geography!? I get the impression she didn't study much. Amin looks at her, and his fear comes true.

“Don't tell me you didn't study geography? ” She shrugged and said, "I figured I'd just wing it like I do with all my classes."

"Umm, hahaha, a bit," Mariam said sarcastically. I mean, what can you expect from someone who thinks a compass is a tool for drawing circles?

Amin pinched her cheeks to motivate her, “don’t just forget what I taught you! ”

Mariam suddenly smile and said with confidence “yeah!!” I guess that's one way to get a glow-up! In the podium, Sylvia, Siti, and Tama approach us and look like they have other ideas. Immediately, Siti hugged me, while Sylvia yanked her away and said:

“Now, now isn’t the right time because he needs to focus on his exam” Siti sarcastically replied

"Eh, did you tell me you wanted to hug him too?" Huh? Since when they became allies, Tama said, "Sylvia and Siti are doing this exam like it's nothing" Yeah, maybe they're just smarter than us. I guess that's why they say two heads are better than one...even if one of them is a robot or not even a normal human being to be exact.

"Our paper exam is Bahasa Malaysia as well," Siti tells us, and I'm pretty sure geography is next. "Could you take this paper to represent me?" Mariam asked Siti immediately

She instantly replied, "I don't think it will work that way..." Amin and I agreed.

While Mariam is trying to figure out ways to replace someone, I said, "why don't you just read back what you know.".

“Yeah Honey!” Mariam kicked Amin in an instant, knocking him out. Ouch! I guess Mariam found a way to replace Amin!

“Shut up!!" I know Mariam is up to no good this time, and I hope she doesn't include me. Uh oh, looks like Amin is gonna have to learn to keep his mouth shut the hard way!

When everyone was relaxing, I started taking out my small note about geography I learned before, as Mariam was doing crazy things again, Amin looked at me and said "not bad bro, at least you have a head start from this"

“Yeah, geography is one of my favorite subjects” I mean, who doesn't love learning about places they'll never have the chance to visit?

As I recited the geography notes I had memorized, I couldn't help but be fascinated by the stories of distant lands and cultures. I was amazed by the different languages, customs, and landscapes that existed around the world. That was the feeling that I had with learning about geography.

Suddenly, Mariam approaches Siti and Sylvia and pushes me away. It was like Mariam had been waiting for the perfect moment to make her dramatic entrance!

"Whatever, see ya" I walk back to my classroom not realising I didn't take lunch. I guess Mariam's entrance really took my appetite away! I sat down, while preparing myself for the next test. Mr Rahman approach me and wanted to discuss with me.

“How’s the exam? Any difference when you taking in the States” I haven't taken the SAT yet in the states.

“Yeah it’s about the same…”

“Well then Alex, continue on” Mr Rahman left the place, while I prepared to proceed to another exam. Heading to my classroom while reading through the notes that I prepared before the exam. Mariam is still the same crazy out of place kind of person, which I rather avoiding her while Amin is trying to calm her down, Hazlan called me and explaining to me about the paper.

“Well seems this geography paper is conducted by Mr Rahman, I do realise that he is conducted in English…”

“But Hazlan would you rather take in malay?”

“uh…English…” that is pretty straight forward. I rather take the paper in English because its something that I’m familiar with but doesn’t hurt to take in Malay. With all the papers done and gone with it. Everyone looks tired from the examinations, I could see in their eyes is really hard for them to take it.

In the evening, with all the examinations done, I head out to Mr Marcus places where he explain that the football team is still rebuilding the squad. Mat is still recovering from his injury.

“Hey Alex, may need your help again in rebuilding the team but we need another guy who is good in football.” I do realise that Amin is really good in football gotta ask him a favour.

While reaching the podium where we always hangout, Mariam is still ranting about the examinations.

“Stupid paper, why can’t just be music and dance.!! Wait I could just change my course!?” There goes her crazy idea. While Amin is encouraging her to focus on the exams.

“Honey, you could just focus on one thing though…” Amin is quite serious about this, I wonder what would Mariam would respond.

“No can do…” as expected. Mariam then stand up and started her own way of relaxing, which I rarely seen. A frigging yoga??!

My only focus now is exam then LA. While Mariam is doing her Yoga, i ask Amin

“Hey Amin do you still play football ?”

“Umm, sort of”

“We?”

“Yeah?”

“We’re best bud right”

“Uh… are planning something?”

“Just follow me” i brought Amin to the football training ground while Mariam is focus on her YOGA.

“So…this is a football team…”

“Yeah….”

“What are you planning now?”

Mr Marcus approach and called me

“Okay Alex, why you do you need Amin?”

I gave Amin the ball and ask him to kick towards the goal post.

“Uh huh okay….” He start to aim at the goal post and kick the ball. It curls and went straight at the goal.

Mr Marcus was surprised and the other players were surprised.

“That is a half field away!!”

Amin then hold my shoulder and smiling at me

“I played central midfield and defence midfield…. And a bit of goal keeping”

“Uh huh…. Well how about Mr Marcus?” Mr Marcus is thinking right and Mat could not believed it

“Amin we need to be on our team while Mat is recovering. Alex is the winger. How about it would you be interested?”

“Uh… not sure about with music and student council in all” Amin is looking at me like as if he wasn’t sure about it.

“Maybe we could help them rebuild the team while their Star player is recovering”

Amin seem to agree with the idea but there is something he is hesitating about now. I hold his shoulder.

“About Mariam i’ll handle it…”

“Honey is the least of my worries but i’m scared to lose my leg again…” what? Does he have injuries before this?

“Then could you do it?”

“Give me until tomorrow”

“I’ll wait” Amin look concern about this, i wonder what really happen to him before this. Mr Marcus called me

“Hey Alex, meet me again tonight”

“Huh?”

“There is someone wanted to meet you”

“Uh huh….” I wonder who would that be then

“Just at the boys hostel”

Me and Amin went back to the podium. Guess what Mariam is still in a trance doing her own Yoga. Gotta handed to her for being focus, i really wish that she could use that focus on her papers.

“Alex, there is something that i want to ask a favor from you bro” now that is something that i don’t hear everyday.

“Yeah sure”

Amin pulled me away from the podium and explain me in a low tone

“There is girl that i need to meet” Amin had a girl trouble ? That is new

“Uh huh, what about Mariam then?”

“She must absolutely not must know about this because if not she will be upset with me”

Guess Amin also something that he need to settle.

“So the girl is?”

“She is in the school of arts of Sabah, she actually approach me asking for a favor to settle something. She is my old childhood friend…”

“Uh huh…. I’m not sure where i could fit in this context you wanted me to help”

“Is just that i don’t want to go alone.”

“Fine then is it today then?”

“Yep….”

“Then lets head out”

Luckily Slyvia is around and i ask her a favor

“What is it darling?” That darling thing is somewhat annoying but i kinda already confessed to her. But damn her smile is really is taking my heart out.

“Could you bring Mariam to my house while me and Amin going out somewhere”

“? Which is and i wanted to know why?” I had to make a really good excuse not getting caught by Slyvia special ability to detect something.

“Something about getting a musical instrument”

“Okay then” She suddenly kissed my cheeks and she whispered to me

“As long not another girl problem got it, just help right?” Her voice is reflected with her yandere expression, damn that is scary for scarier than Natalie did.

“Yeah,yeah”

“Don’t be late because i’m not sure what Mariam will do in the house later on”

One thing that i’m worried about is that she is finding out my stuff.

“As long she doesn’t use that damn boardgame again”

“Got it darling”

Slyvia the. Accompanied with Mariam while she is still in a trance doing the Yoga. Me and Amin head out the the school which is situated in Penampang.

We ride together and arrived at the school. The school is something, with artwork that reflected with Sabahan culture. The sign said there “sponsored by Borneo foundation”

We reach there and enter the school while Amin said to me

“She said to me that wanted to me personally but i had this bad feeling plus if Mariam followed me its going to get worst.” I rather doubt it because Mariam will eventually find out about this.

I saw Amin meet the girl, who is around 19-20 years old. And she look really spook, i wonder what is really happening. Amin called me and introduced her to me

“This is Viola, she is a student here in music course she wanted to ask a favor from me”

“Amin do you remember Donald?”

“Yeah, aren’t that you’re old boyfriend?”

“Ex-boyfriend but he is actually stalking me and always coming to this school begging me to be with me again”

“Uh huh….then what is going on? he is just a wimp”

“He is the younger brother of Nukran, local gangster here but i broke with him because he does scary things with people around me”

“Huh?”

“I could have decent sleep because of it. He also sometimes waited at front gate of my house as if he wanted to talk to me”

“Didn’t you talk to him?”

“I did but he brought someone with him”

“Which is ?”

After her long explanation about what happen, her ex was involved with drug trafficking and prostitution. She was targeted to be sold off to the gangster as a prostitute. Kinda fishy about this though because she could be taken like that. Amin however was concerned about this.

“You know ever since that i confess to you that i like you and you rejected me because i’m just too young but now…i had clean up your mess”

Amin looks pissed and he continued again

“Now how the hell am i supposed to do about it?”

“I don’t know who am i’m suppose to find help”

“Call the police then! This something that is beyond me!”

“I did…”

“Huh?”

“The police said i have no proof of any assault unless i’ve been attacked”

“…….” Amin the. Turn around and said to her

“This is something i’m not going to help, i did warn you about Donald but you did not listen, you are my senior during the Borneo College time but why do you think this happen?”

I just listen to their conversation until someone approached them

“Hey Viola, hey you look familiar aren’t you?”

“Donald….senior its been a while how have you been?”

“Yeah i’m great what are you doing here?”

“Oh just visit this college just coincidentally meeting Viola here…”

“Really?” Donald hold his shoulder and said to Amin. I could not hear it but Amin expression shown a really pissoff guy towards him.

“Since when you good at blackmailing people now?”

“Oh I don’t know but at your brother is in safe hands”

Amin gripping his hand, i really wanted to do something though. I stand up and accidentally hit his shoulder though i took something from his pocket. A wallet and hid it in my pocket.

“Hey watch it kid!! Don’t you know who i am?”

Well better pretend that i’m an idiot

“Oh sorry about it!!” He took Viola and Amin said to him

“Hey! I’m not done with you yet!”

“Uh uh uh you better stay away from her”

After he left the school, Amin is distraught and said to me

“Dammit!” He punch at the wall

Without realizing i took Donalds wallet and look at his ic

Jalan kobusak, dongongong house number 788 in lot 718, looks like all of his identity match all of it.

I head out and called him

“Hey sir, i think you drop this!!”

“Huh how the hell! Whatever give it to me back! Watch it kid!!” Thats a rude why of accepting it

Amin then Explain to me

“Thats is Donald, he is a former Borneo College elite student one of the brightest but all of that is just fake because he paid people to do his work…” sounds familiar

“So what are you going to do about it?”

Amin suddenly head towards his bike and said to me

“Sorry bro gotta need help from dad” he left

But kinda curious how am i supposed to do about it? Well gotta follow my gut feeling just head to the address that i remember from the guy.

I head out towards the address and luckily i meet the two coincidentally i tried to eavesdrop and hid somewhere they could not notice me.

I listen to their conversation

“Babe!! Do you think he will buy it?”

“Of course, he will!!”

“His dad is the reason that my brother could not get any business right now!!”

“Then what are you planning then?”

“I’m going to trap him and making sure that he will not mess with us!!”

“You know his dad is one of the best policeman in the region”

“I know!!” Seems the two are in cahoots together eh? I realise that they really wanted something from Uncle Faruq. Must something important, I saw another person but the funny thing now is that I’m emotionally arouse but this event, all thanks to Mr Marcus training then. The guy look at his mid 40’s and a scar on his left side of the face. A filipino ethnic to see the least.

“Donald what are you doing here?”

“Big brother!! What happen?”

“i just wondering what are you up to?”

“uh…nothing just getting things done!!”

“If you worried about my business is it over…I’m just going to stop this as well”

“No! What about our own life? What about Viola’s tuition? Who’s going to pay all of this then!?”

“Donald…I told you before….all of this has to stop…”

“I don’t like all of this, look at you right now! you’re just a shell of yourself”

“Like I said, let it go….”

“Fuck it!! I’m going to lead this gang you just don’t get in my way then big brother!!”

Damn, I’m in a middle of a family feud. Donald and Viola take his pickup truck and went off. I wanted to follow them only to be called by Nukran.

“I know you hiding there….!!” Damn how the hell he knows

I head out and confront him.

“Naughty kids aren’t suppose to be here…”

“…..well then I’ve taking my leave then…”

“You’re that famous kid that is taking out gang members throughout the city right?” Never knew that I’m that famous.

“So what are you doing here then?” I’m wondering what he is planning to then?

“Something wrong with my bike though it suddenly stop, and I had to park here…” what kind of lame excuse I saying that!

Nukran head towards the bike and check on it, even though I lied about it. Shit gotta escape from here.

“Just wondering why he doesn’t want to change…” huh?

“Uh…excuse me?”

“Huh…which you from kid?”

“SIGMA….”

“Huh?” I forgot not all people know about us. I explain the background of the school and the reaction is what I did not expect for a guy like that

“Would love to be in school….anyway back to our part right now, tell me what do you think of my own brother and his girlfriend?”

I don't think it's wise of me to say that right now, when I have no idea who the hell that guy is.

“Uu…you could say he is a good actor…” darn it!! My stupid head!!

“Uh huh…I kinda believed so as well kid…”

We have a chat about what is going on between him and his younger brother about he wanted to be like him, wanted to take over his business in the underground business but he actually wanted to get away from it.

“Kid, I seen this kind of eyes before….something dark….maybe I could ask for your help then…”

“Uh huh…not sure what could I help you with?”

“I’m going to disband this gang….” There is some people surrounds him, dammit!! I’m surrounded

“Don’t worry about them, they with me. They just wanted to live a normal life like me…”

“Uh huh….” They look kinda familiar, I wonder where did I have this kind of feeling before…

“This kid I know him…!!” One of the gang members said to Nukran

“He is the one that beat down one of our soldiers in Long Pasia forest!!”

“Heh, that idiot Jumal, that’s what happen when they did not listen to Nukran…” huh?

“Kid….you look familiar like are the descendant of Shariful Ahmad?” Huh!? Now he knows my background?

“How do you know all of this?”

“Hakim….” Dammit!! He knows…my heart is racing with anxious moment what he will do after this…

“But that stupid Hakim, why the hell he has to be involved again…I hate that family…!!” One of the members start to see they don’t like my family gotta convince them.

“I do not recognise them as family, the only family that I know is only Uncle Usman and my dad Imran….”

Everyone had a short pause as if they were scared of the name itself.

“So he is the nephew of Usman then…” he took a phone and called someone

“Usman, Assalamualaikum brother”

“Yeah, your nephew is here….” He opens the loud speaker of his phone and we all heard from him.

“That boy is my own kin, he may not accepted this family but I vouched for his dignity…he is a warrior in heart…”

Everyone then looked at me and suddenly bow their heads including Nukran.

“Then, this is going to simple then kid….I need your help….” Damn suddenly everything turn to upside down. What a mess I in right now..

“i want you to help me to wipe out the remaining clan members of the group, without the help of the authorities even we have to take their lives…they are dangerous, and….” I stop him from continuing

“One thing, taking lives is out of the question….” I had enough of killing in my own past.

“But your eyes say otherwise as if fire rages within you” fire…that’s it!! Gotta ask Mr Hawk about this.

“I will help you knock them down but taking another life is another thing…”

“Fine then…we will decide later on”

One of the members suddenly called Nukran

“They preparing something…about trapping a policeman”

“Seems like Donald have started his move…”

Oh no, Amin!! Shit!! I start to move towards my bike and Nukran called me

“One man is not possible to stop them!! They are soldiers like me, there eyes are the same as you it is impossible to stop them!!”

That fire rages within me have started to grow but this time is not like fire but a feeling that I have not yet experience a true wrath.

“No matter what are they going to do to me, I don’t care but once my friend is on the line there is no turning back….”

“Then we work together…you safe your friends and I will taken out my own members once settle come with me while I will judge my own brother and his girlfriends fate…”

I did not said any word and…sorry Nat, sorry Mariam, and sorry Slyvia I gotta break this promise again…for Amin.

Nukran offer me his gun, a glock 17 and 2 clips.

“This will be dangerous…but we gotta settle this…”

“Yeah…”

We head out together while Nukran and me plan for an ambush towards his own brother.