Angel On Bus

It is easier to go downtown nowadays as compared to the past.

Definitely. DUH.

With the completion of the Taman Perling – Danga Bay stretch of road, the journey downtown would be less time-wasting. At least the compelling, offensive traffic congestion at Jalan Skudai would be avoided.

However, many could not deny the charm of the good ol’ public transport system of public bus.

Even though the prospect of speeding down the road with an exhilarating speed would have made Alvin Peh salivate, he nevertheless appreciates a journey downtown on a bus once in a while. You might not understand the lure of taking a public bus but, Alvin is certainly fascinated by it.

Imagine sitting in a metal box with strangers all around you. You either stare out of the window hoping to see something special, or you chat with the person next to you.

Alvin does both.

Thus far, he has seen the beauty and ugly of Malaysians while on the bus. Road bullies, inconsiderate drivers and Rempit individuals make up the ugly side of the citizens, while touching tales of schoolchildren helping a blind man cross the road was something that has made Alvin see hope in the future for Malaysia.

At least the Moral Studies classes in school were a success after forcing students to remember the countless moral values.

Besides that, Alvin chats all the time to kill boredom. Other than chatting to the mak ciks asking them about their day, he too spends time talking to teenagers his age talking about random issues such as the Malaysian football team, government policies and almost everything that happened around the world.

These chatting sessions actually helped build Alvin’s communications skills, thus forming the present Dr. Alvin who was always praised for his ability to communicate efficiently with his patients.

However, whenever he’s having a holiday at his hometown of Johor Bahru, he would always find time to go downtown for a cup of tea with his classmates of yore.

Today was one of those days.

Alvin’s mother fetched him to the nearest bus stop (awww just like the good old days) and in his hand he held the already prepared fare of exactly RM2.50 in coins.

It was quite a joy standing at the bus stop reminiscing about the past. About the time a bird excreted on Ivan’s bag; about the time the old gang had ice creams as they waited for the bus.

Now you understand the lure public bus taking held over Alvin. There were memories he and his friends would remember till the end of time in it.

An elderly man was waiting for the bus as well and Alvin wasted no time in engaging him in a talk. The weather, the new developments in Johor Bahru, the Raya holidays. It was a pleasant chat.

The bus arrived in no time at all. Once on the bus, Alvin selected a window seat and proceeded to look out of the window. He had left his home so long; he almost couldn’t recognize the place the bus was passing through!

The bus filled up gradually as it drove along its usual route. People were going downtown to celebrate the upcoming Raya holidays. There was quite a joyous atmosphere on the bus, with the radio playing lighthearted Raya songs and people chatting happily.

As the bus stopped by a shopping mall, an old lady climbed up the stairs, her hands laden with heavy plastic bags. Being impregnated with the thirty six Moral values since his primary school days, Alvin leapt out immediately and flashed a friendly smile towards the old lady.

He beckoned at her cheerily but realized she was having difficulties moving her groceries. So, he walked towards her to help.

He had barely taken a step towards her when a man, in his mid-twenties, took his seat.

So furious he was, he wanted to roar and fight with that insolent man. 
So incensed he was, he wanted to confront that atrocious man.
So enraged he was, he wanted to let the monster inside him run amuck on that impertinent beast of a man.

A woman sitting next to him grabbed his hand and flashed a warning look at him. She jumped up from her seat and called out to the old woman, ‘Auntie, have my seat please!’

What a heartwarming scene.

If only all Malaysians would ditch the Third World mindset for the more prudent First World attitude.

The old lady smiled gratefully at her and took up the offer.

At that instantaneous moment, a dazzling light illuminated the woman who gave up her seat to the old lady.

She is one of the most beautiful women Alvin has ever seen and, it wasn’t from the physical aspect.

It was her heart. Her heart of exquisite gold. One so rare that many people fail even to see one in their entire lifetime.

Alvin left the bus before he reached his station. The invaluable kindness shown by the woman was so beautiful he was sure she was an angel.

This is why Alvin likes to take the public bus, even though it is a hassle. On one trip he managed to be awestruck by the beauty, and stunned by the ugly of Malaysians. However, when there is a sparkle of light in darkness, hope will always be present.

The inconsiderate man will reap what he had sowed; and the thoughtful woman has definitely planted the seed of kindness in the hearts of the other passengers.

All is not lost yet.

The Unheard Whisper

The empty road stretched on forever in front of me. Alone on it, I felt good. No obstacles, no hindrances – a perfect antidote to the poison building up in me. I had to vent it all out; I had to release myself from the prison of guilt I felt.

I like the feeling of my foot on the accelerator. Hard and firm; the corners of my mouth twitched upwards as the needle on the speedometer zoomed towards 200kmph.

My mind, however, was still in a mess. Contrition was never absent in my everyday life. Regret washed over me. Ashamed of myself, I was.

I should not have gotten myself into this mess; never should I have hitched her along in my trip on the highway to hell.

I was driving all around with no specific destination in mind. The images in my mind showed only of the girl whose life I had destructed in a moment of folly. The high speed escapade was soothing; unfortunately, it wasn’t enough for me to get further than the range of my conscience’s nagging.

Funnily I had the sudden urge to revisit the place it all happened the very first time. The very first time I saw the symmetry of the universe. I never knew if the universe revolved around the earth or around the sun. But finally it’s plain.

It was the girl with a dazzling smile that held me then. She was the center of my universe.

Racing uphill, the avalanche of memories continued its cascade. I shook my head, hard, and asked myself that simple question, do I love her?’ Indeed, we were happy together. We could make the sun shine and the rain fall.

I would want to spend the rest of my life with her.

It has been a mere three months since I last saw her; Ireland has definitely separated us. Though did I even take a look of lust at any other? Nope, never came across my mind. I missed her dearly.

Slowly, I parked at the tip where the whole of Kuala Lumpur was at the tip of my feet. This was my comfort zone, where she and I once called home. I stepped down from the car with reasonable deliberation, unsure of what I was going to see.

Had the commencement of the developing projects made this place unrecognizable? No, it stayed the same, as if waiting for my return. Even the girl sitting on the bench looked familiar.

Hold on, that was the shirt she loved the most. The Liverpool jersey with my name etched on it was a part of our first month anniversary as a couple. I looked down and realized I was wearing the jersey with her name on it.

My eyes widened in shock and my heart skipped a beat. Could it be? I have been looking for her since my return, and here she was, right in front of me.

I walked towards her, moving each leg with considerable difficulty. It took every single ounce of concentration for me not to fall to the temptation of running forward and hug her; for the fear of mistaking a look-alike girl for her.

A few feet away from her, I was absolutely sure. My dear XXXX. Her left hand reached for the right arm, just like every other time when she couldn’t believe what she saw.

Her eyes, the soft chocolate brown, never for once even left mine. Hungrily, they bore into mine without blinking, just like every other time. My breath staggered; they reminded me of every touch, every kiss.

My lungs felt like they were going to burst. I opened my mouth, wanting to tell her about everything I missed about her but, sanity left me before I could do anything else. My lips parted, but it wasn’t a crooning that left them.

‘What are you doing here?’ I whispered.

She froze. Her expression hardened. For so long I had been dreaming, missing, thinking of this sweet face, but now etched onto her features was pure hatred.

So little time had passed but so much had changed. This time, her favourite perfume and this intense gaze made me tremble. Before I could unlock my petrified muscles to hug her, to bring her closer to me, she answered indifferently, ‘making a decision.’

I bit my lip in confusion. I had never understood the complex mystery of a woman’s brain. What could it be that was bothering her? Was I still in her heart, the way she never left mine? I could not decide; I could never know.

Our gazes were locked firmly together. A deep breath I took and I left my mind to the control of insanity. I had long given parts of myself up to commands of insanity, yet it was now that I finally saw fit to embrace its might.

‘Let me decide for you.’

I took hold of the railings and put my hand on your back. ‘I love you,’ said I.

As the good old times stirred at the back of my mind, I was glad finally we would be doing something together. A final push, that was it, and you fell off the cliff with the grace of a ballerina.

Right before my eyes, you fell off the cliff and my hands were the cause of it. I did not cry, I did not howl. Finally fate brought us together again, and this is the only way to make sure we take the next step together.

‘Babe, I’m coming with you. You wouldn’t be alone any longer.’

As my last words left my lips, I took two quick steps backward, and launched myself forward, hard. My eyes were closed tight and the wind stung my face viciously. My heart beat loyally as it galloped towards the last beat; determining to fulfill a lifetime’s beat before the end.

I felt not fear, but joy.

“THUMP”

That was the last thing I heard.

This story is produced through a collaboration with a friend. Written from the boy's perspective, maybe it would be inadequate to fully understand how complicated their relationship was. To know more about their sad story, please click here <---

The BTN Nightwalk

The sky put on its veil of darkness, bringing an end to the day with a hint of mystery. The full moon was displayed with dazzling illumination; the opera of the crickets gave the ambience a touch of melancholy.

Stars decorated the veil of the sky like diamonds on black satin; the sound of water splashing on the waterfall in the distance gave the woods a peaceful impression.

Suddenly, a whistle shrilled, breaking the serenity of the place.

‘Next!’ Boomed the voice of a man and two girls moved forward, holding on to each other as though giving support to the other.

‘Follow the blinking red lights and don’t stray off course,’ said the man, not unkindly.

The two young ones stared at the path cloaked with darkness in front of them and gulped involuntarily. It was the seventh month in the lunar calendar and to Malaysians, it is the Hungry Ghost Festival.

Daunting and uninviting, this night walk in the jungle of Rembau, Negeri Sembilan is a part of the activities organized by the National Civics Bureau (BTN). April and Catherine had valiantly protested against the walk but to no avail; the organizers replied with, ‘the camp is a platform for you to face and control your fears.’

However, the organizers relented a little by allowing the participants to go in pairs. Having heard the screams of countless people before them, the two girls were in no haste to begin their walk.

‘Hurry!’ A voice behind them screeched, making them jump.

Gripping each other’s hand tightly, they proceeded cautiously. It was difficult to spot the tiny blinking light and mosquitoes were feeding happily on the exposed flesh of the two girls.

Very soon, they rounded a bend. The light emitted by the flashlights of the facilitators could now not be seen and they were engulfed totally by darkness.

Catherine whined. “April, my throat hurts…”

April cursed silently under her breath. Catherine’s tonsillitis has been worsening since they arrived at the camp. She rummaged in her backpack for a bottle of water. As April took it out, her peripheral vision detected something moving.

Something white moving, no, gliding in the trees behind them.

April’s blood ran cold. Beside her, Catherine’s mouth was opened in a silent scream. Her eyes were bulging and she was shivering uncontrollably.

It was Catherine’s fear and panic that brought the adrenaline surging to April’s muscles. In a swift moment she grabbed Catherine’s hand and they ran as fast as their stiff legs would carry them. Both girls were sobbing uncontrollably but did not stop even when they heard shouting from afar.

Finally, coughing nonstop, Catherine sat down at last. They had run relentlessly for more than five minutes, as if being chased by an axe-wielding madman, with the objective of getting as far away as possible from the creature.

April slumped beside her, panting loudly.

‘What was that?’

‘No idea. Let’s walk though. Gotta find the rest, fast.’

They continued their walk down the path with renewed spirit. However, much to their dismay, the red blinking lights seemed to have disappeared. The trees seemed to grow thicker there, and the sound of animals was ominously absent. Every sound they made was magnified ten times; the imposing darkness made chills go down their spines.

Out of a sudden, a terrifying howl brought their hearts to their mouths. The girls shrieked at the same time and, in unison, sprinted back up the path.

Unexpectedly, April slipped on a slimy object and took a tumble. Her knee landed on the sharp side of a jagged stone and a metallic smell made her dizzy. A sudden, sharp pain pierced her right calf, and April looked in time to see a black slimy snake, giving out a sibilant hiss, slithering away.

April’s scream drained the blood off Catherine’s face. She never would have believed that April, strong, tough April, would be capable of producing such a sound of mingling terror, fear and pain.

Writhing with agony, April could not do anything but whimper. A feeling of paralysis was spreading up her right leg and she was in terrible shock. All she could do was to moan for the help that would never come.

Catherine was lost in panic. She could not leave April alone in this state, no she would get lost trying to find help; yet staying with April would not bring help to them. The snake venom was rather poisonous, judging on the rapidly deteriorating consciousness of April.

She was losing much blood. The fangs must have punctured a vein, as dark red blood was oozing out copiously. Catherine knew she had to react quickly. It was a matter of life and death.

Pulling her hairpin out, she proceeded by making small cuts at the side of April’s snake bite. Next, she did the thing that felt right at that moment – she pressed her lips to the bite, and sucked the contaminated blood.

It tasted horrible. Like the smell of rotting flesh. Catherine spit the first mouthful out and returned for a second mouthful. The repetition was continued until April’s blood tasted normal without the repelling stench.

Taking a spare shirt from April’s backpack, a partial tourniquet was tied to reduce the blood flow at April’s leg. The result was instantaneous – the blood loss reduced dramatically.

However, Catherine began to feel dizzy. Perhaps it was due to the sheer exhaustion, maybe it was due to the intoxicated blood she accidentally swallowed in her haste to help her friend, her mind blanked out suddenly.

The branches swayed gently in the wind to the tempo of a cradle being swayed as the nightlife in the jungle remained in its active mode. Owls flew about finding prey for their chicks and rats ran about, dodging the flying birds that were looking for a meal for their nest.

It was a scene of peace and harmony - the way nature should be.

When the search party arrived half an hour later, they found a girl with snakebite from the vicious cobra breathing with quick, shallow breaths; weak but not quite ready to meet the Creator yet, and the body of a brave girl with blue, swollen lips, who gave her life to save that of her friend.