Joy

Syafiq can’t stop smiling since an hour ago. The sky seems bluer, the cloud seems whiter, and the fat girl he used to feel sorry for seems slimmer. Yes, it’s a great and beautiful day for Syafiq. From afar, he could see a glimpse of Ilia, the most stunning girl he ever sees, which he is having a crush on for ages. “Nothing can go wrong today”, he says to himself.

Surrounded by her friends, Ilia has been bestowed upon her a mix parentage of Chinese-Indian-Malay, which indescribable by any term used by ordinary people. If Chinese and Indian parentage you would call them Cindian, if Indian and Malay you would call them Indian Muslim (or Mamak in not-so-proper manner), if Chinese and Malay you would call them Mualaf or Apek or Amoi look-alike, but the combination? MaCinDian? Or MCD? Lol. He calls them the most beautiful thing in planet. Or perhaps that applies to Ilia only. Maria Ilia Noah. The girl nearly every guy has a crush on (except for Anand. He doesn’t like girls. Say they are annoying). Those fair skin, black hair and hazel eyes. Plus, she can sing too. She sang a Britney song last week and that was amazing. Better than Britney anyway. “Oh, sometimes God gives some people the best of everything,” he sighs. But knowing that he happens to be one of some people who are blessed today makes him feel equal to Ilia.

Walking with head up high, he flashes his winning smile to Ilia and her group of friends. They are giggling and whispering to each other, but Ilia, being all composed and graceful, simply smile back, with the most sincere smile he ever received from anyone. Well, maybe because Ilia never smiles at him before. He was the invisible man. Not anymore. What happened today really made him feel like on top of the world and anything is achievable. “Just give it a shot Syafiq.” Walking with guys around him stares coldly, and girls look up to him, Syafiq feels envied and somewhat popular, like Zac Efron. Oh not Zac. He was already popular back then in High School Musical. More to O Shia La Beouf when he became a hero after he had a car which turned out to be a high tech, super cool robot. “Okay, here it goes,” he stops right in front of Ilia, where the big moment is about to take place. “Ilia, I want you to be my assistant. Cikgu Amin said I can choose anyone I want.” Pause. All eyes are on them now. “Sure Syafiq,” Ilia grins while receiving the attendance book Syafiq is handing her.

Syafiq is all smiles, with incomplete teeth shown that can’t hide his happiness. It’s the best day of Syafiq’s life when he’s appointed as the class monitor of Kelas 8 Cempaka.

Welllllllllll, life has its challenges. I am in one. I hope I can keep the optimism running high. For anything its worth, I am liberating in the midst of glooms. Metaphore. Just for me to get it. Heh.