Chapter One

LEAVING THE COLLEGE

Kedah
May 2008

The lockers door was slammed hardly and the students rushed to the hall. Only me and Amir left in the dorm. I tapped Amir's shoulder, my cubemate (I don't have to explain what is so called "cubemate" right?).

‘Damn it! We already late! You gotta help me with this tie! Hurry hurry!’. He helps me with the tie.

On top of that, the toilet is really calling me but I just peed five minutes ago. I guess I just need to hold the cup until the examination is finished. Yes, today I have my final examination at Changlun Matriculation College.

Both, we running down the stairs and speeds to the examination hall.

‘Hurry! Hurry! They are almost starting! Hurry!’.

While gasping for air, ‘Oh please! Can you be quite for a second!’ , Amir get mad at me.

I know I shouldn't act so corny that time, it is so not me. Just on time, we reached the hall shortly after the last announcement and we finished the test two hours later.

Amir come to my desk and whisper next to my ears, ‘I'm so sorry for getting mad at you before. Seriously, if you shut your mouth, it won't happen. Haha’. He laughed.

‘It's okay. So, how about some big meal tonight!? Nasi Ayam Nora! Agree?’, I invite him to have a dinner with me at Restaurant Nora tonight, since today is our last paper, sort of a freedom ceremony for us, symbolically.

A week passed, and most of the students already went home to their family. Only few of students are staying at the college for the next few days, including me and Amir. Actually, we feel so sad to leave the college. Here is the place we know each other, many memories we created and many histories will be left here. We have decided to stay for another two days before our parents come to fetch us home. That evening, we played basketball together with Shakir, Peja and Imran. We play until sunset and at night; we packed our belongings, box by box. While folding the clothes and put them in the bag, my heart feel so heavy when I’m thinking about leaving Amir. I know, after tomorrow we will never see each other again, maybe just for a while, maybe for years or maybe forever.

I hide my face. ‘Oh God. I’m really don’t want to leave this place’, monolog myself.

Afraid he will notice my sad facial expression, I started to sing enthusiastically, like I'm so happy about returning home tomorrow. I know he feel the same too, but he always has his own way to suppress the feeling. Hours later, all of our belongings are well packed and secure. I grab the phone and dialing for Izzati, one of my closer here.

‘Hey. Where are you?’.

‘Hey. I'm on my bed, its bedtime don't you know? I'm still in the college. Why?’. She is teasing me.

‘I'm sorry for calling this late. Just wanna ask, are you leaving tomorrow?’

With a soft voice. ‘It's okay, I'm just joked. Yup, I will leave tomorrow’.

‘Okay, have a safe journey and take care then’.

‘You too!’. She hanged up the phone and I fall asleep.

Nine sharp in the morning, my father called and they were already waiting for me in front of the principal office. I take my belongings with me and swing my heavy legs, steps out of the dorm. Amir only stands next to the door and wave from there, and he just smiled.

‘See you again bro! Someday! Take care my friend’.

‘Yeah sure. Take care to my friend. See again next time’. He still put a smile on his face.

We never see each other again after that.