Nezayu's Life: Chapter 1 Part III

The first thing you need to know before I started to tell you about Haikal's history, is that you might going to blame him the most for his own problems. Why am I telling you this, even though I haven't told you a word about his past? I might afraid you will blame him for most cause, and with that, you might also accuse me as an enemy of his. I'm his best friends ever since two years ago, but I know him so well that he won't even lie to me anymore. Not even once, not even when joking.  He's serious when it comes to personal matters, and education studies. I like the fact that he's always seems to be hardworking and diligent at times when he gets something creative in his thought. He might even start a project with me when there's school holidays. He's truly the best, and unlike the rest of the students in my class, or the whole high school, most of them are hypocrites. Sure, they might befriend you the first day, and a month later after that, they will simply forget you because they had someone 'cooler' than yourself. Trust me, it happened all the time to me, and it's not a pleasant thing to have. But if I think back, it teaches me to do things on my own, without the help of anyone. It had taught me rely on myself and be stronger for any challenges that I might face. As for the record, I had been a reclusive student for three years, and I'm happy to live with it.

   Anyway, off with Haikal's past or history. The painful and tragic event happened to him at around when he was in Form Two, which is last year. One day, his mother was working overtime at the factory as an operator, and I know that female operators works very hard to get the money. Making money in Malaysia is seriously hard; even RM20,000 a year isn't enough to support a family with three siblings. Good thing that I'm the only child in my family, and my family needed to spend less on myself. When the factory had a sudden power outage, she goes to inspect the generator room. It had a breakdown, and the rest of the operators including herself, will have to go call the engineers to fix it. After a few hours, the generator was fixed and the operators can begin working again. When Haikal's mother had done working, she leaves the factory and rides her motorcycle to head back home, as usual and on time. Due to her tiredness, her visions are mostly blurred, and can't see much through the dark. Most overtime workers, factory operators or office workers, will have to go home near midnight, or for those whose desperate for money, will have to go home at early morning. If that's the case, then the desperate workers will only have the least four hours of sleep each day. The work is hard, indeed, but the rewards will amaze even the technical workers who works regularly eight hours a day. Not only that, desperate overtime workers will get a few weeks day off as a bonus. That, if they had endured the entire Hell Month, as what I call it. When Haikal's mother was getting very weak, she can't even control the motorcycle correctly. Suddenly, at one spot where there's a stoplight, she didn't see the stop sign goes red.  So, she just drives past through, and suddenly, here is the tragic moment. A lorry filled with eggs was passing through, and even honked a few times. Haikal's mother got crushed under the lorry, along with the motorcycle. Don't get me started with what body parts had scattered over the area, because I won't going to tell you. If you are asking me why, it's because I'd never been told so by Haikal. All I'd heard from him is that he told me his mother died in an accident from overtime work due to her tiredness.

   When Haikal's mother got buried safe and sound, this is when Haikal's grade at school got deducted greatly, to the point of failing nearly all subjects at tests and even exams. His father told him to get a part time work, and help his father with the workshop. Starting from that tragic day, he had to work tirelessly to support himself and his parents. He had at least three siblings; himself, his little sister and a big sister. He's the middleman of the family, and does all the chores and works around the house. Not only that, Haikal's also the one that maintains the condition of his father's workshop, as well. Not just by keeping it clean and every tools in place, but he can also fix a few vehices and to his diligent work in helping his father, can upgrade a few cars and most motorcycles. His part time work is a gas station attendee, and it lasts around four hours max. He could go longer for the extra pay, but he will have to endure at least a week of full time work. Overtime work is only during the weekends. He helps his father mostly around night time, and it goes on until school time arrives. To put things simply to describe Haikal's laziness at school; he is always tired and can't concentrate much on the studies due to the fatigue of hard, diligent work at his father's workshop, and as a gas attendee. The reasons are now explained about him, but what about his siblings?

   His little sister, namely Nurul Fatihah, is a Standard Six student in a prestigious primary school. Due to her intelligence since Standard One, she had been sent to a prestigious primary school somewhere kind of far from Haikal's residence, but is in close distance to Haikal father's workshop. It's just a few blocks away, and I'm glad that her father will pick her up to bring her back to his workshop when her school time is over.  She is the kind, innocent and hyper type of person. I had met her twice, and she likes being around me as her company. Mostly because I'd been best friends with Haikal ever since that day.  She is the careful type, and never misses a single detail or make a mess at the kitchen. If I had a little sister, or at least a little foster one to adopt, then she is the perfect type for me. I'd always wanted a little girl to keep someone company, so that I won't be alone all the time. But what can I do? My mother had a disease where she can't give birth anymore. Not because of birth defects or anything, but one of the doctor said; if she ever give birth of another child, then she will have a high chance of death. The reason why my mother were so afraid to even have sexual intercourse with my father. Well, even though they had it at least once every six to eight months, at least they know about protection from any kinds of STDs.  Asides from all of that, my parents are living in a happy harmony, and I'd loved to see it until their last breaths.

   Haikal's big sister,  named Rauqah, is the opposite type of Fatihah. Only cared about having fun and partying late at night, and is widely known to not coming back home until early morning. To be honest, she is what brings most of the money problem. Even though she is at the same school as I am, only a year older, she brings many discipline problems at school, close to the point of getting expelled from school. Good thing that her father was kind enough to cover up all of her demerits, so that she had a restart. Still, her attitude never changes; she is known to be very selfish, only cares about having so much fun, and very spoiled. Unlike Fatihah, the little sister of the family, even if she has excellent grades, straight "A"s and whatnot,  she never asks for anything special from her father, or even her brother, Haikal. She only asked to be loved at all times, and properly cared of. A personality of a true angel, I have to say. Frankly, I'd met with Rauqah a few times before at school, and she always tells me to get the hell out of her face. Not only that, she also told me that I should go back to Japan and never come back here. Truly cruel, as I had never had the intention of causing bad things to happen around the school, or even in this faithful country I'm in. If I had to choose between Rauqah or Haikal, then it's a no-brainer I would go for Haikal. Why? He's simply a great friend to have once you get to know him very well. Myself and Haikal are like brothers, almost blood-by-blood relation, if you ask me. I treat him well, and he treats me very well by tenfold, and he meant it. I think it's a fair decision, if you ask me.

   As far as I know, I think this is all I could tell you about Haikal's history, along with some of his siblings. He might seemed lazy and easily drifted off to sleep when he is at school, but I think you might now know the cause since I'd told you his history. Up until now, he's still working as a gas station attendee and still helping his father at the workshop. Even though he made nearly a fortune when combined with his father's salary, he still needs more to support Nurul Fatihah due to the rather high fee at the prestigious school. Rauqah can be troublesome, since she is not just known for having fun, but also known to steal Haikal's salary money from time to time. In which, makes Haikal gets so mad, he will skip school for the day of his money got stolen and works overtime for a week. He truly values his money, even a single cent missing will drive him insane. I felt sorry for him every time he gets insane, but at least I can cheer him up for a few moment. It's better than to let him express his anger to the principal, in which I don't want that to happen. Rauqah is enough problem for us all. I do hope she won't cause any more problems to the school, even though I hated her to the point of not looking her face at all, she is, however, a part of Haikal's family and I can't just be proud of myself for being friends with Haikal. I still help her a little when she looks annoyed, and I don't give a damn if she never thanked me. I'm just trying to help, and that is what I loved doing; cast burden for myself for the sake and ease of others. The reason why I lived like that is not only because my parents taught me to live like that, but also because sooner or later, you will get something in return as a reward. It takes loads of patience, and I loved challenges.