I started writing on this blog a few months ago as a form of release- back then, things weren't going so smoothly on all fronts and I felt contained, unable to properly express what I felt about issues that I faced. Since then, a lot has happened, and this blog has been a way for me to deal with the mess- for better or worse.
Months have passed since I last wrote, and that's a good thing because it means that currently, I don't have any pressing issues without any visible end; so much so that I have to resort to bitching on a lazily-maintained blog. Heh.
Having said that, I think that this blog has run its course and I am going to delete all posts save this one. It's imperative that I move on from this, or else risk being stuck in a loop of similar failures in the future. There are a few last things that I have to let off my chest though, so please bear with me.
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To Nurul Amarlina's family,
It's been an awkward few months, huh? I know it's difficult to speak after all this, but I can't just sweep all of you under a metaphorical rug, wash my hands clean and walk away. I don't expect (and I don't want) to have a conversation going, but I think it's the best way to address you guys without attracting ire. I hope. At this stage, the last thing I want to do is to cause more harm.
I am going to take this opportunity to humbly apologise to Un's parents and sister (Uncle Yap, Auntie Lily and Aileen) for every single mishap I have done and caused to each and every one of you over the years. Thinking back, it must have been difficult to get along with me (maybe downright unbearable) and yet the hospitality I received whenever I were at your household- I can say for sure now that I am not worthy of it.
Please don't think of me simply as Un's ex-boyfriend. At least for me, right now it's very awkward to even glance at your status updates on Facebook, much less start a friendly conversation. However, I refuse to dismiss all of you simply as my ex-girlfriend's family members. I value every single interaction we had, I cherish every single advice and every last bit of food (and I know I consumed A LOT) and I don't want my relationship with Un to rob me off of those memories.
At the eye of the storm, some things might have been said and done. Some of which we could never reverse and simply forget. Please trust me when I say that Un and I never wanted for things to end in an ugly downward spiral; it just happened beyond everyone's control. We were just dumb kids trying to play grown-up, and we failed miserably at it. I am sorry we had to rope a lot of people into it as well.
I hope the next time we meet it's going to be cordial, and under much better circumstances.
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To old friends (in general),
If I have done anything to cause this distance between us, I apologise. Right now I just want to mend things between us and maybe have a conversation over a cup of Milo about how you guys are doing; career, love life and so on. We have already moved apart, and I'd like to take this Aidilfitri as an opportunity for us to bury whatever hatchet we had (some of which I might not even know, which reasons why this apology covers an umbrella of friends. I'm just that oblivious to things).
Please realise that I have quite a number of things on my plate for the past few years. While I couldn't cater to all of you, it was never my intention to push you guys away. Whenever things go south, I tend to be a little selfish and shut myself in. It's not good behaviour, surely- but don't take it as an intentional form of insolence towards you guys.
I miss all of you, honestly. There's only so much interaction I can stand with people three years my junior over in UiTM, and I'd love to have things back to the way it used to be; gossips, gross jokes, slightly non-affordable food and sessions of Left 4 Dead. Maybe I'm just too optimistic about all this, but we have to start somewhere.
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To new friends,
I am not the easiest of people to get along with, so thank you for bearing with me thus far. When I first got into UiTM, I might not appear very friendly. I thought too highly of myself and felt undeserving of being a UiTM diploma student, but now I know better.
I have this theory that our campus serves as purgatory- only those who have made peace with their past and dealt with their issues can move on to do their degree. Right now I feel like I'm finally ready to move on to the next stage, and whatever got me here in the first place, I am very glad. I have learnt more in four semesters here than four years I spent in Swinburne and I have only each and every one of you to thank for this.
If you are unfamiliar with my back-story, see above. I messed up quite a lot (and quite often too). That my dear friends, is the end-product of approaching life through a series of impromptu decision-making and seeing if they work through trial and error. However, it doesn't have to be the same for you guys. You are young, and I think the reason why I am where I am right now is to serve as a walking cautionary tale to each and every one of you- please start taking your life seriously, grab your act together as soon as possible and grab that diploma.
If you encounter any problems, I'll try my best to hand over advice and help out.
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Mak and Abah,
I'll start by saying that YOU GUYS ARE AWESOME. I know I rarely act my age whenever I'm home recently, but let me address a few things from an adult to another.
First of all, please don't worry too much if I spend too much time serving my capacity as Debate Unit President. I accept the responsibility wholeheartedly, and I am excited to see how much I can drive the myself and the club forward. Right now I am dealing with people several years my junior, and if I can help at least one of them to become a better speaker or even more, a better person then I can at least mentally atone for my own past mistakes.
Right now I just want to push myself to the stratosphere, almost to the point of obsession. I want to be best debater I can be, the best student, the best lawyer, the best Muslim, the best brother, the best son, the best person. I am behind my peers by several years, and that just necessitates the drive. So don't freak out when I take up more classes, training sessions and seminars from this point on.
SEGI College offers a 3-year law degree program awarded by University of London. Those who perform excellently in the first year will be offered a scholarship to finish the degree in Kings College, London. As convenient it is to continue my studies in Shah Alam, both of you know how badly I want to grab this opportunity, and please grant me the next two years to prove it.
My promise to both of you stands and it's my utmost priority. I will deliver that law degree with honours, complete a masters degree and then maybe back to Swinburne and finish my Civil Engineering degree just to drive the point home. I have nothing to lose, but a lot to prove to myself, to Asyrani, Azizi, and Afifi.
God willing, when everything's said and done I'll get you guys a proper daughter in-law and some grandchildren. Some things you have to strive for, and others just fall into place. I know that now.
To quote Batman, "Sometimes people deserve to have their faith rewarded." So with utmost humility, allow me to reward yours.