My Very Worst Enemy (Part 2)

Maria Edmund

I’ve known Maria since I was young. Actually we’re living in the same neighborhood. Her dad works in forestry department and her mum was the housewife. She had one elder brother, one younger sister and one younger brother. She was the second child in the family. Her elder brother had been bullied by the younger brother of my ex-classmates which had been quit when she was in primary 3, by asking for the money for protection. That’s what I heard from the late Mr. Damat. He was the one who caught them alongside with Mr. Sigal and Encik Sanai Dundang (our principle). After the incident, his brother can live in peace while my ex-classmates’ younger brother had been expelled from school. Then, I don’t know what makes his brother to quit the school. He was unlike the rest of his siblings. I didn’t say his mind was disabled but the best word that I can describe was he is not very smart that we’re supposed to think. For whatever reasons and things they’ve said about Maria’s brother, I’m accepting her one of my good friends, just like I’m accepting Sulastrie, Dahliawaty and Haidar. Apart from that her best friends was Sylvia Allister (which mentioned earlier in this journal) and Taga Randang. Once Taga and her becomes best friends until Taga had quit from the school with unknown reason. As far as I know Taga had ‘run’ from boarding school and stayed with Maria for few weeks until her sister came and searched for her. I never befriends with her sister until I went to form 5. Besides I never asked why Taga had quit from school because I never dare. She was the same class with Haidar.

As far as I’ve known Maria, she was little not smart but still better than her elder brother. I’m always courage to ask me if she thinks she needs help. As far as I can see she didn’t do it and besides, she didn’t care at all whether she’s going to pass her exam or not. Well, that’s her choice. She had started to change when she had befriended with Sylvia. I was wondering what’s really going on when one day, she had left me for few months. From her eyes, it seems like the fire hatred is started to grow. After I had finished my exam, she comes back and told me that she doesn’t want to disturb or distract my attention towards exam. Okay, perhaps, I accept that reason but at least, she could’ve been told me first. It’s clearly she leaves me just like that. What sort of friend is that? However, I’m trying to be cool as I’ve programmed my brain to accept her apology. We’ve been friends for few years. I really thought that she was my best friends. I’m even dedicated her character in my short stories in two years (1995 - 1996) as I was entering short story’s competition for school magazines. It was pretty much crazy adventure with blend of the fantasy but I don’t care even if I can’t get the first place. As long as my story is in the school magazines, that does matter to me. She likes to be part of the character. Others than her, I’m always dedicated Haidar’s name as well as part of the character in my short stories. If only those short stories that I’ve made would become reality, isn’t it nice to know that our friendship will be last forever. I never knew that one day I will betray by my own my best friend. Nevertheless, I never wish this happen but this is what I’ve been through.

In the year 1996, came one teacher from Serian that was definitely changes our friendship forever. I can’t believe this is totally disastrous. His name was Mr. Stephen Aput which had becomes my class teacher. He was the one that put me and Haidar’s life in mess. Therefore, we’ve decided to pay what he did to us. Okay, I admit I like him too but I don’t think he is a suitable type of man that I like all of time like the one that I’m always dream about. So what’s the problem anyway? Then, enter Sylvia in between. If my guess was right, she was behind the mastermind of the broken relationship between me and her. Perhaps, Sylvia had just jealous and decided to get me out of her face completely. If this is the one she’s always wanted I made her wish come as she had granted for it. First, I thought, he was friendly and kind teacher just like I thought he would behaves like Mr. Fred. I would never think he’s rude teacher, never in the million years. When I mean rude, it’s really rude. I know what I’m seeing! This teacher’s best friends were including Encik Abu Bakar and Mr. Lembang. Encik Abu Bakar or known as Mr. Ash Burn (because Abu means Ash and Bakar means Burn in English) had always used to become my ‘fantasy’ boyfriend which is Mr. Stephen had becomes Maria’s fantasy ‘boyfriend’ while Haidar’s fantasy girlfriend was my commerce teacher Miss Norizan. At first, this becomes a pleasure until somebody else came into the picture between three of us. As I mentioned earlier, Sylvia had started interfere and she even introduced Maria to someone else which I think his looks is not that bad either, even better than Mr. Stephen.

She harbored a crush to the cop name Khalis which is few years later had been jailed for some drug charges against him. Actually, by that time Khalis was with my schoolmates’ sister which is later been married and have a kid until the very incident happen to both of them. I guess one of the main reasons was Khalis. I mean she likes Khalis but Khalis had denied her love and choose someone else instead of her. Come on, she’s a school girl. Besides, the one that she competes with is a teacher. Yes, my schoolmates’ sister was actually a teacher in my secondary school around that time. Pretty much hair-wired troubling relationship! Or perhaps, something else that she thinks that I’m annoyed her. I don’t care if she calls me fat girl or whatever bitchy names she want to call me but please don’t ever say the word ‘luck’ in between. It seems like I was bringing the bad luck signs to her life. I’m totally hurt when she said that after what Laura had said the same thing to me few years back. Started from then, she is no longer my friend. Her younger sister, Diana always came around to have a little chat with me. We’re always talk about something else that nothing to do with her sister. Some other times, I think Maria sending a spy to check on me but as if she was why she’s not coming by herself and check on it. But because Diana is still young and doesn’t know what she’s doing, well, the best thing that I can do is to keep on avoiding the story about her stupid sister. Even that time her parent inviting me and my parent to celebrate the farewell party with them as they’re about to move to Bintulu, I refused to do come by giving an excuse that I have a monthly exam to catch up.

11 years later, I can’t figure out why she behaves like that? Am I really the one who bringing her some sort of bad luck? Is this the reason I’m always end up alone? I know I’m different but I’m always wanted to tell her that I was born in this way and I’m very much comfortable to be someone that I should be. I don’t want to follow someone that I think I’m not very much comfortable with. I may not perfect because I can’t please everybody but at least, I’m showing some courage to move on and reach the sky of heaven. What is so cool about the thing that she had? She thinks by following someone like that can boost up her popularity. What a moron! Everytime I think about that, I’m hurt. At least, right now, I’m trying to learn to forgive someone in order to forgive myself. Whenever I think of that, I must admit I can’t really let it go. For 11 years too, we’re never keeps in touch with each other again. If I was given a chance to meet her face to face again, I don’t think I want to speak with her because I’m afraid I’m going to bring her a bad luck to find a guy in her life and even to find a fortune in her family. I’m not sure if she thinks the way that I did but I’m going to remember for the rest of my life what she had been done to me. She gives me such a nightmare that I will never forget. What I wish for that I hope she will change. Some people’s behavior is changing after marriage but I guess from what I heard Maria was never change. Well, for whatever it was, I’m thanking her for bringing me that inspire. Without her, I never knew I was talented in short stories writing competition. She still deserves it even if we’re still the perfect enemy of all time.

To be continue…