The previous post is slightly [read: very] angsty, I know. It’s because I was dreading the hell that I’ll receive from Ustaz Malek.

Surprisingly, I didn’t. He met us this afternoon. He didn’t blame any of us [at the beginning], but he did look extremely crestfallen.

I was sorry for that.

But being Ustaz Malek, it wouldn’t last long. He didn’t blame me at all, which is a miracle [I highly suspect he didn't remember I'm the team taichou]. But then…

"Pak Cik Rahimi ada bagitau kita slack dekat mana." Nabil said.

"Mana?" Ustaz asked.

"Dekat kuiz round one, bahagian …" [At this point, Nabil smirked at one of us participants, who slowly lowered his/her head in shame.]

"Apa?" Ustaz Malek started, but I quickly cut him off.

"Ustaz, YAA ni pasal teamwork. Kalau satu division slack, bukan salah dia sorang. Salah satu team. Mana boleh salahkan dia sorang."

"Betul tu." the said boy/girl nodded his/her head.

Ustaz looked like he agrees, but wouldn’t admit it even if he’s at gunpoint. Typical him.

"Ustaz tak puas hati. Macam mana kita boleh kalah dengan Sekolah Bandar? Bla bla bla."

"Well, at least kita tak kalah dengan Sekolah Zainab. Malu besar kalau kalah ngan sekolah tu. Bandar, at least sekolah tu memang rival terdekat kita." I shrugged.

Before he left our class, he piped out. "Kita kalah tahun ni sebab Zainab tak masuk." [FYI, Zainab's one of last year's participant. She isn't this year cause her mother wouldn't give her consent.]

To which I [again] rose in objection. "Kalau Zainab masuk pun, tak semestinya result berubah! Zainab bukannya pegang bahagian yang kita slack!"

When Ustaz brought up Zainab’s name, it’s as if he’s denying our team hardwork. As if he’s denying us working our head off.

And I as the captain, would never let anyone underestimate our team.

I’m selfish? Perhaps. Hard-headed? I suppose. Short-fused? I am.

Honorable? You bet.

Life’s cool when you’re cool.

————————————————————

Mama congratulated us and gave me RM50. >w<

"Untuk apa ni mama?"

"Hadiah sebab berjaya in YAA hari tu."

"Betul ke?" [excited]

"Betul la, jap mama nak ambil duit."

"Tak menyusahkan ke?" [Cheshire grin]

"Tak. Ambilkan beg tangan mama sekejap."

"Okey dokey!" [grinning like Jim Carey in 'Dumb and Dumberer']

"Untuk Ika sorang, or kene share ngan yang lain?" [hopeful]

"Ika sorang." [YESS!] "Tapi takkan tak belanja diorang apa-apa?"

"Tadi Ika dah belanja diorang jeli." [PSFM sells jelly. 10sen per.]

"Jeli je?" Papa joined in. "Kedekut betul!"