Voids Fill Up Differently by Students of IACT (books for students to read txt) 📕

Take Off

Stephen Thomas, Luqman Adam, Baley Teoh, Sherine Chai

“Thank you, Miss Cheng!” sung the class before heading off for recess. “You guys go ahead. I have some work that I have to finish.” I told Daniel and Amirul. I wanted to finish it quickly so I wouldn’t be stuck at home finishing my dreaded homework as I had more important things to do. Also, I didn’t want to tempt myself at the canteen. I wanted to save my money for something pretty big. I finished my work with eight minutes to spare giving me some time to socialize with my friends.

“Chin Han, why aren’t you eating?” Amirul asked.

“I’m not hungry”

“No way you’re never hungry. If you don’t have money, just say so” Daniel responded.

“Well, I’m trying to save money actually. I want to be a pilot and I want to go to the Malaysian Flight Academy when I graduate.”

“Bro you save for what? You cannot even afford a RM1 packet of Nasi Lemak, you can go fly kite lah,” said Daniel following a burst of laughter from him and Amirul.

I didn’t quite see the humour in their comment but I chuckled along although I was actually offended by the snarky remarks that they made. It was weird. My heart actually hurt. I didn’t have many friends, in fact, it was just Daniel and Amirul. I never told anyone about my dreams before and I don’t think I want to again. I just expected some sort of support from my friends but instead they’ve made me feel like an outcast. I guess I didn’t have any real friends here. I didn’t let their comments affect me too much. I kept myself pretty distracted for the rest of the day for it to still linger in my mind.

I walked back home as soon as school ended. I didn’t bother waiting for Daniel and Amirul. The blazing hot sun was practically burning my skin. I ran straight for some shade as soon as I saw my apartment complex. As usual, I held my breath as I walked in to prevent myself from breathing in the god-awful stench from the garbage disposal. The stairs leading up to my apartment were equally cluttered with garbage. I eventually reached my floor and could finally take a breather.

The front door was open as always. My idiotic brothers went to go hang out with their friends and couldn’t even bother closing the door after them. Pa, was sleeping on his recliner, shirtless with a half-empty bottle of booze in his hand. Mama, had passed out on the floor and was drooling onto the beer-stained carpet. I’ve heard so many touching stories from Daniel and Amirul. Their parents bought them video games, toys and whatever they wanted. Mine wouldn’t even pay attention to me. I didn’t desire materialistic items from my family, all I wanted was to be loved and to feel loved. I always felt like an outcast everywhere I went. I was so different from the other kids at school. Even at home, I didn’t share any resemblance with my family.

I changed out of my green trousers and white shirt into a more comfortable pair of shorts and a grubby blue t-shirt. I was ready to leave but my stomach was churning as I had not eaten that day. I couldn’t continue on an empty stomach. I looked through my fridge to discover only rancid food and beer. The only thing that was sort of edible was some bread. Even that had patches of mould on it. I scraped off the mould and had to make do with what I had.

How was I planning to go the Malaysian Flight Academy if my family was like that? I needed to fend for myself and hustle my way to the top. So, this is how I earned my money. I was only 15, so I couldn’t legally get a proper part-time job. Instead, I would do a range of odd jobs like washing cars and sweeping driveways for the residents. There was a couple who stayed there who were particularly fond of me, Aunty Fatimah and Uncle Mohan. They always paid me more than the rest but other than that, Uncle always used to tell me that I worked harder than most people twice my age. Aunty would always prepare something for me to eat whenever I went over to wash their cars. My favourite was her mouth-watering fish curry and she would make sure to prepare it at least once a week for me.

The day turned dark. I was exhausted but satisfied with the amount of money I earned. After a hard day of work, I would unwind at the abandoned playground in my apartment complex. I leaned back on one of the only benches that wasn’t broken. I looked up and saw those majestic giant metallic birds in the sky fly past. I always stared at planes as a sort of escape from reality. When I was younger, Mama and I had a special bond. She never had the money to buy me toys. So, she would sit with me by the window and we would watch the planes go by. It was simple but ever so special. She loved me very much but she grew to love something more. Alcohol. Pa was never the best father. They never intended on having children so young but Mama got pregnant by mistake and they had their first child at 21. Money was tight and he couldn’t cope. He resorted to alcohol and became an inebriate. It didn’t bode well with his bad temper. There was so much pressure on dear Ma to raise three children with a drunk husband. It took a toll on Mama. She started drinking some of Pa’s beer and she got hooked as well. The once loving mother that kept the family together fell apart.

The apartment door was shut meaning my brothers were home. They were chatting at the dining table and they were whispering to each other while staring at me suspiciously. They didn’t say anything to me so I minded my own business. Pa was in an almost identical position but this time conscious. Poor Mama was still on the floor but she had moved since earlier. I tried to be lowkey as possible and ignore them so that I could keep my earnings somewhere safe.

My old school uniform was my trusty safe. I kept all my money in there and I knew no one would look in there. As I reached for the shirt pocket, I heard the bedroom door slam open. My hand began to tremble in fear. My brothers were there staring at me menacingly. I quickly took my hands out of the pocket and left the money in there.

“What are you doing?” said Chin Jian sternly.

“N-n-n-nothing, Gor”

Chin Jian raced towards me and lifted me up by my collar and slammed me against the wall. I didn’t mind taking a beating as long as they didn’t take my money. I saw Chin Huai heading to inspect my shirt.

“G-g-g-g-gor, p-please don-” Chin Jian’s smacked me before I could even finish my sentence.

“Wah, the boy very rich ah, but also very selfish.” said Chin Huai sarcastically while counting the money.

“So you think you don’t need to share your money with your brothers is it? You're going to pay! Every ringgit you didn’t share with us, we will give you one punch!” screamed Chin Jian right before punching me straight in the gut.

Who do they think they are? Coming in to steal my money for no reason. I worked too hard for my money just for them to take it away from me. I let out a clean punch straight to Chin Jian. I thought I was some big shot. Standing up to my big brother. I tried to let out another one but he caught my fist. Shit. My confidence plummeted immediately. My brothers hung out in gangs and were no strangers to fights. I saw the fire in his eyes. He pounced on me and brought me straight to the ground. He was furious. Punch after punch, I couldn’t even react because of how fast he was. I could already feel the bruises that were going to show up in the morning. He started to slow down and I managed to push him away but then Chin Huai came and held my arms down while Chin Jian continued unleashing his fury. Footsteps approached the room followed by a loud booming voice.

“What is going on?!” said Pa furiously.

“Pa, he is keeping money from us,” said Chin Jian as they both stopped beating me.

Pa took slow menacing steps, edging closer to the three of us. “How dare my children do this to each other?” exclaimed Pa.

Finally, those idiots are going to get what they deserve. Pa is finally on my side. Maybe he’ll be proud that I’m working hard. I looked at Pa’s face and his it was very different from what I hoped. My grin disappeared immediately. A shudder ran through me as I saw Pa’s face. He kicked me in the chest so hard, I struggled to breath but he didn’t show any sign of remorse.

“How could you be keeping money from us?!” said Pa sternly as he picked me up by my collar and slammed me against the wall. He leaned closer to my face and whispered menacingly, so close that I could feel the wind and spit pass by when he spoke: “What type of son keeps money from each his own family? You’re selfish!”.

I tried to hold in my tears but I just couldn’t. Pa spat on my face.“My sons don’t cry,” he said before dropping me to the floor. He kicked me and spat on my face once again before walking away.

My brothers were sniggering the entire time Pa punished me. Pa beckoned to them before leaving the room. “Give it to me” Pa signalled towards the money.

“Good work, boys. Make sure he learns his lesson” instructed Pa. My brothers did as they were told and continued battering me until they bruised their