It was a rainy day during Calculus class on Thursday, June the 30th. Then again, I was mightily stuffed from my meal-for-two mixed rice dish. My brain could barely figure out a quadratic equation any faster than my 15-year-old sister could. And boy, did time creep slowly. As the two-hour mark neared to a close, I felt my side-pocket, the one housing my phone, vibrate. Desperate for something interesting to happen that day, I hastily slid my phone open. It was Kevin. Knowing Mr. A&P Director of the Sun-U Council, it must be some request for volunteers.
True enough, it was. The Sun-U Council needed more helpers at the International Students Office (ISO) as it was a new intake for several programs such as the accounting programs (CAT and ACCA), Canadian International Matriculation Program (CIMP), Foundation In Arts (FIA) and so on. Kevin said that he needed help from 3 till 5. Since my class just ended at 3, I thought: "Sure, why not. Besides, I could get some hours of community service for this."
So Yu Liang and I went to lend a hand. Through the glass panes, we could see the hectic condition of the office. The seats were all taken up, there were some helpers running to and fro, calling out to several people. It was chaotic. And in the midst of that anarchy, stood Kevin, smiles and all.
He quickly briefed us on how each department of inquiry is segregated to distinct sections of the somewhat large office. Opposite the entrance to the ISO, was some 8 separate desks, each specializing in course placement-related inquiries. To your immediate right, was the head office girl, nicknamed "Kak", who helps in anything related with paperwork, be it printing official transcripts or registration and application forms. Opposite Kak's desk situated three desks related to insurance-related affairs. To the back of the office, was some 10-odd tables helping out with visa applications, renewals or brand new. On the much-occupied (mostly by brochures) reception desk featured 4 ledgers for students to fill in their details before being attended to.
In that whirlwind of information being crammed into my head, I had to go back to Kevin to recap all that. Took me some 6 times to get it all sorted out. But once we knew what we were doing, it was going very smoothly.
Then after half-an-hour, Yu Liang had to go, leaving me and Kevin to man the place. Ish. Then came in this lady, with her daughter [I'll just call her by the alias of "D" (for daughter) as two "her"s in this conversation will get very tricky] walking slowly behind her, almost shy-like. She went to Kak to ask about the deposit International Students have to pay as part of their insurance. After a short while, Kak approached Kevin and I and asked which one of us was willing to show the lady and her daughter the way to the Financial Department as they need to print their official transcript. Since it was getting monotonous in there, I volunteered. They were Indonesians so I was a little lost in translation as Malay varies from Malaysian to Indonesian. Well, not completely lost.
So I escorted them there and the lady asked me, in Bahasa Indonesia, of course: "What course are you doing?" I made sure I pronounced every syllable properly as my tendency to chew up words is rather annoying, answering "American Degree Transfer Program" really slowly. She nodded and I saw D brush aside her fringe. At that moment, I got a clear picture of her face. And DAMN she was cute.
I stayed cool and asked the lady what course was D enrolling in, as she was some few paces behind us. Her mother replied "CIT". For a moment, I paused. Wait, I thought. Computer Information Technology? Since when was there a computer science course in Sunway? I was extremely puzzled but I just nodded, trying to buy me some time to figure what it was. But it was too late, the next question came and it was "Is the program good here?". Like an idiot, I just laughed and said that I don't know. She laughed along, saving me some blushes.
When we reached Financial Services, I took a number for them as they both sat down. Then I went and stand beside them. D saw me standing and offered her seat for me, smiling and she shuffled into the next seat of the row, and I accepted the offer. Still befuddled on what "CIT" may be, I asked her what course was she doing, making sure my voice was low enough so that her mother won't hear me. She replied "Certified Accounting-"
Oh! Now I know! It's Certified Accounting Technician. CAT. I forgot that the way some people pronounce "A" isn't "eh" but "eye". Then, she asked me whether was it a good program here. I promptly answered: "It's very good here, most people come here." with a smile. Then again, private institutions DO get more students due to the high demand. I wasn't wrong.
I then asked where was she from, hoping it was some place I know (unfortunately, that meant either Bali or Jakarta, which wasn't very helpful or encouraging). She laughed as she stated that I surely haven't heard of the place before. "Try me" I insisted. Well, I can't actually recall what she said, but I have no clue where that was. Then she laughed, revealing her two rows of near-perfect, white teeth. I guessed it was the result of witnessing my clueless dead-pan look that I subconsciously display when I don't know stuff.
Then our turn was up and we settled it quite quickly before leaving. The trip back was exactly the same as the trip to Financial Services: very quiet. Then she sat outside at the tables provided by the ISO directly outside the office as I went back in to resume my shift. I took one last look at her before going back in. She saw that and said thank you. I flashed a smile as I said: "Your welcome."
Kevin saw that and started eying me as I returned to the reception desk. She's pretty cute, he said. Yeah, she was, I replied. "You got her name?" "Nah, it'll be weird and all..." I shrugged. And he raised his eyebrow, giving me the "you're sure about that" look.
Actually, I thought about it a few times in that brief escort. But in the end, I didn't ask. Sure, she's cute, kind, warm and all, coupled with that sweet smile, but she's in a totally separate course from me. We'll barely see each other and to top it off, she's an international student, what are the odds she'll be around long-term?
That was logic speaking. And I took every word of it.
After rethinking about what had happened that day, I think I made a really bad judgement call. The was some connection that I felt with her. And distance, to say the least, was never up to debate when it comes to me being attracted to someone. Emotionally, my feelings said a totally different set of opinions. I should've just taken the chance. Just reminiscing about her, her perfect skin, that warm look in her eyes, the slender body, the way her hair was beautifully pinned up, even down to the way she walks, being reserved while not wanting to garner any attention at all, the epitome of modesty. As Malcolm Gladwell of the book "Blink" would say, snap judgement tells a lot. Yes, she was seriously attractive.
But I hesitated and brushed it off. And the chance went by. Let it be my lesson for the future. That's the least I can hope for. For in some odd way, that memory is still latched tightly in my memory stem. And it's those kind of "tiny fragments of experience" that signify something bigger. Should fate be extremely kind, I hope I would see her again. The funny thing is that if I weren't to volunteer to help Kevin, none of this would've happen. Should I leave this to chance, is the least of what I can offer. And I'll try to keep my eyes peeled for the day that we do cross paths again. I believe I still have a chance. Thus, I volunteer myself for that cause.
Burning Love - Elvis Presley
