Writing: A contest but I lost

Yellow

 

Seha boiled things.  She boiled cups, plates and other kitchenware.  Today, she boiled some towels.  When she thought the world was through with it, intrusive thoughts took over.  Many rejoiced and many remained cautious even when the end of Covid-19 was finally declared.   

Watching the bubble heat up in rage satisfied her baggy eyes behind the fogged up glasses.  She could almost see the germs burnt away, brutally.  She stirred the water to see it calmed and bubbled up again in almost instantly, more furious.  She turned the stove off.

She had to boil them today, the air was wet.  Germs or virus, they love it like that.  She walked closer to the window to observe the day.  The downpour was beginning to slow down to a drizzle.  The grass became glossy, reflecting the Sun and slowly they waved through the soft breeze. 

People were already out and about.  A man hurriedly climbed up his house which looked like it throwing up trees to fetch his forgotten full face respirator.  He put it on while sliding down the bamboo ladder to join the waiting others.  It’s that time of the month where the fittest would head to a place where several underground tankers were kept.  The collected rainwater was made drinkable after undergoing a clean technology.

Seha was angry.  It’s been there for a while now.  It was red.  It escaped whenever she’s alone.  She had always been alone ever since her mom’s death.  It was dreadful.  She was one from numerous Coronavirus’ victims.  Her dad left to find solace.  When the world enforced a lockdown, again, he knew he had to stay there, wherever he was.  That was not many years ago.

Occasionally, a 30sen postcard would arrive on Seha’s doorstep.  His strong, slight cursive penmanship was always brief and monotonous: pupils have internet now. All. 

Fortunately the internet services remained fine, perhaps better.  Everything went online, including authorized websites such as “Sembang” or “Kitahidupsolo”.  As the names suggested, the NGOs were trying to help boosting mental health of many people who were addicted to self-isolation.  Prolonged lack of contact with others had started taking its toll.  Believing technology could be helpful to tackle loneliness, they reinitiated the long forlorn trend.  Seha thought the efforts were cynical.  Even the names were cringing.

However it’s the case with Seha.  Juwa, her next door friend, haven’t replied her text.  She went out.  Spinach was ready for harvest.  She put the towels on a wire hung between the beeping sliding door and the floor where the bamboo ladder was bound to.  Houses were bound to many individual big trees and a rope ladder was tied in between.  She looked at Juwa’s closed door.  Seha sensed the TV was on.

“Juwa, are you there?” She half yelled. 

Heavy, fast steps were heard.  Seha was anticipating Juwa to appear through any of the windows. 

Juwa appeared through the sliding door.  Despite faded yellow respirator covering her face, Seha could pick up what was about to come.  Her chest filled with remorse.

“What do you want? It’s obvious!”  Juwa questioned.  The red that Seha managed to swallow started to grow in her.

“Huh? what IS obvious?” Seha asked.

 “-that I don’t want to talk to you,” Juwa folded her arms.

“Well, yeah I was worried, I-“

“Well stop, I’m fine and I thought I sensed your anger, don’t come out here making me the bad guy!”  Juwa spat.  

The red inside her belly grew bigger.  Her breath was heavy.

            “…I am happy, well taken care of now-”

            My brain tricked me, shows me how my mom died, on loop.

“…You always need attention, it’s too much!”

You’ve never given any, why the outburst?

A thunder was heard and felt something snapped inside her.  The red, it came out as hot as its colour.  Like a fire had ever flamed, it burnt the person she rooted forau the most.  She wouldn’t forget her eyes, how she got burnt to ashes. 

Seha sizzled when the rain dropped on her.  Seha went inside, took off her now burnt yellow respirator, took out her frozen nasi lemak and microwaved it.  She guessed she really needed the “Sembang” afterall.

 

Theme: Post Covid (I forgot)

Word Limit: 700 words (this piece is 700 words exactly the initial draft was around 1k n I misunderstood the word limit)

Verse Novel: Timothy #3

Hear Me

darling hey,

hear me out

they don't want

you as bad

as I do

darling hey,

do believe me

make a wish

I'll make them

come true

darling hey,

if you are

wondering

yes you should

write me a 'hi'

darling hey,

ring me now

I'll pick up my

phone and be

all ears for you

darling hey,

call out for me

and I pull up

right on you

what you'd do?

darling hey,

been pondering

about me being

out and away

with you

darling hey,

people may think

I'm out of mind

but I'm happy

this way

Bawah 100: Pemburu #2

Kepingan memo kuning ini aku letak kembali di atas meja.  Puas aku cuba memahami kod-kod rahsia ini tetapi semakin lama aku tenung semakin fikiran aku entah kemana-mana.  

Aku gerakkan jemariku, mengurut dahi.

“Eh Dani, kau tak tidur ke semalam?” tanya Sham.  

Aku hanya diam, tidak berminat.  

Sambil menarik kerusi, Sham mendengus.  Sham memandang abangnya yang kini berpura-pura sibuk.

“Dani, kalau kau masih marah pasal tu, aku minta maaf tapi there’s no taking back.”

“Sham, listen, aku just fikir yang kau akan buat benda sama kat aku kalau kau kat tempat aku.”

“Nope, Dani.”

Remuk hati seorang abang.

Ps: eh why do I messed up in the POV?? I cant make up my mind, What should I do??

Bawah 100: Pemburu

Hisyam, dia adik aku.  Satu-satunya yang aku ada sekarang.  

Aku masih ingat malam itu.  Bapak tiba-tiba datang menjemput aku pulang setelah dua bulan aku di sana.  

Kenapa?

Aku dah senang kat sana.  Pak Hasan sangat memahami dan Judi… dia cinta pertama aku.  Aku mengintai dari dalam. Terlihat kereta bapak. Aku keberatan.  Kemudian aku nampak Hisyam dengan roket kertas kesayangannya. Aku tersenyum dalam kesayuan.  Aku tahu. Aku harus pulang.

Semalam dia terlantar.  Tenat, kata doktor. Tapi jauh-jauh aku tolak idea itu.  Jantung.

Aku memilih untuk kembali kepada saat tembakan maut itu dilepaskan.

 

Word100: Cerita Resit #4 (Aku juga seperti mereka)

Aku juga seperti mereka

“Eh, kenapa diorang ni complicated sangat?” Ika bertanya. Aku menghampiri Ika dan melihat skrin computer ribanya. Trailer kisah seorang transgender.

Seksualiti.

Lelaki dan wanita. Bagi mereka, ianya tidak semudah itu. Jantina bukan hanya terbahagi kepada dua tetapi lebih dari itu.

Aku melukis satu garis lurus. Ika melihat, tekun. Seperti pembaris, aku calitkan beberapa garis-garis menegak di antara ‘lelaki’ dan ‘pmpuan’.

“Ini satu spektrum, di antara jantina lelaki dan perempuan, ada lagi di antaranya dan trust me, there are so many.”

“Mereka tiada panduan, hanya hak asasi manusia tu je yang mereka pentingkan.”

Syukur. Aku ada Islam.

Hati ini aku pujuk.

Bawah 100: Cerita Resit #3 (Aku sayang persahabatan ini)

Aku sayang persahabatan ini

Aku runsing. Hati aku gelisah. Dia kawan aku tetapi kenapa aku rasa dia tidak memahami diri aku ni? Aku mudah orangnya. Aku tinggalkan carikan diri ini di mana-mana aku pergi. 

Aku sebuah lautan luas. Gayunglah sampan engkau, lihat ombak aku.

Tiap kali kita bertukar-tukar mesej, ada sahaja terkelumit di bibirku, “Benci aku budak ni!” Tetapi ini hati busukku. Aku diamkan sahaja. 

Atau dia rasa aku yang tidak memahami dia? Ini baru kisah persahabatan dan belum lagi kisah cinta. 

Ika pandang aku, penuh tanda tanya di raut wajahnya.

Kisah cinta? Masih jauh untuk aku. Lain hari aku cerita lagi.

Bawah 100: Cerita Resit #2 (Salah aku)

Salah aku

“Hey Jua, kau tengok emel, bagi pendapat kau.”

Aku tekan butang send pada skrin telefon pintar aku.

Selang beberapa minit, telefon aku berdering perlahan. Mesej baru masuk. Aku yakin itu dari Jua.

“Hmm, ceritanya tiada elemen yang membuatkan aku untuk terus baca. Tema apa ni? Persahabatan? Aku tak rasa apa pun. Mungkin ayat dan vocab perlu perbaik lagi. Nasib baik pendek, kalau ada empat muka, aku berhenti pada muka kedua.”

Tulisannya terasa keras.

Dia bukan penulis, hanya sahabat yang aku percayai.

Telefon berbunyi lagi.

Dari Jua.

“Tell Marigold, I’m proud on her courage to send the essay.”

Aku menjeling, geram.

Writing: Links and more links

I just finished reading Sharon Creech's Love That Dog, a verse novel.  I just learnt the term from this book and OMG how I really am falling in love with this kind of writing!  I always wanted to write a novel but I always feel that I am way behind and not good enough and I am, I am being hard on myself :( .  So with this, I want to give it a try.

I like this book eventhough it is for children, but come on! Even the ugliest thing can be an inspiration to us, right?

Next stop will be of the same author, 'Hate That Cat'.

I'm not going to write a review on these books yet because I am eager to share some other stuff.

Then, I searched for 'Verse novel' on Pinterest for tips and explanation and all.  Then, this is how I came across with these links below:

YA Novels in Verse

I cannot believe that there are thousands of similar books and I really need them now!  Oh how I wish I can download them for free or have them sold here in my place.  I got my eyes on a few titles already; The Crossover by Kwame Alexander.  And yeah this site is called Brightly which offers you a lot of insights regarding writing and they are really useful to us, especially teachers and parents.  Their main focus is on kids, tho.

Novels in Verse for Teens
14 Inspiring Chapter Books

BookXcess

This is Malaysian online bookstore which sells many titles but I didn't find any on verse novel so far, not yet.  Their prices are awesome too, discounts here and there.  We can make ourselves an account to make purchase or you can just use your Facebook account.  I prefer the second :P 

Fiction Notes

I just found this and subscribed to this site's newsletter to get a free e-book haha!

Eventho I just found this site but I can tell it is amazing already.  The site is pretty too and convincing.  This site is made by Darcy Pattison who is an author and I believe, the owner of this site, (of course!).  She published many types of books including children's books and often offer tips on better writing which I will make most of it.  I never found her books before but now I feel like buying at least one of hers.  

Writing: Unfinished =='

 I found this is my storage folder while looking for other stuff & I didn't remember writing this and it is obviously left hanging, now idk what it was about and where it was going.  Need motivation and ideas for this. It is always not more than half a page or two paragraphs all I can get..

He folded the form paper before putting it in his old faded green bag.  He looked at his reflection on the round mirror before him.  He ran his fair, delicate but rough fingers through his reddish brunette hair.  Too lazy to use comb and he could not find one near him.  He then touched his face starting from the chin and up.  He noticed little stubble and actually took a while to fancy over it.  He decided to keep it until.  The jeans he was wearing were a bit loose but looked just nice on his slim healthy legs.  He would fold them up until before reaching his knees.  He put on his gray sweater with a little word printed on its back and stormed downstair. 

His watch showed 6.30 in the morning and he made himself a way to the front door and sat on the wooden bench, waiting.  Today the sun was late.  

Writing: Side Stories

The class was finally over.  For the day, at least.  It was three hours as scheduled but the class was dismissed a bit earlier than it should be.  It was a fine class.  A little too much laughter from light headed students.  A relaxing class while pretending to be high school kids.  Some running down the stairs eager reaching out the second door.  Some were gathered and had some stuff to be discussed.  The first door was locked somehow.  A message was written on a piece of paper at the first door.  She was keeping back her papers and stuff in her bag and noticed a badge pin on other's bag in front of her.  "Alive Big Bang" it says.  She was happy and squeaked a little.  It was pinned on a black bag and the bag was boy's.  She knew exactly whose the owner.  She showed it to her friend who responded mildly.  And the owner of the bag appeared grabbing his bag.  She showed the badge pin to him and smiled.  "Oh yeah, Big Bang.."  He looked at her, "Hey, you are cute.." She stunted a bit and was smiling awkwardly.  This was so unexpected.  She was just showing the badge pin of her favorite kpop band.  She was not sure how to react from such a guy whom they rarely speak or even interact.  A different race and all.  "Yes, you are and this is a compliment" "You are the cutest, don't be shy" Not knowing what to say she thanked him between her, again awkward or fake giggle.  That really made her day.  Was it because she got to recite a poem?  Was it because she had to read a line of dialogue in the group of many students?  And there were more questions.  Not sure.        

Ps: writing on something.  Thinking to rewrite to.  When did I ever stop?  Uhh wait when did I ever started??