Been brought up in a very typical Malay family where education plays an important role I always look high upon people who at least possessed a scroll of diploma and by having that piece of paper; then only we can survive in the real world of the future as it can help us to find a better living. Well, that is stereotyping and that was back then. Before I met him, before I met the one who changed my perception and how I see life and make me stop simply being judgmental and belittle others; just because they do not have a proper educational background. It was two years back then when I first saw him, he was just an ordinary guy with a very broad smile and he smells nice. Apparently he is somebody who is very important in my life. It is all started with a simple hi then it continued with a great smile after that came along the sweet gestures and we changed the eyes contact. Oh Lord! What is he trying to do; that was the line that came across my mind during that precious, irreplaceable moment in my life. We cannot foresee future that is a very simple reason why at that time I kind of rejected him as I do not know if he meant harm to me. But then, he asked for my phone number I did not give him at the first place simply because he was not my type; he worked at the street; slept under the tent where he legally doing his business; after all he looked like he did not have anything except for that beautiful smile he got; yes, I admit I fall for his smile at that time. After few days, I do not know what happened to me; the moment he called and asked for something that was beyond my normal thinking level, and voila! I accept him to be somebody that will in any ways I make him as someone special to me. Yes! He is the same person that I love and miss now.
Along the way of this whole extremely challenging two years as lovebirds, we grew our own little world which consists of me, him and us. We have a very different view when it comes to certain things in fact almost everything but normally the way I see things are way different than him. He sees the street and the people who belongs to it as those who are very independent and they know what they want because they themselves will determine where they want to go next just to crave for a food to eat; just to get some fresh air to breath; just to get a space in the heart of the society so that they will not look down on them. As for me, I used to see those people as a very disturbing view that can contaminate our eyes and they were just trouble others and they were so annoying. I learnt and in fact still learning on the real world stuffs. Though they might not have a penny in their pocket still they have the right to still live and have the fresh air in this world which belongs to every human being. He always said that by the time I was ready to accept him in my life I have to change the way I see the world; not totally change it but on few things that can touch the issue of humanity level within me. He always told me to be extra careful with my words and how I look to people who are not that good; and it happened when I have this simple argument with him about his work and I simply said that how can he made a living with me later in the future if he did not want to change his work; and with that it hurt him and I felt terrible because I know if I love him I have to accept him the way he is and if I were to tell him things like that I should know the correct and exact way to say it so that it will not hurt him, and it does apply to others as well; meaning that I cannot simply utter that kind of statement and ask others without even considering their feelings.
The way he made me realize on how important for us to not to belittle others were so harsh, I can say, but that was the most effective way to teach people who were so stubborn, self-centered and inconsiderate like me! He changed me! Totally changed I for the better in fact even my parents and my brothers realized it. They said that I have transformed into somebody who they never knew and never met. I learned how to respect others and actually without having the proper education still you can learn lots of things from the street and from your experience; and not to forget you can still make money if you have that extra will power inside you that challenged yourself to get the way of living that you always dream of. After all, there are people who possessed a diploma even a scroll of degree they are still out there do nothing and still hoping for work to come and look for them. So, this is my story with the person who changed the way I see life and how I value humanity.
0413, my little table at 320
27th Mar. 2011