Page 54 - 2021 English Magazine - Final

JUSTIN:…I have a lot of regrets in high school. I of the family. That’s why I’ve been calling our rela- He sat in the old leather chair. It let out a
wish I hadn’t been screwing around so much. It was tives more. I’ll always remember where I came from. SILENT short yet sharp creaking sound, followed
fun, but I should’ve done something more produc- I’ll always be Justin Loh, of the Chong family. Even by the falling of debris onto the wooden
tive. Except for studying. I still think 60 percent of though technically I’m not a Chong, but you get floor. The absolute silence of solitariness
what we study is going to be trash. I wish I could’ve it. I do want to get a tattoo of that though, or even music did not bother him. He glanced down, his
bettered myself though. Maybe in terms of wisdom, change my name to that. It’s not a priority, but I do fingers gripping the smooth black glossy
knowledge, interacting with people, saying the right like the idea of it. pen tightly, watching each note make
things at the right time...social investments... yeah. SUMMER: Mhm. its mark on the clean white sheet of the
SUMMER: So do you enjoy the things you learn in JUSTIN: Yeah, families can be imperfect, but I’m me music score.
university now? because of them.
JUSTIN: Yeah, definitely. I would say there are many SUMMER: Do you have anything to say to the His eyes started to water, his ears filled
interesting things I’ve learned, but most were… rigid. younger generation here? with the hauntingly melodious voice of

Like, “ Hey! Just follow the things we teach and we’ll JUSTIN: I… I’ll say one thing. There are going to be a familiar yet strange person. He was
give you full marks!” Especially exams. They should some people you meet that will stay for a long time. clearly upset. What was wrong? He didn’t
be evaluated by the opinion of the person, not just I once defended a friend against the rules, and by know either. His heart sank low and hit
from a teacher’s cheat sheet. that I meant shouting at the discipline teacher. That rock bottom. One word to describe it all -
SUMMER: Mhm. Okay. Uh… Let me see which ques- friend has been a big part of my life from that day “Emptiness”. A sigh broke the still silence.
tions are appropriate to ask. onwards. So what if I got a bad record? I got a great
A long pause. friend! Stay true to your own principles, people grav- Slumped in his chair, he gently closed his
JUSTIN: I used to be good at writing. itate towards you based on your own values, as the heavy eyelids. He wondered why time
SUMMER: I know, I found your diary. saying goes, eggs of the same basket… stay in the passed so quickly. Wasn’t it just yesterday?
JUSTIN: Ah, that one. I was really whiny and wimpy. I same basket (Summer and Justin laugh hysterically). He felt nothing and pondered his purpose
sounded like a butt. Just know the people in your life may or may not again and again. The music sank in, simple,
SUMMER: No, I actually kind of get it, although it did make a big difference. innocent, childish lyrics with hidden

sound like a Diary of a Wimpy Kid rip-off. I’m getting Another long pause. meanings that seemed to make no sense
out of the butt phase so I do get it. SUMMER: Wow. how he pried and pulled at their strings.
JUSTIN: Yeah, but I was a special case. Until now I’m JUSTIN: Yeah, one more thing, if you want to make His finger stopped momentarily, allowing
still as mature as a 12-year-old so… Yeah don’t com- some part of you stand out but the world’s pushing him to reflect for a moment.
pare yourself with me. it down, making you systematic, try to preserve
SUMMER: Yeah. some of that. Leave some sort of individuality for Every breath felt like a burden. His throat
JUSTIN: What were you going to ask me? yourself. Let’s say you put a lot of effort in an es- burned, saliva trickling down ever so
SUMMER: There’s still one more question, but I don’t say, but just because you didn’t go according to the slightly, barely enough to quench his thirst.
know if I can include it in this. scheme, you get a zero. That’s okay, our validation Enough, he decided. His head rested
JUSTIN: Uh-huh? comes from ourselves. Sure, you could get the against the whitewashed wall. Blank.
SUMMER: What do you think of your family? Espe- marks, but at the end of the day, your validation Colourless. Just like his mind. His
cially now that you don’t see them that much. comes from you alone. eyes began to shut. Slowly, gradually,
JUSTIN: I’m still the same. I’m still your momma’s SUMMER: Okay. Stop recording. descending into the darkness. The music
son, and I’m still your brother. No matter where I JUSTIN: Stop recording? faded into emptiness.
go, I’ll always remember where I came from. Like Justin reaches forward, and the record button dark-

even if I don’t call home as much because I’m busy, I ens. And all was quiet again.
- by Lee Ke Yin
wouldn’t think of myself as someone who’s not part And that’s my brother.

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