A Shattered Promise

“Son, I promise you I’ll be back home safe and sound,” Sergeant Chase Stone hugged his son firmly in his arms.

“Daddy, can you please don’t go? It is not safe over in Afghanistan,” ten-year-old Vincent pleaded. Teardrops started to stream down from his almond-sized eye.

“Son, it’s my duty and honour to serve for my country. My mates need me over there. Terrorists are turning Afghanistan a safe haven for them. We can’t just sit here and do nothing,” he added.

“But Dad, you and mum just divorced. All I have is you now. And I don’t want to lose you,” Vincent bawled as he refused to free himself from his dad’s arms.

Chase’s tears fell. Torrential rains made it even more difficult to bid goodbye to his son.

“Come here son, sleep with Daddy tonight,” he lifted Vincent in his arm and brought him into his bedroom.

Few months ago, Sergeant Stone was still doing his very best, staying focused and concentrated as he led his mates through all the battle fields and war zones. On usual days when there was not any explosions, bombings or attacks, Sergeant Stone would be sitting in his office, reading emails from his officers, catching up with Australian news, exercising and training. At night, he would sit outside his camp, holding a glass of hot tea as he looked into the sky.

It was usually a new moon night that made Chase felt even lonelier. As he held his glass of tea and looked into the dark sky, he could not stop helping himself thinking about little Vincent jumping with joy everytime when he saw his daddy marching back from tours, cheering with happiness as his daddy played footy with him in the backyard or even laughing happily when his daddy brought him for barbeque at the local park.

“Dear Vincent, you know I miss you, my little man,” he prayed silently. “I promise you, Dad will make it back in one piece. Don’t worry about me. Take good care of yourself.”

He took out pen and papers, sat near the bonfire and started to write letters for Vincent.

Dear Vincent,

How is my little man doing? I reckon you’re definitely growing everyday, having fun with your mates in school and eating healthily. Remember what Daddy told you, no snacks or junkies after 2000 and be in bed before 2200 every night. Why am I still talkin’ to my son in an army language? Anyway, it’s new moon tonight. Daddy can’t see neither the moon nor the star tonight. However, there is always this bright star living in my heart and that is you. Daddy loves you more than anyone else in the world.

Daddy promises you that I’ll be safe. Daddy’s mates usually have my back. In the army, we take care of one another like a big family. Whenever someone’s injured, we nursed them like our own family members. If someone is emotionally unsteady, we help them through the worst. We always have each other back, just like your fellow mates in school. Remember, cherish our Australian value. Mateship will get you through obstacles in life.

I know you always love listening to some fighting story. Yesterday, Daddy and my troupe were patrolling in a village. We suspected that the terrorists had implanted a bomb so we were assigned to investigate the place. Daddy was so close to the bomb. The bomb was literally just in front of Daddy and I did not realise that! Thank God one of my mates were just in time to pull me away and saved me. We evacuated everyone in the village. The bomb experts were there on time and deactivated the bomb. Sometimes I do believe in miracles. If it wasn’t for my mate and for the experts, we could have been blown away! The innocent civilians were so happy that they were alive. Life is so fragile Vincent. Promise Daddy one thing. No matter what may happen in the future, don’t let go and don’t give up.

Daddy loves you as always. And it is always these dark nights that make me miss my little man even more. Send my regards to granny. Love her each day as she takes extremely good care of you while Daddy’s on tour.

Love,

Daddy

The letter reached Vincent eventually. The tour had ended in Afghanistan. The valorous and courageous army should be back by then. Vincent stood on the military post impatiently with his granny.

“Granny, why isn’t Daddy here yet? He said he’ll be coming back,” Vincent grumbled. “He promised! He said that in the letter he sent me last week!”

Sometimes, words are unsaid. Promises are shattered. Lies are told. But would you go all that far, just not to break a ten-year-old heart?

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::LEON HA::

 

My Long Gone Little Hand

My little hand that my grandpa used to hold when I was young as he gently explained to me little fine lines on my palm.

My little hand that my grandma used to grip firmly when she took me out for window shopping and lunch at All Joy or Hong Kong Noodle House.

My little hand that my maternal grandma used to hold and hit gingerly if I was her mischievous little grandson.

My little hand that my dad used to hold firmly too when he allowed me to sit on his lap and drive his car illegally.

My little hand that my mum used to grip when we were outside the house.

My little hand changes so much ever since then as time elapsed.

The little hand gradually increases in size as each day passes by. The little hand grows to be stronger as life marches on. The little hand learns to do more thing and becomes skillful as life sails on. The little hand is magical now, it can do so many things which I cannot imagine myself doing when I was a little kid.

I miss having my little hand being hold by my loved ones. My little hand teaches me to touch and feel everything around me. I learn beyond touching a hot kettle and bawling loudly subsequently. My little hand teaches me to feel the love as my loved ones touch me. I wish both my grandmothers can still hold my little hand. I know no matter how much I have grown up, my hand is forever a little vulnerable one in theirs. And it feels so heart-warming.

I know someday it is time to extend this little hand to someone outside the family.

I will use this little hand to touch and feel your hand and love you. Life is about growing up.

I am in search for your little hand to hold and feel in the ocean of strangers, in the midst of labyrinth, in the middle of tropical forests, in the middle of nowhere. However, someday I will find it and I will extend my little hand and in return, I hope you will extend your little hand to me too.

Follow Leon at Twitter!

::LEON HA::

 

19 Years. Still Going Fabulous Red.

19 years ago, on March 25, in a private clinic, my mum heard the first bawl from her son. I cried for the first time, signifying the birth and addition to the HA‘s family.

19 YEARS.

Years have passed, months have elapsed, weeks have gone by, days have swept through, hours have tickled, minutes have race through and seconds have slipped away and in a glimpse, from my first cry to who I am now.

Time is incredibly fast. Faster than what you have in mind.

Amazing friends do amazing things. In fact, they are the miracles in life. Aaron, Eric, Hong Shen and Vincent secretly plotted my birthday, without my knowledge. The brilliant scheme was a success. An amazing and fulfilling Chinese cuisine last weekend at Northbridge. Sarawakians rule the night, don’t we? The highlight is of course the present. So personal and tailored just for me. There are no other words besides “touched” to describe the feeling! Truly amazing.

Michael, I could never forget you actually took the trouble to get me a wonderful present despite it was last minute. Domino’s Pizza. That is so Australian style. Thank you for sitting down today and chatting with me. Thank you for being another amazing friend of mine. I could never forget what you have done. Deep down from my heart, I sincerely thank you.

Social networks are fantastic, namely Facebook and Twitter. Countless birthday wishes, some so personal and warm and even some tailored to Fabulous Red‘s style. I spoke to Dushan today, saying that I have not said so much ‘Thank You‘ for the entire year than today. Social networks are fantastic. And of course, I still thank you all here, once again. Twitter, thank you for giving me to a figure closing to 300 followers. I am truly amazed by all my followers. Thank you.

Lovable family members. Thank you Dad, Mum and Sis. I had an incredible and wonderful evening. We went to an Italian restaurant in Leederville and had an unforgettable evening. We ordered some greens, chips and pastas. Truly scrumptious Italian fares. Billion of thanks to Dad and Mum for getting me an electrical shaver. I really do consider myself not really the techno-savvy kind of person when it comes to certain thing. Still, it must have cost them to buy it in Australia. Of course, I knew my iPad 2 is making its way too! I love you Dad and Mum!

Traditions are beautiful and priceless. This is why we keep it up in the family. From taking two hard boiled eggs on the morning of the birthday to red packets with auspicious values in it, I reckon we Chinese has the most amazing and rich culture in the world. We are in Australia. Yet, there are no reasons to let our beautiful traditions fade away. 19 years. The tradition and culture will continue and they will be passed on.

Honourable friend. There is only one whom truly deserves this title. He is the one who surprises me the most and the one and only who pushes the day to the highest point. True Mathematicians know how to maximise thing. In my own world, he is a true Mathematician, a truly amazing and successful Mathematician. Thank you so much for still making it a humongous surprise to me and as I was on the edge of giving up hope, I know he will never let me down. Truly honourable.

So honourable that I have to post a Twitlonger, tailored for him too, just as he personalised the telephone call for me. Speechless. Touched. On cloud nine. Over the moon. Lifted high up in the air. Miracles do happen by the way. And I am glad you are one of the miracles in my life. I have always honoured you. In return, you have cherish our genuine friendship. This is why we can keep our friendship alive, ignite the sparks and shine like the fireworks.

I have said plenty of thank you in 19 years.

But this thank you is personalised for you, NEIL MCNAB. Thank you for making wishing me happy birthday a pleasure.

19 years has passed.

Life marches on as usual. But I believe, in the coming 19 years and more, FABULOUS RED will continue to stay as what it is now. And even be more refined and well-defined as years to come. FABULOUS RED lives on. On Twitter, on WordPress and everywhere. Wherever there is LEON HA, I will leave the footprint of FABULOUS RED.

Follow Leon at Twitter!

::LEON HA::

Nightmare

I had a nightmare early this morning, perhaps sometime during dawn. I was totally freaked out! I had to say that but having nightmare such as losing your dearest one is so hurting! Damn! I don’t want such nightmare please! Silently, I’m keeping my finger cross and hope that the nightmare isn’t true.

Being superstitious or not, I told mum about that. She said by spilling it out the ‘heavenly secrets’, the victim could just escape from the tragedy! Phew. I hope that believe is true. Yea. I am being superstitious. But if you were in my shoes, you’ll know that.

I had adequate of nightmares. Could I just sleep soundly? I suddenly miss her texts which sent me off to sound sleep with phrases like ‘sweet dreams’. Haha. I miss her, don’t I? XD

Oh and I remembered Cindy’s signature saying in Form 4, “touch wood!” Cindy, please scream that out with me every single second. I just have the fear of losing my love ones. I just can’t afford to loose them!

Suddenly, can I fight against God’s will? Why can’t human be immortal?

::LEON HA::

it has being a year..

Time advances that now it’s almost a year grandma left me. Uncle Thong phoned now inquring when is the date according to the Lunar Calender Ah Ma left us. At that instant, the sadness which I made every great painful effort to bury it has suddenly popped out so naturally and I sighed at how relentlessness time elapsed and for almost a year, I had not shouted out loudly Ah Ma. That day in Grandpa’s house, I was having lunch in the kitchen when I suddenly reminisced grandma’s cooking, her porridge, her dishes and everything she cooked for the entire family! I damn miss her porridge, her fares and everything! My tears were merely falling. Sigh. I guess time passes but I still preferred I got stucked in the time when I spent together with Ah Ma.

Since the departure of hers, I kept on dreaming her. For the first few months, I was so looking forward to everytime I dreamt about her. It is sort of like a psychological comfort for me. At least in my dreams I can spent my time with Ah Ma although it is temporary and virtual. I woke up the very next day with streaming tears. I know I miss her! I miss her a lot! Yet nothing could buy her back to the Earth!

I only plead that scientists could come up with a time machine. I wish to travel back to time to meet Ah Ma. Or God, I beg you, please return me my Ah Ma! I know we need her a lot. She’s the greatest, not for then and now but she has influenced us for so long.

At an empty aisle,

as i stroll along,

i miss grandma, i could feel her,

i could hear her.

But i just wanna see her

and talk to her non-stop

before finishing off with

I LOVE YOU!

Thanks for everything!

~sigh~

::LEON HA::

Mix ‘Em Up!

Yea. The blog was dumped vacant since the past few days. It’s merely creeping to 10 days that my blog was left empty. Yea. Just empty. Too bad that I think I am soon gonna turn into a bad blogger. Nah.

The main reason I could not update my blog those few days are:

1. My maternal grandma passed away peacefully finally – after 5 years of battle with sickness and illness like goitre, Pakinson and cancer. It’s a struggle and pain for her to haul on every irksome, pointless day. I am glad my grandma went off with God peacefully and hopefully she is satisfied and happy. Anyway, grandma, I’d love you too! You may not be able to substitute the position of my paternal grandma, well, at least I am proud and fortunate that I am showered with love for 17 years from a maternal grandma. I LOVE YOU much XD.

2. I got ill. Gosh. My health is totally appalling, not wanting to say it’s deteriotating. Yea. I caught a cold and ended up consulting the family doctor. NO!! I have not consulted the doctor even once – execpt during F3 when I was infected by chicken pox =) since F2. XD. I am in the pink of health, aint I? *vain much XD*

3. The torrential cats and dogs. Last night I was scheduled to come home earlier and catch up with unfinished business – HOMEWORK which I missed out a lot when I attended the funeral but then the cruel and heartless rain pour continuously until my grandpa’s resident was flooded. So our family spree there to spruce up the place and carry valuable items to a higher level. XD. Tonight the heavy downpour still continue its filthy drama. Sigh. It’s gonna be a long marathon for this rainy season which I hope it wont occur.

4. SPM! Yea. I know I am in an examination class this year. No choice. Compelled to reduce the time allocated for laptop and simultaneously for the Net too. Just now when I logged into my Friendster, guess what, last update was several days ago. Good. At least it becomes inactive and I could focus more on my studies.

So, factors contributing to the problem approach the conclusion. Suddenly I wish to blabber out that…

I WANNA GO TO THE BOOKSTORES AND GRAB MORE REFERENCE BOOKS!!!

*I am so insufficient of 2009 edition of reference + work books XD*

Apart from that, congratulations to me and all my team members, the gross profit of our koperasi today hit 1K! Thank you guys! Thanks for lending all your helping hands! Muaks! I love you guys! Let us continue to strive hard to generate more digits in our bank account! XD.

I LOVE KOPERASI TOO!

*it’s just simply too wonderful to be truth I join this club XD*

Adequate and sufficient to post so much random stuff this time. Fill up next time. Toodles and nites and rain rain go away =)

::LEON HA::

Of all the 26 Alphabets

Yes! I am back from holiday but something disastrous occurs! My dad realised that the camera charger just vanished. My mum kept on pushing the blames on me as she claimed that I was the one holding the camera throughout the whole vacation. Yea! I was holding the camera throughout the whole trip but the camera is now back at the drawer – SAFE and SOUND! The chargers then? I left them inside the cargo and they were all sleeping inside it for the entire trip cause I did not take any snap shot! Simple explanation! But yet they were trying to push all the blames on me! Duh! Vindicate off all the blames kay?

And just now I read a few blogs and of all the 26 alphabets we have, most of them are always using 3 spacious one… and they are…

S

P

M

Sheesh! SPM! Yaya! I know! SPM is around the corner and it’s gonna be my greatest and last challenge in my secondary school life! I know this public examination determines a lot of stuff namely scholarship, college entership, future jobs etc. I am kinda sick of it and simultaneously I am freakishly nervous about it. I am confident in only few subjects like Malay, English, MATH, ADD MATH (my two fav subjects XD), Chinese and Moral. The remaining Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Science and History I am totally speechless when I encounter them.

Yea I know. Few more days left and it’s a whole new year for me to kick start off. I need to finish my assignment (few literature questions left) and pack for a whole new year. Well I guess… I am prepared. I do hope so. God bless me please! SPM means a lot to me and with God’s unfailing blesses and I also need to dump in extra and extremely effort to pull up my socks in those particular subjects which I am weak in. I know I have apathy towards them. But please.. I beg my ownself, just for the sack of SPM.. learn them well and pass it! After SPM, trash or file them up, it’s up to me =)

So far my wish for 2009 are:

- Straight A or even better Straight A1s in SPM

- Health and wealth

- Slim down by 10 kg! XD *in my dreams*

nah. I will post up my 2009 plans pretty soon.. so stay tune XD

::LEON HA::

Sarawak Club Samarahan Branch

My parents were absolutely free today, I guess, that’s why they decided to drive me all the way from my house to the recently opened Sarawak Club located at Samarahan. Whoo! Imagine how far is that from my house situated in Richmond Hill? XD. Nah. I just enjoyed the view along the journey which reminisced me about how frequent I travelled those countryside road this year.

A bit away from topic, but here’s how frequent I am on the countryside road this year:

1. EAK competition at SM Matang Teknik (2 times)

2. EAK competition at SMK Sungai Merah, Sibu which I traversed there on road (once)

3. Civic Educational Trip to Cultural Village (once)

4. Ohana Camp (once)

5. Olympia Math Competition at UiTM Samarahan Division (once)

6. Visit to Swak Club Samarahan (once)

so if you sum up everything and give it a times two, picture that a city student would go to those places so often? XD.

Anyway, pictures are simpler than words. So i took a few snapshots with my brand new phone camera… 3.2 Megapixel, so some of it was kinda blur and I tried to savage it through Photoshop but it wont aid so much after all. Hehe. Enjoy the pic =)

Welcome to the… Main Entrance of Sarawak Club XD

The Golf Course. I guess some parts of it is still under construction =p

The Adult Swimming Pool… I am just curious why the other side is not covered with tiles??

Ya. Sarawak Club first spa.. It was actually quite small XD

I love this water feature located at the main entrance XD

The Terrace – a place for you to have your light fares.. similar to the Main Hall actually XD

Cream of Mushroom Soup

It doesn’t taste as scrumptious as expected. The texture was coarse. Well, I just thought that it’s only a simple fare, so care not much =p

Yea. My humongous appetite. I took the Green Salad too XD

Another eye-soothing water feature. Haha

Heh. This water feature was nice but kinda makes me ponder about a scene inside a Muslim Building situated next to Swinburne Swak Campus =p.. only it’s tinier…

Yea. Last snapshot before returning. You got it. Just another water feature. Haha

Hmm… let me ponder, so this new Sarawak Club has still lots of room for improvement. If you wish me to comment, I guess I’ll post up a lot of good and bad one simultaneously. But I just wanna save my time this time. If you wanna know more, why not just go see it yourself? *if you stay in Kuching* XD.

::LEON HA::

Some Come Some Go

Announcing the Arrival of…

KEREN WEE QIAO JIA
(06-07 KHS Cooperative Secretary)
(07 Excellent Student Receipient)
(08 INTEC scholarship holder)

is back from her hell-shitty-place called Kuala Lumpur!

She finally made it safely back here at Kuching on 15 November 2008! XD

and also

EVELYN HA MEI KEI
(06-07 KHS Financial Club Treasurer)
(06-07 KHS Prefect)
(08 Canning College graduate)

is too back from her disastrous and appalling venue named Perth!

She is back safe and sound to taste all exuberant food in Kuching on 17 November 2008! XD

GREAT NEWS!!!
*both my sis are back here in kuching* whee

However, on the contrasting side, someone is compelled to leave us, for a better life and a brighter future in New Zealand. She will board the aircraft tomorrow at 9.15 am. I am gonna miss this good friend, who is so spacious and who is she/he? Let me uncover the veil of the mystery then…

That’s her. Millions of words aren’t as useful and as effective as phrases below:

I LOVE YOU
GOD BLESS YOU
FRIENDS FOREVER
TAKE CARE
MAY GOD’S CARE AND LOVE SHOWER YOU AND FAMILY FOR ETERNITY

simple, just a few words it signifies all the necessary things. XD

::LEON HA::

How Dare You?

I just returned from a relative dinner. It was in collaboration to celebrate their mum’s birthday. I was so e-m-o just now when I saw them taking the MASSIVE, happy family photo. It suddenly made my grey cells to trace back those moments I had with my long departed grandma. Suddenly, I got so e-m-o as I am DAMN missing my grandma. Frankly, why did she depart so early? Sigh. It was just totally impossible but Jacq told me that’s all God’s arrangement and we had to accept it. Well, I hope my grandma’s is now living happily in heaven. I read a mail before, it related that, death is the beginning of real life with God. Suddenly, I prayed hard that this statement is true! XD.

Well, cutting back to our main topic. Why my post’s title sounded like bellowing straight into someone’s ear pinnas? Yes, in fact I am. I learned from my uncle that his son aka my cousin is constantly ignoring his ill grandma aka my maternal side’s grandma too. My grandma keeps on yelling at him, pleeding him to come down to take his dinner but he just ignored her persuade. What the F*cking Grandson you are?! You know you should cherise your grandma while she is still alive. You know how bad and disastrous and sombre it is when your dearest relatives vanish from this planet forever? You should acknowledge that you have lost your grandpa even before you were born and hence you should cherish and treasure your grandma even more!

I am not trying to sound like cursing anyone but frankly, once a person departs and leaves us, there is no way you will see him/her again. Yes, you can see them, in 2-Dimensional, in snap shots but they will no longer speak, laugh, share with us anymore! If you think there is still ample of time, how wrong you are! Citing HSM’s Everyday’s Lyrics “Once in a lifetime, means there’s no second chance.” Therefore, read the sentence over and over again and understand it! Our dearest and including all of us, we have only one life, we should live it up to the fullest.

While we can and as far as possible we should extend our interaction, bonding session and sharing thoughts session with our dearest family members, relatives and friends. Frankly, if you do not cherish the opportunity you own now, once the chance bids us goodbye it will never turn back.

Let me bellow through your ear pinnas again, “HOW DARE YOU NEGLECT YOUR DEAREST GRANDMA!!! YOU ARE SHOWING NIL RESPECT TO YOUR LOVE ONE! IF I WERE YOU, I WOULD HAVE DONE THINGS THE OPPOSITE WAY!!“

E-M-O much. XD

::LEON HA::