The teacher walked into the
classroom. It was the first period and the teacher will start taking attendance.
Neither Iz nor Ikhwan was here. The day went by pretty dull without them.
I quickly took out my phone when the
school bell rang at 1.40 PM. “Why don’t you come to school today Iz?” I wrote my message and sent it to Iz’s mobile phone.
Reply came a few seconds after. “I’m at hospital right now, got admitted this
morning.” That reply shocked me!
I rushed to the hospital and then I
realized I’m hungry. So I stopped by at the hospital cafeteria to get some
lunch. I bought sweet buns for me and Iz. “It must be serious. The last time he
was admitted to the hospital was last year. I hope it was false alarm.” I talked
to myself. “What are you doing standing
in someone’s way and talking to the door?” I somewhat knew that voice. I turned
around and there he was. “Watch your words Ikhwan!” Why does he always have to get on my nerve?
“What? It’s the truth. I’m trying
to get inside but there’s someone in the way. So move now!” said Ikhwan with a
bit shouting.
“Can you be a bit more polite like
Iz? “ I asked.
“We have the same face so I don’t
see the need to have the exact same personality!”
“But your personality is just complete…”
“Guys come on. Don’t fight in front
of my room. You’re disturbing the others.” Iz cut into the conversation leaving
it at that.
“I bought sweet buns. Let’s eat
together.” I said while walking in.
I had known the two of them since kindergarten.
Their family moved in next to my house. We
became best friends right away. Izwan and Ikhwan were twins with different
personalities. While Iz was sweet, polite and amiable, Ikhwan was just an impolite,
scary, quick tempered jerk. Ikhwan had been my arch enemy since then. Every
time we met, we will start quarrelling. Iz will just sit and laugh at us and
cut in when things get out of hand.
“I have a favor to ask,” said Iz
suddenly.
“What is it?” asked Ikhwan.
“Why don’t the two of you go out on
a date? Take a lot of pictures and show them to me. How about going to the
amusement park this weekend?” said Iz.
“WHAT?!?” Ikhwan and I shouted from
the shock.
“Do it for me, please. I want to go
out, but I can’t,” Iz begged. We can’t possibly refuse.
On that weekend, I went to the
amusement park with Ikhwan. I was not enjoying it at all! Ikhwan keep on stirring
me up! He even made fun of me with the pictures!
We showed the pictures we took at
the amusement park at Iz. Iz burst out laughing while looking at the pictures. “Look
at this picture. You are smiling but then Ikhwan made it blurred! Hahahaha!” Iz
was laughing so much that day.
One day,
Iz was not in his room. I asked the nurse and got to know he was taking a walk
at the hospital park. I went to the park and saw Iz was together with Ikhwan. “Come
here!” shouted Ikhwan. I rushed over to where they were standing. “Let’s take a
picture of us.” Iz said while smiling.
After that
day, I lost contact with Iz and Ikhwan. Even if I went to the hospital, the
nurses won’t let me go see Iz. I was lost and confused.
A few
weeks after that, I received a call from Ikhwan. Iz had died. I feel like my
feet were no longer touch the floor. Ikhwan’s voice was trembling. I went to Iz’s
funeral, and met Ikhwan at the entrance. He looked pale and restless. I went to
talk with him. “Iz had been weak for the past few weeks. I knew he won’t hold
on any longer but…” he said with trembling voice. His eyes were watery. My heart
aches so much seeing him like that. I knew Ikhwan treasured Iz so much. He must
be hurting a lot. That was the first time we talked without quarrelling.
The next
day, a letter came. As I checked it, it was from Iz. Behind the envelope,
written: “Please open this letter at the hospital bench in the park.” I went to
the hospital park and open the envelope. A picture slipped out from the
envelope. It was the picture we took at this bench before I lost contact with
Iz. Behind the letter, written: “Please God, may they find happiness. Thank you
for being my friend.” Tears flowed down my cheeks. I saw Ikhwan, he was holding
the letter too. Tears were flooding his cheeks.
Even
when years had passed, Izwan and Ikhwan will always be my best friends. Live
your life to the fullest and don’t leave anything for you to regret later.
--=== The End ===--
It's been a while! （‐＾▽＾‐）
I’ve been lazy to type anything for the last few months but I
think I should put this one. (^o^) This was the essay I wrote for SPM English
2012. It has been a bit altered such as there are a lot more dialogue than what
I wrote in the exam paper and there are idioms that I don’t remember where I put
them. So this essay has no idioms in it.
The storyline was taken from a comic I read, The Gift from Heaven
(Ten Kara No Okurimono) by Mizutani Ai.
