Selamat Hari Raya Aidiladha

First thing first, I would like to wish everyone an awesome Eidul Adha! We as Muslims should be grateful to have a celebration that reminds us the importance of sacrifices each year of our lives.

Being far away from my family during a festive season like this isn't something easy to do. Especially when you have an exam coming a day right after that. It somehow makes this special day ordinary - just like every other Mondays I had before. I don't deny how high my desire to be with my family right now, to cook with them, to have a Raya meal with them and to visit my father's grave back home in Malaysia. Plus, I really miss my brothers' "takbir" and to be able to answer to it together with my family.

But I won't be able to do so. It's hard and I don't deny it but to disappoint my family if my studies failed is even harder. Therefore, these are my sacrifices for them and for myself just like the sacrifices of times and energy my family made to get me where I am today.

Those cows and sheep and lambs and goats and camels have made their incredible sacrifices for like ever... don't you think it's time we make some too?

Subway (Chapter 1)

SHIT!

I cursed as I spilled my coffee on my resume. “Shit, shit, shit!” I cursed silently more and more as the brown stain seemed more eager to stay on the paper the more I tried to wipe it off.

Nice one Syd. Now everyone’s looking at you and there’s no way you can land this job anymore.

I tried to act as calm as possible but it’s pointless because I have at least a dozen pair of eyes looking at me flailing my resume in the air trying to dry it off. “It’s okay! I’m okay everyone.” I sort of shrieked at everybody in the room trying to calm them down, or rather calm myself down.

I can’t ruin this interview because it’s been my dream to work as a chocolatier since I ate Choco Almond Fudgity Fudge by Andersen’s Confectionary. I’ve dedicated my life since then studying how to make chocolates and candies in order to create a taste that can have the same impact as the fudge to me. I know I’m sounding a little loopy here but the truth is I’ve always been obsessed with candies and chocolates because to me these are the only food that can help you forget your sorrow and relieve your anger.

I’ve always applied for jobs at any chocolate or candy shops available but always ended up fired or didn’t get the job at all because of my clumsiness and honesty. I was always scolded by the chefs for correcting their methods or for dropping a perfectly chilled mousse on the floor that caused me not only my salary for that month but also my salaries from the month before. And once I tried to add extra vanilla sticks to a restaurant’s cake in order to enhance the flavor but I was caught in the act and fired soon after that. To my surprise, about a week later, that restaurant launched a new cake that became the talk of the town until now for its newly enhanced flavor.

Therefore, I’ve prepared so much for this interview because I knew this is my last hope to fulfill my dream. Plus, this is how I can finally help my mother with our expenses and not just be the girl who chases an invisible dream anymore. But now I have coffee spilled all over my resume and… wait a minute… I don’t remember my Topshop shirt being brown…

SHIT!

I spilled the coffee on my crisp ironed white shirt too. That’s it. I’m doomed. There’s no way I can land a job with a brown resume and a half brown patented white shirt (Hey, it actually sounded pretty good if you put it that way).

Don’t give up yet Miss Sydney Daniels. You’ve come all the way here just to back off?

Wow… I can’t believe that’s my conscience talking.

Hello! Conscience… what’s your name?

Wait. What am I doing? Why am I suddenly talking to myself? Okay. You’re right. I can’t give up now. Not after all the troubles I went through in order to land this opportunity.

“Miss Daniels”

That’s the secretary calling my name.

Oh God… what am I doing? Oh my God…

“Miss Sydney Daniels?”

“Yes. That’s me.”

Damn! You actually answered her out loud?

I limped my way to the interview room with my brown resume clutched firmly in my hands and just before I entered the room, the secretary asked for my chocolate samples. Luckily she reminded me so I immediately went back to my seat to get them but they were gone. I looked around trying to find who could have stolen my chocolates.

Could it be that girl wearing glasses?

She looked at me weirdly from the moment I entered the room.

Was it that old fat man reading the papers?

Okay there’s no way I can tell who was it. There were too many suspects. I guess it’s time for me to activate my CSI mode…

Think out of the box. Think Sydney think.

“Miss Daniels? I’m waiting.”

“Sorry. Just a moment please.”

Oh my goodness. Now I remembered. I brought the chocolates to the pantry in order to arrange them neatly. Then I got thirsty and go for the coffee instead. But the cup was too hot so I dropped it.

I turned around slowly and looked at the pantry area and my worst nightmare came to life. On top of the pantry was a box of what used to be my chocolates but now were swimming in a pool of coffee and were no longer in shapes. Before I knew it, my feet moved on its own and I started to run. I ran as fast as I could and before I knew it, I was already at the subway station.

Give it up Syd. This was just not meant for you.

I walked weakly down the stairs towards the ticket counter as I whispered to myself.

This is over Sydney.

To be continued...