Oh, dear me! I find myself tangled in the thorny vines of forgetfulness when I try to recall the details of my first year at Asrama. Many memories have vanished into the abyss of oblivion! It frustrates me to think about where those memories have gone. Have they truly been lost to the sands of time? Or could it be that the tumultuous experiences of those days overwhelmed my ability to preserve them?
So, I can only provide a brief overview of my time in the Asrama, where I was introduced to the unique world of a boarding school. The custodian of our well-being, Encik Hussin, remains a mysterious figure. Even now, when I reflect on his watchful care during that time, my mind becomes chaotic. Sometimes, I burst into uncontrollable laughter, like a spectre without reason. At other times, I wear a vacant expression, resembling a sleepy ghost. And then there are moments when I'm overwhelmed by anger, like a vexed bull searching for a mate.
Indeed, Encik Hussin was an unusual warden. I dare say no other boarding school had such an unconventional figure at its helm. For me, his unique approach to discipline was more challenging than the trials I faced from senior students during my first year. While our senior tormentors were few in number, Encik Hussin's actions alone cast a heavy shadow over us. If we were older adolescents, I'm sure rebellion would have been more rampant.
Unfortunately, my memories of events from that time have dimmed. Many incidents have slipped away, and the words to describe them have faded away. It's a melancholic situation because that period was essential to my Asrama experience. It was when I truly understood the essence of the Asrama journey.
One notable event stands out in my memory - the outbreak of eye infections among our male students. I remember vividly that it started after an outing to Gunung Pulai. Those affected were quickly sent to the infirmary and later went home to their FELDA village for two weeks of rest.
At that moment, it occurred to many of us that getting an eye infection provided a week-long escape from Encik Hussin's watchful gaze! The Asrama students were overjoyed with this newfound knowledge. The next day, another group of boys fell victim to this peculiar ailment. The scattered toothpaste remnants in the toilets bore witness to their transgressions.
However, I was one of those who hesitated to embrace eye infection as a means of escape from Encik Hussin's control. The mere thought of such an ailment filled me with dread, and I was willing to avoid it at all costs, even if it meant avoiding contact with my infected friends. Some of my peers accused me of being pretentious because I was so averse to the illness, but I remained resolute.
Sadly, destiny had other plans. The contagion spread, and I, too, was caught in its web, a victim of its mysterious origins. I accepted my fate with a heavy heart and returned home, where I felt an odd sense of relief - freedom from Encik Hussin's constant presence, even if it meant enduring the discomfort of the infection. Tragically, the infection didn't spare other members of my family - such is the unpredictable nature of life.
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