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JUNE 7, 2017 / NASVERSIX

There were only two interesting things spoken during the morning assembly. The Teratai Block Warden, Mrs Kamsah, announced that she wanted to see Khairil Jamaluddin afterwards. KJ grinned while looking towards Kirana. There were still traces of turmeric powder on her branded bag.

Next, the newly-elected Student Leader was announced: Fara Zahira. The first SL in the history of CGTSS.

The sexists snorted, the feminists cheered. Troll was glad that it wasn’t Arip Bond who became the SL. Ray showed no emotion. KJ was too busy thinking whether he left any traces og him after yesterday’s operation.

Gibbs, on the other hand, smiled after hearing the new SL’s name.

“But I want the main role!”

Ray sighed. She’s already a diva even before becoming an actress.

At first, Ray had to handle things like this if he wanted to stage a theatre at CGTSS. But ever since the theatre I’m not a Lesbian was staged two years ago, the Drama Club that was headed by Ray started receiving attentions. The club members increased and Ray now had two assistant directors. He’d let them handle matters with the matters. Ray only wanted to do his work. After graduating, there’s only one thing he wanted to do: becoming a famous director.

Joe, his first assistant, calmed the cranky Joanna who wanted the main role who was already given to Hanni. Ray smiled cynically by himself. Try imagining someone who doesn’t play the main role but outshined them Now that’s a genius.

“Here, boss. Your copy,” said Kishen, his second assistant director, while giving a script to him.

Ray took it and sat down on the auditorium chair. He flipped the script with Haskell written as the writer. This was the second time he got a script from someone using the nom de plume Haskell. Both of them were great. The strange thing was, the writer doesn’t want to be known. Maybe it wasn’t yet time. The psychology of some writers, only after a few success, only then would they have some confidence.

“Yo,” greeted Gibbs while sitting next to Ray.

Ray tilted his head upwards a bit, then went back to analysing the script. “What kind of story is it this time?” asked Gibbs.

“A ghost story,” Ray replied perfunctorily.

“Hah, that’s a challenge. How would you make the special effects?”

“I’ll ask KJ for some help,” said Ray. It looked like he had thought this out.

Gibbs nodded. “So… which one? Asked Gibbs.

Ray knew what Gibbs meant – the heroine. “You’re thirsty too?”

“Nah. Just asking.” But his eyes were wildly looking around. “Is it that one?”

“That’s Joanna. Second heroine,” Ray replied.

“Pretty good. Like a young Gong Li,” Gibbs commented.

“She’s a diva though.”

“Let Troll school her first,” Gibbs suggested. Ray smiled.

Gibbs sat down enjoying the view while Ray went on with his practice session. It was a coincidence that Gibbs was too lazy to go anywhere that evening. And if he wanted to accompany Ray, Ray wouldn’t reject it. There’s a certain comforting sense when Gibbs was with him.

After the practice session, on the way exiting the auditorium, Ray and Gibbs were blocked by two female students – the new Student Leader, Fara, and another one… Don’t know her. What’s important is that Fara’s here. Gibbs’ smile slackened.

“Raymond,” Fara said sternly. Too stern.

“Yeah?”

“This is Deepa, my roommate. She has something to say to you,” said Fara.

Ray looked at Deepa. She was restless.

“Is she mute?” Ray questioned.

“Excuse me?” Fara replied with a question.

“Why are you talking for her?” Ray asked again.

Gibbs smiled. Deepa stole a glance towards Gibbs, becoming even more fidgety.

Fara snorted. “She’s a shy person. She’s the one that has been writing scripts for you, get it? So be nice.”

Feisty, Gibbs commented inwardly. His eyes still looking at Fara, the half-Arabic girl. Maybe it’s the Arab blood that makes her so fierce, Gibbs thought.

“You’re Hakell?” Ray asked the Deepa girl. She nodded. “Good. I’ve always wanted to know who you were. Now that I know I know, we could discuss some things. You have a minute?” Ray, if it’s about showbiz, would not waste any time.

Deepa looked at Fara in confusion. Fara smiled and nodded as if assuring her. “Go on. I’ll wait, she said to Deepa.

Oh, please don’t tell me they’re partners! Gibbs hoped that Fara was just a protective close friend, not more than that.

Ray brought Deepa to discuss a bit further. Only Gibbs and Fara were left there. Fara looked like she had no desire to chat. She wasn’t even looking at Gibbs’ face.

“Congratulations,” Gibbs said, breaking the silence.

Fara just glanced at him.

Gibbs smiled. “It’s bad manners to not say thanks when someone congratulates you,” Gibbs advised, brimming with sincerity.

“Look, I know you got the highest vote. Don’t have to rub it in my face, okay?”

“I wouldn’t want to rub anything in your face. It’s a waste of that pretty face, smearing things on it,” Gibbs replied, fast.

Fara made a face.

Just as Gibbs was about to open his mouth again, Ray had finished his discussion with Deepa. Before leaving, Deepa stole a glance at Gibbs. Her mouth seemed like she wanted to say something, but her hand was pulled by Fara.

“Give it a rest lah,” Ray advised, looking at Gibbs who was still staring at Fara. Gibbs smile abashedly.

“What are you obsessing over that Fara girl?” Troll asked.

“It’s normal. You go crazy over what you can’t get,” KJ teased.

Gibbs smiled while hearing his friends’ teasing that night. How would he explain it, as he himself didn’t know what’s so interesting about Fara in his eyes. Maybe because among the many girls who were crazy about him, Fara was the only one who was hard to get. She looked indifferent towards Gibbs, there even seemed to be hatred.

Gibbs had always thought that hatred was a powerful energy. And if what he learnt in Physics was true, energy can’t be destroyed – only changed. So, Gibbs imagined if he could change the boiling hatred in Fara into love…

Tam!

The sound of the door slamming, more because of the wind rather than Ray who just entered. Tsk, Joykiller, Gibbs sorted internally, as blood was rushing towards his forbidden place as he was imagining about Fara.

Seeing Ray enter, KJ immediately stood up but was pulled back down by Gibbs. “Even if you’re thirsty, relax a bit. Ray just finished, don’t tell me you want to immediately go at it?”

KJ looked dissatisfied but obeyed. Ray smiled, lighting a cigarette. Hanni, the new heroine, was probably lazing around next door. Ray said to wait around 5 to 10 minutes, KJ would be visiting. Hanni smiled in acquiescence.

“You’re one to talk. If it’s Fara next door, I bet you would lose it,” KJ commented. Troll laughed as he took the cigarette given by Ray.

“Fara wouldn’t want you,” Ray sounded.

And, as usual, if Ray said anything, everyone would faithfully listen, as his arguments were usually filled with logical points.

“Her beloved roommate, Deepa, likes you,” Ray explained.

“Which Bollywood chick is this Deepa?” KJ asked.

“I think I know her. That’s not Bollywood, beb. Tamil film’s extra,” Troll said mercilessly.

“Last night before sleeping, I remembered – the pen name she used is Haskell. I only know one Haskell in the literary world – Mary Elizabeth Haskell. She’s a close friend, and as some said, a secret lover to Kahlil Gibran,” Ray explained in detail, stressing the name ‘Gibran’ at the end of his sentence.

KJ whistled, and then made a ‘crazy’ sign. “Head case.”

“That girl’s creepy as fuck, man,” said Troll.

“It doesn’t really mean anything,” Gibbs denied.

“I watched her looking at you the other day and I could already see it. I think that the reason she sent her scripts to me was because she knew that we are close,” Ray gave his opinion again.

“She likes me, then that’s her problem. What’s this got to do with Fara?”
KJ and Troll laughed while Ray smiled cynically.

“Just look at her, beb. Fara is the type that won’t betray a friend for a guy. A strong principle or so people said,” said Troll.

“Just take that Deepa, Gibbs. Coco flavour seems nice too,” KJ was messing around. “Eh, it’s already 5 minutes, right? What am I doing with you guys? Playing with a girl is much better!”

KJ rushed like someone who was about to miss the bus while Gibbs sat still.