A Strawberry Kiss of Death

Strawberry Land was a kingdom where strawberries were grown all over the land and the people make a living by planting strawberries and by selling strawberry-made products. The strawberries grew there were sweet and juicy, and they were used to make jams, pies, chocolates, candies, breads, cakes and yoghurts. The King and Queen of Strawberry Land Kingdom were childless and they have longed for a child for years. After much pining, they finally got a precious gift from God - a beautiful daughter and Amber Rose was her name.

The King and Queen were very much delighted to have a child of their own after the long awaiting and all the people in Strawberry Land were very happy to have a princess borne into their kingdom. Some people were saying, "Thank goodness, we had finally had a princess in our land." Others were saying, "We are happy that the King and Queen are gifted with a beautiful daughter," and also "Princess Amber is very beautiful and she is going to be a good queen in the future."

A grand party was held to celebrate the princess's birth and fairies were invited to attend the party. The fairies were there to offer their gifts, such as beauty, wisdom and intelligence to Princess Amber. The Purple Fairy said, "The princess is going to be a beautiful lady." The Blue Fairy said, "Here, I offer you, Princess Amber, with wisdom." "Princess Amber is going to be an intelligent lady," said the Green Fairy. The party was very much celebrated and everyone was having fun.

All of a sudden,the sky turned dark and strong wind blown. Everyone was suprised and shocked to see an ugly-looking and evil witch appeared. The witch walked to Princess Amber and said, "You will eat strawberry and die at the age of 18." She cursed the princess and then disappeared into thin air. The King and Queen were afraid and did not know what to do. The fairies calmed everyone down and asked them not to worry. The Blue Fairy altered the curse that Princess Amber would not die but would instead remain asleep for life upon eating strawberry.

The King then ordered his men to burn down all the strawberry trees and no strawberry trees can ever be planted in the kingdom again. The people in Strawberry Land burned each and every single strawberry, and also all the strawberry-made products in the kingdom because they wanted to protect their beloved princess from the curse. From then onwards, they have changed from planting strawberry trees to planting apple trees. People have substituted strawberries with apples. Apple jams, apple pies, apple breads and apple cakes were being produced.

18 years have passed and Princess Amber was now a young lady with porcelain-white skin, big and starry eyes, a sharp nose and small, cherry red lips. Princess Amber was an intelligent, cheerful, kind and talented girl. She had beautiful voice, and she can sing and dance very well too. Princess Amber was loved by all the people in Strawberry Land because she was very polite and was very kind to everyone. She has grown up healthily and happily under the protection of the King, the Queen and the people in her kingdom. Nobody has ever told her about the curse that the evil witch had casted on her and she had never seen a strawberry in her whole life.

One day, Princess Amber was singing ad dancing in the garden. Prince Ethan Jacobs, a young and handsome prince from the neighbouring kingdom, Banana Land passed by and heard her singing. He was curious and therefore went to have a look at Princess Amber. He was suprised to see a beautiful young lady singing with a sweet voice and dancing gracefully in the garden. Prince Ethan could not help himself but to walk over and try to get to know her.

Princess Amber was dancing and when she turned around, she saw Prince Ethan. Her eyes met with his and it was love at first sight. He apologized to her for interrupting and then introduced himself. "I am very sorry for interrupting your dance, my lady. My name is Ethan Jacobs and I am from Banana Land. May I know your name please?" said Prince Ethan. Princess Amber replied, "Apology accepted. Amber Rose is my name. And what are you doing here?" "I am on a hunting trip and just happened to be passing by this garden," answered Prince Ethan. Princess Amber then said, "Well, welcome to Strawberry Land and if you do not mind, I would be happy to take you around visiting our kingdom." That was how they met and started becoming friends.

Princess Amber took Prince Ethan around and brought him back to the castle. She introduced him to the King and Queen. The King said, "Your father, King Joseph was a good friend of mine and I am happy to see you here. Please send my regards to him and do come to Strawberry Land for visits. You are always welcome here." Ever since then, Prince Ethan had always come to Strawberry Land to meet up with Princess Amber. They sang and danced together. They spent so much time together and they were very happy to have each other as company.

It was Princess Amber's 18th birthday, and the King and Queen threw her a birthday party. King Joseph, his Queen and Prince Ethan were invited to the party. The fairies were also invited and all of them attended the party. Prince Ethan brought Princess Amber to the garden where they first met, and he presented to her a big and red strawberry as birthday gift. She told him that she had never seen a strawberry before and did not want to try the strawberry. Prince Ethan then said it was alright and therefore ate the strawberry himself. They then danced together and after the dance, Prince Ethan kissed Princess Amber on her lips. After the kiss, he was shocked to see her falling onto the ground.

Prince Ethan carried Princess Amber back to the castle. He told them what had happened. The King and Queen asked the fairies for help. "I am sorry. But there is nothing we can do to help the princess," said the Purple Fairy. "Princess Amber is only asleep, not dead. I am sure there will be miracle and she may wake up one day," added the Blue Fairy.

Prince Ethan told the King, "I am really sorry for what had happened. But I do believe that Amber will wake up some day. May I ask for your permission to marry your daughter, Amber?" "Ethan, are you sure you really want to marry my daughter? Now that she is asleep for life. Are you willing to take on the responsibility to take care of her for life? To protect and to love her unconditionally?" replied the King. "Yes, Amber is my true love. And I am willing to take care of her, to protect and to love her as long as I live. Please, give us your blessing," said Prince Ethan. The King dropped some tears and nodded his head, "Son, you have my blessing." Everybody there had their cheeks wet by tears. They were touched by the prince's love for the princess.

Prince Ethan maaried Princess Amber and took her back to Banana Land. He carried her to their room and laid her down on the bed. "I am sorry, my love. I did not know that strawberry can make you fall asleep forever. That was a strawberry kiss of death to you, my dear. I am really sorry. But I promise you, I will take care of you. I will also continue to love you till the day I die," confessed Prince Ethan. He then kissed her on her lips gently, and his tears dropped on her cheeks. A miracle had happened. Princess Amber opened her eyes. She had woke up. It was the power of their true love that broke the curse.

Prince Ethan and Princess Amber live happily as a married couple in Banana Land. A few years later, King Joseph passed his throne to Prince Ethan and Princess Amber bore him a pair of beautiful twins. King Ethan was a good king and the people in Banana Land live happily ever after.

What is Wrong with Me ?!!

Today, I only have two hours of lecture in the morning. After lecture, I went to the cafeteria to pack my lunch. Then, I walked back to my room. I washed my clothes after eating lunch. I was telling myself that I must finish going through one notes before going for a nap.

I sat down with my notes for one hour but I did not even manage to read through ten slides. I could not keep my eyes opened anymore. Therefore, I put down the notes and climbed up my bed. I dozed off within minutes.

I slept for two hours plus. I felt even more tired after sleeping. I do not know what is wrong with me. Normally, I feel refreshed after resting and sleeping. Not only do I feel tired, I also feel moody. I do not feel like doing anything.

I sat down again with my notes after dinner. It is 10.30pm now and I have finally manged to finish reading one notes. Oh my goodness, I do not know what has happened to me. I spent the whole day studying one notes only.

I guess maybe I am not used to the life here after going back home for two weeks. Or maybe it is because of the upcoming examinations, the assignments with their deadlines approaching and also the activities I am involved in. Maybe I just miss spending time with my best friend - television. I really miss the times where I sit on a sofa infront of the television watching movies, drama, or entertainment shows. I feel so comfortable and so... I do not know how to describe the feelings. Now, I can only sit down on a hard chair infront of my laptop.

I am listening to the song - "Home" by Michael Buble. Well, the lyrics really match my feelings right now.

"Home"

Another summer day

Has come and gone away

In Paris and Rome

But I wanna go home

Mmmmmmmm

May be surrounded by

A million people I

Still feel all alone

I just wanna go home

Oh, I miss you, you know

And I've been keeping all the letters that I wrote to you

Each one a line or two
"I'm fine baby, how are you?"

Well I would send them but I know that it's just not enough

My words were cold and flat

And you deserve more than that

Another aeroplane

Another sunny place

I'm lucky, I know

But I wanna go home

Mmmm, I've got to go home

Let me go home

I'm just too far from where you are

I wanna come home

And I feel just like I'm living someone else's life

It's like I just stepped outside

When everything was going right

And I know just why you could not come along with me

'Cause this was not your dream

But you have always believed in me

Another winter day has come

And gone away

In even Paris and Rome

And I wanna go home

Let me go home

And I'm surrounded by

A million people I

Still fell all alone

Oh, let me go home

Oh, I miss you, you know

Let me go home

I've had my run

Baby, I'm done

I gotta go home

Let me go home

It will all be all right

I'll be home tonight

I'm coming back home

A New Journey

Excitement, scare and worries. These were the mixed feelings I felt when I was waiting for my results of application into local universities by Unit Pusat Universiti (UPU). Earlier on, I was given a false hope by Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM). USM offered me a place to pursue a bachelor degree in Dietetics but the next day, they said there were a technical error and the fact that I did not get a place in their university. Do you remember the blunder made by USM and it was published on the front cover of local newspapers? And yes, I was one of the victims of that blunder. Therefore, my only hope was that I will get good news from my UPU application.

On the day where UPU released the results, I went to my friend, Hua Wen's house to check out my results because my house did not have internet service back then. When I arrived, Hua Wen told me happily that she managed to get a place in Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM) to do Nutrition and Community Health. I thought I would get a place too because Hua Wen was a victim of the USM blunder just as me. However, I was shocked and speechless when I saw the words, "Dukacita dimaklumkan...." I failed to get a place through UPU. My thoughts were "Oh my, what am I going to do now?" I told my mom who accompanied me there about it and she asked me to calm down first. Hua Wen then suggested that I make an appeal to UPU. With no other choices available, I made an appeal online and then went home.

I tried to console myself by telling myself not to feel sad and do not worry about it because I can go to a private college if my appeal failed. But to be honest, I could not help it but to feel lost and helpless, and also very scared and worried. My mom consoled me by assuring me that I will be fine and maybe my appeal will be accepted or I can even go to a private college. I felt better even though I still feel sad because most of my friends are enrolling into universities the following week but me, I am lost and I cannot see my future yet.

The following Wednesday, I accompanied Hua Wen to the mall to shop for the things she needed before enrolling into UPM three days later. As we were shopping around, I was thinking I would also be buying the things needed too, if I was offered a place by any local universities. Actually, I kind of envied Hua Wen for being able to enrol into university soon. After finished shopping, I went home and a miracle has happened. I received a short message service (sms), saying that USM has again offered me a place to study Dietetics. At that time, I was thinking whether this is true or not. Is it another blunder by USM? I was thinking whether I should believe it or not.

Then, I told my mom and my aunt about it. My aunt phoned up USM to confirm whether the notification is valid this time. The staff told her this is true and I have to register at the health campus of USM in Kubang Kerian, Kelantan on Saturday. I was like, "Oh my goodness! The health campus of USM is in Kelantan and I have to go there in three days time. But I have not prepared and buy anything yet." Frankly speaking, all this while, I thought that all the campuses of USM are located in Penang Island and I did not know that their health campus is in Kelantan. The truth is I did not even want to apply for a place in USM because I did not want to leave Kuala Lumpur (KL) and I wanted to get into Universiti Malaya (UM), UPM or Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM); I applied for USM because Hua Wen asked me to apply for it together with her. I filled up Dietetics as my first choice simply because I am a person who does not have any ambition, and I do not even have any idea what to study. Yes, this is a true story and I am not telling lies. I am such a blur person in life.

My mom called my dad immediately and told him this good news. My dad came home immediately and started to source for information. He was very happy that I managed to get a place in USM because USM has just acquired the APEX status but he is also worried at the same time because we do not have any friends or relatives in Kelantan and he is worried about my well-being there. My dad told me that we will have to leave for Kelantan on Friday as it takes around 8 to 9 hours to travel there from KL by bus and the registration is on Saturday morning. I was shocked and scared; deep down my heart, I was unwilling to go to Kelantan because I have not leave home all my life and I have to go so far away just to further my studies. I have to admit that I am a pampered child. I have never done household chores; I have never washed clothes before, I have never washed the toilet before... Everything in my life is well taken care of by my mom. Therefore, I wondered whether I will be able to survive in Kelantan, without any family members and friends around.

Everything was in a rush. My dad bought two bus tickets to Kelantan and booked a hotel room the next day. My mom and aunt took me to buy some necessities and helped me packed up my luggage. Everything was done in one day's time. My father and I left for Kelantan on Friday morning. My mom did not go with us because she had to babysit and could not leave. It was my first time leaving home to such a far place, and I was afraid because I do not know what to expect in the future. When I was walking out of the house to get into the car of my dad's friend, I dare not turn back to say good bye to my mom for I knew I would definitely cry if I look at her face. So I just waved and said good bye to her with my back facing her. Tears rolled down my cheeks after I get into the car and I did not turn back to look at my mom even after the car took off. My dad's friend dropped us off at the bus station at Putra World Trade Centre (PWTC) in KL. My dad and I went up the bus at 9.50 am and the bus started the journey to Kelantan at 10 am. I started crying silently as the bus took off. I felt depressed and scared because this is my first time leaving home to such a far place. So I kept telling myself this is one of the stages in life, everyone has to go through this and I can definitely survive.

I have started a new journey in my life - enrolling into USM in Kelantan to pursue my bachelor of degree in Dietetics and having to live on my own with no family members and friends by my side. I knew it is time for me to be independent and to live on my own. What I have learnt is do not worry when things are not in their right places because God will take care of everything and He will arrange everything for us. Just like I do, I did not get any offers from any local universities but in the end, I managed to get a place in USM. I was well taken care of and I managed to survive in such a far place away from home. I also learnt that we must not underestimate our own capabilities. Do believe in ourselves and we can definitely go through all the difficulties in life. I realised I am not that weak after all and I can survive on my own. I believe I will be able to face any difficulties in life in the future.