Danielle
Rohene – 2001

Well, she seemed rather nerdy when I first saw her in the year 1999. She wore knee length socks. It maybe fashion these days but back then, it made her seem really nerdy and goody-two-shoe.

Then, when I got to know her in 2000, she seemed rather stoic, practical, don’t mess with me kind. I wasn’t afraid of her but didn’t really feel like having somebody with that sort of aura around me, then.

In 2001, I learned that she was rather funny and witty, through our waktu-rehat hang out time. She was fun to be with. So, there our friendship began. We had fun making fun of teachers we didn’t really like.

By 2002, we were pretty much close because we were in the same group of friends and ending up in the same class only made things worse, as we cracked up pretty often, skipping classes we found boring, using the same-old-lame excuse of ‘Got prefects’ duty’. Haha.

She was quite distant from people even then. Weirdly though, I cared for her for reasons I couldn’t explain. When she was bumped up about a Physics SPM trial exam, and another friend said something really wrong that made her cry again, I got pissed and just told her to leave and not to come back to this area for a while. When I think about it now, I know I could have handled it better, but at that point, I hated my friend’s lack of sensitivity to Rohene’s clear disappointment.
It was weird caring for someone you didn’t know all too well.

Form 6 – same class and we were 4 sekawan – rohene, muna, aggie and I. Somehow, there was an innate awareness in each of us to support each other in whatever way possible throughout this 2 years cause we knew it’s not going to be easy.

Now, she’s a grown woman...Really. She expresses herself better, curses a lot more than she ever did, learned to trust people better, learned to slowly let go of her ego, her amazing, analytical mind has only expanded, she’s a critical analyst of the political system in not just the government, but in the universities and schools. She understands the problem, better identifies them and therefore can better provide possible suggestions. She no longer thinks the best way to live her adult life is alone in a rented house. Her view of life has evolved. Nothing surprising, I know... but to be able to witness that change is a pretty amazing experience.

Sounds like an amazing person? Yes, she is.
2 amazing friends down. Many more to go.
Every friend is a part of me, that I am proud of.
2 Responses
  1. 毓涵 Says:

    i'm waiting for mine :-)


  2. Danielle Says:

    wow...
    actually, it's quite an honour for me when you say you're waiting for yours, cuz that means you're anticipating what i would and could write about you...
    next entry shall be yours.. ;)