What does it mean to truly become an adult? Introducing a series of 11 short stories about Malaysian youth from various backgrounds discovering themselves amidst a national landscape plagued by social issues and the enduring conflict between traditi...
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Kai En drags her feet as she walks past an electronic shop. A bright screen catches her attention, joyful music erupting from the speakers. Her footsteps slow down as she gets engrossed with the colorful animations. At home, Kai En is never allowed to even peek at the TV. It is always chores or work taking up all her time. 'Tom and Jerry' plays on the screen and she savours every moment she has.
A sudden bump pulls her back into reality. "Sorry," she mumbles while looking down, only to find a young boy has fallen over. His clumsiness reminds Kai En of her brother.
Wait. My brother. I need to get home before 8 pm and buy beer for my father.
Looking at her watch, fear floods her. She sprints to the nearest convenience store and looks for the specific brand her father instructed her to buy.
There are only green cans left. In a panic, she runs to other stores, hoping there will be at least a dozen cans available. How much time did I spend there? The beer she needs is sold out. It's a Sunday night after all.
Dread fills Kai En as she reaches home empty-handed. The door is wide open and a tall dark figure appears. She trembles and falls to the ground, her knees weak. It will be a long night.
A young girl's screeching cry can be heard echoing throughout the streets. Kai En whimpers as she tries to dodge her father's blows. Neighbors peek out of their windows as they speak in hushed tones, shaking their heads. It's not the first time this has happened.
Children peek their heads behind the gates. Curiosity spikes but they won't understand why an older kid is getting punished. They won't know the truth. Mrs. Wang stands still, keeping her mouth shut. She winces and looks away, knowing her fate will be the same if she speaks a word.
A small figure appears around the corner. Kai Chong, her brother, puts on his headphones and locks the door. It's not the first time this has happened. He never liked his sister anyway. In fact, he never liked this family.
"YOU ONLY HAD TO DO ONE THING RIGHT!" her father bellows. Kai En's lips tremble as waves of pain come in again. The smell of alcohol, body odour and smoke fills the house. She tries not to make another sound. She parts her lips to take in a breath but her drunk father thinks she was about to talk back at him.
Crack!
The belt on his waist becomes a punishment tool, 'teaching' Kai En a lesson.
Crack.
Stifled sobs continue, as blood stains the wooden floors. The metal prong of the belt catches on her skin, tearing it apart. Only because Kai En failed to buy the beer, she has to suffer. "Are you stupid? I said TIGER, not CARLSBERG!"
"Oh yes, I forgot you're dumb too!" Mr. Wang hurls a can of beer at her, soaking her clothes. Curling her body, she squeezes her eyes shut, waiting for it to be over.
