Trust Me, Okay?

That One Woman

It is slightly cloudy this morning. The sound of nature plays melodically. The weather and humidity is also just nice for a human being. Being surrounded by nature, of course it would not be as hot as it is in the noon time. During its peak, the heat would annoy those of European and American nationality who stay here. While for the natives, it is very common. They are very much used to it.

Ghaafar Lee who had been awake for hours leaves the house. He is amused by the beauty of it. Yes, the place he stayed in Ipoh was not that urbanized, located at the city's skirting. However, the nature there was nowhere near this one. This then is to be added with the fact that he was brought up in a developed area in Teluk Anson, thanks to his family's privileged status.

Couple of tens of yards away stands Suri Kenanga. She was with her rifle which, from his view, was cleaning it. A few bullet shells are seen on the ground near her, probably from her shooting session he heard earlier this morning. His instinct tells him to approach her. Thinking about it, she was the person who grabbed him from behind at the railway station previously. In the name of the almighty, her strength was in no way comparable to him. It was not a strength of a woman.

"Hello, there!" He approaches Suri Kenanga who was sitting crouch-resting. Suri Kenanga does not react immediately. Slowly, turning her head, she looks at Ghaafar Lee who is just a couple of feet away from her standing like a mannequin. "Good morning..." He puts a smile on his face.

"Morning." Wished her dull, then staring back at the empty view.

"I am sorry about earlier..." Ghaafar Lee starts a conversation with her. "I have never thought of it from the perspective you explained..." He continues. "I am a descendant of a rich Chinese Capitan, therefore, my family is very privileged. My father then was a government offi cer, one of the very few Malays who served as one." He sighs.

"No wonder..." Suri Kenanga whispers to herself although it is audible. "No wonder what?" Ghaafar Lee asks.

"No wonder you look up to the British. Your family is a privileged one. The British barely touch those of aristocrats and high class people. It's people like us, these lowlies who are targeted by these colonizers." Now she sighs.

"I understand your frustration." Ghaafar Lee persuading. "No, you don't." Suri Kenanga denies him.

"Yes, I do." Ghaafar Lee is firm with his words now. "To prove it, I would like to join you in fighting for the sake of the Malayans!" He semi-shouted. "I am ready to prove my worth and to protect this land of fortune!" Said him, a bit excited.

"Nah, join the army then," Suri Kenanga still is not very much attached to what he says. "Having a weakling like you is a liability for us," said her quite cynically. "Just join the colonizers and bear arms with them."

"I have tried! I even went to the interview at the Army Depot!" He is now a bit mad with her reaction. "But they rejected me..." He looks down.

"Of course they would, a weakling like you for the army, I doubt that very much..." Suri Kenanga teases him.

"Then, let me prove it to you! To you all!" Ghaafar Lee tries to convince her so he could join the White Mask. "I am a worthy-being to you all."

***

"You tried to kill me and now you want to fight under my lead? You should have worked with the theatre, didn't you?" Master Amir has doubts about Ghaafar Lee's request to join and fight with them. "No, my men will send you back to Klang town in a few days and you will then live your life back." Said Master Amir very firmly.

"Please, sir! I have pondered everything you all said. Your cause of struggle is real, for the people, the lowlies! This might be the only way to prove my worth to my people, my country!" He starts begging. "I might have come from a great family, sir. But, I am totally nobody. I came here to start a new life and this could be it!" He persuades Master Amir to accept him.

"Okay then, Kenanga will train you until you are fit to join us." Master Amir accepts him with a condition. "Until you are fit, you will train day and night! No excuses!" Master Amir elaborates. Suri Kenanga just nods, complying to what her leader, also her foster father had just instructed. "Yes, sir. Thank you!"