Turning 2.0 Season 3 Chapter 1 : Change (Sugababes)

Previously :
After two seasons of Turning 2.0, of looking back at the past, I realized how far I've come. From going through a rollercoaster ride during my teenage years to finding out about my biological father, I can't really complain about life being uninteresting. But that's all in the past. It's time to deal with the present.

"The past will always be there. And the past will never change. The only thing we can do is try and change the present for a better future. The only thing we can do is try to enjoy the present and find a silver lining in everything we encounter. Blessing in disguise, as some might say. I am counting my blessings everyday"

Narita International Airport / Kuala Lumpur International Airport / Kuching International Airport
11th August 2007

The last time I went back to Malaysia was a year and a half ago. When I was back in March of 2006, everything was exactly the way they were when I left in October 2005. All my friends were there. I went out with most of them to have drink at McDonalds or any of the low cost coffee shops. Norman, Dominic (and his new friend, Canitius – nice fellow, btw) and Jia Hsien. The same gang. All the places in Kuching were still the same. It felt like as if time has not passed by. And of course, I still had two fathers. One ran away and the other at home, doing nothing.

As I board the plan this time around, something told me that nothing’s going to be the same. For once, this time around, I am not going back with Ihsan and the gang. We initially planned to go back to together. We even bought the same cheap ticket from the same agent together. But unfortunately, the (fudging idiotic) agent swindled our money and pulled a Houdini on us. RM 1500 poofed just like that. Thus, all of us had to buy our own tickets at the very last minute and we all ended up with different tickets. My ticket cost almost RM 3000. It broke my heart to see my money fly away just like that. Sigh.

As I arrived at the KLIA International Airport, I walked to the cafetaria. After a plate of Chicken Rice (ahhh….something does stay the same…the nice old chicken rice..miss ya so…), I went to the toilet to freshen myself up with a splash of water. As I looked at my reflection, I see the physical signs of change. I got chubbier. Sigh….At least I’ll be a hit among old women who would just love to pinch my cheek. While thinking about what other things that might have changed, I strolled around KLIA and finally when my flight to Kuching was boarding, I ran to the gates. Something just never changes. I still procrastinate.

Arriving at the new Kuching International (just because it flies to Australia as well) Airport, it began to hit me on how major the new changes are going to be. The new Kuching airport seemed so different from last time around. It smelled different, it looked different, it was very different. Even my cousin who came to greet me was different. He, who used to be this tall bloke, was now a lump of fat (well, almost a lump of fat. Just slightly chubbier I guess. His excuse was that after hurting himself after falling down the stairs (that was what he told his mother but in actual fact he hurt himself while playing basketball), he didn’t have time to exercise…). His new girlfriend was also slightly different. Much more sporting. Almost like a guy. LOL.

My plan was to come back a day earlier and surprise my mother. So I went back home and realized the house was locked. So I decided to climb in through the back window like how I always did. That didn’t go very well. The window was locked as well. Sigh…so while I try and figure another way in, all Mark (my cousin) had to do was to push the door a bit, and the door opened itself like a flower blooming on an August day. Sigh. The house itself was very different. My mother repainted it. And there were two refrigerators.

As I wait for my mother to arrive (from selling food from pub to pub from 10pm to 2am at night with my bro and sis and two other workers who were helping her), I arranged the gifts I brought back from Japan for them. I felt like Santa Claus for once which was appropriate since my aunt gave me the name Nicholas when I was born. I guessed I was hoping that the gifts will somehow make up for not being by their side for the past one and a half year. I brought something from everyone. While arranging it, I kept thinking about the amount of money I owe my friends. Sigh…should have been more careful with my budget, but still it felt worth it at the end of the day. We can always make more money anyway.

My family finally arrived. My mum was surprised but for not more than 5 minutes. She spent the next half an hour blabbing on how I tricked her. Laugh out loud. My brother was busy opening his Gundam toys that I bought for him. Gosh, he was tall. And his voice matured. Then again, he was 12. What else did I expect from a 12 year old? Obviously kids his age bound to change. My sister, still had her long hair and she seemed to be slightly more bitchy though, in a good caring way though. She nagged more like a mother these days. My whole family seemed to be very happy. The biggest change however, was the gifts. This year, I brought something for my stepdad. I guess after finding out both of my dads were dead, I began to realize that I only have one living father now. And like it or not, no matter how useless he may be, he was still MY useless father. And to give him credit, he is changing. Slowly but towards the better.

After unpacking everything (who am I kidding. I just left all of them at the side of my bed), I went to lie on my bed. It is official now. Most things changed. Even my friends changed. Most of my friends were elsewhere. Dominic was in north Peninsular Malaysia, in a little fishing state of Terengganu. Jia Hsien was in United States. All I had was Norman, and even with him, we were not as close anymore (I guess we just grew separate ways). I have no idea how life was going to be this next few months. But I had a feeling. Things were still going to be great. And something big was coming my way. The question is what?

Coming up next on Chapter 2 : Leap of Faith (David Charvet) 15th December 2007:
A Turning 2.0 personal Sex and the City. My personal Shrek. Stay tuned.