It started out by myself waking up 2 hours earlier then I intended so that I could carry out the mini surprise I had thought of to thank Haikal for taking the extra trouble daily to accompany me study after his school. As for my surprise, it was something I felt still pale in comparison to the fact that he still insists on sending me home daily, and whenever he could, fetch me from where I was from.

So anyway, at 8am I boarded the train and felt what he must be feeling daily, spending an hour daily alone on stinky public commute just so he could fetch/send me home. In between dozing off, flipping through my notes and staring at the other quirky characters aboard, I finally reached Sembawang at approximately 9am and begun my hike to the Al-Ameen foodstall around 4 bus stops away form the interchange.

True, I could have boarded the bus, but I’m uber tight on cash these days and oh well, since the weather was perfect, might as well.

10am, back at his doorstep. I carefully laid down the red bag containing the prata goodness as well as the mini card I had made earlier on. Hid near the lift landing and proceeded to call a still sleeping boyfriend.

“Good morning Bie! Open your door please!”
“Huh? My bedroom door?”
“No lah! Why would I ask you to open your bedroom door hahaha! Your front door!”
“Why?”
“Eh don’t ask so much and open, can?”
“Okayyyy…”
*Shuffling sounds, proceeded with front door opening*
“Bie, what’s that?”

And at this point, I could hear his Mom screaming in the background, akin to scolding him. I could hear her telling him to shut the door, asking who left the bag there etcetera. Also, I could hear her saying “What? I can’t cook for you, isit?” and also “Next time ask her send Briyani lah!”

Needless to say, it scared the shit out of me and I took the lift straight down and hid under the block opposite hahaha.

A few minutes after i had settled down and started reading my notes, Haikal called and said that his Mom invited me up. My heart rate rose exponentially as I profusely refused the offer, citing a million and one excuses. Finally an exasperated Haikal said “Fine~” and the conversation ended.

At least, I thought it had. For 5 minutes later, a still kopet Haikal could be seen dragging me up back to his flat hahaha. Ok, just to make it clear, the other time when we went to his house for Raya, his parents weren’t at home. Hope that explains why I was acting the way I am :/

So anyway, outside his doorstep, I began to feel dizzy and my heart was seriously threatening to jump out from my throat. Haikal, on the hand, wasn’t helping at all, and instead, was laughing at me squatting next to his door trying to calm myself down.

True, meeting a boyfriend’s mother isn’t actually a totally ‘new’ experience for me, seeing that I have met one of my previous ex’s parents. But somehow, with Haikal’s mom, I really felt the need to be ‘accepted’. The fact that I knew whilst Haikal is bathing later, I would somehow get a one-on-one talk with his mother further amplified my worries hurhurhur.

Finally, with a push, the door was opened and Haikal led me to the kitchen where his mother was. I salaam-ed her, and she greeted me by saying “Why did you go down? Aunty won’t eat you up you know!” hahaha. After some small banter, I settled at the dining room, was served some food (of which my silly shaking hands spilled some drinks hahahah!) and had breakfast with the boyfriend. His Mom declined to join us so Haikal and I just laughed and stuff outside.

I insisted on clearing the plates (of which Haikal had a good snigger over) and went in the kitchen to talk with the Mom. Just some random conversation about her leg therapy and stuff la, rather formal I thought. Halfway through we were interrupted by the begok.

Me : “So aunty, when will your next therapy be?”
Begok : “Aik? Why you call her aunty? Call her Mom lah!”
His Mom : “Haikal, don’t be gatal okay.”
Me : *laughs nervously*

Thanks ah eh, Bie!

After I settled myself down again in the dining room, Haikal excused himself to bathe and I started to study. 5 minutes later, his Mom appeared. (Here’s where I almost died) . She turned on the radio at a low volume and with a simple action of settling herself on the stool next to mine, got my entire internal organs jumbled up. Kwa kwa kwa~

Now, one on ones are a totally NEW experience okay. Never in my entire life have I ever done that hahaha. So anyway, we (or rather, she) proceeded chatting about a million and one things under the sun, from skincare, their family, my family, studies and of course, Haikal’s behaviour.

In the middle of our conversation, Haikal popped his head behind his Mom and started making stupid faces and it took me ALL of my strength and acting skills to keep a straight face and not give him the middle finger. Seriously, the boncet guy was like dancing around at the back, all along when his mother was talking about some doctors in the family. I almost died laughing inside.

And then came the time to leave. As I was clearing my stuff, the Mom appeared with a sweater from Mecca and gave it to me. Touched, bebeh! And before we left, after I salaam-ed her, she actually hugged me and gave me kisses on my cheeks :)

Maybe it’s a norm for her to do that to everyone, I don’t know, but it felt really, really good. Oh and have I mentioned she gave me another green packet? Wakakaka! That’s $21 from his house alone! So we finally bade goodbye and I went off skipping along into the day with my hamsum boyfriend feeling uber amused at my state of euphoria.

To answer your question, Bie, I don’t regret being dragged up 7 floors :)

* * * * * * * * * * *

You know, it really is a huge weight off my chest to know that both of our parents are in the know and agreeable to what we’re having. It feels nice and warm to have my Mom joking about Haikal or asking about him, and it too feels good when he relays similar situations to me.

It’s nice not having anything to hide for a change. And it’s darn good not having to lie to anyone.

Being in a relationship with Haikal is a definite change from what I used to have. I’m finally treated like I deserve to be, and I feel like I’m truly someone important to him, not some back up or booty call. He’s not ashamed of my faults, of my flaws, and most importantly, he’s not ashamed of me.

He holds my hands in public, introduces me to anyone he knows who we bump into (without letting go of my hand), friends and family alike. (In fact, I just had lunch with his poly classmates.) When my hair goes out of place, instead of criticizing, he takes it in him to get my comb out of my bag and comb it back into place for me. Small gestures, like staring at me when I sleep, like automatically massaging my feet after a long walk (even bringing lotion!!), getting a drink for me when I start coughing.

And with him, I can truly be who I am without having to be embarrassed about it. Sure, we do name calls still (his recent one for me is “Gibe”, which means Gigi Besar) but something about the way we do it makes it a lighthearted and fun thing, not something I would end up being depressed over.

This morning whilst on the way to his school (I study there occasionally), I had the best time ever aboard the bus journey. Kal and I, we usually place ourself on the top deck, first row. Reason? So we can drive the bus hahaha!

I truly can’t remember fully what we talked about or did, but I remember laughing and talking non stop till my mouth, cheeks and stomach hurt. Something about male and female lorries, hitting each others’ forehead, jampis, playing “I spy with my little eye” and such.

And if you’re thinking that we’re such a childish couple, I wouldn’t, not once, disagree. Hearing stories of how some of my girl friends’ relationships are, I wouldn’t mind at all being called childish and immature if THOSE relationships are considered to be matured.

I have always dreamed my perfect guy as one who would sweep me off my feet every single day, does childish things with me and laugh together about it, while at the same time able to be serious and hold mature conversations when need be and teaches me the stuff that I lack, like confidence and responsibility (and fashion sense hahaha).

He would be one who’d exchange religious knowledge with me, and practice them together, who’d write silly notes (Post it yesterday : Hey you look gorgeous! Call me at 9**** ****! Love, Haikal), who’d be madly jealous when other guys fall for me, who’d look at me in the eye and tell me I’m pretty when I look like shit, who tests me on my Peribahasa under the stars, agree to impromptu plans to go hiking or visit museums and such.

The list is never ending, and I never thought it would be possible to find such a man, but Haikal, he just keeps on ticking every bloody check box I have drawn and everyday he makes me fall in love with him over and over again.

After this post, I don’t mind being teased for being mushy, for being too girly, for being overtly emotional, for pouring my heart and soul on this blog of mine which I have for a long time built an emotional barrier on.

For this girl, this girl typing these very words you’re reading, has found her perfect man and is not embarrassed to let the world know that she has fallen deep and hard for him, that she has found a way to love and to be happy more then she could ever remotely imagine possible.

I love you Haikal. For all the laughters, the tears, the discussions, and everything else that we’ve been through during the short time that we have been dating, I love every single second of them and I love every single aspect of you.

True, us humans can only plan and only God has the power to decide, but as much as the following statement can ever weigh in this ever-evolving world, at this point of time in my life, I really do love you more then I could have ever promised.