On the First Scholar

10th of May, hour 2200. Sis called. I didn't pick up the phone, as I didn't think anything important is happening this time round. She's fine with her postings, Bro's back from National Service, I've been chatting with mum a lot lately, Dad's healthy. So I didn't pick up the phone. A while later, the expected text message arrive.

Damn. And we thought he's got a higher chance since he's a straight A1 scorer. Poor him. Poor Mum. Mum must be really really really sad. When the Bank Negara scholarship interviewees list were revealed, Mum was kind of sad that bro wasn't listed as well. But not to be offered JPA, that's a big, nope, a VERY big disappointment.

I remembered last time when I learnt about my results, Mum was kind of sad too. I didn't exactly know how she reacted, but she was more of like, wondering if I'm the one depressed. Back then, I was putting so much hope on the scholarships, since sis wasn't offered as well. Although having me not scoring a perfect score, I still put much hope in the scholarships. I remembered I performed really well in the interview. The other interviewees in the same group couldn't agree more. Plus, I was a National Service trainee as well. That should be given credit! But I was away to college when the scholarships winners were revealed, so Mum was very worried that I might break down. But I didn't. Sad no doubt, but I was on another scholarship already then, just not one that could get me overseas.

So, when Sis said Mum was crying, I know she really was. She was putting a lot of hopes in the little brother you see, and she sacrificed so much to make sure the little brother perform well. When the SPM results was released a few months back, she literally cry of joy. And I can't imagine she's right now, crying of disappointment and anger back at home. I was thinking of what to say to coax her. I know nothing could possibly make her feel better. I felt the pang of disappointment as well, I did put hopes in the little brother. Getting the scholarships means a lot of saving for the family. Plus, he is a very bright student. He deserves that.

Mum called a while later, telling me that the little bro checked the results. I could still hear her after-crying, her voice was very soft and weak. But she didn't want to accept the fact. She said it must be a false alarm. None of little bro's friends got offered as well. And none of the kids of her colleagues were offered too. So she said it's a false alarm.

True enough, when hour 2300 c0mes, she called back.

"Little bro got it. Just now the website wasn't updated. But we logged in again 3 minutes ago. He got it. Thank God!"

I went like "REALLY!?!?! HE GOT IT?! WAAA!!! OO YAY! REALLY! HE GOT IT!?"

I'm sure KK from the next room could hear me screaming. Oh my oh my! Finally there's a JPA scholar in the house. After the first 2 children didn't make it, the last one finally got it. Mum's wishes finally came true. In fact, ALL her wishes came true. She must be on cloud nine tonight. I doubt she could even sleep well. All that disapointment and suddenly a big u-turn to euphoria, that's going to give her quite some heart attack. She said so herself.

She sent me another text message a while later.

Bleh. Now we lost. Apparently, Stephanie was my ex-classmate. And her younger sister, Samantha was my little brother's classmate. Stephanie's a JPA scholar doing medicine in Otago University. And now she's telling me her younger sister also got it. Blergh! Her dad's some high ranking people in the timber industry, and her mum's a lecturer. It's not like her family cannot support them overseas right?!

Anyway, in case you were wondering what the little brother was offered, Mum said the net just showed "Congratulations! Course offered: Medicine"

And I sent a text message to the little brother: Yo bro! Congrates! Now you gotta work your arse off. Medicine is not a bed of roses, you'll suffer like never before. Welcome to hellhole. :)

I wondered if I made the right choice saying "Just apply for medicine la then!" in the car when we had that career talk earlier this year. Dang.