“Dad has a second wife at home, when Mom heard this, she cried during the night, I always wondered why does adult love making things complicated”

Natalie understand the culture of my country from her dad. “Dad told me about this, polygamy is a common thing in Asia but so does happen here, with mistress and sorts. Ugh is annoying!” 

Natalie stomp her foot on the ground showing her frustration. We slowly reach the school where it is still early, It is cold like 9 degrees Celsius. Natalie shivers as well and holding my hand.

“Your hand is warm” her hand was cold as ice. Once reach at the entrance it was still early, we head directly to class for self study. Natalie went to her own classroom, I reach there no one was there. I took a seat and Ms Aaron arrived.

“Hey Alex, I’m sad to see you go but I sure hope you will do wonders back in Malaysia” 

“Yes Ms. Aaron, I wish that I would stay longer…”

Mr Donyai my math teacher was there as well, I m from the bilingual class which I’m still not able to adapt myself in the normal class. Their English is tough but I enjoy it.

Here comes the big bullies, Hiew looking at me and called me “hey little asian!” I just keep myself quiet, when he suddenly kick me in front of the teachers. Ms. Aaron shouted at him 

“Hiew, is that how you act here, do you know what will happen if you showing violence in this school?” Hiew did not care and someone at the door. He suddenly slaps him, he speaks in Vietnamese and he is actually his elder brother. 

“Sorry for my stupid brother, he is an idiot…” 

After that Hiew ran off, I felt slightly bad about this and said to his brother “I sorry for this, I shouldn’t be that rough as well” 

“You know him…” 

When in class, there was a commotion outside the class. Where Hiew and his gang fought against a group of black American student. It went out of control, it was Damien, he was piss because Hiew actually bullied his brother, Serve him right. 

During Lunch time, I went straight to Matt and ask him what have happen.

“You better back home, because that idiot just provoke Damien you know right is with the 102 Gang” I know that gang because I had a friend in Michigan told me about that. Natalie join with me and she look worried.

“Did that idiot bullied you again?!” She is piss but her eyes began to tear wondering what have happen. “That idiot is now a target of Damien’s gang, they going to kill him” In my heart, I know its not right which I took my courage to meet Damien. I kept from Natalie and Matt from this, I meet him at the side which there is group of outsiders that I know. 

“What’s up homie” - Alex

“What’s up brother” - Damien

“Do you know that kid? Hiew right I know his dad own a shop here” - Damien

“Wait up, I know he is a jerk but It’s over the top, homie” - Alex 

“Yeah, I wonder if this piece went through that fools body” Damien showed his gun to me which I tried to console him.

“Yeah, I‘m pissed at him also, not just anyone almost everyone doesn’t like him” - Alex

“Yeah Homie! that fucker doesn’t know a thing a two about this place” - Damien

“I heard going back to Malaysia?” - Damien

“Yeah, but seeing this make me even shaken up” -  Alex

“Don’t be be wuss, I really piss-off with that asshole” - Damien

“There gotta be some other way…”  Alex

“Don’t be brotha, everything is going to be just fine” - Damien

“I know what are you thinking brotha” - Alex

I was part of the 102 gang until Natalie ask me to quit, but Damien is my close friend. I am not letting him jeopardise his future for some asshole of a jerk. I hold his shoulder, and give him an idea. 

Hiew was in his class still a jerk as always thinking he is the king of this school. It was Natalie approach him. Damien was also surprised 

“Yo nigga, ain’t that your babe?” 

What the hell is Natalie doing?

I heard Natalie talking to Hiew 

“You know he is going back?”

Hiew stand up and said to her

“Hey don’t be a bitch, I’m doing what I like, since you don’t have your knight in armor.. how about you with me?” 

I’m shaken in anger, wanted to beat this jerk. Damien is also scared of me. 

“Nigga, cool bro…” 

“Pak!!!!”

Hiew went down to the floor, Damien and me was shocked. “Fuck!! Nigga that your babe homie”

“Don’t be Asshole!! Even though you always pick on Alex, he never tried to fight back!!” 

Hiew instantly stand up and open a knife on his bag. My body went automatic, I knew this is going to happen. Adrenaline rush in my body and punch the asshole where he flew off few feet off the ground. The knife stuck at my arm, I hurts like hell right at my arm. Natalie begin to panic, 

“Alex!! My god!! Your arm!?” The teacher brought me to the infirmary and the principal Ms White wanted answer. Dammit, why it has to be like this? 

“Alex, may I know what have happen?” I explain everything about Hiew’s behaviour which his brother meet me. He kneel to me and beg me “please forgive my idiot brother!!” The principal called the police. Darn, now the cops huh this make my day. Hiew was nowhere to be found. Natalie waited outside the principal’s room. 

The police interrogate and said to me “you know, you have ball pulling stunts like that but it still wrong doing that kid” I could not look at the police because I was a former gang member. It took hours after what have happen. They manage to get Hiew and he is scared. The police ask the principal to transfer the student. Ms White said to the police “yeah he will, I will not hesitate this stupid action of my own student, he is not Davidson material… and Alex I’m proud you stand up to this bully but you could get your killed…” I wanted Ms White not to tell my Mom about this. Ms White knew my family incident before. 

“I know what happen to your mom, this also one of it…” she called Natalie in 

“It not nice, hitting a boy like that Natalie” Natalie explain because she is upset with Hiew bullying me. It was a long discussion again and Ms White order us to back home early. The police man sent me back home.

“Alex just between you and me, you’re the man but I quiet sad though your going back to Malaysia” 

“Yeah…”

“Cole told me all about it, this bullying but it seems out of control”

“What happen to Hiew?”

“He and his gang will be transferred to a school nearby his parents including his friends which is they stayed in community together but that school is something…” I wondered what school it is and I ask him

“Mr Jackson, which school?” 

“Robson school one of the worst, his dad never wanted him to be there” I feel bad for him, even though he is a jerk but he is also had future for him but not like this. I arrive near home, where I going to figure out how to answer to Mom, she is going to be piss at me. Which is yep, it does 

“Alex!! What happen here!?” 

“I tripped in school I got it by a metal in the school ground while playing football with friends” Mom look at me and accepted my excuses. Whew…she believe me.

Natalie called me 

Ring, ring!! 

“Alex your back home safely?” Ah her own voice healed me

“Yeah I m safe and sound”

“I heard Hiew and his gang were transferred immediately after the commotions this morning.  

With my busted right arm, luckily that the nurse stitches for me, that will leave a scar. Days had passed until the last day of week before the semester ended. I got a high score in my class subject, I am proud of it. Thanks to Natalie and Mom constant nagging. I heard the news that Hiew was killed in a gang fight in Robson school along with his gang member. I prayed its not Damien. Damien is outside calling me. 

“Yo Homie!!” 

“Whats up Nigga!” High five with gang sign 

“I heard the news…did you do it?” 

“No bro, I’ve got no time for that I’m busy with dad workshop” Damien quit the gang and he disband it. I feel relieved that Damien was out of gang life. 5 people were killed in the gun fight, including his elder brother. The fight got out of control, this thing happen in this country. Racism and gangsterism, it was all over news. 

“I kinda feel bad for the asshole, just that he never listen”

“Yeah, me too” 

“Last week you in the state huh…”

“Yeah…” 

“I hope one day we meet again…”

“Yeah”

“So I’m going to MIT, learning mechanical”

“Homie!! The nerd!!” 

Damien knock my head and lock me my head

“Asshole!! You nigga?” 

“I don’t know, I wasn’t sure yet what I want to be?” 

“Hey, you know if it wasn’t for you, I could be in the streets” 

“Proud of you homie” I started to cry,

“you..know…I’m…gonna miss ya” 

“Yeah I know…” we both hug because he likes a brother to me. 

Mom saw me and said “hey I make ‘teh tarik’ want some Damien?” 

“Hi Ms Mas, i would dig it!! Your drinks is off the charts!!” 

“Yep, that is what I’m proud of” 

We sat together, talking nonsense and suddenly he said to me.

“Hey, I staying in DC after this”

“Capital city, boy sure you are change…”

“I want to be part of something…so that Mom and dad will be proud. You better be homie!”

“Not sure yet….I’m still in dreamland” 

“Grow up will ya homie” 

I look up in the skies, I wanted to travel the world visit places, seeking adventure not staying in one place. But I am not sure if I return to Malaysia will I ever achieved that dream. I answered to Damien. 

“Maybe going place homie…like the world” 

End of Chapter 1 Part 2