I just heard something that I had actually predicted for a long time. But even when you expect something, it can still feel sad when the moment finally comes. Earlier that day, my boss and I had just finished a meeting. Everything went well. People slowly left the meeting room one by one until it was just the two of us. I stayed behind for a moment, looking at my laptop and finishing some notes from the meeting. Then suddenly, without any warning, my boss asked me a question. “Habyb, if one day you are no longer working in Brunei, what will you do?” At that moment I was still focused on my laptop. Without thinking much, I casually answered while typing. “I’m not really sure, boss. Maybe I will study again or look for other opportunities.” But suddenly it felt like lightning struck my brain. My eyes immediately turned toward my boss, and my fingers stopped typing. I looked at her and asked carefully, “Why, boss? My contract will not be extended?” She answered honestly. “Maybe it will be...
You keep saying that I forget you easily. I don’t know why that hurts so much, but it does, because if forgetting you were easy, I would have done it already. I would have saved myself the effort, the waiting, the quiet disappointment. But I didn’t forget you. I stayed through the good mornings I sent every day, even when you replied late or not at all, through the selfies I asked for because seeing your face reminded me that you were real and not just something I made up in my head. I stayed through the nights too. I waited for you to finish your day just to hear your voice for a moment, even when I was already tired, even when my body wanted rest. I stayed awake longer than I should have, watching you fall asleep on the other side of the screen, pretending that this closeness was enough, telling myself that love sometimes looks like patience and silence. None of that was easy for me. I am not someone who likes to suffer. I used to sleep on time. I used to take care of myself. But som...