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When a Simple Question Changed My Day

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 difficult for us to fight for your contract in the next period.”

In that moment, it felt like my world collapsed.

I felt a wave of sadness, but I tried my best not to show it in front of my boss.

From the very beginning, I already knew that my presence here was because there was no local person available for this position. The government needed someone from outside the country to fill the role. I had predicted from the start that one day a local professional would be ready to take over.

And now, that moment is probably coming.

What makes it emotional is that my contract is not ending because I am not needed, or because my performance is bad. In fact, I believe I have contributed a lot to the place where I work.

But at the end of the day, I am still not a local citizen. No matter how much I contribute, I am still considered a foreigner. And when a local professional becomes ready for the position, it is only natural that they will be prioritized.

And honestly, I understand that.

Still, life must go forward.

So instead of staying stuck in sadness, I choose to start thinking about the future. Maybe this is a sign that it is time for me to grow again.

Right now, I am planning to continue my education. After that, I hope to find bigger opportunities where I can contribute and help even more people. At the same time, I also dream about something different: working remotely, being able to work from anywhere in the world.

Who knows? Maybe there is a path out there that fits me even better.

I believe that every path in life carries its own wisdom. I don’t blame anyone for this situation. Sometimes life simply tells us that it is time to move forward.

So here I am.

Bismillah.

A new chapter, a future full of challenges, and hopefully many new opportunities ahead.

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