Let The Silent Sheep Talk: I Smell B-b-b-b-b-b-b-b-b-b-b-b-b-BOOYAH SNAP!!!

Allow me to tell you guys a story. A true story that took place at Sterling less than 24 hours ago. I have decided to write it in a short story form, with first point of view, so bear with me for a bit. Ms Hema, I am practising my English here, do I get extra marks for that?? Teehee

It was inevitable. We needed to have another meeting. A post mortem to be exact. This one was regarding the Raya Open House that we hosted earlier on in the evening, and because high ranking people in KDU were invited, we expected to be burnt alive if there were any screw ups.

Mr Oo was gracious. He gave us two hours break after the open house, so he timed the meeting to be at 10.30pm. It was initally supposed to be at 11pm, but I managed to convince him to put it half an hour earlier. Accumulation of lack of sleep has already started to take its toll on me, and the last thing I needed was another late night.

Alep, Wen Chiat and I dashed down the stairs of Block A from the fifth floor all the way to LG1, taking the alternative route just for the sake of avoiding some people. Once we got to Mr Oo's unit at the first floor at block B, we settled everything and acted like nothing happened. The other scholars started pouring into the house right after we did, and before long, Mr Oo got started on another one of his meetings.

There was a look on his face. Not the cheerful one that we were so accustomed to. Not the one that cheekily played with us and teased us every chance he gets. No. This look was a look of disappointment. A frown spread across his face, head hung low and shoulders slumped as though he carried the weight of the world on it.

I sat in silence next to Siti Sarah as I surveyed the crowd in the living room. The girls huddled together as they sat on the floor with their backs leaning against the wall. The boys sat on the couch, their usual spot everytime there was a meeting. Alep sat in front of Mr Oo, nervous about what was to come. Derek tried to reach over for the stuffed giraffe that I was playing with, but I shook my head at him without even looking up. That was his cue to leave me alone.

Everyone was tensed, waiting for Mr Oo to speak. Time creeped by and not a single word came from his mouth. The suspence was getting to everyone, but deep down inside we knew what was coming. Trouble.

He finally started the meeting with a few good words about the job we had done before and during the Open House, but it did not take him long to transcend into firing bullets at us. Mr Oo did not take the initiative to even look at anyone of us, like a father was ashamed to look at his sinful son. He kept shaking his head in disappointment, and spoke in a low manner.

"Ok, now does anyone have any complains about how the thing was carried out? Or about anyone who did not seem to do a good job? Like maybe Sherene was very slow at her assigned task?"

I was taken back at the very mention of my name. I definitely did not see that coming. Arsyad raised his voice in a somewhat brotherly way to defend me after what Mr Oo had just said aloud in front of everyone else, only to be shot down by another unhappy remark about something or another. I just kept my mouth glued the entire time and texted Alep while Mr Oo ranted on.

He started to come up with a few things that did not pleased him, which lead from one thing to another. He went on about how disappointed he was in Alep and Yusof at their untidy rooms, about the electric bills and anything else he can think of.

The one that took the hardest blow that night was Alep.

"Alep Alep, " he said in frustration and disappointment, "When we were cleaning up downstairs, you were mopping the floor while playing around. And you even left dirty tracks all over the clean floor. Yes I know you all love to play around, but just think about it. Who is going to pay for the damages caused? Do you want to pay for them Alep?"

Alep timidly and silently shook his head. Looks were exchanged between the two of them, and everyone else in the room said nothing. Mr Oo then shifted his attention towards Fatin, who innocently huddled with her roommates. But it was not long before he continued to rain bullets down on Alep.

"Ok la Mr Oo. We fooled around just for fun. But if it seems to bug you that much, then fine. As you please"

Alep suddenly stood up in front of everyone and quickly ran into Zul's bedroom followed by Fatin and Zan who went after him. I called after him as he passed by, but he just went by quietly without a sound, not even a single mutter from him or that cheeky look he always gives me. Everyone was surprised at Alep's reaction. No one dared to say anything. I got up and sat next to Mr Oo, facing him while my back was against everyone else in the living room.

"Mr Oo, please don't be like that," I started to plea for Alep's case, "Alep is just tired-"

"Yes I know that Alep is tired, but so is everyone else!" he impatiently cut me off. He then started yelling at everyone else, but I paid no heed to all the words that came out from his mouth. I just sat there in silence, waiting for him to calm down as I stared out into the open. Once he had calmed down, I whispered to him, requesting to speak with him outside privately. Without hesitation he rose from the floor and we went outside to talk.

We were out there for quite a bit, talking in hush tones, with occasional raised voices. All everyone could hear from the inside was Mr Oo yelling "No no no" in protest, and my pleading with him. After a while I stormed off and went over to Zul's room. I knocked on the door and begged Alep to let me in. The door opened slightly, and everyone could hear Alep shouting at me, "Blah la!!! (leave!!)", followed by the door slamming in my face.

"Alep, please. Alep. I am going to stand out here, I don't care. Alep..." I said to him from the other side of the door while I knocked on the door desperately. Fatin and Zan occasionally opened the door ever so slightly, but Alep refused to let me in. All he did was shout at me, telling me to leave.

"Fine!"

I finally gave up and slammed the door shut. I stormed off into the living room where everyone else were sitting on the floor, suffering the fury of Mr Oo. I walked pass everyone else and made my way to the door. I stood by the door and as I switched off all the lights and fan, with chagrin spewing from my mouth, I loudly said to Mr Oo who was across the room, "I hope you are happy Mr Oo. Seriously."

I slammed the door shut on my way out. I waited outside for a bit, waiting for the cue to make a move, but I was shocked when the door suddenly opened, Derek appearing under the frame of the door, with the intention to chase after me who had just stormed off all of a sudden. I panicked. I hastily and violently shoved him back inside and yelled at him to leave me alone.

Inside, Yvonne was telling everyone to cool down as they all sat down there in dark. I waited outside and tried to listen to what was going on inside.

Then, there is was. My cue to go back into the unit.

"Happy birthday to you, happy birthday to you, happy birthday Yusof and Derek..... HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

I merrily joined them in singing the birthday song with the giraffe still in hand as I stood next to Alep, Zan and Fatin who held the birthday cake, the fried nuggets and the presents. Derek and Yusof's expression was priceless. They were in complete and utter shock. They never saw this coming. Not one bit.

So the rest of the night, everyone was talking about the incident that they had just witnessed. Almost everyone knew that we were acting. Only Yvonne, Suzie, Jie Jie and of course the birthday boys fell for our little act. Everything turned out amazingly. And the best part was, we gave the boys what I would like to call, their best birthday ever.

The End.

* * * * *

So so so, love my little story?? Hehehe we planned the little act on the day itself.

THE ANSWER TO ALL THE QUESTIONS:

The part where Mr Oo scolds Alep for no apparent reason was planned, and so was the part where Fatin and Zan followed Alep into Zul's room.

The part where Mr Oo scolded me first before Alep and all my parts were all spontaneous and improvisation because while the meeting was carried out, I suddenly remembered that we needed to turn off the lights and fans in order for the plan to work. That was why I was texting Alep, and also the reason why I requested to talk to Mr Oo privately. LOLZ

The entire night, since before the open house while we were doing decorations, Derek thought that I was really mad at him because of something he said, but I saw it as an opportunity to make his life a little more miserable before we all surprise him.

And ZOMG it was so funny when Mr Oo "scolded" Alep during the meeting. He kept shaking his head towards Zul's room. It was Alep's cue to leave, but Alep just sat there! That was why he started on Fatin.

The best part of it all was that people ACTUALLY fell for it!!! High five Alep! Owh well, what can we do. Afterall, we ARE great actors and actresses right? Lolz