The Silent Room

Whenever you’re living with someone, is it so hard to ask questions that are relevant to the person? Say, your housemate. You know, ask about the stuff he likes to do, things are going for him and how he’s handling them. A simple gesture of showing that you acknowledge their existence before you, and their presence in your heart.

One day, I came back from Cyberjaya. Tired, hungry and smelly. I went into my room, sat in front of my PC and went on with my regular routine; check for any instant messages while I was away, check if I have received any new comments for that last blog entry, see if there’s a new episode of anime to download, drop by some favourite blogs for any updates, surf the blogosphere for today’s interesting news, etc.

All that while catching my breath, and calming down to get on with the routine. Suddenly,

“Awak ni takde kerja lain ke? Kuliah, komputer, kuliah, komputer. Buatlah benda lain sikit!”

Ex-fucking-cuse me? What’s that I heard? Takde kerja lain? That, coming from someone who worries only about my CGPA, my car and nothing else about me? See, in regular situations, I’d get up and say ‘Fuck you, you never bothered to find out anything about me, let alone understand what I do in a day, and you’re telling me I only have my lectures and Luna in my routine? FUCK YOU!‘

Unfortunately, this isn’t much of a ‘regular’ situation. I have no choice but to STFU and blog about this shit. Why? Because that’s my Dad speaking. And sometimes my mom. And sometimes my sister. But then again, I’ve been going through this for so long, it’s become the norm.

Oh, why didn’t you speak up to them? Explain yourself to them?

LMFAO. Now that’s a good one, Freud.

See, this what I can conclude after 20 years; the only ones who listen are my brothers [but they're both married, so out of the picture they go. They now have wives to listen to]. The rest either have a short attention span, blame it all on me, or think I shouldn’t talk back to older people. Go figure. See, I’m trying to be very reasonable here.

It’s alright that they don’t care.
It’s alright that they don’t know.
It’s alright that they don’t ask.

BUT

It’s NOT alright when they assume.
It’s NOT alright when they feel they have the benefit of the doubt. And abuse it.
It’s NOT alright when they talk like they know everything.

Is it SO hard to ask “Hey, what are you doing there?” or “Why do you like cameras so much?”. Is it so hard to make an effort to understand someone’s ‘thing’ before dismissing it? This is where I’m really pissed. Or rather, just plain frustrated.

I do plenty of things.

I watch, follow and discuss anime, with real people, online AND in person.
I draw your favourite cute little motherfuckers.
I drabble on my sketchbooks.
I read blogs.
I blog.
I learn the things a techie learns and perhaps a bit more.
I listen and enjoy and find good music.
I read poetry, and beautiful lyrics.
I assembled Gundams.
I play games with friends. There’s thrill, demands for skill, and sportsmanship. You just fail to see it.
I go on a gym routine.
I flirt around and befriend plenty of beautiful ladies [i'm such a babe magnet. bite me.]
I play with my cameras.
I take my photography seriously.
I enjoy good food, and cook some excellent ones myself [don't believe me? ask me.]

I do so many things. It just so happens that a huge bulk of them involve me being in front of the PC, or out of the house. What do you expect me to do? Slump there in the rocking chair sniffing my own fart, like you do? Or lie on my belly with a remote in each hand in front of the TV? Hell no, I’ve got better things to do. There’s a list up there for you to see what I’m talking about.

But then again, not like you’d bother to find out, anyway.