Time Machine, Please

I watched “Before You Go”, a romantic film from 2014 which I watched just because there was Chris Evans (sorry, I’m in fangirling phase). The film turned out good; it’s not something I usually watch, though.

 

In that film there was a scene where Nick (Chris Evans) and Brooke (Alice Eve) pretended they call their past self and gave advice. Recently I want to do that. 

 

I used to think that everything happened for a reason so the idea of time machine (or time turner, or time stone, depends on your fandom) to solve problem retrospectively wasn’t interesting to me. That changes now, when I’m tired of studying medicine. I’m curious about the possibility of what will happen if I didn’t enter medical school in the first place. Will things be better or not? Or what if I did this or that differently? What kind of experience will I get instead?

 

Don’t get me wrong. I don’t plan on giving up. I’m just tired.

Talking about Relationship (This Time It’s My Story)

So, I want to talk about my current relationship but I don’t know where to start. Duh.

Let me try…  My boyfriend and I went to the same primary school, same junior high school, and same senior high school. All those 12 years, we didn’t know each other personally. Well, we knew each other’s face and name and that’s it.

 

We went to different universities in 2012. Then in 2014 we started chatting online and we always had good conversation. 

 

As time went by, I thought to myself, “Does he flirt with me?” and yes, he flirted and sometimes he had funny pickup lines that I couldn’t help laughing. He still does that. Damn, I smile while writing this. 

 

However, I hadn’t been interested in relationship for years so I just talked to him casually as a friend. I responded to his pickup line with another joke that often made him felt like, “Aaaaaarrrrggghh!!!” 

 

I told Lady Slytherin about this. I said, “Well, I guess I could like him if he can continue it long enough.” She asked, “What if he’s tired and he goes finding someone else?” I said, “That’s okay. I’m not ready for a relationship anyway.”

 

Recently, I found a blog post that described my feeling about him in the beginning here. That post is about potential love. It says, “Have you ever felt a potential love for someone? Like, you don’t actually love them and you know you don’t, but you know you could. You realise that you could easily fall in love with them….”

 

Back to my story, we once met for a few minutes to lend him my book. I forget when that happened. Months later, in June 2017, we agreed to meet in a book store because where else should I go for a first date (book lover mode: on)? We met another high school friend in that book store and this friend looked at us suspiciously. We greeted him and he looked like he wanted to ask question but he didn’t ask. He was too shocked, probably.

 

We went out together five times until finally he asked me to be his girlfriend last November. I had the proclivity to avoiding commitment but I thought again, I always enjoyed my time with him and it didn’t hurt to give this relationship a try. He is willing to communicate his thought and opinion. He also lets me do the same. In other words, we’re good for each other so I said yes. 

 

We’re finally in a relationship after 3 years. Our friends say that’s a long time. Well, it really takes a long time for me to trust someone. It takes me longer to let myself commit to a relationship so that long time is worth spending.

 

How do I feel about him? He’s different. Back in the past, when I had a crush or fell in love, I felt a little uncomfortable. I have come a long way in the term of loving myself. In the past, I often thought too hard on how to impress the guy I liked. With my boyfriend now, I feel all right. We have our fight, of course, but we talk through it. This is why I was once confused about how I felt because love used to make me uncomfortable.

 

Now if you ask me whether I love him, I will say yes, I do love him.

Story of a Blind Date

It was Saturday afternoon and the boutique is quite crowded. Elza talked to some customers and helped them choose the clothes when suddenly,

“Elza, do you have a plan for next week on Saturday evening?” Ryan asked.

“Actually no. Wait, I’m talking to a customer, you mannerless spongehead,” Elza then continued talking to the customer. 

After that, she approached Ryan and asked, “Why did you ask about my plan?”

“First thing first, I don’t think it’s a good manner to call me mannerless spongehead in front of customers. For your question, I’m going to reserve a table for you in the fancy restaurant on Fremont street, I forget the restaurant’s name. Eh, you’re still single right?”

“What the hell Ryan? Are you asking me for a date?” Elza rolled her eyes.

“Of course not me, duh. I’m setting you for a blind date,” Ryan grinned in his usual childish expression.

“Is this part of a mission? Also, Ryan, everytime you make that face, I have bad feeling,” said Elza.

“Relax. You prepare your dress and makeup then have fun,” Ryan said then left.

A week later, Ryan drove the car to take Elza.

“Are you still sure that maroon is the right colour for the dress to wear on first date?”

“Ryan, if he’s going to date me, he’d better get used to my style,” Elza said.

“And you also wear maroon lipstick. Is that necessary?” Ryan asked.

“Yes. Problem?”

The car becomes silent after that.

They arrived at the restaurant then a host greeted them and showed them to the table.

“Rook? Roy?” Elza looked at the man who already sat at the table with a younger guy beside him.

“Oh, hi Rook. I see that my brother Roy took you here earlier.”

“Explain this, Ryan,” Rook glared at Ryan.

“You two enjoy your dinner. Eh, Roy, give your car key to Rook. I’ll drive you home. Don’t get involved in their adult business, kid. Now, do you want to play Mario Kart?” Ryan pulled Roy’s shoulder after Roy gave Rook his car key.

“So, did Ryan…” 

“Yes, that spongehead told me that he set me up for a blind date,” Elza cut Rook’s question.

“And you agreed?”

“You also agreed.”

“Well… Uhm, anyway, you look stunning in that dress,” Rook said. “I still hate you, though,” he added quickly.

“You also look fine in suit and I still hate you,” Elza retorted.

They both ate in silence then Elza noticed that Rook started getting sweaty.

“It’s hot, eh? I’m surprised that you don’t take off your jacket.”

“Ryan says that a gentleman should never take off his jacket. I’m a gentleman so I don’t take off my jacket,” said Rook.

“Correct. Ryan knows such rule but he doesn’t follow it. What a spongehead.”

Rook smiled hearing that. “Do you want to go somewhere else after this?” he asked.

“Yes, please. Take me to game centre. We’ll rock the place with this attire.”

“As you wish,” Rook laughed.

P.S. This is another fanfic of “Children of Altar” (sorry, hahaha…). I struggle with description in this fic. I could imagine their dialogue but I had no idea what to write aside from the dialogue. If you can give me advice then please kindly comment. Thank you.

Also, that part where Rook didn’t take off his jacket was inspired by a video of Patrick Stump getting advice from older gentleman.

I never go to formal dinner at fancy restaurant so if I make mistake in this story, please tell me. I did my research but I could still make mistake.

Tips on Saving Money

I’m a bit of an impulsive buyer. However, recently my behaviour is turned down because a) I have come to my sense that I will not really need those things I want to buy, b) I have meager budget.

That leads me to an article “8 Simple Ways to Save Money” by Better Money Habits from Bank of America because I need to save money to support my impulsive shopping, right? (I don’t have the right motivation, sorry). Let’s review the tips.

1. Record your expenses: to be honest, I’m lazy to write expense record. However, as I recall my expenses, I spend so much money for food and makeup. Damn.

2. Make a budget: this sounds difficult but I may try.

3. Plan on saving money: I do plan on it, that’s why I read that article. However, I’m often tempted to use my saved money for something else that wasn’t intended at first.

4. Choose something to save for: I’ve mentioned my problem in point no. 3

5. Decide on your priorities: well… food is important. Okay, I’ll be more careful about spending money on food then.

6. Pick the right tool: I don’t intend to save my money for something big so…

7. Make saving automatic: on a side note, the saved money I talk about in no. 3 is not the money I save in bank. My money in bank is quite untouched since they’re for my need in far future.

8. Watch your savings grow: I’m ready for this.

So yeah, wish me luck on spending and saving my money better.

Remember Me for Centuries

The prompt is legend and I instantly think about the song “Centuries” by Fall Out Boy. Let’s just talk about that song and music video then.

The music video starts with a scene set in ancient Rome. A few seconds into the video, I had got the epic vibe then there was a lady in white gown with two lions behind her and some background done with annoying editing then I remembered that I was watching Fall Out Boy music video.

I like the lyrics to the song. It begins with “Some legends are told. Some turn to dust or to gold….” In the video we see a hooded man give stuff to each member of Fall Out Boy who are dressed in gladiator clothes. On a side note, they look so damn fine in such clothes.

There are some religious symbols in this video, I guess, like a crucified man, a lady with gown and veil surrounded by some people, and a man with mitre accompanied by three ladies. If anyone can explain that symbol, please leave me a comment. Thank you.

Next in the video, the boys fight a big man. Many people watch them including some from royalty. I adore the look of the beautiful lady who wears maroon dress with intricate pattern and pretty updo on her head (crown braid and bun).

Right when the lyrics come to “We’ve been here forever and here’s the frozen proof. I could scream forever. We are the poisoned youth,” the boys used the stuff given by the hooded man: rope, stone, and wrapping leather (?). They wrapped the stone in leather and tied it with rope. Pete then used it to attack the big man by doing hammer-throw style.

The boys win! After that the hooded man took of his hood and it is revealed that he has wings.

The video has open ending with the boys having to face another opponent.

If you have watched the video and you think I miss some details please tell me. Also, is the right phrase in this song “frozen proof”, “chosen fruit”, or “frozen fruit”?

Swim!

It was a peaceful Sunday morning. Roy played the Witcher on his laptop and suddenly… “Roy, take a bath and let’s go!” Ryan shouted.

“No.”

“Come on!” Ryan wrestled Roy and managed to shut down the laptop in the process.

“I hate you! I was continuing my game and you shut it down.”

“Take a bath, we’ll go swimming.”

“Why should I take a bath? I’ll get wet again once I swim,” Roy retorted.

“You stink,” Ryan said.

They walked to the public swimming pool and Roy asked, “What is it Ryan? You don’t like swimming.”

“Are you scared? Don’t worry, the pool is shallow enough for you.”

“No kidding. I’m a better swimmer between us and seriously, since when do you get excited to swim?”

“Well, actually that’s the point. We have to add swimming to our training regime.”

“Sounds all right. But we don’t really have to worry, do we? I mean, those Salty Spitoon visitors don’t come to us and challenge to fight.”

“What is Salty Spitoon?” Ryan asked.

“Ryan, you don’t watch Spongebob?”

Dig the Ground, Satan

“By the way, I bought you a book today,” Ryan handed Roy the book.

“Thank you, but A Clash of Kings? Why, Ryan? I haven’t even read A Game of Thrones,” said Roy.

 

Ryan answered, “Actually, I bought you A Game of Thrones long time ago. I buried it in our backyard.”

 

“You what?”

 

“I put the book in a wooden box and bury it in our backyard. We have shovel or hoe there, take it. Consider it a game of treasure hunting.”

 

“What the hell, Ryan? What mistake did I make to have a brother like you?” Roy groaned in disbelief.

 

“Just dig the ground, satan. Also please appreciate my effort to make the present more interesting.”

 

Note: this story is continuation of my post, “Sunday Morning, 11 a.m.” Well yeah, Ryan is so extra.

Sunday Morning, 11 a.m

The prompt today is “jangle“. I didn’t know the meaning so I looked up Oxford dictionary online. They also give sentence example, “Ryan stood on the terrace jangling his keys.” So I think I would just continue that sentence.

Ryan stood on the terrace jangling his keys. He was just home after wandering around the bookstore to find a book for his little brother, Roy. Talking about Roy, Ryan saw his brother’s motorcycle was still parked and the doors and windows were all still closed. “That satan hasn’t woken up yet,” Ryan thought to himself.

He came into the house and shout, “Roy, wake up! It’s 11 already,” then heard the answer, “It’s Sunday!”

“By the way, I got a missed call from Don. What’s up? Do you two have problem?” Ryan asked.

“Why would Don call you?” Roy responded while gaining his consciousness.

——————————————–

The characters Roy and Don are taken from the ongoing series on Wattpad, Children of Altar. It’s written by my friend. Check that out and give feedback.

Also, I don’t really know about sibling relationship and in real life I don’t know any of my friends’ siblings personally so I have no idea how to continue my story above. What would make someone call their friend’s brother? What can make you trust your friend so you give them your brother’s contact number?

By the way, did I just make a fanfic with original character? Hahaha…

Figurative Ship and Some Language Lesson

The prompt today is sail and considering that I don’t have proper knowledge about ship and sailing, I will just write about figurative ship: household.

In Indonesian language there is term “bahtera rumah tangga”. Bahtera means ship, rumah tangga means household. If you understand Indonesian language, you can read this article about the etymology of the phrase.

Usually people use the word “kapal” in Indonesian to talk about the watercraft. The word “bahtera” is rarely used in everyday conversation when you talk about water transportation. So why do we use the word “bahtera” when it comes to figurative ship called household?

The word “kapal” is derived from Tamil word “kappal”. The word “bahtera” is derived from the word “bahitra” in old Javanese, which is a loanword from from Sanskirt word “vahitra”. According to the article I link above, the word “bahtera” is used when talking about figurative ship because Sankirt is used as ritual language so it has more spiritual feeling.

So it is said that being a family and creating household is like being in the same ship. You have to work together so the ship can sail safely. I can’t explain further about it because, like a fan whose ship isn’t canon, my ship hasn’t sailed yet.

Maybe I should enjoy the harbour while getting my ship ready. Then we’ll sail (though I don’t know yet whom this “we” refer to).

Mess

She’s home again. Sitting in her room, infinite sadness in her eyes. “That home is a mess. Why don’t you just leave?” people would tell her. “This is the mess I’m comfortable with,” she wants to say.