An Ikan Bakar Story

There once lived a man and a woman who visited a big shopping centre in a big town. Both man and woman seldom visited big shopping centres, and they enjoyed themselves immensely. Time flew rapidly for them and soon it was time for lunch.

The Big Shopping Centre In The Big City

The Famous Ikan Bakar Store

In this particular shopping centre, there was a very famous stall with famous Portuguese Ikan Bakar. The woman has heard of this stall before and its famous meal has once graced her lips. Indeed the food here was heavenly and she had a strong longing for it. Indeed, the food from there was heavenly.

However, to obtain food from this stall was a challenge.  Packs of hungry man-wolves normally circle this stall, fighting for their own share of food. To be able to get the food requires great skill, cunning and patience.

Packs of hungry wolves... err... men and women surrounding their prey.

In spite of this, the desire to eat from this stall did not disappear and instead grew as they circled the food court looking for alternatives. All the other food looked bland and unappetizing, or so the woman thought. She became miserable the further they walked from the Ikan Bakar stall.

The man, who loved her looked at her and thought, “Sooner than let my lovely lady be miserable, I will bring her some of the ikan bakar myself, no matter what the cost." 

Brave knight sets out on his quest for  FOOOOOOD!

Hence, he steeled himself and joined the braying pack at the stall. It took all his wits, courage and patience but he persevered. Once or twice, he thought all might be lost due to some unscrupulous wolves, in the end though, Lady Luck smiled upon him.

The fruit of his labours - the tastiest lunch ever!

And he managed to procure the tastiest lunch for his lady love, won her unending appreciation and adoration and they all lived...

Trying not to lose the forest for the trees

Being in a long distance relationship harbours challenges of many sorts. Often a misspoken or a mistyped word can be very easily taken out of context, and depending on my state of mind at that moment, I could get very easily upset.

Of course, due to age and (perceived) maturity, I try not to let this small petty things matter and to resolve them as soon as possible. He also does his part by apologising often (although it's not always his fault) and by assuring me how much he loves me. Still, sometimes, although apologies were made and "I love yous" are said, I'd still go to bed unhappy, although it'll disappear very rapidly the next day, especially when accompanied by an uplifting text from him.

However, whenever he visits, any discontent will rapidly disappear and suddenly all things will seem very fine again. We'd laugh and giggle and joke and needle each other, like we never ever had any disagreements before. The euphoria will last throughout the visit, and we'll do all the stuff loving bfs and gfs do. However of course, once the visit ends, a great vast feeling of emptiness pervades and echoes of memories stir up feelings of melancholy, till the next visit of course.

Despite our occasional disagreements, I miss him a lot and I wish there is no distance. Of course, he'd counsel patience and for me to see the final picture and not get lost in today's struggles. Of which I shall attempt to take to heart. And of which, he obviously applies religiously, seeing that he is still putting up with me despite my occasional tantrums and weird idiosyncracies.

I Can't Hear Myself Over This Racket

The conversations in my head are becoming too loud. Opposing sides shouting themselves hoarse at each other, making it hard to focus on anything at hand.

I need to take a deep breath and to remember who I am.

Also to remember that there is always a Tanjung Rambutan for people like me.