I went to a see The Last Samurai today.. As soon as we arrived at TGV, there was a mile-long queue for tickets.. Since the movie's rated 18SG, my brother's not supposed to see it, so he chose to watch School of Rock instead.. But I had to be the one lining up just in case the counter lady asks for some ID :P
As I was waiting ages for the line to move, it seemed like everybody wanted to walk in front of me.. You see, because of the long queue, the cinema was effectively divided into 2: ticket counters & cinema halls.. So as I was standing there, I was inundated with 'Excuse me' or 'Tumpang lalu' from the customers who were heading for the cinema halls.. What really annoyed me was that even as I slowly moved inch by inch, right from the back of the queue towards the counters they all kept passing ME.. it was as if my forehead (or my back for that matter) was pasted with "Please pass me".. Closing the gap between me and the person in front of me didn't work.. They'd just mutter 'Excuse' and I'd have to give way.. Then a stream of people would just walk through.. It happened so many times that I lost count.. I was so relieved when I finally reached the queue railings :P
Then inside the hall, we were sitting quite close to a trio of really loud Chinese girls.. Before the show, they were laughing and talking so loud that the whole cinema heard them.. and I'm not exaggerating! Their whole conversation was practically audible.. Thank goodness I didn't understand Chinese.. There was this one Chinese guy who sat in front of us and everytime the Loudmouth Ladies erupted with laughter, he'd give them these razor-sharp looks.. It was so hilarious.. They kept on talking right through the commercials but they stopped as soon as the the movie started.. Thank God :P
My brother got an earful from my mom.. She 'reminded' him that his SPM exams were near.. It's funny how her 'reminders' always come across as threatening blackmail to me.. She told him that if he didn't score all As, he's going to end up collecting trash for the rest of his life.. Whoaa.. Hold on a minute.. Honestly, I don't see how that's going to build his motivation.. She's tried it twice for his PMR and UPSR exams.. Can't she see that it's not working? :P
Frankly I pity my brother.. He can be a devil whenever he's around me.. But when it comes to his academic performance, everybody expects the world from him.. Is it because of me? Have I set the bar too high? I've been blessed by God to have good grades for all three major exams, despite working very little for it.. In fact, I don't think I deserve the grades I got for my SPM that landed me a Petronas scholarship and into KMYS to study A-Levels as preparation for an overseas degree.. I only started cramming 3 months before the final exams.. My parents were divorcing and I was in the middle of a rocky relationship with my boyfriend at that time.. (Heck, I don't remember having any non-rocky relationships :P)..
Even then, my mom told me that she didn't care how many As I got because at least I had tried my best.. So I just slogged my way through.. Luckily I was unscathed.. But as for my brother, it's definitely the other way around.. He has always been expected to get the best grades.. And his flaw was to arrogantly claim that he'd do it.. So far he's failed twice while the rest of his friends have succeeded..
Granted, he's not exactly what you'd claim as a model student; I hardly see him lift a book, let alone flip through it.. But surely all the pressure has got to get to him? If I was in his shoes, I would've crumbled by now.. In fact, for all of my life I think my parents have always been unfair - to him.. I can request for anything (and get it most of the times).. I can (almost) get away with anything.. And I always get special privileges around the house.. If you think being the beneficiary of double standards is cool, I beg to differ.. Sometimes I feel so bad for my brother.. It's like he's been typecast as the black sheep of the family for no good reason.. Well, OK, that's a lie.. There are a few reasons.. But none that I'd like to divulge in right now..
I already told my mom that she's being too hard on him sometimes.. And I thought that my absence to college would've changed things.. Somehow it hasn't..
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NHA at 3:31 PM ::
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