Most of the time Alex lived alone,later was joined by another friend just another Cheah,a joker in fact.They always moved around together,even on dates he will take him along but go separate ways when he was on date with Queenie.
Every morning he also followed Alex to the second division for muster and for office work in the afternoon.It was rainy season and the plantation road was very slippery.Alex being young always rode his motor cycle at great speed.One afternoon with this Cheah as pillion rider went along with him to the second Division.
The crazy Alex again as before rode at a very fast space, connected a shaped corner and the bic skidded uncontrolled dashing straight ahead. Plunging into a stream below and missing the bridge.It was like flying over a ridge and lost hold, crushing directly into the stream below.Fortunately both of them had the weight to remain seated on their seat.The crushing landed among huge rocks in the stream.
They were never dislodged from the motor cycle by the crushing down but Alex sustained injuries to his his forehead,just above the eyes and also cuts on the left eye brow.Blood was streaming down fast from those injuries.Other than that they were not hurt.Alex washed the blood from his face with the stream's water but it was still bleeding.
With blood spatted face Alex and the other Cheah climbed up the ridge of the stream,hailed a passerby to request for help from the main office.Help was fast to come and Alex was immediately dispatched to the Hospital.Dr.Dorai was at hand to do the stitching for him again."Well.well.what do we have here? Again another accident?.Last time was your lips this time your forehead,you surely are a hero.This time the scars will either make you more macho or more ugly?",said the good doctor.
That knocked the guts out of him.On seeing this the good Doctor told him."No lah,I was just joking with you"."You can be discharged after this,lah?".So after those treatments and with medication subscribed he was discharged without fuss.
Dear Queenie was at the hospital and went back with him to the plantation.After dinner Alex sent her home to town despite his injuries.She wanted to stay back and cared for him but he insisted of her returning home.Out right she cared for him but Alex was stiff hearted,or was he not?.
It was not a very serious injuries so Alex returned to work almost immediately.With the plasters plastered on those wounds everyone began asking him questions like "how are you?" and "Are your injuries serious?'.He replied,No,no,I am alright and can work already".Well people were always inquisitive and trying to be thoughtful.
No sooner had he recovered he broke off with Queenie after a minor tiff.They quarreled over petty things.But for Alex it was totally different he was guilty conscious as he tend to call out the name of his first love each time they made love.Despite the fact that she was no more available Alex who was so obsessed very often had nightmares about it and many a times wake up in the middle of a dream with tears flooding eyes,for he actually loved her dearly.No matter how he tried he still loved her dearly,first love no matter what was always difficult to forget despite the long period of lapsed.
He did not enjoyed the break off with Queenie much but forced to put a stop to it.He thought that by breaking up was the best solution out for he did want to harm her further or jilt her
What a cheating heart he was?She took it real hard,and was badly hurt and as she loved him dearly she kept quiet about it.
Meanwhile feeling jilted,she sadly left Bentong to work else where just to forget the whole episode.Alex did not know that she had left town.He too was sad at the broke off but there was nothing he could do as he felt he could not forget his first love no matter how hard he tried .He believe that it not right to make love to one while in actual fact his mind was besieged by another.
With Queenie position vacant Alex went out and was rumoured to be having affairs with two other girls from the village.Was those rumours true,no never they were just friends.In a small village news traveled fast at the slightest acquaintances. He only chit hatted with two beautiful girls and that was all.The gossips went flying all over,tagging Alex as a playboy.No sooner had he broken with one he went after two more.What a ridiculous assumption?
Alex had another new friend staying with him.This time a younger friend from Teluk Anson.This guy was tall and handsome and easily drew the attention of numerous in town and the village.On one occasion he dated a tall girl from Bentong and he went out on date with her but instead of going alone she brought along a friend.All he wanted was one to one date,so he tagged Alex along.
Alex reluctantly went along.They went for a show and also went round town.After supper they sent those girls home.He was to take one home and Alex had to escort the other home.Alex walked her home through dark lanes in the village and he nearly slipped but was protected by her holding to him.At first he wanted to kiss her in those dark lanes but on second thought he remained aloft and did not make any advances for he does want to hurt another.
Not that the girl was not beautiful but on the contrary she was well built,charming and beautiful.She acted as though she had expected him to kiss her but he disappointed her.Alex even told her you are beautiful and told her he will see her again for the next date.Then he bide her goodnight and left.His friend had expected him to stay longer perhaps long enough to make love to her.No,Alex did not want to hurt another soul.His friend was not agreeable to his attitude.
Alex was given a brand new BSA sport motor cycle by the plantation.This time he surely can fly faster while older motor cycle was a write off after so many accidents by Alex.The Manager was really very kind to him.With that flashy motor cycle Alex was bolder in tackling other girls.He and Ivan Hoe his friend from Teluk Anson went raiding after girls.
They once again dated those two girls but this time Alex did not leave any stones unturned.He kissed the girl on sending her home in that dark lane.Some rowdies saw him kissing that girl and wanted to assault him,but the girl rebuke them and simultaneously calling out her brothers who came out from their house nearby almost immediately.The rowdies on seeing them apologized and left.Her brothers were friendly and invited him to sit in their house.
Alex remained in that house for a few minutes and wanted to leave but the girl was reluctant to let him go,so they went out for a strode.Alex did not make any more advances towards her but he did hold her hands.He ought to be careful as that place was full of gangsters lurking around and any wrong moved might ultimately landed him in trouble.As it was getting late Alex left promising another date.Well they continued dating.His friend Ivan Hoe was already firmly attached to her friend.
A somewhat misfit as she was at least three to four years older than him.Her friend with Alex was much younger but can she induced Alex to forget that first girl then she should be the winner but never.
Alex in the meantime applied for an Assistant manager position with Good Tree Sdn Bhd,and went for an interview with them.A European Manager interviewed him and with him giving him an excellent impression the interview was over in a short time.He was to wait for the good news later.
His plantation Manager gave him a very good testimony for the interview,so he had hope for the best.On returned he continued his job at that plantation.As routine he rounded the fields evety day,supervising his rubber tappers.Many a times he liked to ride up to a spot which was rocky and more than one thousand five hundred feet above sea level,to enjo its scenery and cool breeze.That area was still immature rubber so it was very quiet there.
He liked to move around these rocky field and once he discovered the skeleton of a huge rusa.Its horns were missing though.Must have been wounded by some hunters and perished there without anyone finding it.Obviously someone was there before Alex for the horns of it were missing.
In any case it was a beautiful place to relax.Alex dared not stay around long in that area as that place was known to have tigers as it was just adjacent to the jungle.Although rubber had been established there up to two thousand feet above sea level,the trees seem to be not growing well also it was very windy up there.
Alex next made friend with another younger girl aged about seventeen name Carol.Later they became very closed and she was from Chamang New Village,Bentong.Alex thought that maybe a younger girl might help boost up his love for her thus inducing him to forget that past.A girl of seventeen was never matured sufficiently to fulfill his requirements.She was much too naive and raw.
A message also arrived bringing good news that he had been selected by Good Tree as a Probationary Assistant Manager and was to report for duty as soon as possible.Subsequently Alex gave his Manager a month's notice to terminate his service with that plantation.The elated Manager congratulated him and accepted his notice.
In July 1966 he left that plantation to join Good Tree in their plantation in Port Dickson.Before he left he bide Carol farewell promising to return to see her whenever free.Of course they had a wonderful time together during those very last moments.
To be continued.
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