A FICTION entry~~

Dreams (Yume 夢)


I’ve dreamt of striking 4D or toto all the time. But somehow, my dreams never came true. And neither did my dreams come true in real life. I mean it. For real.
From young, I’d dreamed big.
I’ve wanted to earn lots of money when I grow up.
I’d wished for a happy and comfortable life.
A huge house, a car, a caring husband and so on.
But my dreams never came true.
Never.
Whether I’m sleeping or not doesn’t matter. They just don’t.
However, one did come true.
I’ve always wanted to go to a University.
And now I’m in one.

As a cleaner.
Sweeping the grounds of the University. Cleaning the toilets of the University.
Should I be happy?
I never wanted to be a cleaner!
Who would want to anyway. =.=
But I’m doing it for my family. So I have to be happy.

Although I’ve scrubbed the toilets as specklessly as I could, washing away urinal misses, accidental spills, these students somehow believed that toilets have guardians.
Who are SUPPOSE to clean toilets.
“Aiyo! Toilets here so dirty sia!” One complained to the imaginary toilet god, voicing the opinions of many others.
“Ya lor ya lor!” A few others echoed.
I almost wanted to shout at them. OI! My hands are dirtier la! Who is going to clean them for me huh?! Or something like that.
But yeah yeah. This is my job. I shouldn't complain.
Well If I'm getting the income of what they would get when they graduate, with bonuses and all, perhaps I wouldn't mind.
Yet while they are at work, they may receive praises and all from others.
But me? Nothing... Only complains. Complains without actions.

So while I’m sweeping the grounds of a University, keeping the floors and toilets clean, students streamed past me as though I’m invisible.
The future elites of society.
They can’t see me.
Or pretend that I’m not there.
Even though once upon a time, the younger ones serve tea and bow in respect to the elders.
Now our backs bowed to pick up their careless litters on the floor.
Crack My spine screamed.
Oww I grimaced.
Students continued streaming past.
I straightened. Keeping my face as normal as possible, hiding the pain in my spine.
But I didn’t have to hide. Nobody even saw it. I think.

Maybe I should upgrade.
Become a professor or something then these disrespectful idiots will gape at me in awe as I spew out streams of knowledge.
Yes! I will make them bow to me!
HAHAHA!
So I crafted a small plan.
I’ll study as I work.
So one day while sweeping the floor, I edged stealthily over to a bench where a student sat.
Apparently she didn’t hear me approaching as she continued to stare at her book.
I peered over her shoulder.
Instantly I was flung back as lines after lines of huge words hit me.
Sweat poured down my face.
I could hardly breathe.
What was that?!
I couldn’t understand a word.
It said something like: わたしはごはんをたべました。
I can’t believe it.
The Chinese that I learnt during my younger days apparently didn’t cover that.
Such high standard! No wonder this place is called a university! I thought, shocked, my heart thumping rapidly against my ribcage.
Shaking my head, I tried to dispel the weird symbols in my head.
It’s giving me a headache already.

Never mind.
I heard that students sleep in lectures.
Humph. So there’s no point in being one.
Lecturers don’t seemed to be respected either.
Humph. What’s with students nowadays…
Tsktsk.

I continued sweeping the floor. My eyes on the ground. If someone were to stand on that flight of stairs in front and look down at me, he would probably think that I’m sweeping with my eyes closed.
Perhaps it was.
Me praying that I would sweep some luck to myself.
And as I open my eyes,
Ta Da! A $50 note on the floor!
Wow! I could finally treat my family to a small restaurant dinner!
Or a 1st prize 4D ticket!
Or a $1million toto winning ticket!
Then I could take my kids on a holiday! Then they wouldn't have to helplessly envy their friends.
My eyes shone brightly as I swept the floor with increasing vigour.
Yet, perhaps my eyes were opened.
And all I saw was garbage.
Meant to be thrown away.

Dreams.
I have them too.
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* How and Why "I" became a cleaner is my private affair. Everyone has problems. But not everyone has opportunities. And now, with cheaper, foreign cleaners, life's is becoming tougher. :(
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End of fictional entry~~