It's never easy to be chosen

Never easy to be called

Standing on the front line when the bombs start to fall

I can see the heavens

But I still hear the flames

Calling out my name

-Katy Perry, 'Who Am I Living For?'.

I am at Rintis Island via train. I get off the train and was attacked by Tok Aba's bear hugs.

"My grandson!" He hugged me. I hugged him back. "I missed you!" 

"So did I!" Ochobot pats my head. I smiled brightly, feeling flattered that I'm even worthy of an old man's and a robot's thought.

I held up a hand with my hand balled up but thumb, index, and pinkie shot up, doing the I love you sign.

"What's that supposed to mean?" Tok Aba asked me.

"He can't talk, Atok," Ochobot answered.

"Really? What happened?!" Tok Aba asked, worry laced in his voice. I have no idea knowing if it's real or not, but I'll assume the former. I have this story revised millions of times before, it flows to me easily now with no doubts.

I, I pointed to myself, got into a car crash, I signed C-A-R and made a gesture as if my left hand crashed my right hand, with Mother's friend. I made an M and placed it over my heart, and signed F-R-I-E-N-D.

"He got involved in a car accident when he was riding his Mother's friend's car," Ochobot translated what I signed for him.

"Oh no! Are you ok? What happened to the friend?"

Me, I pointed to myself, mute, I made a line gesture on my mouth, symbol for, 'silence', friend die. I spelt 'friend' out and made a decapitated gesture. Sign languages are quite literal.

"Alright. Well, let's go home."

We walked to his house, Tok Aba making questions about my wellbeing in such a way that I can answer quickly with a nod or a head shake. It's such a pity that he doesn't understand my language, which I truly understood. Really, you can't teach old dog new tricks and that applies to my grandfather. 

As soon as I get to the café I met my three friends (Yaya, Ying, Gopal) and one boyfriend (Fang). I smiled and they immediately hugged me. I flinched a little bit but I let them because they'd be offended if I tell the truth. Fang immediately kissed me. I almost yelled in shock. I tried to push him away, but that'll mean I don't love him anymore. Fang tried to hug me, but I faced back, trying to break free from the hug.

"Fang, that's enough-" Gopal pulled us both apart. "He doesn't want to."

"BoBoiBoy, where've you been?" Yaya asked. "We missed you."

Again, I recited the same lie I told Tok Aba and Ochobot earlier with the exact same gestured. As expected, my friends' brows furrowed, confusion evident in their faces. I sighed.

"I don't understand," Gopal said. 

"Neither do I," Ying added. The two of them looked to both Fang and Yaya, who both shook their heads.

"He got involved in a car accident that made him mute," Ochobot translated.

"Oh no..." Here we go again. The pity looks.

It's ok. I made an 'ok' gesture, which is like the letter 'o' with the three fingers opened and slightly sprawled away instead of closed together.

"Ok..." Ying vigorously nodded. "What makes you go here again?"

I miss you, my mates. I signed. I lied, that's not the real reason. Sure, I miss them, but I need time to be on my own. Mother was the real reason. I left because my father died but I came back because I miss you all.

"He left because his father died but he came back here because he misses you," Ochobot translated for me. The others nodded. Gopal said a funny story, and I can't help myself but smile. I miss my friends and their silly antics.