Thoughts of A Novice!

The Fire by Hureen Adlina

2026-09-11T07:57:44.031+08:00

Aina stopped walking when she heard, "Students, return to your rooms immediately." It was an announcement made via the intercom. She wondered what had happened to cause them to return so abruptly. Out of the blue, she spotted a few students running from the opposite direction. Next, a surge of smoke clouded her view. She crouched down in reflex to avoid from inhaling the smoke. That was when she learned that a fire had broken out ahead of her.

A fire was started accidentally in one of the chemistry labs during a science experiment. At first, the teacher thought that it could be controlled but the situation quickly got out of hand. Aina heard a scream coming from the lab. She rushed there without thinking long and she met with an injured student by the door, Amanda. Aina helped her get away from the burning lab and brought her far enough. She hurriedly performed an inspection on Amanda's hand and noticed some burn wounds. She reached for a nearby first aid kit and treated the injuries. Meanwhile, a teacher had called the emergency hotline.

The students who were curious had tried to go and check out the burning lab, dismissing the instruction given earlier. Aina took the initiative by calling them out to evacuate the area. With Aina's good leadership skills, the students obeyed her and started to clear the area. Crowds were piling up and it got difficult to escape and panic broke out. Aina rose up to reassure them to not be anxious as it could worsen the situation.

Aina quickly guided the students to work together to help Amanda and other wounded friends get out of the area. It took her by surprise that the students managed to get along well. The emergency unit, specifically fire fighters arrived just in time to secure the place. It was probably the fire that made the students able to act obediently. Aina was glad that no extreme casualties occurred because of the fire. Aftermath of the incident, Amanda shared her gratitude with her friend, Aina and because of her benevolent act, she had only gotten minor injury. Had she not been moved quick enough, perhaps she would not have been survived. Aina helped Amanda dodge a bullet that day.

Aina had learned plenty of things from the incident as the saying goes, curiousity kills the cat; if the students were not curious enough to check out the danger, they would not have been alive up until today. Yet, the students should have listened to the announcement and returned to their rooms. Nevertheless, Aina was fortunately quick-witted and made the right call. The teachers and the principal praised her for the bravery and her heroic act. She was the heroine that day.

Monkey Attack by Kasih Humaira

2026-09-09T13:08:47.577+08:00

Aina stopped walking when she heard, "Students, return to your rooms immediately! This is an order from the warden," the Head Girl instructed.

The students were shocked to hear this. Aina immediately took her friend's hand and went back to their room. When they arrived, they were shocked to see the conditions of their room.

"What happened here?" Aina was curious. "How did our room get trashed?" The warden informed that some rooms were intruded by a group of monkeys.

"This is why windows should remain close during school hours," the warden scolded them, eyes burning red.

Another warden, Puan Yati chimed in. "Fortunately, the monkeys were handled by Animal Control already. Now, it's your responsibility to clean up."

Aina and her roommates including her friend looked at each other miserably. "Just make sure to use the right cleaning tools and inform us if any damaged property," Puan Yati said before leaving them dumbfounded.

Their room was a mess. Curtains were torn, books were everywhere, beds filled with muddy footprints. Even Aina's locker got dented. However, the girls did what needed to be done.

"I'll go and get the brooms and dustpan," a friend said, "and we'll go and get the mop and buckets from the washroom," the other two girls volunteered themselves. The rest stayed and started cleaning the rooms. They picked up the books, took off the sheets from the beds and also the curtains from the windows railings.

When the brooms and mop were brought there, they started getting to work. "Hey, I've got some masks and gloves," a roommate mentioned.

"Let's wear them for precaution." The others agreed. They each took a pair of gloves and a mask. Within two hours, the room was clean and mess free. No signs of any monkey left.

They all looked at the room proudly. Although the clean up was hectic, the girls worked together to achieve a goal. "Well, six heads are better than one, right?" Aina giggled.

"Yeah," her friends replied, cheerfully. "Just make sure to close the windows next time." They all laughed happily together.

The Mysterious Box by Haziq Annuar Ittifaq

2026-06-19T08:19:13.806+08:00

Daniel was expecting to receive a watch, but what he saw inside the box was a doll. He was furious with the content and turned his back to confront the delivery guy. Unfortunately, he was too late. The delivery guy had left. Daniel ordered a watch a week ago from a social media platform as soon as he got enough pocket money from his parents. The money he earned was from the chores he did such as cleaning the dishes, throwing out the trash and doing the laundry. He was on cloud nine when he tapped 'Buy' on the screen. Despite having a watch already, he was eager to replace it as his current watch was in bad condition.

A week had passed but he was still waiting patiently for his shipment. He looked at his old watch again and again. He was restless. Out of the blue, the door bell rang. Daniel bolted towards the door. Impatiently, he opened the door and saw a box on the floor in front of the door. He looked up and thanked the delivery guy. He then, entered the house quickly and unwrapped the box. Shockingly, he saw a doll inside the box. That made him furious. Quickly, he chased the delivery guy hoping to get an explanation from him but he was already gone. He could not believe his eyes of what happened as he had used all his pocket money just to purchase the watch he had dreamed before. Now, everything shattered into pieces. It was like throwing a bag full of cash into fire. His blood was boiling as he tried to figure out how to get to the delivery guy. He then saw his old rickety bicycle and got a brilliant idea.

Daniel then cycled to catch the delivery guy even though he did not know the exact location of him. Luckily, he got a friend who had a shopping-addict mom. Every single day, the delivery guy would deliver a parcel to his friend's house. Daniel seized the chance to ask his friend about it. He called him and John, his friend told him the delivery guy was about to come to his house. He was indeed lucky because it was Sunday morning and the main road was quite empty that time. He prayed hard that he could arrive there on time.

Finally, when he arrived, he saw the delivery guy. He informed him about the wrong package and the delivery guy apologised for his mistake. He quickly searched for Daniel's package and gave him the right one. Daniel instantly opened it and found his watch was there, looking great. He thanked the delivery guy and his friend profusely and headed home. While cycling happily, he then remembered he was frying eggs when this chaotic incident happened. Feeling afraid, he definitely knew, he would be scolded by his mom for leaving the stove just like that. What a day!

First Impression by Hureen Adlina Ittifaq

2026-06-08T13:39:30.070+08:00

On my way back home from school, I unfortunately lost control of my bike down a turn by the road. The bike got hit by a fast moving car and shattered into a million pieces. 'It was completely unrepairable.' I thought to myself when out of the blue, a beautiful pale girl approached me. She said she could fix it. My face lit up instantly and my lips turned into a big grin. I had not realised that the girl was a classmate of mine.

Her name was Aisya. She was quiet, timid but extraordinarily smart. She consistently got top grades but had never spoken more than two words. It really surprised me to find out that she was not only talented in scoring the highest marks academically but also was such a handyman. We brought my broken bike back to her house and she did not take long to figure out which parts needed a new replacement or just a quick fix. This encounter bamboozled me and fully changed my impression on her. I did not know that such a unique person existed.

Aisya teaches me to be better in subjects I struggle and also teaches me basics of bike mechanics. She inspires me to improve my skills in the things I like. She influences me to be consistent in reaching for my goals and to never stop half-way through. Although she comes off as a shy and aloof person, Aisya is an incredibly matured teenager; as a saying goes, do not judge a book by its cover.

Aisya opens my eyes to how significant it is to leave a good first impression on people. Like me, if I never find out how diverse Aisya really is comparing to my first impression of her, I would be missing out. Hence, first impression serves as a set of idea of someone that you decide upon first meeting them. A good first impression could possibly save you in dire times or in emergencies. Despite that, a bad first impression does not instantly categorise someone as immoral. The most important thing is getting to know your companions better.

Nevertheless, my life has changed for the better after I met Aisya that day. She always teaches me good values day by day. On sunny days, we both learn something beneficial from each other. I hope everyone could give extra attention to first impressions by learning from my story. Therefore, first impressions can be true but some can be misleading. In a nutshell, my first impression of Aisya was actually a blessing in disguise.

Online Shopping Platform by Ikram Rahmadi Ittifaq

2026-06-08T13:09:58.810+08:00

In this era of globalisation, the advancement of technology has created many convenient things. One of them is online shopping platforms which are widely used by humans all over the world. As for me, I am currently into Lazada as my main online shopping platform.

First of all, there are tons of advantages using this platform such as fast delivery, wide selection of products and smooth system navigation. However, what I like the most about Lazada is it gives lots of discounts vouchers. These discounts are usually offered during festive season like Chinese New Year and Deepavali. This makes the products much cheaper than usual and helps me save my expenses.

Moving on, Lazada is actually very user-friendly for all ages. The interface layout is easy to navigate and understand. Moreover, Lazada even produces a tutorial video on how to use Lazada efficiently. For example, the search bar has a filter function where you can search for the products you want.

Last but not least, the platform has some weaknesses that need to be improved like the display of product information and the algorithm to suggest new products to the users. This is because a complete display of product information can help users determine whether a product is legitimate or not. After all, it is better to be safe than sorry.

In a nutshell, online shopping platform has significantly changed our lives. People should be careful when buying products online even though everything is such an eye-candy to look at. Have fun shopping!

A Mysterious Box by Maryam Safiyyah Ittifaq

2026-06-08T12:40:58.316+08:00

Daniel was expecting to receive a watch, but what he saw inside the box surprised him. He rechecked the address for confirmation and the mailman surely did not make a mistake sending the parcel. Looking back inside the box, his face contorted as he picked up the small white envelope lying in the box.

With confusion swarming his mind, he tore open the envelope. What could be inside? His fingers carefully slipped in the envelope, taking out a piece of an old paper. It was an image of an abandoned house farm. In the picture, Daniel saw that the grass was long, like it had not been taken care of for such a long time. The sky was dark like a storm was coming and the house farm was old-looking with holes on the fences and mud over the walls.

Daniel turned over the envelope, sure enough there was a written address of the house farm. It was not far from his house. He pondered upon it. He really wanted the watch. What could this image tell him? He decided to check the envelope thoroughly for more details. Daniel became more frustrated as he could not find any more clues. He tore open the envelope in frustration. Then, he paused as he noticed a piece of red paper inside. Surprisingly, the envelope had a small note. He handled the envelope delicately now, afraid of losing his only clue. The handwriting made it a bit hard for him to understand but soon he could get it.

"Come over if you want your watch."

Daniel became more confused; should he go? What if it was a scam or even worse, an organ trafficker? He thought carefully and decided to just go. He was a big guy after all, surely he could protect himself. Hopping into his old MyVi first edition, he started the engine and made his way to the address by using Waze application.

After 15 minutes of driving, he arrived at the farm surrounded by sturdy fences. He got out of the car and toured around. Lucky for him, he found an opening to get inside. He walked in silence and he found the house farm easily as the red wall of the house made it stand out. Tiptoeing, he went to the door and knocked on it three times. To his surprise, the door was opened by an old man. Daniel could not believe it. How did his uncle get here? What really happened 15 years ago, when he went missing? He stuttered to speak; to ask lots of questions but Uncle Jonah shushed him and brought him into the house.

Daniel was really surprised when stepping inside the house. It was luxurious with modern interior. Uncle Jonah sat down on a red couch, inviting Daniel to do the same. Then, he began telling Daniel his story, what happened 15 years ago. Daniel was stunned but he could process the whole situation after a while.

"So, why did you take my watch? Could you not just contact me?" Daniel was curious to know.

Uncle Jonah chuckled, "Well, obviously, I could not expose myself to your family as your father thought I was already dead." Daniel's father really hated Uncle Jonah, his own brother and it was no doubt that Uncle Jonah went missing because of him.

Uncle Jonah stood up and walked into his room. He came out with a small white box. Daniel recognised the logo printed on the box. It was his long-awaited watch. Coincidentally, his uncle was the owner of the store and they could finally meet each other after 15 years of being apart. Most importantly, Daniel got to receive his dream watch from his favourite uncle.

A Mysterious Box by Kasih Humaira Ittifaq

2026-06-08T11:42:05.102+08:00

Daniel was expecting to receive a watch, but what he saw inside the box left him in confusion. He pulled out a folded flyer with the words 'Job Wanted' written in bold yellow letters.

"There, now you can save up to buy yourself that watch," his father did not even look at his face. He kept scrolling his phone. Daniel was surprised because he had been promised a new watch by his father since his previous one was stolen. He was deeply disappointed but what else could he do? His family was poor and his father really needed to make ends meet.

The flyer stated a waiter position for a new Mexican restaurant that had just opened up in town.

"I can do this!" Daniel took a deep breath before entering the manager's office. It was nerve-wrecking for him as it was his first interview for a job. Surprisingly, the interview went smoothly. He got the job on the spot. His first day was normal. There were a few mistakes made but he quickly got the hang of it. After a month, he was already recognised as the most hardworking employee of the month.

"At this rate, you'll have your pay soon enough," the manager patted on his back. Daniel was elated to hear this. He had already saved up some tips from the customers he served. Soon, he would have his dream watch in a box wrapped in a black and gold glossy paper with a silver ribbon on it.

Daniel came home after a tiring month feeling delighted. "Mom, Dad. I've got my first paycheck."

Daniel was proud of himself. He wanted to show it to his parents. The balance of his first salary was sufficient to buy the watch. Plus, with the tips he gained, he could even buy the limited edition Casio 222. Out of the blue, his mom called him from the master bedroom. He immediately jolted upstairs and found his parents on the bed. He wanted to share his happiness with them but he realised his father was sobbing.

"What happened?" He wondered, trying to read the room. He had never seen his father in such condition.

"It's your Aunt Mary," his mom startled.

"She was attacked with a stroke this morning at the office." Daniel was shocked with the news.

"She needs an urgent surgery to remove the blood clot from her brain but the surgery costed her an arm and a leg. None of us have the money right now," his father explained. His eyes were red and puffy. Daniel's parents kept thinking on how to earn more money to help Aunt Mary but Daniel knew it was also his responsibility to chip in.

Daniel sacrificed his first paycheck for his aunt's surgery. He was determined to work harder so that he could earn more next month. He even took extra shifts to help. Although it was exhausting, he felt glad to do so.

The Mysterious Phone Call by Maryam Safiyyah Ittifaq

2026-05-04T11:32:00.001+08:00

That phone call made Aliana keep thinking about the debt. Since the incident that happened a year ago, the family had been struggling to repay the debt, working day and night nonstop.

It was a normal weekend, Aliana was in her room doing her daily skincare when out of sudden, she received a phone call from an unknown number. Not thinking much, she picked up the call, "Hello?"

The response came quickly. It was a guy's voice, a scary one. The guy stated all her private information, including her family's home address.

"If you don't want to meet your God next week, you better transfer $500,000 immediately to this number." The call was then ended abruptly.

Aliana did not know what or how to react, she just dropped her phone, contemplated the recent scene and then came back to reality only after she checked her phone. The call really happened.

Aliana now remembered, her brother just got into an awful car accident and the bills were expensive. Racking her brain on the issue, she finally connected the dots. How could her brother pay the bills on time when he just finished his degree in the university? Where did he get the money? Aliana was in rage by her brother's action that put their family in danger.

Out of the blue, her mother, Lucy came barging into the room screaming excitedly, "Oh, my gosh! I just won a lottery of 1 million dollars!" Aliana was in a great surprise. The timing was perfect! It was definitely a help from God. However, the joy was killed when Aliana told her mother about the phone call. Now, Lucy had to accept that she would only have half a million after paying the loanshark, but at least, they did not have to meet their God next week.

Henry and The Monsters by Haziq Annuar Ittifaq

2026-05-04T08:25:00.002+08:00

Henry was excited when he heard, "Good afternoon, passengers. Today, we are heading to the safe zone which is 70 kilometres from here."

Henry was finally calmed and relieved to know that he would be safe at the zone. The world had been infected by a virus that caused everyone to become flesh-eating monster. Henry was riding a bus that was taking victims to the safe zone.

The weather was gloomy and cloudy that time. Henry was very excited that it made him awake all the way. Henry was pondering on his journey until the bus came to a halt out of sudden. Henry was furious because the immediate stop made him hit his forehead on the bus chair in front of him. He looked out of the window and saw a horde of monsters approaching them. He was terrified by the scene.

He began thinking that he would not make it to the safe zone on time. He then went out of control and took a machete. With no hesitation, he rushed to the monsters even though the people in the bus were trying their best to stop him doing it but to no avail. He was too strong. He sliced off every single monster to pieces until there was no more to be seen. Henry then gained his sanity back and started walking towards the bus. Those people in the bus were stunned by the view that Henry was drenched in blood.

After everything seemed okay, the bus finally started moving again. Henry was thanked profusely for his bold act, fighting and killing all the monsters. After an hour, they finally arrived at their destination and got off the bus except Henry. Henry was sitting at his seat quietly and this made the bus driver feel curious of his condition.

"Are you okay, young man? We're here." The bus driver walked slowly to the back of the bus after he realised his question was not replied by Henry. Feeling petrified, the bus driver let out a scream when he saw there was a bite mark on Henry's hand. Henry stared at him, smiling. The bus driver tried to run away but it was too late already.

The Strange Man by Rohaizi Abadi

2023-11-30T12:21:00.000+08:00

It started as a normal day at Kampung Bidara when someone appeared unexpectedly in front of the village entrance. Rania, one of the girls from the village was surprised and overly confused at the sight of a mysterious man who walked into the village nonchalantly.

Rania was flabbergasted when suddenly the elders started to approach him with joy in their eyes. They showered him with gifts such as beautiful flowers and delicious fruits. Out of the blue, Rania's grandfather, the chief village, whom she knew as the strictest person hugged the strange man.

Rania snapped. She couldn't stand not knowing the real identity of the man and the strange attention he got from the villagers. She stomped bravely passing the elders and stood in front of him menacingly.

"Who are you? You are not from here. How did you know my grandfather?" She demanded for an explanation.

The man smiled at her antics. Before he could respond, Rania's grandfather ushered both of them into the house. Rania sat down as she listened to the man's story. Rania's eyes widened in surprise when she realised that this was the saviour of her village from being demolished by a construction company. The kind man bought the village land and freely gave it to the villagers.

A wide smile stretched on Rania's face. She was delighted to finally meet him. The saviour. She happily asked her grandfather if a celebration would be held for the man. Her grandfather agreed and informed the others. Rania sheepishly apologised for her bratty behaviour and swore to never judge a book by its cover.

Beauty of Bookworm's Hobby by Sofeah Aufa

2023-11-30T12:05:00.001+08:00

Reading books is like going through a portal of whole new world and a chance to escape from reality. In different ways, reading books is also sort of understanding one's creative minds in expressing feelings, experiences and built-up stories of the writers using words.

In my point of view, the books that suit my heart the most are poetic books. Currently, I am reading Farouq Mahmoud's masterpiece: Outspoken Words, his another compilation of beautiful words expressing the suffering of an empty heart. I feel touched when going through every line of his poem because it makes me full again knowing I am not alone and the feeling of emptiness is actually valid.

Books can also be the centre of resources and knowledge. Some books written by successful people are very useful for me in order to grow as a human being who can contribute to others' happiness. There are also books of education, finance and recipe which I read to upgrade myself to be better.

Despite having so many benefits, reading is not a popular hobby anymore. As we go deep into observing the lifestyle of this generation, smartphones and modern technologies have replaced articles and stories. Lacking of early exposure to reading could also be the main factor of it to be not likeable.

Notably, people should play their roles to encourage this generation in practising reading habit every single day since they were kids. Therefore, a brighter generation will be born to lead the world in the future.

Are You a Bookworm? By Muhammad Adam Aiman

2023-11-30T11:51:00.000+08:00

Books open the door of knowledge and imaginations. People nowadays are not ken to read because of many obstacles. They tend to play video games and watch movies. However, there are still people who enjoy reading books and I am one of them. So, is reading books really good?

A book that I enjoy reading is 'The Adventure of Sherlock Holmes.' The book was published in 1995 and about a journey of a famous detective, Sherlock Holmes and his sidekick, Dr. Watson. They were together solving mysteries and puzzles. I love this book because of the proper storyline and great characters.

From my point of view, I think reading can make us a better person because there are books that contain moral values. Thus, our personality and behaviour will be influenced by the values. For an instance, 'Jack and The Beanstalks' teaches us gratitude and perseverance. Furthermore, reading can shape us to be better as it widens our field of knowledge. Hence, we can improve ourselves intellectually by reading books. For example, history and science books may give out facts that we have not known before.

Secondly, I personally agree that the tendency of people to do non-beneficial activities has made reading not a popular hobby anymore. From my observation, people would prefer to be with their smartphones scrolling and chatting than staring, reading and understanding long paragraphs and texts.

In a nutshell, reading can make us a better person when we apply the moral values we have gained from reading books and it also wides our knowledge. As people's new hobby is Netflix-ing, reading has become not popular anymore. If only they knew flipping every page of a book is a kind of 'healing' process, definitely, they would rather choose a book than a drama series.

Read a Book by Sara Sabberi

2023-11-30T11:35:00.000+08:00

For me, reading a book is an escape from reality. I enjoy reading since I was 12 which my first book was 'Cinderella and Fairy Tales' authored by Angela Smith. Since then, I spend most of my leisure time to read and drown in my own imagination.

I am convinced that reading helps me to be a better person in many ways. Being a bookworm does not mean that I only read fictional story of a princess and talking frog but indeed I go through all over the genres. As for the fictional, I believe it helps me to be more creative and nourish values in myself, through the lesson we have got at the end of the story. Furthermore, reading actually helps me improve my way of thinking. The most remarkable book that ever affects my mind is '101 Signs That You Are Actually Doing Better.' It comes in a casual style of writing; the book teaches me to be more grateful and positive. Moreover, my vocabulary list piles up and definitely, this comes in handy when writing an essay.

Unfortunately, most people nowadays do not see reading as an interesting hobby anymore. In my perspective, people would rather spend their spare time scrolling through social media, reading posts and stories. They are more attracted to visuals and pictures than a plain text of alphabets. In short, people are blinded by the addiction of social media from exploring the colourful world of reading. In addition, there are people who clarify bookworm as nerd.

To sum up, reading is actually a hobby that would give you thousands benefits through the journey. I admit that there will be a certain time you would be as sixes and sevens and the next minute you will be crying like a cry baby by only reading a book. That is actually what makes reading a powerful hobby.

The Mystery of Stolen Ancient by Aiman Taharim, Faizus Sahli, Izzat Azman, Firdaus Wafi & Amirul Syarif

2023-09-25T11:06:00.000+08:00

That morning I had never been so scared and sad at the same time in my life. The sun was barely peeking over the horizon, casting long shadows across the deserted street. As I walked to school, my heart raced with a mix of excitement and fear. Little did I know that this day would change my life forever.

As I turned the corner, I saw a crowd gathering the school entrance. There was an ambulance parked outside, its lights flashing ominously. My mind raced with thoughts of what could have happened. Was someone hurt? Was there a dangerous intruder? I pushed through the crowd, eager to find out what was going on. Inside the school, chaos ensued. Students were huddled together, whispering and crying. Teachers rushed around, trying to maintain some semblance of order.

I approached my friend, Aina, who looked pale and shaken. She grabbed my arm and said, "You won't believe what happened. There's been a break-in at the school library. The thief stole some valuable artifacts, including a mysterious ancient artifact said to hold incredible powers. "My heart pounded in my chest as I processed the information. The thought of a dangerous thief roaming the halls of our school filled me with fear. But at the same time, the mystery and adventure of it all excited me. I couldn't help but feel a surge of adrenaline coursing through my veins.

Determined to help catch the thief and recover the stolen artifacts, Aina and I joined forces with a group of brave students. We formed a secret detective club and started investigating the crime scene. Clues were scattered throughout the library, leading us on an exhilarating treasure hunt. As we delved deeper into the mystery, we encountered unexpected challenges and faced moments of peril. But our determination and teamwork kept us going. We followed the trail of clues to hidden passages, deciphered cryptic codes, and outsmarted cunning traps.

Finally, we reached a secret underground chamber where they found the thief. The thief, startled by their presence, turned around with wide eyes and a shocked expression. He quickly tried to hide the stolen artifacts behind his back, but it was too late. The students had caught him red-handed. In the end, our efforts paid off. We confronted the thief and recovered the stolen artifacts, restoring peace to our school. The experience taught me that even in moments of fear and uncertainty, courage and teamwork can prevail. We were all elated but exhausted.

Our Little Secret by Najihah, Sarah Adilla, Afnan & Dhaniya Amira

2023-09-25T10:58:00.000+08:00

It was cold and gloomy morning and I expected it was about to rain. I was already heading to school when the sun had not even risen yet. Since it was my senior year, this was the routine I must follow. As I stood right in front of my class, it was bleak, cold and completely dark. The only visible sight was the flashes of lightning that occasionally brought the loud rumble of thunder. That was the first time I saw him. Little did I know, my entire life was going to be ruined because of him.

His name was Ethan. My first conversation with him was when we were seated together in class by our teacher. “Asha, could you please show me where the library is?” I was quite surprised because he knew my name. "How do you know my name?" He chuckled, pointing to my Biology notebook on the desk, "it is written on your book."

Soon after that, we kind of became friends. My first impression towards him was completely wrong. I thought he was some kind of naughty-meanie boy but instead, he was gentle and funny. However, he had a pretty bad temper and I noticed this after a few weeks. There was a time when I offered him some of my favourite garlic breads but he refused. I was still trying to force him to eat it anyway. Who knew he would like it? To my shock, Ethan threw the bread on the floor and left the class. Was it necessary to go on a rage like that?

Ethan apologised the next day saying he had a severe allergy to garlic. I forgave him with one condition: he must buy me food for a week straight. "No problem, as long as you forgive me." Alas, the long-awaited camp had finally arrived. Knowing Ethan, he did not want to join this camp. "Come on, Asha. You know I hate this under-the-sun activities." There he went again. "Stop complaining, Ethan. The camp is going to be so much fun!" I laughed hysterically when I saw what Ethan wore on the first day of the camp; denim jacket with triple layers of shirts inside, gloves, cap, sunglasses and he even brought an umbrella with him. Wow, this guy really hated the sun.

That first night in the camp, I was woken up by a sound and I saw Ethan walking into the woods. I glanced at my watch and it was 2.00 a.m. Seriously, Ethan? Curiousity took over me. I followed him and I had never been so regretful in my life. I let a loud shriek when I saw Ethan... biting our camp chief on the neck! He noticed my presence and grinned eerily at me with blood trickling down his chin. "Shh..." He put a finger over his mouth signalling me to keep my mouth shut. He approached me slowly as I was rooted the ground, unable to move an inch. That was when I realised why he hated garlic so much and why he always avoided the sunlight. He was a vampire! He whispered to my ears, "this is our little secret. Keep it, will you?"

Sunway Carnival Mall by Aiman Hakim

2023-08-21T16:02:00.003+08:00

Do you love shopping and being surrounded by elegant, modern and aesthetic vibes at the same time? If so, then Sunway Carnival Mall in Seberang Jaya suits you very well. But surely, what makes this mall shiner than other malls in our nation?

Constructed in 2005, this modern contemporary looking mall symbolises the elegant lifestyle of the locals. The interior is also full with luxurious and sparkling chandeliers and other decorations. No wonder the mall has become an attraction spot for both tourists and locals in the bustling city of Penang.

Other than fancy looking design, we surely cannot call it a mall if it does not have any shops. Yet, Sunway Carnival Mall offers variety of shops including sports, jewellery, clothes, shoes and so much more. Adidas, Gucci, Al-Ikhsan, Popular Bookstore and Padini are some of the big names that can also be found at this amazing mall. I am absolutely sure that mall enthusiasts like us will be able to appreciate this.

Feeling hungry or want to quench your thirst after shopping for a whole day? Fear not, there are bunch of classic restaurants at Sunway Carnival Mall serving lots of appetising and tantalising dishes and drinks. Craving for Western food? Then, restaurants such as Uncle Roger, Dennis Deli's and Secret Recipe might be a perfect solution. Seoul Garden, on the other hand, is specifically for shoppers who want to try Korean style of eating which is called steamboat.

If you go shopping at the mall, you do not have to worry about your safety. According to the mall director himself, Dato Hamzan, the mall is fully supervised by the professional workers and security officers. The customers service here is also very welcoming and helpful. The service can also efficiently return lost children back to their family really quick, making this mall more family-friendly.

To wrap it up, Sunway Carnival Mall is perfect in many aspects such as its design, diversity of shops and even safety measures. No wonder why, a lot of people claim it as 'The Jewel of Seberang Jaya'. The name suits well with this world-class mall and to top all of that, the average rating is five stars. So, it is safe to say that Sunway Carnival Mall is one of the best malls in this nation.

First Time by Haziq Khai

2023-08-21T12:38:00.001+08:00

The first time being away from home, I was on cloud nine. If happiness were a mountain, then I was on top of Everest. It was my first time ever outing with friends. I came from a not-very-financially-stable family. Therefore, I need to save money through hard work and immovable will power and courage. Finally, I could go on a holiday with Brian and Jay, my childhood buddies.

The first time we arrived, we gazed upon a spacious and luxurious hotel. Everything went well when we checked in into the budget hotel we booked and rested on the comfy beds provided. Later that night, we satisfied our growling stomachs with exquisite cuisines from the finest chefs of the hotel. After dinner, we hopped in our beds and rested for the next day.

The weather on the second day was absolutely fantastic. The sun was shining brightly, living up the moods of people from all walks of life. It was a perfect day for hiking. We went hiking for three hours and then had a lunch at a family-friendly restaurant. I was thankful to Jay as he paid for our meals so I did not need to spend more on food. I had to make sure I still had some money left by the end of the trip.

It all happened on the third day. I was sitting alone scrolling Instagram stories of my friends outside a mall when I was approached by a man wearing hoodie. I was unable to look at his face because he was wearing a mask. He asked me the direction to any bank nearby. I wanted to help even though I did not know much about the place. Without realising, he pickpocketed my wallet. Thankfully, a good Samaritan was there to witness the crime and caught the thief.

The following days went smoothly as I learnt the hard lesson to be cautiously kind. I thanked the man who helped me profusely as I could not imagine if my money got stolen. From the incident, I changed to be more cautious towards strangers if I needed to help them some day.

First Time by Syazwani Zulkifli

2023-08-21T12:17:00.000+08:00

The first time being away from home, I was anxious. Living as a spoiled kid made me overthink on how I could survive being alone without Ma, Pa, Tom and Ryan. I had to admit as an introvert, it was not easy for me to start a conversation with strangers.

It all started when Ma and Pa asked me to join a summer camp when I was 12. In order to get there, I needed to get on a train and it took 3 hours to reach at the destination, Sunshine Camp. I refused at first thinking I would be alone in the train and at the camp but seeing Ma's sad face changed my mind. I had no choice but to give in. I sobbed when Pa sent me to the train station.

After I got the ticket, I sat silently at my place. I felt like throwing up due to the indescribable smell inside the train. When I was about to scroll for my Spotify, I noticed a young boy was sitting next to my seat with his sister. I guessed there were only two of them as I did not see any adults accompanying them. I was curious because the sister looked calm while the brother was throwing a terrible tantrum. I envied her calmness because I knew I would never experience that. If it happened to me, I was positive I did not know how to react.

After a while, she noticed that I was looking at her. She smiled and waved her hands. I replied her smile. Awkwardly. She then approached me and introduced herself and her brother. I could not deny the fact that she was giving me this refreshing vibe and thus, my anxiety was finally gone. We had a little chit chat throughout the journey.

I felt blessed to meet her in the train because since that day, I learned to be brave talking to strangers. I was slowly learning to make friends too. She inspired me not to be afraid being alone because from the story she shared, there were only two of them as their parents had passed away in an accident.

Aman Central by Sara Amina

2023-08-21T11:56:00.000+08:00

For a shopaholic like me, going to a mall is my way of escaping from reality. I have been to numerous malls all over the country and experience lots of things in every mall I have visited but the one in my town is always my favourite.

Aman Central is located in the centre point of Alor Setar, kedah. This mall was officially opened to public in 2017 when I was still at primary school. It is spacious and equipped with latest technology to ease the customers. Moreover, this mall also provides variety of entertainments for people to enjoy such as cinema, game arcade and bowling centre.

As for me, I am totally in love with the magnificent setting of the mall, which is urban contemporary. In addition, the nature elements presented by the wallpaper of the mall play a vital role in harmonizing the concept. The atmosphere is welcoming and cosy. The lounge situated at the ground floor is what I favour the most. The fresh flowers give off sweet fragrances and you will feel as if you are in a garden.

Other than that, the mall provides diverse branded stores from around the world. Just name it; Gucci, Chanel and Ralph Lauren and they offer you with the latest trends and surprisingly, the products are released on the same day they are launched. Thus, you can just purchase them straight away without waiting for a few weeks. On top of that, the stores are well-organised in a systematic layout which helps people to find the stores.

In a nutshell, I would be honoured to award 5 stars for this mall. Definitely, I would recommend Aman Central to my friends so that they can experience the vibe and ambience of it. Last but not least, Aman Central is always open for you. So, come here and make your own review of this amazing shopping mall.

Queensbay Mall by Adam Aiman

2023-08-18T16:24:00.000+08:00

Have you ever seen a mall that is located next to a beach? Well, let me bring you to Queensbay Mall in Penang. This mall is a popular attraction among tourists and locals because of its strategic location and comfortable hospitality.

One of the aspects that makes this mall famous is its food court. As we all know, usually food courts are located at the lowest level of a mall but it is different in Queensbay Mall. The food court is situated at the highest level as it is installed with transparent mirrors to allow visitors to enjoy mesmerizing view of the sea. There are also stalls serving various types of scrumptious delicacies.

Furthermore, this mall is popular because it is built just next to a beach. Thus, visitors can stroll along the beach after shopping at the mall. Moreover, they can also see a picturesque view of Jerejak Island from the spot. In addition, Queensbay Mall is famous for its shops. From luxurious items to groceries, you can satisfy all your needs and wants. A must-visit shop is a candy shop located at the second level. The shop is called 'Sticky' and it is trending on social media. Other than that, there are also stores selling branded clothes and shoes with reasonable price.

Last but not least, fun arcades also make this mall popular and special. The most famous one is 'Laser Tag' arcade. You can play at this arcade with your family and friends. With only RM15 for the entrance fee, you can enjoy laser shooting with your loved ones. This will strengthen the bond between family members.

In a nutshell, I would recommend this mall to others because of its special characteristics. Variety stores, spacious food court and amazing facilities make me rate 5 stars for this mall. Do come and experience it on your own!

Do Good, Be Good by Sofeah Aufa

2023-08-18T16:10:00.001+08:00

Sometimes, helping others might seem exhausting and boring. However, it is the small kind act that could put a smile on someone's face. Even the smallest thing such as helping an old lady cross the road or doing charity for the poor could affect one's life.

Charity work is said to be an honourable act of help for those who are in need. There are myriad ways in doing charity work. For instance, people can work together to clean the orphanage. They can help to clean the toilets, sweep old leaves and plant colourful flowers in the garden.

As we live in a social community, it has been a necessity for each one of us to help people around us who are struggling. It is important to keep an eye on others in order for us to live a comfortable life together. Moreover, it also helps strengthen the bond between people from different races and religions.

People, especially the youngsters should actively participate in doing charity work as they have strength and creative mind. It is our responsibility to be a good role model to encourage others to do good deeds. Governments and schools on the other hand should conduct charity-work-based programme throughout the year to expose students about the benefits of doing kind to community. In fact, they are the one who will lead the country someday, so they should possess good characteristics.

Above all, as humans, we should have compassion towards others. As for that, we could build a loving community to live together.

The First Time by Rohaizi Abadi

2023-08-18T15:59:00.000+08:00

The first time being away from home, I was really anxious and had butterflies in my stomach. Since I was the eldest grandchild, I was chosen and instructed to find the missing heirloom which my grandparents had left it for us. To make the matter worse, I was only given clues on where to find them.

The abandoned mansion owned by my grandparents stood tall on a remote island somewhere in Geneva. To my surprise, the ancient furniture still looked amazing even though it was completely covered with dust. I began hunting; looking behind old paintings as instructed by the clues I got. I chuckled when a written riddle was spotted behind one of those fancy drawings.

To my dismay, the riddle itself was hard to be cracked. It took me a while to solve it. Nevertheless, my next destination was the attic. I was indeed in shock to uncover weapons from the last decades of war in the attic: old guns that used gunpowder. I rummaged the stuff in the attic only to find another clue that led me to master bedroom.

My adventurous journey continued after I was able to notice a hidden stairway behind an antique closet. Curiousity kills the cat. So, I went down the creepy stairs and found a small room. The adventure came to an end when my trembling hands held a dusty family photo album. I shed tears of happiness as I was flipping every page of the album. It was filled with pictures of Grandpa and Grandma.

I hurried home after that just to show my family members the treasure I had found. To them, it was not that valuable but for me, it was the greatest discovery. From the entire hunt, I learned precious memories were not to be locked away but cherished and appreciated as we only had one life to spend.

Who Stabbed My Sister? By Afiqah

2023-02-02T15:54:00.001+08:00

That morning, I had never been so scared and sad at the same time in my life. Ah! I shouted out of my lungs as I was traumatised by the scene that I was witnessing. A small pool of red sticky liquid. As I was figuring out the source of the stain, I found out it was coming from my sister.

I was literally hyperventilated as many bad thoughts started coming to my mind: What if my sister was murdered? What if she was poisoned? Out of nowhere, I heard a grunt from my sister. "It hurts," she was holding her tummy, could not bear the pain.

"Oh, no! This is bad," I whispered to myself as I quickly got on my toes to alarm my parent about the current situation. I tried to find my only parent, Dad. Yes, it was just me, my sister and Dad. Mom died years ago.

"Dad, Julia was stabbed and she is bleeding!" I managed to tell him despite my anxious feeling.

"Huh? She was stabbed?! Dad was trying to process the info that I just relayed. After a split second, he grabbed his iPhone 14 to call the hospital.

"Good morning, how can I help you?" the receptionist greeted Dad professionally.

"Please send an ambulance to my house right now! My daughter is bleeding," he explained nervously.

"I need you to calm down, Sir. Could you explain to me why she is bleeding?" she asked politely. Out of the blue, Julia came out from her room. Both of us were startled by what we saw. Dad hung up without ending the conversation.

"Hey, we thought you were injured terribly?" Dad looked worried.

"Huh? Hurt?" My sister was confused.

"Did not you get stabbed?" Dad added, concerned.

"What? I was not stabbed. I am on my period, Dad," she explained.

"Daniel, why did you tell me she was stabbed?" Dad turned facing me. He started to get furious.

"I'm sorry Dad, but how I am supposed to know about period?" It's even my first time hearing about it," I defended myself. That was how my traumatised experience turned into a learning experience.

Unforgettable Moment by Fify Rosliana Sari

2023-02-01T16:35:00.002+08:00

It was a typical Sunday. No school, no tuition classes and no traffic jam. It was my routine to deliver homecooked food to my sister's family and when I reached at her house, the front door was open. I slowly tiptoed inside calling for Sonia, my sister and James, her husband. To my horror, a puddle of blood in front of the master bedroom captured my attention. "Where is Sonia? Where is the family?" I was in tremendous fear as I could not feel my legs anymore. With the sanity left, I searched for them.

Recalling the moment a year ago when my sister moved out to this house with her newly wedded husband, I always had this uneasy feeling. Her husband appeared to be kind, understanding and soft spoken but I got a hunch that that was not the real him. It was just a façade he was displaying to us. I had seen him kicking a kitten, shouting to kids and I never knew it could be even worse.

Tiny bruises on Sonia's body proved it all. Perhaps I watched a lot of crime dramas but looking at Sonia's terrible condition made me start to doubt James more. Even though Sonia struggled to cover the pain, she could not hide it from me. I could tell how suffer she was without even glancing at her injuries. I once told Ma about this but she advised me to stay away from their marriage problem. Yet, I felt I had seen enough.

When I was about to compose myself as fear and panic engulfed me, a scream caught my attention. It came from the backyard garden and it was Sonia's! I dashed into the garden and what I witnessed left me speechless. James was punching and kicking Sonia while she was hanging for her dear life. They did not realise I was there and I took this precious chance to save my only sister. I quickly took a shovel and approached James from behind. I swung it hard and the shovel hit James' head. Blood was dripping and he fell to the ground.

Neighbours came to help. They contacted the police and brought my sister to the hospital. James was arrested for his crime; not only abusing his wife but also a drug addict. After almost a month being hospitalised, they finally got their divorce. A restraining order was issued by the court to protect Sonia. The image of blood covering her was still playing repeatedly on my mind. I would never forget that moment until my last breath.

Unforgettable Moment by Ariff Jamsheer Jafri

2023-02-01T10:44:00.001+08:00

It was a sunny day. In the middle of the vast ocean, my family and I were spending our holidays on a private island hopping expedition in Pulau Redang. The boat that we rode was driven by Mr. Pokku and his son, Alif as the tour guide. We were having a blast chatting with them.

We headed for our first destination which was a small sandy island that seemed like it just spawned out of nowhere. A lot of other tourists were busy taking pictures and cherishing the moments. No exception for my family. After some camera-clicking sessions, we went for a swim. I was in awe when I found out I was a pretty skilful swimmer. After a while, we agreed to continue our trip to the next location.

During the journey, while enjoying the breeze on the boat, Alif shared his experience in swimming and snorkelling. We discovered that he was a really amazing swimmer. We reached at our next destination which was in the middle of the blue ocean. Without asking lots of questions, we put on our life jacket and also the snorkelling equipment before jumping into the water. While eyeing the dazzling corals, Alif immediately got into the water with no safety equipment at all! He was able to dive, glide and float expertly and seeing this, jealousy filled me in.

I immediately went to the back of the boat and took off my equipment. I jumped into the water without any hesitation. At first, I manage to calm myself down and stay afloat for quite a while. Out of the blue, my legs cramped and I panicked. I tried yelling for help but unfortunately my voice was not loud enough to be heard by my family. I descended slowly to the bottom of the sea struggling to survive. When I thought that was the end of it, a strong hand reached and pulled me up to the surface.

I threw up salt water and composed myself. I looked up to see my saviour, the hero who rescued me from death and to my surprise, it was Alif. He seemed to be out of breath. I thanked him profusely for putting his life on the line to save me. He advised me not to be overconfident and get ahead of myself. We kept that incident as our little secret and I would never forget about that moment until my last breath.