As I stood, my heart thumped at an inhuman rate. Looking right at the lapang sasar, wild boars had a stampede in my stomach rather than the usual fluttery butterflies.

The military officers did a demonstration for us. All 200 of us were asked to squat down, as a safety precaution. When they’ve taken their positions, they started firing. It came as a shock, a brutal one. As I’ve never in my life heard gunshot live, fear crept into my heart while my ears were bombarded with the deafening bangs. It was the kind of fear that leaves your legs shaking, and your mind blank. In my mind, war scenes stared to emerge. Bloodshed and weapons. Cold-blooded massacre.

After the demo, I could practically feel my heart thudding against my ribcage. Doubt clouded my mind. Could I still do it? 

We were all ordered out of the field, and Detail 1 was called upon rightaway. Being Detail 1 Target 6, I walked to my position with hesitant steps to my position. My heart was literally stuttering.

Orders to start were given. I didnt have time to sort out my feelings. My pengasuh helped me into position, and still had time to ask whether I was a malay (-.-”) . I meniarap, while she loaded the bullets into that weapon. I felt the weight of it in my hands and I struggled while trying to position it properly.

My own nerves were seizing my heart.

I heard gunshots from the other Targets and my nerves ran away. I was pressured by those gunshots, wanting to be faster. I aimed through the pejara belakang at the target with haste, and pulled the trigger. Which I realised much later that I don’t recall when did I position my finger on the trigger.

Again, it came as a shock. After the trigger was pulled, the gun recoiled against my right shoulder, the bang of the gunshot sounded muffled. The recoil of the gun was so great it pulled it off target, so I had to aim before each shot. 

The 100m-away target seemed tiny from the view of the penjera belakang. All around me I heard gunshots echoing away. Bang bang bang.

The 20th shot sounded different, there was a bit of metallic click along with it. After hearing that, my pengasuh took the weapon away from my hands and I waited for the others to finish off.

And I got a 64 out of 100.  Hehe.

Someone got a perfect 100. And she’s a girl. Cun eh?

It was definitely a once-in-a-lifetime experience and I would love to have a second try. Which would happen on the day human discovers life on our Sun.

;P

Hehe.

Sorry for the lack of updates.

I’ve been busy a bit lo. Meeting up with friends, Santa and spending time with family, spending time at home.

Ah. I’ve finally realised the importance of time.  So much to do, but so little time.

;P

Now, I remembered I wanted to talk about National Service.

It’s fun.  

I’m not kidding you. And it’s not sarcasm either.

It’s seriously fun. Well, once you get used to it. Hehe.

During the first few weeks, I wanted to go home. I wasn’t very home-sick. I didn’t cry wei! Not even when the teachers purposely make us talk about our feelings about NS. Ok, I did shed a few tears when the teachers in Buddha class purposely show us clips and slideshows about parents and home and all that stuff. But that’s not crying. The tears were surfacing in my eyes, that’s all.

Lol. Ok enough about crying.

Anyway, yup the food’s not that bad. It’s either curry or fried. Or when it’s fish for lunch, then it’s chicken/beef for dinner and vice versa. You get the picture.  But that’s what mee cups and biscuits are for! Hehe.

And we have to march under the freaking hot sun.

And listen to oh-so-boring talks. I could even write poems about how boring it was. Seriously.

But it’s the community life that’s interesting. The way 17 girls have to live under 1 roof. I’ve seen ALL sorts of characters. I’ve interacted with ALL sorts of different people in classes. Sure sometimes it’s challenging, when you faced certain un-like-ble attitudes.

But it’s the teamwork that boils in me after more than 1 month of working together with my friends. It’s the way we helped each other through.

All those laughters and mud and sunburn and complaints about the heavy boots and screams in the toilet when the electricity goes off and late night snacks-chitchat sessions and gossiping about our stern teachers.

Actually, I don’t mind the fact that I’ve to “lapor diri” at camp tomorrow.

For those who’ve evaded it, you’ve just missed the chance to learn several things. Oh and definitely the chance to use an M16. Hehe.