Carstruck

I wanted to park at Narnia as usual to go to the library and study. I spotted a space that is sufficient enough for Polly to fit in, and it was near too. I entered the space, but the gap between the cement and the space that I wanted to cramp Polly in was quite deep, but I thought that it was normal since Polly was not that lowered anyways. As I wanted to straighten the car, my back and front tyre could not exit the space. I was panicking. I could not leave my car like this, with all eyes on me. Haih, only when I thought that my driving skills have elevated. To give justice to myself, I am not a bad driver, I am more of a stupid driver. 

As I was panicking, only one name came into my mind, but I could not call him, we were not in talking terms, but, if I could not get my car out of the ‘parking’ space now, how is it possible that I could get it out later on? The cars that kept on passing by and confused with the position of my car...I could not stand this embarrassment any longer.

I called him once, but he did not answer. Freak it, I opened my WhatsApp. 

“Dan”

“Yea?”

Finally! 

“I’m at the parking spot and my car was stuck, it could not get over the cement, I have tried to accelerate while reversing but I can’t”

“Send me a pic. I want to see”

Dude, can you just come here already? I was in trouble and you want picture some more. 

After sending him the picture of my car, he asked me, “So, what do you want me to do? Repark it?”

Taklah, nak suruh tengok je. I wish I could say that, but I sank all my sarcasm at the back of my head. I was stressed enough for staying helplessly in this car already, why can’t he just come here right away?

“Yes please….because I suck…..and a lot of cars that have been passing by and looking at me…so yes….please…..”

“Meet me at LT1, I’m coming down now”

I immediately ran to LT1 which in this case, I have not known of yet, I legit thought it was near LT4 where I usually have my Public Relations lectures, but no. Some sense knocked into my head and I just realized that LT1 was right at the corner before the exit towards the parking lot. When I ran back, I saw him waiting for me at one of the seats outside of the LT. I bet he was thinking on why this woman came from the other side when she was supposed to just come straight from the exit. 

“How long has the car been there?”, was the first question he asked me when he saw my face. 

“10-15 minutes. I wanted to do it myself, and the uncle parking wanted to help me, but he got a phone call and left me stranded”

While we were walking, he could see Polly from afar. “Okay je tu!”

I felt like knocking his head. “Mana ada okay, you have to go near it and see for yourself!”

When he came to Polly, he was startled and he could not even facepalm himself. He looked at the gap between the cement and the parking space that I meant. “Dalamnya. I don’t know to whether put some weight on it or something.” Is that a car language? Oh lord, I don’t know anything. I just nod to whatever that he said. 

Dan stepped in the car and made the back tyres escaped the cement, but not the front ones. When he did that, I could hear scratches underneath the car. “Boleh ke? Calar eh?”, he asked me. For someone that does not care whatever that happens to that car as long as it gets to escape the space, I just nodded and said, “Sikit lah, but you can still manage to get through it.”

For someone that does not settle for less, he went out and started to arrange some rocks near the cement, forming some sort of stairs so that the tyres could get through without damaging the surface under the car. Smart move he had there. I swear to God, if I was alone, I could not think of anything at all. 

The uncle parking realized that we were in trouble, again, and helped to push the car outwards. Both of us complimented him and Dan parked Polly at a safe spot. I thought that we were done, but he literally lied down on the hot cement surface and looked underneath the car. 

“Calar sikit lah, but you need to lie down in order to see it.”

“It’s okay, as long as my father does not see it, then it’s fine”, well, that’s Maleen for you. I need to hide anything that happens to Polly from my dad or I’ll be killed.

“Well, can lah, since you have to lie down to see it after all. So, are you going to park it somewhere else?”

I nodded. “Yeah”.

“Well, alright then, you’re welcome”, he walked towards the campus building just like that. I could not even ask him anything, or to treat him, or just talk to him. When I asked him on WhatsApp later on, he said that he has eaten already. I might as well just buy him his favourite Milo can. 

As he left, a sudden realization hit me, I guess that I could not possibly live without him after all. Look, I’m helpless without him. I have always thought that I became stronger, but in all the strength that I gained, I am still somehow dependent on him. Not somehow, I am dependent on him, like I have always been. Some things do not change after all. 

When I wanted to go home, I stepped inside Polly and pat the steering wheel. She is lucky, Dan loves her still.