
One of the prose novels I'm studying for Literature in Translation this semester. (pronounce: Yu-jin O-ni-ye-gen) I love literature, though I might not be that good (hawhaw, pessimist ok). In fact I love any language-related and music subjects. I wonder why I'd chosen Actuarial Science instead...
Anyways... the hero is Eugene.
Eugene is a slave to the social convention. That is, he's kind of afraid of what people might think of him whenever he does something. Therefore in order to not go against the neighbours, he would do whatever he thought that the public will accept, though all those people are merely those kind of "cakap belakang" people.
Eugene easily gets bored with things. He's not a genius whatsoever, but he's got the ability to charm people (especially women) with the way he talks and with the words he chooses to say. He's witty, he's flirtatious, and he knows how to get along with other people.
One day this guy went to a ball organized by a rich family, and one of the daughters, Tatyana fell in love with him. Tatyana is different from her sister Olga, who was sociable and outgoing. Tatyana was rather reserved and preferred reading romantic novels than flirting. She might not have any idea how being in love really feels, so it's a new thing for her to fall for someone. But she liked Eugene not because of who he is, or how he looks, or how he flirts.
Do you know exactly why she did?
It's merely because of the social convention.
The neighbours were sort of gossiping that Eugene is going to get engaged with Tatyana. Tatyana heard the hearsay, and instantly, liked him. Tatyana who came from a high-class background, risked her status by writing him a love letter, confessing her feelings and of course, hoping that Eugene would return her love.
But Eugene, of course, did not love her.
The unique thing about Tatyana being in love is that, she didn't exactly love Eugene. She was only falling for LOVE. That is, she was in love with the images of how she wanted Eugene to be, NOT with the man himself.
Macam kitalah. Kalau kita suka seseorang, semua pasal orang yang kita suka tu adalah baik.
Two lessons from the story:
1. Jangan buat cerita/fitnah pasal orang because you will never know how your WORDS can affect other people that bad. Sebab tu dalam Islam dosa fitnah tu lebih besar dari membunuh, because you won't have any idea how big your words are going to be.
2. Infatuation is merely infatuation. Even if you're going to marry that person, you'll never know them until you, well, get married. Sebab tu dalam Islam ada cara yang betul supaya kau boleh kenal seseorang tu sebelum kau kahwin dengan dia (merisik etc.). And please note that kalau setakat tanya ahli keluarga orang tu je belum tentu keluarga tu betul-betul boleh beri respon yang tepat. Sebabnya kebanyakan orang dengan family perangai lain, dengan bukan family lain pulak.
Tapi, kalau dah suka orang tu, nak buat macam mana kan. *tersenyum sinis* Love is not blind but love can blind you.
Haha. Garang gila. WHATEVER.
Tak tahu kenapa tiba-tiba nak tulis pasal ni. But I think it's been quite a while since I posted garang posts on this blog, harharhar.
Oh come on, you should think twice before reading the whole post!