Bend Like a Lion

I have a classmate named Deny in my very first grade of Junior High School. I saw him on his very first day of school. I saw him everyday. He saw me in a glance when he introduced himself in front of class. Deny would never look at me anymore after that such-and-such a percent second of glance. I told you this, I knew and know him even before his name was going out from his own mouth. Everything's going wrong. I do not know why.

A week of Deny's first semester has passed already. He still did not pay any attention to me, his silent watcher. There was no me in every action of him. Instead of me, Ryshaka and Parjo were his clique. Day by day, they wore or used a similar thing. Monday was their day for musk perfume while purple headbands were their things in Friday. A moment I tried to be his 'vague' clique but got only zero attention. I do not know why.

Once Ryshaka told me that Deny was spiritedly joining a lion dance (lion dance in Chinese: wûshī) training. I nodded without any exciting responses. I knew and know it. Deny dreamed to be a professional lion dancer. Unfortunately, he was not supported by his father so that he went to his trainee by lying. Time by time, finally he was selected to be one of the dancers which would be performing in one important event. He prepared himself really well for his first performance. I tried to help Deny when he needed someone to take his costume. He rejected me but asked for somebody else. I do not know why.

lion dance

As the years went by, Deny trained himself well. In result, he became a significant part of his team's lion dance. Each of his classmates would praise him whenever Deny's name was popped out. Even, Ryshaka and Parjo were not his clique since Deny was the school's rising star. I hoped the readers dare not even imagine me as his adherent. He would never recognize me that much. I do not know why.

In one bad day, something bad happened to Deny. His father, Mr. Asiong, knew that his son secretly became a lion dancer. Deny was never allowed to do that kind of thing since the very first time he asked Mr. Asiong permission. His -you can say- fierce father fiercely ordered Deny to leave his dream as lion dancer. Deny's costumes and all his supporting property was burned in one moment. The only thing that Deny could do was only accepted Mr. Asiong's decision. Deny was in his painful condition. I thought I do know why.

"Deny, you are seriously done." That was Mr. Asiong's last statement which almost made Deny give up. A little bit more, precisely. It was 0,01 cm left to his weakest point. The greatest dream to be a professional lion dancer which he has dreamed since years (year and years) ago. The training of him which he has been through in so many years. Four years, precisely. It was a little bit more to reach his greatest peak. I swear it to you, readers. All of his efforts were bringing him up before that statement. The statement of Mr. Asiong, his father. In the other hand, Deny told me this problem which is caused by Mr. Asiong. Once again, he told me for no exact reason. I do not know why.\

Before Deny told me his confusion, I knew it already. He was confused by the options of his father. Would he choose to be with family? Would he choose to keep on his dream to be a professional lion dancer? His team's lion dance refused to give any comments toward his problem as long as he still wants to be a part of the team. Then, he rejected me once but asked my opinion since he knew me as his silent watcher. I do not know why.

After we got a -maybe- long conversation about him, Deny finally wanted to take a brave decision. When all of his dance's property was burned by his father, Deny planned an almost perfect plan to be runaway. He decided not to be depended on his parents. His team of lion dance accepted him to stay for a while in their base camp until Deny could live by himself. I told you this, Deny finally become the leader of SLBD, one of the famous lion dance in Belinyu. He deserved it after struggling by himself for a pretty long time. Of course, I know why.

Finally, I tell you that the story of Deny is finished. What is my point of telling his story? Let me get you a small introduction. Deny is me. Yes, I am Deny. Every part of Deny which you have read previously is not real. The real Deny is only a dreamer who dreams of himself to be somebody else. So, this is a story from me, a deaf-mute person who wants to tell and retell inspiring stories for you, my readers.