The thing about having 2 names, besides the bin dotdotdot of course, is that it can be sort of an early warning system to be a bit more wary/when i'm through/next level can be achieved/others want to be manja when people start using it. Everyone usually takes to my first name, this is Malaysia after all. But when someone asks:
"Do you mind if I call you . . . ?"
I'll be like Sure. (what de feck you want?)
If you don't count family, I can count the number of people who call me by my second name with my fingers. One has recently gone back to the first. It was weird to hear her call me by my first name again when we were on phone recently but I guess it's for the better .
I like being called by my second name. Since not many people use it, I feel a whole lot closer to the people who do. Which is why I only let it out when I actually feel comfortable around that person. I don't want every Mutu, Ah Chong and Ahmad to use it. It will just ruin the effect.
Having said that, I'm very very protective about my second name. I can't say no when people ask to use it but usually I never bring it up and make people use it. No MCKK bullshit of "hello my name is Syed Rahman Rahim Hashim Noh but you can call me Lan(cap)." (let's not start with my boarding school peeves) Usually it will be hello my name is… and we leave it at that. It's my bloody name so I bloody get to decide when if I want to give it out or not.
