will disappear for a while due to unforeseen circumstances.

yes, its Me-Time again.

there are some pressing matters in my life i need to sort out.

i need a new reason, someday.

whyyyyyy muuussssstttttt everrryyyyyythiiiiinngggggg beee soooo coooommmpliiiicaaaaateeeeedddd?!?!?!?!?!!!!!!!!!!!!
KNNNNNNBBBBBCCCCBBBBBBBBBBBB. Can I carve my heart out and eat up again?

Dua Pai Lang

facial hair.

after reading about bimbobum’s entry about guys having hair on their face. im a tad worried.

you see, usually it grows on the chin and ontop of the upperlip, right? and its supposed to grow slowly, which amounts to maybe a little quick shave every morning.

a normal freshly shaved me will look like this:

which is makes me looks fresh, energetic, and probably slash off a few years off how aged i look.

as recent as last year, i have no problems with my facial hair. they do their stuff pushing their way away from my hideous face, i live with the fact they sometimes make me look cool. usually, i would shave perhaps once every 1 or 2 days to keep them in check.

so these days, usually after a day i would look like this:

not too bad, abit rough-looking. got that slight edge on it which is cool.

But lo and behold, nowdays i need to shave every single day! and imagine the shock i got when i have got facial hair on my cheeks! must be something about second puberty or the lack of sex.

and if i leave them uncheck for more than 2 days (which i do, since im not heading out much these days), i become like this:

super uper damn tramp look.

i scared i will look like him very soon sia…

will any women find this sexy/appealing???

Dua Pai Lang

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bJeHk1gDT68]

it was a nice, but fleeting dream.

and the heart says so and the body walks away

i just don’t want to give myself excuses or false hopes anymore.

Dua Pai Lang

i hate my dreams these days.
——————————
and so another night, another dream.
and hey, we’re off to honeymoon!
i cant believe it!! mistress says its less than 9% probability to have recurring dreams that CONTINUES to the next night.

i feeling very brainsick siaaaaa~

as much as you guys wanna know who is she, sorry. best kept as a secret. there WILL be complications, and it will moreorless makes things very, very awkward for us.

i hope tonight no more dreams. think i shall study till i ponk on my books. so i will dream about SQL servers and all.

*crossfingers*

Dua Pai Lang

i dreamt i proposed to someone in CBB.

i’m feeling very, very disturbed now.

**Update**
According to the Glamour’s Dream Dictionary,

Proposal

Whether the dreamed proposal was made or received, it predicts great popularity with the opposite sex.

and this interpretation

Accept

The interpretation of this dream depends on its details. If it involved a proposal of marriage and you accepted (or were accepted), you can expect a rocky road to romance. However, if you persevere, it may smooth out in time. If the dream involved the acceptance of money or anything else of value, it portends success in pending business matters. Acceptance of anything fake or counterfeit suggests you may be too trusting, so reexamine your current relationships. To accept an invitation is a forerunner to an inheritance or an unexpected gift.

So, according such interpretations from a women’s magazine. i dont know if i want to believe or not.

First of all, the GIRL in question is definitely a FEMININE LADY, contrary to popular assumptions.

And the dream comes about as we are on a holiday(?) and in the unfamiliar streets of France(?) or of some European city. the scene changed to a field of lovely purple flowers and stars hang upon a deep hue of ash-maroon skies, i kneeled, took out a ring of significant value and popped the question. a shy nod is all she gave. i took her hands and slipped the ring to her slender finger…and she took mine…

…and slipped a can pullring(?!).

and this is the part i woke up in horror that im actually blushing in my sleep.

a fellow Barfly?! of all people? and i actually blushed?! WTFFFFF is wrong with meeeeeeeeee?????

i dunno how Mistress gonna handle this news sia.

anyway, im being disturbed by this dream of mine is that, i hold marriages, proposals, relationships and the likes pretty sacred. so unless im ready to give my commitment into this matter, i dun really commit such rash act. so A) am i subconsciously telling myself that she could be the one for me? B) i’ve been thinking too much about marriages/matchmakes. C) i ki siao liao, think of her. or D) i’ve been hanging out in the Bar for too long. therefore seriously handicapping my chances at meeting other girls. girls that dont threaten to kill me, make me their BFF (Best Female Friend), or simply thinks that i like alittle bit of cock, together with the resident gayboy.

how am i so sure that much in the dream so much so i proposed? without any slightest doubt whatsoever? is there any indication of what there is for the future? as far as i could remember, i had only two instances so far that i was ready to consider the notion of marriage with my previous girlfriends. and seriously, having such proposals in my dreams is a first, and i seriously still think of am i doing it the right way in the dream.

and why in the world, ohfuckingshit, did i blush when i wake up??!?????!?

so, in accordance with the interpretation, i know im too trusting at times for my own good. and im sure of a rocky road to romance IF i ever, ever think of going anything more than just friends.

so i think i should just believe that im getting popular with the opposite sex. =]

Dua Pai Lang

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G9lAgwGElq4]

Rivermaya - You’ll be safe here
Nobody knows
Just why we’re here
Could it be fate
Or random circumstance
At the right place
At the right time
Two roads intertwine

And if the universe conspired
To meld our lives
To make us
Fuel and fire
Then know
Where ever you will be
So too shall I be

Chorus:

Close your eyes
Dry your tears
‘Coz when nothing seems clear
You’ll be safe here

From the sheer weight
Of your doubts and fears
Weary heart
You’ll be safe here

Remember how we laughed
Until we cried
At the most stupid things
Like we were so high
But love was all that we were on
We belong

And though the world would
Never understand
This unlikely union
And why it still stands
Someday we will be set free.
Pray and believe

Chorus:

When the light disappears
And when this world’s insincere
You’ll be safe here
When nobody hears you scream
I’ll scream with you
You’ll be safe here

Save your eyes
From your tears
When everything’s unclear
You’ll be safe here

From the sheer weight
Of your doubts and fears
Wounded heart

When the light disappears
And when this world’s insincere
You’ll be safe here

When nobody hears you scream
I’ll scream with you
You’ll be safe here

In my arms
Through the long cold night
Sleep tight
You’ll be safe here

When no one understands
I’ll believe
You’ll be safe,
You’ll be safe
You’ll be safe here
Put your heart in my hands
You’ll be safe here
——————————————————-

solace sought with another
i thought i’ve forgotten the bliss of watching someone slowly falling asleep

Dua Pai Lang

after finding out that we do share many common interests and tastes together, that lian introduced me Little Britain from BBC, which i might add, had inflicted me with more mouth cramps than she already had.

witty English humour, dry sarcasm and a whole lot of crossdressing
THIS ONE TAKES THE CAKE AND SHOVES IT UP YOUR SHAFT!!

and guess what? my monkey-sis had served them guys at China House in London before. i would looooove to meet them in person, man!

watch it if you can. guaranteed  to knock your knickers off!

Dua Pai Lang

YOU’RE A FUCKIN’ 27 VIRGIN MAN NOW!!

HAH HAH!!

Happy birthday, dude!
I’ll give you your birthday ‘gift’ soon, *wink wink* and lest do it when shes not around okayyyy???

Dua Pai Lang

Paper Rose – Everything

 

Suny was just a plain and average girl. Energetic, bubbly and loveable. Future awaits for her.

Calea was just like any other guy; Down, bummer and outcast. Future is hopeless to him.

There’s always something dark and sad about Calea. He kept mostly to himself and shunned away from others. With a pathetic few friends he had, he is contented. He is more contented to see the stars; an interest that has sparked in him since young. He always visualise the stars as lonely, single but always there for him. Knowing that there’s an Astronomy Club in his school, he wasted no time and sign up for it during his orientation.

“Maybe all could be changed, time to move on.” he told himself, as he pen down his name and contact number. “There’s always the stars to be with.”

School is just a mechanical routine to him; Day-In, go for class, smoke, eat, skip lectures, go home, Day-Out. He doesn’t really make the effort to change this routine, it is perfect to him. Safe and sure. “Just pass all modules will do.” he assured himself, “And get the fuck out.”

But this is all going to change when he saw her.

Suny is very average to most people. She is the eldest in her family, she strives hard to get good results and always get it. She is not pretty, nor attractive, just that she looks pleasant to the eyes. A short, slightly plump built, she compensates with a crown of long flowing hair. Her infectious laughter and bubbly attitude makes her likeable in her class, especially with the guys. She’s always wanting to get that big break, and explore the places she only could imagine, do the things she could only think of, live the life to the fullest. And to do exactly that, she understands she needs the good grades.

A chance encounter prehaps? Or maybe the stars are playing with him again? His first encounter with Suny is outside the school gate, she clinging onto her laptop, chatting with her classmates, one of which is his high school mate. Calea doesn’t seem to be quite bothered by that, but in some strange way, he is deeply entranced by her. Her laughter and giggles spread through the crowded bus stop and that’s the only thing Calea heard. A laughter that echoes through him, shaking his dormant soul. The noise of the late afternoon crowd just fades in comparison.

It was something he can’t forget. A laughter that makes his spine tingle. “What was THAT?!” he slapped himself awake, “That can’t be true lar, wake up!! It’s OVER!!” Somehow, Suny’s laughter strung Calea’s broken soul together, and he can’t deny that. “Maybe it’s just a crush, things will pass, routine will be the same soon, yea. Soon.”

Too bad. This laughter is etched into his memory that day onwards.

But somehow, he found himself visiting the IT faculty more often, partly to visit his high schoolmates, mostly to catch that laughter again. And everytime, he gets it. She is just like a bundle of joy, spreading laughter in her class.

“Hrmm, this is getting serious, Calea. You’re stalking her! You pervert!” screamed Wiba. “You’re sick, go away.” There’s one thing you will notice before you notice Wiba. His trademark ears. It’s not exactly strange or looped at the wrong side. It is just, well, too big to be proportional to his face. Dumbo, big ear freak, he heard them all. But somehow, Calea find himself to be able to be friends with him since high school. Well, oddballs come together. Thats what they say. Maybe the ears are to keep his brain cool, and sure it is, he is one smart guy. Scoring a 9 pointer in his ‘O’ Levels, he wanted to go to a prestigious junior college, like the National Junior College. But a twist in fate, he couldn’t make it for the requirements. “Ahh…fuck it! If can’t go the top JC, might as well join you in poly, fuck.” he snorted as he takes another drag of his cigarette.

“But seriously lar, Calea. What is with her? Abit cute only mah. Don’t be a pervert and always come to my fac, can?” “You’re ruining my image, nabeh.”

————————————————————————

“Maybe what Wiba says is right, i’m getting sick in the brain, fuck.” Calea ponders as he searchs for that elusive M31, the Great Andromeda Galaxy with his club’s telescope.

“All right now…..just a bit more……YES! Found! Check!” Calea shouted out to his seniors as he admire the galaxy so far away, yet brought to his eyes now.

“7 minutes and 23 seconds. Wow, i’m impressed. You’re improving fast, i must say.”

“Yea, but i still need to improve.” Calea said, as he presses his cornea nearer to the eyepiece. “It’s beautiful, aint it? Our nearest neighbouring galaxy, yet it’s so far to those who pursue it”. Although it is only a faint smudge in the telescope, Calea is contented.

Stars are not lonely after all.

As time goes by, the laughter still lingers faintly behind his head. He is more devoted to the Club now, and is quite an expert now. He has open up more, talking more to others, counselling, guiding. It’s no surprise that he was chosen to lead the Club in his sophomore year. Unfortunately, on that day when he is officially appointed to be President, he almost choked in his speech.

There she was, with a friend! Sitting right at the back of the classroom, wondering why the idiot at the front stopped his speech halfway! Calea’s heart pounded madly, “She’s here! In the Club! She joined the Club!” “Damn! First impression now, Calea. Be nice.” he reminded himself, as he extends his hand to introduce himself.

“Hi, I’m Calea. Your new president”

“Hi. I’m Cindy.”

“Hello~ I’m Ny-Na”

“Ny-what?!”

“Nevermind, you can call me Suny.”

“Oh, okay. Hi Cindy and Suny-na!”

“SU-NY. S-U-N-Y. No more Na.”

“Err, okay, your name is hard to catch. Nevermind. Ha.ha.ha.ha!” Calea chuckled nervously.

And this is how they formally know each other, under the stars.

 

Time goes by. Calea always look forward to Fridays, when he can see Suny (he got it right eventually, with help.) again. It was almost like a dream; He enjoying the stars and a lady he is quite interested in.

Bliss.

He got to know more about her as the distance between them close up. She loves chocolate, particularly dark, to death. She knows Wiba, by his ears. She likes shopping and exploring. She likes to chat with her friends on mIRC. She likes handicraft. She likes Jeff Chang, Air Supply, MLTR, Bryan Adams, Oldies and Evergreens. She likes to try out new experiences. She went to PJC for the first 3 months, but chose to join poly instead. She likes Pooh. She had a very bad experience in the previous relationships. She hangs out with guys more than girls. She likes all kinds of food/tidbits. And she is always saying she’s fat.

“FAT?! Oh come on! You’re just nice. Proportional.” Calea retorted. “If you are fat, then i am bamboo stick liao.”

“Yah, you’re skinny. Very Beng also. And you smoke. I don’t like.” she said.

“Hahahahaa, ya, i very Beng. Ah Beng can be president hor!”

“Jialat, she don’t like. How ah? Kanasai.” Calea mummered under his breath, taking in the cool dry air of feeder bus 184 after a Friday session. “Aiya, nevermind la, fuck. Just be myself will do….She also never mind about these…last time…” His gaze fall onto the myriad of passing cars, buildings and random passengers, his train of thought towards the long, dark tunnel of his past.

She was a foreigner. A stranger to this land. Having spent like a few months here already, she still can’t familiarize herself. Iki hates the hot, humid weather. She hates the lousy bus. She hates the shopping arcades. She hates the rude McDonald crew. She hates the fact that she has no choice but to come here with her family, when she could be enjoying the cold winter and hot spring baths. She hates to miss the 5.20pm bus, because 5.12pm happen to be something she likes.

Calea often ride his bicycle to West Coast Park, where he can enjoy the sea breeze and rest his soul. Having to lose his father at a tender age of 14, he still can’t accept the fact. He regrets that he never had a chance to talk to his father like a son to his father will. Father was a man of stern looks, but a flamboyant heart. It is a known fact that he was being unfaithful outside. But Mother bear and let him be, he was the sole breadwinner. The family needs him. Quarrels and fights are norm to Calea and his siblings. He just don’t wish to know. Father died of cardio arrest on 13th Feb 1997. Stress, hectic 11am-3am lifestyle and endless cigars and XOs was the reason. Calea never quite able to comprehend it. He don’t know whether to cry or laugh. Tears never flow, but stings of regret punish his heart. Only when he is at the seaside, he felt closer to Father. Talking to the sea like as his Father, the sound of waves as His Voice and the breeze His only humble offering to his son to ease his pain.

 

Calea met Iki not by chance, nor fate. It was mutual encounter. An arrangement they subconsciously made. It was the daily routine trips to the Park. Always at 5.12pm, he will pass by the bus-stop. And she, will be waiting for her bus. Their gaze met, brief smiles exchanged, and Calea continue his ride, every weekday. Never will Calea know that it will be this foreign lady that will bring him his first taste of love, happiness and eventually, his broken soul.

 

“Damn! Missed my stop again! Fuck!”

 

He wished he could stop all this hauntings, as he alighted the bus. He can’t live in the past anymore. He needs to move on.

 

Things are going pretty smooth for Suny and Calea. They met, they chatted online and he teach her more on Astronomy. All is fine until one day, Calea’s senior Wihn, confessed to him that he likes Suny and asked him to help him out a little. Devastated, he had to give her up against his will. On the surface, he may seem to be pulling the strings between them. But deep inside, his heart tore with agony.

 

Hope comes in a form of an Astronomy Camp in Pulau Ubin, Land of Thousand Itches.

 

“Eh, you should ask her to go to the camp leh.” Wiba suggested. “You see ah, the land dark dark, stars bright bright, danger all around, good to bond with leh!”

 

“You think so?” Calea asked. “But that if she agrees to it when she will be the only girl with us.”

 

“Just ask lar! Wishy-washy, Do the right thing! You never failed until you quit trying!”

 

“Okay lar, okay lar! You damn irritating leh!”

 

Nervous and with a soft glimmer of hope, he asked Suny, “Eh, you wanna go Ubin or not? Go there see stars, there nicer.”

 

“Eh…but I heard I will be the only girl leh! Dangerous wor!” Calea’s glimmer of hope suddenly faded.

 

“Aiyah, I will protect you lar!”

 

“See how la.”

 

“Okay lor.”

 

——————————————————————————————

 

“Okay! Okay! I will come out and personally pick you up, okay? Miss? Good enough liao or not?” Calea can’t contain his excitement, Suny is coming to Ubin later! “That is so brave of her, knowing that she would be the only lady around.” Wihn saying as a matter of factly. But Calea knows that he is excited too, that Suny is coming. “Great! I just helped him again!” Calea cursed.

 

As the time creep near, Calea made his way from the campsite all the way to the jetty, on foot. Took the bumboat back to Changi Village. Transferred to the bus and to Tampiness MRT station, where Suny will be waiting.

 

“Hello, Da xiao jie. I come to pick you up.”

 

“Woah! You really come ah?”

 

“Ar bo?”

 

“Hey, thanks!”

 

“Can’t leave a lady alone also mah.”

 

As they adjourned for Pulau Ubin, they chatted, they joked, they took the long bus ride to Changi Village. They took the bumboat to Ubin. They chatted all along about anything under the sun as they walked from the jetty to the campsite. Wihn is quick to invite her to the camp, and they sat down to chat, while Calea shunned away into his tent, broken-hearted.

 

Throughout the night, Suny was seen chatting with Wihn and his gang. Her infectious laughter filled the star-filled night, as though taunting Calea to come over and join them.

 

“You know, you should go and join them. Bring up your chances.” Wiba advising Calea in one of his rare, sane tone.

 

“She may not like me at the first place.”

 

“How you know, if you don’t try?”

 

“Hey, I wanted to try. But I guessed it’s better for her to be Wihn.”

 

“Kanina! Sometimes I really want to slap you, you wimp! It’s not the matter of who will be happy with who. It’s a matter of whether you want to fight for what you want, in your heart.”

 

“How? I mean she is a nice girl, really great. But she will not be happy with me, I tell ya.” “I’ve been hurt so badly before, I don’t think I can handle the pain of losing someone again.” Calea took a puff of his 13^th cigarette that night, slowly exhaled the smoke, watching it engulf the stars…

 

Calea was always looking forward for the 5.12 slot. “Another gaze, another smile and off I go!” he sniggered. But on this very special day, Calea decided to break the routine. By large, Calea has a lot of time in his hands, considered that he doesn’t have much of a social life to commit to. In his free time, he read, draw, sculpt and roam. One thing that comes in handy now, is his barely conversable Japanese.

 

“Ah….Atsui na! Eh?” Calea struggled as he took the seat two seats away from her, half-expecting a huge jumble of Japanese for him to decipher.

 

“Yes, I hate the weather here. It’s better back home.” She replied in complete, perfect English.

 

Calea stared wide-eyed.

 

“Are you okay?” “HelloOoooo, do you understand English?”

 

“Er..er..erm..Ya! Hi! My name is Calea.”

 

“Hehe…I’m Iki.” She giggled.

 

The 5.20 bus left without her.

 

——————————————————————————————

 

Packing his stuff, his gaze fell onto Suny, sitting at the end of the broken jetty, still chatting with Wihn. A momentary pain suddenly sting his heart. He lit a cigarette, took a long deserved drag and wait for their van to fetch them back to mainland.

 

The trip back home, Calea pondered over a lot of things. His heart is unrest. He can’t push it down, neither he can contain it anymore.

 

He messaged Wiba, “I’m done for. You better be right about the trying part!”

 

“Ya lar. Trust me. Most to most, you fail lor. HAHA!” he replied.

 

“Fuck! Who needs critics and enemies when you have friends like him?!” Calea smiled as he decides his next step.

 

—————————————————————————————–

 

(Calea) i know..

(Suny) i think so

(Calea) im not serious most of the time..

(Calea) but when it comes to relationships..

(Calea) i give in

(Calea) coz..

(Calea) Love is the only thing that’s holding us together.

(Suny) haiZzz

(Calea) (De|phiNus) dun haiz…..

(Calea) hahha

(Calea) =)

(Suny) i’ll have tto settle one thing at a time

(Calea) yah..

(Calea) Time is of one great importance too.

(Suny) i noe

(Calea) Dun worry.

(Calea) u have me to help u mah..

(Calea) nuthing is more rewarding than to see my frens smile.

(Suny)

(Suny) hehe

(Calea) =)

(Calea) its like really lor..

(Calea) i cant stand to see my frens regret..

(Calea) its really painful.

(Calea) im still bearing those scars..

(Calea) thats why.

(Suny) ….

(Calea) but im always

(Calea) waiting.

(Calea) waiting for that special someone.

(Calea) i noe noone will ever like me..

(Calea) but im still holding to that single strand of hope and faith.

(Suny) she is real lucky…

(Calea) whu?

(Suny) yr special someone

(Calea) neh..

(Calea) i dun she will ever come.

(Suny) wah

(Calea) and she wun be lucky lor..

(Calea) to noe such a me.

(Suny) how many special some1 u have!

(Calea) Once…..

(Calea) now gonez.

(Suny) ok

(Calea) u see…

(Calea) wat i told u last time that made u so sad..

(Calea) is juz a small fraction of my true self

(Calea) i really cant find any ger that is up to it lor.

(Calea) if she really exist..

(Calea) i will cherish her.

(Calea) coz..

(Calea) i really dun wanna regret anymore..

(Calea) u see..

(Suny) who wants to regret

(Calea) no one will ever appreciate me and my past, my character.

(Calea) well..

(Calea) i really cant continue this anymore.

(Suny) ok

(Calea) im juz afraid that i’ll make u sad again.

(Suny) nvm

(Calea) how abt toking abt urself?

(Suny) i donno wat to sae

(Calea) ok..

(Calea) dun mind if i ask..

(Suny) ok

(Calea) how many real relationships had u gone thru?

(Suny) 1

(Calea) 1 that is true ?

(Calea) that is beautiful?

(Suny) ya

(Calea) then wat happened?

(Calea) sorry if i provoke any painful memories.

(Suny) seriously i donno wat happen tooo

(Calea) ?

(Calea) cant be lor.

(Suny) really

(Calea) if its like that..

(Suny) he juz left like that loh

(Calea) the guy is blind to not appreciate such a nice ger like u.

(Calea) idiot.

(Suny) …

(Calea) so had u been sad?

(Calea) had u regret?

(Suny) i donno did i regret a not

(Suny) i donno wat to regret

(Suny) he jus left me like that

(Suny) without sae y

(Suny) wat am i suppose to regret

(Calea) ok..

(Calea) that guy’s an idiot lor.

(Suny) there is nothing i can do

(Calea) ok..

(Calea) that have u been affected by it?

(Suny) of cos

(Calea) in wat ways?

(Calea) u afriad of loving again?

(Suny) i am afraid that this would happen again

(Calea) and how u know?

(Suny) i donno

(Calea) thatz it lor…

(Calea) u dunno if u nvr try.

(Suny) but i have wasted alot of tears

(Calea) ok…

(Suny) i have wasted a lot of time

(Calea) then stop crying..

(Calea) then stop wasting…

(Suny) i have stopped anyway

(Calea) then start trying…

(Calea) dun pull back..

(Calea) its really not worth it.

(Suny) i noe

(Suny) i am trying

(Calea) yah?

(Calea) and how far had u gone?

(Suny) i donno

(Calea) then u’re not trying hard enuff.

(Calea) Com’on, be true to urself.

(Calea) For once,

(Calea) Juz for once.

(Calea) Love like u nvr love b4

(Suny) i will

(Calea) dun ever give up on u or in him.

(Calea) Mayb who knows…

(Calea) the feelings may be mutual.

(Suny) …

(Suny) …

(Calea) dun dotdotdot

(Suny) for now…

(Suny) i really luan

(Calea) yah..

(Calea) i noe..

(Suny) i need to tidy my brain 1st

(Calea) its like dat.

(Calea) give urself some time..

(Calea) ok?

(Suny) i will

(Calea) i’ll get back to u on Sat..when we meet.

(Calea)

(Suny) ok

(Calea) and hor

(Suny) ?

(Calea) something abt me…

(Calea) i dunno if u rem anot..

(Calea) but nvm…

(Suny) ??

(Suny) wat?

(Calea) last time…i asked u if u regretted knowing me anot..

(Suny) then

(Calea) u said no quite immediatly..

(Calea) now..

(Calea) i juz want u to really think abt it and answer me again…and wif a reason.

(Suny) wah

(Suny) thats too much

(Calea) Please.

(Suny) okok

(Suny) then i will ask u too

(Calea) I’m willing to wait.

(Suny) have u regretted noeing me?

(Suny) pls think abt it

(Suny) haha

(Calea) ok..

(Calea) i’ve thought abt this b4..

(Suny) wah!

(Calea) so it wun be difficult..

(Suny) u really think a lot

(Calea) yah…

(Calea) thats why i look so chao lao

(Calea) =D

(Suny) haha

(Calea) okok..

(Calea) I regret it..

(Calea) not knowing u earlier.

 

“That does it! Will she notice? Or has she seen through my intended message? Oh damn, oh damn, Wiba better be right about this. Or I’ll personally rip his ears off!”

 

Calea is on an adrenaline rush now, his hands can’t seem to stop shivering, his palm wet with perspiration. Goosebumps break out all over his body. “Is this going to be IT?” he thought. “Am I making the right choice? ARGHHHHHHHHHHHhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!” the little Calea screamed in his mind. “No point regretting now, go for it!”

 

(Suny) ah?

(Suny) thats fast

(Calea) coz i’ve thought of it mah!!

(Suny) okok

(Calea) dUhz

(Calea) really lor

(Suny) y?

(Calea) if i’ve known u earlier..

(Calea) i’ll woo u.

(Suny) haha

(Calea) really.

(Suny) y?

(Calea) i’ll woo u.

(Calea) coz i like u.

 

“Die liao die liao! Will she be put off?! What if she is NOT INTERESTED in me all along??! No going back liao, die also must die glamorously.” Just as Calea was about to type more, his internet connection decided it can’t take this mushiness, and hang up on him. “What the fuck!? Naaaaabeeeeeh!!!! Just as the suspense is coming! KANINAAAA!!~” He frantically revived his modem and dial into mIRC again.

 

(Suny) …

(Calea) sorry

(Calea) d/c

(Suny) ok

(Calea) dramatic..

(Suny) hahaha

(Calea) juz when i was saying

(Calea) kanna dc

(Calea) dulanz.

(Calea) (#@*(#4

(Suny) that’s life

(Calea) okok

(Calea) i’ll continue..

(Calea) coz i like u.

(Calea) i like the way u smile.

(Suny) …

(Calea) i like the way u are.

(Calea) i like the way u laugh.

(Calea) i like the way u go around..

(Calea) that’s it.

(Calea) well..

(Calea) really..

(Calea) i dun want to regret anymore..

(Calea) thats why im saying all these

(Calea) i know u are really in love with that guy.

(Calea) and nothing can change that..

(Calea) but as well..

(Calea) if I’m able to give advice like that

(Calea) I, as well be able to do it too.

 

“Well said, Calea. Good. You’re handling yourself well.” Calea assured himself.

 

(Calea) ArGhhh…

(Suny) are u kidding..

(Suny) you are making my hands shake

(Calea) o~.~o

(Calea) no lor…..

(Calea) shake coz itchy?

(Suny) no

(Suny) i donno

(Calea) nvm lor.

(Calea) at least i’ve said it out..

(Calea) i’ve gone thru too much sorrow and pain.

(Calea) i can’t bear anymore of that anymore.

(Suny) Why are u helping Wihn then?

(Suny) are u kidding me

(Calea) no.

(Suny) i can’t take that

(Calea) i know,,

(Calea) im helping Wihn coz..

(Calea) i feel that its a one-sided crush anyway..

(Calea) it will pass like others lor..

(Calea) but..

(Suny) …

(Calea) too sad..

(Calea) having to know u more

(Suny) are u Calea?

(Calea) makes my heart ache even more

(Calea) Yes.

(Calea) i am ah gong

(Suny) …

(Calea) there are 2 mosquitoe bites on ur left hand 1st and 2nd knukkle.

(Suny) haha

(Suny) aiyoZ

(Calea) so do u believe if it’s me?

 

“Who else other than me?!?  You had said it out, Calea. Brave man you are.”

 

(Suny) i donno

(Calea) and no..

(Calea) this is not Spy TV

(Suny) its too sudden

(Suny) why do u still help Wihn..

(Calea) well..

(Suny) i still don’t understand

(Calea) as i said..

(Calea) i feel that its a one-sided crush anyway..

(Calea) it will pass like others lor..

(Calea) but to know u better had made me regret.

(Calea) regret to help Wihn.

(Calea) I’m like that lor..

(Suny) (Calea) When it comes to matters of the Heart..

(Suny) (Calea) do not assume.

(Suny) (Calea) Always trust your instinct.

(Suny) (Calea) Always Fight For It.

(Suny) (Calea) And Always..ALWAYS…

(Suny) (Calea) know the other party better..

(Suny) (Calea) and find out if the feeling is mutual or not.

(Suny) (Calea) or you’ll end up regretting

(Suny) (Calea) Love is always so enchanting and mysterious because..

(Suny) (Calea) of the way it goes..

(Suny) (Calea) no one can ever tell you what will happen..

(Suny) (Calea) only you..

(Suny) (Calea) can make it

(Suny) this is what you tell me

 

“AH? She is using my words against me? Damn! Not looking good here! Those words are just a spur of moment’s thinking. Didn’t know it has such an impact…” He took another swig of his Heineken.

 

(Calea) yah..

(Suny) have u done it?

(Calea) im doing it now.

(Suny) Is it too late?

(Calea) no…

(Calea) if its not tedious..

(Suny) ok

(Calea) theres no meaning in it anymore

(Calea) argH

(Calea) damnit.

(Calea) im blushing

(Suny) haha

* Calea shyz aways

(Suny) u blush one meh

(Calea) of coz lah

(Calea) kaoz.

(Suny) ..

(Calea) buay tahan.

(Calea) and it is this..

(Calea) these all things that’s troubling me all the time..

(Suny) …

(Suny) how come it troubles u

(Calea) so much so i had to drink abit to tell u all these…..

(Suny) u drank?

(Calea) coz…i’m as ruan as u are now..

 

“Should I or should I not? Now’s the crucial part, Calea. Sober up and be truthful to yourself!!”

 

(Calea) juz abit lah…

(Calea) wouldn’t die lah.

(Suny) are you qing xing

(Suny) asking you this a bit stupid

(Calea) simi qing xing?

(Suny) nvm

(Calea) i am lah

(Calea) kaoz.

(Calea) i can still tell u where the mosquitoes bites are leh

(Suny) okok

(Calea) okok..

(Calea) finishing your question……

(Calea) i will not regret knowing u……

(Suny) ….

(Calea) for now, coz i’ve already told u why.

(Calea) arGhh~

(Calea) that’s it!

(Calea) i’ve said it out.

(Calea) cant believe it.

(Suny) to tell u the truth

(Suny) i cant believe it too

(Calea) i know..

(Calea) you’re too ruan now.

 

“That is it. All depends on her decision liao.”

 

(Calea) but really lor..

(Suny) a bit

(Calea) i dun expect anything in return..

(Calea) but i’ll still give u my blessings for that guy..

(Calea) he’s one lucky chap.

(Suny) which guy?

(Calea) the guy u like sooooooOoo much

(Calea) lor

(Suny) ….

(Calea) really..

(Calea) i give my blessings.

(Suny) i have something to tell u

(Calea) dun u give up on him k?

(Calea) Oh yah hor!

(Calea) u haven’t answer my question

(Calea) yah, tell me tell me.

(Suny) i will answer it now

(Calea) yah, tell me tell me.

(Calea) but!

(Suny) ?

(Calea) dun let what i said earlier affect your answer ok?

 

“Oh please, please, please let the guy be me!”

 

(Suny) i wont

(Calea) ok..

(Suny) i donnno how to put it

(Calea) dun bluff me arh

* Suny swears

(Suny) can?

(Calea) eh..

(Calea) got guarantee card or not?

(Suny) wah

(Suny) u very mar fan

(Calea) warranty and cert also

(Suny) …

(Calea) heheheh

(Calea) okok..

(Calea) say lor..

(Calea) b4 i fall asleep from the liquor

(Calea) AND!!

(Suny) ARE U AWAKE

(Calea) dun dc hor

(Calea) yah yah yah

(Suny) i hope

(Calea) i am.

(Suny) shit

(Calea) ?!

(Calea) wat wat wat!?:!?

(Suny) gonna 3 hours liao

(Calea) !!!!!!

(Calea) aRghh

(Calea) ok lor..

(Calea) nvm

(Suny) i will be fast

(Calea) i’ll wait lor

(Calea) Sat say cannot meh?

(Suny) cannot

(Calea) ok…

(Suny) erm

(Calea) kong.

(Suny) (Calea) but i’ll still give u my blessings for that guy..

(Suny) (Calea) he’s one lucky chap.

(Calea) ooi

(Suny) if i tell u

(Calea) repeat me

(Suny) wait la

(Calea) copyright

(Suny) kk

(Suny) i wont use again

(Suny) last time

(Calea) okok

(Calea) tell me wat?

(Calea) DUN DC!

(Suny) ….

(Suny) dont interrupt la!

(Calea) =X

 

“Suspense! Argh! It’s killing me!!!” Calea’s heart thumped against his chest. In his room, he heard only the soft hum of the air-conditioning unit and his heart. “What, what, what!? What will it be?!”

 

(Suny) if i tell u

(Calea) yah?

(Calea) ???

(Calea) hello

(Calea) tell me wat?

(Suny) i am here

(Suny) wait

(Calea) okok

(Calea) taut u kanna dc

(Suny) stresssed

(Suny) haven’t

(Suny) another 15 min

(Calea) okok…

(Suny) all i can say is that u cause alot of trouble

(Calea) ??

(Calea) ok lor.

(Calea) Sorry.

(Suny) aiyoZ

(Calea) my fault this time

(Calea) sorry,

(Suny) nono

(Suny) stop

(Calea) =X

(Suny) i have to tell u this tonight

(Suny) the lucky chap u are tok abt

(Suny) is YOU

(Calea) ah-huh=

 

Fireworks exploded in his head. “IT IS ME! ME ME ME ME!!!! MEEEEEEEEEE WoohOO!!! YES!” Calea is over the moon now, is this the reason that makes me loving again? Will she be there for me, till I say No? Will she leave me, like the way she did? A thousand of these thoughts ran through his mind. He felt nausea and ran to his toilet. He can’t be bothered anymore, it’s time to move on. Start loving someone again, whole-heartedly.

 

(Suny) i really don’t know how to say liao

(Calea) are u Suny?

(Suny) seh

(Suny) i didn’t drink

(Suny) don’t worry

(Calea) are u Suny?

(Suny) …

(Calea) identify yourself or risk death

(Suny) …

(Calea) are u kidding me?

(Suny) COPYRIGHT!

(Calea) erm..

(Calea) ni zai pian wo ma?

(Suny) hey

(Suny) like this also can

(Calea) ok ok..

(Calea) i ask u..

(Suny) ?

(Calea) Why u like me?

(Suny) i haven’t ask u that!

(Calea) why you like me while there are loads of guys outside.

(Calea) answer me first lah.

(Calea) what qualities i possessed

(Calea) that made u think this way

(Suny) haiz

(Suny) u r stressing me

(Calea) i know..

(Calea) I’m sorry

(Calea) but i really need to know..

(Calea) what qualities i possessed

(Calea) that made u think this way

(Calea) even u know it’s not really me..

(Suny) ok ok

(Suny) stop

(Suny) don’t ask me why hor

(Calea) why?

(Suny) !!

(Suny) haiZzz

(Calea) please tell me, or i cant accept these.

(Calea) really..

(Suny) ok ok ok

(Suny) i will tell u

(Suny) but don’t ask why like that

(Calea) ok.

(Calea) i will think them myself

(Suny) i like the way you talk

(Suny) i like the way you look at me

(Suny) i like the way you smile

(Calea) and?

(Suny) i like the humorous things that comes from you

(Calea) that’s all?

(Suny) i like the way you care

* Calea is enjoying these..

(Calea) =D

(Suny) that’s about it la!

(Calea) liewz

(Suny) hehe

(Calea) say lar..

* Suny blushing

(Suny) don’t wan liao

(Calea) but..seriously..

(Calea) dun u feel that all these may be fake?

(Suny) i have thought about it

(Calea) uh, u think alot ah?

(Suny) !!

(Suny) copyright!

(Calea) =X

 

That night, Calea slept deeply with a warm, fuzzy feeling. Knowing that he really should had fight for it all along.

 

——————————————————————————————–

 

“So how long have you been in Singapore?” Calea asked.

 

“Emm, about three to four months now.” Iki replied.

 

“Wow, must be pretty brave of you to come here all alone.”

 

“No, I came with my family. Kind of being forced to.”

 

“I see.”

 

Calea took another sip of his coke. “So she’s Japanese alright. With a flair for English. Wow. Came with family. Okay.” Calea made a mental note with the newly acquired information.

 

“So are you Singaporean? You don’t look local to me.”

 

Somehow, this question doesn’t surprise Calea anymore. He had been mistaken for an Indian, a Malay, a Thai and a Chinese National. Filipino is the newly added item only recently. It all depends on how tanned he is at that period.

 

“I’m local breed, lady. Just a bit rojak.” “My mom’s an Indonesian Chinese and somewhere along my father’s line, there’s a Thai. I think it is my great-grandmother.”

 

“Rojak?”

 

“Yea, you know, a salad of some sort. With different ingredients. It’s local slang for ‘mixed up’.”

 

“Rojak seems delicious.”

 

“Ya, quite spicy too. Do you want to try it? I can alwa…..”

 

“Sorry, I got to go.” She said apologetically, as she puts down her cellular. “Hey, thanks for the drink, Calea. Nice meeting you.”

 

Before Calea could say anything, she was out of the door. “Damn! Haven’t ask for her number! Must wait till Monday liao lor.”

 

He cycled to West Coast Park, and told Father a girl he met everyday.

 

———————————————————————————————–

 

“So what are you going to say to Wihn?”

 

“I don’t know for now. Give me some time; I’ll settle this for us, okay?”

 

Somehow, betrayal is always never in Calea’s mind. He hates to betray, and to be betrayed. But this time it seems inevitable. Somehow he needs to settle with Wihn, for the both of them.

 

“Oh hey Wihn, want to come out for Cheese Prata? Okay, I’ll meet you there in 10. Uh-huh. Ya, see ya.”

 

The 10 minute ride to the prata joint is the longest he ever had. Random thoughts flooded his mind, an array of possible scenarios and endings. He shook his head violently, “It’s okay. It’s worth it.” As he passed by the bus stop, it seems to be 5.12 again. “No, not now. I got someone else in my heart now. I’m sorry.” He murmured.

 

Somehow, Wihn managed the situation well. He did not flare up or anything. Just logical reasoning. However, he left Calea with a word, “You break her heart, I break your legs.”

 

“Haha. Okay. I will let her break my heart first then.”

 

———————————————————————————–

 

“Suny, may I suggest something?”

 

“Yea?”

 

“Erm, you know we are like Woo! Advancing quite fast, you know?” fiddling with the handset cord, Calea doesn’t know how to put it.

 

“Maybe we should take a week and cut off all contacts, and see if we really need each other?” “How about that?”

 

“Well, I think so too. We need to think carefully before we commit ourselves in, right?” Suny answered coolly.

 

“So…no contacts for a week, okay?”

 

“No problem for me.”

 

Somehow, Calea is uneasy about the coolness of her voice.

 

“So..i’ll see you a week from now, ya?”

 

“Okay…So is it Bye for now?”

 

“Ya…so..erm..Bye.. Good night, Suny”

 

“Good night, Calea.”

 

Only when he heard the phone went dead tone, did Calea put down his. “Oh God! How am I going survive the week?! I’ll miss her like crazy!”

 

“I’ll miss you.” Almost whispering, he looked at his phone with unsettled eyes.

 

————————————————————————————————–

 

On the eighth day, he asked Suny out for a walk. Being nervous and all, he is not good with his words. Neither can he offer anything to cheer up the tension. Two of them, side by side walked up to Labrador Park.

 

Calea likes this place. It holds quite a few special memories he had previously. “And I guess she will like this place too, I think.”

 

“Suny,” he called for her, as they walked down the jetty. “It’s settled.”

 

“What’s settled?”

 

“You know, Wihn and me.” he shuffled his feet.

“Uh-huh, I thought you say he’s quite a violent guy. Did he harm you?”

 

“Nah, he just left me some man-to-man advice.”

 

“What man-to-man? I want to know!”

 

“Man to man lor. Not Man to WOMAN.”

 

“Okay lor.” she pouts.

 

Somehow, the sea breeze calmed Calea’s nerves, like it always did. He is ready, he is determined; nothing is going to stop him now.

 

“Hey Suny, remember the chat we had last time?”

 

“Yes, I do. Of course I do.”

 

“What did you say that you find me attractive? Can you repeat?”

 

“Hey! Not fair!” But she promptly list it out.

 

“Okay, my turn now, tell me.” She asked, looking towards the sea.

 

What must he say? That he used to stalk her?! Argh! Be truthful, Calea. You can do this.

 

“I..I like the way you laugh. I like the way you smile. I like the way you are and I like the way you go around,”

 

“I like you to be happy, always.”

 

“Will you be my girlfriend? There’s no need to answer now. I give you 20 minutes to think about it.”

 

She looked at Calea, and sent her gaze towards the ships that peppered the horizon. She pondered and tense up.

 

“This 20 minutes is long. Should had asked for 15.” Calea amused himself with that thought.

 

“Hey Suny, The Sun is setting, and Grandpa Moon is over Sentosa. Your answer?”

 

“Ermm… I think…we should…be…” she flicked her fingernails nervously.

 

“Leaving soon right? We got a movie to catch with Wiba and his girlfriend at 7.45, right?”

 

Calea: =_=’’

 

“Alright, alright! Gosh! You’re stressing me out.”

 

“Okay, I’m sorry. Take your time. I can wait.”

 

Suddenly, Calea’s at ease. He looked up to the heavens, a hue of dark blue and orange. Night and Day. The rising full Moon and the setting Sun. What more can he ask for? It’s perfect. He has nothing to lose now, “Just one last bet.” He promised himself.

 

“Ooi!”

 

“Ah…ya..yes!” the sudden interruption to his thoughts brought him back to her. Now.

 

“Will you be good to me?”

 

“Erm..yes, I will.”

 

“Will you break my heart?”

 

“I guess no, I rather be the one who’s heartbroken.”

 

“But you know, there’s loads of girls out there. And you chose me. Why?”

 

“Hrmm…Because I like you the way you are. That’s all.”

 

She looked down to the pristine blue water below; now darken by the approaching night. Reflecting the moon’s ray and Jupiter, Mars, Venus.

 

“Hrmm, she got a habit of flicking her nails when she’s stressed.” Calea thought. “Good indicator next time! Hee!”

 

“So….will you please be my girlfriend?” Looking into her eyes, Calea could almost see their future together.

 

“Ermm…yes, I will like to be.”

 

“Thank you. Thank you…” Calea softly told her.

 

On 4^th Sept 2001, at 1830-ish hrs, Suny and Calea collectively become Us.

 

“I think we better get going, can’t be late for the movie, right?”

 

“Yup,” Calea obviously still glee, “We got to have dinner with them too.”

 

As they walk side by side out of Labrador Park, Calea had this wonderful urge to hold her hand. But resist the thought.

 

“Can’t lar, wah lao, this is hard, man.” Obviously hyperventilating, Calea wrestle with the thought. “Better not so fast..take it slow.”

 

——————————————————————————-

 

“Eh, so how?” Wiba asked, as the ladies go buy their dinner.

 

“What how? Like that lor….” Calea sighed.

 

“Kanasai! I thought you say Labrador Park very power one, sure success one leh.”

 

“I don’t know leh, she took a long time to reply me lor.”

 

“Nabeh la you, some romantic freak, end up failing. You disgraced me!” Wiba, with a face of disgust.

 

“FUCK YOU, UNDERSTAND?? Haha!” Calea snapped back, “Of course, I succeed. Else you see me like want to die liao lor.”

 

“Nabeh.”

 

The ladies returned, oblivious with the guy talk. They had their dinner and went to Lido Theatre 5, watching their first movie together, “Cats and Dogs”.

 

“Well, you could just send me to here will do, I can walk the rest of the journey home.”

 

“NOOOoooo, cannot! Here so dark, let me be ‘hu hua shi zhe” okay?”

 

“It’s late, and you need to get to..”

 

“Let’s go! Shall we?”

 

Suny gave up.

 

“So this is where you live, pretty nice place. Like resort lor.”

 

“Ya, it’s the first executive condo in Singapore.”, “Look, the lift’s here. I got to go.”

 

“Ah!!!”

 

“???”

 

“Err…Thank you. Good night, Suny. See you tomorrow!”

“Same here. Good night, Calea. Be careful, okay?”

 

“Yup, I will!” he assured her.

 

That night, Calea watched, as the full moon light up his backyard. Thinking back all the wonderful things that happened today. “One last bet,” he said. “This time gonna give it my everything.”

 

————————————————————————————–

 

“So you come here often?”

 

“Yea, everyday that I pass by you.” “It’s my sanctuary here.”

 

“Nice. Do you allow me here next time? I don’t want to intrude, y’know.”

 

“Sure, no problem. You’re always welcome”

 

Somehow, Calea don’t know what he is talking about. This is his sanctuary. His secret spot.

He can’t let her intrude like that! But, seeing her hair dance around her in the breeze, and the earnest eyes looking into the sea, as though waiting, searching for something. It is as though Father offered his breeze too, to take her pain away. Calea could not have the heart to reject her.

 

“Hey, wanna go have a drink?” Calea asked, hoping to break the silence.

 

“No. I want to stay here a bit longer.”

 

Rejection came abruptly.

 

“It’s comfortable here. Your sanctuary.”

 

“Yup, it is the only place I can put myself at ease.” “You know what? I talked to the sea here. Spilling all my problems into the sea. It feels much better after that.”

 

Iki looked at him, blur. Trying to interpret what he had just said.

 

“Errr, okay. This IS crazy, ya? Ha.ha.ha. Me TALKING to the sea, HA!” Calea blurted out, putting up a weak defence.

 

“I need to go.” said Iki, in a cold, mono tone.

 

“Shit! What have I done! Now she thinks I’m a psychopath! Great work there, Calea!” Calea struggled in his mind, not knowing what to do next.

 

“You want to send me out? Or you want to talk to the sea alone, in private?” Iki said softly, as she turned and start walking away.

 

“I’m coming with you!” Pushing his bike along, he glanced back to the sea, “Sorry Father, not today.”

 

Calea kept his distance behind her, pushing his bike along, like a child dragging his tattered teddy bear. “What should I say?” He admires Iki from the back, “But she got a nice body, I must say. WOOT!”

 

Calea stopped dead. “KANINA! I’m a psychopath AND a PERVERTED STALKER now! What the Fuck!?!” “Shit! What am I THINKING?! Checking her out?! Oh, Calea you degraded piece of shit!”

 

“Why you stopped?” Iki quizzed, “Are you sending me out?”

 

“Oh, yea. Coming, just had a dejavu. Ha Ha!”, composing himself again.

 

“Me too.” Calea stared at her.

 

“I thought I was there before. But without you. In your sanctuary.”

 

Seconds dragged like it is going to go on forever. Two teenage hearts wondering. 

 

“Life is strange, uh?” Calea offered, “That’s why it’s worth living, no?”

 

“Nice. I’ll walk alone from here. Thanks.”

 

“Err, Iki!”

 

“Yes?”

 

“Same time tomorrow?”

 

She gave him a weak smile.

 

———————————————————————————–

 

“Sumimasen Emiko-sensei, sore wa nan desu ka?”

 

“Kore? Kore wa jisho desu.”

 

“Sou. Sankyuu!” Calea replied in an almost smirk manner.

 

“Damn you, Calea! That was an easy one! You should have given to us!” Aglnce said, poking her pen into Calea’s back.

 

“Ya lor, you teacher’s pet la” Slnyn, joining the onslaught.

 

“Hey, com’on! Nobody wanted to answer that, might as well I give it a shot!” Calea cried as he tries to dodge the poking of the two ladies.

 

Aglnce and Slnyn. Two women that is like the opposite of each other. Aglnce, standing almost as tall and intimidating as Calea, is the source of all the laughter in the Japanese class. Well, as long as Calea keeps a straight face and don’t crap. A lesson can be done in a most efficient manner.

 

Slnyn, on the other hand, well. If you see her on the roads, you will be compelled to ask “Xiao mei mei, are you lost?” Vertically-challenged, she makes up with her sneak sarcastic remarks and fiery words. Accidentally, she is the first friend Calea befriended in poly.

 

Learning Japanese is never dull when the trio is around.

 

“Eh, kanasai lor, I don’t understand why.” Aglnce sulked.

 

“Don’t understand what?” “Why you pronounce some words into some pretty crude words?” Calea sniggers.

 

“Kanasai la! I mean, your Japanese is way above this class, why you bother coming?”

 

“Ya lor, he wants to show off la! Then got some cute girls mah! Like your dark-skinned friend.” Slnyn adds, joining the interrogation.

 

“Well, partly the reason. I just want the certs, that’s all.”

 

“But how you get this proficient in the language?” “Care to share some tips?” Aglnce queried.

 

“Well, I was self-studying the language back then. And got some help, of course.”  

 

“Well, well, look who’s beaming like an idiot now.” Aglnce shoots.

 

“What? Some help, that’s all.”

 

“No… I heard someone’s in luuurrveee!”

 

Calea gave Slnyn a cold stare. “Women! Gossip is second nature!” Calea, receiving his just fate.

 

“Yea, I’m in “luuurrveee”.”

 

“How is she like?”

 

“Normal.”

 

“Wah kao! Of course she’s normal. Don’t tell me you went for someone abnormal?!”

 

“Okay, she’s very average. Long hair like yours, single eyelids, a smile to melt my soul and she’s got my heart.”

 

“Ack! Mishy-mushy you!” both ladies, sharing the disgust.

 

“Don’t worry lar, you still can be my mistress. I give number tag later okay?” “And Slnyn can be our illegitimate child born out of passion.”

 

“Oh preeeaazzee!! Who wants to be YOUR mistress??” screams Aglnce, 

 

“Nani?” Emiko-sensei asked, stranger to local ‘BGR’.

 

“Nani mo nai, Sensei!” “Demo Aglnce-chan ga totemo shizukana yo~”

 

“Hey! What is me about?” Aglnce, obviously shocked whenever her name is called out in class.

 

“Nah, I just asked sensei to give you an easy question.”

 

“Aglnce-san, Please read the following paragraph. Thank you!”

 

Calea: ;p

 

—————————————————————————-

 

“You sure it’s okay?”

 

“Com’on! You only live once!”

 

“But it will be painful, you know?”

 

“If you don’t try, you wouldn’t know if it hurts or not.”

 

“Is it too fast for us? Like you know, everything that has happened.”

 

“Don’t tell me you’re gonna withdraw at this stage?!”

 

“I don’t know. I’m confused!”

 

“Trust me, just do it.”

 

“The last time I trusted you, I need to hide from the police at a fucking 2am.”

 

“That was a biased misjudgement. And you screwed up that one.”

 

“You know, I really don’t want to break her heart” Calea sighed. “I’m only afraid that after all, I’m using her as a substitute to replace the mindless void these years.”

 

“Uh-huh.” Wiba trying to pay attention, while checking out the hordes of girls around.

 

“I must be certain about this. I don’t want to break her heart,”

 

“Yea, you should…and check out the one in pink skirt.”

 

Eyes darted to the unfortunate lady, which happens to be in Wiba’s view. And which in a series of unfortunate-ness, awaken Wiba’s little fetish of little pink skirts. Mutual comments made between the men, and they go back to Calea’s problem at hand.

 

“Calea, Calea, Calea! That was like 2 years ago! It’s time to move on. You can’t possibly wait for a miracle to happen right?”

 

“You know, I could and I may in every sense.”

 

“Hello, Mr Casanova. Wake up! She’s gone, and you knew what silly stuff you ALMOST did that time.”

 

“I still think I should have done it.”

 

“You have no hope.”

 

“Hopeless, eh?” Calea uttered, resigning to his fate.

 

“Yea.”

 

“You know, they have the same laughter. I mean the way and the stress, not phonologically similar but close enough.”

 

“Oh you don’t-! You’re telling me you fell in love, just because you like her laughter???”

 

“I hope I’m wrong. Well, of course there are other attributes that I like in her.”

 

“You better be.”

 

“I like to see her laugh.”

 

“I like to think you’re nuts.”

 

“I like the way her eyes twinkle when she laughs.” “I like the way she seems so carefree, and she’s a pretty decent girl, so I heard.”

 

“Oh my, we are going somewhere here. Carry on, please.”

 

“I guessed I needed someone like her to make my life complete?” “Someone to balance out my life? Be that spark?”

 

“Look, you’re this close to making me slap you with my mouse pad. Let us go have a fag first and think clearly about this later.”

 

“….”

 

——————————————————————–

 

Calea lie restless on his bed. He can’t sleep and pacing around his room didn’t help. His mind is restless, thinking…evaluating…thinking…evaluating…headache. He couldn’t stand the stillness of his room; he took his sweater and went out to his garden. Lighting up a cigarette, he looked towards the skies, cloudy without any stars, only the moon peeking out from the cloud cover once in a while.

 

“I should go back visit the place for a while,” he thought.

 

He went into his garage, looking for his trusty stallion. The bike that took him places, now stands rusting at a lonely corner. Calea gave a quick inspection; found the tyres good and off he go.

 

The cool breeze of the night, the crispy smell of the rain that poured just now, freshen his senses. Calea by right, should be a nocturnal creature. One, which roams in the night. He felt his best only at night, when the world around him sleeps, and he has the whole place to play. It’s easy to forget the time when he is out having fun.

 

He deliberately cycled another route, a route that brings him to West Coast Park without passing something he doesn’t want to see.

 

West Coast Park by night is a different place altogether. The laughter and crowd that filled the place during the day, left only their rubbish scattered around. The bright and cheerful playground, now stands solemn, as though daring you to mess with them. Loud croaks echo through the night, toads and frogs frolicking in the drains. The park is empty, except for Calea.

 

It’s been almost two years since he last came. The dark, gloomy place has become an Eden of sort. Land cleared to build architecture whose sole purpose is to amuse you; the tall, majestic trees that once stood, giving shade and cover and darkness is replaced with glaring lampposts. The West Coast Park Calea once knew, dark and mysterious, has become an entertainment whore.

 

At least his sanctuary is there. Or what is left of it. The gentle cliff overseeing the sea has seen the work of Mother Nature, eroded to a pathetic, miserable pile of rubble. The tree that once stood to give Calea shade and company, now hangs precariously over the tidewater.

 

“Well, at least it’s still here.” Calea consoled himself.

 

He tried to sit down on his favourite spot, found it uncomfortable with the lack of the tree. Gave up and stand. He lights a cigarette, dragging it hard, savouring the menthol coolness with the moist smell of the sea. He observed the gentle lapping of the receding tide on the shore..

 

“Hello Father, it’s been a while.”

 

That night, he talked in length, spilling the dilemma he has to the sea and made a decision.

 

Dawn breaks, the first few health-conscious came jogging. Calea is home fast asleep, now with something to look forward for.

 

“Love her like you’ll never see tomorrow, everyday.” Calea reminded himself.

 

————————————————————————–

 

“Hey, so we meet again.” Calea anxiously said.

 

“Aa! Why are you here?” an obviously shocked Iki exclaimed, “its way past 5.12pm already! Why are you still here?”

 

“Hrmm, seems like you knew that I’ll be here at that time, don’t you?”

 

“It’s just a wild guess.” Iki blushing, “Where’s your bike? Is it spoilt already?”

 

“It isn’t spoilt. Tell me, what’s different about me today?”

 

“Who cares about you looking differently today???”

 

“Com’on, take a look first.”

 

“Isn’t it the same old you……..OH MY GOD! What’s with you today?!”

 

“Yea?”

 

“You’re…you’re wearing jeans! Jeans! And you look….”

 

“Look like??”

 

“You look like a delinquent.”

 

“What?! Hey, I took great efforts to come out with this, okay?”

 

“Hehehe! You looked fine, don’t worry. I’m not used to it, that’s all.”

 

“She said I looked fine! I looked fine! Yay!” Calea almost flipped. Well, she has every reason to say he is. Calea got his new ‘Armani’ haircut all gelled up; he wore his favourite jeans and shirt. He even wore some of his CKone too. All, just for today.

 

“So what’s the occasion?” Iki queried, “Meeting someone special?”

 

“Well, maybe yes maybe no. It depends.”

 

“Spill it, who?”

 

“Err…could we walk away from your school gate first? Your schoolmates don’t seem to be quite friendly towards a handsome local.”

 

Iki looked into her school. Yup, it’s the usual guys. Ever since she came to this school, the guys have been hitting on her all the time. Asking her for dates, asking stupid questions, asking this and that, doing stupid stuff to get her attention. Jerks.

 

“Don’t give yourself too much credit, you’re a ‘rojak’, remember?”

 

“Okay, so where shall we go?”

 

“West Coast Park?”

 

“Not today. I’ve got an idea, let’s go to town.”

 

“Orchard?? Hello?? I live at that area, you know? It’s a total bore there!”

 

“You live there?! Wow, I’m going on a date with a rich girl.” Calea gleamed.

 

“Hey! Who says we’re going on a date??”

 

“We are now. Let’s go!” “Bus is here. Hop on!”

 

“You’re crazy.”

 

“Take it I am then. Hahahah!”

 

Bus 143 seems unusually hushed that day. Everyone’s spying at the back of the bus, at a Japanese schoolgirl, going out with a local delinquent. “Damn it, what are you guys looking at?! Never see before ah!” Calea cursed in his mind. But, it seems like Iki doesn’t mind the attention; it’s like nothing to her.

 

“Calea, what’s with the face?” placing her finger on Calea’s forehead.

 

Calea heard a few giggles from the front.

 

“Err, nothing.”

 

“Your forehead’s all crumpled up! Ha-ha!”

 

More giggles.

 

“Don’t mind them, they’re probably jealous.” Iki whispered. “Never in their lifetime, would they have a chance to go on a date with a cute Japanese schoolgirl, like you now.”

 

BLISS formed all over Calea’s face. “You think so?”

 

“Uh-huh, that’s for sure.”

 

“So… we are on a date now uh?”

 

“Never said we weren’t.”

 

Confidence returns. Calea’s balls got inflated.

 

“Anyway, I didn’t see you for the last few days, where did you go?”

 

SHE MISSED ME! ^o^

 

“Ah? I was held up in school, examinations coming. I’ve got revision classes.”

 

“You go to a school?!”

 

“Erm…yes. I DO go to a school.”

 

“I thought you’re a delinquent. You don’t go to school.”

 

“I do. And I skipped my revision classes just to come and find you.”

 

“Okay, so I’m not wrong about the delinquent part.” “Where do you study??”

 

“In a secondary school, somehow a ‘Senior High’ by your standards.”

 

“Where?”

 

“Why should you know?”

 

“I’m interested to know.”

 

“It’s opposite the Japanese Secondary School, you know, your ‘Junior High’.”

 

“Oh! That school! Haha! Your uniform looks awful! White and grey!”

 

“Can’t help it. I would have worn better looking ones if I could.”

 

“Like the one you’re wearing now?” Iki eyes him lustfully.

 

“Err, ya, somehow like this. Hahahah!”

 

It’s funny how that he only knew her only 3 weeks ago, and now they are going on a ‘date’. The impromptu meet-ups at his sanctuary, now theirs, have opened up themselves to each other. The sea, became their silent friend, listening to them talk about themselves. The tree that accommodates one, now gleefully extends its welcome to another.

 

“Iki, we alight here.”

 

“Go for it, man!” a passenger shouts as both of them alighted, Calea gave him a silly grin.

 

“So, you kidnapped me to Orchard. What you want to do? I’ve known this place inside-out.”

 

“Now now… That’s because you always go out alone.  Not even with your sister.”

 

“Sayuki got her own group of friends, and I feel awkward going out with a bunch of kids.” 

 

“Anyway, I’m here with you today. Let me show you how to have fun, in a delinquent’s way. Shall we?”

 

“Well, let’s see what you Singapore’s meanest bad boy have to show me then!” Iki replied, game for it with a twinkle in her eyes.

 

———————————————————————————

 

“Hehehe! Hey, thanks for today’s programme.” Iki thanked, trying to mouth the ice cream down. “I’ve had