MY LOVED ONES


Had quite a full day yesterday. Had originally arranged to meet Poh Lin at 12pm at Orchard MRT for a job application. At 11pm, she SMS-ed to inform that she'll be late, as she had overslept, and whether can we meet at 1pm instead. The ever-so-obliging and sweet (Heeheehee) princess here agreed readily, and seeing that I still have about 30minutes to spare, decided to take a short nap. This was then followed up by an SMS from me at 12.30pm, requesting for a second arranging of meet-up time as I've overslept this time round. Gosh, we're such a like-minded couple. Haha!

At the Human Resource room, while we were filling in the application form, that dear girl asked a funny question. Halting at the box which indicates "School", she inquired,
"Ehhh... School, as in now?" She looked at me questioningly.
"Nonono..." I muttered back sarcastically, "15 years back, while you were still in PAP Kindergarten."
I say, isn't she cute? Haha!

Following which, we ventured off to Far East to have our lunch - Hainanese Chicken Rice - recommended by Poh Lin. The food is nice, the chicken is fragrant, and the price, reasonable. And I remarked it seems like we're eating Chicken Rice whenever we lunch or dine together. The first time we had eaten together is at her place, when I went over to print some stuff for my Final Year Project. And now, our second time eating together, at Far East this time round and Chicken Rice again, no less.

We then moved over to Scotts, found ourselves a cozy, comfortable cushioned sofa, and chatted. We chatted easily, and without noticing, 3 hours had passed. It's really a luxury chatting like that - without giving a hoot about time or nagging worry about exams or tutorials or assignments or similar rubbish - and communicating heart-to-heart and sharing our own opinions.

At 7pm-plus, we finally drag our butt off the sofa, and strolled over to Plaza Singapore. We sat at a bench outside PS, and chatted again, while waiting for her sister, Poh Min, to arrive. During our chat, I had a slip of the tongue. Instead of "Grandpa's Birthday", I said "Grandpa's wedding" instead. Of course, needless to say, that girl had a good laugh over this.


After this, I left at 8pm for HarbourFront, where I had an appointment with some dear cliques from Temasek Polytechnic; Serene, Ian, Kelvin Tan, Qun Jie, and Li Huey. The first four were dining at some Hong Kong restaurant when I arrived. And man, I tell you, Vivocity is WAY BEYOND huge. The information I received is that the restaurant's in Level 2, and I thought that it's easy enough. Afterall, how hard can it be locating a restaurant in a mall in Singapore?

And so, I wandered around Vivocity, taking random left turns and right turns and left turns and no turns. 15minutes later, the stupid restaurant is absolutely nowhere in sight. Finally, I conceded defeat and called for SOS. Kind Kelvin Tan came forward and led me to the stupid restaurant.

I really think I should start bringing a compass and map along with me everywhere I go. I need to navigate my way around. Right, Poh Lin? Haha.

10minutes later, Li Huey called my mobile to inform that she's reached HarbourFront. Passing over the phone to Kelvin Tan, I urged him to fetch her as, not being a local and having a renowned atrocious sense of direction that's nowhere better than mine, she's bound to lose her way too.
Hearing this, Qun Jie quipped chippily, "Just because you can't find your way doesn't necessarily mean that others will too, you know?"

!!! !!! !!! *fumes* I'm crushed. =(


At 10pm, the restaurant was closing its shutters, and we were forced to leave. Adjourning to the open-air balcony, we stared into the silent sea and assumed catching up on old times. I guess I've never really gotten over my phobia for height. Looking down from the edge of the high balcony, I suddenly felt woozy and had trouble keeping my balance. Perhaps all I've managed to conquer is the overhead bridge. At least nowadays, I don't cry on overhead bridges as I often did when I was young. *beams*

We found a dry spot somewhere near the pool, and just sitted there and talked. Seeing that I've dipped my feet into the shallow pool not unlike a couple of visitors there, Ian tried to scare me about how dirty the water is and how my feet will rot. Undaunted was I, that is, until I spoted something black floating in my direction. I withdrew my feet hastily to the peals of laughter.

It's really enjoyable chatting with old friends and catching up on each other's life. It seems unbelievable how fast time fly, and that it has been 6 months since we've obtained our diploma certificate, and 3 months since the guys enlisted into NS. Having just had their Passing Out Parade (POP), and currently on a 1 week block leave while awaiting their posting, the guys are the main reason for our get-together.

Qun Jie, a Biotechnology graduate majoring in Veterinary Science, is a really nice and even-tempered guy. True, he's a little on the soft side and thus, is more vulnerable to getting teased. But it's all just purely for the fun of it. Bespectacled and sporting long hair which poke out in all direction possible, he has long earned the nickname of "Mad Scientist" because he REALLY (no exaggeration) looks like one when he's in his laboratory coat. Regrettably, I'm not the smart aleck who coined the nickname; though admittedly, I'm the one who harps on it the most and tease him as frequently as time would permit.

Serene, another Biotechnology graduate majoring in Biomolecular Science, is one of my clique of female friends in school. Attached to Ian since year 1, it's amazing how our friendship remained and maintained through the passage of the tertiary years.

Ian, Li Huey, Kelvin Tan, and me, are Biomedical Science graduates majoring in Biomedical Technology. Ian is one big niceguy. Coincidently, he was my cousin's classmate in St. Gabriel's before he became mine. He's one of the most entertaining in our group. Li Huey - my Ai Ai - is of course, my best buddy in Poly. It's nice meeting her again after 6 months, and knowing that she's settling down well in her job at SGH. Kelvin Tan - a Mr. Kiasu lookalike (and yes, I'm not kidding or exaggerating) - is an affable man. Sometimes, we'll bump into each other on the bus to school.
I really miss those times in Temasek Polytechnic.

It's really nice meeting up these mates again and catching up on old times. And it's funny how that once, our conversations centering around school work most of the time, have now evolved to the topic of NS. The guys have loads of stories to share. And their humour only makes it more interesting and entertaining.

They told of their adventures (as well as their misadvantures), and the hilarious stories in their platoon. They talked about how the officers would sneak into their tents at night in a bid to steal their rifles. Ian further shared this story: he was, in a particular morning, elated and hugely relieved to find his rifle still safely by his side. That is, until having fall in at the parade square, and at the commands of his officer, he and his platoon mates opened their rifle only to find their blanks missing. He also told of how once, after his officer had accidentally kicked the tent pegs in the dark and consequently waking up everyone, had pretended to be a recruit from another company.
The idiocy, really.

We also talked about their days in NS, and what they hoped to get posted to. Among other things, we also chatted about gays and ghost stories in Tekong. The creepy stories spooked me totally; I've never been much of a Xena warrior at heart. Qun Jie and Kelvin Tan were complaining about this particular sissy whom they both happened to get acquainted with. And the guys were ravishing about how beautiful the stars are in Tekong, especially Qun Jie. Never failing to grab a golden opportunity whenever I see one, I took this chance to snub Qun Jie.

"Judging from the ecstatic face of yours and the faraway look in your dreamy eyes, you must have had a whale of a time counting stars with that gay of yours, right?! Admit it lar. I knew it!" I jested, and he, in turn, rolled his eyes at me.

Hearing how slack the last few weeks of BMT had been for the guys, I felt slightly disappointed. YES, I had expected NS to be eat-dirt tough, no less! NS is, afterall, supposedly to be a molding place where boys become men, what! Must be tough, you know, eat-shit tough. If not, learn what?!?! Having heard how they had slacked, I lamented indignantly, "Sigh! You guys are wasting my Dad's tax!"
Without skipping a beat, Kelvin Tan added grimly, "Mine's worse. My Dad pays the taxes to send me to NS!!!" True enough, and fair enough. I've obviously lost my case of argument.

Not forgetting, Ian further related this story which happened in the shower. Now, there are no doors to the cubicles, but thankfully, there are at least partitions. Ian talked about how this particular guy who had forgotten his towel. Gamely, he called out, "Hey! I've forgotten my towel. I'll walk around naked, hor!"
And he did just that - prancing around in the toilet with nothing on - to the wolf whistles and cat calls, and exclamations of "So big!!!"
The group of us laughed at this. After pondering for a moment, I murmured innocently, "Well, Ian, you should at least be thankful that no one let out a startled cry, 'Hey!!! How come it's standing??!!'". The group laughed even harder, and Li Huey tsktsk-ed at me mockingly.


Sometimes, I can be so crappy when I want to. *Grins*


We departed from Vivocity at 11.30pm to catch the last train home. Honestly, I'm going to miss them all dearly.