Wednesday, August 04, 2004

You're not alone

The title of my entry. FFIX fans should know that it comes from one of the most poignant moments in the game, in which the main character Zidane loses all faith in himself and start to go on depression mode.Only with the help of his friends did he recover (and become my most powerful character once again :). Never went home by myself (i.e from RJ to MRT) for a very long time this year. We always go home as a pack, a bunch, whatever you call it, either with a slow-moving group of classmates called girls or with the "Treetop Community" (why treetop community? coz we often sit at the same position during lectures, that's why). Feels weird walking by yourself under the blazing sun in the open carpark, where nothing stirs except the leaves. Always enjoyed looking at the surroundings, observing interesting behaviours among the passerbys. (though maybe not in the afternoon).

In the morning, there will always be a lady or a guy at the ground floor of the train station, shouting "Nasi Lemak curry puff ondeh ondeh?" (repeat many times). Sometimes, Zepeng will wait for Velda (or vice versa). The same goes for Hotseat and Month :). Occasionally, Kuan Yew, Meya, Dingjie, Ray and Ginway (though the both are quite rare) may join me in my morning stroll. Winglam will be waiting for her group of friends, while Wee Keat tends to walk fast with headphones on his ears. There used to be a group of workers that will camp near the lifts, with their pungent cigarette smells choking those who walk past. Now they are gone, not that I miss them. Last time, I had this habit to go to the toilet once I had reached Buona Vista. (after all, it's quite a long and cold journey here). Now I don't, even though the toilet is clean compared to RJ's, as a group of construction workers will often camp outside the cubicles. Don't like the feeling of them standing dangerously too close when I am answering nature's call, as my territorial instinct will go into hyperdrive.


Recently, there is a black chicken and rooster near RJ. Occasionally, I will pat the black chicken, which is quite docile. Never tried going near the rooster though. Anyway, the rooster does crow in the morning, at around 7.01 am. Wondered whether there will be a cluster of eggs among the bushes.


Sadly, the Desert Rose never comes by train, though according to Terrence she comes from the Red House. Quite dangerous though. Pray daily that Yahweh (or luck or someone up there, whatever your beliefs) will protect her. Either that or she comes on the train that is way too early for me.


Used to sit at the speaker's corner, waiting for Dingjie, reminding us of how lively our OG used to be. Everyday, people from YFC will play guitar and sing hymns. Due to increased security, this has become a thing of the past, just as whatever fragments of our OG that was left. Enthusiastic J1's occupy our former resting positions, though I believe not for long once the winds of change blow past.


What will people make of us 100 years later? When a person that will be 118 years like me, what memories will come flooding back when I flip through the yearbook, looking at the faded pictures of my friends, class and the Desert Rose? Will she be happy wherever she will be? I might never know.