Woah.

It is New Year’s eve and when I pried my lazy eyes open, I wondered if I had slept through the New Year or something.

It looks like 7pm or 7am with my room embraced by a dark, dimmed hue of gray.

I heard the thunders. I saw no lightnings.

Again, again, and again.

I can’t believe this. Nor do I remember when was the last time it stormed this way.

I am sure it is just a coincidence when I launched my blogger window and the total posts read ’666′.

*Shudders*

I stole a peek out of my room, and all I see is the trees waving in a state of frenzy, and the density of the rain had let only the slightest bit of light comes through, wiping the vibrancy of colours off the view out there.

I am half glad I still do not have any plans up for New Year’s eve.

In fact, I was telling the guys that I might not want to head out if the plans are too last minute, and I would plan something for myself.

Like, watching Mystic River DVD, or reading my newest Jeffrey Deaver’s book.

Oh, maybe the After Sunset VCD I have saved for a time like this.

With the way things are dragging.. huge possibility that I would spend my New Year’s eve like last year’s, which is something, I enjoyed pretty much.

And it was storming heavily last year, this day too.

Not too bad, at least now, the storm is already clearing up, returning the soft blue to the sky, making it possible for the mortals to be let out into the open, travelling to wherever their party locations are.

***

My tummy still hurts.

Since Christmas.

***

Alright.

PisceansPeople like me abhor confrontation, and normally when situations arise, and there is a need for me to speak up, I would normally walk away and cease fire.

Sometimes I blame it on my own cowardice for not speaking up, nor fighting for the tiny piece of justice that rightfully belongs to me.

But say, if I have to speak up for a friend or something, I would gladly pick up a glass of strawberry milkshake to make my point.

I am not the most assertive person who would put my foot down firmly, but would walk away with silent curses which would soon be forgotten.

But if I do speak up, somehow, which is pretty much out of the norm, I can be what you call, an epitome of sheer bitchiness.

Not the words, but perhaps the piercing tone of my speech, and a harden look, with a penetrating stare.

If you have never seen that side of me before, good for ya.

Bad luck for the cab driver, who drove me home from Youth Park after my Battlefield game with the others.

***

I didn’t even confront the dishonest cab driver who had wanted to hide the extra 10 dollars I had given to him, but I guess this particular one had pushed it himself though I had wanted to let it rest.

Had decided to go by Holland Road instead of the PIE.

Just as we passed Tanglin Mall, along Napier Road/Holland Road, this white sedan appeared right next to us, driving in a rather aggressive manner.

Before I knew it, both vehicles were trying to swerve into each other’s lane, to make a threatening point.

The white sedan then moved ahead of the cab I was in, and suddenly screeched to a halt, in an attempt to catch the cab driver by surprise.

The cab driver braked head and I was thrown slightly forward by the force, feeling the safety belt cutting into my chest.

The cab drove up next to him, and the driver, who was already flush-faced, had his window wound down.

Out came a proudly erected middle finger, that cruised with the car for a quite a distance.

The driver’s face was one of menace, and he started shouting incoherently, in a bid to threaten the very pissed-off cab driver.

The car continued to try to swerve us off our lane, and instead of feeling scared or threatened, I was simply annoyed.

It wasn’t the first time this happened to me, and I remember some time ago, when I was pillioned by Philip, some drunk driver did the same to us, and a few other biker friends, along the PIE.

The cab came to a halt at a bus stop, and then the driver sneered when the driver didn’t stop to have a face-to-face confrontation.

I still thought he had stopped it so he would let him go first, and not be caught in the aggressive situation.

Quite naturally, I did my civil duty.

I picked up the phone, and dialled for 999.

I told the operator what had just happened, and a drunk driver was driving dangerously on the road.

Well, with quite a number of biker friends, I guess their safety is more of my major concern than anything else.

Mr Ex was involved in an accident, which was sparked off by such an irresponsible driver, and it is only right that he shouldn’t be allowed on the road.

I gave the car colour, car plate number, and description of the driver to the police, before leaving my name and contact number.

The driver overheard the conversation, and suddenly exclaimed loudly(conversation was in Mandarin throughou), ‘Huh? Miss, you called the police huh?’

‘Er… yah…‘ I replied hesitantly, with a soft, tired voice.

Miss! You want to call police, you should ask me first! You should at least ask me, you know?

Oh.. I didn’t know..

You wanna get me into trouble is it? This will bring me unnecessary trouble you know?

I kept silent, not knowing what to respond.

You scared is it? Just now give you a fright huh?

No, I encountered such situations before.

Ai yah, that was nothing what. Why do you have to call the police.

I decided to let it rest and not respond.

You know how troublesome it is or not? Wait he gives the police my number, and I have to be called down for interviews, go through this and that, and then you think I so free huh?

He went on and on and lament about the basket-y driver, and went on and on about how the driver had gotten him into trouble.

I not blaming you, don’t mind hor, I am just saying that idiot driver, drunk already then don’t drive la, now give me this kind of trouble with the police involved.

Getting slightly pissed, in my frosty, voice, I replied softly.

Don’t worry uncle, I just gave them his plate number and my number, I didn’t give your cab number or anything, so I don’t think they would find you.

Not sure if my silence signify that I am much of a pushover, and he started lamenting about the government and how they are always too free.

And he questioned why I even bother to call the police without asking him.

I raised my voice to a crisp, formal one.

The one in dry tone, dripping with chills and force.

Using my no-nonsense tone and formal Mandarin, I launched into my philosophical mode. I crossed my arm, and I could feel my face harden to one of resolute.

If uncle wants to get political, I shall, too.

You call the police for what? Trying to get me into trouble is it?

He lamented like a broken record.

Well, that was my safety, and I have every right to defend it.

Ai yah, he was just drunk, maybe he was having a bad day, I can understand also….

So? If he is really drunk he should be kept off the road, what if he kills someone with his dangerous driving?

Ai yah, where got this kind of thing one?

Oh, do you know how many of my friends fell victims to drunk drivers? That’s totally irresponsible.

Ai yah, maybe he has a harsh day at work, we all know people in this country under a lot of stress. But I just don’t understand why he has to show me the middle finger.. you bad mood then bad mood la, don’t have to be so crude.

Well, when people are drunk, they don’t think properly.

Ai yah, I don’t think he has the courage to do anything. I stopped at the curb, and he didn’t even want to stop, or else I might just get physical with him. I understand la, uncle younger that time also got a bad temper.. no need until call police what.

I already said I didn’t give you away, so why should you worry that much?

That basket, really trying to get people into trouble, drive, drive la, give so much trouble for what? Miss, I not blaming you hor, I am just angry with that person.

He mumbled under his breath, begrudgingly, and I know exactly what he was thinking. He couldn’t vent his anger on me cos I might complain to his company, thus, he was cursing that drunk driver, when in fact, it was me he was cursing at.

I just feel that it is only right to keep him away from the road so he wouldn’t try to harm anymore people.

Ai yah, this kind of things, none of our(I think he meant to say not my business) business, care so much for what?

That is a very irresponsible thing to say. What if one day your neighbour’s house is burglared and you see the burglar? Are you gonna ignore it as well? Then I will be very happy to know that you would be the next victim. Are you trying to say it is none of your business? Or would you like it if someone sees you being robbed, and decided to walk away cos it’s none of his business?

I had wanted to ask if he has a daughter, and that if one day some serial rapists were not reported cos people deem it none of their business, and she ended up the next prey. I thought it was too crude and skipped it.

Ai yah.. different what. You don’t know how free the civil servants in Singapore are! I was fined for parking, and I wrote in to appeal. Then they asked me down to interview, and questioned why. As if I no need to work, so free ah? Just write-off the fine only what? Like that need interview for what? Don’t know pay them for what.

I find you people very funny. People going by books and you complain. I don’t think you should belittle what the civil servants are doing. They have a standard protocol to follow. It’s funny huh. When they did not respond personally, people blame them for not looking into matters, and complain about them. When they try to do more, people accuse them of being too free. Hurhur. Can you guys make up your minds what you want? If you are saying they are not doing their government jobs, then are you doing what you should do as a citizen?

He didn’t say much thereafter, responded with only embarrassed, patronising smile. Eventually he changed his tone of voice to a patronising, mellowed one, that almost made me want to wring his neck with its fakeness.

Miss, eh, your mandarin very good huh, you not Singaporean, right?

I am sure he would ask me to mind my own business if I were to admit that.

Huh? I grew up in Singapore.

Wah, then your mandarin sounds very different hor? I mean, very rare got people in Singapore speaks such mandarin.

He tried to switch to English, thinking that I might not be as eloquent as I rebutted him.

He spoke of how he hoped the guy didn’t see his number plate, or else the police might get involved, and that he wonders why he has such bad luck(I bet he was thinking that ferrying me was THE bad luck), and that he might get into trouble with his cab company, and that he has wife and children to take care of.

Sounds like end of the world to me. Aww.

Which was shot down quickly when I launched into a tirade of rattles to write-off his selfish theories, and that as long as he didn’t do anything wrong, why should he even worry about that?

When I finally got off at the lobby, the fare was one that involved 5-cent.

When I told him I didn’t want that, he panickly asked me to wait, and insisted that he had 5-cent with him.

I told he that it really doesn’t matter.

He was quite nervous and insisted on me waiting.

Eventually I stood at the door for 10 seconds, just waiting for him to dig that 5-cent.

I think he was scared that I have something to complain about if he shortchanged me that 5-cent.

I gave him a stony stare with slightly raised brows.

Wimp.

Don’t trigger off that button in me.

Or else I would turn into someone I do not recognise when I put my foot down.

Not bad. 3 posts on the final day of 2005.

If no other plans are coming up, expect more from me.

23rd December 2005.

I can’t remember exactly how many times I had sashayed down the same busy path of Orchard, bruising my abused shoulders with knocks from the passing human traffic.

I didn’t quite know what to expect with such a last minute mad rush.

I had a quick lunch at my usual coffeeshop, and the auntie was almost in shock when she realised it was me.

Cos, for the past years she had seen me, never once did I wear my contact lenses, nor was I ever fully made up.

She casually placed down the plate of noodles I had asked for, and when I replied her in my usual saccharine sweetness, it rang a bell and caused her to raise her head to have a glance at my face.

She was like, ‘Oh my! It is you! I still wonder who it is.’

I sheepishly replied how make up can really do miracles.

I took a bus in the drizzle.

Couple of bus stops down, I saw a tall figure boarding the bus, the exotic and beautiful features unmistakable.

I called VampTreSS to ask if Joanna lives in the west.

Positive.

VampTreSS made me pass the phone to the shocked Joanna(if any stranger suddenly walks up to me and passes me a handphone to speak into, I would freak out too!).

Joanna was such a sweet personality, and I liked her.

A lot.

SBB called somewhere along the journey, and cute short the conversation I had with the pleasant babe.

***

It was 2 days before Christmas and I had yet to get something, or something else.

To the point that, I gave up looking for something, and something else.

I ended up looking for something’s substitute, and a backup for something else.

I reached Orchard in the drizzle, and strutted into one of the boutiques in Paragon, before sashaying towards Takashimaya.

Bad timing.

SBB‘s call lasted throughout since I alighted from the bus, and roamed along the malls.

Because of that, I walked round and round the boutique in Takashimaya, not able to ask the sales assistant for help, cos that would probably give the game away.

I lamented how something and something else was almost impossible to find.

He tried coercing me into telling him what the 2 things are cos he was confident that he might know where to get them, and I refused.

Then he said that I might as well ask his friends for ideas or such, and I smirkly let known that the brilliance in me would have already thought of that.

But I decided not to ask some of his friends, cos they might let slip what I was getting for him. I dislike to spoil my surprises, ya know?

‘Unless you are getting me XXX, then it shouldn’t be any problem what…‘

I paused for a moment of silence, and my sudden giggles gave myself away.

@^#!%@#%!

Since I couldn’t find something already, I finally let rip that, XXX, is indeed, something I had planned to get for him.

Well, I shall not reveal what something is, since it is pretty much, er, exotic locally, and it is just not convenient for me to say so.

He then launched into a series of locations and told me where to get them.

@%#$!#%

The smart alec had originally thought I would make him a bike model.

Muahahaha.

When SBB finally hung up the phone, it took me less than 15 minutes to decide what I had wanted to get as I asked for help from the sales assistant.

I got pretty excited, and I called him to inform him that he wouldn’t be spending this Christmas without a present from me(not that it would make any difference from the ample amount of gifts he received this Christmas).

***

Right after I had walked out of the boutique, I darted into other stores to scout for some pressies for the girlies.

Another headache.

I was running out of my ideas, moolah, and I was getting a tad unwell from the crowd.

Eventually Mr Anonymous Y called, and we met up for coffee at Bakerzin, Paragon.

I haven’t seen the legal eagle for the longest time, and I have yet to return his 3 books, which were on loan to me since… er… March?

He is a fellow neighbour in my estate, and he threatened that I shouldn’t disclose our details of our conversation, or else he would sue my ass off.

Which of course, the kind man, didn’t.

I guess it is always nice that you thought that some friends would stay at a certain level, but you realise how fun it is when you disclose more about yourselves, and share with each other the experiences in life.

Cool.

But hey, it was a great deal of pleasure meeting up with ya, and, we should meet up more often, and soon.

Cos I owe you a treat for it.

My appetite even found the chocolate cake repulsive, and couldn’t finish it.

Something must be very wrong with me that day.

***

I had wanted Mr Anonymous Y to help with bringing my gift back home since he was on his way back home.

Eventually, I gave up that thought, and I stuffed the newly purchased gift into my tiny little bag.

I was going to meet up with VampTreSS and Brian, and SBB said he was somewhere in town.

Afraid that he might see the pressie, I kinda implied that I had hid it away, or asked a friend to help me to bring home.

Before I met up with the guys, I scrambled across the street to Takashimaya to browse at some items I might consider to replace something else…

***

I met up with SBB for a while before the rest arrived, and he didn’t quite want to reveal his identity to the group. He joined his friends instead.

I too shy also.

He tried peeking into my bag, which I guarded closely to my chest, and smacked his hand whenever it tried to come near.

Most of the time, he would turn back as we headed up or down an escalator, and found me out of sight.

My fear.

Once, he sheepishly laughed and said, ‘Oh, I forgot’, and led my hand as I stepped onto the escalator clumsily.

I think there was once, we were both just standing stationary, when he gave me one of those irritating cheeky glance.

As usual, I would respond with a frown.

He lunged forward and planted a big smacker on my lips in a swift and predatory motion.

I frowned even more, and responded in mocked offense.

Oh well.

Undeniably, it feels kinda nice.

The crowd in town was scary though.

His friend called to say that he was reaching, and we ended our short rendevous.

***

I ended up meeting VampTreSS and Brian who were already at Heeren’s Spinelli, around 8.

The 2 hungry ones needed some food, and the sudden downpour meant that they might as well settle their dinner there.

It felt so good that I could finally have a break from the buzzing crowd to ease the slight claustrophobe.

The rain veiled it with such a mesmerising thin sheet of mist.

And I was slowly getting…. sleepy.

I tried their chicken salad, and it was yucky. I nicked a bit from Vamp’s brown rice salad, and it was equally bland too.

Eewwww.

The only thing edible was its toasts, which weren’t impressive either.

Nick reached shortly after, and we finally decided that we would play.. CounterStrike. VampTreSS suggested us to play at Cineleisure, Level 9.

I was kinda apprehensive actually, especially after my 1st attempt at it was as dramatic as a comedy.

The way I squirmed, screamt, dodged under the table and pushed my rollerchair away from the monitor speak volume about my superb gaming skills.

We sat outside Cheers at Cineleisure, watching the crowd goes by.

Cute guys, cute girls.

And I marvelled how skinny some of them are, and wished I am back to my waifish self.

Sigh.

I was feeling kinda tired and my thoughts were drifting and weren’t quite following their conversations actually.

Eventually, we went up to Level 9, and were duly impressed by the happening layout of the gaming place.

Awesome.

We chose seats in this particular caged area, and the guys were eager to try out Battlefield(whatever it is) instead of CounterStrike.

Trust me, that’s the best confident look I could manage from my pre-game jitters.

Kelvin and Roy joined us shortly after.

I managed only 1 kill from the first game, and as usual, multiple deaths.

Sigh.

And to think Nick killed me a few times by running over me with the jeep, crashing the helicopter I was in, drowning me when we were in a tank, and some other weirdass deaths.

AND HE IS MY OWN TEAM MATE!!!

My first glorious kill was of Brian, when I finished him off with whaddyacallit thingy of the tank.

Hurhurhur. So proud of myself okay.

The annoying thing was that Brian was rather cocky when it comes to gaming, and I am rather glad to make him my only kill since it was pretty much an insult to him.

By the 2nd session, I had increase my kills, and I could hear the disbelief(guys, do you have to make that so obvious?!) behind the other monitors.

Slowly, I got the hang of the directions, and was able to know the pathway like the back of my hand.

Muahahaha.

Eventually I was teamed up with AliBrian and AhmadNick, and whenever the 2 of them gimme a lift on the vehicle(cos I can’t direct them well at all!), it made things so much more easier.

I swear it was purely coincidences they are my Ali and Ahmad in real life.

So the most heard shrill from me of the night was, ‘Hey!! Wait for me! I need a lift! Wait wait wait!’

So cool, huh?

But I was having so much fun at the end of it.

***

The highlight of the night was also when I was… abducted.

Uhm, well, not really.

Brian and Nick had snuck into the gents for a smoke break, and had locked themselves in the same cubicle.

Sensing some hot actions might be taking place, the paparazzi blogger in me acted up, and I armed myself with my camera.

Alas, I knocked my hand and I didn’t manage to capture the picture when I raised the camera overhead into the cubicle they were in.

Yes, don’t tell anyone I actually sneaked into the gents.

VampTreSS was keeping watch at the entrance.

Before I knew it, the door swung open, and everything else, was a blur.

Uhm, not really.

This was the only other picture I managed, before I was being pulled on the arm by the above monster, and then I felt a shove on the shoulder, that pushed me into the cubicle.

Behind me was Nick, and then, the monster stood right at the door, refused to let me struggle my way out.

I was being abducted and retrained by 2 men in the toilet cubicle!

*Gasp*

Oooo. Sounds kinky, eh?

But noooooo!

I could somehow hear Vamp’s voice outside, calling out.

I was wondering what was he up to, until I realised how he had kept me in the cubicle for a while, until he turned his head to his left to glance at the entrance, before he suddenly stopped grabbing me, and strutted out of the toilet, with a smirk on his face.

Nick followed, and asked me to get out of the cubicle.

‘Oi.. what were you guys trying to…..’

Before I could finish my sentence in the usual cut-glass pitch, I brought my shawl to my face in utter embarrassment, and scurried out of the gents in record speed.

Cos a guy was standing at the urinal, relieving himself.

And then, another was walking in as I was walking out.

That was their intention!

They intended to keep me in the cubicle until some guy is using the urinal and that my presence would….

AHHHHHHHHHHH

How evil.

I swear I was dying from the embarrassment.

Nick was trying to imitate the look on the guy at the urinal, and I was silently cussing that I didn’t have the balls to stare straight at him, bring my focal point down, and point and laugh apologise for my intrusion.

For that, I shall post the above very ugly picture of the perpetrator to express my apologies to the poor chap using the urinal.

If it happened to you, it wasn’t me you saw.

***

We left around 2am, as the guys had their fags outside of Cineleisure.

I saw Nick pulling back this tall, and well-built guy back as I emerged, and it suddenly dawned upon me what they were trying to do.

With a swift motion that you seldom see coming from Ting, I dodged behind the pillar as I heard the guys looking around for me.

They had wanted to introduce Mr Handsome Hansen to me.

I emerged from my hiding place right after the cutie walked out of sight.

Lucky I fast.

*@&#^!#

We headed to the Youth Park’s foodcourt for supper.

Hardly any appetite, as usual.

I was almost too sickly or tired.

The motion sickness wasn’t quite helping either.

We sat there, and I bumped into Steve, an old friend from the biking circle.

He is also a brother-in-Christ, who had offered much encouragement to me in the past.

Ironically, Mr Ex used to be quite wary of him, though he didn’t quite seem to have a justification of doing so, except that all guys are up to no good.

Anyway, he was with his girlfriend, who seems like a real darling, and I was really happy to see him.

Then, we sat around somemore to talk about conversations I couldn’t quite recall from the fatigue.

Home, was then it, as I welcomed the peaceful Christmas’ eve as I boarded the very cold cab.

And a dramatic saga awaits on the unpleasant cab ride back.

It was 1am when I finally covered the 1.5km with a brisk yet leisure pace.

Music blasting in my ears, and I stretched my vocals to match its roaring volume.

Nope, I wasn’t afraid of any form of mortals overhearing mytraumatising crooning in the dark.

I didn’t have to.

That plot of empty land that linked Bukit Batok and Jurong together, was of pitch-black darkness, and not a single soul was in sight.

Except for the passing traffic, zooming pass at high speed, either freshly exiting or eagerly entering the Pan-Island Expressway at the gigantic junction I was waiting to cross.

The buzz, the swoosh, or even the growls from above(the flyover of the expressway) were muffled out as I tapped on the ‘+’ for the volume.

I enjoyed the peace I spared for myself.

It didn’t quite matter that I had missed the last train by 10 minutes, and didn’t think there would be any direct bus that would still head to Jurong at that time of the night(12.05am).

I jaywalked(or rather, jayran) across the road when I saw a Route 174 coming to a halt across the street, which I know would stop somewhere near my place.

Just not quite near enough.

***

I took my time to leave home today, knowing they would be having a long session of gaming.

I realise how dressing up, or not, reveals a state of mind of my own.

I think the hormones are running amok today.

I felt great reluctance to be heading out despite it being a Friday, and the crankiness and homeliness could be easily identified.

I shall not mention how I locked myself further in, in a world of my own by stuffing my ears with earphones, to shut all the other mortals out of my reality.

I read the magazine of boxy Chinese characters, taking a break from the usual English novels I had used to fill in my time on train rides, head bow, refused to look around at the people around.

I sat myself down at Burger King for a short dinner, and I suddenly felt the urge to head home.

I felt a surge of tears rising to the brim as I was looking down on the Mushroom Swiss Burger’s sesame.

I swear I was thinking of nothingness, and the suffocating mix of emotions came out of nowhere, taking me by surprise as well.

I didn’t even feel irritated, but was thinking how cool it is that hormones have such a hold over us ladies.

I then decided to linger a bit more by myself, enjoying my own company, taking a slow read of the magazine.

I slowly sipped the last bit of water before I left for Level 9, where all the actions were.

I joined the guys slightly at half past 9, in the midst of their war.

I had fun, venting all my hormone-induced vexation on the opposition.

My shooting skills still suck big time!

And I still scream in the face of gunfires.

Bleah. So… girly.

Can’t stand it when I am so girly. Must be macho.

I kinda like using silly player names, so that when the experts are killed by the newbie with the cringe-worthy moniker, they would feel extra rage to it.

Imagine that you are killed by ‘IKnowUKnowImCute’ or ‘DonchaAdoreMe’. You get the picture.

Muahahahaha.

After around 3 hours, I left in the midst of the game, and it was as if I was a phantom player of the day.

Cool.

Wasn’t in my most sociable mood either(Yeap, sorry friends, if you find it rather hard to contact me these days).

No extra spending other than necessary.

Good girl.

SBB called when I was just ending my game.

I suspect he is some sort of jinx.

I went to thaw myself at the stairs exit since it was incredibly freezing at the caged area where we battled ourselves silly.

I was thinking of exiting, say, a storey or 2 down, to the mall, so that I could take the escalator.

The horror struck me when I the door shut itself with a loud thud, and I ventured my way down.

4 flights of stairs down, I saw the tiny notice.

It says that the only exit is at, yes, you guess it, level 1.

%#!$#!%#!

I was at Level 9, okay??

Apparently, all the exits could only exit, and have only one-way doors.

So I skipped, wobbled(legs tired, ya see), stormed down the stairs, all the way until 1st storey.

And there wasn’t a single living soul in sight throughout.

I wonder how scary it would be if there wasn’t anyone on the phone.

Just as I exited from the 1st storey, I opened the door of victory with such great force, as if I finally gained my long-awaited freedom.

Never did I expect that someone was sitting right in front of the door, cos he didn’t expect anyone to be using the stairs.

I feel ouch for him, cos the door must have had hit his back hard.

Oops.

Hopefully, the late waking hour of mine today would last me through the night, with more recaps to come.

I have like…. 7 entries in mind, which I do not really feel like leaving them past new year, ya know? And to think it’s already the last day of 2005.

I really do wish to do a glance-back at this extraordinary year.

For me, that is.

Friday.

Ahh… such a simple one.