train /treɪn/: 5 golden years.

it was supposed to be the six of us, but two of them couldnt make it. one of them lent us a CD of the Japanese version of The Ring, and we laid back at Sabrina's house, watching it while munching on freshly fried popcorn chicken.

that was August 2009.

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we were looking over the railings, down to the parade square when i asked Siying, "did you bring the money for later?" her face froze before she said, "oh shit." and we had to go to her house in Tampines before coming back to Pasir Ris to the scent of canadian pizza laid out on the table.

that was August 2010.

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"Assalamualaikum," i had announced, and Sabrina was about to reply when she saw the camera in my hand and yelled, "OY!" every single moment was recorded, collected into a montage of all the random things which happened that day. a video which can be relived again and again.

that was June 2011.

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they tried to get me to go. Shushan was texting me, pleading me to join them, when the other two had already given up on getting me to go. on that morning i had laid in bed as my phone vibrated again and again, calls and texts from the three of them, but i ignored everyone and resumed wallowing in self pity.

in the end i got up and made my way over, hoodie soaked in the drizzle. i knocked on the door, didnt say anything, and when Sabrina opened the door, she exclaimed my name.

everything had begun, food was laid out, and although i already told them i was dead-set on not turning up, they even had my share on the table.

that was March 2012.

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we're supposed to meet at Pasir Ris at 9, but here i am, still in bed, twenty minutes after 8. if it isn't for my cat i would have continued my sleep, i'm so exhausted; but i get up, and rush to have my shower.

i hop onto bus 7 from my home, because Iris told me that bus 70 would take another 20 minutes to arrive. i check my texts and am laughing at what Shushan says; and alas, i miss the stop at Paya Lebar MRT station.

the train i took keeps stopping in the middle of every other station, causing me to be more late than i already am, and there are plenty of buses that go to DTE from the interchange, but they're all late. just my luck.

i don't like being in Pasir ris, but for the sake of our 5th Reunion party, i'm standing tall here in my previous "home"town.

Siying sees me first and grins like she always does. Shushan sees me everyday but her first reaction upon my arrival was, "OHMYGOD, you're so FAT!" i ignore her and go straight to Sabrina, whom i havent seen the longest.

they've collected a whole load of snacks and drinks in their trolley, including strawberry flavoured mogu mogu for me ^_^ we act like little girls, spoilt brats who take what they want and whine when someone says no.

"latecomers must push the trolley!" announces Shushan, so i listen to her. i decide to play with the trolley, pushing myself on it across the aisle. Siying joins in and we're having a hell load of fun when Shushan comes over and decides to finally act her big sister role.

back at Sabby's humble abode; Shushan connects Sab's laptop to the television, and while they're cooking our food, Siying and i take the chance to play Youtube videos.

we watch the Bratz movie, one which i had wanted to watch when it first came, while slurping on our chicken noodles. a meaningful one i must say.

we're deciding what movie to watch next, but Sabrina makes it difficult by telling us that she's watched almost all the movies that's ever existed ]:

so we decide to webcamwhore. and webcamwhore we do and webcamwhores we are! there are about a hundred photos, and we watch them on slide show with Cher Lloyd's Oath playing in the background.

when that's done, Sabrina turns on the graduation song.

as we go on, we remember
all the times we had together
and as our lives change, come whatever
we will still be friends forever.

and we sit aligned in front of the television, song playing, lyrics on screen, as we sing along with all our hearts and souls. it feels so sad, like this is the last, when i know there are gonna be a lot more Reunion parties in the future!