the last time i had a Practical test for Programming, i screwed things over. it was just the basics of C Programming and it could have been easy if i had paid attention from the start.
as time passed i started reading about the fundamentals of C Programming and finally got the gist of it. i stopped turning up for the lessons and read up on the new topics on my own. the written test was easy, apart from the fact that i had skipped the second question because of the stupid maths involved.
but chapter 6 was a killer for me. i turned up for lessons for this topic and days of listening attentively to my lecturer didnt gain me any more knowledge about it. i liked how he used metaphors to make understanding easier, but still, the day of the last practical test came and i was not prepared.
i had my practical test Friday morning, and all i can tell you is that i definitely screwed it up again. i managed to answer the question due to what i know from the previous chapters, but not in the format that they wanted me to, which was to include the damn functions.
there we have it. my life in Ngee Ann Polytechnic may as well be over.
the guilt didnt engulf me just as easily as i had given up though. i rushed to Clementi station right after, where i met 'Aamir, Yazid and Farhan. we took the next train to Raffles Place, and along the way 'Aamir just had to keep irritating everyone out of boredom.
we transferred to the red line, and the train was so empty! we dropped off at Somerset and walked a long way out of the station. the first thing i saw was Typo, and i straightway wandered off to it, not realising the heavy footsteps that ran following suit.
'Aamir grabbed my backpack and exclaimed, "can you stop wandering off like that!? at least tell me first before you head somewhere???" he added in a hushed tone; "they're gonna think you're weird!"
i kept quiet, but his choice of words were sinking in.
so i followed them to the mosque instead, where i sat outside waiting while they did their Friday prayers. i sat on a wall, with my legs dangling while i watched the cars and people passing by. i had the thought of going around for a walk but i remembered that 'Aamir had told me not to wander off too far so i might as well have just stayed at one spot.
reunited with them about an hour later, along with Naqib.
[this Naqib is 'Aamir's classmate, who is of the same age as i am. yes, he shares the same name as the douchebag of my elder brother. this Naqib is the good brother version, but i'll write about him another time.]
upon our union the first thing he did was point to my new tshirt [which he had followed 'Aamir to buy for me] and exclaim, "chey! baju baru sey!" in return, i pointed to his bag and exclaimed, "chey! beg baru sey!"
this exchange already shows how my relationship is with this Naqib, which is polar opposites with my elder brother. but like i'd said, i'll blog about it some other day.
so they found a spot above Scape, right outside a music school or was it, with Dina joining some time later. i've met 'Aamir's classmates a couple of times, and although i'm not that open with all of them, being around them was a familiar feeling which i'd gotten used to.
they all played cards, a game which name i cant remember, while i sat the side reading 'Aamir's book. i didnt bring mine but he had his True Singapore Ghost Stories, which i'd read whilst leaning against him.
i was engrossed in the words until i felt tension in the air and 'Aamir and his classmates were talking in somewhat hushed tones.
i watched as the posse of policemen walked toward us, and queried about what we were doing there. 'Aamir's classmates did the talking while the Indian policeman that was standing near me looked at me and gave me a smile.
i returned it, and the one who had been asking questions asked us for our identity cards or something. we all took out our ezlinks, and i handed mine over to the Indian one.
i've no idea what that was all about, but they let us off with a reminder that if the staff or security told us to stop, we'd stop.
so along came Mel and we headed off to the stalls that lined along scape. i've heard about blogshops putting up stalls there, and i'd wanted to go off on my own again but 'Aamir called me and made me stay with them.
he and Farhan and Mel and Dina spent eons looking at phone accessories. 'Aamir was so happy with his new Batman phone cover and went wandering off to look for cables next, so i sat down with Naqib and Yazid, talking about a mix of random little things.
when the rest were finally done, looking happy with their purchases, we all made our way across the road and that was when 'Aamir and i parted from his classmates.
i really do like them. they accept me as if i belong with them, as if i were no different from them. still, i wish i were more open and less awkward whenever i'm hanging out with them.
the biggest problem with hanging out with them is laughing. sometimes i'm not sure if i should laugh or not. it could be an inside joke and if i laugh as well i'd look stupid. but if i don't, i'd look really sulky and unamused and shit. but aside from that, i really enjoy being with them.
'Aamir and i walked back to Ion Orchard, holding on to his hand like how i'd held my mother's when we walked along the same lane many years ago.
being part of society ourselves, we judged the people whom we walked by, commenting on their fashion statements especially. then we talked about my fashion sense, or more like lack of it.
the lane was also just a whole stretch of our memories; we had spent our first few dates on Orchard Road. i pointed out some of the spots where we had walked, and could even recite for him what he had said back at that moment. i already liked him a lot back then, so i'd clung on to his every word.
we finally made it to Ion Orchard, where i was hopping up the escalator up to {prologue} bookstore. my long-lost old friend! i'd read that it was closing and thus, a closure sale of 30% off.
so i started off okay, just looking at the books near the entrance. 'Aamir picked out a book at this point, one called Kite Runner by a Middle Eastern author. he helped me pick out one which was beautiful without so much of a bend, the sweetie.
and then i found out that the 30% discount is actually storewide! such discounts always had gimmicks after all; most of the time it just applies to the few books on display near the counter or the entrance.
so of course i started hopping around the bookstore looking for other finds. sometimes the old books are more of a treasure than the current bestsellers. you just gotta know how and where to look.
[oh and by the way, rewind to a few days back; i'd told granny that i wanted to go to the sale but when i thought about how i wasnt working anymore, changed my mind about it. the next day she said, "if you ever wanna buy storybooks, let granny know." she gave me 50 bucks for my book shopping!]
everytime i stared at a book, glancing through the pages and focusing intently on its summary at the back, 'Aamir would pester, "just take it lah just take it." okay fine i know it gets annoying if i do that to every book on all the shelves, but you gotta pick a book wisely ok!
i was standing in front of another shelf again, rubbing my chin, eyes scouring for fancy covers when 'Aamir came over and wrapped his arms around me, saying, "i really sayang you sia."
we had spent our third date exactly like this too; at the exact bookstore, him following me around as i looked for books.
when i already held 3 books, 'Aamir took them from me and declared, "okay let's go pay!"
of course, i was reluctant. "no! i have to keep looking. i dont feel satisfied with these books. what if there are other good books which i'd missed out??"
he was getting annoyed, and he said, "come on lah, just read these books first and when you're done with them you can come back and buy more ok?"
"this is called a closure sale for a reason!" i exclaimed, and wandered off again to look at other books. of course, i knew he was pissed off but he still followed me around and helped me choose my books, occasionally giving me a light kiss on the cheek when he didnt know what else to do. how can i not love him?
and guess what? i managed to squeeze one more book into my tight budget; i'd managed to snag four books for the price of S$45!!! on average, each book cost me about twelve dollars. that is actually not bad!
we got on the train, our next destination being Paya Lebar, for the Ramadan bazaar at Geylang. when we already transferred to the green line, i said casually to 'Aamir; "you know right, actually if you are a book lover, when you walk into a bookstore any book you lay your eyes on would do. no need to be so picky if you really love books."
'Aamir gave me the O_O!!! expression, before giving a bored look and stating, "how ironic."
waited at a taxi stand while he went off to do his Asar prayers at Masjid Wak Tanjong, and i was getting bored til i was sliding myself to and fro on the bench, and he had to come at that moment.
"sorry, i went to charge my phone and i fell asleep!" he cheekily announced. damned barrel.
we walked through the train station to get to a side of the Bazaar, and on the way we passed by a movie poster for The Conjuring. i told him about the stories i read about it, about how the actors and crew died before the release of the film, and other rumours about it.
'Aamir passed this on to his classmate who said she wanted to watch the movie, and i got pissed because he was taking the credit for my research and knowledge!
but now that i think about it though, i think those stories i'd read were about another movie named "the Poltergeist", not The Conjuring. well fuck me!
the first thing we purchased from the bazaar was kebab; the man who had made 'Aamir's order called out to him; "hey mr handsome!" the other man who was attending the stall turned to 'Aamir and exclaimed, "fuuh! memang handsome lah! masya allah!"
i hope that boosted the prince's confidence. he's always thinking so lowly of himself, and never believes me when i tell him how bright he shines. "the only thing about me that shines is my oily face!", he'd say.
so we went off to get my food next; roti john which i'd been longing for for days. i also ordered a chicken burger with egg, and while waiting for our orders to be done, a middle-aged Chinese woman decided to chat us up.
she started off with commenting that we both looked like Chinese, and were we mixed? 'Aamir answered that he was, with a bit of Chinese, and when i told her i was a Bugis, she gave me this confused look. sad that not many people know the race of Bugis.
it was cute how she mistook us as siblings. we both laughed at her comment, and when she saw our imperfect teeth, she exclaimed even more excitedly, "even your teeth is the same!!"
when we all happily got our orders, she made her way and 'Aamir and i found a spot to sit on the walls and talked while waiting for Azan. i also took a few photos of him, and he looked oh so handsome!
we wolfed down our food when it was time, and he was so shy when he was eating his ayam perchik! he's so adorable.
we walked through some of the usual lanes where i walked with my parents and brothers every year, and i dropped off the lucky draw coupon which my granny and i had earned at Raja Kuih.
"my ticket to 27 thousand dollars!!" i announced to him and dropped it into the box with a thousand other coupons. 'Aamir snickered in mockery. he wouldnt be if my granny happens to win that grand prize!
our last destination was the mosque, and on the way we passed by this abandoned building with its shutters slightly ajar at the bottom. "we should sneak in there one day." he declared, before adding, "but it looks kind of creepy. why is it abandoned?"
we checked out its surroundings, and it didnt really bar trespassers that securely. 'Aamir was staring at the building for quite some time, before stating, "is this like a fire station or something?"
and that was the answer to a question i had always been wondering. "the bus stop before, where i used to wait for bus 154. it's called "before Geylang fire station" but i've always wondered where is this fire station!"
we were both looking pleased. but he asked again, "why is it abandoned then??"
"leave it to me, the best researcher and journalist in town." i declared.
"you go research okay, and tell me everything!" he grinned, and we continued walking.
waited for him to do his prayers again, and went through the underpass to get to my usual bus stop. my bus came eons later as always, and he gave me one last hug and a kiss on the cheek.
i stared at him for a moment, taking in his handsomeness and charm, and the disbelieving fact that he loved me. i leant in and pecked his cheek before dashing off to catch my bus.
such a blissful day, to have spent it with my prince! it was the best date ever. but then again, that's what i say at the end of every date. just proves how much i enjoy being with him every single time. how i love him so. and he treats me so much like a princess! bliss.
but the happiness didnt last. when i got home, my granny told me that Mother had texted my aunt.
Mother wanted me back in Pasir Ris, latest by Monday, or, her threat had said; she will never come visit my aunt and granny here at Guillemard for Hari Raya, ever again.
this is another one of her tricks. there was no point giving me a choice; she had already made her own decision. i know her. if she gives me a choice, but threatens me, it just means that i'd better make the right decision, aka what makes her happy.
and if i dont make the right choice, she's gonna make me. sometimes by force.
i know her. i know my Mother.
you may or may not know my story, but my dad was the one who kicked me out of the house. why isnt he the one asking for me back? and do you remember back on the day of my O Level results? Mother had said that she was cutting off all ties with me.
why cant i spend my first Hari Raya with my granny and aunt in peace? why must my parents keep disrupting my happiness? Father had kicked me out; Mother had cut off all ties with me, her exact words. so why cant they just leave me alone already?
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