A very productive series of unfortunate events

I was very gloomy these past few days. But now that I got over the very tragic news, and found out that we still have our job, which, by the way, I sooooo enjoy, we decided to celebrate it by going to...

Suntec! (where else?)

Yeah... That's Suntec. A flood of people were in our way, but we didn't care. We were blood sisters. Our pact is to take pictures wherever. Whenever. Forever!

Actually, to tell you a bit of history, the plan initially was to go to Chinatown to look for (and buy) something worthwhile for our family and friends in the Philippines. And the second plan was to have coffee afterwards, to celebrate our resuscitation. The intentions were good. So good they were almost divine. So divine they seemed too good to be true. 

And like all other great and perfect plans, materializing them was always the hardest part. The moment we stepped on Suntec's enticing floor, we had amnesia. A persistent amnesia, I tell you.

What was the first plan again?? Oh yeah. Chinatown. Chinatown... Chi... Charles and Keith! Hahahahaahaah! (Was I bad???)

Yeah... Another bag. Another penny spent. Another guilt. =)

First plan (trip to Chinatown): crossed out. Second plan: Coffee. So off we went to our favorite hangout: Starbucks.

Unfortunately, like the first plan, Starbucks Coffee had gone with the wind. Gone.. with... the ... wind... 

The problem with Starbucks is that it is very popular, everybody spends their time there. Everybody. At least tonight. There were no more seats left for four pretty ladies. Argh!

We ended up going to Gloria Jeans instead (which we kind of regretted).

Nothing, nothing, will ever beat Starbucks.

And that was our journey. Very productive, huh. 

After chitchatting, as if we hadn't seen each other for ten millions years, the fab four decided to call it a day. Again, just like last Saturday, I asked Noreen if she wanted to spend the night at out place.

But she wouldn't budge. She declined my offer. For some reason, as much as her body wanted to, she just couldn't take a rest at our place. Can it be because of other entities that lurk beneath our walls??? Hmmnn...

This is it

And the list has been revealed...

It's like death. You're just waiting for your time. Patiently. Irritatingly. While tears are falling.

One by one, the faces have been named. Little by little, the branches become gloomier and gloomier. And eventually, everyone I know will be crossed out from the list.

Four hundred names. Four hundred plans will fail. Four hundred worlds will change.

Tomorrow is another struggle.

Modern Day Cinderella

The brighter side of my Saturday fever...

My friend, Malou, decided to celebrate her birthday yesterday. It was held at her boyfriend's place, in Harbour Front. Seven of us were invited. 

After eating, we decided to go outside of the house, taking some of the food and drinks with us. We took pictures; we conversed. We talked about the infamous happening that's going to change our career and leisure life forever. We forgot about it. We sang. We talked about it again. We laughed. We sighed. We despised guys. We sang again. To sum it all up, we were happy.

We decided to go home at about eleven o'clock. We rode the bus, laughing again. We wanted to end the night in felicity. We alighted. Then we took the MRT next.

I was walking towards the MRT, strutting on my lovely heels, without a care in the world. My friends were already on the escalator. I and Lyn, my other friend, were about to take it when something held me back. I felt my right heel slipping in a space on the floor. It got stuck! I couldn't make a step even if I wanted to. I looked at the roof and yelled, "Pusang gala!"

Stupid? Yeah. Embarrassing? Double yeah. I tried to jerk it to free it using my foot, but couldn't. I gave up. I took off my right shoe and was about to grab it when I saw a man leaning. He leaned so he could take it out from the steel that trapped it. He even had a hard time, because when he did, the steel was pulled off together with my shoe. When it was finally released (whew), he, acting like a super gentleman, wanted (or so I think) to help me wear my shoe. I didn't know how to act. Hesitantly (this hesitation may just be my imagination), he just laid the shoe near my foot so I could do it myself. I looked at my friends on the escalator. They were all laughing.

Yeah... yeah... yeah... He was a life saver. A gentleman. A one-in-a-million-that's-almost-extinct type of guy. He didn't have to do it. He could have just ignored me for all he cared. But he stopped and helped this clumsy, a damsel-in-distress girl, without hesitation. My friend, Hazel, thought it was very sweet. I should have given my name and my number.

The good thing about Singapore is that it is very small, I could bump into him anytime soon. Or so I wish. I thanked him anyway. But my friends say it was not enough. Yeah, they were probably just teasing me. Or maybe not. A guy like that deserves appreciation that is more than just saying thanks. It's a good thing to know that some people still do help others, in any way they can. And it's a lot better to realize that there are still guys out there who are willing to be a knight in shining armor, no matter how idiotic a situation can be.

Guys aren't bad, eh?

Is this goodbye?

Eleven months. Eleven short months.

The contract says I'm tied for two years. Supposedly tied for two years. I left everything that matters to me, believing that the world beyond will give me greener pasteur. But the chase is cut short. My tracks have stopped. I haven't even got there yet. I haven't even reached the entrance.

When the news leaked out, it became the headline the next day. Everyone knows about it, even private individuals. But life had to go on. The operations need not be disturbed by the inevitable.

I was still wearing the smile on my face; happily rendering service to my clients. I decided to forget about it yet. Until I served this auntie.

After the transaction, she, in her very subtle and discreet way, dragging her bag to cover her lips, asked me if I would be part of this retrenchment. I told her we don't have the information yet. She said, oh, so you don't have the list yet, then did the most unexpected thing. She extended her arms to reach my hands.

In this part of the world, in this small island where everything is about being fast that the littlest, most touching things, are prone to neglect, it is notable that some still stop and take the effort to give a part of their heart. When she held out her hands, I accepted them. She said good luck. I almost cried.

They said that the last ones to come in would be the first ones to go. I guess this is how the system works. But I'm still optimistic. Until the dreadful list is revealed, I will still be smiling, wholeheartedly be serving my clients, and give them the best service in my own way.

I hope this is not goodbye.

Tick tack tick tack

The clock is ticking. The time is near. Finally.

I have started to have visions about it. I don't have plans yet. No particular things to do. But one thing's for sure: I will finally be home.

This might be the most significant Christmas of my entire existence. Last year was the worst. Spent it in an MRT station, on our way back to our "home away from home." It was a new experience. A new realization. Just what I needed to start appreciating again.

And now the countdown has begun. The leaves are falling. I will be home again.

Finally.

Reality check

I don't know if I should panic. I'm 26 turning 27 this year. Pretty? I think so. Well that's what my friends tell me. Nice to be with? I believe so too. Otherwise, I wouldn't have had friends. How many commitments have I had in my entire existence, you ask? Nada. Next question please.

My mother wondered how this fat, ugly girl in the neighborhood, one with lots of pus oozing out of her face, is able to fish a decent male specie, while her daughter cannot. I wasn't able to voice out to her that had I decreased my standards by ten notches, like that of our neighbor's, my list would have reached North Pole. My mom might have fainted.

I don't long for someone richer than Bill Gates. That's a very hard target. Nor someone as drop dead gorgeous as Brad Pitt. That someone wouldn't notice me. Can it be possible that I'm above an average guy but way below those who are above average? Then I don't belong to someone then. There's no point in waiting. Noone will come.

If you think that wishing for someone who shares the same kind of music, laughs at the same humor, and still finds me beautiful when I'm sick is too much to ask, then, yeah, I admit, I have a very high standard. Maybe I should just stop looking.

I'll kiss reveries goodbye then.

I'm happy!

Ambaduy man, but I'm happy today. Actually, I've been happy since yesterday. Hahaha!

There's nothing much to be happy about. But I've missed this. I've missed this feeling of being happy because of this corny feeling. Magulo ba? Oh well..

I just wish this pulls through. Whatever this is, I hope this is the beginning. Beginning with no end. 

Hay! ^_^