M.Yeow

Sundays 

Eighteen

(I can't even remember when you first came in)

I walk into the room of familiar faces that I've grown up with, they were always present in my life - strictly once a week. But they were never close, never knew much about me and I never knew much about them. 

You came in only when I left for Melbourne. I've always noticed you sitting in the room, thinking to myself that you were cute - the studious, quiet type, of course. I never bothered to speak to you, or even ask for your name. I was always just catching your name when someone calls you, or when the boys in the room make fun about how handsome and how much of an ideal guy you were. I swear they're always a little bit jealous. 

I was always just looking at the clock on the wall, wondering what I'll be having for lunch afterwards. I'm always leaving, anyway. 

16 Jan 2016

Twenty One 

It was Mark and Steph's wedding and I contemplated if I should even turn up because I was never close to anyone ever since I left for Melbourne years ago. But I went anyway, we all grew up together after all. 

It was the buffet lunch after the ceremony, I was hungover, needed my food and couldn't really be bothered to keep up with small talk. I was halfway through my second round and suddenly you sat next to me. I was surprised you even knew my name. 

We started talking and really talking. The kind of conversations you have with someone that you genuinely find interesting and you get really caught up in it and you lose track of time and you realise you both are on your second plates of desserts that your friends so kindly got for you. 

It's funny you know, having a few things in common with someone that has always been there in your life but always taking up a passive role. We found out we only live a street away from each other - I've been living in the neighbourhood for 16 years and you for 13 years. "Why have we never seen each other?"" I don't know, life works in funny ways."

That day was so nice getting to know you and talking about our lives, family, school and goals all on bus 33 back home and back to CHIJMES in the evening for the wedding dinner. 

2 nights before you left for South Africa

We were supposed to hang out one more time before you left and luckily I decided to ball up and tell you that you were honestly so cool that it would be such a shame if I didn't get to hang out with you one more time before you left. "Don't leh, haha I'll walk to the playground this evening and we can go grab some drinks nearby our place." "Teh Bing at Fei Fei?"

We ended up drinking cider and beers at this place near katong. It was supposed to be an hour long catch up because I had work the next day and you had to pack for your 3 month mission trip on the ship. But we talked about our views on life, your rabak clubbing days, my rabak stories, and your dating stories when you were 14 and mostly driven by your hormones, so it became a 3 hour hang out session. It was such a fun night. 

Last Night

You suddenly popped up in my mind and I decided to drop you a text despite you telling me that you may me MIA for the whole 3 months because of the poor reception on the ship. I dropped you a text nonetheless, and you replied today. 

I wished you a Happy Easter and you told me, "It's good Friday, Rachel." 

You also sent me all the updates that you sent to our other friend, and to be honest, your stories have inspired me in so many ways and there's just really...something about you that attracts me to you. I can't even put a finger on it. 

Interesting people are hard to come by in your life and you're one of them I've been so lucky to meet. 

Thank you for talking to me that Saturday.