I didn't want to move houses.
I, Yui Tan, is moving house for the first time in my life-
no wait-
For the second time in my life, at age sixteen-(cause I remembered my parents saying we moved when I was three ish? But I don't really remember so it's not my problem?)
ok
*cough,* let's do this again
I, Yui Tan, is moving house for the first time in my life, and no it's not a good thing. But I mean my new home is pretty cool- no no-
I felt that my old home was pretty good.
correction
I *know* my old home was pretty good.
It still is.
With it being on the eleventh floor as well as a corner unit, it was pretty peaceful even though we lived near the main road and was a block from the MRT(1) station, I felt that it was rather cosy for me. It was a little noisy, but those sounds were what I grew up with. The occasional loud motorcycle roars, and the screeching of the trains as they brake at the stations had all become a part of my daily life.
And had taken for granted for.
I had always assumed I would never leave- my primary school a mere five minute walk away, secondary school the same, the basketball court, stadium, coffee-shops(2)... Everything was stationed nearby, nothing further than a five to ten minute walk. All these were the things I took for granted. The convenience of having everything, everyone, nearby.
Growing up in this small neighborhood, I knew almost everyone. The aunties buying food at the local market, the elderly men sitting under the void decks playing chess. With my block situated right next to the car park, I would often walk through the car park to get straight to school. Sometimes I would play with the neighborhood cats as they frolicked in the hot sun on my way home, or gaze at the roadside wildflowers. They were pretty, like musical ornaments in classic baroque music, lighting up the dull grey concrete as they sway in the wind, to an unbeknownst tempo.
I looked up at the early morning sky to see the moon grinning at me. It was way too early to be out of bed much less out of the house, but I have to.
I.
Have school.
Today's a Monday.
Why did the usually slothful and tardy me suddenly wake up so early for school you ask? It was cause I had to get to school on time. And that I had already moved to the new house in WLD(3). My new home, is situated four train stations away from school. And worst, I still had to take the bus to the train station before I can take the train to school. I covered my mouth as I yawned, and glanced at the time on watch.
6:30 am
It's way too early to go to school, I sighed as I glanced around the bus stop opposite my condominium. In the past, at this time, I would have just turned my phone alarm off and set it to snooze for another twenty minutes at the very least.
I'm a very indolent person.
Or if you prefer me speaking frankly, just l a z y.
I'm the kind of person where if we were going to meet for a movie or an outing, you would tell me the time fifteen to thirty minutes earlier just cause you know I'll be late. I was even infamous in school by friends, schoolmates and teachers alike for always being late to school despite living a mere five minutes walk away.
Okay, here's where you ask me, how are you always late?
Simple.
If I needed to be in school by 7:25 am, I would wake up at 6:45/6:50 am to wash up and get dressed, and leave home by 7:15/ or the latest, 7:25 am, before I run to school-
Yes.
Run.
My school rules state that if the student isn't seated- I repeated "seated"- bum(4) on the floor- by 7:25 am, they would be considered late. Worst still, the school clock operates at a different timing than my watch or the world time. It varies from a couple minutes or seconds faster, sometimes slower. There would be a bell that rings at exactly 7:25, when the teachers would all be standing, with their eyes peeled.
Me, oh poor me.
I'm always late yes, but it's always by a couple seconds I swear. I would be in line, pulling my backpack off my shoulders, about to take my seat when the bell rings. The discipline teachers know me so well that the moment they see me, they yell-
"Yui from 1B2, I see you there!" The discipline teacher in charge would holler, and then gesture for me to head to the responsibility staircase(5). Well, that was all long ago, to be more precise, three years ago. Dear me, has actually been coming to school on the time for the past two years- wait wait, hold up. Are you impressed? Wanna hear the even more impressive thing? I haven't been late not even once in the past two years.
Are you impressed yet?
Wait till you hear the reason why I haven't been late not even once. It's because I started a music club in school, and as the chairperson in charge, I didn't want to embarrass my juniors from the club.
An infamous delinquent known by juniors and seniors alike starting her own club? The teachers would look down on the members, sigh. I have my pride too you know. Anyway, I started coming to school on time and started afresh. The discipline mistress (my friend) really approved of it and helped me settle any misgivings the teachers have about me thanks to the rumors around. They're now almost completely dispelled, and almost no one knows me anymore. I used to hate how the seniors would cat-call me when they see me, or ask me stupid questions trying to embarrass me but now, I'm the senior and other than the third-year juniors, no one remembers it. I kinda miss being infamous really, cause some teachers think that I'm "easy".
I pull out my phone and glanced at the time-
6:45 am
I've been sitting here for fifteen minutes but the bus still hasn't arrived. If it takes any longer, I might actually break my perfect record of being on time for the past two years!! I pulled out my earphones from my dark british-green(6) skirt pocket and plugged them into my phone. Tapping on the radio app, I carefully tuned in to 98.7 fm, a popular radio station in my country. I tuned out as I stared into the road and watched the cars go by when suddenly the lady sitting next to me got up hurriedly. I followed suit as 962(7)- rolled into the bus stop and stopped. Opening it's doors, a swarm of people rushed to get on, with me packed nicely in the middle. I quickly tapped the card-reader beside the bus doors to pay my fare and tried to squeeze pass people to get a good spot beside the back door.
First day of school after moving to WLD?
Here I come.
---
I slumped my head against the glass windows as I sat in the train.
It has been a long day.
Pulling out my earphones from my skirt pocket, I plugged in once again to the radio, but this time a different radio station. A chinese one that plays older music called 97.2 fm.
I turned my head to look out the window and glanced at the buildings as my train pulled away from the KTB(8) station, where I stayed for thirteen years.
Where I will stay no longer.
A tug in my chest made me avert my eyes from the unit where I used to stay. The thin long window grills an unfamiliar sight. It was probably changed by the new owner. I closed my eyes and sighed, thinking about the familiar square window grills I used to stare out from the kitchen. As I lived in a corner unit, my living room and kitchen was shaped in an L shape, with the shorter part where the door was. I would often grab a chair and seat at my kitchen window, outside the guest toilet and lean on the sink as I watched the trains and cars go by, feeling the breeze in my hair. The washing machine would be situated on my left side, with the laundry bamboo poles(9) above my head. Sometimes after I carry the laundry poles out the window to dry, I would seat and watch the happenings on the ground floor. The neighborhood kids running around playing soccer, or the cats running around chasing the butterflies and pigeons.
"Next stop, WLD." a female voice announced as my eyes drifted to the front, and I shifted to seat properly.
I'm almost home- well... home.
"WLD, Station NS9(10), WLD" I walked to the train doors, stabilizing myself with the handrails as the announcement sounded again.
"Doors are opening, beep beep beep-" The train doors slide open as I stepped onto the wide platform and walked towards the escalator heading downwards on my left. Standing on the left side, I glanced downwards at the other commuters and passersby as the escalator went down. I walked out towards the tap out areas and pulled out my wallet, tapping on the card reader.
"Beep!" The reader turned green as the mini doors slide open and I walked towards the bus stop to get home. The food courts near the train station was bustling with activity, the hawkers yelling out to the customers to take their orders. I went up to a stall and bought a cup of Bandung(11), sipping it as I strolled to the bus stop. As I walked pass a stall selling joss paper(12), I felt my music getting louder and instinctively pulled a earbud out to listen and turned around. The store also happened to be playing the same radio station, 97.2 fm! The radio station was playing a song called "King of Karaoke" by Eason Chan, and the l hum to the melody as I slowed down the corner and walked to the bus stop.
The people I used to sing it with, the friends I used to hang out with, the old memories slowly float to the surface of my mind, dragged out by the song. I look at the light post beside the traffic light and slowly remembering very old friends.
-
"Yui! Look! I'm pole dancing-" Ying Tian, the one of them laughed as she swung a thigh over the pole and tried to dance. Sandy clutched her stomach as she rolled over on the pavement, laughing so hard she choked on her saliva while I leaned against the tree, laughing equally as hard. Those were really the days, I thought as I swallowed a lump in my throat and blinked the tears away. I looked up just to see the red men turn green, and my 962 bus arriving. I hopped over a small rock and brisked walked across the road, turning to the bus stop.
Quickly, I was about to board when I realized I haven't took out my card. I pushed the drink into the side pocket of my bag before once again pulling my wallet out of my pocket to tap the card reader(13), showing me I only had $1.20 left inside. I would have to top up or else I wouldn't be able to take the bus tomorrow morning when a stern voice caught my attention-
"Sorry kid, if you have no money, please get off the bus," The bus driver said to a small little boy on the verge of tears. The surrounding passengers stared at the little boy in pity, some in disdain but no one came forward.
"Hello? Why is the bus not moving?(14)" a middle aged lady yelled out from the backseat, with obvious annoyance in her voice. The bus driver then shrugged and gestured towards the kid.
"Hello? you rushing is it huh? Take taxi la!" an elderly man yelled as he glared daggers at her.
"Got kid talking to the driver right? Cannot wait another few seconds huh?" He challenged the middle aged lady as she rolled her eyes and glared back at him.
"Why can't you go and pay for the kid's bus fare if you can even stand up and argue?" She retorted as the fight continued. Shaking my head at those irresponsible adults, I narrowed my eyes at them and pushed my way forward towards the front of the bus. Digging out a couple coins from my pocket, I dropped it in the coin hole for bus fares and stared at the bus driver. The little boy turned to stare at me with sparkly eyes and tugged at my sleeve just as the driver shrugged and closed the bus doors.
"Thank you jie jie and sorry for the trouble," the little boy said with a mournful expression.
"No problem-"
"I'll pay you back later-" the little boy interrupted and stopped as I shook my head.
"Small matter, no need worry," I said as I patted his head coolly and he looked up at me grinning.
Guess I made a new friend today? I mused as the bus pulled up to my stop and I turned to face the little boy, about to say bye to him when I realized he was about to do the same.
"Eh? You're getting off here too?" I smiled and asked him as I tapped my card and got off the bus.
"Mhm Jie Jie, I stay in Forestville, what about you?"
"Ohh," I chuckled. What a coincidence!
"Me too haha," I smiled and rubbed the little boy's head again when I felt my phone vibrating and saw an incoming call from Mom. I gestured to the little boy to be quiet before picking up the phone.
"Hello Mom?"
"Yui are you home yet?"
"I'm at the back-gate, about to go in," I said as I tried to pull my condo(15) card from my wallet. The little boy smiled cheekily and whipped out the card from his front pocket and tapped it on the card reader for me.
"Thank you-" I whispered to the little boy and waved goodbye to him as he raced ahead and waved me good bye.
"Okay hurry up, dinner is ready,"
"Got it, I'm coming."
[Notes in case you guys don't understand]
1) MRT stands for Mass Rapid Transport. It's the name of our train system ish in Singapore.
2) Coffeeshops don't only sell coffee. It's a place that sells a wide variety of food in place of void decks*(a public bonding space under high rise flats where people hang out)in some areas. It's not air-conditioned.)
3)WLD stands for the name of a place.
4)Bum- a slang word referring to your butt.
5)Responsibility staircase is a staircase in the school foyer called the responsibility staircase cause the teachers want the students to be responsible for their own actions like admitting they skipped detention etc.
6)British green is an actual color.
7)Bus number.
8)Place name
9)Laundry Drying system in sg where they hang the clothes on long bamboo poles and carry it outside their window, slotting it into a metal rack drilled into the wall. Pretty dangerous, but pretty exciting. Just not fun when the laundry is heavier than you and you nearly get blown away by the wind-
10)NS stands for North-South and the number 9 for the station number.
11)Bandung is a drink made from rose syrup and condensed milk. It's nice, ya'll should try it.
12)Joss paper is like those funeral papers the chinese people burn to pay respect or give the dead stuff. Like once, my aunt printed a paper iphone (when it just came out) for my deceased grandpa. She put so much effort into it and even made the packaging before she threw it into the fire.
13)Card Reader- Machines that deduct money from your cards (money suckers) so you don't have to pay actual cash. It deducts the appropriate amount each time when you get off the bus depending on where you tap in from. If you're unlucky and you forget to tap out, well you will pay the fees for the whole trip the next time you take public transport...
14) This is obviously broken english used here, to make the setting more realistic as this is how people normally talk in Singapore.
15) Condo stands for Condominium
16) Jie Jie means sister in chinese