As I sat down in an orange chair, I was jolted by a voiced behind me "Boss, Apa mau?". I proceed to order my favourite Tosai Masala and Teh Tarik Kosong. The early morning breakfast after a good morning workout before heading to the office. I had just finish my 10km run and was feeling hungry and thirsty this morning. Looking around the mamak, I noticed lots of people starting their day with a hearty breakfast of either nasi lemak or roti canai and a cup of our local teh tarik or kopi tarik.
The mamak was packed full as it is 8am and just an hour before most office starts operation. "Excuse me, can I seat here?". I look up to find this office lady in glasses looking at me waiting for my approval to join me at this packed mamak. I nodded and said "Sure, please".
She sat down and try to get the waiters attention. After she has ordered, I was looking at her with a sense of dejawu. I know her. I am sure I met her before. And suddenly, it hit me.
"Lin Mei Ling" as I said in an inquisitive tone waiting for a respond if I recognised the right person. She said "Yes" with a surprise tone looking at me trying to figure out who I was. "I am Chris Lee. Remember? From 5 Anggur (meaning Grape in Malay)".
"Hello. It has been 10 years since we left school. How time flies. How have you been doing?" Asked Mei Ling.
My mind wonders back to school days where both of us were in Upper Secondary School. I used to sleep a lot in class. Mei Ling sits next to me as we are both very tall. I am 6' tall and Mei ling for a Malaysian Chinese Girl standing at 5' 10" tall, she is considered tall for an Asian girl. I remember the black board duster being thrown at me by Mr Lee our class form teacher to wake me up. I really cannot help sleeping as the class bored me to death.
Unfortunately, the duster sometimes bounces off me and hit Mei Ling. I also remember the how cross she gets with me when the duster hits her. After that, whenever Mr Lee enter class, she will pinch my arm to wake me up. I really hated that.
We had many adventures together with our gang. Khairul, Siti, Aileen, Matthew, Kok Seong, Ivy, Kamal, Premela, Louis, Mei Ling and Myself used to do everything together. We would occupy the big canteen table together where we would hang out and eat during recess time. We were also in the Leo Club together and we were all boy scouts and girl guides.
Those were fun times that we had. Camping under the stars and chatting until 3am in the morning. The sexist of the gang is Louis. She has almost every guy in school drooling after her. She has a 35C-24-36 figure. We used to tease her that she has "Yip Chi Mei tai pau" (which is a Hong Kong Actress that was famous for her big breast. We started calling our Crazy Big Chinese Pork Bun after her two famous big assets). Also, she has the face of Angela Baby. Which makes her the prettiest girl in school or one of the prettiest. She will get flowers and gifts from guys almost every day. They will put it on her table before she arrives in school. She has all kind of ridiculous items every single day. I think the weirdest one was a pencil sharper. We could not figure out who sent it or why that person sent the gift to her. We would still laugh every time we mention pencil sharpener in our gang.
Mei Ling is also pretty but she was still having braces while we were in school. She has her share of admirers but not as many as Louis. Mei Ling was always been my secret crush. I was a timid and shy boy back then. I never had much confidence. I think part of it is due to my family being middle class. We had enough as food and cloths are never an issue. Both my parents are salary man and we were comfortable. My parents cared for each other and they always show affection at home. Me and My brother grew up with the knowledge that a loving wife and mom is a treasure that we need to cherish. They will always kiss each other before they leave the house and make love to each other every night. We know as we can hear it from our room every night. Being a guy and a teenager, it was difficult for both of us as we would go to sleep with the Radio on.
Now, seeing Mei Ling in front of me again, I just wished that I had the courage then to confess to her. But the past happened for a reason. By the time we went to college, she has feel in love with Ivan who was her in her class when she was doing her Australia Matriculation in Taylor's College. I went to Taylor's also but was doing my A-Level. I was going planning to go to London for my undergraduate program but her parents insisted she goes to Australia where her older sister was studying her Masters in Melbourne University. This is where the gang was separated with all of us heading to different paths. Only Louis and myself went to United Kingdom. Khairul, Siti and Matthew went to different parts of the United States to pursue their undergrad. Aileen, Kamal, Ivy and Mei Ling went to Australia. Kok Seong went to Singapore University and Premela went to Japan.