Yesterday marked the end of Orientation 2: Renaissance – Le Mystere.

Next week, it’ll be all about lectures, tutorials and tests…

I can hardly wait. Pfffft.

O2’s been really, really wonderful. Not just yesterday’s O Night, but also the process of preparing for O2 (OGL camp, mass dance practice…) and the friends I’ve made during the whole thing. Previous impressions were altered, old acquaintances re-aquainted. All the spontaneous, spunky individuals whom I’ve had the privilege to befriend… the laughter, the stupid jokes, the laughter we shared, the ‘high’ moments…. The ‘HONK IF U THINK I’M HOT’ sign.

To everyone: Thanks. You guys rock my socks.

Xiao Wei came back yesterday. Jian Ming didn’t. I guess it’ll be inevitable to accept they won’t be coming back, ever. Even though it kinda pains me inside…. It felt slightly weird seeing Xiao Wei in NJ skirt, when all the while, I’ve always imagined her to be one of my closes friends in TJ. Keyword: TJ. She used to be the first one in our clique to arrive, before me. Then we’ll go to the toilet, trying not to be spooked by how dark it is in the morning, then head to the canteen or sports complex for the usual crapping session until everyone else arrives. Now it’s just me. The others come to school at like, what, 7.15 a.m.? Sighh.

Saw Jian Ming on Thursday. He came back ‘cos he wanted to appeal back into TJ from Hwa Chong. I got a real scare when he appeared. He must have lost like, 5kg. In 2 weeks. Now he looks really pale and worn-out, like some half-starved prisoner-of-war--- a shadow of his former self. I think Yin Wei and the rest were shocked too. My first instinct was to whack him, or poke him. Standard form of greeting. Then I didn’t ‘cos I wasn’t sure whether to just act normal, scream, freak out or just start crying. So I did the next best thing: stare.

[I keep thinking times will never change
Keep on thinking things will always be the same
But when we leave this year we won't be coming back
No more hanging out cause we're on a different track]

I think he was trying to keep things lighthearted ‘cos he smiled despite everything, but evidently it’s been very hard on him for the past few weeks. Imagine a friend, who used to be hyperactive, cheerful and talkative. Who, in a short span of TWO WEEKS, morphed into someone totally and utterly unrecognizable. I remember how he used to whack our heads with his file… saying that I wasn’t pretty. Saying that so and so was prettier. How the whole bunch of them ganged up on me and smashed plates of cream all over me, ‘cos I was an ‘easy target’. Stupid Xiao Wei and Jian Ming were the chief culprits! Pfffffft.

[As we go on, we remember
All the times we had together
And as our lives change,
From whatever
We will still be, friends forever]

My blue shoelace, with stuff written all over it. Threaded into my running shoes, totally mismatched, but I don’t give a shite. Xiao Wei and her bimbo remarks pertaining to the length of my skirt … The funky lollipop she chose for me on V’day, the one which she thought suited me the best. I still have it okay…

[I keep, I keep thinking that it's not goodbye]
Take care. I’ll miss you guys.

Graduation (Friends Forever) by Vitamin C

And so we talked all night about the rest of our lives
Where we're gonna be when we turn 25
I keep thinking times will never change
Keep on thinking things will always be the same
But when we leave this year we won't be coming back
No more hanging out cause we're on a different track
And if you got something that you need to say
You better say it right now cause you don't have another day
Cause we're moving on and we can't slow down

These memories are playing like a film without sound
And I keep thinking of the night in June
I Didn't know much of love, but it came too soon
And There was me and you, and then it got real blue
Stay at home talkin' on the telephone and
We would get so excited, we'd get so scared
Laughing at our selves thinking life's not fair
And this is how it feels

Chorus:
As we go on, we remember
All the times we had together
And as our lives change,
From whatever
We will still be, friends forever

So if we get the big jobs and we make the big money
When we look back now, will that joke still be funny?
Will we still remember everything we learned in school?
Still be trying to break every single rule
Will little brainy Bobby be the stockbroker man?
Can Heather find a job that won't interfere with her tan?
I keep, I keep thinking that it's not goodbye
Keep on thinking it's a time to fly
And this is how it feels

Repeat chorus

La, la, la, la; yeah, yeah, yeah
La, la, la, la, we will still be friends forever

Will we think about tomorrow like we think about now?
Can we survive it out there? Can we make it somehow?
I guess I thought that this would never end
And suddenly it's like we're women and men
Will the past be a shadow that will follow us round?
Will these memories fade when I leave this town
I keep, I keep thinking that it's not goodbye
Keep on thinking it's a time to fly

Repeat chorus 3x