Just keep walking...

"...ummmuhum....luhummumumm....hummuuumuumuaI'm up! I'm up!"

I think that's what I ended up saying when I finally arose for real this morning while my maid was hassling me to wake up. Checked my watch, and it was already 6.17 a.m.. Well, a good reason for oversleeping this time was that in the last few minutes of my sleep, I was dreaming of myself waking up to find my maid in my room, then suddenly waking up to find my maid in my room, then suddenly waking up to find my maid in my room, then suddenly waking up to find my maid in my room then suddenly waking up to find my maid in my room, then suddenly waking up to find my maid in my room, then suddenly waking up to find my maid in my room, then suddenly waking up to find my maid in my room, then suddenly waking up to find my maid in my room, then suddenly waking up to find my maid in my room, then suddenly waking up to find my maid in my room, then suddenly waking up to find my maid in my room, then suddenly waking up to find my maid in my room, then suddenly waking up to find my maid in my room, then suddenly waking up to find my maid in my room, then suddenly waking up to find my maid in my room, then suddenly waking up to find my maid in my room, then suddenly waking up to find my maid in my room, then suddenly waking up to find my maid in my room, then suddenly waking up to find my maid in my room, then suddenly waking up to find my maid in my room, then suddenly waking up to find my maid in my room so much so until I couldn't tell the difference if I was dreaming or if my maid had just almost succeeded in waking me up.

I quickly rushed out of the room to make my breakfast, then went to my room to finalise my bag and make sure my rough plan for the debate (that was supposedly) today was somewhere in there ready to make its way to the school. After that, I changed into my uniform and glided back to the dining room to eat my meal. For your information, this is the first time in almost half a decade for me to change into my school uniform before eating my breakfast. But I guess I had no choice - time (and my dream) wasn't on my side this morning.

All finished, I brushed my teeth and went out the door, followed by my Mom who unlocked the car split seconds before I reached it, giving me an uninterupted run. Once we were both inside, Mom took out the Ancient of Days CD from her handbag and inserted it into the CD player before driving off for her usual routine in sending me to school.

During the ride, I rose the volume by a bit when the player reached the song Ancient of Days by Ron Kenoly. A really nice song which depicts every trusting Christian's freedom through Christ somewhat better than Mourning into Dancing. 'Every tongue in heaven and earth shall declare Your glory! Every knee shall bow at Your throne in worship!...' Man, soul Christian music is good for the Christian soul indeed. But by the time the song was coming to an end, I was nearby the school and so told Mom to drop me off 'behind' (refering to 'behind the school').

Once dropped off, I made my way up to my classroom where I found the usual guys who are usually early at this usual time of the day doing their usual stuff. Walked to my desk, placed down a few items and softly walked around the classroom with my draft of my speech for the debate in my hands, trying to revise the lines in my head without uttering a word that may interfier with the present game.

I guess when it comes to situations like this, I should just step back and not up.

When it was time to go for Assembly, we all went out of the class and divided into respective clusters while walking towards the Parade Square. While escorting my class to the area, Toj highlighted to me that he'd appreciate it if the people who came to my Birthday party paid him/Tim/JKit $3 after they sponsered $10 each for the LAN centre. Reasonable, I guess.

I suddenly stopped in my tracks and headed towards the classrooms again for duty, of which Toj thought was because I wanted to get the money straight away. Once at the same ol' duty spot (Red Level Classrooms), the atmosphere starts to turn more 'philosophical' in a way. The school never feels as peaceful as this at any other time of the day. Seriously. Once they finish with the National Anthem and Pledge, it's as... quiet... as it get's around here.

After chatting with Jai about Jack Black, rugby, rock songs, spoof videos and Australia's failure to cencor vougarities in a particular PG (as Singapore might have rated it) movie, the students were seen rushing in from the distance, and the peace was at an end. Nice while it lasted, but we headed back to 2.10, of which JKit ran past us to unlock the door. Settling back in the classroom, I was also approached by Tim about today's (supposed) debate, and what points we were going to use. I told him what I wanted as my share, and he agreed, although he pointed out that I took the harder parts. Ah, well. First Speaker needs to speak the most, apparently.

The class then settled a few administrations with Mr. Tay and Mdm. Rani, followed by Maths where Mr. Tan was explaining to us more about the terms of quardratic equations. He also commented about how he felt Mr. Tay's mindset of constant changing of our table arrangement actually makes sense. When we told him it was to help us 'foster class unity', he snapped back that it was just 'rubbish!'.

Next was History, where we learnt a bit more about Ecconomic History. At least I get to learn a bit more on what my Dad's involved in I guess. Or is he involved in something else? This is sad - up till now, I still don't understand what my Dad's occupation is, even thought I know his workplace, his colleagues and the projects he get involved in.

CL'B' was a slight fright. For one thing, Mdm. tested us on oral, and I didn't know how to explain the four main things I did during the holidays (Birthday, training, filming, competition) without asking the Justinicionary about a definition every 5 seconds or so. I was so thankful when it was all over and done with. And whenever another friend is up at the front trying to go through his turn, I can do nothing but pay attention to the fella, trying to show in my eyes that I supported them, and yet trying to hide the other view of my eyes that highlighted I couldn't help them if they needed help in their vocabulary.

And after that, we were reading through the textbook again, and I was not sure what precisely was going on with the other students racketing around in their onwn way. They were literally a big obstacle between me and my eagerness to learn my mother tongue. And what dissapoints me more is that... Justin tries his best to join in their gag. Every 5 minutes, he'd ask if we could go for Recess already along with some made-up excuses, and everytime I kept telling my annoyed half that he didn't mean to delay my education of the language.

Once the lesson was over, I went back up to the class (along with Kirby's and JKit's books) and waited at the corridoor for the Chinese guys to finish so I could enter. When they were done, a great portion of them ran out of the door. I knew why - it was Fried Food Day. But unfortunately, I couldn't join them. Mr. See already specified a FULL Embargo. A sacrifice I'll just have to endure for another couple of weeks, I guess...

Placed the books down at their respective tables, then walked down to buy one of the only items that doesn't break the embargo. Baos (Chinese for 'buns'). I bought three tao sar baos ('red bean-flavoured buns') and walked towards the table with Joel, JKit and Kirby present at. I had a seat (that was forced my way, but nevermind...) and ate with them, later to go to the Oasis shop to buy a bottle of the usual Ice Mountain before heading up back to class.

Back in class, I looked through my debate notes another time, halfway I was informed that a particular piece of information was 'accountably inacurate in a way, but nevertheless correctable'. Let's just see what happens...

After Recess was P Sci, where Ms. Ho re-explained to us about the criteria of our 'show-and-tell' presentation, and also how light works in our eyeballs. I knew light goes through the iris and enters the eye through the pupil to display an image at the nerve at the back of the eyeball to display to the brain, but it never really dawn into me that the eyeball was actually hollow. Something new to learn about my anatomy.

We then had Music, where Mr. Lee announced that we were going to do a music group performance for our Term 3 assignment. To simplify the rules, we were allowed to sing, play or dance to any pop songs we could get our hands (or ears/mouth) on.When he told the class to stand so as to prepare to form groups of 4, I felt myself being grabbed at by multiple arms within the blink of an eye. It was something like Neo after just being deleted from the Matrix, all covered in cables, just that I had no cable going for my neck. Thankfully, Mr. Lee told whoever those arms came from (I was standing at the front row, so the arms came from the back, and I couldn't see where exactly they were from) to stand down and relax, to which the hands slowly released and slithered back to where they came from.

Relieved, I stood still for Sir's command to move to the groups, of which the original plan was that I would just stand still and wait for the first tap on the shoulder, but after feeling all those hands, I thought it was better if I moved to the back first. But when Sir said the phrase 'go', I was clinged onto shoulders down onwards by a cluster of people, accompanied with voices demanding against each other like, "Let go, he's mine!" or, "No, I booked him first! Back off!" but soon and finally, "Hey, let go and let him decide for himself lah!"

(Thanks Tim)

I creeped my way off the back of the platform and went to the edge of the Music Technological Room (or what was the room's name?). A few people followed, and Kirby sugested we flip a dice. (What happened to the coin?) Tim then exclaimed that I made my own choice, displaying to me that I had three choices: 1) His group, whic had himself, Joel and JKit, 2) Kirby's group, which had himself, Matt Ch'ng and ZWei, and 3) Shil's group, which was right behind me, so I wasn't able to see who was part of it.

To cut the arguments short, I ended up with Tim's group (at my own will, let me stress) and so we sarted discussing on what we should do for the performance. We also played around with one of the keyboards in the room (Joel either tried to play Bolevard of Broken Dreams or River, Tim played the Phantom of the Opera, and JKit played a piece from his exam pieces, along with pushing the 'DJ' button on the keyboard at rando momments. When it comes to playing instruments, I just feel so left out...).

Once the lesson was over, which it actually wasn't but just that Sir dismissed us 5 minutes earlier, we all walked back to class, at te ending part of the journey Tim telling me that I should try singing. Me? Singing? AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

*sigh* I understand that Mr. See might have been in the chior before, but I doubt a base like me would fit to singing that well. And yet again, I sometimes remind myself how I miss the good times when singing any song of my choice was easier. Sad, sad, sad.

Once the extra 5 minutes was used up, we went to the Chapel CPA for EP. Today was just the introduction day, so we didn't really start on anything yet. But it was nice to see what I'll be going through for the next sememster (Billards was a good choice!).

The school hours end off with Lang Arts 'A', of which Mdm. Kavita wanted us to break into our old literature groups to discuss about Extract #1 and #3. Seeing my group (Joel, Shil, Raam, Koon Min, me), I never knew they'd be so serious, which is a good thing for a time like that, but I was just... surprised. Nevertheless, I did whatever I could to provide the group with discussion pointers.

We ended off later than 2.40pm (which is the usual ending school hours for Years 1-4, but Mdm. Kavita tends to drag it a little), and as the minutes ticked off bit by bit, Tim gave a sigh for every action he saw that was delaying his departure, along with Niranjan's nervousness in biting his pen (or was it his finger? I couldn't see from where I was seated) and with me grining calmy (on the outside) as I watched Mdm. drag along. Tim tried to notify her that we had to go a debate, but it apparently failed and dragged a little longer with her trying to explain to him that she was just about to dismiss us all.

Once the wait was finally over, I rushed out of the classroom to place my files into my locker in slight preparation ahead of Tim and Niranjan, but apparently a bit too early as they were still packing while I was there. After waiting for each other, we went together as a team to the class of 6.1 for the debate, praying hard that it would just be gotten over with today.

TO OUR DISMAY, we waited there for another 1o mintues with no one else present. Assuming that it was cancelled/postponed/greatlydelayedbyamonthorso, we grabbed our bags and left the scene for the SAC to eat lunch. I bought a bowl of wanton noodles and sat down with the guys (Tim, JKit and Kirb) to eat. While I was eating, they went along in their conversations.

At one point, they also got to a point on how I'd swear. Kirby claimed he heard me say 'shit' and 'crap' before, and Tim supported him as witness. With two witnesses, stating that I was innnocence was of no use even if I really am innocent, but if I really did say those words, I guess I'd better watch my mouth. I don't detest against vougarities because of goody-two-shoeyness. It's more because of my honour for God.

The way I see it, vaugarities are insultive words said in hope that they'd act as a pain-reliever for a particular scenario which is of disadvantaging to the announcer. And ussually, it works as it levels themselves/the insulted company down to the dust of the scenario itself, making them feel atoned to the situation. I'd rather just trust verses in the Bible that promise that whatever happens, good or disasterous, God is in perfect control as long as I allow Him to (God's a leagal God; He can only work through you if you alllow and believe Him to).

Trust the wisdom of Christ, than the words of the world.

Slurping down another chopstick-scoop of noodles, I then watched as Tim and Kirby arm-wrestled each other. The intensity. I twiched a little as I watched them battle it out for the stonger person. I guess it's been a long time since I arm-wrestled someone. Do I miss the feeling? I don't know, but I just watched in slight eagerness to participate, yet holding it back ecause I knew Tim and Kirb were settling buisness.

Not sure if JKit noticed how I was watching them, but he soon wanted to chalendge me in arm-wrestling. Still using my right arm to feed myself soup from my bowl with a spoon, and still watching Tim and Kirby, I took JKit down with my left hand. It felt rather odd, so I asked if he was really putting his full-strength. He just laid down on the table and muttered a few words. Praise the Lord for my strength, even if there are others out there stronger than I am.

When Tim left to buy a cup of bubble tea, I decided it was better if I left at that point of time, since I wasn't really able to participate in their conversation. I slung on my bag and was getting ready to leave. JKit and Kirb, who were watching me, asked why I was leaving so soon, and I told them that I might as well just get on with the tution I cancelled today for the 'debate'.

They then started telling each other that if they joined forces, they could hold me back down for a little longer. The little urge to arm-wrestle them came out, and I found myself chalendging Kirby into an arm-wrestle; if he wins, I'll stay until they leave. He slowly shook his head and told me that I've just gone through Dragonboating so he wasn't going to take his chances.

I didn't know what they needed me for for that period of time, but I decided to just stay a little longer, "until Tim comes back from his bubble tea." The both of them started yelling at Tim not to come any closer and take his time at the drink stall. I giggled at the sight, but then rested at my seat with my bags on standby.

When Tim finally came back from buying his drink, they both elaborated at large for Tim to stop before he arrived at the table, which he eventually stopped at, so I stood up and was about to leave, when somehow I was being convinced that debate would not be next week so I would still be able to do a make-up lesson next week, theus I could just stay a litle longer for today.

To cut the story shorter, we found out a few minutes later that the debate was going to next week. And thankfully, the guys were leaving at around this time, so I didn't look like I was leaving on my own accord. Took the same ol' bus route back home with Kirby and rushed up to the house to get my tution homework and get changed and get some change (to pay for the tickets I bought from Roxanne) and to eat a little (I was apparently hungry still).

I walked my way through the condominium to Auntie Kamhar's appartment and rung the doorbell. Auntie Kamhar answered the door, and I explained to her the situation and what I was doing at her front door when I was suppose to be somewhere at school finishing off a point-of-information rebutt. She somewhat understood me, and told me that if I had any questions I'd like her to explain to me, I could use the next 1 1/2 hours to study with her and take it as our lesson for this week.

Thankful for her generosity, I come into her house and sat at the living room, asking her a few concepts about quardratic equations I felt I needed explaination on. I also got to ask her about complex numbers! (Haha, looks likes I've got multi-sources too!) Once done with a whole lot of well-worth clarifications here and there, I said goodbye and went to Rox's house to pay her the $30 for my/Shil's(Noel's)/JohnLim's tickets, then headed back home for this.

Once back, I listened to a sermon about Fresh Starts, and it was about the book of Ruth and how it explains about Fresh Starts. This sermon was really good, so I think I'll share about it A.S.A.P I find a good and sub-empty post to blog into.

Well, now I've got some work to do, and a few songs to transfer into my MP3 [once again, thans Tim :)] Zephaniah 3:15b!!! God bless y'all!!!!