My neighbour, Ruilin
Wednesday, 27 June 2007
Went for breakfast with Ruilin, my neighbour, at Ah Mei Cafe. We had roti prata and tea. Sat and chat for a while after our meal too. Her house is just on my left. We're both the same age. My sis is 2 years younger but her sis is 6 years older. So our playgroup consisted of only her, my sis and myself.Ruilin has actually been my neighbour since at I was 6 (maybe even longer). We actually grew up playing together. Every afternoon at 5.30pm (my playtime after hw), we would meet outside our homes to play. My sis would join us too. Our games ranged from badminton to acting out imaginary detective scenes. Our weapons would be made with lego blocks. Just up and down our garden yard, our story would unfold itself, all based from our wild imaginations. I think I always played the bad guy cuz I felt it was cool and dark. Hahha.My grandma would always nag at us to come back into the house, claiming that it was sunny. Of course, we nv obeyed.The sun would nv be too sunny when you're having fun. Our bell, was the the bell of the pri sch behind our houses. At 6.30pm sharp, it would ring and the national athem would be played. Ruilin, my sis and I would then wave a reluctant gdbye and definitely arranged another meeting for the next day. Same time, same place. Unfortunately, from Pri 5 onwards, we nv really came out to play. Probably because of the significant increase in hw load and the fact that I was in EM1, I started to be bogged down by studies and felt a little too stressed to play. Maybe she was stressed too. Cuz I didn't see her hanging around outside too.From then on, it was a downhill for our playmate relationship. Their family actually moved out for a few years later on, but returned. Still, we were both too preoccupied with our studies and personal committments to still behave like how we did back then. It was possible that in a year, we saw each other less than the number of fingers on a hand even though we live just next to each other. Only after I told her I was going to leave for Melbourne in 2 wks' time to further my studies, our relationship rekindled. Ok, not in that love relationship sense. We had a special bond. One that existed between close friends, between childhood playmates. But it was eroded by the merciless long absences. Gd thing was, we still hit if off very well. She invited me over her place for Xbox after our roti prata breakfast. We had great fun playing it. Played it for almost 3 hrs, but I had to leave for Bugis to shop for the stuff which I'll bring to Aus. I almost didn't want to leave. Hahha. So glad that we met up that day. That day, represented a step closer to mending the vacuum. She said that it was such an irony. Just when we were starting to catch up, I was gonna leave for a foreign land. Ya, it sure is one. Fortunately, there's the Internet. Plus, I finally got her MSN add!!But I haven't seen her online yet. LOL.A heartfelt thanks to Ruilin for inviting me over for Xbox and being such a hospitable host. When I return, most prob in Dec/Jan, you will treat me to roti prata. CUZ I AINT GONNA PUT ON WEIGHT. YOU'LL LOSE THAT BET WE HAD. Hah!!
--Talking to myself--
18:21
