*The Old Start

Hans Basil

John BowSue Anne
Sanya Dival

Angie Flo

Nick Ivans====================================================================

7 weeks. 49 days. The 1176 hours spent away from the clutches of Sunway University College and its apropos now draws to a close, as the dawn of a new semester approaches. Realization descends upon all students that holidays are never permanent, and for some, not enjoyable.

The anomalies of holidays. Boredom dominated the break, with not one of Sunway's mixed having a 'decent' holiday. Vacations were strewn sporadically during the weeks, but boredom was still the name of the day. For others, it was socializing with their thoughts and silence. But none of these could match the headline of the hols, and that was Nick Ivans' & Sanya Dival's shocking Holiday Hook-Up. With Sanya's romantic ties with Hans Basil six feet underground and Dash Reagan's hopes for a relationship squashed due to the latter's philandering ways, Nick Ivans insidiously popped into the picture amidst realizing he carried a torch for Sunway's queen. The move destroyed Hans' remaining sanity as he withdrew into his dark shell where he turned reclusive and darker. While Nick and Sanya escaped for romantic getaways, Hans remained in his home-turned-hell contemplating his future.

Sue Anne and Angie Flo had no romantic plots planned during the holidays, and instead enjoyed 'vacations' with their respective families and friends. While the trips were a breath of fresh air considering the gloom that had enveloped the holidays, it did little to lift the overall mood, merely masking it. For the duo however, the theme of the hols did not seem to affect them as badly as some others. They should be aware that bad luck does not befall all at once. For John Bow, the holidays were perhaps the most mundane for him, with not a shred of significance. Probably the most interesting event for him was his sister's wedding.

Once the dust had settled after the vicious fight that occured last year, all hope seemed lost for a reconciliation between John and Hans. It seemed there was a ray of light smothered within the dark holidays though, as a series of intermittent text and online messages seemed to have salvaged their tattered friendship. Whether the new semester strengthens their bond or smashes it to smithereens remains to be seen.

With few days left before a new chapter opens, Nick Ivans had seen himself tread the same path as his good buddy Hans Basil, that is the path to darkness. His was more literal though, as his short-lived romance with Sanya resulted in him turning to the Goth side and experimenting with the never obsolete 'black'. It begs the question though: Does Sanya Dival destroy the lives she touches?

Semester 2 promises the potential for explosive situations and unpalatable impasse as each individual struggle to accept the impending hetic studious lifestyle and the reality of having to face each other after weeks of intertwining relationships and resulting repercussions. Having made his decision to continue, will it be one Hans Basil regrets? Is he even prepared for it given the troubles he's enmeshed in? Will Nick and Sanya think with their heads, or let their hearts' wishes prevail. Guess the answers will arrive soon. For now, the only thing that can be confirmed is the uncertainty of it all.