Monday, February 23, 2009

*The Sacred Valentine

14th February. The day of the year where love is in the air; couples spending extravagantly on lavish dinners and outings to declare their love and compassion to their significant other. For the attached, this single day could be the greatest of their lives. For the single, it could be the worst, having to witness nauseating public displays of affection at all corners, reminding them of their own lonely days. But there are others though, who look upon this day as just another normal day with no significance- Sunway's Mixed. And luckily for them that they did.

Valentine's Day could not have started more terribly than it did for Hans Basil, Nick Ivans and Dan Wise. As if having to sit for a test was not bad enough, the test had to be taken on a Saturday. And to compund the trio's misery, all were single. Not that that particular fact affected their Math test.
While Nick and Dan found the test simple enough to comprehend but not easy enough to be overrun by complacency, Hans was facing an unprecendented nighmare. While he breezed through all his internal and even external tests last semester, the first one proved to be a major stumbling block. Once the academic superstar, he now had to descend from his throne as he looked to Nick and Sue Anne for assistance in Math the night before, losing all superiority he had accumulated. Last year witnessed the rise of carelessness costing him precious marks; this time though, he wasn't lucky enough to even be careless, for he did not acquire the knowledge to attempt the questions. Poor, poor Hans. Aiming to eradicate carelessness, and now the cycle has worked backwards.

Nick and John Bow did not have a good start to the supposed day of love. While brotherly love may have been aplenty, it was all vanished in an instant of folly. Nick and Hans were enjoying themselves extinguishing zombies in the local cyber cafe when the fomer received a distress call from John informing that the tap had leaked and the unit was flooded. Nick remained unfazed, claiming he was not a plumber and he could not do anything. Little did he know he possessed certain skills he did know know about. Or maybe common sense prevailed.

Kitchen-Flooded. Living room- Wet. John Bow- Tirelessly sweeping water out of the kitchen, racing against the rate of water leaking from the tap. As Hans watched on, amused, Nick launched himself into the kitchen, meddled with a few items and before long, he had managed to turn the leaking tap off. John look nonchalant, probably dissimulating embarrassment, while Hans' look was one of shock. He continued watching the pair clean up the mess, wanting to assist, but not knowing how to. And after the whole chaos, still not a friendly word had been passed between John and Hans, while Nick expressed his disgust and disappointment at the deficiencies his seemingly ill-eqipped housemate possessed.

After the initial vast emptiness that engulfed Hans after John moved out, he wished that loneliness would not be his sole company. Strangely, he acclimatised well, utilising the room and resulting privacy to his full advantage. Now adapted to the solace that the room provided him, it seems his run of fun is about to end, with the shocking news of a new roommate. With stories of uncooperative roommates told from friends etched in his mind, it seems this time, Lady Love had taken over the reigns of destruction from Lady Luck. Has anyone ever been so unlucky to endure so much suffering in so little time? Well, there's always a first for everything.

Singles Jac Bizkit, John, Nick, Sue and Hans went for the regular game of pool to release stress and worry less. While tension was clearly visible between Hans and John, there was rapport between the others. And when John left due to the nauseating deadline of the dreaded research paper, no one envisaged that the fun would amplify truckloads.
The remaining 3 guys and girl departed for the globally ubiquitious McDonalds due to Hans' rumbling stomach, despite having patronised that outlet countless times. And that turned out to be the best decision ever made for the day. Without John, Hans and Jac could bond more easily, and they did, setting up the mood for the 1 and a half hours spent in the tiny fast-food joint, with jokes running, laughter reverberating around and sporadic serious conversations taking place. Secret like information were disseminated between them as each enjoyed themselves thoroughly. Whoever said singles couldn't have fun on Valentine's Day?

The cherry on the cake whose baking process started off badly- Sue and Hans crashing Nick's unit in Palmville, the triumvirate furthering their bonding in the swimming pool. The night ended tad badly though, with lack of sleep being a determinant of energy, and the following morning got worse for Hans as John continued his silent treatment. But this time, Hans was not too bothered by it, seeking comfort in the knowledge his plan had been launched and he was successful hitherto, fighting back to keep himself from falling. It seems this time round he possessed an obstinacy conspicuously lacking last time round.

Valentine's. Only Diane Shine truly engaged in it, spending the evening with her significant other, while the rest mingled with themselves. Love knows no boundaries, love is blind and the list goes on. But at times, those phrases are slightly twerked, and when it is, all hell can break loose. News of someone batting for the other team has surfaced, amidst murmers of his past failures in relationships with the opposite sex. Whether this is true can't be substantiated with evidence, but if it is indeed, then things certainly look more interesting in the city that never sleeps.

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