*The Camels That Broke The Straw's Back

Judgement Day had finally arrived in Sunway, its advent planned eight long weeks in advance. The moment of truth that would seperate the victorious and the failures. Thankfully, non achieved the latter, although a few failed to conform to the former completely.

Friday the 20th probably displaced Friday the 13th as the day containing bad luck and all apropos. Pandemonium inundated Sunway University College MUFY students as last minute touch-ups and checks were made before the submission of Research Paper, encapsulating hard work, sweat and tears. John Bow, Sue Anne, Hans Basil, Diane Shine and Angie Flo beat the deadline as they managed to breathe huge sighs of relief at overcoming the initially invincible opponent. Unfortunately for Sanya Dival and her friend Ash, they learnt the tough lesson that all play and no work was not the way to progress in college. Both suffered straight deductions after failing to meet the due time, and a hectic 11th hour scramble allowed them to barely finish the project, albeit being ridden with mistakes. And the sorrow did not end there for Sanya.

Her one-sided feelings for Mango Mophead had increased exponentially during the past weeks, her unfulfilled fantasies driving her beyond levels of sanity and reducing her to a status one would never have ever associated her with- a stalker. Spotting her thin crush within the compounds of college, she tailed him until the environs, grabbing the slim opportunity she had blown hilariously two weeks ago. Her stalking culminated in spotting him entering a car, driven possibly by a girl, possibly his girlfriend. Poor Sanya. All the amount and energy spent on the Mango, when it had already been plucked off the tree. How would she react after this tragic discovery?

Not so emotional as expected. After the mass submission of Research Paper, the feeling that erupted in college could be equivalent to that of graduation. The joy dissipated sensationally and unexpectedly however, as a series of plans, dissensions and lethargy accumulated into a conglomeration of confusion and irritation. On the itinerary was an escape from Sunway to the city with Theo Oscar and his lady love, a church party with Diane Shine and the regular AC visit with Sanya. Item 2 was the initial plan, but it was ravaged with the introduction of Item 1, which subsequently got canned due to further disagreements. Back to Item 2 it was, only for Item 3 to replace it yet again. In the end, everyone went their seperate ways- Sanya and Ash hitting AC, Diane attending her party alone and Sue Anne and Hans cooking a plan with Nick Ivans to spend the late night watching a movie, which Diane joined for after her party. As for John, he was spotted in AC by Sanya with a hometown friend, enjoying the comforts of pool and conveniently forgetting the oral presentation that he was completely unprepared for. Perhaps he was lulled by the false sense of accomplishment that the submission of Research Paper meant the end of all work.

One more Saturday, one more day to waste, as Nick, John, Sue, Sanya and Hans ventured out yet again, not together, pushing aside all work. Nick and Hans visited Sunway Pyramid yet again, where they engaged in a serious conversation, leading to the former, who is susceptible to falling to the emo side, being at risk of the dreaded nightmare yet again. Simultaneously, Hans was engaging with a long overdue private conversation with Angie Flo, where disturbing views and opinions were thrashed out. Sue watched her second movie in a row with a different group of friends while John decided to belt out his talents, no mind on the battle approaching him in two days. As for Sanya, her defiance at those labelling her a clubber looked hypocritical as she partied and clubbed the night away with those she had been with the day before. The real Sanya emerging? Or just a reaction to her earlier discovery of Mango's attached status?

Another Sunday, this time with disparate occurrences. John perhaps realised his fallacies and spent the entire day working on his oral presentation, hoping his exertions the days before would not cost him marks on peformance. Nick, Sue and Hans decided to study, before their minds started wandering and furiously thought of activities to do other than studying. The result- movie. At Pyramid. Yet again. Money was tight, especially for Hans, whose financial situation is heading for a complete meltdown, but yet the triumvirate could not fight the lure of Pyramid, as they watched the second movie- third for Sue- in 3 days. At the rate money was flowing out and no work going in, it looks like they were heading for a productive deficit.

Various sectors of darkness seem to be formulating evil plans one at a time, vehement in usurping the peace that had descended Sunway the last few weeks. With the volcano bubbling and waiting ever-so-patiently to erupt, a subtle division had emerged, the hometown card being played, threatening to wreak more havoc on the already thin ice. It seems no "outsider" could breach the impermeable wall erected by these Hometowners, who remain together on one side, the rest on the other. The significance and effect of this remains to be seen, and whether it had any cause on Hans' sudden change of heart was unknown. After several trust issues that had obliterated his mental capacity, Hans had made the surprising decision to isolate himself personally from the rest,including the new clique he had been ingrained in, sparing him the resulting agony of having his trust betrayed and face being lied to, should these mishaps occur. This could not have come at a worse time for his new roommate, whose arrival any time soon coincides with Hans closing his heart and self, no longer receptive to fundamental contact. A bid to protect himself after so many emotional scars and tragedies? Whatever the case may be, the dark clouds have certainly come out to play, and judging by the way things have been going, their stay in the sky looks to remain for a long period of time.