My attempt at sharing my experiences...

[blablabla]

Hi Bro,

Keep it up. Camping for more stories from you.

[EnigmaofSorrow]

The sudden chill enveloped us as we crossed the corridor and back into the canteen. Grace gripped my hand so tightly, and I wondered about poor blood flow.

As we walked along the dim canteen, we edged closer to each other, our shoulders touching. She still had not released my hand from her vice-like grip.

As we reached the end of the canteen, she suddenly pulled me towards a bench and sat down. By then, the chill had diminished.

Me: Are you ok?

G: Yeah.

Me: Your hand is cold.

She immediately let my hand go.

G: Sorry.

Me: What's wrong.

G: I think something was following us.

Me: Something or someone?

G: Thing.

Me: You mean like a ghost?

G: Shhh!

Me: Huh?

Suddenly, I felt the chill again. This time, it was much more pronounced.

G: Let's go.

We stood up. She reached into her t-shirt and took out a necklace with two small rectangular pieces, pressed it into my palm and gripped my hand tightly again. It felt warm.

We walked slowly again towards the corridor and back towards the Ops Room. I estimated that we could probably handover and rest, without having to do a third round.

Grace was still holding my hand when we handed over, and the guy gave us a cheeky smile. The instructor was still snoring away. We headed back into the Ops Room and I was about to settle down onto a chair when Grace pulled me up.

G: Can we talk?

Me: Sure.

We headed out of the Ops Room and proceeded to the study area nearby and sat down. I would have rather stayed in the Ops Room as it was partially lighted, but she did not want to talk in there. Not that I was afraid of the dark, but the study area was not lit, and anyone walking by would have the opportunity to accuse us of doing funny things.

Me: So, what's up?

G: Hope I didn't scare you.

Me: Not really.

G: We had to walk slowly as we cannot show fear.

Me: I wasn't really afraid, until you grabbed my hand all of a sudden.

G: Sorry about that.

Me: What was the thing you were holding?

She reached into her t-shirt again and pulled it out, placing it in my hand. Then I recognized it. I had one too, but I hardly wore it.

G: A brown scapular.

Me: Yeah. I have one too.

G: Oh, you're a catholic?

Me: Yep.

G: Why don't you wear it?

Me: I hardly wear any religious paraphernalia.

G: Using big words now are we?

Me: Erm.

G: But I get what you mean.

Me: Was it supposed to protect us?

G: Not really. But it makes me feel safe.

Me: Why do you think something was following us?

G: The chill.

Me: Could be psychological.

G: Maybe. But better to be safe than sorry right?

Me: Yeah.

Suddenly a female instructor appeared.

FI: Hey! What are you two doing?

Me: Chatting?

FI: BGR is not allowed.

G: We're not together.

The FI sat down next to us. I recognized her as one of Grace's seniors. A really strict, no-nonsense instructor.

FI: You need to concentrate on you studies.

Me: But we're really just talking!

G: Precisely.

FI: Talking can lead to other things.

G: It's not as though we're making out.

I felt myself blush.

FI: Are you two on sentry? If you are, go back to the Ops Room. I don't want anything funny to happen.

Me: Ok.

We both got up and headed back to the Ops Room. Soon our shift would be over and we could get some much needed rest.

Anyway, the rest of the camp proceeded smoothly and we both managed to pass and eventually took up leadership roles in our respective schools. The combined trainings still provided opportunity for us to meet, but this time, instead of being trainees, we were the trainers. We also spent a considerable amount of time together, often having dinner after training and sometimes meeting for coffee over the weekends.

We maintained the friendship all the way through our O Levels, and eventually JC. She had made it to one of the top 3 JCs while I went to one of the bottom 3.

During that period, we still met up for the occasional coffee and catch-up sessions, and she found out about my bad breakup with my first girlfriend which led to me screwing up my O Levels, otherwise, I might have made it to the same JC as her.

[virtualpitan]

Hmm... let me guess, you've recently met up with Grace again and things happened?

[EnigmaofSorrow]

I still remember meeting up with Grace after my last O Level paper. We arranged to meet at Bugis MRT before deciding where to go. It was also the meeting when she found out about my ex-girlfriend. I nearly could not recognize her when she showed up.

She had cut and dyed her hair. It was now short, and brunette, and she wore impossibly short shorts, accentuating her absurdly long legs, and a tight fitting spaghetti top. Her breasts were still a small B cup. At least I was 3 cm taller than her now.

G: Hi!

Me: Oh my. What happened?

G: What do you mean what happened?

Me: You got hot.

G: You mean I wasn't before?

Me: I've never seen you like this before.

G: That's cos I've never dressed like this when I met you before.

Me: Why not?

G: Didn't want to send the wrong signals?

Me: So what signals are you sending now?

G: I have no idea.

Me: So where shall we go?

G: How about starbucks?

Me: Sure.

We headed to the Starbucks. I tried to make myself look taller, but failed miserably. We ordered our drinks, a mocha frappe for me, and an americano for her. She sat opposite me and crossed her legs. I could not help but admire her toned legs.

G: So I heard you got together with this sec 3 girl?

Me: Long story. Rather not talk about it.

G: Why?

Me: It didn't work out.

G: So fast?

Me: Yeah. Ended midway through my prelims.

G: Oh no. What happened?

Me: Well, we sort of were in her room...

G: Oh my god. You had sex? Naughty boy.

Me: What? No! We were just making out.

G: Right.

Me: Well, she took my top off...

G: Spare me the details.

Me: Fine. Well, we were making out, then suddenly we stopped. Then she said it was wrong.

G: You took advantage of her?

Me: She was still fully clothed.

G: Then what happened?

Me: She said she was still young, had her whole life ahead of her. Wasn't sure if I was the one...

G: Sounds so fairy tale like.

Me: Yeah. So anyway we broke up. Then two weeks later her best friend told me she got together with someone else.

G: Oh.

Me: So I got dumped.

G: Ouch.

Me: Yeah.

G: So how are you feeling?

Me: Sad I guess. Didn't really study much after that.

G: What... You let a girl affect your studies?

Me: Somewhat.

G: That's very unlike you.

Me: Hey. That was my first relationship...

G: True. I wouldn't know. Never had a boyfriend.

Me: Girlfriend?

G: Woah. Just because I'm from an all girls school doesn't mean I'm les ok? I might as well say you're gay.

Me: That was my bad attempt at humor.

G: I know.

Me: So no boyfriend?

G: Nope. Probably won't have one till after uni...

Me: Really?

G: Studies are important. I need to go to a good JC, then a good course in uni. Then find a good job.

Me: Wow. I never thought that far.

G: You should. Your future is made by yourself and no one else.

Me: That sounds logical.

G: Yeah. By the way, which JC did you apply for?

Me: XXX JC.

G: Oh. Ok.

Me: Why do I feel that you sound disappointed?

G: Nah. I thought maybe we could be schoolmates.

Me: I'm assuming you're going to YYY JC? I didn't think I would qualify.

G: You wouldn't know if you didn't try right?

Me: My prelims weren't good. We'll see how my O's go...

G: Ok.

We finished up our coffee and walked back to the MRT. As we were heading to different directions, we stopped in the middle of the platform.

G: Hey. I got you this.

She passed me a colorful woven band.

Me: What's this? I didn't get you anything.

G: It's ok. This is a friendship band. You can wear it on your wrist or ankle or something.

Me: I think it's a little small for my ankle.

She put it on my wrist.

G: There. That's for being my friend all these years.

Me: Don't tell me I'm your only guy friend.

G: Seriously? Other than my church friends, you're the only guy I'm close to.

Me: Well, I'm honoured then.

G: So we'll catch up soon?

Me: Let's see how things go when school starts.

G: Alright. Till we meet again.

Her train arrived and I watched as she waved goodbye and turned to catch the train, admiring her long legs.

I stared at the band on my left wrist and wondered about the significance of it all.

[creamiestlove]

Ts...
waiting for more!

[akira07]

Wow! Just read from pg 1 till here almost all the time i was awake! Truly bro TS, u've a talent in writing! Waiting for more updates.

[EnigmaofSorrow]

Even after we went to different JCs, and doing different subject combinations, we still maintained our friendship through chats over ICQ and the occasional coffee session.

I never told Grace about my trysts with Tanya or my next failed relationship with Charmaine, or even my shenanigans with Nicole and Natalie. To her, I was a normal JC kid who was struggling through school and life in general after a bad breakup.

Things changed when she entered Uni while I was in Poly. She knew I had left JC but never really questioned why, probably figuring that I was not cut out academically.

She somehow managed to get a room in the hall and asked me for help with moving in. I wondered why she chose me. It was as though she did not have any other male friends, or perhaps I looked the best for manual labour.

She picked me from school on Friday in her brother's car, a white Nissan. We chatted along the way as the journey across the island was absurdly long.

G: How's school?

Me: Good. I guess. Project groups are really different from individual work.

G: How are you coping?

Me: With?

G: Everything?

Me: I'm fine. Really.

G: You seem sad.

Me: How can you tell?

G: Your smile betrays you.

Me: How's that possible?

G: Your eyes betray your cheerful exterior as well.

Me: Have you studied face reading or something?

G: Look. I've known you for how long? 5 years?

Me: Somewhere there?

G: I can tell.

I decided not to probe.

We reached her hostel and I helped her to unpack.

The room was small, but fit two beds, a large study desk, and two wardrobes.

Me: No room mate?

G: Not yet. I'm alone for this semester.

Me: No single rooms?

G: Not that I'm aware of. I never asked. Just took what was assigned.

Me: Seems cozy.

G: Yeah.

Grace was one of those weirdos who took her entire desktop with her to the hostel, instead of getting a laptop. I assumed she would be spending loads of time in her room. She unpacked her clothes as I helped her to connect her desktop. I wondered how she was going to share the space if she suddenly acquired a room mate. I watched her from the corner of my eye and realised that her entire wardrobe consisted of shorts and t-shirts, maybe the odd pair of jeans. But mostly casual wear. Her underwear was the standard kind, a couple of sports bras, normal bras, normal panties, nothing lacy or sexy.

G: Are you looking at my underwear?

Me: Huh? Er. Not really. Just wondering why your wardrobe is so... consistent.

G: Consistent?

Me: I mean all I see are shorts, t-shirts, more shorts, spag tops, even more shorts.

G: Oh. Haha. Hot weather.

Me: Don't you need formal wear or something? I need a full suit for presentations.

G: Oh? Well, if I do need one I suppose I could get one.

It took us around half an hour to unpack. I sat there using her computer and marveling at how the campus' broadband seemed so much faster than the one I had at home.

G: Hey. I'm gonna take a shower. Help me download some songs?

Me: From?

G: I don't know. Where do you get songs from?

Me: Some places.

G: Then go to those places.

Me: Right. What kind of songs?

G: Anything. I trust your taste.

She grabbed her towel, toiletries basket and a fresh set of clothes and headed out. Perhaps her faith in me was misplaced. I was not very into music. Her playlist would soon be full of Oasis, Offspring, Nirvana, Metallica, Smashing Pumpkins and what not. Perhaps the odd A1, Backstreet Boys, N'sync, Westlife, Savage Garden, 98 Degrees and whatever I assumed girls listened too.

Out of curiousity, I browsed through her computer for porn, but found none. She really was a good girl, unlike Charmaine who had neatly archived porn folders. She probably was still a virgin. Perhaps I should not regale her with my tales of debauchery.

She took a damn long time to shower, as most girls do, but came back into the room smelling really good. Truth be told, I was slightly aroused by the smell of her shampoo. I think it was Herbal Essences. She sat on the bed and watched me as I continued searching for songs.

G: You gonna shower?

Me: How and where?

G: With soap and shampoo in the toilet?

Me: Very funny.

G: I must warn you though, this is the female hostel.

Me: Oh crap. Means I shouldn't be here?

G: Technically.

Me: But?

G: No one really cares. Some of the seniors have their boyfriends over almost every night. I hear strange noises when I walk around sometimes.

Me: Strange noises?

G: Oh please. Don't act innocent.

Me: You mean people have sex in the hostel?

G: Maybe they're testing the integrity of the bed springs...

Me: Right.

G: Well, I'm gonna need to do some research on the com.

Me: You want me to leave?

G: Nah. Maybe we could have dinner together?

I looked at my handphone. It was only 3.

Me: What do I do till then?

G: I don't know. But be quiet, I need to concentrate.

Me: Mind if I take a nap?

G: Sure.

We swapped places and I lay on her bed. For someone who wanted me to be quiet as she wanted to do her work, she actually turned on the music from her computer at a rather unsettling volume. Unsettling for me anyway, as I wanted to sleep.

G: Sorry. I need music while I work.

I did not reply and closed my eyes, falling asleep to the strains of Kurt Cobain's somewhat indecipherable lyrics of Smells Like Teen Spirit.

[royalblood]

wah bro i just came across your thread today. read until page 8. good stuff! already bookmarked and subscribed! hope to catch up to the current season and episode soon. cheers!

[uzumakiidii]

nice update. glad to have you back. Hope life is still going good for you bro.

[EnigmaofSorrow]

Grace woke me up at around six and we took a bus to Jurong Point. We had dinner at Fish & Co before walking around the shopping centre. Eventually we decided to catch a movie. I wondered if she was going to be cold as she was wearing only a spaghetti top and shorts, but she produced a jacket from her bag as we settled down in our seats.

Throughout the movie, despite her jacket, I could tell that she was indeed a little cold, as she had brought her legs to her chest in an attempt to keep warm. I really wanted to share some body heat with her, but did not want to tarnish her impression of me, so I kept my hands and other body parts to myself.

After the movie, we took a bus back to the hostel and I took a cab home. She did offer to drive me back but I declined as it was getting late and I did not want her to be driving around at that time.

Anyway, when I contacted her recently, through Facebook, she was kind of surprised, as we technically had lost contact when I enlisted. The Facebook chats eventually became Whatsapp chats, relatively long phone conversations through Skype when I had access to my iPhone and the promise of a meetup for coffee when she was back in town as she was currently in China for business.

I was pretty sure Shirley was getting a little bit suspicious whenever I left the house with the iPhone glued to my ear.

In any case, a more memorable Facebook chat we had recently went something like this.

Me: Hello.

G: Hey you.

Me: How's China?

G: Boring. But I get to brush up on my mandarin.

Me: What kind of business are you doing exactly?

G: Actually, I'm not too sure, its some research thing. I'm only a PA to the MD.

Me: You've got a degree and you're only a PA?

G: Actually I've got a Masters. Doing my PHD next year.

Me: And you're only a PA?

G: Well, they pay is good. A lot more than I could be earning elsewhere.

I began to wonder what kind of a PA she was exactly. And she could read my mind over the Internet.

G: If you're thinking I'm sleeping my way to the top I'm taking the next flight back to slap you. The MD is my dad.

Me: Oh? The thought never crossed my mind.

G: Oh really? Don't tell me you're that innocent. Haven't gotten over your first girlfriend?

Me: Well...

G: Don't tell me you're still a virgin!

Me: Haha. That's for me to know and for you to find out. What about you?

G: My response is the same as yours. Two can play the same game.

Me: Alright then.

G: Anyway. Do you remember the day you helped me move into the hostel?

Me: Sort of. Why?

G: You aren't gay right?

Me: Don't think so?

I wondered where this was leading to.

G: Well, let's see. We were alone. For a long time.

Me: So? You wanted to do your work and I wanted to sleep.

G: We went for dinner and a movie.

Me: We used to go for dinner after training anyway.

G: I was cold.

Me: I know.

G: And you didn't do anything?

Me: Should I have?

G: You could have.

Me: And have you sue me for molest?

G: Come on. I wouldn't have done that. Why would you molest me anyway?

Me: Erm. Wrong choice of words I guess.

G: You wouldn't have hugged me seeing that I was cold?

Me: Well...

G: Well?

Me: I didn't want to spoil the friendship.

G: I doubt you hugging me would have done any harm. But I always wondered why you didn't.

Me: Are you trying to tell me something?

G: Maybe.

Me: What is it?

G: I liked you then.

Me: Why?

G: Cos you're cute?

Me: There has to be a better reason.

G: You were my only close guy friend. The only guy who wasn't intimidated by my height.

Me: That doesn't sound like a very good reason.

G: When you spend so much time with a single person, you tend to develop feelings. No?

Me: Well...

G: At least tell me if the feeling was mutual. It's been bugging me all these years.

I decided to avoid a direct answer.

Me: You were way beyond my league.

G: How so?

Me: Your educational background, family background, position in society?

G: You've got to be kidding me.

Me: No seriously. I felt I wasn't good enough for you.

G: You found me arrogant?

Me: No. It's me. Really. I wouldn't have wanted to put you in a difficult position.

G: You're really weird. But at least it cleared things up.

Me: Sorry if I made you wonder all this while.

G: Nah. I'm cool.

Me: Glad it's sorted out.

G: Well, that day in my room, we could have cuddled. Or made out.

Me: Er...

G: I would have taken your top off...

Me: Er...

G: And gladly taken mine off as well...

Then, she went offline.

[curiouslala]

Pls continue brooo~
Can't wait to read your continuationnn..

I love ur storyyyy~

[bonky]

My admiration for your writing skills. You definitely have a good command of language and probably have a lot more potential in your studies than you ever thought. One of the 2 stories that I give my praises for. I still have long way to finish reading. You are a lucky guy compared to my less colorful life.

[EnigmaofSorrow]

Me: ??? What???

Obviously, I got no reply. No doubt she was referring to the only knowledge she had of me being intimate with my first girlfriend.

But that probably meant that she was horny back then and wanted some action, and I stupidly missed out on it. But what about now?

I decided to play it cool and not contact her for awhile to see what happened.

Grace did not come online, be it MSN or Facebook, for the next few nights, so I just left the conversation at where it ended. The memory of something that could have been.

I carried on my normal routine. Things were getting really busy back in camp as the Logistics Audit was drawing near.

I could tell Alex was really stressed out as he kept asking me to either go to spas, bars, or Nuru massages. I wondered if this was a common occurrence every year, and how he managed to finance all this.

Shirley had started doing some freelance project work for some consultancy firm so she usually reached home quite late, and I was usually in Sanctuary by then. We had not had sex since the last time we had sex. Diane was still hanging around now and then, offering herself to me, but I rudely declined each time. And I was sure each time it happened, Shirley was secretly delighted.

Nicole was still not talking to me. Natalie was still being irritating about how good my brother was in bed.

Jenny and I really drifted apart since she left home. We had not contacted each other at all.

Grace never appeared online anymore. I assumed that she felt embarrassed that she admitted to wanting to engage in a little petting back then. I did not want to probe anyway, and I was really trying my best to be a normal person.

I did wish Tanya a happy birthday through Facebook recently, and her response was "Thanks! Virgin boy...". She was still living overseas. I wondered what her husband would say if he had seen her response. But I did not care.

One Friday evening, I reached home at around midnight after an entire day of cleaning arms. Our stupid armskoteman had passed down the wrong instructions to pull through once and oil the weapon, when the actual standard required was actually to ensure the entire weapon was free of carbon, rust and grime, and to leave it bone dry. Alex was pretty pissed as well, as he was still in the midst of settling his store. In the end, I cleaned his assigned weapons for him, as well as those assigned to his storemen. He offered to buy me a drink after that, but upon knowing that he was going to a KSP, a lup sup bar of sorts somewhere near Jalan Besar Stadium, I told him to enjoy his night. He eventually ended up going with Keng.

I logged on to Facebook to see if Grace had replied, and indeed she did. Cryptically of course. She used a smiley face with it's tongue sticking out. What was that supposed to mean? Definitely she was teasing me somehow. In a perverse reading of the situation, I would have assumed she wanted to lick me all over. I chose to ignore it and entered Sanctuary again, just to see if my Demon Hunter could solo Act 3.

Barely twenty minutes, multiple deaths and a hefty repair bill later, my phone beeped. I ignored it as I had 5 stacks of Nephelem Valor and was still roaming around looking for elite mobs to kill for loot.

My phone beeped again but I ignored it. After another few minutes, it rang.

[EnigmaofSorrow]

It was Jenny. What a surprise. I answered it while running away from some Fire-chains, Life-link, Arcane-enchanted, Plagued mobs.

Me: Hello.

J: I know it's been a long time but can you meet me?

Me: Where?

J: 85.

Me: Why're you going there?

J: Meeting someone.

Me: And you need me for?

J: I'm meeting Matthew. He wants to apologize.

Me: So how do I fit in?

J: I don't want to be alone.

Me: Ok. What time do I meet you?

J: I'm below your block.

Me: Wow. So fast. Ok. Give me ten minutes?

I went back to town, exited the game, splashed some water on my face and put on a singlet and berms.

I found Jenny near the playground. I walked up to her and gave her a hug. She hugged me back.

Me: Well?

J: I just need you nearby. Don't have to be beside me.

Me: Ok. Where exactly is he? And are you expecting trouble?

J: I don't think so...

Me: You sound unconvinced.

J: I'm not so sure about this. Why should he apologize? Especially after Jason beat him up?

Me: Maybe he really repented?

J: I hope so. He hasn't been to church since that incident.

Me: So where is he exactly?

J: He said he's at the void deck of one of the blocks near the school.

Me: St. Anthony's? It's under renovation.

J: Yeah. Sounds fishy right?

Me: Well, there's a police station down the road. Let's see him try something funny.

J: I suppose you could wait somewhere near the area? Out of sight but nearby?

Me: There's a fitness corner. Two in fact. I'll probably hang around there.

J: Ok. I'll head over first. You come around five minutes later? To avoid him seeing you.

Me: Ok.

We walked to the traffic light and she crossed the road first, heading in the general direction of the two point blocks that were there. I crossed at the next light and headed straight to the fitness corner via the main road, passing by a pavilion that some of the elderly in the estate use to chill during the day. At night, it was a different story altogether as the pavilion was usually occupied by foreign workers or locals of a particular race, drinking, smoking and usually making a nuisance of themselves. Tonight was no different. There was a group of four Chinese youths drinking and smoking there. They stared at me as I walked past and I stared back, my balls probably a little too big considering the situation. But I doubt they would have dared to do anything, considering the proximity of the police station.

I headed to a bench near the fitness station and lit a stick. Jenny and Matthew were in my line of sight so there was nothing to worry about. Matthew was seated at the table under the block while Jenny stood there, refusing to sit down.

I was almost past my third stick fifteen minutes later and they were still talking. Suddenly, the three Chinese youths surrounded me.

1: Eh, stare what stare? Buay song ah?

2: Nabei chee bye? Never die before issit?

Oh great, I had encountered the typical local gangster.

Me: Did I stare at you? I thought I recognized one of you?

1: Who? Ka ni na don't act stupid!

The third guy seemed relatively quiet. I wondered why. Perhaps he was already drunk and was about to fall asleep.

The second guy asked me something in Hokkien that I cannot really recall how to spell, but what it meant was that he was asking me where I was from. Or something like that.

I ignored him.

He started spewing all sorts of vulgarities in different languages, some of which I had never even heard before.

I stood up. I was at least half a head taller than each of them, and definitely more well-built.

I started to walk away while finishing the last few puffs of my cigarette when the two of them charged at me. The third guy was still there, stoned. Maybe he was on drugs.

I did not want any trouble, especially since I was supposed to watch Jenny, so I kicked the first guy in his groin, causing him to fall to the ground in pain. I managed to block the wild swing of the other guy and grabbed his wrist, twisting his arm to the back, swept his legs out from under him and pinned him to the ground. Part of me wished I had a pair of handcuffs.

I think I had caused enough commotion as the two fools were groaning in pain. The scene would definitely have attracted the attention of the residents who probably would have called the police. It would definitely also have attracted the attention of Matthew and Jenny. But I had a bigger problem on hand.

The third guy, who seemed stoned, had went back to the pavilion to grab an empty bottle. He came back, smashed it on the bench and approached me.

[Feilong]

Standing ovation