most singaporean university students suffer from having too much work to cram into the miserably short mid-semester break.

having eight tuition sessions over five days and packing my schedule like a can of sardines is overwhelming. i run my day like a getai singer, rushing from place to place, appointments after another. the only differences are: one, i don't have to change from costume to costume; and two, i don't have a personal manager to tell me what my next programme is. all i have are phone reminders and alarm clocks to help run the show.

we have been fooled. when they said mid-semester breaks, maybe they meant it as a break for lecturers and teachers. (:

稻香 by 周杰伦 (jay chou):



falling in love with him, is like an annual affair. (:

ps: ask me for the song!

in case you might be interested in my unpleasant encounter with the missing keys, i found the culprit, but blaming was pointless by then.

i knew that i was far, but i didn't know you would be further.

the roads have diverged and the silence will only grow. that's how the story goes all the time and i will not let myself cry pity.

today, i understood the importance of having a spare key at home.

half an hour ago, i was all dressed and packed for a parliament sitting. but just when i was about to open the door, i realised that my key was missing from the hook where i usually hang my keys. my first thought was to check the bag that i carried yesterday, but all the pockets were empty except for a bottle with left-over water that had already turned stale. then i ransacked my shelves and my other bags to make sure i haven't misplaced it, but my key was nowhere to be found.

then i thought, maybe somebody took my keys. and so i texted my family but my mum, being the meticulous and organised sort, didn't take it. my brother didn't answer his phone. (yes, i suspect he is the culprit!)

and there i was perspiring under my formal shirt and pants, the sweat on my temples threatening to smudge my make-up. the time was 1.50pm, ten minutes to the start of the sitting, and my heart sank at the futility of my efforts. i knew i had missed my chance of attending the only parliament sitting that i would probably ever go.

in the meantime, i can't cook instant noodles for fear that i might just set a fire (murphy's law is hard to defy); and i can't even order a pizza because the pizza box won't be able to pass through my gate or window grilles; and macdonalds is out for the week. so i'm just going to contend myself with left-over mooncakes, and a pot of tea.

dinner is still hours away.

ever tried blowing a balloon with a hole?

words are slipping out of my oral cavity like lost, battered fighters; their escape from captive fails to bring me comfort nor coherence. each inhalation gives me strength, but every exhalation saps it away.

the balloon will remain deflated unless i find the hole to stitch it up.

allow me to redeem my absence by sharing this breath-taking piece.