my 2008 began when i walked towards the desk and receive my holy grail from ms lena ang. i opened up my result slip and grimaced. my mom called, and because i was in such anguish, i told her off. she didn't call the 2nd time, and i later on found out that she had thought i was retained. the chances of getting in my first choice course in poly was narrowed. i had just enough to meet the COP. 3 months into all the admin stuffs that needs to be done, i emerged as a singapore poly architecture student (but am struggling like a drowning toddler now). i was introduced to a whole new set of terms and was taken aback by the power of a such a simple cutting stationary tool called the penknife - the power to make or break your scheme, the power to change your lecturer's decision to let loose or take back his or her criticisms. it's of enough ranting - i think you understand my plight. 

throughout the first semester as an architecture student, i met yulin, adi, ryan, jason and sometimes sulin during my recesses. they are very fun people, and i count myself lucky that the god had chose to make them cross my paths. at times, i take the stroll to the mrt station to meet the lhc after school, and we'd go on our little dinner dates somewhere near our school. on a very random date, joeyho invited me to his birthday chalet. i knew the moment i stepped into the chalet, i'll automatically be the outcast. but i thank god i made it to the chalet, because it is through this chalet that i get to know these people. i was one of the 7 few bicyclists that made it to changi village - we all know what soccer players are made of. ^^ 

then i remember - few days after the chalet, joeyho texted to ask if i wanted to join the guys because they were going to town. yet again, i was faced with the decision to becoming the outcast, the odd. i didn't turn up this time. i went for the next one, then the following one, then the one after the following, and so on, and one fine day, i replied darlie's message when he texted all of us that he appreciated our scoldings and reminders for him to take his O levels more seriously. his reply to mine was a godly one (very unlikely coming from such a source) - although you have just joined us, we already treat you as our brother. from that day on, i counted myself as one of them. 

of course, taking my place in this awesome clique stirred up some trouble amongst the rest of my friends, because more time with this group of people equates to lesser time with them, and the 'them', namely benjamin, andrew and shahridan. they questioned if i really did feel like and enjoyed myself when i was with them. i wasn't sure of that then. but then i got angry. i got angry at their childish behaviour. i didn't mention anything about 'abandoning' them, if they cared in the very first place. i still love them as much as i love my new friends. i still enjoy their company as much as i enjoy times with my new friends. i guess that was the only 'conflict' i had in the year 2008. 

somewhere along the way, i picked up this game called mahjong, which proved to be costly. costly literally, and costly to some of my friends and loved ones. putting that aside, we had countless overnight mahjong sessions, each time at different venues - eileen's, hongyao's, sulin's, febian's, and my own place. sometimes, we joke a lot during our game; sometimes, we get irritated when the tiles we want don't seem to appear; sometimes, we lose concentration and open the row of tiles in front of us, even when the winning tile is not thrown out; sometimes, we decide going to a farm is more important than maintaining concentration (darll ho bo); sometimes, we cheat and open the next tile even when another person has already shouted, "pong" (susu ho bo); sometimes, we take years to decide to throw out which tile because the kupist (the one who kups with you) and you cannot come into terms; sometimes, we make you pay $40 because you left the 4th tile for your kang swimming in the pool of the other thrown tiles (joeyh ho bo); sometimes, we get so desperate, we play even when we are lacking of the last leg (yulin susu ho bo, lhc bo ho cos she pangsehzz). but we all agree, mahjong is a godlike game.

and because i am already considered one of them, i am automatically invited to each and every one of their birthday celebration. i have never gotten so involved in birthday celebrations. if i recalled correctly, joeyho's 18 was at a chalet, febian's was at a pub, yuanxing's was at his own place, darren's was spent in a ktv where i showcased my rendition of wen rou by mayday EH~ and our own 3D2N chalet after, leo's was steamboat which i couldn't make it, but joined them for pool after, sulin's was also at a chalet, serene's was bbq at her place and mj after, dawn's was up at henderson waves, trying to finish that bottle of chivas which was tough for non-drinkers like us, of course, for the exception of lhc, and lhc herself, up at genting. and with these birthdays, i burnt a pocket in my hole with all the presents giveaways, but it is perfectly fine. my 18 is coming up in exactly 9 days people. :D

at a certain period of time, gerald koh pasted a url link in messenger. it read www.myspace.com/lunarnode. needless to say how much i like their music - enough for me to brainwash everybody in this group to go to the cathay on a fine evening for their miniature gig; turn up for almost all their gigs this year; hum the riffs and solo to all their songs (no lyrics, or else i sing lo), and lip out the drum beats; and take beautiful photographs for them. you have no idea how big a percentage the music this band plays had made up my year. i like them enough to be so excited for their launch on the 7th of feb. gerald koh, a really important part of me this year (and so, for the previous years in newtown). he got his driving license which provided a lot of convenience for me on numerous occasions. the 400d was safe-kept at my place for a long period of time, and he brought me along whenever he jams with the band. oh yes, talking about the band - i think i can be considered one of the few that hangs out often with them. after jams, we'd have our late dinner together. then asyraf and daniaal will perform their shitass nonsense in the latio, head-banging to the hard rock of emarosa, and caressing my man boobs randomly. oh yes, gerald thought of this lifeband project, but it seems like it has since ceased, or maybe we're all too busy. 

in this year of 2008, i faithfully pack my soccer gears into my bag every saturday morning, and make my way to a street soccer court in the west coast area. my cousin and his friends are a sociable bunch. in 2 saturdays, we're already talking like we've known each other for years. then i introduced them to andrew, benjamin and shahridan. the 4 of us, along with the rest of them, would play football together, have our lunch together, and then make our way home. this is good practice, because all my holmies say i've slimmed down. not like it mattered.. dang -.-

the ladies in the clique, lhc dawn serene yulin eileen sharon sulin, have been very... well, how should i put it, cute, at times.? dawn is talkative at times, but mostly too quiet; leenjie is the exact opposite. she is talkative, but it's a very good thing. i don't know, but i feel she is like the big sister of the group.?; yulin is an awesome buddy in and out of school. the backgate dates is what keeps me sane during the long hours in school; sulin is my darling2, and she'll remain like that forever because she is a steady kia (minus the most recent reprimanding because i back out last minute for mahjong); sharon is the same kpkia from the secondary school days. she cannot stop asking people, "eh i pretty not.?" okay i confess, yes you are. don't ask me again. true local love story wu bo.?; lhc is... i don't think i need to say more. MY 2008 BLOG ARCHIVES IS LIKE A LIVING TESTIMONY OF HER CRAZINESS.

to the gentlemen that i'm closer to in this clique, febian darren joeyh leo darll, they've been the ones that trigger the button to emit all laughing gas within me. febian is my dad, but sharon, i'll never want a mom like her (HA); darren is the best messenger buddy i have, but i'll want something more anytime. i know he've been very busy with lan and basketball training of late. the eve of christmas, when we were all at feb's house, his sudden, "eh ho bo," was like some kind of remedy to a disease that i had in my body. i dno what disease, maybe it's the miss-darren-too-much-disease. his zhao xia eh ho bo is powerful; joeyh was once a sparkart colleague but i think it is better left dead. we are the same name people, therefore, we pledged that through thick and thin, we'll be there for each other. as how we put it, bo bian, same name ma; leo, one of the 2 sunset kids. i've known him since secondary school but never really got this close to him. i think the both of us can spend one whole day alone together, and yet still have so much things to say. he is the god of all my laughters. he is the one that controls my laughter. he makes me laugh, with the pimples, and the yong speaker gong, and the niam the 7 ball, and so much more. i love playing pool with him, because our mood take a sudden change and we get all serious about it; darll is a good brother, despite the limbei you de shi qian saga with him outside beauty world. although at times... okay, not at times. although all the time, he irritates the hell out of me, he is one steady bugger. another sunset kid, and i know he's another i cannot do without. 

then, you all are wondering. yes, it's the kwan. during the later part of the year, i re-met this really short girl and deciphered my liking for her. she is probably the closest i get to what they all call, a 'relationship' (my hair just stood. this is very un-joey to say such stuffs). to if-you-believe-its-you-then-its-you, roger that. i know what you mean. i promise i'll put in much more than this. take care in bangkok. and please don't bang cock, i beg you. i'll be really sad.

to benjamin, andrew and shahridan, i really really really still love you guys. you are my roots, and i'll never forget that ever. 2008 has been uneventful for the 4 of us as a whole. you guys were so busy with O levels. let's make 2009 more fulfilling please.

to my family, we're cool. that's all i have to say. 

and to myself, i love 2008 because i have changed. i have changed from a (you all better not laugh, or else i beat you all)

self-narcissistic fellow (i think this was in secondary 1)