The most embarrassing day of my life

My English teachers will tell you, if they remember me (not too difficult if you think about it - Talkative, playful, horrible handwriting, intelligent, smart, capable, hardworking, trouble-maker, talkative [oh wait mentioned already. nevermind], etc.), how bad a composition writer I am.

I thought I could never write compos with titles like the title of this post.

Today, I stand corrected.
Today, I stand embarassed.
Today, I need a hole to bury myself.
Today, someone gave me a large Bugs Bunny stuff toy from More than Words.



Today, oh my god la.. still today wat.. i so pai seh already!


Seven months ago, I successfully fulfilled my obligational service to the nation and in my bid to reduce my parents' burden of having to provide me with an allowance, I chose to take up a part time job.

It did not take me too long to source for one, as I managed to secure a decent paying employment within a week. It was rather surprising and I was quite proud of myself, considering my lack of work experience.

Initially, I was not very comfortable with the loneliness that was part of the job. The shifts were of odd-hours and there was this eerie feeling at night within the compound. Till today, I have yet to get used to that feeling, though I have grown to become slightly less adverse to it.

Then I saw light. The job offered freedom without boundaries. It was not like anything I had become accustomed to in SAF. Here you still had to finish your duties responsibly and efficiently, but the critical difference was the lack of the need to appear busy when you actually had nothing to do at all.

I liked it.

I could do my own empowering, reading, surfing the net, remain updated with newspapers and even indulge in Hong Kong and American serials without having to be on the constant lookout for the prowling senior medic.

Ah, I remember that bitch.

I grew closer to the job and eventually lost the desire to seek greener pastures. It appeared to me to be the greenest. When my peers and pals found employment, I mocked them, sometimes for the lack of freedom and more often than not, for the lack of internet access.

The job was a lonely one. The other colleagues around did nothing similar to what I was doing. I was the only one during a shift manning the helpdesk, answering phone calls and responding to emails.

Nevertheless, this did not hinder me one bit from socialising with my colleagues. I joined them for lunch, despite learning that this was one activity my predecessors hardly partaked in. To them, I was like a younger brother. They spoke of their life and work experiences and made my job less mundane. I looked forward to lunch daily. It was when I really had some interaction.

They abetted me to go for more holidays, to enjoy my youth, as if I printed money.

We were similar in the sense that we all agreed that the canteen sold overpriced crap.

Mondays however, I did not look too forward to. The group had this pre-existing pact to walk out to eat on Mondays if there was no downpour. I disliked the walk when the sun was blazing.

Whenever it rained, we would settle our meal at Kallang Leisure mall for it provided a sheltered carpark and offered free parking for dining lunch crowds.

Other times, we chose from a plethora of dining locations nearby. Beach road, Mountbatten Road, Old Airport Road etc.

As fate would have it, not everyone was equally sociable. There were those whom as a matter of fact, I would be doing a great injustice to if I do not label as weirdos. Some of them at the canteen every single day. One particular colleague rolled his pants up everyday, stood very far from the urinal when he was relieving himself and cupped the phone whenever he was on the line.

We never spoke a word before. Not till today. For easy reference, let us call him K.

As you know, working there allowed me to book a chalet for my birthday celebrations. Recently, I invited some of my colleagues in advance as I was about to leave the company. I printed invitation cards and passed them to those whom I was closer to. It was what any logical person would do.

I would think that news spread around the office and K probably caught wind of my upcoming birthday.

Today, the bombshell.

He came in carry a More than Words plastic bag with a stuffed toy. And the rest is history.

I was lost for words. I mumbled a thanks and then headed out to speak to another colleague about the matter. He was equally dumbfounded. All this while in his same department, he had never seen K speak with anyone, apart from work related matters, much less give them a present.

Till now, it still puzzles me.

At that point of time, I needed a hole to bury myself, like an ostrich. I had to invite him too. I gave him an invitation.


Today is the most embarrassing day of my life. Correct me.