Forever 17

Last weekend we had our 10th Anniversary of leaving the school. We anticipated 50, but 100 turned up. For those three days we forget all our grown-up worries and focused on being boys again.

Eggs on toast, with sos cap Arnab for breakfast. Long cold soak at Ulu Kenas, with two bags of piping hot Kaw Kee paus to keep us warm. Sweet bowls of cendols alternating with plates of laksa at Lembah. Mi goreng basah with a heap of cili jeruk at Kaw Kee. Ice cold Teh Herba to cool you down in the 38C heat. Leisurely drives up Bukit Chandan to Masjid Ubudiah and Istana Kuning. Simple lunch at So'od. Dinner at Yusnoi. Reminiscing over Jeng Leng, Cik Nah, Crank, Karok, Fajar, Kamy, Side Two. Kuala Kangsar, checked.

Long hours chatting away, loud and often vulgar jokes abound, awaiting turns to shower and brush your teeth, looking for space to sleep on the mattresses laid on the floor, wearing the batch shirts with pride, attending the concert and showing our full support to the band, waking up bright and early just to get ready for the batch photo session, walking around for nice shots of the school, saying hi to old acquantainces, saying hi to old teachers. Talking about Common Room, Mob Justice, Urban Bred, burn the gombang, 'I saw you at the party', manggis, perut, uban, botak. Koleq, checked.

Arrived back in KL late Sunday afternoon with a no voice left, pounding headache and a desperate lack of sleep. Got home, turned the A/C on, changed into something more comfortable and instantly drifted off for a peaceful 14 hours of uninterrupted sleep. Woke up with sore throat and a deep throbbing in my left temple and something more serious.

Loneliness.