The Sounds of Choi-er.

Half the year has passed by just like that...next year is SPM year. And I've only 1 and a half years of Victorian life left. Sigh...

Time has passed by so fast and meaningless... but then again, I look back at the good times and I have no regrets.

SEA Forensics and Drama Comp occupied most of my post-July time. Shanti and Moi, I'll never forget what you guys thought me. But enough bout drama comp, there's way too much of it on this blog anyway.

The latest competition, choir, did not really get my adrenaline pumping like the comps before it. It could be the lack of training, dedication, or simply because its a kementerian competition and I've gotten 5 2nd placings that I don't feel the "Oomph" anymore. That's right, wilson!

Even before the competition, I KNEW that we were gonna get 2nd place. Somehow, someway, I knew. Maybe its a jinx...maybe its just a hunch...or maybe because its a kementerian comp...(haunted by biased 'ZheeeLarKah Barbeee PooKeeMak LarnCiao judges) Whatever it was, I was not expecting to win at all.

Ok, it wasn't a jinx, coz our performance went as planned....*cough*...stanley...*cough*....
"...Jalinan sinar cahaya kegemilangan....Ooo...Oooo....oooooo....."
I had the honour of wearing our team number..."04" Sei... on my left nipple. And thanks to the delay, we didn't get to listen to any other schools perform. Everything went by so quickly...so undramatically...

...and before I knew it...

...I was squatting down at the VIP section of Taman Budaya, packed with primary school student and CBN chicks, and between Shazlan and Chiam, drifting away into blissful slumber, due to playing DotA with my bro the night before till midnight.
I recognised the distinct "Cyber Cafe" smell coming from the techie room behind me. Ahhh...smoke has never smelt this good. Shazlan wasn't looking as excited as I expected him to be. (I know you're waiting for the results...hush! I'm getting there...)

After nearly half an hour of VIP blahblah, and 10 minutes of primary schools going on stage, it was the moment. The moment where 2 to 7 months of training came down to. The moment where many will cry in despaor and the fortunate few will rejoice like there's no tomorow. The moment where....WHAT?! They are announcing the champions FIRST?! Tch, typical of low level competitions...

There was an intensity in the hall which woke me up. Haha...we are SO not gonna get first. It must be "....Kepong baru!!! or Convent Bukit Nanas!!!!" Oh well, at least it'll be over quick and painless

"...dan Johan Pertandingan choir dua-ribu-enam ialah..."

"...VI!!..." WHOA!! WTF?!

......This was when I stood up and looked frantically around!......Argh, it was justa group of girls who said "VI"...the hall roared with relieved, nervous laughter...Hey, maybe this IS a good sign, maybe God just MIGHT cut us some slack, MAYBE, just maybe, against all odds and discrimination, MAYBE we could in fact...

"...ialah...SMK...Convent Bukit Nanas!"

...D'oh! XP

Many were shocked, few were surprised, and the hands of a few judges were very, very, busy "fapping", there was a moment of confusion...followed by the screams of joy coming from the CBN crowd.

I sat there feeling the same void I've felt ever since the INTI drama comp, ever since I stepped on stage to sing with my choir team, ever since I drifted off to sleep while the VIP blabbered on and on... I cast a blank stare onto Shazlan, who seemed equally emotionless. I wish the same could be said for Li-Shia.

"...guys, I think Li-Shia needs our....moral support...", said Chiam.

I rushed back into the hall only to find Li-Shia clinging on a corner, with here face buried. It took Chiam, Shazlan, Adi, AND Ben to coax her outside. It was only after 2 seconds after she exitted, that the results sank in. She really, REALLY, wanted to win, or at least get best conductor. The Ex's tried to calm her down...

I looked around and saw the same anger, despair, and dissapointment as after the km'terian drama state finals...except, this time, I wasn't feeling any of it. Like I said, I predicted it. So it had no impact on me whatsoever.

Li-Shia finally spoke "...Why?...you let CBN win at least give someone else the best conductor ma...stupid...stupid..."
Lost for words, I blurted out..." Li-Shia, remember how you always told me to smile on stage? I need you to smile now, for us."
...a few moments of silence later...
"...someone bring me to the toilet...pls...I lost my contact lens...I can't see...!!"

Its amazing how fast hope can be crushed and vaporised. Its stunning how emotions can well up in seconds. It just never ceases to amaze me.

The memories of Weng Kit and Shantini scolding me for drinking Iced-lemon tea...The rides home with Shazlan and Chiam...and especially the "Mamak Stall" incident with Daniel, Adi, and Shazlan...and Li-Shia...yup...just Li-Shia herself... :P

It's so true when Li-Shia told us she finally "felt" the song only after losing. We sang "Satu suara, satu hati, satu fikiran" quietly outside the hall. A few more girls cried. And I actually felt it too.

Just then, Edward called out my name. Ahh... What now...? He's flirting with the team that beat us?!
Before I could ask questions, I was pulled aside with a CBN girl by Edward. "She wants to know your name"

Hello, Reen!

......

...Um...

......

Wow. Did I mention how much I love Kementerian competitions? :P


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Thank you, Ryan, who first pulled me into choir, Daniel, for teaching me the difference between wax and clay, Shazlan, Chiam and Adi, for all the chit-chat rides home...and for the "Mamak stall experience" :P and finally Li-Shia, for showing me that there is so much more to a song than just basses, tenors, majors and minors.

~Being the Champion of kementerian competitions only prove that you are the favourites of the "Retard judges of the Day". The destination is nothing compared to the journey and the comrades that you ride with! Rock on!~
-Gustave Oon

~One Heart. One Soul. One Voice.~
-The Victorian Choir 2006