I've known the 4 of them pretty long now. Being born and bred in the same small town named Sitiawan, with it's 'magickal' effect which brings great bonds together regardless of one's background. These magnificent individuals are the people that I address them as Best Friends - Nem, Yuha, Mel, and Bavin!
We've been close ever since Form 1 (2000) in SMK Methodist ACS Sitiawan (the district proclaimed 5-Star School). Here is the picture of our more than a century old school... after being recently refurbished.
SMK Methodist ACS Sitiawan
This is where it all began. Hanging out together whenever possible and joining all kinds of co-curricular activities made all the experience more fun and memorable. We somehow get along pretty well despite the misunderstandings that crops up now and then. Cycling was our daily routine to get to places - from school to tuition centres to hanging out in any of our homes. It is the best mode of transport when you live in a lowly populated town and the distance between two destinations is just close-by. Oh yes! Not forgetting our all-time famous Thursday Market located near our school. It is one of the most visited place by our towns people and largely 'terrorised' by students and school leavers like ourselves. The most popular food item sold here are the "Zhēnzhū nǎi xí" a.k.a. pearl milkshake and the Carrot Cake delicacy.
Okay, coming back to our story, here is a shot taken when all of us went for a trip under the flagship of our school's Interact Club. Look at how we all looked then... gosh!! If I'm not wrong, this was taken in the year 2004.
Left to right: Bavin, Yuha, Nem, Mel, and Myself
After Form 5, Nem left to UNISEL to pursue her tertiary education while the rest of us stayed to take up Form 6. Not long after that, Bavin was offered a place at UNITEN Pahang whereby he ceased his Form 6 education and initiated his degree program. Mel, Yuha, n myself were left behind... However, we will meet up whenever both of them comes back during their semester breaks, public holidays, and festivals:)
Studying Form 6 in ACS was really awesome!! We had the time of our lives being active in societies and farewell nights... where on one occasion Mel and myself were asked to be the emcees for the English Language Society's Hip Hop Night! I screwed up big time then while Mel was doing it like a pro! Well she was the school debater, so it came naturally to her and stage fright was not in her 'vocabulary':P
Somehow, we managed to get some mercy in our STPM results and went forward to embrace our degree courses. We keep in touch and always look forward to meet up when we are back in home-town - the best hangout place is the Waterfront in Lumut which is by the seaside. Most nights, we'll hang out there... talking away and snapping loads of pictures under the pitch black sky.
The best gathering to date would be last year's Deepavali, that is in the year 2009. We had great fun visiting and going places to commemorate our meet up. That year was special because all five of us managed to be there at one time after all these years. Usually one of us will be missing-in-action as university matters would halt us from making back home for such gatherings. It was really a great moment that we all cherished that time.
Last but not least, all four of them have graduated and working now, save me who still have another year of university life to go. I would like to wish them all the best in their respective working life and will always keep you guys dear to my heart:) Take care al right!!
By the way, this is how we all look now after 5 years (2009) since the 2004 trip to Genting Highlands...
Left to right: Bavin, Mel, Nem, Myself, and Yuha