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When I went to the florist near my house yesterday to pick up a stalk of the customary rose for the singles-discrimination day, the old woman who was manning the shop peered at me behind her huge ancient glasses, busy snipping away and arranging the dozens of floral specimens laid at her disposal. I recognised her, because several Valentine’s Days ago I came here with Shawn and Andy to purchase flowers on Ryui Bynn’s behalf, and she didn’t change one bit – still in her shabby-looking clothes but perky little self.

I told her I’d like a flower that’s not the red rose, that represents anything but love because that’s really besides my actual intention of going on a Valentine’s date for today. She pointed out to me a newspaper clipping entirely in Chinese tabbed at the notice board, displaying how giving anywhere between 1 to 1001 roses represent certain significance, and the various types of flowers have their own representations as well. The only flower’s name that I know of in Chinese caught my attention, and it’s so completely expected: 红玫瑰 – 爱你 (red rose – love you).

I decided on a purple rose finally because it looked decidedly ‘cool’ – unique in its red and blue mix. And she went all out on beautifying the stalk with frills and laces and purple adornments that complement it, all the while telling me a tale of how one of her customers was going to propose that night with a bouquet, and she was certain the girl would say yes. And after telling her that I’m meeting a close girl-friend for dinner, she told me – most amusingly – that I’m halfway there. lol!

Then I went for my Macroeconomics I tutorial, which lasted from 3pm to 3.50pm, after which I set off to meet my date for the evening near the ice skating rink opposite McD’s Pyramid.

At first we went to Friendster Cafe, but found their food varieties too limited (was also a little put off by negative reviews I read on the Net). Going to TGIF proved futile too when there was already a queue forming at about 5pm wtf – I then suggested Jack’s Place (which was opposite the Friendster Cafe), a cosy restaurant with soothing dimmed ambience and there we sat for nearly 3 hours chatting away over our dinner.

My baked ikan kurau (no I’ve no clue what an ikan kurau is), deliciously tender, mixed in a sauce I know not of. About RM27.50++.

Her fish & chips with yummy fries – about RM18.50++.

Ah I also bumped into Andy with a bunch of female collegemates at Pyramid’s front entrance while looking for the toilet – he just finished his Summer exams that day.

At about 8.15pm I had to leave already for my Chinese class (already told my teacher beforehand that I’d be late), and so we parted there. Also got lost for an entire 5 minutes trying to locate my car wtf.

Thanks, Angela, I enjoyed the night. :)

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I used to be very hyped up about birthdays because it’s the only day of the entire year that I get to receive presents (I don’t celebrate Christmas), wishes of health and wealth, presents, and more presents. Nowadays as gifts come in lesser quantity (or sometimes none at all) as birthdays became less significant, they’re just like any other day, but one I’d like to enjoy myself in mostly – today I resolve to do a 100% completion for Final Fantasy XII: Revenant Wings for the DS, a little quiet alone time for myself as I indulge myself in the game.

It’s also a day when my SMS inbox sees a sudden influx of SMSes, and my MSN became less quiet than usual with the flurry of greetings and wishes.

I’m surprisingly still quite apathetic about hitting what I’d like to call as The Big 2 – I don’t feel increasingly smarter, more mature, etcetc as what are normally associated with adults; I still have my own internalised emotional outbursts, I still participate in childish banters with friends, I still feel like a carefree youth with minimal responsibilities, I still feel like a child who loves tearing up gifts.

And speaking of gifts, I’ve just ordered something from the Net just to give myself a much-needed treat.

I think it’s a milestone really to get to this far with my body and limbs still intact and functioning (well except for one particular organ wtf) – after all the recklessness associated with our age (driving insanely fast and Mat Rempits come to mind), and sitting through horror midnight buses in Vietnam and Laos, I’m honestly glad and thankful that I’m still alive. Also there’s that grand transition from 1x to 2x, and now whenever someone asks me for my age, I’ll mumble it a little less than proudly that I’m 20.

It sounds like a perfect age to be though – not too young, not too old. Ah to be forever 20.

And thanks for the wishes guys. :)