It's in Her Kiss

Strength of Bonds.

2008-05-26T07:35:00.000-07:00

Siblings are precious.

That's why i'm here, supporting two of em' in the International Chess Finale.

All i can say is, i'm very proud to be your brother and all the best for the tournament.

This is, by far, the limit of my sentimentality x)

ps. Goodbye Avram. Jinggles over the new manager.

Hunt for European Glory

2008-05-22T01:59:00.000-07:00

Two goals. Two shots hitting the post. Two unsuccessful penalties. It was a nightmare. I did all i could for Terry to send the ball back into the net; but i suppose, it was not meant to be. I am proud though that Chelsea have surpassed everyone's expectations and managed to raise their bar this year by reaching the Champions League final.

The opening ceremony.

Terry giving Rooney and the Reds a hard time.

The Grieved Captain.

I'll be looking forward to another year of entertaining football.

(Loving the new Chelsea kit)

As Arnold puts it, "We'll be back."

Macho Titans

2008-05-18T21:04:00.000-07:00

It was a long time ago that i wore my heart out on my sleeve and treated every single task as a compulsory obligation. The picture above portrays just how fond i was of leisure activities.

Check out the artwork from one of my juniors. She's very bright.

Drama King 2.0

2008-05-17T18:37:00.000-07:00

Would you accept a job twice as good as your current one - twice as much income and twice as fulfilling - given one condition of employment: you can never reveal anything about it to anyone at all?
Gosh. I've always wanted an alter ego. Especially one that makes bling.

Would you accept twenty-five years of extraordinary happiness if it meant you would die at the end of the period?
Definitely not. What's life if you always smile like the women in The Stepford Wives?

For a person you loved deeply, would you be willing to move to a distant country knowing there would be very little chance at ever seeing your family again?
With her hand in marriage. No objections to that.

Would you willingly have one finger removed if it somehow guaranteed immunity from all major diseases?
I would prefer the opportunity to fall sick and play truant (x

After saving your loved ones and pets, you have time to safely make one final dash into the house to save any one thing. What would it be?
My novels.

You are given the power to kill people. They would die a natural death and no one would suspect you. How would you use this power?
First, i'll experiment the terms and conditions of using such powers. Then, i'll be looking forward to working with the security agencies around the globe.

Would you rather be extremely successful professionally, with a fairly ordinary private life - or a very happy private life and only an ordinary professional life?
I'd love to be extremely successful professionally until i make billions. After that, i'd be satisfied with having a happy private life and a secure profession.

If you could script the basic plot for your dream tonight, what would the story be?
Acquire super-intelligence, develop theory for unlimited power supply(nucleur fission), build robotic aid, modify my entire life with newfound technology(and still maintain the cool-ness as it is, lol), solve the world's most pressing problems, and at the end of the day.. 100 marks for all my test subjects.

Would you be willing to become extremely ugly physically if it meant you would live for 500 years at any physical age you choose?
I wouldn't want to live that long. Too much grief of losing your loved ones.

In front of you are ten pistols. Only one of them is loaded. For one million dollars, would you pick up one, point it to your head and pull the trigger? You get to keep the money regardless of the outcome.
Yeah, i'll do it. Not for the money though.

Would you be willing to reduce your life expectancy by five years to become extremely attractive?
I want my five birthday cakes! Nu-uh, not gonna cut it short.

If you could take a one-month trip to anywhere in the world, and money were not a consideration, where would you go and what would you do?
Egypt. A lot of things i'd love to unravel as an archeo.

Would you be willing to murder an innocent person if it meant ending hunger in the world?
No. Hunger and famine exist for a reason. I won't be the one pulling the trigger just to rid of our problems.

There. Second tag!

Heart of Steel

2008-05-17T06:42:00.000-07:00

Despite the air of disappointment in the previous post, Iron Man was never a disappointment. Technically speaking, the suit is made of a type of aluminium alloy (x

It would be a brutal lie to say that i have never lied in my life.

To some people being polite, and using little white lies is considered important.
To some people speaking the truth in an unoffensive way is considered important.

A person who is true to himself will diligently seek out information about the aspects of reality with which he needs to interact in order to benefit himself. He will acknowledge what he knows and apply it; he will acknowledge what he does not know and seek it out. He will put what he knows into practice to maximize benefits to himself, given his best understanding of reality. In doing so, he might fail in his goal or overlook a facet of reality. However, we cannot fault him for doing his best especially if he resolves to improve his knowledge and avoid similar errors in the future. The honest individual will recognize that his personal failings and undesirable circumstances are not unavoidably imposed on him by external forces beyond his control; he will refuse to remain a passive victim and will resist negative external pressures.

Note that honesty does not begin with communication with other people; it begins with the self. A person can be perfectly honest with himself and not say a word to another person in a given situation.

Let us imagine a man sitting in a theater, watching a film whose central ideas he recognizes to be contrary to his best self-interest. Would it be wise for the man to immediately declare his realization to the rest of the audience? Of course not. The man can recognize all the failings of the film and genuinely seek to act in a manner otherwise than as the film suggests without ever speaking a word about it to anyone. If he does talk about the film to everyone in the audience while the film is playing, the man would in fact be committing a dishonest act; he would be engaged in self-deception concerning his genuine self-interest which does not include being expelled from the theater.

A rationally selfish individual does not see himself as possessing an inherent responsibility to other people unless that responsibility was consensually entered into in the form of a promise, contract, or agreement. Thus, he is not obligated to give other people the truth about himself, his thoughts, or his understanding of reality; he can choose to do so only if it serves his best self-interest. This lack of obligation does not give him license to mislead other people or to give them deliberate falsehoods. However, he has three options whenever he interacts with another person: stating the whole truth, stating part of the truth, or silence.

Sometimes stating the whole truth or a part of it to other people will anger or offend those people so that they react in a manner harmful to the truthful individual. The honest man is under no obligation to speak in such circumstances, and silence is a superior option. However, in some situations even silence is detrimental. If a robber-murderer asks an individual where his family is hiding, the individual would not only betray the people he values by telling the truth; the individual is morally obligated to mislead the robber-murderer in order to save his family. After all, if the individual were to stay silent, the robber-murderer might kill him for being uncooperative. Misleading the robber-murderer might send him off on a futile search and buy the man and his family time to escape or organize retaliation.

Thus, when communicating with other people, the honest man will use the following set of principles:
1) When it benefits or does not harm him, he will tell all or part of the truth.
2) When it harms him to tell all or part of the truth, he will stay silent.
3) Only when it harms him to either tell the truth or to stay silent, he will tell a falsehood.

I admit. I have a heart of steel. I am indifferent. Most people are. I just do it with a bit of sarcasm.

But, having met you, i feel the tendency to change, Eloise. I won't though. You will not get the satisfaction from me being prized open like a can of soda ^^ There is one thing i am capable of promising, and that is i will never lie to you. Ever :)

Ferus Man

2008-05-17T00:28:00.000-07:00

Invincibility. An adrenaline that inspired me to live up to it's name. A force so gargantuan(over, much?) that, in the past, i overcame the limits of which i stacked upon myself on several occasions.

Woke up with a headache. Yes, a very intense knife-poking gesture at the cerebrum. Definitely not a good way to start a day. Thinking about Add Maths was horren-defying(is there such a word? mind my English when i'm on the verge of vomiting). I mean, i am aware that i have the capabilities to attempt such questions - but, when it came down to the last 45 minutes, i did something similar to star players in a football match who line up for a penalty kick only to send it flying high over the bar, which, in this case, you stack another goal post on top of that one and still wouldn't score. I panicked. Choked(as in, petrified to the very last bone in my body).

It was a long time coming, i suppose. That persona of invincibility that i put on in the face of tests. Night after night of burning the oil, i had the nerve to assume the unimaginable. In the end, i am still and always be a human.

"To err is human, to forgive... thats right on"

Well, let's just forget the latter part of that sentence and focus on the "making mistakes as a human section".

Urgh, head buzzing with formulae from my numerology study(said with a Jack Black accent in Nacho Libre). I guess all that's left for me is to pick up the pieces and invigorate that magic touch. Note-to-self: disappointments from exams does not signify the end. It's a work-in-progress for better things to come. There are worse things that a 16 year old with an unstable mentality can be disappointed with. When you reach that place where you're above everyone else, it's hard to let go.

I'll be revving it for the next one. I've got Biology and History in four days.
Meanwhile, i'll be observing Robert Downey Jr. on the bigscreen. Ferus Man (x
Now that's invincible. A man made of substance similar to that of my spoon.

More than Words

2008-05-16T23:02:00.000-07:00

More than Words - that says a lot, no? It took me two weeks to learn this one. This kid has talent.

How our Heroine acknowledges her Curiosity, a Promising Gesture for Our Protagonist

2008-05-15T07:29:00.000-07:00

Caleb dressed in his favourtie attire, denim. He seemed to be gazing at everything, the grandfather clock, his shirt, his reflection in the mirror. His face lit when Eloise strolled casually into the room, and to his delight, displeasure spread across her face at the sight of him.

"Brother."

"Sister." He smirked.

"Up and about as usual, i suppose. A rather fond habit of yours." Eloise remarked.

"In the best of company at that!" Caleb said. Eloise resisted the urge to inquire him. She would never give him the satisfaction of her curiosity. But who? Eloise smiled, pleased with her resistance. "He starts with an N. Sneaky little ferret."

"Oh, him." She said, her voice a bit soft. "He seems to have a good influence on you, brother. I'm sure you two will be the best of friends."

"Ah, perhaps. You've never met him, have you?"
"No, why would i -" Eloise cut short, clearly sensing the danger in his words.

"Would you like to tag along?"

"Of course not." She muttered, her bland expression betraying her facade. For anyone else, it would have seemed quite convincing, but he was Caleb, and that was another problem entirely. She was not a good liar.

"Of course, of course." Caleb repeated his words, with a frail vigour.

"Although," she decided to give in, realising the pointlessness of the situation, "I did promise Clarice I'd buy her the dress we saw at Georgia's."

"So, you are interested." He teased.

"No, i'm not!"

"I'm sure you've heard of the rumours."

Naqi carried a wicked reputation. He was the sort to mingle with ladies, young of age, potential in looks. Eloise was sure of that; since her friends often spoke of him with venom. She knew of his tousle with a certain woman whom, according to Caleb(a highly non-reliable source, surely) discovered the true meaning of love. Preposterous! That struck Eloise with a force so abrupt, it was a wonder she remained standing. Eloise liked to think in logic, and she tolerated none of the abstracts of love.

"I've heard of them," seeing there was no point in denying in. "And no, i am not interested in him. Not one bit."

"He is a suitable match for you, dear sister."

"He is a complex male. A snob, a delinquent, a -"

"He is my protege. All will be well," Caleb assured her.

Eloise couldn't help but laguh. If he were as innocent as Caleb was, she would have been better of with Thompson. Thompson Reavers, an all-rounder with an amiable reputation, socially adaptable, and very friendly with the ladies in general, not a complete ignorant like Naqi. And in two months time, he was to be hers and she would forget ever hearing Naqi's name. Ever.

"I'm sure." Eloise finally spoke, nodding at her brother.

"Well, i'll be going in ten minutes time. What about that dress you promised Clarice?"

"I'll be joining you later. I have to see Clarice first." If she was going to lie, she might as well make most of the truth.

"Suit yourself, sister." He resumed his taunts.

Eloise could feel it in her toes. Something was going to happen today, something interesting. She just knew it. And she wouldn't be surprised if Naqi turns out to be the cause. Not surprised at all.

Tetris Trite in Tidy-ness

2008-05-14T05:39:00.000-07:00

This one's a heartwarmer. Let this be a lesson to all ^^

I hate socialising. It's a vampire's work.

2008-05-09T23:52:00.000-07:00

I think there comes a time in your social development where you take a look at yourself and take stock of the person you've become. Are you the person you thought you would be at this point in your life? Have you achieved the goals you had set for yourself earlier in life?

There is one question, I believe, which a lot of us tend to forget to ask (or won't ask). That question is: "Are these the friends I thought I would have?" And the infinitely harder to ask and even harder to answer:

"Are these the kind of friends that I SHOULD have?"

When do you cut the ties to friends that are no longer the people you befriended? They may not have done anything to you directly, but they no longer possess those qualities that engendered your friendship all those years ago. You still communicate with them on a semi-regular basis. Holidays, birthdays, a friends party. But they're just not that person you once knew.

Worse yet is when these friends bring their particular kind of drama into your life. Whether purposefully by calling to spill their soul to you, or inadvertently by drawing you into it simply by being in proximity to you. At what point do you cut the emotional ties? When is it disloyalty, and when is it simply preserving your own sanity?

I'm sure a lot of people have their own set of personal heartbreaks. Mine is no exception to the rule that friendship does not last forever. (not you Eloise :)

I had my head(s), hands, and feet in a really healthy friendship 2 years ago. And after just 3 months, i became aware of the symptoms. One of the things i enjoy doing is evaluating people and their personalities. Yes, i am an observer of human behaviour and reactions - although i never seem the sort. That relationship went dow the drain.

On the brightside, i think maturity comes with tragidies in life. I have a more... arguable perspective of the interactions around me. Less gullable, more ruthless. I tend to be a bit more pragmatic than most people and it can sometimes come off that way. But, if you have someone in your life that does nothing but bring chaos and drama into your life, what choice do you have, really?

Barclays Crown

2008-05-09T08:05:00.000-07:00

My Chelsea jersey in support of;

Avram and his men.

Sunday - Chelsea versus Bolton at home while Manchester United travel to JJB against Wigan.

Blues Boys forever.

Cardinal Notations

2008-05-09T04:00:00.000-07:00

A lot of things have been tentative and provisional this week, like the blog. I believe this post is long overdue and it is my moral obligation to adhere. A few friends of mine inquired on quotes and famous advice(famous?) i could give them for their mid-year examinations, so i decided to cast a compendium of my burlesque life. -quotes from the wise family from uptown, the frustrating but loved Eloise, and anonymous pedestrians.

"I'll prick your pretzels" Eloise 20/11/06

"I'd die rather than letting your green-slender-tentacles touch my remote." Adrian on the tv 21/11/07

"You call it mutilated junk, i call it a work of art." John commenting on sketchbook 23/11/07

"If i had a ringgit for everytime you said that..." Yogesh
"Save it Yog, you still owe me 5 bucks." MSN 23/11/07

"That antisocial trite of yours is an appealing quality." Eloise
"Thanks. It was either that or live in a vacant cave as a hermit." MSN 26/11/07

"I don't know other ladies. I know Eloise." MSN 27/11/06

"He shits dung like he shits a bomb." John 12/12/07

"I feel neglected." John
"I don't know why, but i'm sure it's hilarious." MSN 14/12/07

"You seem mirthful." MSN
"What's that?!" Caleb
"Means you're an idiot." (rolls eyes). MSN 23/12/07

"Why are you smirking?" Yogesh
"It's Caleb." Clarice 28/12/07

"I know you're right about me being wrong but you're wrong about you being right." John 3/3/08

"I was eating McD's chocolate sundae, and i remembered you." MSN 5/3/08

"She was here a minute ago." MSN
"If by here you mean a lump of dirt on the floor then yeah, i believe you." Ryan 5/4/08

"All this controversy is venom." Eloise
"It's my debate. It's not a snake." MSN 6/4/08

"If i ever get around to meeting your friends, i'll wear pink... just to annoy you." Eloise 7/5/08

That's it for the moment. Enjoy the arduous 2-week long exams.

I'm a night owl. He's an early bird. We're different species.

2008-05-08T02:07:00.000-07:00

Apparently, I had a war of words with the Lord of Spunk, Caleb. It's May, it's hot. Guess i have to adjust better no? I must admit, i have a thing for argumentative convo crap - like debates, political conjectures, and biased forums. It's an escape from reality, at best. I began contemplating our differences one evening. Oddly, it was quite a fun research involving quirky comments.

Caleb

"I have a friend with boundary issues. And he starts with an N."
"You're an antisocial hermit."
"We have our limitations. He doesn't."
"Self-centered-narcissistic-insufferable egomaniac."
"He's as sneaky as a Jello."

Naqi

"Everybody loves Caleb. He's a people's person."
"Mirthful and music-oriented(or orientated, says Ms. Sheela)"
"Yeah, I'm evil. He's eviler."
"A simple pain-in-the-perks."
"Five times Caleb, and you get a million years worth of cow manure."

Overall, contemplating is fun. As the great monk(his name escapes me) once said, "You can always contemplate silence but acquiring silence... dream on."

It's nothing personal. It's only a theoretical capacity for mishap.

Zeno's paradox

2008-05-07T00:00:00.000-07:00

The paradoxes of the philosopher Zeno, born approximately 490 BC in southern Italy, have puzzled mathematicians, scientists and philosophers for millennia. Although none of his work survives today, over 40 paradoxes are attributed to him which appeared in a book he wrote as a defense of the philosophies of his teacher Parmenides. Parmenides believed in monism, that reality was a single, constant, unchanging thing that he called 'Being'. In defending this radical belief, Zeno fashioned 40 arguments to show that change (motion) and plurality are impossible.

The most famous of Zeno's arguments is the Achilles:

'The slower when running will never be overtaken by the quicker; for that which is pursuing must first reach the point from which that which is fleeing started, so that the slower must necessarily always be some distance ahead.'

This is usually put in the context of a race between Achilles (the legendary Greek warrior) and the Tortoise. Achilles gives the Tortoise a head start of, say 10 m, since he runs at 10 ms-1 and the Tortoise moves at only 1 ms-1. Then by the time Achilles has reached the point where the Tortoise started (T0 = 10 m), the slow but steady individual will have moved on 1 m to T1 = 11 m. When Achilles reaches T1, the labouring Tortoise will have moved on 0.1 m (to T2 = 11.1 m). When Achilles reaches T2, the Tortoise will still be ahead by 0.01 m, and so on. Each time Achilles reaches the point where the Tortoise was, the cunning reptile will always have moved a little way ahead.

This seems very peculiar. We know that Achilles should pass the Tortoise after 1.11 seconds when they have both run just over 11 m, so Achilles will win any race longer than 11.11m. But why in Zeno's argument does it seem that Achilles will never catch the tortoise?

4 of Zeno's famous arguments:
The Dichotomy: There is no motion, because that which is moved must arrive at the middle before it arrives at the end, and so on ad infinitum.
The Achilles: The slower will never be overtaken by the quicker, for that which is pursuing must first reach the point from which that which is fleeing started, so that the slower must always be some distance ahead.
The Arrow: If everything is either at rest or moving when it occupies a space equal to itself, while the object moved is always in the instant, a moving arrow is unmoved.
The Stadium: Consider two rows of bodies, each composed of an equal number of bodies of equal size. They pass each other as they travel with equal velocity in opposite directions. Thus, half a time is equal to the whole time.

Music&Mavericks

2008-05-04T01:41:00.000-07:00

In my list of acoustic guitar favourites :) enjoy!

Lilies&Hyacinth

2008-05-03T21:15:00.000-07:00

What A Lily Says About You

You are playful, flirty, and friendly.

You can easily light up a room... or someone's heart.

Your unique personality attracts a lot of attention!

A flower from me to you :)

Quote of the day: fashion speaks louder than words.

V's of Obstruction.

2008-05-03T20:49:00.000-07:00

Veloptiously.Volatile.Void. of Inspiration. Novel-writing on hiatus. Note to readers, the 2nd arc will be posted after the May tests.

Meanwhile, enjoy the antics of Gregory House. Aficionado of Sarcasm.

From executive producers Paul Attanasio, Katie Jacobs, David Shore, and Bryan Singer comes a new take on mystery, where the villain is a medical malady and the hero is an irreverent, controversial doctor who trusts no one, least of all his patients.

Dr. Gregory House (Hugh Laurie) is devoid of bedside manner and wouldn't even talk to his patients if he could get away with it. Dealing with his own constant physical pain, he uses a cane that seems to punctuate his acerbic, brutally honest demeanor. While his behavior can border on antisocial, House is a maverick physician whose unconventional thinking and flawless instincts have afforded him a great deal of respect. An infectious disease specialist, he's a brilliant diagnostician who loves the challenges of the medical puzzles he must solve in order to save lives.

To risk or not to risk?

2008-05-03T20:10:00.000-07:00

Your Risk Taking Level: Medium-High

You're not afraid of a little (or a lot) of risk.

In fact, you pretty much live to take chances.

Consequences be damned, you are willing to go for it.

And if it doesn't work out, at least people can't say you didn't try!

Courage is often defined as the act of not being afraid. But on closer scrutiny of the concept, we see that not having fear is to be inhuman. It does look as if our Creator planted the aspect of fear in us so that we will know what to be aware of. Not having fear could end in a person acting out of rashness and facing grim circumstances. The most interesting definition of courage seems to be the feeling of being afraid, but acting anyway in spite of being afraid.

In day to day living, we can exhibit courage in all things. Even in simple things like getting up, in a room or a vehicle, and giving a seat to a person who needs it more requires courage. Often, what prevents a person from doing such civil acts is not an uncaring attitude or the lack of courtesy. It is a lack of courage of not wanting to attract attention in public. There are people among us whose upbringing has made them very shy. Such people need to overcome shyness in order to lead normal lives. This ability to overcome one's own shortcoming is also courage.

When we think deeply about it, we see that courage is one of the factors that make for success in life. Life is about taking risks and about facing the possibility of rejection. A person without courage is almost sure to fail in life.

Chelsea 2-1 Manchester United

2008-05-03T19:01:00.000-07:00

Chelsea moved level on points with Premier League leader Manchester United with two matches left. Michael Ballack gave Chelsea the lead in the 45th minute but Wayne Rooney drove in an equalizer from an error from Ricardo Carvalho. Carrick was penalized for blocking Essien's cross with his arm and Chelsea was awarded a penalty kick which Ballack brilliantly took advantage of.

Do it for me boys.

Taciturn&Ubiquitous

2008-05-03T09:22:00.000-07:00

A night out at TGI's.

I remember the sweet calamari.

If you look closely, im promoting my G-Shock watch. Cool, huh?

Drama King.

2008-05-03T08:08:00.000-07:00

I'll tag!

1.Real Name : Naqi. * I don't really mind my friends calling me "Nike"*
2.Nickname : Ballack(Chelsea 13)
3.Married : I am single.
4.Male or Female : Male
5.High School : Ssi, JB.
6.College : ______________ College
7.Short or Long Hair : Short.
8.Are you a health freak : Yes. I have the perfect body mass for an international modelling career.
9.Height : I am tall. 169cm. You're wondering whether im tall enough?
10.Do you have a crush on someone :Yes. Slow&Steady.
11.Do you like yourself : Yes. Self-esteem intact and functional.
12.Piercings : No. Zero piercings.
13.First Surgery : None.
14.First piercing(s) : I don't have unnecessary holes in my body.
15.First Person You See in The Morning : Occasional family members .
16.First Award : Ok, im aware of bragging rights - i have plenty of "awards". The most prominent one being the PMR State Awards.
17.First Sport You Join In : Chess. Classic professional.
18.First Pet : Fish. Not related to my horoscope. I currently have 2 cats, 7 fishes, and 2 turtles.
19.First Vacation : I think it was London.
20.First Concert : Festival of Arts(FOA)
21.First Crush : Any problem with this questionnaire? I answered it in the 10th question.
22.Eating : I love rice. And Belgian chocolate, Haagen Daas.
23.Drinking : Milo. Local brand.
24.I'm about to : Call Eloise.
Want kids : Yeah. Dozens.
25.Want to Get Married : ?
26.Careers in Mind : Novelist, Medics - (con artist?).
27.Lips or Eyes : Lips. Wanna try mine?
28.Hugs or Kisses : Kisses!
29.Shorter or Taller : Taller
30.Romantic or Spontaneous : Spontaneous
31.Sensitive or Loud : I am loud. To the irritance of most.
32.Trouble Maker or Hesitant : Trouble Maker. Seized every opportunity to be devilishly bouncy.
33.Kissed a stranger : Once?
34.Drank bubbles : Burp.
35.Lost glasses/ contacts : I have 60/60 eyesight!
36.Ran Away From Home : Only when Chelsea offers me a career at Stamford Bridge.
37.Liked someone younger : No, they are lala's to me..
38.Liked someone older : Literally.
39.Broken someone's heart : The list just drones on.
40.Been arrested : Yes, detention in school. Refer to number 32.
41.Cried when someone died : Oddly, no.
42.Liked a friend : No.
43.Yourself : Peachy.
44.Is there one person you want to be with right now : Eloise.

I did it! I blogged like a drag queen.

Next Generation shades

2008-05-03T07:48:00.000-07:00

Shutter Shades is the next dimension of sunglasses.

If you watched Kanye West's "Stronger" music video before, you might notice that he's wearing shutter shades!

Black shutter shades $20

Inspired by the fashion of the 1980's fused with a futuristic touch, Shutter Shades bridge the gap between styles of the past, present and future. Unique in design and function, these shades are in very high demand worldwide.

Glow in dark shutter shades.

$40

I want em!

How our protaganist professes his desire to engage with our heroine, in which he finds a disturbing ordeal.

2008-02-12T02:48:00.000-08:00

"Caleb is fencing in the yard," said the maid, once she allowed Naqi to enter the house.

Naqi followed the maid down the hall to the same living room in which he'd met Eloise two weeks ago. It felt like it was ages since.

The maid stepped into the room and announced his arrival.

"Mr. Naqi!"

Naqi turned with alarm at the figure of Clarice, Eloise's charming sister, who was seated nicely on a wooden chair. He was quite uncertain why he was so shocked to see Clarice, since she would obviously be home at this hour. But in fact, he had only pictured Eloise on the way over.

"Clarice, it has been a while," Naqi said, smiling, "Too long."

"Indeed it has, take a seat and have a drink. I have the finest tea in town," she offered.

Naqi shivered. He absolutely detested the beverage.

"He dislikes tea," came Eloise's voice. She descended the stairs quietly. Caleb followed behind her, a smirk on his face.

"Nice to see you, Naqi. Eloise confessed to me how much she misses you." Caleb grinned.

Eloise turned to her brother with a piercing glare, "One more word, brother. Just one more," she threatened.

She faced Naqi, her cheeks flustered, "I didn't say anything to him!"

"An arrow through the heart," Naqi replied, his hand on his chest.

Eloise resisted a smile.

"She is inconceivable, i assure you." Caleb said.

"Caleb!" Eloise screamed. "Quite an astonishing characteristic for a young lady, i might add."

Naqi choked on his drink.

"No arguments there," he muttered, cleaning the spilt tea with a handkerchief.

Clarice chuckled, clearly amused by the whole scenario.

Everyone stayed silent.

"Caleb, i would like to have an audience with you." Naqi broke the awkward moment. "In private."

Caleb proceeded to the door and stepped into the house library. Naqi bid his farewells to the ladies and joined him soon after.

Caleb turned his gaze towards the window before taking a seat across the table. "I imagine you know why i'm here." Naqi said. Caleb's hands moved to support his chin, "I'd like you to state your intentions evidently, to save us the humiliation from certain upsets."

Naqi groaned, he knew it would not turn out as easy as he expected. In his mind, he pictured Caleb man-handling him before throwing him out of the window.

"I would like to date your sister," he spilled the words.

"Clarice... is already attached to someone, i'm sorry to say."

"Not her..." he closed his eyes, surely bewildered by the man's obliviousness, "Eloise. I meant, Eloise."

Several things occured at great speed, Naqi barely noticed.

For one, Caleb let out a long, joyful sigh. An unexpected gesture. His lips seemed to part too, and if Naqi was a good observer, he could have sworn he heard him saying, "Finally." Not to mention his eyes gazing upward, scanning the ceiling for some sort of sign.

And just when Naqi thought things couldn't get any peculiar, Caleb rose to his feet, banging the table with his bare hands.

"What took you so damn long?" he blurted out, "I heard you were a smooth charmer. Serves me right for heeding uncanny rumours, i suppose."

"Err...." Naqi said, unable to digest the sudden turn of events.

Caleb handed Naqi a glass, "Cheers. Welcome to the family," he took his own glass in his hands and gulped the drink in one sip.

"A splendid day, it is." Caleb spoke aloud. "Without a doubt," Naqi guzzled his drink in a flash.

"If you hurt her, i will hunt you." Caleb looked sharply at him.

Naqi choked on his drink, yet again.

"You care for her, as her brother. I respect that." Naqi recovered. "Certainly. It's what i do best."

"Now, is there anything else you wish to mention to me?"

Naqi quirked a brow. Did he wish to tell him of his prehistoric relationship? He certainly wouldn't like to, not to Caleb. Not to a man with an intimidating figure, and a loving brother. Well, at least not before he told Eloise.

"No. Nothing of significance."

Caleb seemed to stare at the ground, deep in thought. "I trust you, we've known each other for six years now. I know you'll make her happy."

"I will," Naqi implored, with a sounding conviction.

It was a wonderful day after all, Naqi thought. Brilliant.

How our protaganist is haunted by his dark past, in which our heroine has no idea of.

2008-02-11T04:44:00.000-08:00

Naqi smiled, a loony grin, one that he would have died before letting anyone else see. He tapped his fingers against the table, aware of the noise he was making in the study chamber. He didn't care, not anymore.

Eloise.

Something had happened the previous day. Something significant.
Something extraordinary.

She liked him. She truly liked him. A rogue, a charlatan. He couldn't help but smile on their way home.

His breath grew heavier. Maybe she would kiss him again.. Well, she made no such attempt the day before, but soon. Surely, soon.

"Naqi, are you quite alright?" Dharshanan asked. Naqi shifted uncomfortably in his chair.

"Oh.. I'm fine. Perfect. Absolutely perfect." He said, with an expression that could only be described as joy.

"You look rather distracted, do you have someone on your mind, perhaps?" He questioned further.

"N- no, of course not. I was merely deciphering an incalculable maths formulae. A hard one, it was." Naqi drew an imaginary square in the air, a convincing gesture.

"I'm sure," he replied with a hint of sarcasm, before moving on with, "Are you still thinking about, her?"

"Who?"

"Her. The one sitting by the door. That her."

"Oh. Her, you mean," he couldn't believe the rumours were still circulating. His afficionado with Jaslyn Gan Ju-lia. Oh bother, this was trouble.

"No, definitely not. I'm done with that phase in my life. And stop teasing me, if, you value your life." He formed his fingers into the shape of a knife and ran it along his throat.

"If you say so, bigshot." He shrugged his shoulders before taking a seat behind.

Naqi stared at the wall, fear enveloping him. Shocked by oblivion. Or, to be more precise, he was oblivious. Julia. He forgot to mention her to Eloise.

He should, he would. No, he must tell her. Tomorrow, definitely.
After his meeting with Caleb, that is.

Naqi sighed, he had a bundle of tasks at hand.
"It's worth it. She's worth it." Naqi muttered under his breath.

The discovery of our protaganist, Twists and Turns.

2008-02-10T20:15:00.000-08:00

Biography of M. Naqi, Harbinger of Sorrow.

The institution's worst, foolish, idle student was none other than Naqi. Although, it probably wasn't his fault for earning such a terrible reputation. There were dozens of other men who behaved with equal lack of self-control, and more than a few who were as clever as abominable, but Naqi was one of the rare ones who managed to combine the two to great success.

His mere presence an annoyance to many. One would shake the head in disbelief if a day went by and Naqi kept his speech in check, no sarcasm, no teasing, no women running off in tears.

People held him is such low esteem, especially after the intricate affair he led the 2 previous years with an innocent young lady. The gossip ran rampant. He poured his entire affection for a sole person, his friend. However, most of society knew his relationship was indefinitely one-sided. Conflict followed soon after a series of misunderstandings. And he emerged from the ruffles as a new man, his heart wounded, but resolute.

The affair though, did lent an air of mystery to the already charismatic man, and to most, he was a bit of a challenge to the women in general. No one seemed quite certain how to portray him. Due to his lack of interest in women, or perhaps, his disability to interact with them in a proper manner, he was labelled as the snobbish gentlemen. Heavy perceptions of him did lighten though, when, almost a year earlier, he was nominated best pupil of the region. Which had only served to make him a more unfathomable- but, eligible -figure.

To date, Naqi's interests are widely known to dwell in the extra-curricular arena. A wide variety of sports, exceptionally fit for the young athlete, a symbol of confidence and a picture of health. "I sport, because i have to, and because i'd like to take my mind elsewhere, far from the comforts of my conflicts." He quoted.

People claim that, arguably, he is a man full of secrets. Although, many of his mysteries are yet to be unravelled.

You know you are getting old when the candles cost more than the cake

2008-02-10T18:47:00.000-08:00

A birthday Card

Remembering is caring

God created brothers

to be there our whole lives through,

To care about our troubles,

to share our secrets, too...

God knew sometimes

they'd make us smile,

sometime's they'd make us frown,

But we could always count on brothers

when the chips were down...

They may be pals... or pranksters

whose teasing never ends...

They may be tough, but underneath,

they're still our warmest friends...

And when they land a hand, they say,

"that's what a brother's for..."

That's why a brother's great to have

and couldn't be loved more!

Courtesy of my siblings, Irfan, Nabilah, and Zharfan

A loving hug from me to you.

And to Eloise,

you're my friend,

you're my love,

and just Because.

Eloise: bites-her-lower-lip-when-she's-thinking, stares-right-into-your-heart-with-her-deep-blue-eyes, and looks-unbelievable-in-her-skating-uniform

2008-02-10T08:02:00.000-08:00

She leaned forward and kissed him. The whole world seemed to halt for him, pausing, as though this very moment was truly- everything. Indeed, she was everything. Everything he wanted, everything he needed.

"Eloise.. stop." He pressed his hands against her chest, pushing her behind. She looked up, her blue eyes questioning him.

"I can't.. We can't," he held her hands, "It's not right."

"But- " She bit her lips. "It's not fair."

"Nothing is fair. Nothing ever is," he held her chin, holding it up, his face meeting hers. He could see her tears trickling down her cheeks all the way down to her lips. Her lips! He noticed the way they curved as she pouted, clearly in deep thought. He wanted her, he wanted the feel of her.

He closed the gap between them, and his lips touched hers. He took her by surprise.

She embraced him and tugged him closer. Her lips were warm against his. "Naqi.."

He severed their intense bond and sealed it with a final kiss. "I love you. I truly do."

"I know."

"Smart girl." He replied, having the last say.

"What about Caleb? He'll know, and he'd- " She shuddered at the thought. "I'll deal with your brother. For now, let's keep it under the lid." He comforted her, kissing her fingers.

He reminded her of a lion. Always in control. His hair resembled a mane, often unkept. To her, he was Naqi. Just Naqi. And she loved him.

The Compatriots Conspiracy; Rise of the amateurs.

2008-02-10T04:40:00.000-08:00

There were Five.

Five representatives from five different origins. Each unique in their own way.

The Five needed practice. They needed to win.

The Five were a band.

A musical band.

Zaky strummed his guitar strings, tuning the sound to perfection. Well, nearly.

Their drummer was a girl. A girl.

Their guitarists were Darren and Julian.

Jeremie/Marc was to be their pianist.

And their inexperienced vocalist, chosen due to lack of manpower, Naqi.

The signs were not good. Everything was grim.

This is a reminder to the Five. Strive and excel. Naqi.

One man's sunset is another man's dawn

2008-02-09T23:25:00.000-08:00

Congratulations to the Ssi Debate Team 08 for their slim win(thanks to me and my devilishly weird accent, a mistake i hope not to repeat) over Mutiara Rini. May their good fortune continue in the next round.

Cher SYn, EliZabeth, Naqi, JuLia, LiSa. Also known as, the Gangs of Flowers(quite uncertain as to the origin of the nickname. nevertheless, it sounds cool)

How our protaganist meets the heroine, in which he finds her intensely annoying.

2008-02-09T22:19:00.000-08:00

"Why are we watching that?" Naqi pointed his finger at a nearby cardboard resemblance of Nicholas Cage. An old version of the blockbustor acter.

"Because, you told me you needed to get out and smell the fresh air. I figured, why not watch a movie?" Caleb persisted.

"One would think," he paused to look at the ticket in his hands, clearly bemused, and clearly choosing his words wisely, "that i would have learnt my lesson two years ago when you dragged me to the opera house."

"You never learn. Next, is a nice movie. You'd love it. Trust me."

"Of all the things i do, i can never understand why i always, and i mean always, give in to you. By any chance, are you uniquely telephatic?" Caleb grinned at the sarcasm in his tone.

"My sister is coming with us. She can't wait to meet you, not after the interesting details i told her about you." He dismissed Naqi's question. Fire with fire.

"Now wait just a second, you never mentioned girls. And is she the one you always tried to invite whenever we hang out these days? Oh bother, i can never trust myself in the presence of women. I squirm, insufferably."

"I believe you are right on that one," Caleb agreed, "but i have decided to have faith in you anyway."

"Rather kind of you." Naqi sighed.

"Indeed."

Naqi narrowed his eyes at the smirking figure of Caleb. "So, what did you really do to ascertain her presence here?".

"Like i said, i told her about you."

"Liar."

"You do treat me odaciously, do you know that?" Caleb bellowed.

"It's a defence mechanism, i'm afraid. One that has kept me alive for many years." Naqi replied, resisting the urge to question him further.

Naqi looked over Caleb's shoulder. He had caught sight of a girl staring at him, and he couldn't shake the feeling that she found him entertaining.

In the same way he found centipedes and milipedes entertaining.

She was beautiful, he thought. Her lips lush, and her eyes a meaningful shade. Not an overwhelming beauty that Men his age would clearly gravel for. He shook his head. Quite taken by surprise at his privy thoughts.

Naqi turned back to Caleb, motioning towards the girl standing behind him. Caleb spun around at an alarming speed.

"Thought you could snap my neck from behind, did you, little Eloise?" Caleb held his hands up, a fairly awkward stance.

"Not quite, but surely somewhere along those lines, brother." She replied in the most charming voice.

"Thank goodness i brought my friend here, saved my life he did," Caleb nodded towards Naqi, "He has a rather keen eye, don't you think?"

"Ah, the reputable Naqi, i presume. It's a shame, i almost had him if it weren't for you." She blinked at him. Very much amused.

"Th- Thank you." He managed to squek an answer. Eloise was highly, profoundly, exceedingly intellectual. Much like her brother. He stared at her eyes. Her blue eyes. It made him uncomfortable.

Eloise smiled blandly, pleased with herself for his reaction. Clearly, she was intimidating to most men.

"And what brings you here, Miss Eloise?" he asked. "I didn't know you were a great fan of Nicholas Cage." Naqi smiled back, revived and replenished.

"It was all Caleb's doing, i'm afraid." Eloise coughed as she said so.

"Dear sister, i was quite certain that you were intereste- " Caleb stopped mid-sentence, Eloise's elbow firmly nested on his stomach. Her cheeks were pink.

"Alright then," Caleb clutched his shirt, hurting, "I'm obviously overjoyed by the intriguing introductions earlier. Shall we proceed to the theater, or do you kids need some time to chat?"

"Not at all," the reply came from both of them. Eloise looked up at him with those startlingly blue eyes. Naqi felt his jaw stiffen. He was clearly annoyed. Eloise, he thought, was full of wit and tact. "This is going to be a long day," Naqi scanned his ticket. "A rather tough one," he added.

"Let's get to it then. Nicholas Cage it is." Caleb cheered.

Football: The Memoirs of Stamford Bridge.

2008-02-06T00:08:00.000-08:00

Chelsea Football Club

Nickname: The Blues

Formed: 1905

Stadium Capacity: 41, 841

Pitch: 103 x 67 metres

Training Ground: The training ground is at Cobham in Surrey but sessions are not open to the general public. Special open days are organised at Stamford Bridge when fans can see the team train.

For years, Chelsea's trophy cabinet was a pretty empty place. In the last decade though it's been positively bulging at the seams!
Our first 50 years were a desert as far as silverware was concerned with the league title in 1955 the first great achievement. The 1960s and early 1970s saw more silverware added but then another barren period of 26 years followed.
Then Ruud Gullit taught us how to win again with his side lifting the 1997 FA Cup. Teams managed by Gianluca Vialli and Jose Mourinho have since taken up the trophy-winning baton.

I love Chelsea. May the 2007/2008 season bring more trophys to the cabinet.

Magazine of the year award goes to, 'Dum duh dee dum duh dum'

2008-02-05T23:09:00.000-08:00

Quite an interesting magazine i picked up for 3 euros. Featuring me and my friends.

Of strums and picks

2008-02-05T19:09:00.000-08:00

Guitar sweet guitar. I prefer acoustics. Handcrafted by Yamaha. The F310 Yamaha features nato neck, spruce laminate top, meranti back and sides, rosewood bridge with black PVC pickguard. Comes in natural gloss finish for a classic, elegant look.

Ps. Zaky, lets jam sometime

Mistakes were corrected by simply exclaiming, "Do over!"

2008-02-05T19:07:00.000-08:00

"We don't know what day it is. We never will. Mark important dates on the calendar." Naqi barked.
"Men."
The reply came swift. "Eloise, whenever possible, please say whatever you want to say during commercials."
"Uh- you are unbelievable," she grunted.
"It's one of my best qualities." He tilted his head in that slightly unnerving manner.
She beamed at him, her eyes blinking with intensity.
"I suppose you are right."
"I always am."

~A short conversation between Naqi and Eloise~

Born on Monday, Fair in face;
Born on Tuesday, Full of God's grace;
Born on Wednesday, Sour and sad;
Born on Thursday, Merry and glad;
Born on Friday, Worthily given;
Born on Saturday, Work hard for your living;
Born on Sunday, You will never know want.

eloise. eloise. eloise. you're all i think about. i'm sorry for forgetting your birthday? i sincerely am. "Do over?" :)

Decisions were made by going "eeny-meeny-miney-mo"

2008-02-05T19:01:00.000-08:00

"Oh, for the love of- " Naqi cut himself off in the nick of time. "Who do you think you are?"
She closed the gap between them. "The woman who is going to be your girlfriend".
For a moment, he said nothing. But then, he stepped back and said, "I want you to leave."
Her reply came practically on top of her last syllable.
"And i want your promise. Promise me you'll say yes."
He clamped his mouth shut. It would have been an easy promise to make; but a promise would have been akin to an apology, and he would not give her the satisfaction. Call him foolish, call him an idiot, but he would not do it. Not after what she'd done to him.
"Good God," she muttered, "you're stubborn."
He gave her a sickly smile. "It is going to be a joy being my girlfriend."
"Naqi," she said, or rather, half-sighed. "In the name of all that is- " She raked her hand through her hair, and she seemed to look all around the room before finally turning back to him. "I understand that you're angry . . ."
"Do not speak to me as if i were a child."
"I wasn't."
He looked at her cooly. "You were."
"Good heavens, do you take me for a fool?" she inquired.
"Do you know why you asked me to be your girlfriend?" he demanded.
"What the devil are you talking about?"
"Do you know?" he repeated."Of course i know. It's because- " But she cut herself off, and she obviously did not know what to say.
He shook his head, blinking back in tears. "I don't want to see you right now."
She flinched from the venom in his voice. "What is wrong with you? Tell me- "
"No." Checkmate.