My good friend's marriage

[EagerBeaver29]

Wah bro, your story is freaking life-changing man... I'm sure many bros here will agree with me. How many of us actually log in every now and then to REFRESH the page to see if there are updates... I know I am one of them. Hahahahahah!

Man... This is really distracting!! BUT TOTALLY WORTH IT!!!

[PlayxPlay]

wah bro! u should be writing telenovelas!

[killer_pussy]

Nice one bro, do keep it up!

[hornyboy1001]

Boss , need you to continue man! I've been a silent reader , but this story is just too good!



Cheers

[papagraphite]

I can't wait to hear what happens next!

[RibeyeStick]

Originally Posted by EagerBeaver29

Wah bro, your story is freaking life-changing man... I'm sure many bros here will agree with me. How many of us actually log in every now and then to REFRESH the page to see if there are updates... I know I am one of them. Hahahahahah!

Man... This is really distracting!! BUT TOTALLY WORTH IT!!!

I log in quite often to check

[MaiZapMeHor]

No Horse Run

[BHunter]

Great... Awesome...

more please

[koebshaq0_0]

Absolutely awesome. Thank you bro ilock ^^

[BBBBW]

Awesome!!

Bbbbw

[ilikeoldchangke]

20th June

Sunday


8am




We went out for breakfast and by lunch, all of us parted ways, returning home.


I slept through most of Sunday, my head heavy with thoughts and I was really exhausted.


By the time I woke up at 6pm, I had 3 miss call from Celeste who was asking if I wanted to eat with her parents but they had already gone ahead.




I ordered some fast food as I was too lazy to head out.



After draining the sugary drink, I knocked out again at 10pm and I slept all the way through the night.







21th June


Monday


12pm





Word had started to spread about something interesting happening during the company trip. Colleagues who did not get to go were randomly asking anyone they could get theirs hands on what happened.



There were so many versions of the story floating around and I could hear some colleagues saying they got good friend at the woodlands branch and they offered to phone over and trade notes.


I was approached by Qinghe.





He was one of the closer PRC colleagues with me in the main office. He’s been in Singapore for close to 5 years and is one of the few that I can truly connect with.

Not only is he smart, he humble and willing to share if required, he was also willing to learn.





We got to know each other better during a company corporate social responsibility trip to a old folks home. He told me that he missed his old parents back home, and working with the old folks reminded him of them.


From then on, he volunteered every Sunday at the community home. On certain occasions, I would drop by with some provisions if my dad is free to drive me along.






What impressed me the most was how frugal he was, not only did he send most of his money back home, I heard from Ella once that he was the top donor to the old folks home in the entire company.



$180 SGD every month was debited from his pay cheque even before he received it.




It made me feel ashamed when Ella hinted that he’s earning lesser than me, I only donated the minimum of $5.


I increased my donation to $20 the following month.






Qinghe : James …. What happened ?


I just told Qinghe the version of what I intend to tell the management should they ask and he nodded his head.



Qinghe : So drama lah… haha




He had already started to pick up our local lingo and singlish with all the lahs, and the yahs.










By 3pm



The picture was starting to get clearer among the gossip hungry colleagues.



The word that some employees were having sex in the workplace was common knowledge, but the juicy part was there were photos circulating around.


The male employees were excited. Even the interns perked up their ears.



Before I knew it, our 2 in house courier/delivery uncle Hafiz and uncle larry were up at the office, asking what was happening. A mischievous look of interest on their faces as they casually chatted and snooped around.



When our warehouse supervisor Muthu came too, shaking his head with a grin on his face, I knew Mimi’s time in the organisation was coming to an end.








5pm



There was a flurry of activities in the office and people I’ve never seen before were streaming into the conference room. Most left after a while.



Walter went in shortly after and at 5.20pm my phone rang.



Walter : James … we need you inside the conference room.








I straightened my shirt and walked in.



Seated on my left was Walter and Spencer, on the right was a lady I never seen before and in the middle was the regional boss of the company, David.


The lady started talking first and the moment the first words left her mouth, I knew she was from PRC as well.



Her English is pretty decent and I had no trouble understanding her.





Her tone however, was a little condescending, and she gives people the vibe that she may be talking to you, but she’s already looking down on you.


It’s as if it was beneath her to even talk to you.







Yes, I’m sure you have met someone like that before in your life.



Her eyes were like thin slits of sharp blade, as if visually she wanted to slice you in 2 as she rest her chin on the back of her hand.




Lili : James : I’m Lili, the regional production head for the company….. can you tell me what happened during the trip .





I told her that there was a misunderstanding, we saw the CCTV, and nothing happened. Walter was brushing something off the glass.




That was it.



James : The service staff apologised and that was it.






Lili exhaled in an impatient manner, as if she was wasting her time even by listening to me.


Lili : Whatever….. Mimi…. Says Walter paid the service staff off. Is that true.







Walter just looked on in a disinterested manner and I could see Spencer roll his eyes.

As if being seated on opposite sides were not obvious enough, the manner at which the management faces off with each other left no one in doubt they could not get along.





Cindy came in right when I was about to speak and she was wiping her perspiration off her forehead.




Cindy : Go on… don’t mind me…




I was curious which side she would take and she took the left.




Lili : We don’t at all….. James please continue.



If Cindy was offended, she did not let it show.





James : The staff apologised after realising they made a mistake. Why is there a need to pay them off ? Nothing happened…. It’s a misunderstanding.




Lili folded her arms and looked down at her feet, obviously finding them more interesting than me.







Lili : Did Walter pay them money or not…..? can you just answer my questions ? ….. Which part of it do you not understand ???





I took a deep breath and answered the 50 year old hag that seemed like she spent too much on botox injection.


Her wrinkles were deeply set into her forehead, the crows feet by her eyes were obvious too but she still act and pretended as if she was some sweet young thing. Brushing her fringe behind her years and looking at her own fingernails as she spoke.






James : No… He did not



She sat forward in her chair, placing both her hands together and looked straight at me.




Lili : You see James…… i…. I’m very good at something…. That is to know if people lied to me…. So….






She stood up, she was shorter than me, but the manner in which she conduct herself was as if she could squash me like a bug if she wanted.




She came closer and looked at me in the eye.



Lili : Don’t lie to me…… don’t fuck with me….







The room was quiet as all eyes fell on me.



My expression did not change.





I was not fazed at all by that woman.




I did not need any theatrics to prove anything.






Staring straight at her in the eyes, I replied.

[ilikeoldchangke]

James : I, never saw any money changed hands from Walter to the service staff. Not when I was there…





I added immediately after my first sentence.



James : And no…. I will not fuck with you….. not in a thousand years…





I could hear a snigger from Spencer as Lili glared at me angrily.




Fuck her pun.



My reply could be worse.








Cindy spoke.


Cindy : That’s enough James…. You may go.





I nodded my head at her before excusing myself.


The management staff left the room shortly after me.






I called Ella to understand the situation over at the woodlands office and I asked about Lili and who is she.



Ella : Mimi calls her dajie….. in fact all the PRC staff calls her that.





She went on to tell me that Lili is known to be overly protective of her own people, and it was obvious when it comes to hiring choices, she preferred anyone but our own locals.



Ella also told me that Mimi was asked to pack up that afternoon but Lili has been going around trying to shake things up.











25th June


Friday


12pm





Everything had been cast in stone by then. Mimi’s departure was a fact and the only acknowledgment I got from Walter was a quick wink on when we passed each other in the pantry that day.



Ella had started divorce proceedings and according to her, Don had moved out in the middle of the week.






Life was just starting to go back to normal for everyone. The gossip died down.

There was no longer any rumour to feed the hunger of the gossipers.





Everyone was busy with the upcoming launch of a new storage plant in the north of Singapore. The company had recently acquired the land from the authorities, and we will be holding our company’s annual team bonding day at the site together with the ground breaking.










30th July 2010


Friday


9am






It was not a usual work day for everyone as we all gathered at the new site in woodlands.


Several tents has been set up, refreshments were readily available and the people from the events company were stroking people’s excitement, getting them ready for the ground breaking.



I could see the games being set up, team bonding activities and stuff. Everyone needs to participate, no exceptions.







After the CEO dig into the ground with the excavator together with a politician, he gave s short speech before making the announcements.




CEO : Let the games….. begin…







Everything was pre-planned and the schedule of what was to be done was emailed to all employees’ weeks ahead.



We laughed, drank and ate as everyone mingled.





Xiaohua was there too, she turns out to be a production supervisor in the factory floor. We stared at each other but kept our distance.




I could not help but feel something was brewing.







By 4pm, we were ready for the final event.






A Paintball company was invited to set up at our new site.



There was to be a inter office challenge.



The staff at our AMK office vs the guys at woodlands.







Something did not seem right to me when I look at the allocation of players. Something was definitely way off.



It was a 7 aside game, set in a small forested patch that has yet to be cleared for the new plant.


That was the only game in which the details was not released to us beforehand with the management terming it as the grand finale to the ground breaking day.








I was up first, together with my colleagues.


Uncle Larry, Uncle Hafiz , Muthu, they were all well into their mid 40s, but they still grinned playfully as we put on the safety gear.



Alvin from purchasing started to gear up by my side together with the two 23 year old university interns attached to him, Adrian and Jason.




I looked at the list of names on the opposing teams, it was all PRC including Xiaohua. Even Qinghe from our AMK office was there. He was puzzled, and started asking around but on one knew anything.






A foreboding feeling was starting to creep up on me as everyone geared up. The rules were briefed to us and once we were hit, we were to leave the game.


The objective was to plant your flag in the opposing team’s base.








The instructor added that the terrain is challenging, it’s a real natural forest, he reminded us a few times it was just a game and the key was to have fun.




It was just a short 5 minute game due to time constraint and everyone was given 50 paintballs per set.



We will be doing a total of 3 sets.






Lili came out after that to address everyone, saying some crap before asking us to enjoy the game.




I was shocked and surprised when the flags we would be using was presented to us.








Instead of some coloured banners, it was a real flag.


Hafiz : Wah… play soccer ah… real flag seh….. don’t play play…





We were told to give a team name and a cheer for the camera man.


The PRCs were more sporting, shouting 加油！加油！加油！in loud quick succession.







We on the other hand giggled and laugh. After some discussion, we decided our team names to be ‘Singapore’.

Larry : Use Singapore flag mah…. Chin chye la… play play only… ahah






We laughed and in our truly uniquely Singaporean way, our cheer was our signature.



“ HUAT AH ! “





We gave a half hearted one at the camera before going off laughing and joking around.









We filed off to the games area and with the blow of a whistle, the game started.



We took cover accordingly and started firing. I counted my rounds carefully, and before long all 50 rounds were up.



We hardly advanced a few metres and we were done.




But amazingly the PRCs laid down a non stop volley of covering fire, allowing them to advance without difficulty towards us.





What angered my was not that we lost the 1st game.



It was the fact that they shot at us when we said we were already empty.



I took one to my thigh, the stinging pain shot through my nerves like a stab of a knife.





The uncles cursed as well and we watched as Xiaohua kick our flag onto the floor, spitting at it before planting theirs in.


She glared at me before turning and walking away.






The whistle was blown and as the cheered and went off to prepare for the second set, I was puzzled.




I was fucking puzzled.






The advancing alone, with their rate of fire, they would have exhausted all their paintballs even before they got close.



How is it that they have so many paintballs.






As we struggled to get up, Qinghe ran towards me. His neon green scarf stood out easily.





Qinghe : Are you all ok ?



We nodded and before I could speak, Qinghe took my gun and shook.






Qinghe : How many rounds you all have ?


James : 50 … that’s what they said right.





Qinghe shook his head, adding that he already fired off 50, and he shook his gun to show me, indicating that they had a lot more.





My blood was fucking boiling as I watched Lili stood at a distance, egging the organisers to quickly get the next round started.




The uncles were befuddled too on the unfairness. A few instructors came and reloaded for us and we took the chance to ask them but they said they knew nothing.


Adding that the game will start in 5 minutes, and that we need to hurry so everyone gets a chance.




The interns looked a little unsure and scared.



The uncles were wondering if we should continue but the starting whistle was blown, asking everyone to get ready.

[ilikeoldchangke]

I quickly gathered them around, formulating a quick plan.






Hafidz : That’s crazy James…



Larry : Siao ah…




Jason : This is not fair…






I stood up and replied.



James : Life is never fair. We don’t choose the cards we were dealt with……. But we can choose how to play those cards.






They nodded a little unsure but still took up positions.





The whistle sounded again and almost immediately, I could feel the crack of the tree barks near me. The whistle of paintballs flying by my ears at breakneck speed.



The volley of shots crackled like gunfire in the humid forest.


I waited for an opening before I got up, grabbing our Singapore flag at the same time.



I was hit almost immediately, and that pretty much meant I was out of the game.





Fuck the game.



The game was over ever before it begin.




I continued running, charging towards their base.



There was 2 seconds of confusion before I felt the entire area around me starting to burst out in a colourful array of powder and paint.



Woodchips flew, dry grass and mud shot up high up to my waist level as I ran towards the PRCs.




I was hit a couple more times on my chest armour but I bit my teeth and went on.




As I got closer, a large figure got up, waiting for me.



There was no doubt it was Xiaohua.





I headed straight for her, and she barrelled straight towards me like a freight train with more rounds exploding around us.



I past by Qinghe as the flash of his neon scarf went pass my eyes. I noted that he was not shooting at all, squatting by the side of his tree and just looking on in horror.




With a shout, my body connected with Xiaohua, sending a sharp stab of pain down my shoulder.



I was slower and Xiaohua landed a punch on my helmet, knocking me off my feet but as she advanced towards me, I landed a kick on her leg and she lost balance.


She collapsed and rolled down the gentle slope.





I turned towards my teammates and a smile broke on my face.



It was one of the most beautiful sight I have ever seen in my life.



That fucking beauty of seeing 6 of them rising up simultaneously spread out along the line of fire.





There was no need to shout.



There was no need for any command.



It was something that was ingrained in every Singaporean son.




Something we trained to do.



Something we knew by heart.





It did not matter if they are a 40 year old uncle or a frightened intern. They did the same thing.



Held the same poise.




With the butt of the weapon pressed firmly on their shoulders, I watch with pride as my team mates advanced, dauntless and unyielding in the face of fire.



Their heads tilted down, aiming as best as they could as they took step after step towards the entrenched PRC.


The confidence of each step was nothing compared to the defiant advance in spite of the stronger fire power.





Rounds after rounds were fired.




If only we were staring down an actual iron sight.



The positions where our opponents were hiding erupted in a smattering cloud of chaos.






No one stopped.





Not Muthu who’s leg hurts during rainy day.



Not Larry who is on medication for high cholesterol




And of course not the interns.






They advanced for a good 7 seconds before running out of paintballs.





The PRCs were quick to retaliate, firing back a succession of rounds.




I watched in horror as Larry took 2 to the chest right before Muthu’s leg gave way after getting hit in the thigh.



My hair rose and goose bumps appeared as I watch Jason ran over, pushing Uncle Hafidz away as he took 3 to his back, sending him collapsing onto the forest floor.


Hafidz cursed in malayu, and he covered Jason’s body with his, his back imedaitely painted a bright green by a well-aimed shot.





Alvin dragged Adrian away in time as the spot he was standing on erupted as the high velocity round kicked up a cloud of dirt but Adrian shrugged Alvin off, running towards Muthu.




Together with Larry, he dragged the rest behind the cover of a old rain tree.




It was chaos.





Whistles were blowing, I could see some spectators at the tents standing up.



Instructors were at a lost, no one wanted to be caught in the crossfire.





I got up on my feet, lifting our flag and ran towards the opponent base.



Xiaohua was up too.





This time round, I was a bit faster, I feign a punch but instead sidestepped and knock her onto the ground. She stripped on a tree root and tumbled back down the slope again.





I reached for the China flag and set it aside.


There is no need to insult the sovereignty of a country the way the PRCs did.






Before I could put in the flag, another PRC guy charged towards me.



Right at that moment, I heard a loud shout from Uncle Larry.






Larry : KNN !!! You CHEE BYEsss…


There was no longer any need for the paintball guns as I watch Larry, Hafidz and Muthu charged head first towards the entrenched opponents.





Paint erupted on their bodies as the 2 of the PRC stood up and continued firing on the unarmed men but they defied the odds and reached down, grabbing the PRCs with their fucking bare hands.


Pulling them out from behind tress and fallen logs.






The first punch went off and connected with Muthu’s face, causing him to fall to the ground and the entire forest erupted into an orgy of shouts and chaos.


Punches and kicks connected sweaty bruised muscles





The firing had stopped and a few more PRCs were seen running towards the game zone . I would have thought they wanted to break up the brawl but I was wrong.


They picked up fallen branches and sticks there were cleared earlier from the game zone and charged towards the confrontation.




The game organisers froze, not knowing what to do.




The team next in line behind us, started running towards the mass of angry sweaty bodies led by a blonde hair ex convict by the name of Tom. He was part of the company’s effort towards the yellow ribbon project.



Tom : PHUA CHEE BYE….eeeeeeeeeeeee !!!





His cursed rang the loudest among the din that was starting to drown out everyone.


He ran the fastest too, charging towards the fight, leading a shouting band of a few fellow ex-cons towards the party.



I only managed to catch him knocking down a guy that was pressing onto Alvin before my body connected with the PRC guy that was coming at me.






We landed several punch on each other’s helmet and face mask.


I could feel the sting of the cut and I saw the stream of red blood running down my knuckles.






A jab to his kidney was met with a tight punch to my stomach. As I bent over, I charged forward, knocking him down from the high ground where I stood.




I looked down at the clash of bodies and it strengthened my resolve







I reached the spot where I was to place our flag.



Stepping onto the platform, I raised our flag into air, shouting out to let my team mates know that we won.



I blared my lungs out, determined to grab their attention, hopefully stop the fight.





With a loud exclamation I shouted.




I shouted like I never did at the riot a short distance away.




I shouted.







James : Team SINGAPOREEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!



My voice rang out in the forest as I plunge our flag deep into the slot meant to hold the victors’ flag.





But that was not it.




I wanted things to die down.

Hopefully it would stop everyone but I was wrong.





It did not.



It did not. ………….






What happened raised all the hair on my neck, sending a ripple of shiver down my entire spine as my shout ignited a phenomenon I could not explain.



As if right on cue, I heard all my fellow Singaporean colleagues caught up in the fight shout as well.

[ilikeoldchangke]

And fuck…. it was some shout.




The resulting echo reverberated into my ear drums as the unison of voice silenced the entire forest.




The birds no longer chirped.




The insects stopped buzzing.




Just like when the samurais defeated the ninjas in the Tom cruise movie, they shouted all at once right into the PRCs face.





All together : HUAT AHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!





The resulting echo travelled into everyone’s eardrum, raising all of my hair and goosebumps and everyone stopped moving.






No one spoke.



No one moved.





I stared at my colleagues, some struggled to stand.





Larry had to be supported by Jason.




Tom was bleeding badly on his forehead







Jason was leaning against the tree.


Muthu and uncle Hadfiz leaned against each other, the looked of a hardened father in the humid jungle etched on their face.




The shout petrified everyone, including the management watching from a distance.




The instructors did not dare to move.





PRCs were scattered about, some lying down. Some sitting against the tree.







One thing was certain.




All of us local stood …………………




We stood. ……………….





We fucking stood even if it means we need to endure further pain.






We stood…….. quiet ……….and defiant……...



Defiant of the odds the fucking management had placed on us.





We stood. ……….






I felt a sharp pain course through my thigh followed almost immediately by my calves as I collapsed onto the ground.



Xiaohua fired off a few successive shots at me and I landed back first onto the ground.


I squeezed off my weapon as well, collapsing her knees as she too tumbled down onto the floor facing me about 4 m away.







4 metres.



The length of your average carpark lot is 4.8 metres.






That was how close we were.



It fucking hurts to be shot so up close.




I raised up my weapon the same time as Xiaohua and we started squeezing off a series of rounds at each other, almost at point blank range



I could feel the sickening thud as my body went into spasm but after the 3rd round, I no longer feel any pain.



Pop…. Pop… pop…






My head snapped backwards like a broken marionette doll as my face mask was coated bright green and I returned the favour with a splash of red on Xiaohua’s face mask.

Xiaohua : ARGHHHHH…. Fuck!!! You !!!.





I could not remember how long it was.


Perhaps everything think lasted for only 3-4 seconds before our weapons were grabbed away from us.




I can’t remember if I blacked out but when I got to my feet, Larry and Muthu was support me.




Xiaohua got up without any help and taunted.




Xiaohua : come on!!!.. fuck you!!!.. come on!!! … FUCK you …!!







Qinghe was in the middle desperately trying to calm everyone down as we all gathered in a circle.




Qinghe : Enough… enough…






We just glared at each other, standing at opposing sides.





I could feel a gentle breeze coming from the left, caressing our sweat soaked body.



The birds were chirping again. I could heard the distant cricket sing.





It’s as if mother nature was telling us that’s quite enough.






It’s time to stop.



I removed my helmet and mask and so did Xiaohua.



Pointing a finger at the crowd in front of me, I spoke.



James : You all are guest in our country…… do not ever…. for a moment mistake our hospitality as our weakness.





No one spoke after that.



After 30 seconds, the mob began to disperse without any need for further instructions.





I was helped over to our rest tents and I could see Lili directing the first aid staff over to the other tent where her people were.





The lot of us locals gathered at our tent. I saw Walter, sweaty and worried as he came over with 2 cartons of mineral water.



Walter : Are…. Are you all ok ?







We passed the bottles around.


The shelter and the fan was a welcome relief from the humid heat of our tropical rainforest.





I uncapped my bottle and was about to take a sip when I stopped.




I stopped.




Instead I raised my bottle to the air, towards all my local colleagues.




Caps fell onto the ground and more raised their bottles at me. I made eye contact with each and everyone, turning in a clockwise direction, completing a full circle.



An unspoken switch was flicked and we all started to drink, draining the bottle and replenishing the fluids we lost.


It was a short 10 maybe 15 minutes, but so much has happened.








Some finished their water faster than the rest but they kept their hands up.



They kept their bottles in the air.



When the last had drained the final drop of liquid, it’s as if a silent telepathic command was given at the exact same moment.






We smashed the bottles onto the timber decking, the crack of plastic against solid wood popped like muted gunfire and our voices rang out together for 1 last time, drowning out everyone within a good square mile.







In Unison : HUAT AHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!




As the last of the echo disappeared into the distance, I stared at Lili who was looking at me.



I smiled and mumbled under my breath.





James : Don’t fuck with us I say..….. don’t fuck with us… ..

[BlueSteel]

Brilliant story!! 👏👍