Piano

Faint strains of the piano tinkled in the background. Her slender fingers skimmed across the keys, belting out a cheerless, melancholic tune. The stale stench of cigarettes and alcohol hung in the air. Dusty lamps cast a warm orange glow around the room, lighting up certain areas, darkening the already shadowy corners. The usual crowd had thinned due to the harsh weather. Most would rather stay home in front of the cozy fireplace with their family, drinking a steamy cup of hot chocolate. The only ones left were the loners, who had gotten so drunk that the barman had to kick them out before they cause a ruckus.

That lone barman now stood silently behind the bar polishing the beer cups with a grubby looking rag in a feeble attempt to appear busy. Swaying slightly to the sorrowful melody, he stacked the dusty cups behind the counter and began to polish the wooden counter-top. The ballad stopped in mid-tune as the lady reached up to adjust the microphone.

From afar, you’d think that there was nothing special about her. Up close, however, men and women alike were stunned by her subtle beauty. She wasn’t much of a head-turner, but there was a quiet grace about her in the way she walked, sat or just simply asked for a mug of beer. She made it sound like she was asking a favour instead of the usual demanding tone you’d normally hear from a buyer. Her hair was a flaxen colour which hung halfway down her back. It was mostly tied up or plaited, but kept out of her face all the same. She was petite and her eyes were in the most peculiar shade of green; at times it was a deep emerald colour, others, it was a clear turquoise shade. Her voice was gentle and dulcet, her snub nose and slightly full lips fitted her tiny, pale heart-shaped face.

The music commenced once more, she played a different song this time. Its tune however, held the same desolated, morose feel as the one before as she begin to sing a song never heard of before; her song:

I remember the time when you told me
That you couldn’t get enough of me
Even though we had just part
Did you know that those words touched my heart?

I remember that day you told me
That the best day of your life
Was everyday that you saw me
Did you know how blissful that made me?

I remember everything about you
Do you remember things about me too?
In my heart you’ll always be
Even though we’ve already part
I know I shouldn’t be saying this but
I miss you

I remember how you used to call me every night
But slowly, those calls somehow stopped
And even when I tried to call you
You couldn’t be bothered to talk

I remember everything about you
Do you remember things about me too?
In my heart you’ll always be
Even though we’ve already part
I know I shouldn’t be saying this but
I miss you

Now you’ve moved on, I see you with her
Does she make you laugh like I used to?
I see you holding her hand so tightly
And I really hope that you’re happy
Cause I know I’ll never be

Wallflower

He holds my hands

And hugs me when I'm scared

He's telling it'll be alright

He makes me laugh all the time

He tells me his secrets

I tell him mine

He teaches me things

He explains to me the things people hide

He’s the last person

I’m thinking of before I fall asleep

He snores, I know

He doesn't care

He never judges

Always taking people for who they are

He’s no saint

He tries to live guilt-free

We’re soul mates

Nothing else

It’s not love we feel

Just a common bond

He made me bloom

His little wallflower

Picture by : Royston Toh

Streets of Gold

We walk on streets of gold

Our heels clicking on the cobbled sidewalk

Clutching our branded goodies

Picking our way down the road

We think we know where we're headed

We believe our future is just that

But we forget

We were meant for something more

There’s got to be

More then sipping coffee in the morn

Scrambling around to fulfill our overlord's desires

There’s got to be more then that

Fate and destiny

Can’t fight if

You choose differently

You and I, we've bigger things ahead

The sky's the only limit

And we have streetlights

When nights fall

So what are you afraid of?

Drop your baggage and walk with me

Picture by : Royston Toh

music

the music keeps playing

i was wrong

you knew how to whisper sweet nothings

must be some sort of genetic code

like

all boys will know how to
promise empty promises and whisper sweet nothings
in a girl's ear

you lick my ear

and ask me

how did that feel

i can only nod

words can't come out

my mind's a blank

you chuckle at the sounds i make

i feel my face turn red

i know i'm the only one affected here

our bodies pressed up against each other

only i can't get enough of you

you're just on for the fun

hips grinding

teeth knocking

you see the stars before i do

sometimes

i don't at all

but you just smirk and say good, wasn't it?

you get up

and pull up your pants

tugging at the waistbands

i just lie there

wondering why i put myself through it

got to be cause i'm in love with you

i tell you that

and you laugh

you know what we got is nothing, right?

you go back to her

and i to him

we have nothing in common anyway

and the music keeps playing

Picture By : Royston Toh

Something Old, Something New

i would very much like

to be proposed with

a lily-cut diamond

thus, fulfilling "something old"

i don't wish to

have a dinner in a stuff old restaurant

where we scream "ganbei" at the top of our lungs

completing the statement with "something new"

and i take you, to be mine,
in good times, and in bad,
in sickness, and health,
for as long as i shall live

and i believe it will end as so.

Picture By : Royston Toh

Never Ending II

We always fought, mainly, me picking on you. Finding faults when there were none. I suppose I was pushing my luck, testing how far I could go. I suppose I was trying to see how much of bullshit you could take before you said “Enough!” and walk out of my life. I guess I didn’t think I deserved anything good happen to me. But you never gave up. Every time I pushed you away, you’d come back, saying you’re sorry when I should be the one to apologize. You took in everything I threw at you and kept coming back.

Picture By : Royston Toh

Never Ending I

I remember falling in love with you. I remember your lips, your black mysterious eyes, and your hair that could never stay down. Your hands were rough from gripping those steel bars. Your voice that was husky, yet not low. I remember how you hugged me so tightly, as I cried my heart out. You never said anything to comfort me. You just held me as I cried. I remember your crooked smile and your perfect, straight teeth. I remember how you never promised me the world. You brought it to me, without me asking. I remember everything about you.