When Spring quarter started, there was a large number of Malaysian students who got added into our Whatsapp group, so the seniors decided to hold a gathering in the evening at one of their apartment rooftops. They bought pizzas and canned drinks, and the twenty of us who came just huddled up in small groups, chatting and getting to know one another.
I got to talk to two new girls, Megan and Xuan, a lot. They are basically what you would imagine people who spend hours on the internet reading memes and watching anime would be like. Geeky, but fun to hold conversations with. I can't remember the last time I had a conversation with someone well-versed in the internet world. They were from the same primary school in Penang, and didn't know they were in the same college almost 5 years later until this quarter. We talked about sexuality and geeked over Anime and internet jokes. I think Kelly must have been surprised because I've never mentioned being into these kind of things with her before.
Megan mentioned wanting to start a Biochemistry Club, so Wayne told her she could just take over the Chemistry Club since the entire Board of Directors were transferring after the quarter. "Having a club will look really good on your resume," he said, "but of course, don't just do it for the resume, you know. It's really fun and a good experience."
Kei was there, and he told me about his plans to start a Malaysian-Singaporean club in college. "But Dash keeps wanting to make it a South-East Asian thing," he said. Dash is another Malaysian who wasn't there. Kei wants to keep it exclusive, and hopes that the club should be ready to go by the time we came back from summer break. We talked about his Supreme reselling business, him lagging behind in math and wanting me to tutor him, and his 'white girlfriend', who is actually just a friend. Kelly had told me what others have told her, that the girl has a boyfriend back home in Russia, and Kei and her were indeed just 'friends'. How true that is, I don't know, but as much as I like knowing things about people, I've decided to not meddle too much.
At some point we moved down to the clubhouse because the rooftop was windy and cold. Kelly and I played pingpong with Chris, Michael, Shan, and Hui Min. We kept laughing about how bad we were, with Kelly treating it more like badminton and Hui Min treating it more like dodgeball.
Then all twenty of us moved on to play Avalon, using poker cards as character and voting cards. We played the same game during the Chinese New Year gathering three months ago, but Wayne had to explain it again to the newcomers. A lot of shouting ensued. Jason kept trying to convince everyone he was the good guy. Shan and Darren telling everyone not to trust him. People accusing each other of having a black card and people being fake-offended at the amount of distrust roommates of three years could have of each other. It was all in jest, of course. We played three rounds. At 10pm we finally wrapped up and headed home. Louise, who is roommates with Michael, offered to take Megan and I home. We talked some more in the car.
I had so much fun, but when I got home, I started having that weird empty feeling again. Getting together like this with a group of friends is something that only happens often until college ends, and that after real adulthood starts getogethers like this will be scarce and far in between. I felt like I should be having fun times like this more often while I'm young. But the fact that I am not, makes me feel like my social life isn't where I would like it to be.
This quarter would be the last quarter the seniors will be here. Shan, Wayne, Mira, Rachel, Yvonne and Ming. I've known them for three quarters, but I had fond impressions of them. I played basketball with Shan and Wayne, and despite me being terrible at it, they encouraged me to not sit out during games. "That's how you improve, you know. By playing more. you'll get better," Wayne had said. Shan told me he was bad at basketball too, but I told him because of his height, he was considered an asset to any team he played with.
Rachel and Mira has Physics lecture before my Physics lab. I ran into them yesterday, and we talked a bit. "You got an A for Physics 4A?" Mira said, almost gawking. "I know like, only one other Malaysian who has ever gotten an A for that class."
"Huh, really?"
"Aish, smart people like you, can lah." Rachel said, sort of teasing me. I really think the reason I got an A for that class was because the professor favored me, or something twisted like that. I just smiled. Somehow Mira told Candace about it today, and Candace approached me about how to do well in that Physics class. "I really don't know how I did it." I said. I really don't.
Ming is Candace's boyfriend. I didn't talk to him much, but from what I know he is a pleasant guy to be around, and had an air of maturity and responsibility to him. I was hoping Game of Thrones would be brought up at some point, then we could have at least had a conversation. He did say my onde-onde was really good during the Chinese New Year party. Yvonne I only met last quarter, and she is such a joy. She always greeted everyone with a smile and a hug, and could talk to you for hours on end. She also always picked up after everyone, and reunited loose belongings with their owners.
I am going to miss them. I don't know them that well, but I am going to miss them. Who would carry the group forward without them around? Where would we even host future events, now that the seniors won't be around for us to use their apartment clubhouse? I couldn't think of anyone else after them who have the aptitude to organize events. It felt scary to think about it. It felt scary to think that responsibility might rest on me.
