Day 29

Dear Mother,

I wish I could tell you everything about me, but I'm sorry, I can't. These truths might be too hard for your closed and narrow mind could take. Truly knowing me may break you, Mother. But I love you, whatever it is.

Love,

Nov.

Day 27

Another ode to Edz, then. Ha!

Day 27

Dear J E R L I N N,

I hope one day you'll be a great DJ. And the tattooed words on your arms, those are my favourite lyrics. Thanks for being such a friendly guy during our road trip!

Love,

Nov.

Day 26

Dear Soccer Dude,

I can't remember your name but you better keep your promise and not tackle me so hard the next time if we ever play with each other again. I've nothing much to say to a random soccer dude, though.

Love,

Nov.

Day 25

Refer to day 21.

Day 24

Dear BelleKylieC,

My favourite memory, if anyone must know, would be the one we went to see the sunset and read the clouds and feel on top of the world. You, and YY and JK, are probably my favourite persons in the world.

I'm really glad that you're beginning to be more responsible and thoughtful nowadays. Keep at it!

Love,

Nov.

Day 23

Dear XX,

The kiss probably shouldn't have happened. I still think about it and feel stupid about myself sometimes. At least, though, we're still friends. (:

Love,

Nov.

Day 22

I give second, third, fourth, nth chances to everybody. Most of them just always never fail to let me down. But it's those that proved me wrong that count.

Day 21

Dear Prem,

When I first saw you during class orientation I thought you were just another poseur gangster.

However, our first experience at Gate 8 changed all that. Over time, we've grown to great buddies, and I come to know the man behind the inked skin, smell of Marlboro Reds, proptosis and the Sexologist tee.

It's hard to be you. Misfortune, it seems, is always in your proximity. Still, after every hit I just see you stand up again and again. It's not easy, anyone lesser would have collapsed long ago. I firmly believe in the saying that what does not kill you makes you stronger, and you're my perfect living advocate for that.

The fighter is in your blood. Do your bloodline proud. All your heroes in your life have fought so much and they've not always won. However, it doesn't take away those victories they have, and how they did it with honour and integrity. You win some and you lose some, my friend. And when you lose all that big titles, I hope you will stop, take a breather and make bigger victories after.

Thanks for being such a valuable friend, and teaching me what honour, brotherhood, generosity and racial harmony mean. You made a difference in my life.

Love,

Nov.

Day 20

Please refer to day 7. To keep it short, what doesn't kill you, makes you fucking strong.

Day 19

Dear Sunshine,

Yes, you're just constantly in my head.

Love,

Nov.

Day 18

Dear Nov,

There is no one else that I want to be more than you. It's hard to be you. It's hard to be seen as a typical partying kid who flirts with every girl, and who isn't very sensible, smart or special. But it doesn't matter though, because I know you're not, and nobody else can be who you are. You're just so haute couture. Keep at it!

Love,

Nov.

Day 17

Dear GXY,

It's amazing how we were from the same primary schools (yes, schools), secondary school and even until tertiary level. However, I don't think I'm going to any other schools to study anymore but hopefully we would still be friends. And I will never understand why my mother dotes and is concerned about you so much, ha!

Love,

Nov.

Day 16

Dear Jenjen,

I hope you're adapting well in dull Hull! It's a pity we didn't have a polaroid moment together before, though. I want to be on your wall, too! But it's fine, I'll just wait for you to come back and then we'll take a picture together and I'll make you develop it so that at least my face is in the UK.

Really proud of you that you're doing all these on your own. I think I would need to summon plenty of courage to do the same and I don't exactly think I've enough, even! So please try and be a good Asian stereotype and geek it out a bit, enjoy yourself and try not to come back with a Saudi duckling princeling. Hope you're having a good adventure!

Love,

Nov.

Day 15

This is not valid because I don't have a particular person that I miss the most. When I say I miss you I really mean it as it is, I don't give a value to my misses, so they all weigh the same. Basically I miss all my GGBs and Yuli and Ziwei. So, let's all wait for day 16, then!

Day 14

Dear Yuli-chan,

I miss you a lot. It sucks to see all of us drift apart like that after graduation as much as we don't want to. You're probably the only person who doesn't judge the gate 8 kids. I wish you'll be less busy, if not for me then at least for yourself, you need to learn when to stop and breathe for awhile! I'm so happy that you're enjoying work, despite your pay which I think is pretty much an insult compared to the optometrists working in retail, and not whining and complaining about anything while you're at it. I miss hanging with you during clinic and going for dinner at FC 2 after. And of course there's the talking part. You've been such a great friend, I'm really lucky to have known you! I really hope to hear from you soon, Yuli!

Love,

Nov.