Yep, that's me. In a small competition group with friends at least. I should've posted this up when the English Premier League season ended.

 

Hey, at least let me have some bragging rights. It's not easy having to pick a good point-scoring team for 38 weeks that doesn't sink after the third week. And look at it this way, I managed to finish in 9,456th position out of 1,280,290 players. Not too shabby I would say.

 

Gimme a break okay? It's just some small measure of personal satisfaction. To me, that's called life's simple pleasures.

I watched the display board. It read "270". I gripped the tiny piece of paper tight. Depending on how you look at it, time was either with me or against me. I kept glancing at my watch. I wanted time to be against me. Not that I relished it but beating time would've been for personal satisfaction. It's like when you were little and being able to run to the toilet to pee without wetting your shorts (or skirts) before you stepped in.

 

This was a somewhat different circumstance. It read "280". I looked at the crowd. Anxious faces tuned in to the display board. And those numbers seemed to have everyone locked in a trance. Even a sexy Mariah Carey music video didn't have that sort of pulling effect. But the numbers aren't moving fast enough. Everyone was just waiting with bated breath. Everyone wanted to dictate those numbers, but only she had control over them.

 

She made anxiety a game. It read "290". And with all games, there are winners and losers. As the numbers progressively increased, the crowd began to disperse. Many had given up, while the winners strode forth in triumph. Like Roman gladiators they were...running from the hungry lion.

 

So close yet so far. It read "300". I had 10 minutes tops if I'd any chance of being victorious against time. There were only a handful of people left waiting for their um, deliverance. Some even walked up to her and enquired their chances. It was as if our fate was in her hands. And I don't think they were pretty hands to leave our fate in.

 

She called a stop at "305". My heart sank. I saw forlorn figures resigning themselves to defeat. But there was still time. I could still make it. Come on, just push the bloody magic button! And she did. I couldn't believe it. I must've dated Lady Luck without knowing it!

 

"310". My magic number. It happened. I beat time. "Alright, no more check-ins after 310", was what the ground staff manager said. I smiled at the girl behind the check-in counter and told her, "My lucky day."

 

I had just about 15 minutes to get through customs, get to the boarding gate, get through security, and board the plane. Catching the earlier shuttle flight back from Singapore. Who would've thought there'd be such drama behind it? Haha...

How do you even begin to describe a girl like her? I've been thinking about it on my drive home last night and on my way to work this morning. There doesn't seem enough positive adjectives in the dictionary to put her in words. Where do I even start?

 

I mean, every day you might have the opportunity of meeting new people from all walks of life. But ever get the feeling that that new person whom you just met simply stands out among the crowd? And I don't mean that person is vertically inclined. It's like when you talk to that person you know he or she is...unique. Different. Intriguing. You could even say that person is truly blessed. Blessed with captivating wit, youthful exuberance, stimulating intellect, undying faith, endless energy, shining disposition, solid confidence...   And that's just the tip of the iceberg.

 

She's all that. And more. It's such a delight talking to her. Articulate. Linguistic. Smart. She's like a breath of fresh air in my stuffy little brain. I find it hard to believe she's still under the big three-zero. And how it's possible for someone to have seen so much in the world today and yearn for more tomorrow. I'm sure the countless lives that she's touched with her vibrant demeanor would have embraced her with open arms. I know I would...if I could.

 

It's amazing how people like her turn up in your life. You could never fathom the sort of emotional imprint she'd make on you. And it's not like footprints on the beach that gets washed away. Hey, I don't deny the fact that I really admire her. I believe there's one word that she truly epitomises - WORLDLY. And when I think about it, I get the feeling she's like an angel among us.

 

All the "what ifs" playing in my mind. Now, if only I knew where she keeps her pair of wings...