At Bras Basah

It was a Sunday afternoon down at Bras Basah
I was sitting by the escalator with a stack of secondhand books
The rain started to fall, wetting the floor of the semi outdoor complex
It was actually a perfect day for book shopping,
But there was not that many people at Bras Basah that day
A few walked pass me, with Popular plasticbag in their hands
I know where the thers were! They were down at Orchard to look at the Christmas lights
I sure haven’t been here for the past many Christmasses
But still I prefer to be here at Bras Basah than there at Orchard
Walking through aisles of books whose smell I know so well
Bringing back old memories and I suddenly thought of you
We used to come together to Bras Basah
Where a mere 10 dollar can get us quite many good reads
And the aisles at the philosophy section can hide a kiss or two
But those belong to another decade which seems like another life
And that was not the reason why I came back today
I gathered my books and got ready to leave
Then I saw a man in a white shirt typing sms into his cellphone
And a moment after, our glances met and locked
And for a time that seemed like eternity, we just looked at each other in disbelief
I trully didn’t come for him but he was there at Bras Basah
And when he offered his hand, I gladly accepted
No words was said as we entered a secondhand bookstore hand in hand
But we both knew we were heading right to the Philosophy section

Bras Basah Complex, Singapore
Sunday 24 Dec 2006, 15:44