The Bus Is My Other Car.

Farewell, comrades..

The long-awaited day has come. On a Tuesday overcast late morning, I drove my father's Cefiro back to camp to collect my card to freedom. Expecting there to be a thorough security check, I engaged Neutral gear on the slope. But good old RP Chris on duty, so he let me in without more say. Forgotten that I have engaged Neutral gear, I released the brake and stepped on the accelerator. VRooM the engine went. Chris then reminded I wasn't driving a manual car and the sentry was laughing. How embarrassing...

I drove up and Jon was about to cross the zebra crossing outside Wendy's. I waved to him and promised to meet him later. Drove through the 'tunnel', and swung my car into the perm staff parking. Wanted to park at my boss' lot but didn't dare, although I could, and I wished I had done that! I got out the car and made a silence entrance via the service staircase to my former office.

Chief, Ben and boss were in office. Said 'hi' to Ben. Boss saw through me as though I was transparent. Was appalled but more disappointed, for all the effort I had put in. Never mind, I thought. I greeted Chief, and sat down at her cozy cubicle.

"You got your wish granted. I signed your clearance form," she laughed.

I laughed too. Both Chief and I tried to laugh. Chief was due for a better working place. But while I left, she was still there. To me, the ideal situation was for the both of us to get out of that horrible place together, or that she should have gotten out earlier than me. But life isn't always ideal. I knew she was glad to see me proceed to the next phase of my life, but I could sense that she was sad to let me go. I felt sorry for her.

"Here's a present for you. I don't know what to get for you, lah," Chief said as she passed me a teddy bear and a card.

"Thank you ma'am. No need to get me anything actually. We meet for makan on Thursday ok?" I confirmed.

Ben passed my pink IC back to me. Whilst I tried to contain my happiness, I wished Ben all the best. After photocopying my clearance form and talking to Jon, I proceeded to say one last goodbye to Chief in her cubicle.

I went to back to my car. Then I saw my clone. Bade farewell to him. When CEO Potato drove in, we ended our conversation and my clone saw me off until my car was out of his sight.

The sentry opened the gate for me and I drove off. Chris wasn't there. This is the first and last time I drive into this place, the place that changed me, I thought. ORD didn't happen boisterously as I had expected. And life still goes on.

posted by 23degreecelsius @ 9:10 PM