Ha-i-a-eee, Ha-i-a-ooo...

And how the room trembled with our raucous (and often off-pitch) singing, hearty back-slapping and boisterous laughter. It was one crazy halloween night we spent, geeky friends of 15yrs huddled into some 3rd-storey karaoke room in Chinatown, blaring our lungs out as we simultaneously attempted to catch up with each other above all the din. My Sec 4 gang, the nerdy, high-achieving ones who can always be counted upon to squeeze out time for some bonding amidst all the serious work.

We had always been somewhat 'ostracized' back in our schooling days. Probably because we were too digustingly intellectual in our pursuits, and/or because we were so obviously the teachers' pets. Back then, we not only aced exams, we also held our own in debates, drama, singing and *gasp* (certain) sports events too. And with so many councillors, school reps and national scholars churned out from our class, it's no wonder we were looked upon with suspicion (and irritation) by the rest. But it is exactly this kind of frosty reception from others that enabled us to forge such strong bonds within ourselves. We worked crazily hard, but we did not forget to play.

And 15 years on, it's still the same focused us. Still as nerdy, still as high-achieving, and still as bonded to one another. Except membership has grown, and partners/spouses are all inducted into this one big crazy party as well.