TWO-nil, but sometimes these scorelines can deceive. It was a terribly uninspiring performance for Pool vs Villa. In fact, the only three good things I can say are - their defence is rock solid, Reina was sharp, and Alonso's goal (and its buildup) was fantastic. Honestly, if not for the back four, Hyypia Carra Riise FINNAN :), they would have died. Especially when Baros was heading towards goal, and would have certainly scored if Carra had not stuck out his leg at the precise moment to make an immaculate tackle at the penalty box to knock the ball out of Baros' path. All through the game, their defence was impenetrable, especially in the centre with Carra and Hyypia (their substitute captain and former captain). I found myself actually hoping for more Villa attacks so that the defence could show off their toughness. So there was a Gerrard penalty, so Bolo Zenden made an amazing run down the left to slice the ball to Alonso who executed great technique to hit home, but.. that's IT. Cisse and Moro looked terrible, and it was telling in the 38th minute when Cisse crossed from the right only to see Moro standing there admiring him. What the.. plus Sissoko and Alonso (surprisingly) were hopelessly inept, losing the ball, making rash tackles.. it was disgusting. Garcia with his ineffective fancy footwork, Kewell and Crouch the pathetic subs.. UGH. They were lucky this time but it's against VILLA who are at bottom 5. Seriously, if Benitez does anything to the back four, I'm gonna cry. Look at that fantastic offside trap they laid. Any one of them could have slipped up and played Baros onside but they simultaneously, as if telepathically, moved up to form a beautiful WALL. Such understanding.. brilliant. It's just a fierce pride from a fan like me when you watch your defence being so resolute. Finnan, yay!

AANYWAYS, I was at the Kopitiam near SAM (Singapore Art Museum for the uninitiated - SJIans would be familiar with this building.) for art history consultation with Mr Chia. I was quite apprehensive cos I haven't studied the subject for ages (no, not even prelims) but found myself being able to recall stuff I've learnt in the lessons and stuff. But that's not the point. That Kopitiam brought back lots of memories.. and especially when I was walking past SAM and looked in to see the Glass Hall. It's so.. fresh, even though it's a good four years already. The memories are still indelible, and I love that feeling when nostalgia creeps up on you and tries to stifle you with a wave of pseudo-seasickness. I love it when you reminisce and then you smile to yourself wistfully about the old times. When the memories just threaten to activate your tear glands, and you swiftly and firmly shake the saline away. It's how the familiar sights sounds smells engulf you and you feel almost stifled and asphyxiated but wow, what a feeling.

I love contradiction you know.. that sad welling up of emotions threatening to spill, but yet again there's this underlying joy and satisfaction that although it WAS, it HAS BEEN and that's enough for you. As I walked past the construction going on outside SAM, I linger and look at how the milieu has transformed over the past 4 years. From the Kopitiam, you see SMU now, where nothing used to stand before. And as I stare out of the glass walls, I can't help but see you walk by again, a stranger then, a soulmate before, and a stranger yet again now. It's back to square one again isn't it? Haven't things gone full circle? But yet again there's this persistent voice in me that says be content with the fact that it did happen although fate has wrenched it away from you now. Things happen for a reason, and it happened so that we could both acquiesce and discover new vistas previously limited. For 2 out of the 4 years, it was perfect and we count ourselves lucky for that 2 years.

Even the signpost saying "Bencoolen Street" has changed since then. The environment itself holds a hidden message, indicating to us that as time drifts by, we drift along, we adapt, and then, we move the hell on.