All smiles guys, all smiles.

So what if they were larger?

So what if they were stronger?

So what if they were fuckers?

So what if they played dirty?

So what if the umpire were a cocked-up bastard whose hands never hesitated to touch foul money?

So what if they beat us?

So what.

This may be the end of the tournament.

But this is not the end of our story.

The legacy continues.

It’s not losing that makes us losers, it’s admitting that we are losers that makes us losers.

Guys, cheer up. It’s not the end of the world. We played well and that was undeniable.

We showed them that even though they may be three times our physique, but our will was three times their ego.

Maris Stella, don’t get complacent. It’s not going to get you anywhere.

This is the kingship that we have all been waiting for. We are kings. And we know that.

——————-

Argh, abit sian after the competition. I know it’s all fool’s talk to mourn about defeat. What kind of a man has never faltered before?

It’s learning to take the blow well that counts. And with every blow you get stronger. And stronger, and stronger.

So don’t worry guys, we did well. They just overwhelmed us while we were feeling nervous.

They didn’t win it clean. There was foul play and we knew. But Coach never said anything.

Here’s a story of a boy, who loved a team.

“Why you never make friends with the umpire?!”

“I, will never subject myself to bias. I rather lose than pay that man $5000 to win the game. True softball doesn’t require such underhand means.”

The boy loved the team. Behind his jovial appearance was actually a flood of tears, streaming down his rosy cheeks. And I knew how he felt.

Even I felt the excruciating pain, let more the team who battled it out so hard in the diamond.

I wanted to cry. But I knew that wouldn’t change anything.

I thought: “If I had just trained 5 times harder, I could have been there and I could have changed things.”

But that’s crap. Total crap. I have to work on my mental endurance. Will power.

I have to get stronger. Upthere.

Dahwei. All smiles. No tears.

Nakama?

There’s more to that word than meets the eye.

Watching One Piece sometimes really makes me wonder, what in the world are some people doing?

Backstabbing each other? Insulting each other? Plotting to take over the world? Killing people without cause? Or with a cause that only the killer thinks is sensible?

Humans have a much darker side to them… And it’s not going to change for a while.

One Piece is an incredible show, especially if you read deeper into the show. It’s wonderful.

Put aside the jokes, cartoon animation and fight scenes, and pay more attention to what the characters say. The core theme of the show reverberates in some of the scenes.

I have never been touched more by a show like this. It’s amazing how a simple, cartoon show that appeals to kids can actually mean SO MUCH.

———————–

Tomorrow, HCISB faces the greatest challenge in many years. Surpassing Maris Stella and entering the second round. Now, HCISB, we are strong.

We are going to show these people, some of whom I have utterly no respect for, what we are.

Let’s do it. It’s our terrain, it’s our advantage. Let’s win.

Maris Stella, you can await defeat.

Now the second round .. beckons.

En-route to Kingship.

————————-

Today I have also seen an extraordinary case of a (ideological?) clash. The extreme personalities of the two have led them both into a heated argument, causing both to have utter despise and hatred for the other.

Sigh, why are these things getting more common?

Can’t people just chill. And smile over it

Russell. Remus. Shawn Koh.

There’s more of them, but for now, these are the three whose personalities have struck me hard.

These three people have a threshold beyond mine. They can get thrashed, insulted and maimed by harsh words. However, they rarely succumb to anger and violence. Their cheerful personalities… their smiles… are what make these people really special.

My Dad once told me: “你的那个Russell, 我一眼就看得出he is the type of chinchai one - from his face.”

Then I wondered, is it really possible? To tell a bastard from a prince just from his facial expression?

But now I realize, it’s not that ‘face’ we all think it is. It’s the ‘face’ from within.

Remus, [Always Smile] This person, in my years in HCI with him, has never blown his top. Respect.

Shawn Koh. Joyous person whose smile can soften your heart. A very nice person to socialize with.

You know there are humans out there who have nice personalities and there are humans who are a little more problematic. “The exciting part of life is dealing with people with personalities you never thought existed.” -G.J.T

Sigh, Hong Nan and Shawn, is it worth it?

—————————–

WHEE! LOL. WHAT THE HELL CC TODAY WAS FUN HAHA.

Dahwei. CC pls.