I took another gulp of coffee as I struggled to stay awake until the end of the results of our General Elections. I had one television placed near the field of my farm, and I have been sitting on this chair, watching the results since 8pm.
Now, it is 2am...
Now, one thing about Singapore, the country is divided into Group Representative Constituencies and Single Member Constituencies. When a GRC goes to a political party, it gains five to seven seats in parliament. And the latter... Well its name tells you enough. The Opposition Parties in Singapore have never in our history, taken down a GRC, which have been considered fortresses of our ruling People's Action Party.
However, the Worker's Party, in the last election, almost defeated the ruling party in a GRC with 44% of the votes. This time, the Worker's Party placed their top guns into the area, pitting themselves against our Foreign Minister.
I watched the television wearily as the Ruling Party received victory after victory.
"Where is my Mao Mao..." I said sadly, and I took out my textbook, to study on The Geography Of Food. Yes, I know it is midnight. But I am crazy that way.
Suddenly, my phone rang, and the Fall theme of Harvest Moon: Hero of Leaf Valley, sounded. I took a look at the phone, and guess who it was?
No, not Diane. Xenia.
"Haha! Barzini! Your precious opposition parties have zero in parliament so far!" I heard her cheery voice over the phone.
"Hey... We haven't heard from the WP's old fort and Aljuined yet." I said, already slightly discouraged, although most National Solidarity Parties, Worker's Party and Singapore Democratic Party had lost by a narrow margin, with vote percentages averaging at some 46%.
"Ha! Barzini! Remember! You owe me a meal if the Worker's Party loses in Aljuined! Just look at raw data! The PAP has never lost in a GRC-"
I was not listening to Xenia, but my eyes were fixed on the announcer of the electorial results.
"And Parliamentary General Elections 2011, the electorial results of Aljuined-"
"And the PAP team has the Foreign Minister in the team! A Unionist as well!"
"The Worker's Party.110,290 votes-"
"You see my point?"
"People's Action Party. 60,489 votes. I hereby declare, the Worker's Party as the Elected party for Aljuined GRC."
My jaw fell open and I could hear the roar of my neighbours in their farms. My entire area has been staunch supporters of the opposition.
"This cannot be..." I heard Xenia's voice as I jumped up and roared with laughter.
"See? The Impregnable Fortress has fallen!" I shouted, comparing the fall of the GRC with that of Singapore in the Second World War period. Because of Malaysia's many banana plantations, Japanese soldiers could feed themselves well, and Singapore's so-called Bastion of British Might fell, with the British blowing up the Causeway of farms that linked Singapore to Malaysia.
"Wait! Your so-called fortress of the Worker's Party has yet to be reported! The new PAP guy there contesting is not bad!"
"Electorial results for Hougang SMC, 82,039 votes to the Worker's Party. 21,063 votes to the People's Action Party. I hereby, announce, by the power of the people, Hougang SMC to be under the sphere of influence of the Worker's Party."
"No..." Xenia's faint voice came over the phone.
"Ha! Ha! Take that!" I did a Barzini-Victory-Dance as I taunted her on the phone.
"I guess I owe you a meal..." Xenia said, and I laughed.
"Nah... It's okay. I don't mind." I said cheerfully as I turned off the television.
"Save your pity and your mercy! I have no use for it!" Xenia said jokingly, quoting from the Lord of the Rings and I laughed.
"Alright. See you in school tomorrow. Goodnight." I said, and hung up.
I smiled to myself, cheering the Worker's Party.
Xxx
I hit my alarm clock and pried myself off bed.
So tired... Consequences of staying up late to check out the Electorial results.
"Mmpf!" I groaned as I pulled myself up.
"Time to call Diane..." I muttered to myself and tapped my phone's speed dial, and placed it on speaker.
As the phone attempted to connect, I went out and picked up the water hose, and turned on the tap, causing a constant stream of water to flow out.
Suddenly, a mailman riding a bicycle came along, and dropped a letter into my letterbox.
"Now, that is curious…" I muttered, and the thought of some special bill that we have forgotten to pay made my head ache. That means one step away from my irrigation system.
After watering my plants, I opened the letterbox and saw that it was addressed to me as a personal letter, primarily because there wasn't a logo from a government organization.
To: Emilio Barzini
Fireworks Day will be held two days from now, as a celebration of the taking down of a GRC by the Worker's Party. Please note that the fireworks will be fired from the sea, which means coastal areas will have the best view. Fireworks shall be fired for three hours. Please enjoy these three hours with your friends and family.
From: The Worker's Party
Xxx
"Hey guys." I waved at Diane, who had miraculously managed to wake up, and has been sitting in class, listening to music.
"Diane?" I said, and as I got closer to her, I could hear the clashing of cymbals and intense drumming blasting from her headphones.
I shook my head in resignation and sat down at my place beside her. I then jabbed her and she finally noticed my presence.
"What was that for!" She complained, and I grinned.
"Hey, you need a good jab to pay attention to me. You'll get deaf by the way." I pointed at her headphones and she smiled.
"If I get deaf, I'll simply tune up the volume. You studied history yet? You have a test today right?"
"Huh? I thought it was Geography?" I gasped, and she looked uncertainly at me.
Despite being in the same class, I took a different subject combination from Diane. She had Literature of Harvesting and Geography Elective. Me? The history nut I am, I took Pure Geography just to pick up History Elective.
"But Xenia is studying history!" She pointed at the black-haired girl, who was bent over her book.
"Bu- But!" I stammered, knowing of my impending doom.
"Good luck to you." She grinned and I scowled.
I hastily took out my History textbook and turned to the story of the Hero of Silicon Valley in America. Apparently, Universal Studios wanted to demolish an entire town there to make way of a Harry Potter themepark, but some dude who inherited a farm bought the deed and they lived happily ever after.
Well... That is just a summary anyway.
"Hey Barzini! Hey Diane!" Cheyenne smiled as she entered the class and I gave a nod of recognition.
"Hey Cheyenne!" Diane smiled, and suddenly, the image of a Venus Flytrap came to mind. Cheyenne... A Butterfly... Diane... The carnivorous plant. Wait... Why did I have this image?
"What are you up to?" Cheyenne pulled up a chair and sat in between us.
"History... I studied Geography yesterday by accident." I lamented but Cheyenne shot me a queer look.
"What?" I said defensively and she laughed.
"It is! Why are you studying history!"
I pointed at Xenia and flailed my arms.
"But... But... She..."
"Xenia is just doing some late homework!" She clapped me on the back.
I closed my book and glared at Diane, who shrugged.
"I was right. Three things that threaten Singapore's food survival is water, war and... Diane."
Xxx
"Anyway, on Fireworks Day, do you guys want to come over to my farm and watch?" I asked, waving my fork at the three girls.
We were having our half an hour break, to get a quick bite. And a short rest. But in Singapore, where farming is 24/7, dream on.
"Oh! So you want to add an irrigation system to your farm!" Xenia said, and I nodded enthusiastically, the topic of inviting them thrown out of the window temporarily.
"What do you grow on your farm again?" I quizzed, and she pointed at her chocolate bar, and with her mouth full, I could make out...
Bweadfood.
"Breadfruit?" I asked, and she nodded.
"Wow... Cocoa... That is just so cool." I said in admiration, and she smiled.
"It wasn't easy. But I managed."
I nodded and turned to face Diane who was stomping her foot on the floor, and let out an estranged cry.
"ARGH! MY FREAKIN' ZOMBIE DIED! GAH!"
"Zombie Cafe?" I said sympathetically and she nodded and was about to unleash a tirade towards me until I turned to face Cheyenne, who looked like she really wanted to be entertained, from the look on her face.
"So... Cheyenne..."
No response. Save her from the Diane syndrome please...
I smacked the table and she jumped, coming out of her trance.
"Oh. You called?" Cheyenne smiled sweetly, tilting her head to a side, and I nodded curtly.
"Yes, I called. Anyway, how was your day?"
"It was horrible! This really, really tall boy behind me, kept on disturbing me and tried to flirt with me! I almost died from his atrocious singing!" Cheyenne wailed, and I burst into laughter.
"Seiki?" I quizzed and she nodded her head energetically.
"His horrible singing was relentless! I tried to cover my ears in hope of keeping that awful sound out... But... 'Just the way you arre...' his awfully off-pitch and off-tune singing penetrated my hands into my ears..."
"Curse you! Bruno Mars!" Cheyenne swore loudly, as I smiled silently and shook my head.
"Haha! Looks like you and him could be a good pair." I teased, and Cheyenne punched me in the arm while I roared with laughter.
"Hey! That was such an insult!" Xenia chided and I waved them down.
"Alright, alright. I apologise. You two should forgive me. Right? Diane?" I turned to face my old friend.
Instead, she muttered, "Here comes the Devil."
I closed my eyes and turned to face Xenia and Cheyenne, who were seated directly across me.
"Yo bitc**s!" He said loudly and rudely gestured me to move along the bench so that he can sit down.
"Ey Barzini. Why you so handsome?" He said, still attempting to piss me off for some three years.
I rolled my eyes and continued to attack the fish on my plate.
"Ey. Why so pretty ah? Want go out with me?" Seiki asked Xenia and Cheyenne who answered almost simultaneously-
"NO!"
Xxx
"Geez! He is so desperate!" Xenia grumbled and we murmured our agreement.
"Goodness... I hope his grapes wither..." I said loudly in exasperation and the girls squealed.
"You swore!" Diane gasped, and I said pointedly, "Even the Pope of Vatican Farm won't tolerate him."
"Correction to that statement. It is the Harvest Goddess." Cheyenne said and we all smiled.
"Alright, I got an invitation to you folks." I said and Diane raised an eyebrow.
"You're asking us out on a date?" Xenia gasped and I scowled.
"Does it mean that each time I ask you all out? I am like... Three-Timing?" I asked logically, and they nodded.
"Seriously?" I said, exasperated and they laughed.
"Alright... What invitation." Diane asked, and I showed them the letter regarding Fireworks Day.
"Oof! Sounds fun!" Cheyenne said, and the other two nodded.
"Yep... Nice little picnic in The Shire..." Xenia started to dream off, until I flicked my fingers in her face.
"So we set? Just bring a little something from your harvests so that we have something to enjoy while watching the fireworks, alright?"
Cheyenne and Xenia nodded enthusiastically, however...
Diane gulped and said in an unusually high voice, "Regarding that..."
I cast a look at her and nodded, and I thought I saw a hint of relief.
Just within that instance of an incomplete sentence and a nod, a lot of sentences got through.
My crops have withered. I got nothing to bring.
Its okay. No big deal.
Alright. Thanks.
Or something more or less similar.
Xxx
"Okay class... I know these are is the last lesson for today... So bear with me, alright?" Our chemistry teacher said, and we gave no response.
"Alright, please try to produce ammonia from hydrochloric acid and nitrogen. Wait, why ammonia, class?"
Seiki raised his hand and the teacher pointed at him, "Because smelly ah, fun."
The teacher rolled her eyes and he tried to convince everyone around him that it was the joke of THE century.
He was oblivious to the fact that probably the 5 people around him was ignoring him, and maybe to the fact that Cheyenne beside him was struggling to contain the urge to kick him where it really hurts
"Ammonia is beneficial to the plants for growth..." I mumbled and the teacher nodded.
"Very good, now remember to wear your safety goggles..." Our Chemistry teacher said, and we nodded numbly.
... Just forty-five minutes to salvation...
Xxx
"NO! DON'T PULL THE NITROGEN GAS PIPE AWAY FROM THE HYDROCHLORIC ACID SO FAST!" I roared at Diane, who must have been most definitely playing her iPhone in class.
"Fine! What do I do next?" Diane said, holding the beaker of failed attempt in making fertilizer.
"You take the nitrogen and bubble it in. For thirty minutes. Wait for something to form." I said stiffly, and sat down while Diane handled the experiment.
"SLACKER!" Diane accused me and I glared at her until she died down.
"Just look at Takt, that new foreign student working with Hannah in this combined class. They are so bloody capable and they work so well together even though they're from two different classes!" I pointed at the two, who were barely talking to each other, as if telepathy was working its magic.
"Hey, it's not as if your chemistry is THAT good." Diane retorted, and I frowned. Well… That was true…
"But did you notice? Takt's like always avoiding everyone…" Diane whispered, and I nodded. I would have been glad to make friends with her and learn some chemistry tips.
"I know right? I mean… Oh well… Maybe Hannah will introduce her, or maybe that new girl you know, that fella… Gina? Knows her?" I asked Hannah, who looked at her friend some rows in front and shrugged.
"I don't quite know whether they know each other. Well, you see… Gina and I are friends, yes… But she is like an exact clone of the perfectionist you which kinds of send me in a North away from South pole on magnets." Diane reasoned, and I nodded before realizing her mistake.
"It is north away from north… Diane…"
"Now, you see what I mean?"
Xxx
"Hello Gina and… Uhh… Takt. Pleased to meet you." I shook their hands and sat down at the table near the canteen along with the rest of the "old blood"
Gina smiled and nodded while Takt seemed to be unusually uncomfortable. There was this… Uneasy silence as everyone sat for a moment looking at one another, as if someone was about to stand up and scream about a new doomsday prophecy, ever since that dude claimed that the world would end with all our vegetables dying.
"Ah… Let's get something to eat. I'm hungry." Diane said, and everyone stood up and made their way to the stalls, and fought with the rowdy crowd for something trashy to eat from the vendors just to fill our stomach for another six hours of grueling, Singapore-styled slave studying.
When everyone sat back down, that silence seemed to be easily broken, with everyone now keen to abuse the teachers as much as possible, and complain about the piles of homework that they are getting.
"Bloody hell. TKH wanted to keep me back for Fireworks Day..." Gina grumbled and I gave a cry of surprise.
"Are you kidding me? Your like... Top for the cohort?" I asked, wagging my finger at her.
Gina shook her head and pointed at Takt.
"She's queen."
I turned to look at Takt, who was blushing slightly.
"You... Are my contender then." I smiled, and looked at her, and to my surprise, she gave a small, sly smile.
"I await your challenge then."
As if we were in a classic Harvest Moon stand-off, we held each other's gaze, as if mentally competing in a staring game already.
Hannah who was reading Death Note, looked up and gave me a hard kick under the table and I yelped.
"Whatever was that for!" I asked, and Hannah paused for a while before she shrugged and resumed reading her book.
"Anyway, you two want to join us for Fireworks Day? The view from my house is perfect." I commented while chewing down on the strawberry cake that I made yesterday. It tasted excellent. The quality of the strawberry has really increased a lot ever since I started plucking up the courage to use manure as fertilizers.
"That sounds lovely. I always wanted to go and see the fireworks, but my farm is too far inland." Gina sighed, and I nodded satisfactorily.
"You, Takt?" I asked, and she nodded silently.
"Hannah?" I asked, and she nodded a bit too quickly, and I clapped my hands together, satisfied.
"Perfect. See you all later tonight."
Xxx
"Alright… Settle around here." I called out, as the group of us moved towards the patch of grass in front of the field, and laid out a large picnic cloth.
"Barzini! How old is that!" Diane asked me as I pulled out a WW2 era radio.
"Oh shut up." I snapped at Diane, and turned on the music, which was extremely clear, compared to the modern radios we use nowadays, which Diane looked on in surprise before shrugging.
"Alright… We have about an hour before the fireworks start flaring." I took a look at my watch and opened the basket that I even bothered taking out with me despite my home being at such a ridiculously close distance.
"Wait, Barzini… Did you get ready for Valentine's Day?" Cheyenne winked, and my eyes widened.
"Oh. Har-Har."
A chapter finally done. Sorry for the absence. Despite this being the holidays, life has still been hectic.
On another note, we will be losing Diane as a writer, due to one reason and one reason only, fine maybe there are more. But I allowed her to drop it as a favour she did for me :/
So, BurningMoon and I will be co-authoring this story.
Either way, OCs still accepted.
Name:
Farm name:
Crops grown:
Relationship to Barzini/Diane/Hannah:
Appearance and Personality:
What are you waiting for! REVIEW ALREADY! :D