A Quick Anecdote (Part II)
It's an early Friday night. The weather outside is cold and the wind is strong. All are back from the surau, this time just 8 rakaats, and all have eaten dinner. Nothing is planned yet for the night and no one is anywhere else but slouching in front of the TV. No one is at work or at school. Everybody has just completed their midterms and quizzes for the semester. All are full and tired and looking forward for a hard day's night rest. The clock's face was flushing slowly; its hands are dangling heavily. Some of us are on the couch, some are on the carpet, on their full bellies, some are leaning against the wall, against each other's body. All eyes are heavy and slow but not yet ready to succumb to the youth of the night. One or two times, somebody would pop up a joke and the whole living room shake with laughter. One shoulder gets slapped, the other gets punched. One guy praises one guy's joke and one guy swears that that is the worst joke ever.

A perfect 'buddy' bliss.

Oh please God, make this moment forever. Then, suddenly...

"Oh, shit. I nearly forgot. Zam Aiza asked me to the movies tonight. 'Spy Game'."
"Yeah, I promised the Elmwood girls to help them with their grocery shopping tonight."
"No one is using the phone now, right? I am expecting a call from my girlfriend."

All that is left is a pathetic me with the remote in our hand and the TV Guide in the other.

"Damn you. Damn you all to Hell."

[by YBLalat - who then spends the night watching reruns of Friends alone.]