Lights, Sounds, Sideline

An excerpt from "The Lost Book of Alba", Chapter: "Sideline Warrior".





"Fourth down! 10 to go! 39 yards from line!" The PA relayed what the referee said. The speakers hung up high at the stands, two of them flanking the large scoreboard:   Strawberry High 7 - 13 Era Private High

I clenched my fist, crushing the paper cup in my hands. The water spilled over my lap, but that didn't matter. I stood up, the knees still throbbing from the last tackle by the opponent's linebacker, but that didn't matter too.

"Coach, put me in the play. I can still quarterback for the team, I've got an idea," I said to coach, voice a bit hoarse.

"No, Alba. I won't risk your injury. You've got enough for today, let Jay quarterback for this play, we must believe in him," coach said, his hand pushing the microphone of his headset to his mouth,"Jay, listen, I want the team to play '4R shotgun', but get Mango to run the ball down the right, we need a 1st down or this will be our last drive."

"Coach! Listen to me, shotgun running won't work, we have to pass it down field. Just let me quarterback this play!" 

"I said no! Look, Alba. You got sacked by a linebacker just now and the physio said your knee is not in a good shape, sit down!"

"My knee's alright..."

"SIT...DOWN..."

Coach look at me, I obviously tested his patience this time. I turned in disappointment, and kicked the water dispenser machine, it didn't fall though.

All eyes are on the pitch now, Jay and the team lined up at the scrimmage line, four receivers up ready to rush deep. "If only they are passing the ball..." I thought.

Jay called hut once, twice, thrice, and the center passed the ball on the fourth call. Jay dropped a few yards, faking a pass, and handed the ball to the running back, Mango, he dashed off towards the right, juking pass a few tackles and linebackers, he was off to a good run. 

Then, everything seemed to blurred. I didn't care.


*** *** *** *** *** *** *** ***


"And the game goes to Era Private High, with a 13 - 7 win over their rivals Strawberry High," The commentator announced, confirming the scoreline. 

I stormed out of the field without attending the post-game huddle. They don't need me anyway.

As I walked out of the stadium, through the school buildings, I saw a graffiti on the wall that I've never seen before.
It shows three person, labeled "Always Wrong", "Holding On", "Does Not Belong" respectively.




I stared at it for a while. Then I resumed my way home.



Maybe I'm the one that does not belong...


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*Story based on an event of Alba's life. Any resemblance to YOUR life is pure coincidence.*

The Perfume Shop

An extract from "The Lost Book of Alba", Chapter: "Lies and Revelations".

*This work is purely fictional but might have based on the life of Alba's alter ego. Any resemblance to YOUR life is purely coincidental, because of the fact stated before this.*



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"Hey, what's taking you so long? Have you decided yet?" she asked, hands tucked behind, her smile almost seems like an innocent child's.

I remained quiet, probably the only way to buy more time for me to think through this. Oh My God, why can't I just decide and be done with it?

"Hmmph... Boys are always like this, you guys never know what you want!" she spun around, walking out of the aisle of flowery deco.

"Okay okay... Look, I'm just a bit clueless here. But if you would just help me on this..."

"Oh not again, Alba... That's exactly what you said in the last gift shop!"

"I'm dead serious this time! I promise!"

With a little hint of annoyance, she walked back into the aisle and stopped just right beside me. For some reasons I thought I blushed, but I quickly dismissed any thoughts and reeled myself into focus.

"Look Alba, you've been staring at these perfumes for almost ten minutes now. Just tell me, honestly, have you decided on which one to buy for her yet?"

"I...uh..."

Shaking her head out of disappointment, she lifted herself up a little by standing on her toe and grabbed hold of two small glass vials lying on the topmost shelf. She held out the vials in front of me.

"As far as my friendship with her goes, she had always liked the either two of these."

I squinted at the vials to read out, but the words are too small.

"These are...?"

"Rose and Lavender, both are equally nice. So, which one will it be?"

I hesitated. She gave me a slightly stern look, almost like a teacher would look at a primary school student who made a mistake. Seconds passed.

"I... Look, I really don't think I should be getting perfume for her birthday present, it's kinda inappropriate..."

She looked into me for a while, before hastily putting back the perfume bottles.

"I think I should just leave you to your thoughts, if that's what you want. I'll be at the cafe if you need me," she said, before storming out of the shop. I ran after her.

"Hey... Don't! I'm sorry alright? I'm just... having this dilemma right now, I am stuck!"

"Stuck between two perfumes? You're so clueless!"

"I know, I know... Look... Both Roses and Lavenders are equally nice, that's what makes it a hard choice. But I've decided now, and I have just one last question..."

"Go on..."

"I wanna know... Which one is you?"



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(Didn't understand? Nevermind... You shouldn't...Since this is deciphered texts from the works of Alba himself  :P )

A Taste of Music

Ah!!! Preparing for exams! Had been studying History from the morning, boring la...

Anyways, sorry for not having the origin of life article posted(as if anyone would care :P), it's a long post and I need some time to do some research before I'm going to write about it, again, time is not what I have for the moment. I'll get to writing it as soon as I got a bit of free time though.



Anyways, to redeem myself, I'm writing this to share some stuffs with you guys. It's about my taste of music. XD

Now I've been talking to a lot of peoples about what music I listen and some of them seems to be surprised at how a little bit bizarre my taste of music is. Well... I don't know, I feel normal though :P

Alright so... Let's begin exploring and decide for yourself whether I'm a music weirdo or what.

My Favorites:

My Favorite Genre: I have no particular favorite genre, but I would say I like a few. First being Rock and then Punk-Rock, and then Jazz, some Latin songs, followed by Instrumentals like Soundtracks, Classical and New Age Music

My Favorite Rock Artiste: Has to be Green Day, no doubt about this.

My Favorite Punk-Rock Artiste: Yellowcard, all time favorite band of mine, and Avril Lavigne!

My Favorite Jazz Artiste: Jamie Cullum, UK's most successful Jazz artiste

My Favorite Latin Artiste: Juanes

My Favorite Instrumental Artiste: Jon Schmidt, New Age Pianist. Kaori Kobayashi, Saxophonist.

My Favorite Composer: Nobuo Uematsu, The Final Fantasy composer; Jerry Martin, The Sims composer.

My Favorite Old Artiste: The Eagles, Bee Gees, Guns 'N Roses, Elton John

My Favorite Solo Artiste: Michelle Branch, Santana.

My Favorite Classical composer: Chopin

My Favorite Soundtracks: Final Fantasy lar... Ragnarok Online also not bad.



My Tops:

My Top 10 personalities:

1. Ryan Keys - Yellowcard/ Big If - Lead vocal, guitar.
2. Billie Joe Armstrong - Green Day - Lead vocal, guitar.
3. Jamie Cullum
4. Jon Schmidt
5. Sean Mackin - Yellowcard - Backup vocal, violin.
6. Juanes
7. Nobuo Uematsu
8. Avril Lavigne
9. LP - Yellowcard - Drums
10. Igudesman and Joo
    

My Top 30 Songs:

1. Gifts and Curses - Yellowcard - Spiderman 2 Soundtrack
2. Sweet Child O Mine - Guns 'N Roses - Appetite for Destruction
3. High and Dry - Jamie Cullum - Pointless Nostalgic
   
4. Ocean Avenue - Yellowcard - Ocean Avenue
   
5. Only One - Yellowcard - Ocean Avenue
6. Photograph - Jamie Cullum - Catching Tales
7. All At Sea - Jamie Cullum - Twenty Something
   
8. To The Summit - Jon Schmidt & Ray Smith - To The Summit
9. How I Go - Yellowcard - Lights and Sounds/ Big Fish Soundtrack
   
10. Everlasting Love - Jamie Cullum - Bridget Jones 2: The Edge of Reasons Soundtrack
11. Starlight - Muse - Black Holes & Revelations
12. Red Carpets - Big If - Demo Track
13. Words, Hands, Hearts - Yellowcard - Lights and Sounds
14. All Of Me - Jon Schmidt - August End
15. Air on the 'F' String - Jon Schmidt - To The Summit
16. Always Almost - Big If - Demo Track
17. American Idiot - Green Day - American Idiot
    
18. Fotografia - Juanes - Mi Sangre
    
19. Afraid - Yellowcard - Paper Walls
20. Dear Bobbie - Yellowcard - Paper Walls
    
21. Wake Me Up When September Ends - Green Day - American Idiot
22. Para Tu Amor - Juanes - Mi Sangre
    
23. The Best Damn Thing - Avril Lavigne - The Best Damn Thing
24. You and Me and One Spotlight - Yellowcard - Paperwalls
25. Murder City - Green Day - 21st Century Breakdown
    
26. A Thousand Miles - Vanessa Carlton - White Chicks Soundtrack
27. Everywhere - Michelle Branch - The Spirit Room
    
28. Viva La Vida - Coldplay - Viva La Vida
29. Love Will Keep Us Alive - The Eagles
30. I'm Feeling You - Santana & Michelle Branch

Hmm... That's all I think. I'll edit if I think I left anything out. Do tell me if I have a eccentric taste for music, I wanna know LOL!

Meanwhile, do check on those songs listed if you have plenty of time to spare and some appetite for music that is new to you. Maybe it'll worth the try and you'll find yourself having a new favorite artiste, who knows :)

Till next time, Cheers~