Her Face Was Sad

HER FACE WAS SAD ...

Singapore is beautiful, yes? Yes, it is. The island-nation is one of the most prosperous countries in the world. But like many other countries in the so-called free world, it's not perfect. At night and until dawn, "sins" abound, if society will call it a sin or simply a natural, scientifically-established phenomenon, just like, let's say, selling commodities in the open market.

Here, I woke up early at 5:20 in the morning at dawn and decided to go out of the hotel where I am staying. In the middle of cold and old Chinatown atmosphere, I decided to look for food. But not after I was passed on by a Singaporean prostitute offering her service at an affordable price.I listened to her not-so-straight English.

Fortunately, I understood what she wanted to convey. She was also pointing to the hotel where I came from. And I am nodding my head in agreement.I politely asked permission to go ahead to the nearby restaurant. She was looking at the taxi driver, but, I said there was no need for the vehicle since I'm staying just across the street.

Then, I walked away to cross the alley to the restaurant and ended up with a newly-cooked dimsum, an ice cold Coca Cola and a delicious glass of Singaporean chocolate-coffee that will carry me through another day of mathematics. It was already bright when I went back to the hotel to prepare myself, took a bath and went to the workshop venue.Her face was sad, I remembered (before she left when dawn disappeared) ..."

- A wishful monologue