"Some people should just die and return their carbon to the face of the earth so that something more useful, like a weed, can grow."

10.58pm

"I guess it's time for us to leave now," I muttered as we prepared to leave Utopia.

A hot shower just before left me with heightened sense as Nat and I raced down the concrete boulevard to catch the last bus out of Downtown East.

No luck. The last bus left minutes earlier.

My watch beeped as I glanced at it. I had only half an hour more to reach home before all hell was let loose.

I scanned the surroundings- There was no other choice but to walk. It was about a two kilo-metre walk; Sprinting there would shave off the precious time I had left though. A taxi was hailed.

11.07pm.

"We're gonna miss this last bus," I said as I alighted from the vehicle, a stone's throw away from the bus interchange.

"No we're no-Oh shit." A large crimson vehicle with an frontal incandescent 88 aglow sped past us.

"Great, that was the last bus, right?"

"Ya."

We decided to walk to the bus stop ahead of us, to see what other buses there was.

11.13pm

Another Number 88 sped past us.

"What the fuck?" I shook my head in disbelief as Nat comforted me.

"So now we know that's the last bus. At least you can take Bus 89 home."

"Oh yeah, I coul-Aw SHIT."

A quick turn of the head revealed Number 89 just around the corner of the traffic junction. A traffic light was its cessation. I signalled towards the bus captain, trying to persuade him to slow down. He shook his bald head. One could only board or alight buses at respective venues, namely bus stops.

"No, uncle, you don't understand. I'm not trying to board the bus, I just hope you'll slow down," I shouted, my shrill voice piercing through the engine's roar.

He shook his head, now marred with a disgruntled look.

"He doesn't get it. Let's just make a run for it. He'll understand then," and with that, Nat sprinted towards the next bus-stop, an estimated 300m away.

I followed suit, my long legs perfect for such short distances. My Adidas carryall, however, was not-so-perfect.

Unfortunately, abeyance was beyond the puny brain of this woodland creature. Upon seeing two teenage boys sprinting towards the very next bus-stop, the fucker ACCELERATED past said bus-stop. No amount of words could describe the displeasure (read: killing tendencies) I felt then.

11.17pm

"Die."

"Okay, let's just return to the interchange. Maybe we can work something out."

It was a dreary kilo-metre walk back, as I described various methods of which I could use to disembowel the dumb fuck.

11.36pm

A call had to be made, since most of the straight-journey buses were missed.

Mother wasn't too happy.

"Hail a cab and come home right now." That was all she said. It was enough to make anyone shit bricks.

"But..."

That half-witted response ensured my swift death via caterwauls (it's true, anger+middle-age woman= AHHH MY EARS).

My plan was to take Number 58 to Serangoon, then switch to an MRT via the North-East Line back to Sengkang. It was the most cost-efficient way, since there was no doubt that the taxi fare was going to come right out of my pocket, burning a hole twice as big due to it being midnight charge.

She relented (we call this the eye of the storm).

11.44pm

After refusing Nat's gesture of his mother sending me home (it wasn't in the way, and I hate being a hindrance), I boarded Number 58 with him.

Just when I was rattling on about how I've to figure out a new plan should I miss the last train home from Serangoon, luck changed for the better.

"So if you miss the last train, then how?"

"Walk home, la. Singapore so small, scared what?"

A Good Samaritan gestured towards me and told me that 58 does pass by IKEA Tampines, and that I could-

"Take 27 home! Genius!" I cried. There was a way out of this!

She just smiled.

"Wait, WeiWen. What if the last bus for 27 has already left?"

"It won't, I know it," she smiled again, confidently.

"That's a risk I'll have to take, then." I simpered.

Melodramatic.

11.59pm

"Just cross this junction, and wait for the bus there," the woman pointed towards a pitch-dark spot, with a pathetic looking stop-sign protruding from the side of it. It was bizarre, as its surroundings was brightly lit by overhead lamps. It looked nothing like itself in daylight.

Man, why does it have to be so creepy at night.

"Hey man, be careful, alright?" Nat's thumbs-up sign boosted my confidence.

Alighting the bus, I sped across the busy causeway, hoping as hell that my bright clothing would ensure my safety.

Just then, a familiar vehicle approached, its lambent 2 and 7 lighting the darkened bus-stop.

My fleet-footedness put me right in front of the two-storey vehicle. On hindsight, it might have been fatigue clouding my decision-making. Obviously, it screeched to a halt as I boarded it, its passengers staring at me in disbelief.

"Eh, boy. Siao arh? Want to die is it?" The elderly driver was none too happy.

"Paiseh, lah, uncle. Need to reach home early." At this, he lightened up and smiled.

"Don't worry, 27 last bus is 1 plus. You still have alot of time. Next time don't do this again, okay? I stop, never mind. What happen if I never stop?"

"Die?" I have this bad habit of replying rhetorical questions.

"YA LA!" His outburst startled me, along with half the passengers aboard.

"But never mind, you safe then okay already."

"Orh. Thanks ah, uncle."

12.19pm

An SMS was received as I alighted the bus. It was from Nat.

"Eh, if you miss bus, then don't tire yourself out. Tired then take a taxi. Dangerous to walk home at night. Life more important."

I laughed. I replied him as I turned the keys to my front door.

"Don't worry la, bro. I'm already home. ;)"

His next reply?

"Wtf"

What an adventure this has turned out to be.