If you found out

If you found out very specifically that you had EXACTLY 24 hours left to live. To the second, what would you do? You are very sure that there is no hope of rescue and in fact, these 24 hours are a gift when your body will not fail you in any endeavour you might have. You will not feel ill in any way till the alloted hour is up. How would you spend these 24 hours?

I think this would be a very interesting question. The manner one would spend the precious moments left will definintely change with the years. What I choose to do with my remaining time now will not necessarily be the same if I ask myself the same questions 5 years down the road. This shall be my little project then. Every 5 years I shall ask myself this very question again, on the end of the year. Let's see, what happens. And so... on with this year's... ending notes.

I find out at 7am in the moring:

1. As any normal human being would, I will need some time to reflect when this news is broken to me. Time to think back on how this short life has passed and what I have managed to do these past 23 years. At this point in time, I think I will not let anyone know of my impending departure. I do not wish for anyone around me to treat me differently just because the end is nigh. Sorting out my piority and getting myself into the right frame of mind to do this last rite of lifehood.

time left: 23 hours (8am)

2. I would have breakfast with my mother and talk to her over the meal. Ask her how is work, business and the guys chasing after her. (My mom is not one for lack of suitors, known that since MRT first rolled out in Singapore) Do the dishes and then send her to work. Talk to her again on the way to Mandai in the car. Times have been tough for everyone in the family and it helps everyone to know there's someone who still bothers.

time left: 21 hours (10am)

3. Getting home from Mandai, I would call my financial planner and ensure that all my assets are in place. Having made sure of that, a check with the company's lawyer to make certain that my will is drafted and properly handled. At this point in my life, I have no family to care for and as such, I will be leaving half of my remainings to my younger sister. There is the added clause that she will only be able to use the money for the following reasons: To finance her own education, a HDB flat, medical fees and/or those of her children (my nieces and nephews basically).

That done, I will be giving $5000SGD each to Ling, Uncle Han, Auntie Heok, Auntie Yang, ML and RB. Ling's just started work and things aren't too easy for her financially. Hopefully a little aid in her attaining financially stability will ease her stress load a little.

Times are hard for my Uncle and Aunties as well. Especially so for my Uncle in New Zealand. Their household has to depend on his wife as the sole source of income at the time being and living in a rented house all the time can't be nice. Hopefully with this little cash he can go and get something nice for the 2 kids, his wife and himself.

Whatever may remain, I will be leaving for my Mom. She doesn't really need the money, but since I can't be around anymore, this the least I should give back to her for all the hard work she's done through the years for my sister and I. Dad, I am not worried about. He has more than the needed cash reserves to retire comfortably in a few years time.

That settles the money. I hope. A will should make things neater. Not like the mess that ensued when my grandmother and then my grandfather passed on. That was ugly.

time left: 20 hours. (11am)

4. I will try to meet Ling for lunch at Mohd Sultan.

Try I say. Why?

It's not a guaranteed thing that she will be able to meet me for lunch. Work is a piority for her right this moment. Not much of a choice there, considering the line she is in. Long hours, commitment and fatigue is piecemeal. All the more so since she just got confirmed by her employer and will be expected to perform up to or even above standards. They have got high hopes for her I think. Workaholic my is my gal's middle name. :) Alchie is her last, in case you were wondering.

Even if she should not be able to make lunch, would still pop by at lunch time to give her a slice of cake in a box from one of the places she likes. Just because. I lie. It is because I would still like a glimpse of her even so. On my last day. Hopefully she won't be irritated at my impudence and demanding ways (which should surprise her a little) and I will get a last hug and smile as she totters back up the stairs she just came down from. Inside the box there will be a chic little card accompanying the cake, inviting my Darling to a dinner that evening that will totally cooked and prepared by me for her, my mom and my sister. The 3 girls in my life.

time left: 17 hours (2pm)

5. Grocery shopping in preparation for the final dinner. Thinking of the menu (might as well indulge myself since I do like cooking) I will probably do my Japanese Hamburgers. The ones that have both pork and beef in them with bread to help hold them together. The braised pork ribs that I recently mastered (they really taste like divine Kung Bah but without the fat from the pork belly). Flash fried broccolli with carrots and mushrooms because everyone I'm cooking for loves them. Especially Ling. Will also cook some Xiao Bai Cai with garlic because I have always liked some leaves in my meal. Will order those cute little cups of tiramitsu from www.tiramitsutra.com for dessert. Will have to start marinating the pork/beef combination the moment I get home if they are to have any flavour after baking in the oven.

time left: 15 hours (4pm)

6. I will have to be cruel and stick to this, but I will be only calling 2 people to have a chat with them. I only have so much time (24 hours to be exact) and will be talking to each of this person an hour each. Piority goes to my Uncle Han since it is not possible to meet him in person. Should he not be available, I will move on and call the following people in the following order until someone is free for that hour. Patricia, Bao Guang, Angel, Desmond, Nerissa, Roger, Hui Zhen, Dad and lastly Winnie. Should no one be free, I will go and shoot hoops until these 2 hours are up. Then it'll be time to put the burgers in the oven and start cooking for dinner.

time left: 13 hours (6pm)

7. Time to get everything together for dinner. The burger will already be baking in the oven and I will have to start on the pork ribs first as they have to be braised. I prefer to stand over them over the first 30 mins as this is the most crucial period in the braising process. Once the sauce is properly done and simmering away, I will transfer the ribs and sauce into a slow cooker to let the flavours grow and gain more body on low heat. ABSOLUTELY no more boiling from then on. With 30mins left, it will be just nice to fry the vegetables, cook the rice and take the burgers out just before serving. Stick the 2 plates of vege into the oven, check the burgers are cooked, turn the heat to low to keep things nice and warm and go take a shower before Ling, Mum and Sis arrive for dinner.

Time left: 12 hours (7pm)

8. Dinner will be a quiet affair. With the 4 of us at the dining table, just unwinding from the day. Slowly eating a nice (I hope. Everything should turn out fine. These are tried and tested dishes of mine) home cooked meal and letting the knots ease out of the muscles. Random conversation. Commenting on interesting stuff that might have occured in the day. A nice, homely dinner. Great way to soothe a tired mind at day's end. Time always seems to fly by when at the dinner table.

time left: 10 hours (9pm)

9. Ling and I will retire to my room after dinner. As is usually the case when I am around, I am sure Ling will be stuffed and her tummy satisfied. She can finally let loose and relax for the day. Lying on my bed. Cheekily slipping under covers, knowing full well she doesn't need my permission, but asking just the same. Maybe we'll watch some anime, maybe not. Maybe she'll snuggle up to me in bed and fall asleep. I would be blessed and be able to hear her mumblings and breathing while she slumbers. One Last Time. Kiss her ever moving eyes, closed or not. Breathe in the perfume of her. Feel the warmth of her touch.

Before too long, she would awake and tell me she has to get home. Work on the 'moro you see. I drive her home and kiss her goodnight. And Goodbye.

Time left: 7 hours (12am)

10. I would make a quick detour to Chinese Swimming Club. I am very sure that my Dad will be there playing Mahjong, winding down with the last game of the night, as has been his practice for the past decade or more. A few games of pool, a few shots of whiskey, the kind of things I usually do with my Dad. Won't do anything out of the ordinary with him, lest he suspects. A cop will always be a copper. Talk to him about life and listen to him about his women problems abit before calling it a night. It gets tiring when you have to advice your own Dad. Even more so when he doesn't take it.

Time left: 5 hours (2am)

11. Drive to Jook. Call the boys (ML n RB) out to supper, go 7-11, whatever. Will talk crap with them and have a good laugh. Maybe shoot some basketball, just for fun, nothing that would break a sweat. Being with them is always a laugh. I live in the east as much as I live in AMK. We will finally tire and say our goodbyes, but by then, hours will always have gone by without us realising. 3 hours tonight might be stretching the limit for us, but we've been there and done that. Won't be the first time we "talked cocked" till the wee hours.

Time left: 2 hours (5am)

12. Drive to Upper Seletar. My favourite hideout in the whole of Singapore. I'll climb that tower and let the sight of the water and trees calm my soul. I have no idea what will be going through my mind for the final 2 hours. Never been in such a situation. I'll just... Stone. Watch the waters turn blue along with the sky. All the colours in the world coming to life along with the Sun as mine comes to an end. With the Sun fully risen, I'll send a "Good Morning" txt to my darling Ling to say I love her and maybe, if my maker is merciful, I will breathe my last with the sending of that message.

Time left: zero (7am)