"Don't go and I'll make this holiday the most memorable in your life," Patrick whispered into my ear. His breath felt ticklish, making me giggle uncontrollably. I turned to look at him, though in the dark I can still see his dark-skinned features. His mouth curled upward into a half smile, he looked at me as though he was trying to read my mind or to change it.

" I can't, Patrick and you know that. Janet and Anila have been planning this trip for a very long time, and I don't have the heart to tell them I'm not interested," I said hugging my legs.

As a celebration of my 17th birthday, Janet Chee and Anila Perumal, my two best friends had engineered a one-month trip to the UK! I couldn't believe it. They even had my parents agree with them. All the while I had no idea what was going on until three days ago when my best friends popped the news to me.

I was excited of course. In fact I was ecstatic! I have never been overseas before. Heck, I've never even been to Singapore! It took me twenty-four hours to figure out what it would mean if I accept this trip. It would mean that I wouldn't be able to see Patrick for a whole month!
" Hey why don't you come with us?" I suddenly said, a little too loudly.

Patrick looked at me quizzically and snorted at the thought. " I don't think so. My parents won't be able to afford it. And besides you're forgetting one important thing." His mouth curled up into that half smile again.
"And what's that?"

" I've got a football match next two weeks. Against the Sea Park High school football players remember?"
" Oh…" I said. My face fell at the remembrance. It seemed like the whole world wanted to keep us apart. I was torn between having the best time in my life and being there to support my boyfriend in one of his important matches. It just wasn't fair. I took in the view of the playground from one of those wooden structures that looked like a tower with a slide sticking out at the side. Patrick called it our favorite spot, and for the past few months it was.

"Hey," Patrick said affectionately, seeing my crestfallen face. " This is a one chance of a lifetime opportunity for you. Think about it, you'll get to see snow…"
" They looked like 'ice-kacang,' don't they?"
"… Big Ben, The Statue Of Liberty…"
I laughed at him. Patrick might be a great football player, but he was no tour guide.
"… And all the macho white guys that are twice more well-built than us guys here. So good looking that you'll forget all about me and just have fun," he said sighing dramatically.
I nudged at him. "Don't think I won't."
He laughed. I felt his hand close over mine and squeezed it gently. " Have fun. Seriously. I don't want to be the one to spoil your only chance to see the white lands…"
" And snow…"
" And The Statue of Liberty."
I laughed again, and hugged him lovingly.
" You're welcome." He said softly, almost a whisper.
We had been together for so long, we didn't even need words to tell each other what we were thinking.