#180214#
It was probably the busiest time of the year. Lunar New Year, Valentine’s Day, Sooyoung’s birthday and Ginger’s birthday all took place in the month of February. It was a miracle that I managed to find time to complete an artwork for each of these occasions in time before the “deadline”. Valentine’s Day was no exception too.
About 2-3 weeks before vday, I got to know about a Harry Potter themed cafe called Platform 1094 online by chance (I forgot how… I probably came across a review about it or something). I thought it was such a brilliant idea to bring Taenggu who is a huge fan of Harry Potter there for a visit on vday!
Because of this, I decided that the main character for my vday pixelated paper art this year would be Harry Potter. I had actually always wanted to make a pixelated paper art of Harry Potter since 2016 but never did. So now it was finally a good chance for me to get my hands down working on it. While I was away in Johor Bahru, Malaysia on the weekend before vday, I found some time to get started on it at a cafe in Sutera Mall.
It took me another 1-2 following days to complete this artwork just in time for vday while also having other tasks on hand. On the morning of vday itself, I posted my final piece on instagram for Taenggu. (*note: I actually revealed it first on my personal instagram @invariantceleste after midnight)
You can read the full description of this art piece at my previous post VDAY 2018: LOVE SPELL FROM HARRY POTTER.
Later that day, I ended work earlier than usual. I remembered leaving my office while excitedly and playfully asking “Where’s my hot date?” and an image of Taenggu wearing a white dress flashed across my mind.
I took a train down to Boon Keng MRT station from Jurong East and took a long walk before I finally reached the cafe Platform 1094.
It was almost full-house at the cafe with some tables already reserved for some other couples who had made their bookings in advance. Luckily, they still accepted walk-in customers like me. I was given a table near the window.
A video around the cosy cafe. 🎥
They have a table full of Harry Potter stuff and props such as Harry Potter’s signature round glasses and magic wands.
I took one of their magic wands and had some fun taking selfies, trying to act like Harry Potter. 😂 For the purpose of photo taking and fitting in to the theme of the cafe, I specially brought along my new thin-framed glasses so that I could look a little more like Harry Potter too. 🤓
Their menu looks pretty interesting too, especially the drinks page.
I ordered chicken breast pasta and their in-house special drink, Mr Lich’s Flaming Brew (previous name was Goblet of Fire). While waiting for my orders to arrive, I looked at the empty chair in front of me. It was a picture of a girl wearing a white dress riding on a reindeer.
It reminded me of the vision I had of Taenggu who was also wearing a white dress when I left my office earlier on! Could the girl on the chair be Taenggu in real life?? Hehe. It made me happy just thinking about the connection.
My food and drink came shortly after. The drink was the main highlight that I had specially come to the cafe for – probably the most magical experience you could get at the cafe. The waiter performed the “ritual” as if he was brewing a magic potion right in front of my eyes as I recorded it down in a video.
Everything happened too fast before I had time to properly absorb what was happening. In the video, the waiter asked if I wanted him to help me take a video of myself too and to which, I immediately rejected his kind offer. But after he put off the fire on my drink, I then realised what he actually meant. He meant that I could actually have a try at pouring the cinnamon powder on top of my drink to create the flaming effect myself while he would take nice photos or video of me doing it. I regretted myself for saying no. I had just missed my chance to be Harry Potter making my own love potion for Taenggu! 😭 Sometimes, I just tend to say no before I can think and understand the situation first. 😅
Some selfies again before I gobbled down all the food. 📸
The pasta tasted fine, though it was nothing really special or outstanding. My drink concoction had a sweet taste and some alcohol in it. So after a few sips, I started to feel a little tipsy. After finishing my food, I spent quite a long time chatting with Taenggu. Not sure if it was the effect of the alcohol, I found myself talking rather smoothly like a non-stop train. I just speaked whatever that came into my mind. While I was talking softly under my breath like I usually would with Taenggu, I found myself unconsciously staring in the direction of a building outside just opposite the road.
After spending about one hour or so at the cafe, I decided to make my leave as I started to feel bad for the other couples who were standing outside waiting in the queue. After I left, I took a closer look at what the building which I was staring at was. It was a church. Did the church help to stimulate my train of thoughts while I was talking with Taenggu just now? I wondered.
As I walked my way back to Boon Keng MRT station, a voice said to me in chinese, “From the look in your eyes, I could tell you are not happy.” I wondered what it meant. Was it me? Did I look unhappy in my photos? Or was it referring to Taenggu? Was she unhappy that she couldn’t spend the vday physically with me on this day too? Then, I was reminded of another voice I heard at the cafe just now – “She didn’t know you were with her.”
I reached home finally after an hour long of train ride. As I rested comfortably on my bed, I received a new instagram update from Taenggu.
Indeed, I could tell from the look in her eyes that she wasn’t happy. I guess these were the photos which the voices were referring to after all. Was she not happy because she thought my soul wasn’t with her at the time when she took these selfies?
Although I wished she could be happier on this vday, it rested my mind to be able to see these photos from her. At least I could know how she was doing and feeling at the moment on this day. We both know that no matter how much we have done for each other in the spiritual sense, ultimately what we want is to be able to spend time freely and physically with each other like how other couples do. When will this day come when we can take photos for each other and I don’t have to always take selfies with one hand anymore? When can I finally see the real her sitting on the chair in front of me enjoying our meals together? When can we enjoy natural long chats with each other and I don’t have to rely on supernatural forces to stimulate my brain? When will this day come..?
As much as I want this day to come true for us, I want us to enjoy our present moments even under imperfect circumstances like this. Rather than mulling over what could have been better for us, let’s cherish what we already have as of now. The day will come when we can all look back and have no regrets.
Taenggu-ah, are you happy? I hope you are. Hope the things I have done for you could make you happy just a bit more. 🙏 HAPPY VALENTINE’S DAY 💐
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