Sneakers

Just last week, we were hanging out in Dr. CG's office when I noticed he was wearing a pair of really cool sneakers.

They were Adidas, in blue and red. With his dress shirt and black jeans, it made him look really fasyon.

"Nice sneakers. Are those new?" I asked him, as I noticed how clean and dirt-free they were.

"Ah, no.By the way, I couldn't wear the Abu Sayaff shirt you gave me."

He then proceeded to talk about the Asian Journalism Fellowship, but I have to admit I wasn't paying attention. His Adidas were a big distraction.

Days later, I was walking in campus when I saw a girl wearing sneakers, a shirt, and floral skirt. She would have been cuter if she wore a pair of Chuck Taylors.

I chatted with my Duabi-based brother O and told him of my plan to buy a pair of Chucks.

"Forget it," he said. "Chucks are so common. A lot of girls wear Chucks with skirts."

"That's not true! I'd be the only girl in NTU wearing Chucks with my floral skirt!" I protested.

"It's common! And a lot of emo kids wear Chucks with skinny jeans. Chucks are so ubiquitous! Don't buy Lacoste; that's very common, too." (I never thought O notices how people dress up. I am now officially in doubt of his sexuality.)

I was battling the blues during the weekend. There is something about relationships failing that bugs the hell out of me. I was walking around the mall with my neighbor CS, who spent a few days in Penang trying to recover from a breakup, shopped and bought his way to happiness.

And then, I saw them: a pair of yellow Nikes, sitting prettily on top of tons of boxes. I remember Dr. CG, the way he ate pizza as we sat in his office, feeling awakward yet happily basking in his presence. I remember the girl in NTU, on her way to class, with a determined look on her face, possibly thinking about her grades and her damned GPA. And I remember O, who generously gave our dad a scandalously expensive LCD TV.

I walked in and bought the yellow sneaks. If there is one thing that makes me feel better--other than writing-- it's shopping. I don't care anymore. I've got a new pair of Nikes. The world is perfect. :)