Throughout the 12 years I've been in school, I've been infamous for being punctual or late, but never early.

History repeated itself on 15 September 2005.

Yesterday, I made yet another grand entrance into the examination hall, 3 mins after the Chem paper had started. Knew something wasn't quite right when I got there, cos it was eerily silent as I walked along the hall. Though I wasn't late per se (the paper began 5 mins earlier), I did get a little panicky. I fumbled with my pencil case when it had to be checked, my hands were shaky when I started to do the paper. But all in all, it was quite okay.

My first time being late for a major exam was merely 2 years back - for my physics big 'O's. Although I'm one very forgetful person, the whole incident is still clearly etched in my puny mind.

On a day in November 2003....

7.45 am - Got a call from a friend wondering why I still wasn't at school when the paper's at 8 (am already the infamous latecomer then! =P). I tell you... I went into an immediate state of frenzy/fear/shock! Although I lived pretty near my secondary school, it still took at least 15 mins for me to get changed and reached there. Plus, I still had more than half the syllabus untouched (had thought that the paper was on the next day)!

8.20 am - Made the grand-est entrance in my entire life! Could feel every invigilator's eyes on me as I walked briskly to my seat. They must have been thinking, "Who in the right mind would be soo late for a major exam?!!"

8.21 am - Got to work immediately. Had only 39 mins to complete 40 mcqs! And with my mind working like an obsolete pentium 1 processor (situation hasn't improved =( ), it was clearly an impossible task!

8.58 am - Aiya... sure cannot finish! Tikam... tikam...

9.00 am - Done, just in time! Phew!

Old habits die hard indeed. I guess I'll always be labelled as the Ultimate Punctuality Queen, no matter where I go.


*Note to self: Must be in school at least 15 mins before the paper commences.