Awkward

Photographer: We will also need to take some photos for our article.  Can you get some of your men to join in?

*cue me and driver to start sneaking away

Sir: ay! Zhi hao! Signaler!

*i turn around in slow motion as the driver makes his getaway

Sir: signaler, camo on!

Me: ...


10 minutes later a reluctant CSM has joined us and we are standing in the rain, waiting..

Photographer: now can I get some candid shots of you all laughing?

Sir: ok

We look blankly at one another.

CSM: oi, say something funny so we can laugh

Me: (thinking of my bed, a bath and somewhere not in the rain) no idea leh

We look blankly at one another.


After what seems like an eternity,
Photographer: ok you don't have to have a joke, just recall some of your shared experiences and laugh about it, I am sure you guys have many funny stories to share right?

Me: (thinking of many but they can't be said)
I look to CSM for guidance

CSM: say anything also can, just don't curse at me

Me: heheh

CSM: then how, just laugh lor. Ha

Me: (am chio-ing) ha ha

Photographer: very good! But Sir you can look at your men and laugh, don't look at the camera..

Me: ........

CSM: just laugh.. Ha...ha..

Me: (with a stupid smile) heh...ha...

Photographer: ok I think we are done!


And that ended one of the most awkward 10 minutes of my life, where CSM and i looked into each other's eyes and fake-awkward-nervous-laughed like two very people doing something very illicit.

The "candid shot" photo was never published.