Chapter 3 - Before the Interview

I took a taxi there as I was running a little late. The haircut had taken longer than expected (I was enticed to bleach parts of my hair gray. Guys: did you know bleaching takes hours?).

The office is located on the second floor of a shophouse on a one-way side road along Changi Road.

I settled my fare hurriedly and opened the car door to my left. Good thing I wasn't too quick to get out, because as I swung the car door fully open, a motorcycle appeared from behind and smashed into it. At an estimated speed of 30 km/h, the impact caused the surprised rider to perform an unintentional rear wheelie that achieved a height of no more than 15 cm. Tempted as I was, it did not seem appropriate to applaud. And before I could decide whether to apologise or smack his face (which was safely nestled in his helmet), he back-pedaled his motorbike and sped off, without so much as a glance in my direction.

I got out in a half daze and surveyed my surroundings. It is a quiet one way street. A sign over the entrance to a staircase that led to the second floor told me I was at the right place. Directly to the left of the entrance was a 7-Eleven. I still had 5 minutes. I decided to check out the store and more.