[bruceJKD]

I took a step out from the heavy metal gate, hearing a loud “clung” behind me. I tilted my head slightly upwards, taking in a super long breath of the outside world, savouring the smell of freshly cut grass and tar roads under the baking sun. Noises coming from cars and sounds of bird wings flapping never felt so good before. I looked down at my left ankle. Tied around it was a black watch like device. It felt heavy, super heavy.

I turned around, looking at the building that I’ve once “resided” for 3 years. It looked so magnificent and yet dominating. Just by looking at the gate, you can simply tell that that place tells stories of thousands of people. Yes, that’s prison and I just got out of it.

I was still reminiscing what just happened in there for the past 3 years and a loud familiar voice thundered across the road. “ OI! AH GIRL”.
I turned around, startled. There he is, standing across the road looking at me smiling, seemingly waiting for the cars to pass by before crossing the road to me.

Yes, “ah girl” is the nickname I earned because of my looks. People said I have sharp features for a male, resembling a Eurasian girl. That is how the “lao puays” describe me and gave me that nickname. I felt ashamed of it at first but as my title and name got bigger within the gang, I gradually felt proud of it and used it with pride.

Standing in front of me now is “orh jiao” (black bird), my “tang case” who got released 2 months before me. Behind him was “xiaobai”, one of our brothers, and a bunch of younger people whom I’ve not seen before.

Xiaobai greeted me with a tight hug and countless painful hard pats on my back.
“welcome back hia di eh”, said Xiaobai and the bunch of younger looking people greeted me with my nickname, each one taking turns to shake hands with me.

“You still look back for what? Wanna go back “peh” 3 more years is it?” Orh jiao said with a cheeky smile
“Siao ah? Why don’t you go back? That place can keep you fit and not fat.” I retorted with a cheeky smile too.

Before we got caught, orh jiao is a slightly bigger than medium sized guy with a full left sleeve colourful tattoo and xiaobai is both hands half sleeve with a fireball on his forehead. Now orh jiao is looking more fit than usual with chest and triceps bulging, thanks to the exercise we do secretly in cell and yard time.
“Where’s Joshua?” I asked.
“He’s waiting for you at geylang”, replied orh jiao.
Joshua is our “Zhong eh” (headman). He’s about my height, standing at 168-170cm, buffed at 90+kg. Everything about him tells anyone he’s not someone you want to mess with. From his hair, to his face, his stares, his body size, his tattoo. Everything about him spelt either “v-i-c-e” or “g-a-n-g-s-t-e-r”, the sort the transcom will not let go without a thorough screening.
Me? I’m 168, very lightly tanned, about 80kg (since the last time I checked) with 2 full sleeves tattoo, one big chest piece, all with nice workmanship and colours.

How I got myself in this state and how I became involved with the underworld? It had to all go back to when I was secondary 1…