Alone at last, but happier?

A portrait of Ah Seng taken during the Lantern Festival in 2004 as we pig out on pasta and wine.

No there has not been a breakup between Laura and I. Today marks the very day that the house entire belongs to me! Let me explain, the exodus of tenants from my place has slowly but surely been depleting since March when the final exams were done with. First to go were Kevin and his girlfriend who packed up as soon as their final paper and flew back to Peninsular on April 1st. This was followed by Chee Leong who went back too awaiting his convocation. Next to go was Patrick who went a few days after to start his industrial training in Kl. Yesterday Ah Seng one of the oldest tenants that was part of the original group that made the decision to rent the place, shouted out in joy as he finally handed in his thesis, packed all his stuff, paid his share of rent and took the first flight today back to Penang. This Thursday another housemate will be taking the next few months off on holiday back in Sarawak before the beginning of term. Thus now I am truly alone.

Well many would say I would be overjoyed to be left in this predicament, the lord of an entire household, free to do whatever I want, whenever I want and bring whoever I want back. I could walk around stark naked and nobody would question that (not that this is an usual practice of mine, ever). But somehow being in an empty house feels odd, after being in the company of so many people for so long, staying alone feels empty and somewhat deplete. True I don’t have to put up with housemates that stack their dirty plates high up in the sink or watch as my laundry is taken off the drying rack even when they are still damp or people playing their stereo out loud through the night. Yet without all that it feels so sterile, so lifeless and ever so lonely.

It’s not too bad I guess I hardly am here anyway, being cloistered in the university from the early morning to late at night and only venturing back to sleep. Lucky there’s still Laura to keep me company for dinner and a bit of entertainment as well as the two dogs left, Lady and Thor. I figure without them, I’d just go mad from the deprivation of company. This is strange as I’ve always considered myself to be somewhat of an introvert and would rather prefer my own company to enjoy whatever I wish, so how come this has to strike me in such a hard way? I don’t know the answer myself truthfully.

The new ladies that will take up the vacant rooms will only be here in June and the rest of the lot will be back sometime then as well. So for the next two months I’ve got a house to run, so help me God. Any suggestions to while away the time?