Diploma in Creative Writing for Television and New Media

SC8104 Creative Story Making

CA10 AY 14/15 Semester 1
Fictional Story
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Written by p1538740

DTVM /FT/1A/02

Seesaw Paradise Logbook

22 April 2011

This is it, the first entry of the Seesaw Paradise Logbook!

We found an abandoned playground with half of the apparatuses destroyed on top of a

hill in Ang Mo Kio. The only thing that was seemingly still working was the seesaw.
Coincidentally, there was also two sets of seesaws. At that moment, it felt like the
place was made for us.

Since then weve crowned it our headquarters, an area we would meet at every
week!

We named it Seesaw Paradise!

Hani

1
29 April 2011

I read somewhere that writing things in sand, wishing for it, then letting the wind
blow it away would make it come true Priya pipes up, and Zhi Ying snorted in
response.

As ridiculous as it sounds, we actually did try it. The playground surface was purely
made of sand, filled with ants and rubbish from being neglected. We found twigs each
and without even the slightest bit of hesitation, we began writing down our expected
grades. Mine were all A1s.

There was a moment of complete silence afterwards. We couldnt believe what we

just did. We were so desperate we actually tried doing it. We have reached a new all
time low.

You think it could work for our crushes? Zhi Ying started suggesting.

Priya x Christopher
Mel x Arun
Zhi Ying x Swann Hong
Hani x Iqbal

If we sprinkled leaves on it would it speed up the magic process? I offered as a

joke, but Zhi Ying bolted out of the playground pit in search of leaves.

I could have sworn Priya was facepalming so hard there was a red handprint mark on
her forehead. This was by far the stupidest thing we had ever done at Seesaw
Paradise. But it made us laugh like mad.

And I have to admit, a part of me deep down inside is hoping for those wishes to
come true.

Hani

2
11 November 2011

UNBELIEVABLE. Theyre actually tearing down Seesaw Paradise.

Hani

13 April 2012

I see no use in this logbook anymore. Im not even friends with the other three. I
guess this is the last entry.

Hani

3
5 March 2026

The Seesaw Paradise Logbook. Im wondering how we even came up with such a
thing. We must have meant the world to each other, up to the point of having the need
to seal our friendship with a headquarters.

I dont believe that everything Mel, Priya, Zhi Ying and I had just stopped right there.
Thats what brings me here again.

27-year-old Hani, with more money in the bank than she had back in 2012, and with a
wedding coming up, is back.

I know in my heart that it isnt right to go on with one of the biggest events of my life
without the three present. They were my very first friends.

Its only right if I try to bring us all back together, even if its for the very last time.

Seesaw paradise may not exist anymore, but that doesnt mean our friendship
shouldnt either.

Hani

4
17 April 2026

One down, two more to go.

Zhi Ying accepted my wedding invitation and also all of my friend requests on
various social media sites. It wasnt difficult at all to find her, for she is now a travel
writer with a popular blog.

WALAO, TELL ME YOU GONNA GET MARRIED SO LATE? was the first
thing she said to me when I arrived at a crowded Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf in ION
Orchard, about fifteen minutes late.

Zhi Ying and I clicked instantly, it was like as if we didnt have a 14 year silent gap in
between. It felt amazing to be with one of my bestest friends again. I even spaced out
at random moments because everything is so overwhelming.

What about you, any unlucky guy? I asked playfully, earning an eyeroll from her.

His name is Wei Hao, she met him when she was on a trip to Italy with several other
travel writers. He accidentally took a snap of her while they were on a Gondola.
According to Zhi Ying herself, I wouldnt know if she was lying anyways, Wei Hao
couldnt stop looking at the photo that he took of her.

Four years and still going strong, not planning on any grand wedding though. Were
happy the way we are, living together and just, Zhi Ying sighs to herself as her eyes
glazed over, probably thinking of her dear Wei Hao, being together

I also told her my mission to bring Team Seesaw Paradise back, and she thankfully
agreed. Unfortunately, neither of us have spoken to Priya or Nithu for the past 14
years.

I guess now the search would be a more fun with company!

Hani

5
20 April 2026

Honestly, what is the point of having a Twitter or Facebook if you dont even update
it! What, did she suddenly decide to move to the Amazon?

Shantipriya, were going to find you!

Even though we honestly have no idea how.

Hani

6
25 May 2026

Finally after close to a month, success.

Apparently the reason why she abandoned all social media sites was because she had
totally new accounts and managed to conceal them so no one shady could find her and
ruin her career.

Shes now a well paid risk analyst for OCBC.Yes, the girl who used to copy
homework off me, is now someone pretty powerful in the business world.

Oh, how we found her was a bloody adventure on its own. We had to Google her full
name several times and flip through the tons and tons of website links that Google
threw at us till we finally found some article about finance that interviewed her. We
then went to track down which bank or office exactly she works at, and then make an
appointment to see her.

Which she canceled on us more than thrice.

This job makes me so kanchiong, seriously! Im sorry if it seemed like I didnt

wanna talk to you guys Priya gave Zhi Ying and I each a big, warm hug.

We were at her really lavish looking penthouse, that she lives in alone. Priya admitted
that it does get a little lonely.

I guess in this sense, shes changed a little. Priya used to be the hopeless romantic
among the four of us, now shes a hopeless wolf of wallstreet. We still love her
though.

Christophers going to the wedding Zhi Ying says casually.

In that moment, there was a slight pause. And I knew Priya was taken back to the time
when she had a crush on Christopher, back in Secondary 1.

Is he hot? Priya asks, and I burst out laughing.

Some things never change.

Hani

7
29 May 2026

You spoke to her mom, and thats what she said? Zhi Ying couldnt believe it
either.

Mel was the bravest. The one to skip classes if she deems them useless, the one that
would parkour off Mount Kinabalu if she could. 14 years later and shes been reduced
to just a woman in an orange jumpsuit with no freedom.

Priyas parents were luckily still in contact with Mels, but the news that we got from
them wasnt one that we were ever willing to hear. Mels mother told us sternly to
leave them and the whole situation alone.

So we did.

Hani

8
28 June 2026

Ive never really mentioned what they built after they tore down our beloved Seesaw
Paradise. They built a new playground, one thats much more safe and less scary
looking.

Zhi Ying, Priya and I sat on one of the benches facing the playground.

That was the spot where we would stupidly write things on the sand and hope it all
comes true I pointed out with a slight laugh at the memory.

None of it came true. I have Wei Hao, you have your fiance and Priyas in love with
stacks of cash Zhi Ying says.

Not entirely true Priyas voice got softer and softer towards the end of the
sentence.

Both Zhi Ying and I were dumbfounded. Naturally we pried her for information.
Apparently Priya swiped Chris number from my contacts the day we reconnected,
and theyve been talking eversince.

Well, at least one of our wishes came true.

Yes, were the best of friends again. But 2026 is nothing like 2012, the new
playground is nothing like Seesaw Paradise, the three of us together is nothing like the
four of us together.

But change and growth are both inevitable, its just up to us how we want to deal with
it. Do we sulk and give up because things are not how we expect them to be? Or do
we start fresh with this beacon of hope in our hearts that something amazing is yet to
come?

Personally, Id pick the latter.

This is it, for real this time.

The official last entry,

Hani

(word count: 1498)