By Dara Tan (27A01A) and Saadhana Kalimuthu (27A01C)

All photographs courtesy of Zhu Taiwu (26S06K), Skyler Chen Yuanzhe (27S03A),  Jayden and Tharun from the Raffles Art and Photographic Society

The Wait

4.45 pm. The long-awaited finals  were scheduled to start, but the relentless flashing of the lightning alert kept the match at bay. The yellow-orange hues flickered their warning, a quiet signal that kept both teams in their shelters and the crowd glancing nervously at the sky. 

Nevertheless, the stands kept filling. RI supporters, undeterred by the fact it was gap day nor the thick humidity, arrived in waves. Some carried umbrellas; others clutched water bottles, already drenched in sweat from the walk over. The Year 1-4 hockey team sat together near the front, eyes wide, scanning the empty pitch for any sign of their seniors.

Bon Jovi blasted from the speakers—“Whoa, we’re halfway there!”—followed by Queen’s promise that they would rock someone. The music felt almost defiant against the grey sky, a desperate attempt to keep spirits up while the clock crawled past 5.00pm.

Murmurs of a possible postponement buzzed through the crowd. A delay? A cancellation? Another lightning strike would reset the clock by thirty minutes. The mood was restless, impatient, but no one moved from their seats. Not when the alert flashed again at 4.55pm. Not when the sky rumbled softly at 5.02pm.

Then, at 5.10pm, the warning finally gave in.