“I am not sure it is a good idea.”

Hashwini had not told Euu Ki that she had recently found out she was wanted by the police. Euu Ki was the Queen of Gossip. In all likelihood, he would promise to keep it a secret and then turn around and text the various group chats he was on to share the juicy news.

“Darling, this is our last stand. Imagine what the finale of X-Men: The Last Stand would look like if Wolverine, Iceman and Shadowcat decided not to turn up to fight Magneto? We have to be brave. Although I do wish The Tornado would make it a costume-themed protest. I would bleach my hair and go as Storm! I would be thunderously gorgeous!”

Hashwini rolled her eyes. It was so typical of the diva in Euu Ki to glamorise a political protest as solemn as this. As it turned out, it was also characteristic of Euu Ki to persevere once he decided he wanted to go to a party. He disregarded Hashwini’s protest and turned up at her doorstep on Sunday morning to drag her out of the house.

Hashwini was surprised to see a crowd of several hundred gathered in front of the open-air stage at Hong Lim Park. She had wrongly assumed that keyboard warriors who clamoured for blood online were usually meek and shadowy people in real life, and that such a public protest was unlikely to draw them out of their dens. Apparently The Tornado had its clout.

“Oh my God, look at that hunk distributing pamphlets! We must go get one from him.”

“This is not a gay party. Can you behave…”

Before she could finish her admonition, Hashwini found herself swivelled around and pushed towards the eye candy that Euu Ki had set his sights on. She could immediately see why Euu Ki was smitten. The young man with the military crew cut had all the makings of a fitness model. When he turned to the two of them and broke out into a cheerful beam, even Hashwini felt weak in her knees.

“Hello, we are here to support the protest,” Euu Ki said with a put-on American accent. Hashwini secretly cringed; Euu Ki did that every time he approached someone he thought was attractive. “What do you have for us?”

The young man looked slightly alarmed. “Good morning, sir. My name is Krison and I am with the organiser. I am afraid you will not be allowed to take part in this protest.”

Hashwini and Euu Ki exchanged looks of bewilderment. “But why?”

“Please do not be offended. We are grateful for your show of support, but the police permit disallows foreigners to participate. As the organiser, we have to ensure that or we will get into trouble.”