If you hear your name called at night, turn your whole body, not just your head, or your “third eye” may open

Scene: 10:45 PM, void deck of their HDB block in Tampines. They’ve just finished supper at a nearby coffeeshop.

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Wei Ming: (suddenly stiffens) Bro… did you just call my name?

Arjun: Huh? No. I was talking about the prata. Why?

Wei Ming: I swear I heard someone whisper, “Wei Ming…” Just now. From behind.

Arjun: Probably the wind. Or someone upstairs. Sound travels weirdly at night.

Wei Ming: Eh don’t play. My grandma always say, if you hear your name called at night, must turn your whole body, not just your head. If not, your third eye might open.

Arjun: Your… third eye? Like bonus DLC content for humans?

Wei Ming: Don’t joke. She said if you only turn your head, it means you’re responding to spirits. Then your “yin energy” becomes stronger.

Arjun: Bro, the only energy stronger now is the chilli from your sambal.

Wei Ming: I’m serious! Last time when I was in secondary school, I heard someone call my name while studying late. I just turned my head. That whole week I had nightmares.

Arjun: That whole week you also had exams.

Wei Ming: So?

Arjun: So stress causes nightmares. There’s actual research about that. When you’re anxious, your brain is more active during REM sleep. More vivid dreams.

Wei Ming: But why I hear my name so clearly?

Arjun: Because your brain is wired to detect your name. It’s called the “cocktail party effect.” Even in noisy places, your brain picks up your own name automatically.

Wei Ming: Cocktail party effect? We were at a void deck, not Zouk.

Arjun: It’s just the term. Your brain prioritises personally relevant sounds. Sometimes it even misfires. Especially at night when it’s quiet.

Wei Ming: So you’re saying my brain is hallucinating?

Arjun: Not hallucinating like horror movie. More like filling in gaps. At night, background noises—wind, lift cables, someone closing a door—can sound like whispers. Your brain tries to interpret them. And guess what it knows best? Your name.

Wei Ming: Still, why must turn whole body then? My grandma very specific.

Arjun: Probably cultural psychology. If you force yourself to turn fully, it makes you feel grounded and in control. That reduces fear. It’s like a ritual.

Wei Ming: You think it’s just psychological comfort?

Arjun: Think about it. If someone suddenly calls your name and you only turn your head slowly… that’s exactly how horror movies start.

Wei Ming: Don’t remind me.

Arjun: But if you turn your whole body confidently, you feel less vulnerable. It’s body language affecting your emotions.

Wei Ming: Hmm. But my cousin once ignored the rule. After that he fell sick.

Arjun: Correlation doesn’t mean causation. Singapore weather alone can make you sick. One moment sunny, next moment thunderstorm.

Wei Ming: True lah.

Arjun: Also, if the “third eye” could open just by turning your head, physiotherapists would be very dangerous people.

Wei Ming: (laughs) Okay, that one funny.

Arjun: And scientifically, there’s no anatomical “third eye.” The pineal gland is sometimes called that metaphorically, but it doesn’t open because you rotated your neck.

Wei Ming: Wah, you bring biology into this already.

Arjun: I’m just saying—beliefs often started as ways to keep people cautious. Maybe in the past, turning your whole body made you more aware of your surroundings at night. Safer in dark villages.

Wei Ming: So like a safety habit disguised as superstition?

Arjun: Exactly. Instead of “check your surroundings carefully,” it becomes “or your third eye will open.”

Wei Ming: You always explain until not scary anymore.

Arjun: That’s the goal.

Wei Ming: But honestly… even if logically I know, I still feel uneasy. Just now I really heard it.

Arjun: Fear is emotional, not logical. I’m not saying your feeling isn’t real. I’m just saying the explanation might not be supernatural.

Wei Ming: So next time if I hear my name, I just ignore?

Arjun: No harm turning around normally. Whole body, half body, dance spin also can. Just don’t panic and assume spirits are hiring you.

Wei Ming: Bro, imagine ghost HR calling me for interview.

Arjun: “Wei Ming, we’ve been trying to reach you about your extended afterlife warranty.”

Wei Ming: Stop lah! Later I cannot sleep.

Arjun: You’ll sleep fine. And if you hear your name again tonight, text me. We’ll test it scientifically.

Wei Ming: How?

Arjun: I’ll call your name randomly from my flat and see if your third eye activates.

Wei Ming: If it does, I’m blaming you.

Arjun: Deal. But if nothing happens, you buy kopi tomorrow.

Wei Ming: Fine. But just in case… I’m still turning my whole body.

Arjun: Fair enough. Science allows full-body rotation.

(They walk toward the lift. A cat darts across.)

Wei Ming: Eh! You saw that?

Arjun: That one I confirm real.

Wei Ming: Okay good. At least not ghost cat.

Arjun: See? Evidence-based ghost detection.

(They both laugh as the lift doors close.)