{ 雨の天使 }

Rain Angel

Chapter 15

[ It was raining when we last met.. ]

I find it pitiful that I have struggled to live after all these years.
Maybe my life was too pile up with problems that eat away my time.
I have to work three jobs to keep myself busy.
And to materially satisfied her.
Now I don’t need to, I just want to.
I want to work from day to night, right up to the wee hours in the morning.
I want to keep myself occupied if not I will begin to think.
About the bad memories that happened throughout my life.
About Wendy.

Then I met her.
Someone whom changed my life literally.

It was raining when we last met. It was raining when we met again..
I knew it was she from the moment I saw her walked into the phone booth.
Maybe it was fate that brought her to me on my lowest point.

I really thought of ending my life, once and for all.
But for someone who a few years younger than me, she knows how to live a fruitful life.
Maybe fate send her to save me that day.

Nothing much had changed except she has grown up to be pretty lady.
She didn’t know who I was except that I was a stranger who tried to commit suicide.
Then I hear her saying those words.

“Life is suppose to be happy right?”

How ironic, a phrase from me to KaiLoke when I tried to cheer him.
End up been recited back to me.

KaiLoke once asked me before he met the accident,
“Wilson, What do you think can two men argue over?”

“Well.. maybe money… maybe women”

“I like Ah Hui… a lot and I know you like her too.”
He continued.

“No lah, Never! How do you know? I never talk to her or anything”
I tried to defend myself.

“Please don’t deny, you put in a lot of effort in drawing that portrait didn’t you?”
I just kept quiet.

“You met up with her recently?”
KaiLoke asked me again.

“Yes, I did.. it was a coincidence.”

“Brother, whoever gets her must take care of her you know?”
KaiLoke sounded serious enough.

“You must be joking Ah Loke, I never said I liked her. All these times we were never in contact”

“Well I said if you like her… you must take care of her. Let’s drop the topic”
KaiLoke lost his patience

I asked myself over and over again.
What do I like in her?

That someone who saved me?
That someone who taught me how to live a better life?
That someone who I can’t bear seeing her in tears?

Do I even need a reason to explain to convince myself why I like her?

---------------------------------

The sun was setting.
Mavis had decided to walk through the park after school.

It has been a long time as she avoided them on her way to school.
The park seems to be undergoing some changes, as there was construction machinery around.

Mavis found a notice written stating that the park was under upgrading and it seems that the phone booth was going to be taken off as part of the project.

Mavis stared at the phone booth.
“It was raining when we last met, it was raining again when we met again”
Memories of their childhood times came rushing to her together with the new memories of them in recent times.

Mavis let out a sigh and walked further down.

She was enjoying the breeze walk as her heart was opened to the nature surroundings.
She could get away with her mental problem temporarily.
Exams, University placing, Aging parents and most importantly she could be alone in her little space.
As she made her way home, she saw a Teru-bozu tied to a tree.
It was not as nice as the ones she made but she was quite surprise to find something like this in the park.
Then she found another on the next tree.

Mavis walked further down and she covered her mouth in shock.
Every single tree down the path towards her home was tied with Teru-bozus.

This was something that she had never witnessed before.
The excitement filled Mavis from her head to her toes.

“Someone must have liked Teru-bozu as much as I do”
Mavis thought as she walked home happily because of this sight.

--------------------------

“Hiyah Ah Hui…”

Mavis turned back.
The lifted lips on her face sunken when her eyes locate the source of the voice.

It was Wilson standing near her lift.

Mavis jumped from her fright.

“Are you a stalker? Why do you keep following me?”

“I didn’t stalk you… when was the last time you saw me?”
Wilson was rather surprised by her question.

“Eh… few months ago..”
Mavis recalled.

“See? I didn’t do anything except sending you sms which was never replied”
“Do you know it’s rude not to reply other people’s messages?”

“Oh… ok loh… I’m sorry.”

Mavis turned her back towards him and started walking.

“Wait… have you been to the park lately?”

Mavis stopped.
“Why…did you ask that?”

“Are those Teru-bozu or whatever you called it nice?”

“Please don’t tell me you made them?”
Mavis wasn’t convince.

“Why not?”
“It’s not hard what.. you only need a cloth, a ping pong ball and a string for each doll”

“Why are you doing this?”

“How much more things must I do in order to convince you I liked you?”

“Is it because of KaiLoke?”
Wilson knew he wanted to know the answer for a long time.

“Is it because of him that you are avoiding me?”

There was no answer from Mavis.

“How much more things must I do more than him?”
Wilson asked again. He knew it was now or never.

“You no need …………”

Mavis turned around, walked towards him and hugged him so tight that he almost couldn’t breath. Wilson felt his shoulder was wet with the tears that were flowing down her cheeks but he didn’t do anything.

“You no need to do anything more…..”

Mavis looked up to him.

“ You just have to be yourself….”

[To be Cont]

{ 雨の天使 }

Rain Angel

Chapter 14

[ It used to rain a lot when we were young ]

“Neh Neh Neh You cannot catch me!”
I jeered at both of them as I ran around the playground.
Ah Wei and KaiLoke had been trying to catch me in our game of ‘catching’.
Been smaller build, it was obviously harder for them to catch.

The market was crowded in the mornings and our parents didn’t have the time to bother with us. All they did was to give us some money for breakfast.

We would run around in the playground as much as any ten year old would do.

Suddenly I stopped.

“It’s going to rain ~ Let’s find a place to hide”
I told the boys.

“How do you know?”
KaiLoke asked me.

“I can smell the rain, it is coming”
I replied.
“Why do we need to hide from the rain?”
Ah Wei looked up the sky.

“Isn’t it amazing that water falls from the sky?”

“Huh…?”
I asked.

“Isn’t that great to feel the water droplets that comes from the sky?”
Ah Wei looked at KaiLoke and me together.

The three of us looked up to the sky.
Soon the raindrops came.

“Close your eyes and feel the rain..”
Ah Wei told us.

The three of us just stood there been drenched by the incoming rain.

“Isn’t this a wonderful feeling?”
Ah Wei asked again.

Neither of us replied, we just enjoyed the moment.
In the end, three of us caught a cold and a lot of scolding from our parents.

I didn’t see Ah Wei since then. But he had taught me something which I’ve never forget
It was then I began to love the rain .…

...........................................................................................

Both of them just walked through the park.
There was so much Mavis wanted to ask Wilson.
But despite her greatest effort, she can’t open her lips and asked.

“Loke won’t be too happy if he sees you in this shape”
Wilson started the conversation.

“Orrrh…”
Mavis replied.

“So everyday when we walk our separate ways, you will be heading for the market?”
Mavis asked curiously.

“Yeah, it’s funny sometimes that you always see a person walking on the opposite path of you yet you don’t know where his destination is”
Wilson laughed.

“Then since when you realized you know me and KaiLoke?”
Mavis finally asked.

“Hmmm… well… since the day I saw you in the phone booth”
Wilson smiled.

“But… How do you know it’s me. We didn’t see each other for so long already and why didn’t you tell me you were Ah Wei?”

“Hmmmmm…”
Wilson took pause before replying,
“I knew you were Ah hui because I was the one who drew the portrait”

“You drew it? The portrait at KaiLoke’s house?”

“Cannot meh? I’m a freelance artist you know?”
Wilson teased her.
“That was two years ago already. Unfortunately, he didn’t have the guts to give it to you.”

“KaiLoke liked you since young.. You know that?”

“I.. just knew”
The moment had aroused Mavis’s emotions once more.

“He did a lot things for you but he didn’t dare to tell you. It was more like being a secret admirer who can’t reveal his feelings.”
“I’m Sorry…”

“Sorry for what?”

“Scolding you that day, I said you wouldn’t know the feeling of the death of your best friend. I was wrong… You should have the same hurt as me”

“It’s ok but you slap real hard you know?”
Wilson holding his hand to his cheek.

“Don’t be sad already ok? Life is supposed to be happy right?”

“Yeah.. I know.. Don’t worry I will be happy from now on”

Wilson walked with her all the way until the school gate.
Everything seems stabilized and calm.

“So… the sms which you sent is written by KaiLoke?”

Wilson looked at her and waved goodbye.

“Nope. I wrote it. It was meant for you. ”

Both walk their separate ways.

Mavis turned to make her way to school.
Maybe it was destiny that is trying to crack a joke on her.

“What am I suppose to do?”

“What can I do?”
Time seems to drag when you have a lot of things in your mind.
Mavis didn’t want to think of anything.
She just wants to concentrate on her studies.
Maybe by putting all her energy into studying will help you release all the thoughts that is in her mind.

When you finally decided to do something, time will run faster.

-------------------------------


It was coming to 3 months after KaiLoke had left the world.

Mavis was enjoying herself in school, studying very hard for all the up coming exams and assignments.

Mavis knew what time Wilson will be walking through the park so she make sure that her timing will not clash with his.

They didn’t see each other during these times.

Wilson would send messages to her but Mavis won’t reply them.
She was uncertain of her feelings too.
It was like trying to conceive your feelings for someone.

Sometimes she broke down in the mist of her revision because she couldn’t take it.

Then the sky will drizzle afterwards.

It was as if KaiLoke telling her

“All is fine, don’t worry.. be happy and enjoy life. I will watch over you.”


-------------------------------------
Wilson looked outside the window.

It was drizzling outside.

Maybe he was wrong to like the same girl as his best friend.
As much as he wanted to subdue his feelings, he just couldn’t do it.

He looked at the pair of Teru-Bozu that was hanging there ever since the day he got them.

Maybe there was something that he could do.

At the very least…


------------------------------------


“Ah Hui ah…”

“Yes Ma?”
Mavis opened her room.

“Ah Wei asked me to pass this bag to you”

“Oh ok Ma, please go and rest. You are tired for today”

“Don’t worry about me lah, Ah Wei got help us at the stall everyday. He is always carrying all the heavy stuffs for us. He looks thinner day by day. ”

“Ah Wei is such a nice boy, I also don’t know what’s wrong with you. You and KaiLoke weren’t together so what you are worrying?”

“Ma..! I’m only 18 this year! Studies should come first right? Why aren’t you like my classmates’ parents?”

“If you really want to, how can we stop? You are not young anymore, you have to make your own decisions.”

“Ok… Ma… I know I know..”
Mavis hurried her mother out of her room.

Mavis was alone in the room.
She unwrapped the bag.

Out came her pair of Teru-bozu.
It was something she had long forgotten.

Mavis hang the Teru-bozu near her window.
Then she noticed something different about them.

She took a closer look.

One of them had it written “Mavis will pass her A levels with flying colors” which was written by her.

She then realized that the other Teru-bozu had something written on it as well.

“Wilson will love Mavis for as long as he lives…”

[To be Cont]

{ 雨の天使 }

Rain Angel

Chapter 13

[ Life is suppose to be happy when it rains ]

“Why are you not happy, Ah hui?”
Loke came to me one day as I was packing my carrots one day.

“My O levels examinations are coming, I don’t know whether I can do well or not”
I stopped and stared in the blanks again.

Loke show me his hand.
“You know why we have 5 fingers on each hand?”

“I don’t know…How would I know?”

“Because we have five types of problems in our life. Money/Love/Work or studies/Family/Friends”
Loke showed me his hand again.

“Then each type of problems will have their own solutions, that’s why when someone hold your hand, they are indirectly solving your problems”

“Uhu….. then those who got six fingers means they got 6 problems arh?”
I asked Loke back.

“Can you don’t interrupt me for being romantic?”
Loke act like he was some poet.

“Hahahaha”
I just couldn’t control myself.

“See! I’ve made you laugh! Life should be this way!”
I looked at him as he showed me the victory signage.
“Whatever problem we face, there will always be solutions. Life is supposed to be happy!”

“Yeah, Ah Loke you are right! Life is supposed to be happy!”
I remembered the day when I picked up this quote and victory sign ever since.

I will be happy, I promise…






Days past, weeks went.
As much as people always say time heals heartache.
Mavis was trying very hard to get back to her normal self.

Sometimes she would still think of KaiLoke in the morning when she arrange the vegetables.
She would visit his parents when she has the time.

Mavis would help them clean up his room as both his parents want to preserve whatever that is left of him.

She would just sit and stare at her portrait after her clean up.

Mavis looked at her mobile phone.
She did not reply to Wilson since that night when he sent her that sms.
She did not know what he wanted or why he sent to her.

“Maybe he wants to send to his girlfriend but wrongly send to me”
That’s what Mavis want to believe.

---------------

Mavis took the route to the park one day when she went to school.
She was hopping that she will not see him.

Her prayers weren’t answered.

Wilson walked towards her.

“So …How are you?”
Wilson trying to start a conversation.

Mavis didn’t understand why she was so embarrasses in seeing him.
Her heart just keep on accelerating when she sees him.
Her breathing gets stronger.
Her vocals seems stuck.

“I’m fine.. ok already”
Mavis walked past him quickly and made her way to school.

--------------

During lunch , Mavis pulled Hanling one corner.
“Hanling, ask you. When will a girl gets her heartbeat accelerating and cannot control her breath and speech?”

“When she has asthma? What kind of trick question is this? Hahaha”
Hanling laughed out loud.

“No no no.. I mean what will cause her to be like that in front of a guy”

“Well base on my experience, If she’s in love with that guy. She would probably behave like that”

“Sheehss….”
Mavis let out a big sigh

“Mavis… You’re in Love?~!?~? Who Who Who, tell me, tell me”
Hanling just couldn’t stop.

“No one lah! I don’t like anyone”
Mavis walked away with Hanling hot on her heels.

“You are my best friend, best friends no secrets one hor…”

“Nothing…”

“Is it Shawn from next class? Raymond?”

“No one means no one…”
Mavis stormed back to her class.

--------------

Back home, Mavis was revising her work when her mother came in to hang back her clothes.

“Ah Ma.. how is Loke’s parents?”

“They are coping fine. Kaiwen gone back to Australia already to continue his studies”

“Is it? That’s great..”

“They got someone helping them mend their stall also..”

“Eh Ah Hui..”

“Yes Ma?”

“Why I never hear you talk about boyfriend before?”

“What? Ma because I don’t have boyfriend..”

“Then why Hanling said you have?”

“OHhhhhhh… Ma. I don’t have boyfriend.. Don’t listen to her.. Don’t worry”
Mavis was furious with her so call best friend.

“It’s ok, your pa and me not so old fashion.. If you don’t have I recommend you one?
Got handsome man in our market you know?”
Mavis’s mother became another ‘digger’ digging up all her inner secrets.

“Ma, please don’t ask me anymore. I not interested.”
Mavis tried to push her mother out of her room.

“Ok ok, I don’t bother you already”
Mavis’s mother walked out.
“I hope you are not that bother by KaiLoke’s death..”
Mavis’s mother thought as she heads for the kitchen.

----------------

The day was dark as the sun had not rise.
The wet market had begins its operation as hawkers busily arranging their stall.

“Ah hui.. later before you go to school. Can you pass me the keys from the cupboard?
I’ve forgotten to bring them down today”
Mavis’s mother ordered.

“Ok Ma…Its 6.15 already I go hone prepare for school”
Mavis heads home and got herself ready.
Hanling called and ask her to meet at the park as she had bought her breakfast.

---------------

Mavis went to the park and both of them sit down having their breakfast and enjoy the morning sun.
They were having a great day until a familiar voice caught up with them.

“Hey.. so early eat breakfast?”

It was Wilson. Again.

“What’s the problem with you? We can’t have our breakfast here?”
Mavis knew Hanling was still angry with him as she spoke with soreness.
“Can can.. you can do whatever you want”
Wilson smiled at Mavis.

Mavis looked away, making sure that Hanling did not notice they eye contact.

“Let’s go Mavis”
Hanling suddenly got up and pulled her friend off from the bench.

Hanling was taking a lot of big steps and moving very fast dragging Mavis along.

Her eyes were sore with redness.

As they were about to reach school, Mavis suddenly realized that she had forgotten to pass her mother the keys. They will not be able to go home without it.

“Hanling, I got to go back to the market. You go to school first can?”

“Then you’ll be late?..”

“Never mind, you just take notes for me”
Mavis ran back to the market.

-----------------

“Ah Wei, pass me that promfret fish over there”

“Ok Auntie, here you go”
Ah Wei pass the fish to the customer.

“Ah Wei, you are such a big help to us ever since Loke left”
KaiLoke’s mother said.

“Don’t worry Auntie, I will help you for as long as you want me”

“Ah Wei ah! Need your help”
Mavis’s mother called from afar.

“Can help us move these stack of vegetables?”

“No problem Auntie~! But you must buy me coffee later”
Ah Wei moved the heavy stack of vegetable with ease.

“Ah Wei, you so young and handsome… got girlfriend or not?”
Ah Wei blushed.

“No lah Auntie.. no one wants me.. hahaha”

“Don’t worry, don’t worry. I introduce my daughter to you lah”

“Wah! Really? Then I call you mother-in-law first!”

Mavis reached the market and found her mother happily chatting with a tall guy.

“Ma… your keys”
Mavis called out as she walks nearer.

“See here is my daughter…”
Mavis’s mother said to Ah Wei.

“I know Auntie, I know your daughter”
Ah Wei turned around…

It was Wilson…

..............

[To be Cont]

{ 雨の天使 }
Rain Angel

Chapter 12

[ The Angel of Rain ]

“Ah hui… how are you?”
“Loke? KaiLoke? Where are you? How come I cannot see you?”
I don’t know where I am, everywhere was pure white and cloudy.
“Kai Loke where are you?”

“Ah Hui… you won’t be able to see me..”
The voice was really KaiLoke’s.

“KaiLoke, what happened?”
I began to knee down and cry again.
I didn’t know I’m so emotionally drained.

“Don’t cry Ah hui…”
The warm gentling wind blow up to my face.

“Where are you Loke? Why can't I see you? There are so many things to talk about between us”

“If you cry, the Angel of Rain will cry for you too…”
“The Angel of Rain will watch over you forever, I will watch over you, forever…”
“Be strong and live on because life is supposed to be happy….”

“No… Please don’t leave me”
Mavis was trembling on the bed struggling.

Wilson sat beside the bed watching her.
“She must have lost someone very special to her..”

Mavis suddenly woke up.
She realized it was a dream she had.
It didn’t felt a dream. Everything looked so real.
“KaiLoke must be in heavens now..”

“This bed is really soft and comfortable.”
She thought as she lay on the soft bed before.

Mavis suddenly sprung up from the bed.
“Where am I? Whose bed is this??? Whose clothes are this???”

She looked up. Wilson was looking at her.

“Argh!!!!!!!!!!!”
Mavis screamed with pitch that could kill.

Wilson walked over.
“These clothes are my ex-girlfriend’s. You were drenched all over. You were crying and suddenly fainted.. I have to carry you all the way back.”

Mavis slapped him a few times.

“You pervert!! What do you want???”

“Stop it.. Why did you slap me????”
Wilson stunned.

“Why did you change my clothes???? What intentions you have?”

“What intentions I’ve got?? You’ve nothing for me to see in the first place!”
Wilson fired a deadly remark on her.

In the mist of all the quarreling, the bedroom door opened up.

“Ah….The porridge is so hot…”
Hanling came in with a bowl in her hand.

“Hanling?? Why are you here?”
Mavis looked at her friend.

“Why? Because of you! Who ask you to faint all of the sudden”
Hanling put the bowl on the table.

“Hanling… so you were the one who changed out my clothes?”
Mavis lowered her tone.

“Stupid girl…All you know is cry, faint, scream and slap people”
Wilson walked out of the room.

He hoped her friend would be able to calm her down.

“Yeah lah! If not who changed? Wilson? Come to think of it, I feel he’s a real gentleman. At least he called me and asked me for help..”

“I just slapped him a few times just now..”
Mavis sounded remorseful.

“No problem, I wanted to slap him since that night”
Hanling encouraged her friend.

“Hanling… I dream of him just now…”

“Kai Loke?... Poor girl… don’t be too sad. Whatever happen she should not be too bothered about it. It cannot be helped…”
Hanling hugged her.

“I know.. I promise him I will live on happily. He said he will look after me. Well… I think he may actually be the Rain Angel that I’ve always talked about…I know he is.. I hope he is..”
Mavis let out a smile.

“That’s the spirit girl! I know you are sad…. But we should look forward”

“Life is supposed to be happy right?”
Hanling show Mavis her victory sign.

Wilson was standing outside the door.
He let out a smile of relieved. Finally she has the determination to pull herself together.
Wilson looked out his window.
The rain had stopped.

“Loke, I hope she will really get over you…”

--------------

Hanling accompanied Mavis to her void deck before she heads home herself.

“Ah hui, where did you go?”
Mavis’s mother looked at her tired daughter.

“I went to KaiLoke’s place just now”

“Are you ok? You looked very tired”

“I’m ok, Ma.. I’ve thought it through already..”

Mavis’s mother paused and looked at her daughter again.

“Whose clothes are you wearing?”

“Ohh.. Eh.. They’re Hanling’s. Just now we met up then big rain then we were drenched then I went to her place then she lends me her clothes then…”

“Ok.. ok so many ‘then’”
Mavis’s mother walked into the kitchen.

Mavis let out a sense of relieve. If her mother would to know she had went to a stranger’s place and slept on his bed. God knows what will become of her.

------------

Night time came as the noisy void deck had died down.
Mavis folded and stacked her ‘new’ clothes into her closet.

She looked up to the clear sky with the half full moon.

“So many things have happened in such a short time.”

It takes a lot of time and a lot of effort to stop thinking of someone.

Mavis took a deep breath and let out a sigh.

“Loke, If you really are the Rain Angel.. please show me a sign, any sign…”

Suddenly raindrops fell down from the sky.
It rained on a clear night sky.. but it only lasted a few minutes..

Mavis fell onto her chair.
She couldn’t believe what she had witness.
But she would want to believe in it, even though she may be the only one who believes in it.
Her heart is finally settled.

“Ah Loke, you don’t worry about me. I will study hard and go to university as promised. I will live a good life. I know when I cry, it will rain. If you really are the Rain Angel, then I cannot hate the rain anymore because it would mean I hate you… “

Mavis started to flip through her revision notes.

“Mavis Guo Mei Hui Ganbatte ne!”

Mavis spent the rest of the night revising through all the lessons that she missed.

As she prepared for bed, her mobile phone beeped.

[Sender : Wilson]

She read on..

“The darken clouds filled the lovely sky,

Thoughts of you ran across my mind..

As the wind began its mighty blow,

Senses of sadness felt across my soul..

Water descends the distance ground,

Behind my window I heard the sound,

Night came as I sat by my warming crouch,

Knowing that a rainfall brings out drought,

As I close my eyes and force myself to sleep,

Images of you flashes within deep.

Though the rain had washed my tears for you,

it will never remove any love I feel.”

[To be Cont]

{ 雨の天使 }

Rain Angel

Chapter 11

[ I hate the rain... ]

It rained that night, the next night and the next.
It rained on the day that you were cremated.
It then rained subsequently for 7 days straight.
KaiLoke is gone. The rain had taken his life.

My eyes are swollen, my smile is gone. My tears have dried up, my mouth stop to talk.
I sat back and think back what that guy said to me.
“What’s so great about being happy?”
Maybe he was right.

To see someone whom you see everyday suddenly gone forever.
This kind of sadness and pain is something which few got through.
Those who’ve experienced will know what I want to say.

KaiLoke… I Miss you..

“Ah hui”
KaiLoke’s mother called her after a few days after his cremation.

“Yes Auntie?”

“Can you come over to my place later? I’ve got something to pass you”

“Orhh… ok I’ll try”
Mavis put down the phone with a heavy heart.

Mavis didn’t want to go.
She didn’t have enough courage to face them.
To lose their son in an accident is terrible enough, knowing that he came for her was worse.
It must have taken them a lot of courage to pull through.

“I guess KaiLoke would want me to accompany them and talk to them more often”
“Maybe they will think less of him by talking with me”

Mavis made her way to his home.

“Ah hui, you are here. Come in please”
KaiLoke’s mother opened their 4 roomed flat to her.

It was the first time she had gone to their place after they moved out of the same block as her family 2 years ago.
The house was simple, yet neat and spacious unlike her own.

“Ah pa should have sell fish instead…”

“Meihui…”
Mavis turned.

“You are…. KaiWen?”
Mavis covered her mouth.

“Oh my god.. it’s been so long…”

“Yeah.. too bad I couldn’t make it to Ah Gor’s funeral. The air tickets back to Singapore was fully booked.

“Ah Wen reached home after Ah Loke was cremated. He had been busy settling the remaining paperwork since”

KaiLoke’s mother spoke as she brought a cup of tea to her.

“So… Auntie.. what is it that you want to give me?”

KaiLoke’s mother asked Mavis to go inside his room.

It was the first time she ever sat foot in his room. Mavis could still remembered that KaiLoke had banned her from entering his room since she started in junior college.
They even quarreled and didn’t talk to each other for a period of time over this.

On the walls, were a giant portrait of a girl right behind his bed.

“It’s… me….”

Mavis walked towards the portrait.

“KaiLoke always wanted to give you this since your 16th birthday”
KaiWen came in.

“But… Why?”

“Don’t tell me you didn’t know that he liked you all along?”
Those words were smeared with sourness as she took it.

“I….. don’t know… what to say…”
Mavis walked towards the portrait.
“He liked you since young, he was always there to protect you.”
KaiWen continued.

“But he didn’t have the courage to tell you. He was afraid that you will avoid him if you know about it”

“I…”

Mavis then notice some books on his desk.
There were a few A level’s books lying on his table.

KaiWen saw the books too but he has no idea why the books were there.

Mavis walked up to the books and start flipping.

Every page of each textbook has a sentence.

“Chen Kai Loke… Loves…. Guo Mei Hui”

Mavis flipped the last textbook, the last page was different from the rest.
It was a written paragraph.

[ I know it’s stupid of me to do this and I can’t explain why I’m so attracted to her.
Maybe this is what people call Love.
I call this blindly in love.

I watched her grow from a cute naughty girl to a young pretty lady.
It hurts me every time to see she had a fall.
It will put a smile on my face when I see her arranging the carrots.
She is always clumsy when you ask her to carry things.

No one will know why I give up my studies.
Ah Ma will think I’m saving up the money for KaiWen.
It’s only half true, let them believe it.

I gave up my junior college placing because of her.
I want to wait for her.
I want to go to the same University with her.
I want to take care of her forever.
I know She may not like me…
But it is enough for me to have a chance to be with her…

16th May 2007]

It was written on the day of accident.
Everyone in the room cried.

Mavis especially. She had thought her tears had dried up.
It just keeping flowing out.

She cried because she know she would not have accepted him.
She cried because she can’t repay anything to him for what he had done for her.
She cried because she never had the chance to say ‘Thank You’ & ‘Sorry’ to him forever.

Mavis had requested the portrait to be hang up in his room.
She hope that it will accompany him at least.

Mavis left the house with a broken heart.
She had thought that she had recovered from the sadness.

It seems that the sadness have just begin.

Mavis walked to the park.

It was her soul asylum, a place where she could cry all she want.
It was a place where she could just stare at the flowers.

As she stood at the park, the sky had long darkened at her ignorance.
Soon the rain dropped.

Mavis just stood there.

The rain got bigger.

Mavis continued standing there closing her eyes.
Her mind was in shock over sadness or sadness over shock.

Mavis couldn’t feel the rain drops anymore.
She opened her eyes and looked up to an umbrella.

“Why are you standing in the rain?”

Wilson was holding the umbrella to cover her letting himself wet in the process.

“Why do you care?”
Mavis turned back.

“Why don’t I care? Who was the one who asked me to be happy?”

“What’s the point of being happy?”
Mavis cried again.

“You don’t need a reason to be happy right?”
Wilson sensing something is wrong with her today.

“Are you ok?”
Wilson tried to turn her around.

“Leave me alone!! LET GO!”

“Why are you so sad? What happen?”

“What do you know??? HAVE YOUR BEST FRIEND EVER DIED JUST LIKE THAT?”

“What~??~?? Hanling is dead??”
Wilson got a shock.

“NO NO NO I never said it’s her, you’ll never understand.”

“But you shouldn’t do this to yourself, you are only damaging yourself…”

“WHAT’S THE PROBLEM?? I DON’T EVEN HAVE THE RIGHT TO CRY?”
“WHAT DO YOU KNOW?”

Wilson was stunned by her words, rather her tone.
The cheerful girl whom he met few months ago was gone.

“Yes, I know… I know your feeling now. Please cry it all out.. You will feel better”

“I HATE THE RAIN! I’ll never forgive the rain”

Wilson suddenly threw away the umbrella and hugged her.
She just continued to cry in his arms.
And the rain kept coming at them.

“I truly understand what you’ve gone through…”
Wilson can only consoled her as she just kept hitting him.

[To be Cont]

{ 雨の天使 }

Rain Angel

Chapter 10
[ The Rain that I’ll never forget… ]

Have you ever hate someone or something so much that it hurts your heart the moment you began to think about it?
The hurt is so much that you don’t even know how to react?
That someone whom you always trusted did the unimaginable.
I always thought life should be full of love and happiness.
No one or no things are to be disliked by anyone.
Some things can forgiven… but cannot be forgotten.
I’m beginning to hate the rain….


“How is he…?”
Mavis walked to his bed, panting as she had run all the way from the drop point.

She didn’t know what to say as she saw all the tubings and cables connected to KaiLoke. There were a lot of bandages and he was still in a coma. The sight of him drew tears straight from the heart as she advanced into the Intensive-Care Unit.

“How is Loke? Auntie?”

KaiLoKe’s mother can only held onto his father and weeped.

“How is KaiLoke, Ma…”

Mavis turned to her own parents instead.

“We don’t know Ah hui. We reached no long ago.”

“All we know is that KaiLoke had met an accident. We rushed down after informing you.. Poor kid…”

Mavis’s father sighed.

“But why he had an accident?”

“His car skidded along the expressway. It crashed onto the divider”
Loke’s father started telling.

“But shouldn’t he be at home? Preparing for tommorrow’s business?”

Mavis just cannot believe it.
She had never know KaiLoke as a dangerous driver.

“It was rainning quite heavily and he said that he’s going to pick you up before it rains”

“Why the rain…..?”
Mavis couldn’t believe what they have told her.

“Why must it be the rain…?”

“So what did the doctor say?”
Mavis turned her attention.

“The doctor said there’s some blood clot in his left brain. They are preparing to see if they can perform an operation tomorrow morning”

Mavis kneeled beside his bed.

“Loke, you must be strong…”

She touched his forehead.

“We make a move first… Mavis you joining us?”
Mavis’s father called after he console KaiLoke’s parents.

“Don’t worry, don’t think too much…”

“Yeah.. should not be anything critical. If not the operation would have done immediately”
Mavis’s father knew this kind of words might not be the best of all consoles but that was all that he could think of.

“Pa, Ma. Can I stay with him?”
Mavis requested.

“Ok… you take care of yourself okie? The hospital gets very cold at night”

Mavis’s parent had left the ICU.

“Auntie, Uncle. You want to go home too? I can take care of him”
Mavis suggested.

KaiLoke’s mother wasn’t responsing.
All her weeping had caused her to be phyiscally and emotionally drained. She had fallen asleep.
All the tiredness had caused a great impact to her.

“Ah hui, Are you sure you can take care of him tonight?”
KaiLoke’s father asked.

“Yeah..I can take care of him…”

“We’ll come back tomorrow morning okie? I think Loke’s mother is really tired”
KaiLoke's father carried her as he speaks.

“Yeah. Uncle, don’t worry. I will call you if he wakes up during the night”

“Ok… you take care of yourself too..”

They too walked out of the ICU.

The night seems extremelly and bitterly cold when you are alone in the hospital. Mavis took out a jacket and hung on herself.

She then walked over to his bed and tried to pull up his blanket.

Mavis just sat there watching him.

She think back all the memories that they shared since they were young. Loke had always take care of her as far as she can remember. Growing up together means they shared almost all the fun that a child cannot forget in his/her life.

Rain drops slowly hit the window.

Soon, it was rainning again.

It was cold enough to be alone, the rain seems to make it worse.

Mavis looked at KaiLoke.

“Loke.. you must wake up… or I will not talk to you anymore..”
Mavis hoped it will help by talking to him. It always worked in shows and movie.

She started talking their young times.
The days when they first met at the playground outside the wet market. The days when she fell sick and Loke had to carry her all the way from the market to the clinic. The days when she did well in her examinations.

Soon the rain was getting bigger.

“Stop.. the rain….stop it”
Mavis couldn’t hold onto herself anymore.
There was no one there for her to comfort her, to ask her not to cry.

Mavis wiped her tears and took out a tissue to wipe his forehead..

She felt something on his cheeks.

It was tears…

“Nurse!! Nurse, Doctor…!”
Mavis ran outside the ward room.

A few Doctors came and took a look at him.
They were taking his heart beat, blood pressure and all sorts of examinations.

Mavis quietly stood there and watched.

Suddenly one of the doctors shouted…

“His blood pressure is going down. We’re losing him!!”

The rest of the doctors hurried to do immediate rescure.

Mavis hurried to his bed.

“KaiLoke!! KaiLoke..!! What happened?? Didn’t he woke up…!!??”


No one was able to answer her.

Mavis was there looking at him, wiping his sweat and holding onto his hand.

KaiLoke opened his eyes and looked at Mavis.

He tried to said something… but she couldn’t make out what he was saying.

“Ah hui….”

“Yes, I hear you KaiLoke… I hear you… Please don’t give up!!”

“Ah Hui… I……..”

“Don’t give up okie??? Don’t give up on your parents… Don’t give up on Me…..”

Mavis wasn’t able to control herself anymore

“Ah Hui…………I………..Love……….. You………”

And all went still.

The doctors had stopped.
The beeping sound of the heart beat equipment went constant.

He was gone…
Mavis held on him and cried…

She didn’t know how long she had cried..

As the hopsital informed the family.
Mavis sat at the corner alone.
Her tears contiune to drip as the as the rain drops contiune to hit the window.

She stared at the rain…

The rain that killed her best friend, her brother and someone that love her.

She hated the rain…




[To be Cont]

What is it that you like to do?

Do you know what is the thing that you really like to do?
Some people might call it a hobby.
But a hobby is only done through your free time right?

So think again, what is it that you like to do?
Something that will put a smile on your face despite the hectic lifestyle that you are going through each day.

I like to watch the rain drops falling down from the sky from the first drop.
I like to accomplish my job assignments in office that makes everyone’s day.
I like to take a walk through the park with my wife after dinner.
I like to see my wife being happy each day.
I like to her and my family to have happy memories that they can remember throughout their life.

I like the things that I'm good at doing.

When you are good, you are expected to be better.
When you are better, people expect the best from you.
What comes after the best?
Consistency?
Reliability?
Continuous improvement?

Until….?

The day that you don't like doing it anymore.
When you don't like doing it, whatever people tell you is not important.

When you like to do something, shouldn't you be doing it as you like it?

Recently I began writing a lot, on the web, in my blog.
I've completed one story, in the mist of completing the next.

People have told me it's a good try for the first.
Then expect better from the second.

The second story wasn't that well received as the first.
Nobody commented well on it.

Maybe it's really bad.
Maybe my first attempt was a fluke.
Maybe I should stop writing altogether.

“Why do care so much from other people's point of view?”
Jo told me.

“What makes a good story? It's something that will relate to people in their life”
I told myself.

“I will continue writing.”
Even if there’s only 1 person reading.

“I will continue…”

Because it’s the memories that I leave for the reader to remember.
One day throughout their life, they will remember the stories that they once read and how it related to them.

And they will remember someone who writes them.

That's me…

Anntonii Lim

{ 雨の天使 }

Rain Angel

Chapter 9
[ The Rain between me, him and.... ]

It's 5am in the wet market.
Many hawkers have started opening their stall after they got the goods from their distributors.
Many people don't go to wet market as much as they used to be.
The convenience of knowing that the supermarket will always have fresh stock of vegetables and meat never helped.
I used to remember that the wet market was always crowded in the mornings.
Housewives trying to fight a 20cent bargain.
People quarreling over the freshness of the displayed fish.
What was the feeling liked?
To accompany your mother to the wet market and watch her display her skills.
Skills in picking the fresh vegetables, choosing the fresh fish.
We'll never understand that.
Negotiation skills as she asked for a further discount.
When was the last time you've done that?
Never?
Try it this weekend.. maybe you have to wake up earlier.
The rewards are incomparable.

Mavis wasn't in the state of her mind when she was arranging the carrots.
Of all the vegetables, Mavis always liked carrot the most.
Maybe her likeness for rabbits have some effect on her preference for carrots.
She was trying to figure out what had happen between Hanling and Wilson.

“Ah Hui, pass me some carrots”
Mavis's mother yelled but there was no response.

“Hello Miss... Not enough sleep?”
KaiLoke nodded her head from behind.

Mavis recovered from her state of trance and quickly passed the carrots to her mum.
“Shall we go for breakfast since you are almost done with your packing?”
“Orhh... ok”
They went to a coffeeshop nearby to have some toast and coffee.
KaiLoke was take a sip on his coffee when he pointed to the playground outside the coffeeshop.

“Ah Hui, do you still remember this playground?”
“Huh? What's with this playground?”
“Aiyah, all of us used to play here a lot. Not this current playground but the one during our years”

“Yeah... I used to get bullied a lot by you then.”
Mavis remembered.
“Yah loh, you always cried. Then Ah Wei and I have to console you”
“Who's Ah Wei? I don't seems to have any memory of him”

“Ah Wei is my buddy lah. My primary school classmate”
“Hmmm.. no idea”

Mavis continued to think while munching her bread.
“He's helping me out lately but you won't really get to see him anyway”

“Don't talk about this lah, so you got any boyfriend lately?”
Loke asked.

“Boyfriend? No.. I don't think I have the time too”
“Don't worry, during the time when you don't have any boyfriend you can always count on me!”

“Anything you ask I will surely help you”
KaiLoke declared.

“Of course you must help lah! I know you so long already”
“Yeah, it's been so long already since our parents first started out in this wet market”

Loke took another sip in his coffee.

“Don't talk about me lah, Why won't you have any girlfriend?”
Mavis shot back.

“Me? Who would like me? I smell like fish all day long”
Loke laughed.

“Loke, you not young liao mah..you won't want Auntie & Uncle to start worrying about you right?”

“No one will like me...”

“Really, what makes you think so?”

“Then do you like me?”

KaiLoke took a hard look at Mavis.

“I..... I think I need to go to school...it's getting late”
Mavis tried to change the topic.
Mavis got up to make her way home for wash up and prepare for school.
She quicken her steps home.
Mavis didn't understand the meaning of the conversation with KaiLoke.

She don't believe KaiLoke will play such a joke on her.
The problem is bigger if this isn't a joke.
Everything seems to happen so fast without stop.

Mavis received a sms from Hanling.
“Mavis, I'm not going to school today. I'm still feeling sick”
Seems like Hanling had not recovered from the rejection after a few days.
Hanling seems to be devastated by his rejection.
Maybe Hanling really like him a lot.

Mavis walked through the park today.
The quiet scenery seems to aid her in sorting out her over storage mind.
She was admiring the flowers when she heard a voice from infront.

“Late for school today?”

Mavis looked up.
It was him.

The man who broke her friend's heart.
The man who almost drew her best friend into depression.
As Mavis continued her stare, she became more furious.

“You know what you have done to her?”
She finally picked up her courage to scold him directly.
She know it's useless as it won't help Hanling in anything anyway.

She just let her emotions out.
“What happened to her?”
Wilson appeared curious.
“Hanling had fallen sick because of you! She had skipped school for nearly a week”
“Then what you expect me to do?”
“Why you don't show care for her? You know how much she like you?”

“Do you think it will help if I call her now?”
Wilson asked.

“I don't know, don't ask me.. I'm lost”
“Do you think that if someone liked you, you have to like the person back in return?”
“If I like you now, will you like me in return?”

“I......”
Mavis knew what Wilson was saying.

She felt the same way as he did this morning when Loke talked about relationship.
“If you don't like her, why must you be so close with her?”

“I'm close to her? I treat her as a good friend all along..”
Wilson tried to look away.
“You've ruined her feelings....”

“It's not that I want to anyway, I already told her before that both of us won't have that kind of chemistry between us.”

“I don't want to see you again...”
Mavis walked past him.

Wilson tried to defend himself but Mavis went further ahead of him.
Soon the sight of her was lost as the stretch of the park went.
Wilson just carry on his journey as they parted ways once more.
The park was back to peaceful state once more.

---------------------

Mavis tried to spend her concentration at her school work but it didn't work out.
Hanling, Wilson, Loke seems to be on her mind throughout the day.
Her exams are not far away and Mavis is trying all her best to stay on track.
Her school ended as how it began.. confused.

-------------------

Mavis walked back to the park after school.
Her thoughts were mainly on the words that Wilson said.

“Do you think that if someone liked you, you have to like the person back in return?”
“If I like you now, will you like me in return?”

As she walked, she somehow came to the place where they first met.

It was the telephone booth.

All the memories that happened that day went back to her.
Mavis smiled.

Her smile was greeted with some disturbance as her mobile phone rang.
“Ah Hui, where are you??”

Her mother sounds stranded.
“I'm on my way home, Ma, what happened?”
“KaiLoke met an accident, we're on our way to the hospital now”
“Ok, tell me the ward. I go there now”

[To be Cont ]

{ 雨の天使 }

Rain Angel

Chapter 8

[ The Rain that drenched her friend ]

Have you ever heard of a Rain Angel?
She is the guardian angel that pours down the rain down when the sky is dark.
No one ever see her at work and no one understand why she had to pour rain down
Some people believe that she pours rain for those who've cried.
The rain covered their tears as they flowed together
I don't know whether it's true.
It rained last night, did I cried in my sleep?

[Hanling If I need a favour from you, you will help me right?]
Wilson asked over the sms.

[Oh well.. that depends how you are going to reward me? Hee hee..]
Hanling seeked.

[Can you be my girlfriend?]

[For one day only....]

“Awww....Why only for a day?”
Hanling moaned as she replied her thoughts.

[Cos I need you to come down to my pub tonight to help me]
Wilson replied.

[On one condition..]
Hanling paused for a while before she continued.

[I can be your girlfriend for one day but you have to be my boyfriend forever!]

[What kind of request is this???]

[ This is my formal request mah.. you can take it or leave it..]
Hanling looks to have locked her target.

[Ok, ok.. we'll talk when you come down tonight, I've got to settle something now]
Wilson replied his last sms.

Hanling came to Mavis and broke the news to her.

“We're together... Mavis!”

“Huh?”
Mavis looked at her frenetic friend.

“Wilson asked me to be his girlfriend...”
Hanling said as she showed Mavis the sms.

Mavis didn't know how to react to her friend, all she could do was to say.

“Wah...looks like I'll have to watch movies myself already”

“No lah! All three of us can still go out together!”
Hanling bubbling with excitement.

“Yeah, maybe we would...”

-----------

Mavis walked through the park that evening.
It was quiet with gentling breeze blowing towards her.
Something was not right with her but she could not explain that feeling.
It felt as if something is lost and it felt like it's gone forever.
The last time Mavis had felt this way was during her secondary school days.

She had a crush on her class monitor but dare not expressed her feelings.
All she could do was to observe him from afar.
She would ask him all the questions regarding her homework.
She had always liked the way he explained things to her.
It was as if seeing a guy doing the things which he is most confident in.
Mavis had always think that guys looked the most handsome when they are serious in doing something.

No one know about her crush, not even her best friend Hanling who was same school with her.
No one ever came to know,
when she saw Hanling and the guy were together.

She remembered she had cried throughout the night.
The rain outside was pouring like no tomorrow.
It was as if the heaven's had shed her tears.
It was at that time when she begin to like rain.
The rain was something Mavis felt through the connections between her and the heavens.
She knows logically and scientifically no one will believe her.
It doesn't matter to her.

Mavis felt this feeling again today.

“I liked him......?”

The thought was on her mind throughout the whole night as she laid on sleepless.

-----------------

Hanling entered the smoke filled pub as she ventured into the bar counter to find Wilson.

“Hello dear!”
Hanling expressed her cuteness.

“Oh hi...”
Wilson took a peek before concentrating on mixing his drinks.

“So what can I do for you?”
Hanling sat down at the bar counter and admired his seriousness.

“I need you...”
Wilson passed the drinks on to his customers.

“You need me? Really?”

“No, I mean I need you to help me for awhile later”
Wilson moved closer to her.

“A lady will be here later, I just need her to be here. I will say the rest”

“What lady? Your mum?”
Hanling asked.

“You just play your role tonight ok?”
pleaded Wilson as he place a drink on her counter.

Hanling just sit there and looked on.
The environment didn't suit her as she's not known to be a serious clubber despite her outgoing character.
Or maybe it was the other way round as she's not fitted into this environment.

Moments later, a women walked past her and sat beside her.
The women was in her mid twenties as Hanling looked on.
She was well dressed with a fashion sense of office lady, neat and tidy.
The lady make a gesture to signal Wilson's attention.

“Wil, how are you these days?”

“Well... I'm still alive and kicking I guess”

“Wil, we are filing for divorce”

“So? What does it got to do with me?”

“Wil, I thought you said we will be together forever?”
The women held his hand which Wilson let go.

“You also said you cannot leave your husband right?”
Wilson tried to move away.

“Why are you doing this to me...”
The women began to sob.

“I think you've got it wrong. It was you who treated me this way”
The women didn't replied, she just sat there and cried.

Wilson walked over to Hanling.

“This is Hanling, my current girlfriend. Wen, you were right, we are only together because we needed each other's attention. We never liked each other.”

Wendy turned her eyes to Hanling.

“You bitch! How can you do this to him?”
and she slapped her right infront of him.

Wilson grabbed Wendy's hand.

“Wen, it's you who are in the wrong right in the beginning. You've betrayed yours husband. What did Hanling do? We were only together when you broke off with me. I hope you'll never forget that”

“BUT I LOVE YOU!”
Wendy wailed and got the attention of the crowd despite the music background.

“STOP IT! DIDN'T YOU LOVE YOUR HUSBAND WHEN YOU WERE MARRIED?”
Wilson shouted before he came out and pulled Hanling out of the pub.

---------------

They walked along the roads for awhile. There was nothing much to say.
Hanling came and did her role.

“Thanks”
That was maybe the appropriate word to say at that time.

“So you will be my boyfriend forever?”
Hanling joked

“Hanling, I didn't promise you anything. I only wanted your help because it was the only way that could stop Wendy from coming back to me...”

“But didn't you loved Wendy? You almost killed yourself over her like what Mavis said”

“I don't know, I feel that love is a strange thing. When you are in love with someone you can do anything for her. Maybe even to die for her. Then you realize that all is meaningless.”


“Wendy has to go back to the place where she belongs, I'm not her place that's all.”

“Then why can't I replace her?”

Wilson looked at Hanling.

“I'm sorry, Love is something which nothing or no one can replace. I liked you as a friend, as a confider, as a person who can listen to my endless whine but I was never in love in you”

“So it's an one-sided affair all along right?”
Hanling tried to hide her tears.

“Hanling, you are still young right? Studies should come first right?”

“Right?? Who are you to lecture me? Are you my father?”
Hanling stormed off leaving Wilson behind.

She tried to run but she was just too tired.

--------------

Mavis's phone's ringing melody had woke her in her deep thoughts.
It was raining outside and Mavis had got a bad feeling as she answered.

“Hello...? Ling?”

“Mavis.....I'm very sad now...Waaa!!!.”
Hanling burst out crying over the phone.

“Oh my god?? What happened?”

Mavis had rushed down to her friend who was wandering in their neighborhood.
Hanling had told her what happened that night.
Mavis consoled her and accompanied her home.

As she walked back her home...the rain haven't stopped.
Mavis felt her heart.
The sad feeling wasn't there anymore.
Was it a relieve to know what had happened?
There was no answer.

There was only 1 question on her mind as she walked in the rain with her umbrella.

“Do I Really liked him?”

[To be Cont]

{ 雨の天使 }

Rain Angel

Chapter 7

[ The Rain that finally stopped ]

A lot of people asked me why I liked rain.
I always ask them back why they don’t?
Of course, I understand the feeling of being drenched from head to toe when you don’t have a shelter.
What’s so bad about that?
Except maybe you will be sick over a few days, but it’s really a good time to have a proper rest, to stay away from the stress temporarily.
When was the last time that you simply didn’t care less as the rain pours on you?
During young when you don’t have to care for anything?
Those were the days right? And you can always have an umbrella.
Now you know why I liked rain?
Why wouldn’t you like rain then?

“Ah Hui! Nah your breakfast”
Mavis turned back while packing the vegetables.

“Hey Lok! How is business today?”
Mavis asked while receiving her breakfast of toast bread.

“Business ok loh, everyday also got people eat fish one mah”
Lok smiled as he munched in.

Lok had known Mavis since they were young.
Both of them grew up together, as Lok’s parents are fishmongers in the same market. Lok was a few years older than Mavis but had stopped school to help out ever since his secondary school.

No one knew why he quit school, as his grades were good enough to join any top junior college in Singapore.
Maybe he didn’t want to add to his aging parents burden.

“Ah Hui, so how is school?”
Lok asked as both of them sat at the benches outside the market.

“Well.. ok bah.. School is always fun, exams are always tough”
Mavis smiled.

“Need me to send you to school?”
Lok suggested as he took out his keys.

“No need, you continue to help Auntie. I always prefer to walk to school”

“Ah Hui.. You’ve grown up a lot already… I’m old already”
Lok sighed as he gives a pat on her head.

Mavis went home to take a bath before preparing herself.
The sun was rising at the Fareast as Mavis made her way to the school.

“It rained yesterday night.. the flowers at the park will be happy as they have taken a well deserved bath too”
Mavis thought as she walks towards school.

It was still early, so she had decided to take a walk down the park.

Mavis likes to look at the patches of flowers in the park, especially if it rains the night before. The flowers will be sparkling with the morning dew as the sun rises.

It was a scene that will cheer her up.

The morning breeze blow gently across her face as she admired the flowers. Suddenly the breeze took a chill down her spine, as she felt rather uneasy. It was as if someone is looking at her from somewhere, she looked up and saw a figure walking slowly towards her.

“Good morning, Mavis!”

Greeted the man.

Mavis’s admiration & smile had turned sour.

It was Wilson.

“What are you doing here?”

“Why am I not here? This is not private property you know..”

“Oh… it really spoils my day when I see you..”
Mavis walked past him.

“Looks like you’ve fully recovered… and your dolls sure worked yesterday night”

Mavis turned around.

“You turned them upside down?”

“Yeah.. after gathering from the information I’ve got online.”

“So aren’t you happy that it rain yesterday night?”
Wilson asked.

“I’m always happy when it rains, but the sight of you will only decrease my happiness!”

Mavis began to walk away but turned back once more.

“Wait! When are you going to return me back my Terubozu?”

“When one day you don’t like rain anymore….”
Wilson began to walk away from her.

“Argh!! You idiot”
Mavis stormed off to school as they parted once more.

-------------------

“So did he sms you yesterday?”
Hanling started her usual rounds of interrogation during lunch.

“No”

“Really?”

“No… never, not interested.”

“Really, really, really?”

“Stop it lah, Hanling. What’s so good about him?”
Mavis is really annoyed.

“I never said he’s good mah… I only asked whether he got sms you?”

“Yeah, he did. Are you happy now?”

“Then did you reply?.. You did right?”

“Why are you so similar like him? Equally irritating.”

“Ok, ok. I’ll stop asking. Anyway we talked over the phone yesterday”

“………..”
Mavis was speechless as she looked on.

“He’s such a cute guy… I think I will fall for him anytime”
Hanling started thinking wildly again.

“Yeah.. Hanling, maybe it’s a good time because he had just broke off with his girlfriend?”
Mavis suggested.

“Really? Hmmmm…”
Hanling wondered.

“But I think he must have love his girlfriend very much. I never see a person who become so sad after break off and wanted to kill himself.”

“Aiyah.. all men are like that. They always say they want to kill themselves during a quarrel but will they? If they did, then probably there won’t be any men left in this world!”
Hanling laughed.

“I don’t know, I’m not him so maybe I won’t know”

The rest of the day, Mavis’s mind just couldn’t concentrate.
“How can a person who behave so sad on one day, fully recovered on the other? Is he putting up an act? He don’t even need to.. right? If he did then he’s such a heartless person..”

All was confused on her mind.
She just hopes she’ll never have to see him again.

----------------------

Over the next few days, Mavis hardly walked through the park.
She took the bus to school instead, even if it’s only a few stops.

She won’t know what to say if she sees Wilson again.
“There’s nothing to say to a heartless guy.”
She reminded herself.

Over at school, she listens to Hanling’s praise for him almost every minute. It seems that both of them are getting closer, maybe too close.
Both of them had gone out several times before.

Sometimes Hanling would invite Mavis along but she kindly rejects as she did not want to spoil the romantic ambience.

After several weeks had gone.
After hundreds of sms between them.
After thousands of minutes of phone call between them.
After uncountable times of date between them.

Hanling came to Mavis one day & broke the news to her.
“We’re together… Mavis!”

“huh?”
Mavis looked at her frenetic friend.

“Wilson asked me to be his girlfriend…”
Hanling said as she showed her the sms.

The rain finally stopped, in her heart..

[To be Cont]

{ 雨の天使 }

Rain Angel

Chapter 6

[ What's so great about the rain... ]

Have you ever planned to go but your thoughts hindered when you see the dark clouds
hovering the sky?
How did you felt?
Thinking of whether to bring an umbrealla?
What if it never rain? Wouldn't you look stupid carrying an umbrella around?
Maybe you would forgotten to bring back.
What if you go without an umbrella and it rain?
You will be drenched and hence be dampened of your spirits to go out?
What's so great about the rain? It only deters your plan.

Mavis reached home and kept thinking about the sms.

Should she reply to Wilson?
Or should she take it as it never happens?

Her thoughts were disturbed by the knocked at the door.
It was her mother.

“Are you feeling better? Any fever?”
Her mother feeling her forehead with her hand.

“I'm ok, Ma. Don't worry, it won't affect my studies.
Hanling had already revised with me what I've missed these 2 days”
Mavis immediately turned to her textbook to start her revision.

“Ah Hui, you know why Ah Pa & Ah Ma always want you to study hard?”

“I know, so that I can go to the university and earn a lot of money for both of you to retire..
I always know that..”

“Whether we can retire or not it's not important.
Most importantly you must know how to take care of yourself..
We will not be with you forever you know”

Mavis turned to look at her mother.
She had aged a lot from the last time she really took a good look at her.
Her hair are partially white and her face full of winkers.
Her hands are rough through the chores and hard work of maintaining the family.

“Don't worry, Ma. I will defintely work hard.. I will get sponsorship into University. Even if I don't, I will come out to work. I will hold 2 or even 3 jobs.
I want both of you to have an easy life in future.”

“Ok, you don't study too hard arh? Take care of your body also”
Mavis's mother said as she made her turn out of her room.

“Yeah I know, Ma”
Mavis turned her face back at the books.

Mavis's eyes were swollen with redness as she could not control her tears from flowing.

“I will study hard... I will let both of you live a better life.“
Mavis thought as she started flipping through her revision.

Her phone sounded through the silent night.
It was another SMS.

[Hey I hope I didn't message the wrong person.
But if you are Mavis, Please reply as it's something urgent.]

“Don't tell me he's going to kill himself again?”
“Impossible, he sounded alright this afternoon”
“Maybe he's trying to indulge himself with work so that he will think about the girl?”
“It's night time, most probably he will be alone now..”

It's often said that an 18year old girl can think of 15 possible situations within a minute.
That's about 4 seconds per thought.
Most of the time it's all the bad things that relate their thoughts together.
Tell them that they think a lot will possbily get yourself killed.
Maybe that's why you get a lot of depression from young teenage girls.

[Hiyah. This is Mavis, how are you?]
Mavis put down her phone after returning the sms.

Her phone beeped almost immediately.

[Hey, its Wilson here. You never get my message earlier? ]

[Yeah I did but I was doing something]

[Studying? God.. I miss those days studying]

[What is it that you want? You said it's urgent]

[Yeah it's urgent because I urgently need to sms you, isn't that urgent enough?]
Came the cheeky reply.

[That's not funny]

[Ok, I apologized, by the way are you the owner of the 2 doll?]

[They're called Terubouzo in japanese, Weather dolls people call them.]

[Oh... no wonder I find it so familiar]

[You worked in a japanese resturant and you don't know japanese stuffs?]

[ Why must I know? I only worked there and I'm not a japanese]

[ You only know how to commit suicide right? ]
This time was Mavis's turn to poke him.

[ Yes, at least better than those who eavsdropped others. ]

[Hey! I didn't eavsdropped you, we were standing so close and you were shouting here and there]

[ Did I say you? ]
Came the reply, Mavis knew she was caught.

[Ok, ok my fault. So when can you return me my terubouzo?]

[ I never said I will return you, I only asked if you are the owners]

[How can you do that? THOSE ARE MINE! I used them to pray for rains]

When a person is angry, they would use capital letters in their reply to signify their anger.
That's the world of Information Technology with a bit of feelings.

[ Hahaha, I will take care of them for you..
incase you lose them again. Nice chatting with you. Good night!]

That was the last message that came.

A mixed of anger and happiness flow through Mavis's body as she re-read the sms that was sent.
It was the first time that she a tingling feeling caused by someone.

[ You are such an idiot, You Bakka!]

That was Mavis's last reply before she went to sleep.
She was smiling throughout her deep sleep.

------------------------------

Wilson looked at his phone.

“Bakka..eh? Stupid girl”

Wilson grinned as he turn on his computer to do some net surfing.
He then began searching for the meaning of Terubozou.
True enough, she was right. It was a kind of weather doll that japanese put up.

He couldn't find the history when and why it was put up.
He only know that for festive celebrations,
the japanese would hang up a lot of Terubozou across town to pray for good weather.

Then he read on to find an interesting claim.

Japanese also believe that it will rain if the Terubouzo is been hanged upside down.
It is normally for those days during the summer when they need the rain to water their crops.

Wilson switched off his computer and took out a beer.
He was browsing through the sms that was sent by Mavis.
That put a smile across his face.

He looked at the Terubouzo that was hanging at the window as he sat on his sofa.
He got up and walked towards the Terubouzo.

He remembered the sms which Mavis sent.

“Will it really rain?”

He said as he hanged the pair of Terubouzo upside down and returned to his sofa.

“How can rain make a person happy?”

Wilson got up and clean himself before going to bed.

It drizzled that night, right in the mist of their dream....

The rain had came...

Mavis got up to look outside the window as the raindrops flows down her window.



It finally came…

{ 雨の天使 }

Rain Angel
Chapter 5

[ It never rain today... ]

Do you know what is a terubozou?
Its a weather doll very popular in Japan where people hang it out if they wished for a good
weathered day tomorrow.
But if people wanted rain then they will have to hand the weather doll upside down in order for the rain to start.
I have 2 of them because I don't like it to be lonely hanging there all by itself.
That's when I prayed for the rain in the afternoons.

Days have past since the day Mavis have met him.
As she walked past the telephone booth she let out a smile to remind her of such a ridculous person that existed.
“I don't think he got the guts to kill himself anyway”
Mavis thought as she contiuned her journey to school.

Someone sprung on her as she was about to reach the school gate.
“Hey girl! Long time no see?”

Mavis turned back, it was Hanling.

“How are you Mavis? Getting better?”
Hanling asked as they walked inside the school.

“yeah... the running nose is drying up but still blocked”
Mavis's sounded lethargic.

“Oh.. yeah by the way, I walked past the market just now. Your mum pass me $50 and thanked me for lending you that day.. what's that all about?”

Mavis's heart frozed as she fear the worst.

“Then what did you tell her?”
“I just thanked her and tell her I will always help you because you are my best friend!”
Mavis's heart started to pump blood again.

“wah.. lucky you've never give me away. If not I won't know how to tell her”

“You can start by telling me, Your BEST friend first on what happen...!!”
Hanling's facial expression showed much eagerness and full of anticipation.

“It's nothing big deal.. I'll tell you over lunch can?”
“Awww.. why not now?”
Hanling's anticipation lowered.
“Because I have skipped lesson for 2 days already! So you gotta help me revise!”
Mavis said as they entered the classroom.

-----------------

“Mavis! Its lunch time already, let's go out and eat since our next lesson is at 3pm.”
Hanling hugged and dragged Mavis's arm.

Mavis told Hanling her experience 2 days back as they walked out of school.
“No way! Such a corny thing happened in real life in Singapore!”
Hanling rebuked.

“Mavis, you sure it's the truth? Or you make this up with your imagination?”
“No lah.. it's really the truth! Why would I make up something like that?”
“So did the guy finally kill himself?”
“I don't know, I don't suppose he will do it”
Mavis wondered.

“Yeah most probably the guy would have fallen for you.. it's always like that in the movies..”
Hanling using her ever imaginative creations.

“Yeah loh.. then no one will accompany you for movies again..”
“Oh yeah.. that's kinda sad though.. oh there's the resturant”
Hanling pointed.

They reached a japanese resturant not far from their school.
It was Hanling's idea.

Rumours has it that there's a cute looking guy is working with the cafe.
That rumour itself had attracted a lof of girls from nearby school for lunch.
Today is the day that they are going to verify the rumour.

“Hi ladies, so what would you like to have for lunch?”
The waiter served.
“So you are the rumoured cute guy that everyone is talking about?”
Hanling began to scan on him like a predator while Mavis flipping through the menu.
“Hmm... guess I didn't disappoint you right?”
The waiter smiled.
“Nope you didn't.. guess we will have our lunch here from now on”
Hanling had finished her scanning..
It read 8/10 from her scope and rated one of the highest in her collection of cute looking guys that she had ever met.

Mavis stopped flipping.
“That voice is very familiar... where did I ever hear it before?”

Mavis looked up to the waiter.

The Waiter stared at her.
That few seconds that exchanged between simply stop time from flowing.

“Oh my god. Its you!!!”
Mavis shouted as she covered her mouth.

“Oh.. hey it's you......”
The waiter replied as they looked at each other.
Both of them didn't exchange another single conversation.

Then Hanling broke the silence.
“Ok...Mavis, I smell something going on here.. and why am I being left out?”
“No lah.. just met an acquaintance”
Mavis tried to hide her blushes.

“Oh.. so your name is Mavis.. thanks for the other day.
By the way, my name is Wilson. Nice knowing you”
Wilson displayed her victory sign.

“What the other day? What happened?”
Hanling just didn't fit into the atmosphere that very moment.
“Hanling.. he's the guy whom I told you about just now..”
“Really?! Wah.. so you are that lame guy who tried to kill yourself?”
Hanling laughed.

“Hey stop it, Hanling, Sorry she didn't mean anything.”
Mavis just wanted to find a hole to hide.

“It's ok, it did happened anyway so there's nothing to feel ashame about”
Wilson smiled.

“Besides, I've recovered... so have you recoverd from your cold?”
“Yeah... kind of..”

“Ok, let's have some ordering from the ladies..shall we?”
“Mavis, you should have the Chasiew Ramen as it's not as spicy & oily compared to the rest.”
Wilson reccomended.

“Ok.. I will have that”
“And you?” Wilson turned his attention to Hanling.

“Hmmm.. I want Udon, some Okcha and most importantly your contact number!”

Mavis covered herself with the menu to hide her embrarassment created by her friend.
“Sure, right away”
Wilson took out a pen and scribble his numbers on the serviette besides Hanling.
After serving the ladies, Wilson went around serving others, wiping the tables, moving the boxes of supplies and arranging the table.

Mavis made quick glance at him.
That was the first time that she had looked at him at a distance.

As they walked back to school. Hanling took out the serviette.
“Take it. Don't say I'm not a good friend”
Hanling handed over Mavis her serviette.
“What? Haiyah.. Don't be like this can?”

Mavis pushed her hand away. The serviette dropped inside the drain.
“See what you've done...!”
Hanling looked at Mavis angrily.
“Lucky I've entered his number inside my phone!”

-------------------------
Classes ended late that day.

Mavis walked through the park as she returned.
The sun was already setting.
“How come these 2 days no rain? Hmmm.. must pray for rain”
Mavis began to search for her terubozou dolls.

“Where are they??”
Mavis nearly poured her bag to search.

“Where did I lose them?? I didn't go out these 2 days.”
Mavis walked past the telephone booth.

“Did He picked up my dolls?”
Mavis wondered.

Mavis was too afraid to ask for his number from Hanling.
“Maybe I would just have to make another pair...”

The despaired feeling made her walk even slower.

Just as she was about to reach home,her phone began its melody.
There was a SMS message but the number was not familiar to her.

“Hey Mavis, it's me Wilson. Got your number from Hanling. Just want to ask you whether you are the owner of 2 white cloth doll which I picked up the other day?”

[ To be Cont ]

{ 雨の天使 }

Rain Angel

Chapter 4

[ The rain that warmth my heart ]

Are you happy?
With what you are currently doing?
With what you’ve got and all the things which you never get?
When was the last time you were happy?
Was it yesterday, is it today?
Did you felt a sense of warmness across your whole body.
A feeling that so intense that it spur you to move both side of your lips upwards as you let out a smile?

People who doesn’t smile often, often have the nicest smile.

Wilson strolled along the void decks across the streets as he head home.

The rain seems almost stopped as the sun finally crawls out from bed.

There was pain in his heart.
There was sadness felt within him but he didn’t feel the pain unbearable.

In fact he already knew they wouldn’t have a future the day they started.

It was a taboo relationship that never should have started.
She was wrong all along. They can’t be together forever.

Wilson could still remember the day when they had their conversation.

Was it Love that night or just two lonely hearts yearning for each other’s attention?

Wilson was wiping the bar counter when he noticed her sitting alone in the pub.

She had been sitting there for awhile and didn’t order anything.

“Hi Miss, can I get you anything?”
Wilson offered his assistance.

“Can you give me ‘Love’?”
Wendy asked.

Wilson looked at her for awhile before reacting.
“Hmmm.. well.. if you want, I can try. I’m experimenting some cocktail mixtures.

You want to try them?”

“ If that will give me love… why not?”
Wendy winked cheekily.

“So.. you’re waiting for your friend?
Seems like your friend is very late”
Wilson spoke as he prepared her drink.

“Nope... I’m alone… all alone”
Tears rolled down her cheeks as she tried to look away from him.

“ Here’s your ‘Love’ ..I call it ‘My Love’ ..If you drink it, it will become ‘Our Love’ “

Wilson tried that to cheer her up.

“Really?”
Wendy wiped her tears. Wilson nodded.

“Cheers! Then.”
Wendy lifted her glass towards him.

The glasses of cocktail touched as feelings exchanged during that night.

From that night on, Wendy starts to frequent the club more often. Wilson welcomed her company as he tried to impress her with newer mixture of drinks that comes along.

Maybe she was trying to escape her loneliness as she tried to channel through means of drinking and making new friends.

Maybe he too was lonely and needed companionship from anyone.

Wendy’s objective seems to be seeking more attention and caring from anyone other than the man that only knew how to work every day & night.

The man who gave her a family, yet didn’t know how to love her.
The man who’s lawfully her husband.

Soon the companionship that she yearns becomes a relationship which both of them had developed.
The times they shared weren’t long but it was enough to proclaim their undying love for each other.

Wilson had promise to save enough money to marry her when she finally divorced her current husband.

He tried to save up by holding 4 jobs which he begins working from eight in the morning to the wee hours of midnight.

All for love, some might say.

However, everything came to a halt of red lights last night.
A secret & discreet relationship that was finally exposed.

All that he had planned didn’t worked out.
All that she had promised didn’t fulfill.
All the love that they laid down didn’t materialized.

Finally, she had chose bread over love.

Wilson head into the showers as he reached home.
As water ran down his head.

The images of Mavis flashes across.
“Who was that girl??”

“Why was she there in the first place?”
Wilson couldn’t place all his logic together.

Wilson looked at the mirror.

“I want you to be happy! Because life is suppose to be happy!”
Mavis showed her trademark victory sign and start walking back.

For no reason, he let out a smile as he think back the images of the girl.

“What a stupid girl..”

Wilson thought as he smiled.

It was something that he had not done for a long time.


As much as he wanted to let it all out and depressed himself,

Wilson just couldn’t find a reason to do that.

It seems rather childish and immature but he had promised the girl that he would be happy.

At least for today.

As Wilson picked up his jeans to wash, he felt something inside his pocket when he tried to reach for some coins.

It looked like 2 dolls with a cloth being tied up which looked like the head.

Wilson didn’t know what it was. It’s resemble more like a figure man.

The girl as she squat down most probably dropped the figures which landed inside his pocket.

As Wilson examined the figure,
there were some words written on 1 of figure.

“Mavis Will Pass her A Levels with Flying Colors!”

“The girl should be from St Andrew’s based on her school uniform. ”

“Such a irritating yet interesting girl…”

Wilson thought as he looked out of his window to see the last drop of rain fell below as he tied the dolls.

[To be Cont]

{ 雨の天使 }

Rain Angel
Chapter 3

[ The rain that drenched both of us ]

I always liked the rain.
I like to sit beside the windows and have the feeling of security inside a shelter while seeing people running around looking for one.
I always secretly prayed for the rain to come.
But I wished it only to rain in the afternoon... when my parents are resting.
I can't pray for rains to be at night because they will be out working at the market,
So if it rains at night.. I will be very sad...

Wilson walked out the telephone booth.
The rain was still pouring heavily throughout the whole park.
He was drenched from head down and was swaying side ways.
Mavis stood blank back inside the booth as she saw him further and further away from her sight.

“Will he really kill himself? What if he really kills himself?? Will I be charged with assisted suicide??”
Trains of thoughts rattled through her mind at the speed of 100km/hr as she watches his back view slowly diminishing through the rain.

Suddenly, there was a bolt of lightning that struck down from the sky and series of explosive thunders follows. When Mavis came to her senses, she saw Wilson already collapsed across the walk way.
“Oh my god..!!! What happened?? Is he dead??”

Mavis dashed out of the booth and ran towards him as fast as she could. She didn't cared less about herself being drenched by the incoming droplets as the rain pours.
Upon reaching him, Mavis didn't dare to do anything.
Wilson was motionless as he laid.
Mavis didn't know what to do next...
CPR recovery? She remembered how it was taught in school but she's just too nervous to recall anything now.

All she could do was to stand and stared at him.
Then she squat beside him.
Finally she tried to touch his hand.

Wilson opened his eyes and stared at Mavis as her hand touches his.
“Arrrrrrrrghhhhhhhhhhh!!!!”
Mavis screamed as if she had seen a ghost.
“Can you please.... don't shout in my eyes?”
Wilson spoke as he closes his eyes once more.
“Why are you lying down here in this heavy rain?”
Mavis tried to shield herself and little bit of him as she spoked.
“Does it matters if it rains or shine? Because I don't see a difference”
Wilson continued to ignore her.
“Will... will you kill yourself as you've said over the phone?”
“I might... after I killed you first for eavesdropping my conversation.. who knows?”
“You can't kill yourself... what about your parents?”
“They are no longer with me”
“They migrated already? Everybody seems to be migrating nowadays”
“Argh! Can you please stop bothering me?”
Wilson sat up and looked at her.
It was the first time that both of them came face to face of each other. There was a moment of silence across them except the sound of the pounding rain.
“I don't know them.. they left me when I was very young. To me, they don't even exist”
Wilson didn't know why he told Mavis about the truth behind his parents that day. He had never told anyone anything about his past.
“Oh... that's really bad but don't worry! As long as you keep trying, you will see them one day!” Mavis tried to encourage.
“Please leave me alone”Wilson replied.
“I can't! If you commit suicide then I will become assisted murderer because I know you are going to kill yourself but I didn't stop you!”
“Did anyone ever tell you that you are very irritating?”
Wilson picked himself up and move on.
Mavis followed behind.
“Can you promise that you won't kill yourself?”
“Ok. Ok I promise. As long as you stop irritates me, I will not kill myself. Done?”
Wilson finally gave in.
“Ok. Then now you owe me something”
“What? Why??”
“Because I've just saved your life!”
Mavis returned a grin.
Wilson just shake his head in disbelief.
With all the commotion going on, it wasn't surprise Mavis had long forgotten about school.
She suddenly looked at her watch and began panicking.
“Oh my god! Oh my god!!! I'm late... I'm so damn late for school”
“So what? You can always take a medical leave”
“Can I do that?”
Ahhh... Choo! Mavis started sneezing uncontrollably.
“See? Now you can go and see a doctor”
“But I don't have enough money to go see a doctor..”
Wilson took out some notes from his pocket.
“Here's $50.. please go and see a doctor”
“But I can't take people's money!”
“You never steal or rob.. and didn't you say I owe you something?”
“Yeah because I saved you! Heehee”
“Then take this $50 and go see a doctor so that I don't owe you anything anymore”
“Wah.. your life only worth $50??”
“Then what do you want??? take it please and do whatever you like with it”

“I want you to be happy! Because life is suppose to be happy!”

Mavis showed her trademark victory sign and start walking back.

The bitter rain can make a person cold but those words that came out from her mouth really made Wilson felt a moment of warmness in his heart.

“Yeah.. right.. what's so great about being happy...”

As both of them walked opposite directions, the rain was stopping and the sky begins to clear up.

“Ma... I'm home”
Mavis said as she opened the door.

“You never go to school today?”
“I did... but I didn't feel well so I borrowed some money from Hanling and went to see the doctor..”

Mavis letting out a smile.
“Then why are you so happy? Happy because you no need to go to school?”

Mavis's mum glared at her.

“Nope.. I'm happy because I saved someone today!”

Mavis said as she looked out of her window to see the last drop of rain fell below...

[To be Cont]