Book of Love 爱神の书

Chapter 13

Do you still remember the first crush you ever had in your life?
The first time of experiencing mixed emotions, the anxiety and excitement when you saw that person. When that person is happy, you would smile along.

When that person is sad, you would not know what to do to cheer up.
Who was he/she?

Your neighbor? Your childhood playmate? Your classmate?

I believe most of us, if not all us will experience our first crush in our life. We won't realize it until we were much older.
When we finally find a reason to explain why we sometimes blushed out of no reason.

My first crush happened at the age of 10.
She was one of the taller girls in class.

I being the fattest and biggest sized will always partner her during our class.
We would sit side by side during lesson.

We would hold hands when the class is gathered to go to other areas.

We would exchange stationeries and cards. I knew she like pencils a lot so I would give her those extras that I purposely bought.

She would really think that I had extras. It was not something that she could not afford but would not spend her pocket money on.

I like her smile and happiness when she receives my small gifts. We even acted in a play together, being husband and wife at the last year of primary school.

Years passed, we went to the same secondary school and stay in the same class for 2 years before finally separated.

She got prettier as she grew up and had her fair share of male seekers.

As for me, I've never really told her I liked her before. Maybe it's because of this that we've stayed as good friends. Maybe it's because of this that she would still smile at me when she sees me.

And we will always have so much to talk about except my feelings for her.

Mark didn’t have a good sleep that night.

He was tossing and turning over the comments he saw in Sharon’s blog.

No doubt Sharon later explained in her later entries that it was only a joke. She had posted to see if anyone is really concern about her. She certainly has got what she want as there were more than 30 over comments showing concern.

What if it’s not a joke?

What if she really has the intention of killing herself?

What if she killed herself next time?

What can he do to help her?

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The next day was as usual for Mark as he traveled to his office.

As he enters the train, there was no sight of Jade around.

She must have taken leave I suppose”

Mark thought to himself as he sulked all the way to work.

Just as he reached the ground level, someone tapped his shoulder.

It was Christine.

“Hey.. What’s the matter with you? I called you a few times”

“Really?”

“Yeah.. Is something bothering you?”

Christine looked serious.

"Nah it’s just some small thoughts lingering in my head, I will be fine”

Mark replied as they stepped into the lift.

"Oh yeah.. You better be, Boss is very anxious about the presentation later..”

"Presentation?” Mark covered his mouth.

"YEAH? Don’t tell me you didn’t finished the proposal package?”

Christine stared at Mark.

"Shit!! I haven’t”

"Quick, there’s still time. Let’s quickly get it done.”

Christine pulled Mark out of the lift when it reached.

Shaun was again shell shock when he saw Christine pulling Mark in.

"OH my God… Oh my God…” Shaun held his hands to his head.

"Stupid Idiot. Don’t think too much. Want to think, think after the presentation.” Christine quickly went to her desk.

The three of them sped through the morning trying to get the proposal package ready for customer presentation at 11.00am.

Mark’s boss wasn’t very please when he knew it was not ready for his review.

However, Mark managed to finish the proposal package with Christine’s guidance and Shaun’s help in the nick of time.

Mark went in and gave a good presentation to the visiting customers and they applauded him warmly when he finished.

Even Mark boss was surprised with the proposal and couldn’t help but brought out a thumbs-up sign to him.

Christine was standing by his side as Mark winked at her.

Christine was at the pantry when Mark came in.

"Hey thanks.. You’ve help me again” Christine looked at him.

“No worries, Colleagues must help each other mah.. Besides I won’t know when I will need your help.”

“Can I buy you dinner?” Mark suddenly suggested.

“Why?” Christine was rather shocked by the suggestion.

“Because I don’t really like to owe people favors you know”

“Because you are egoistic?” Christine smiled.

“Yeah.. Yeah Whatever.. See you later” Mark walked out of the pantry.

“See you later..” Christine replied softly.

It was Friday evening as the clock continued to tick. .. It was a day of life reborn. When the time hit 6.00pm sharp, all the office staffs in the company had already packed their bags and roaring to go.

“Bro.. you not going off?” Shaun made his way out.

“Nah.. you go ahead.. I got to touch up this proposal and send to boss”

“Ok.. but make sure you don’t end up like our Super-woman there” Shaun pointing to Christine who was still engross in her work.

“Yeah.. you take care man.. enjoy your weekend.”

“You too…” Shaun replied as he left.

Mark stretched himself and checked around. All the staffs had left.

Then he walked over to Christine’s desk.

“So where do you want to go for dinner?”

Christine stopped her work and looked up. “Oh.. it’s still on?”

“Why not?”

“Ok.. Where do you want to go?” Christine started packing.

“Let’s go to East Coast?”

“Wow.. I didn’t know you were such romantic…” Christine cheekily made fun of him.

“No lah… East Coast is Cheaper.. It’s nearing month end.. ” The smile on Christine’s face was gone within seconds.

They hitch a cab and reached East Coast for dinner.

After dinner, Christine decided to go for a walk.

“Arhh… the sea breeze.. You know how long I hadn’t feel the breeze already?”

“You only know about work…”

“Thanks for the dinner anyway, it was really great.”

“It’s still early, you want to go for a drink?” Mark suggested.

“Nah.. I’ve got to go back office tomorrow..”

“But it’s a Saturday!! Get a life!”

“It’s really important…” Christine shrugged her shoulders.

“Then let me send you home?”

“Ok…” The both of them took the bus before changing to train as Christine lived Sengkang.

“You have a good night sleep ok?”

Mark tried to encourage her.

“It’s a wonderful night Mark, thanks” Christine said before the lift door closes.

As Mark walked out of the neighborhood, he heard someone screaming and crying from afar. It sounded like a woman. He took a step closer to find out where the cries were coming from.

“Stop treating me like this!!!” The women cried.

“Shut up bitch, You’ll do as what I say” The man slapped and kicked her.

“Ooi! What are you doing? Police” Mark shouted as he ran forward.

The man ran away in fright.

“Miss.. Miss… are you ok?” Mark tried to hold her up.

She was still covering her head and crying in fright.

“It’s ok now..” Mark held her hands…

The women was still shivering when Mark slowly moving her hands down. Mark looked at the women…

He too got a fright.

She was Jade…

[To be Cont]