The Meaning of Life

“Remember, if you made a mistake, you simply need to press Ctrl-Z for undo and the software will undo the previous error made”

I think we all know this for sure, but have we ever think that “why can’t life be as easy as the way it seems to be?”

Everyday, we are fed with enough frustration and stress to keep us thinking “life sucks isn’t it?”

So have we ever taken a step backwards or even slow down just to realize that there is obviously a better way to live? Life is the most complex thing that you will ever come across. From creation to end, from existence to extinction.

There’s no explanation yet and there shall be none even till the day that your life ends. As far as we all know life is mystical, we still can’t understand a single bit of it. We are taught things and remembering them and in return teach others and the cycle goes on and on.

Life is made up of memory, that only people who have memories have a life… Sometimes you remember the sad times that made you cried your heart out once, the happy times that you will still smile as you refresh.

Life is made up of experience, you learn about one thing, being shown and taught and you will remember it for a long long time. Though how much we want to remove our past unpleasant experience, we can’t, as it is already a part of Life.

Life is made up of feelings. You cry when you are sad, you fear when you’re alone. You’re relieved when everything’s over.

Life is made up of caring and sharing with others. Admit it, helping others makes your day no matter how tired you are. Even a simple a pat on the back of a tired man can stir enough energy to last him to finish his task.

Life is made up of Love. “People who lived without loving is never considered to have lived before” Love is the affectionate feelings developed between mutual parties through time, experience and memories unifies in one.

Life is You. Though there’s no spiritual prove, You are in control of your life.

You can end it anytime, prolong it anytime, enjoy it anytime and love it anytime. If the day comes when you realize that you want to end your life once and for all due to some unhappy memories, unpleasant experience.

Read this passage and think one more time from the beginning before you made any mistake. Tell yourself that ending a life is something cannot be retrieve by simply keying Ctrl-Z.

Won’t it be better that you live through all the bad times and show others how good you are when the time comes for you to give advise?

“Though life sucks, living a rotten life leads to a fulfilling future, not because you lived through it, but you’ve overcome it…”

Anntonii Lim

{ 雨の天使 }

Rain Angel

Chapter 2
[ The Rain that hurt me ]

I hate rain.
I hate the feeling of being isolated in a enclosure when it rains.
I hate myself most of the time.
Because I'm not happy.
I'm not happy when it rains.
Why does it have to rain when I'm not happy?
I hate rain.. & myself.

“Ti... Ti... Ti...”
The melody of the mobile phone sounded across the empty room.
Vibrations trembles through the floor below the bed.

“Argh....”
Wilson woke up finding himself with spinning headache.
He couldn't remember whatever happened a few hours ago.

“You shouldn't mixed 7 types of liquor together in a glass”
All he could remember was being dead drunk outside the club where he worked.

As a bartender, his job is not only mixing the drinks but also mixing with the sophisticated people that surrounds him.
The crowd was cheering him on as there was a challenge from one of the regulars who frequent the club.

“Winners, get to keep the $500?” Challenger declared.
“Any amount is welcomed,” Wilson thought as he finished his first glass with ease.
There was tense competition among the two until the 8th glass where both of them starts to sober.

Wilson held on till the 10th glass when his challenger fell to the glass that he mixed.
Wilson had won and it's not as if he had not won before.

It was raining as Wilson walked out of the club.
He was trying to balance himself while walking down the street drenched.

“Stupid rain! Everyday rain!Rain all you want!”
Wilson shouted as he pointed to the sky.

The last thing he remembered before he past out was making a phone call to wendy.
“Wen... it's me Wil..”
“Wil... ? Wilson? Do you have anything important now? At this hour?”
“Wen, I don't think I can make it home, I'm at Kuoz's”
and he just collapsed.

“Did Wendy pick me up last night?”
Wilson picked up her mobile. It was 6.30am.. It read 7 missed and a short message.

The message read.
“Wil, We have to break up.. He already know...”
Wilson dialed her phone number.

“Hello....? Wil?”
“Yeah its me...” Wilson holding his head.
“Hello.. Hello?? Wilson is that you? Can you speak up?”
“Wendy it's me, can you hear me??” Wilson tried.
“Hello??? Wilson??”
Wilson slammed the phone at the floor. It was probably damaged last night.

“That's the reason why I always hate the rain”

Wilson cursed as he make his way downstairs.

He wandered a few blocks before finally found a telephone booth in the park.
“Hello Wendy?”
Wilson tried desperately reaching her.

“Wilson.. what happen??”
Wendy asked.

“I guess my phone was damaged last night.. anyway thanks for bringing me home”
“Wilson.. listen to me..... I think we need to end our relationship”

“Why?? What happened? Tell me Wendy?”
“He knew about us, all along...”

“Hang on Wendy... “

“Want to come in?”

Wilson opened the telephone booth door as he saw a girl half drenched trying to hide from the rain.

“Yes please~ only a while.. The rain is really too big. Thanks”
The girl looked at him as he continue his conversion. She had tried not to get too close up to him to give him some privacy in appreciation for his kindness.

“So what's going to happen between us?”
Wilson responded.

“Wilson, I don't know.. please don't ask me this question”

“Wen, you'll leave him because of me?”

“No I don't think so....”

“You won't? Then what do you regard me as all the time?”
“Your Toy?????” Wilson raised his voice.

“But he's my husband!”

Wendy too raised her voice with sounds of running nose.

“Have you ever spare a thought for me? Why am I living in the shadows of him?”

“You are not living in the shadows of him, I love you...as you are”

“I worked 4 jobs for you... you know that? I've never ask from you anything, I've given you everything that I have and I'm worthless compared to him?”
Wilson seems unable to control himself.

“Wilson, please get a hold of yourself. I already told you that both of us will not have a future.”

Wilson saw the girl trying very hard to squeeze herself towards one corner.

“Wendy, you know I love you very much....”

Wilson softened as he calm down.

“Wil, I love you too.. but this is my husband we're talking. How can I leave him for you?”
Wendy pleaded.

“It's ok if you don't love me... I don't suppose we will ever see each other again”

“Wait.. what do you mean by that?? We can still meet up in future.."

“No.. you will never see me again..”

Wilson suddenly noticed the girl had been looking at him.

He looked back.

“I'm going to kill myself....”

and he put down the receiver.

[To be Cont]

@}--- Rain Angel ---{@

---{ Prologue }---

The clouds gathered, the sky darkens, the wind begins to blow.
People hurried their way to the shelters while many others begin keeping their clothes from the sunshine.

Soon the sky turns completely dark.
No this isn't night time as lightning and soon thunder roared across the Northern sky.
'tap..'
The first drop of rain touched the ground.

'tap.. tap tap... tap'
The rest follows.
Soon everything was covered with wetness upon.
The world is taking it's well deserved bath as the rain washes away the dirt from mother nature.
No one ever bothers why it rains,
maybe it's to fill up the water that we drank,
maybe it's to give a car a good wash.

Maybe it's because someone is crying?

Chapter 1

[ The Rain that made us met]

Can you smell rain?
I do sometimes.
Its like the smell of the ground heated & moisturized.
Most of the time, the rain comes after the smell...

Mavis looked up to the sky and turned to her mother who was busily packing the vegetables at the wet market.

“Ma.. ”
There was no response.

“I don't think there will be a lot of customers today”
Mavis's mother looked up,walked over and knuckled her head.

“Choi!Choi! Choi! stupid girl, don't curse the business before it starts”
“But Ma... it's going to rain already. Everyone will sleep late when it rains.”

“How do you know?”

“Really, it will rain soon... then when they woke up late, they will go to supermarket and buy their vegetables and not in our wet market.”

“If there's no business, then you no need to go to school already”
“Really? I can skip school and find a job? I don't like school anyway”
Mavis pondered.

“You wish long long, it's already 6.30am. You better go home and prepare for school.”
“Your father and I will be able to manage the stall”

“Yeah Ah girl, you better go. Wait late for school will deduct your exams mark”
Mavis's father agreed along.

“If you don't do well in your exams then better go jump down so that we can claim insurance!!”
Mavis's mother screamed at the top of her voice.

“Ok, ok I'm going now”
Mavis put down the carrots.

Mavis rushed back to her 2 roomed flat.
It was small & crampy as Mavis tried to navigate through the baskets of unsold vegetables.
Some of them were packed neatly at the kitchen area..
There was only 1 bedroom and Mavis's parent asked her to use the room for her convenience of revision.
The two of them put up to sleep on mattress in the living room.
Mavis put on her school uniform and looked at the mirror.
She's 18 this year. Its the A level's.
If she do well, she might get a sponsorship to allow her to study for University.
If she don't, she will have to spend the rest of her life as a factory operator as proposed by her mother.

“Ok I will try my best this year!”
Mavis showed her victory sign to herself as a point of self motivation.
As Mavis left her house, she looked at the sky again..

“Am I wrong this time? It's not going to rain? Then I no need to bring the umbrella”
Mavis dashed through the neighborhood as she looked at her watch.
“duh... at this rate I may be late..I think I will take the shortcut”
There was a park across the housing blocks.

Mavis's plan was to cut through the park and through to the side gates which will close later than the main.

Halfway through the movement, the sky poured like no tomorrow.
“Argghhhhhhhhhh!! See... I was right its going to rain...”

Mavis was running aimlessly as there was no shelter in her eye view.
She continue to run in one direction hoping to spot some shelter.
Then she saw a telephone booth.

“Great! Lucky me”
Mavis thought as she ran towards it half drenched.
To her horror, the telephone was occupied and she just stood outside trying to cover herself with her files and books.

“Want to come in?”
The telephone booth opened.
“Yes please~ only a while.. The rain is really too big. Thanks”
Mavis looked at the origin of the voice. It came from a tall guy.

As she dried herself at the booth, the man continue his conversion on the phone.
As much as she didn't want to hear but there was just too little space of privacy.

“So what's going to happen between us?”
“Will you leave him because of me?”

“You won't? Then what do you regard me as all the time?”
“Your Toy?????”

The voice grew louder.

“Have you ever spare a thought for me? Why am I living in the shadows of him?”
“I worked 4 jobs for you... you know that? I've never about anything, I've given you everything that I have and I'm worthless compared to him?”

The man seems unable to control himself.
Mavis can only try to squeeze herself towards one corner.

“Wendy, you know I love you very much....”
The voice softened. The man seems to calm down.
“It's ok if you don't love me... I don't suppose we will ever see each other again”
“No.. you will never see me again..”

Mavis suddenly turned to look at the man.
The man looked back..

“I'm going to kill myself....”
The man put down the receiver.

[To be Cont]

Chapter 10 – Finale
[ Chapter 1 - A Lost Beginning ]

Everything that has an end will definitely have a beginning.
Everything we do, we said have a purpose. A purpose sometimes we do not wish to let anyone know.
How did you know your best friend?
Was it in school or just neighborhood?
What was the first conversation about?
What makes both of you the best of friends?
Maybe only you & your best friend will know.

“Anybody sitting here?”
“Nope.. please sit down..”
“Hi my name is Janice.. and you are?”
“My name is Mabel Soo, nice knowing you Janice”
“Class.. today's the first day of your secondary school life so please fill up the forms for your particulars” said Mrs Siu.

“Oh.. why we have always have to fill up so many forms…. “
Janice complained as she start filling.

“Yeah.. hey Janice.. your initials are 'SM?'”

“Yeah loh because my Chinese name is Huang Shu Mei…”
“So cute… then mine should be SM too.. Soo Mabel…”

Janice winked back.

Mabel returned a smile and she saw a logo on Janice’s notes… with a very unique of design of S(43)M.
“Janice… why is that logo designed as S43M?”
“Oh.. this is my Chinese name initials 'Shu' is the fourth sound of Hanyu Pinying and 'Mei' is the third mah.. so in hanyu pinying is Shu4 Mei3…”

“You sure is a very creative person Janice... Hey, wait a minute! my class register is 43!!~… hmm.. I was wondering whether can I use the same logo as you Janice?”

“Yeah its so coincidence that both of us are SM43… but meant in a different way.”

“I guess its fate that we will become the best of friends..”

And so it begins the blossom of a beautiful friendship.
The 2 girls were always together, studying exams, shopping and can't get enough of one another. They laughed together, cried together and people would have thought that they were lesbians.
As best of friends, they shared everything throughout their 4 years in secondary school..

Everything until one day in 1997.

“Jan… can I tell you secret?”
“What Mel?”

“I have a crush on someone in class…”
“Orhh.. now I know why there’s scribbling on your table..
“Do I really like him?, Will he like me? Will we be together?” S(43)M
aiyoh so mushy and who is he???”

“It's Ken…” Mabel blushed.
“Of all people in the world?~!?~?” Janice exclaimed.

“You know, he’s always there to make me happy throughout the boring class”

“Teasing you is making you happy.. oh god…”
Janice smacked her forehead in disbelief.

“Promise me that you would not tell anyone?”

“Alright, I Promise you”

Janice nodded in acknowledgment.

“But Mel, you're not going to let him how you feel?”
“Nope, I just want to enjoy the moment of being someone's secret admirer whether he knows or not it's not important.”
“It is important you know, what if he likes you too?”
“I don't know Jan, I guess I just don't have the guts to confess”

The night was hot and humid as Janice just couldn't close her eyes to rest.
She was sleepless that night as she tossed and turned with the same thought.

“My only best friend in class.. perhaps in my whole life.. why do we have to fall for the same person?”

Janice got up and walked towards her study table.
The calender on her table showed 12th of February.

Valentine's Day is only 2 days ahead.
“Valentine’s Day is coming.
My only best friend, I will definitely help you, I will let you have the happiness that you always wanted.”
Janice thought as she sat at her study table.

“Nothing comes a better time to bring the 2 of them together I suppose.. I will be the Cupid”
Janice took out a piece of paper and a pen and began writing.

Afraid that Ken would notice her handwriting, Janice took all her effort to write the neatest handwriting in her life. Every words that came out slowly but neatly arranged.

How should I begin? As Janice thought.

“Hi Ken.. or maybe I should call you Pig head with a pea brain,

You won’t have guessed that you will receive a Valentine’s day letter will you?

Yeah right, not in this life that is.

You’ll never noticed about the girls around you.Maybe you were gay and like guys more.

Maybe you think nobody will like you..Maybe you think all the good girl out there have already been taken up?”

Ken is as always such a irritating person..

Guess what? You are wrong all along!

I’m a good girl,not only consider myself pleasant looking but also having personalities.!

Most importantly, I’m always around you, through good times & bad.

I was there on your first day of school.

I was there when you failed your 1st mid-year exams.

I was there when you went to the chapel and cried.

I was there when you enjoyed the camping trip.

I was there when you got punished by the vice principal to apologize on stage.

I was there when you lost in your basketball & table tennis.

I was there… always did.. always will..

Janice thought about the times when they've spent together.
The paper had patches of wetness as her tears dropped as she continue writing.

Being a secret admirer is indeed torturing as I can’t bear the looks of your happiness with other girls & yet I can’t stand seeing you all alone.

On this 14th Feb 1997 Valentine’s Day, I’ve pluck up all the courage that I never think I could to tell you this.I like you, Ken,

I really do…

But I can’t bear the sight of looking at you when telling you this.. therefore I choose this letter to be my confider, my representative.

If you accept me, please come to the school gate tonight at 9.00pm.

I will wait for you….

Just like I’ve always been

If I never see you, it will mean that you do not intend to accept me,

therefore I will carry on my life without you.Just like I’ve always been.

Luv,S(43)M,12th Feb 1997 "

Finally she had completed the letter and dried her tears.
She had just gave up on her own happiness for her best friend.

The next morning, after mailing our the letter, Janice went up to Mabel.
“Mabel, I’ve got a surprise for you! Meet at 9.00pm tomorrow at the school gate ok?”
“Janice.. what are you up to?”
“Aiyah just go lah…”

Janice went back to her desk feeling both sad & happy at the same time.
She start writing “Happy Valentine’s Day to Myself S(43)M 1997” on her desk as a memorial for her Cupid's job.

It was Valentine’s Day as the school was filled with love and for once, the principal allowed dedications of love songs to be air on the PA systems. Everyone was giving or given stalks of roses.

“Ken!” Janice called.
“What?”
“Don't forget tonight!” Janice reminded as she left.

“Tonight? Oh yeah! Need to help out at parents' stall.. but how she know? I don't remember telling her about this.”
Ken thought as he walked into the class confused.

“The next song 'Heaven Knows' is going out for a secret admirer that I've been secretly admired for a long time. Nobody will know who is he except me and himself... From Mabel Soo Sec 4H.”

There were cheers throughout the entire and everyone was surrounding Mabel asking who her secret admirer was.

“Jan! What have you done???”
Mabel rushed to her table.

“Something that you always wanted but never have the guts to do right? Besides I never reveal the person mah... just relax..”

Janice pat on her back.
“And don't forget tonight's meeting at the school gate at 9pm? Don't be late”

Janice walked out of the classroom to wash her face.

Her eyes were swollen with the lack of sleep and crying.

Night came and there’s no not a single soul at the school gate.
Mabel was standing alone at the school gate. Janice was hiding behind the side gate.

There was no sign of Ken.
“Don’t tell me Ken did not liked her, how can he be so cruel?”

Janice thought as droplets of rain began to fall.

Mabel too felt the rain and was starting to make a move.
Didn’t want her best friend to go home distraught, Janice ran up to Mabel and gave her the biggest hug.

“Happy Valentine’s Day Mabel!”

“Aiyoh Janice.. what you doing?? Its that the surprise that you are going to give me?”
“Of course! Valentine’s day is also friendship day… we are the best of friends..” Janice took out the camera and took a picture of both of them together before the rain drenched

the 2 of them.

It was the Valentine's that Janice would never forget throughout her life...

“Good evening on 14th Feb 2008, this is the evening news from Singapore. Headlines for today, governments throughout the world has finally agreed through recommendations from World Lovers Organization that 14th Feb will be recognized a public holiday from next year onwards....Happy Valentine's Day.”

It was 9pm and tonight looks cloudy and clear as Janice walked towards the school gate.

“Memories sure is a great thing.. too bad the letter didn’t did it’s purpose I suppose. Maybe I didn’t write good enough”

Janice spoke as she stared at the school gate once more.

“Did I wrote the letter for myself?”
“Why did I always come back here every year this day?”

Janice said while letting out a sigh.

“Because you still cannot forget…”

There was a figure behind the gate but it was too dark to make out who it was.

“Or you were hoping that I’ll really be here on one of the Valentine’s day…?”

[THE END]

Chapter 9

[ A Lost Chance ]

Have you ever regret of saying or doing something that you shouldn’t?
How did you felt when the guilt rushed among you?

Everyone would have done or said something that they shouldn’t. The results can be very devastating depending on which angle.

If given a chance.. what is the words or action that you would want to change the most?

Is it something that cause someone to cry?
Or is it telling someone you’ve always like that you like her/him?

A few months have past through the chapters of confession.

Everything seems back to normal as the Ken, Janice & Mabel often meet up and rekindles the good old times. Some of the gatherings among old school pals Derrick, Kelvin, Michelle where everyone has changed so much since secondary school days.

Janice did not know whatever happened that night even though Mabel did told her that the 2 of them had met up.

The headquarters at US had requested Mabel to be stationed there for another 2 years and if the chances were good, she may have to remain there for good.

There was a mini celebration before the flight to celebrate the job progress of Mabel.

“I’m gonna miss you, Jan & you too.. Ken..”
Mabel said as she began to hugging them.
“Mel.. I don’t know when will I see you again.. promise me you take care of yourself ok?”

Janice hugged Mabel again.

“Take care, Mabel” Ken said.

“You better take care of Janice when I’m gone ok? If not I will take the earliest flight back to kick you!”

Mabel joked.


Soon after the goodbyes and sending off, Mabel had went onboard.

“Want to get a drink somewhere?” Ken suggested.

“Sure, why not? But its gonna be on you!”

“Janice, you damn cheapo! You are earning more than me you know, you should be giving me the treat!!”

Ken knocked her head.

They reached a café near Janice’s place.
As they were whining about each other’s job and rotten bosses.

Ken broke the ice.

“Janice, why is it that I’ve never hear you mention about dating other people?”

Janice blushed.

“Because I’m a lesbian..”

“Lesbians also dates mah.. only they date females instead of males.

But I’ve never hear you mention about your girlfriends before”

“Don’t talk about me lah, there’s nothing interesting in me.” Janice revoked.

“Why I never hear you talking about your dates too?”

“Because I never had any!”

“Didn’t you & Mabel got something?”

“Nope… never, we are just good friends”

“Ken, or are you gay?” Janice burst out laughing.

“Nope, its because I’m still waiting for the chance to tell that someone that I liked her”

“Then when you going to tell… ?”

“I don’t know… maybe tonight…”

“I like you Janice… “ Ken held Janice’s hand.

All her laughter and smile broke into pieces as this was one of the last thing she would be able to imagine.

“Ken.. stop it.. its not funny” Janice tried to loosen her hand.

“No I’m serious… this time..” Ken looked into her eyes.

“Why me? Why not Mabel? She liked you all along..”

“Why you? Why not you? Why is it that it have to be somebody else? Why can’t we be together?”

“Its impossible Ken, we cannot be together..”
Janice broke free… and dashed out of the café heading home.

Ken was left all alone.

There was something tingling in his heart.

Somehow he can felt the pain that was piercing through.

Maybe the pain was as much as how Mabel felt that night.
The feeling of rejection.

The only chance that he had was gone.
Ken tried calling Janice but she would not pick up.

2 weeks have past, there was still no response from her even though Ken have constantly tried to contact Janice.

Ken had turn to the last resort as he gone up to her flat.

An old woman opened the door.

“Auntie, are you Janice’s mother?”

“Yes.. who are you?” The woman looked at Ken.

“I’m Ken.. you remember? Janice’s classmate during secondary school. You always cooked dinner for us whenever we come over to study”

“Oh.. so you are Ken…”

“Yes.. Auntie.. is Janice around?”

“Nope.. she’s not around” Janice’s mother spoke as she was closing the door to him.

“Then when will she return? It’s ok, please let her know I will wait downstairs for her.”

“Ken?” She reopened the door.

“You mean you didn’t know? Janice never told you her Hotel is sending her to Australia for further studies and attachment. She had left 2 nights ago. ”

There was the last words before the door was closed once more.

“All is lost..”

Ken thought as he walked slowly down to his car.

“When will I ever see her again?”

There were tears in his eyes as he think back about the times he had share with Janice.

Maybe Janice was the one after all.
She was the one who’ve accompanied him throughout all the good & bad times in his life.
“She’s gone now… why do I have to wait until today to find out that she is the one that I really loved?”

[To be Cont]

Chapter 8

[ A Lost Secret ]

“Psst… Can I tell you something? But promise me you won’ tell anyone?”
“Ok I promise.. I will keep this secret forever with me..”
“Really?”
“Really.. A secret is always a secret..”

Ever tell someone a secret?
Or ever been told a secret that you have to hold down your body to prevent it from leaking out?

I believe everyone has secrets.

It can be just about everything. About family, friends, wrongdoings, relationships..
One of the best secrets when we were young is involving secret admiration for someone.

Who would have forgotten the feeling you got when you finally let the secret out?

Was it guilt?
Was it a relieve that finally you need not bear the burden of knowing and can’t telling?


“Mel?”

Janice called Mabel when she reached home.

“Yes dear?”

“I’m sorry… I’ve told Ken about it”

“About what?”

“About you having a crush on him when we were in Secondary school. I’m sorry.. I know I’ve promised not to tell anyone. ”

“Its ok Janice, you don’t have to feel sorry about anything. It’s been so long, if you haven’t tell me about it. I properly would have forgotten him anyway.”
Mabel been so calm as always.

“Mel, I’ve given him your numbers too…”

“You what?! Thanks for the kindness!”

The calmness seem shaken.

“Ken said he’s got something to ask you, so I obliged his request mah.”

“Mel, can I ask you something?”

“Yes Jan?”

“Do you still like him as before?”

There was a paused at the back of the receiver.

“Mel.. still there?”

Then the line was cut off…

Ken was back at home with his mobile phone & a piece of paper in his hand.

“It’s been so long.. will she remember me?”

Weeks past, every night Ken would spend some time thinking of whether it’s appropriate to call Mabel.

“If I don’t call, I’ll never know what happened 10years ago… and even if she don’t like me now. I should be grateful that she once did…”

Ken finally dialed the numbers.

The voice he heard remain as sweet as her smile.

“Hello…”

“Hi.. is this Mabel?” Ken trying to subdued his nerves.

“Yes.. speaking.. you are?”
“Hey.. erm… it’s me.. Ken.. Ken Kuan from Sec 4H..”

“Oh.. hi Ken.. how are you these years?”

“I’m fine.. I’m been traveling quite a lot actually. From UK to US..”

“You want come out for coffee?”

“Now?” Mabel looked at her watch. It was about 9pm.

“If you don’t mind.” Ken softened his voice.

“Ok, see you at East Coast McDonald’s? I’ve been wanting to go there ever since I return.” Mabel replied.

As Ken drove towards East Coast, his heart sank as the destination gets nearer. Thoughts begin to wonder.

What am I going to say?
Should I tell her that I’ve only received her letter today?
Do I really like her in the first place?

Mabel was already at the café. She smiled when she saw Ken.
Everything could have changed but not the smile.

Not the smile that once caught the heart of Ken.

Ken sat down and they begin talking like old friends. It seems that 10 years is indeed too long for a catch up. Mabel have left for UK to study Banking and was found a job in UK followed by a stint of 5 years in US. On & off she will fly back to Singapore for her gatherings.

And so they talked. It was like the old times, when Mabel would always listen to Ken talking. Ken would always trying to tease her and she would always smile back.

They were walking along the beach after Ken suggesting to get a breather.

“Mabel…”

“Yeah?”

“I’m sorry…”

“For?”

“Making you cry that day.. and everything else…”

“It’s ok Ken, I’ve never once blame you at all”

“By the way Mabel, can I ask you something?”

“Yes…?”

“Are you S(43)M?”

“Eh…. Yes… but how did you know it’s me?”

Before Mabel could react, Ken shot another question at her.

“Do you ever liked me before?” Ken finally asked.

“…………” Mabel stopped walking.

“I….” Mabel tried very hard but words didn’t seems to come straight out from her.

“I don’t know Ken.. maybe I did… its been 10 years already. Even if I did during that time, all may be forgotten now.”

“It’s ok Mabel, I know it’s a bit silly to ask this question to you suddenly right now”

“Silly? So what if I do like you now? Will we be together now?”
Mabel turned to Ken with her eyes beginning to turn teary.

Ken was shot in the heart. He wasn’t expecting this.

“Mabel, I know you liked me all along. But I can’t tell whether is it Love between us.

I guess I’ve always treat you more like a younger sis…”

“Then maybe I shouldn’t have come back…” Mabel broke down.

It was the second time that Ken had made her cry.

To think getting your secret revealed by your best friend was painful enough.

To be rejected by someone whom you’ve liked for the past 10 years was even a greater pain to bear.

Mabel hugged Ken and just let it all out within her..

She was glad she finally said it out. Even though it didn’t meant anything to her now.

She just hugged Ken until her tears had dried up.

“Mabel, We are still good friends right?”
“Yes… we’ll always be good friends… forever”

They just sat at the beach throughout the night as Mabel slept on the arms of Ken.

Dawn has broke.

Everything looks clearer in the mist of dawn as the sun rose.

”Everything is clearer now…”

Ken looked at Mabel.

“At least now I know who I really liked…”

[To be Cont]