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 ]