Book of Love 爱神の书




Chapter 25

If you are given $86,400 hard cash and the condition is to spend it within a day. How would you spend it?

Would you squander every single dollar on yourself? Making sure that you pamper yourself with the nicest clothes, bags and to have three wonderful meals for that day?

Or would you buy something nice to share it with that someone special? Taking her on a shopping spree making her the feel like the most fortunate person in the whole wide world?

$86,400 is not really a huge amount but definitely something nice to have.

What if it’s not $86,400 but 86,400 seconds that you were given.

How would you spend it?

Would you want to spend every single second all by yourself? Doing things you like and enjoying the peace and quietness alone?

Or would you spend the 86,400 seconds with that someone special. Both of you may do nothing at all, just enjoying each other’s company. You may joke around and rekindle the good old times during the times both of you have experienced.

86,400 seconds is actually 24 hours or a full day in our life.

It’s not an awful lot of time consider how long we are going to live.
But it is still a fraction of our life as we age.

What do we do in a day?

We get up, some of us go to school, some of us go to work, some of us might just go back to sleep.

Then we rush for the stupid bus that always comes early when you are late. When we reached office, the files and documents that stacked our desk seems to be a lot higher than yesterday.


After a day’s work, we go back to our home and greet our loved one with a tiring smile. No matter how hard the day it has been… the feeling of going home is undeniably sweet... because we will enjoy each other’s company and shared all the things that happened to us today.

How would you spend it, the 86,400 seconds of your life?

How you spend it, is not really important.
Who you spend it with is.





“Clog…..… Clog……..…Clog………”

The sound of heels walking slowly clattered under the quiet alley. Away from Clark Quay as the lost soul seek place of asylum. Christine was the first to react in the hullabaloo as she was so awkwardly disappointed.

Disappointed with herself, for lay her shoulder on Shaun,
Disappointed with herself, for letting Mark saw her doing that,
Disappointed with Mark, who was with the girl…

Christine wanted to be away, escaping from all the confusion and misunderstanding that had occurred earlier.

“Will he think I’m with Shaun? I don’t think so… Shaun would have explained… who was that girl….? Why was she doing here with him? Were they a couple? Why didn’t I ask?”

Christine looked at her watch; it was almost one in the morning. Though all the walking had tired her physically, none could be compared to the emotional turmoil that she was exposed.

“I’m just tired of everything…”

Christine told herself as she hailed a cab home.

If not for the customer request for proposal her boss had wanted her to complete, she might just took another day off.

It’s only thirty-two more hours to see him again.
These thirty-two hours seem like eternity to her as a long night of insomnia begins.

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

The three survivors left standing from the ordeal as Christine ran off the moment she saw Mark with Sharon.

Mark was clueless about what was going on except the fact that Shaun was staring at him with rage.

“Mark! ~ What the fuck are you doing here with Sharon???”

Shaun pulled Mark one side.

“Wait.. hey man! What’s you doing?”
Mark was caught with Shaun’s sudden burst of incense.

“Fuck you!”
Shaun cold-bloodedly attacked Mark.

“Shit man Shaun, cool down. What’s wrong? Is Sharon your ex-girlfriend? I can explain you know.”
Mark tried to block the on-coming fury.

“Shaun… What are you doing? Stop it!”
Sharon tried to intervene.

“Shut up Sharon… I won’t let this creep get advantage of you again”

“Wait.. WAIT~ What the hell is going on.. Can someone please explain to me~??”
Mark too couldn’t take it any longer.

Shaun paused for a breather as he pants heavily. Mark stared in astonishment as Sharon went to aid Shaun instead of himself.

“Sharon, how are you related to Shaun?”
Mark asked he tried to get himself up.

“Shaun… is… my cousin..”

“Cousin?~!?!”
Mark couldn’t believe what he had heard.

“Thought you said your Aunt was single?”

“Shaun lives only beside our apartment and Aunt Rosy had always treated Shaun like her own son.. so we were like cousins from young.”
Sharon explained.

“Then what does it gotta to do with me?”

“Shut up you bastard. It was you who cheated Sharon right?”
Shaun finger-pointed at Mark as his eyeball enlarged.

“Shaun… no no wait… I think you’ve mistaken… he’s not the one!!”
Sharon suddenly realized she was the center of this misunderstanding.

“No??”

“Yeah! of course not man! Shaun.. how long you know me.. two years? You always know I couldn’t get over my ex-girlfriend.”

All the shouting and fighting had lure many attention as bystanders begin to crowd the three of them. The uproar came to a halt when Sharon stood in the middle of both of them.

“Let’s go to another place to talk..?”
Sharon suggested as she dragged the two men out of the scene.

They came to a coffee shop not far away from Clark Quay.

Sharon looked at Shaun.

“Shaun… this guy is not Jason. Jason is the one whom I nearly took my life for… This guy, Mark indirectly is my life saver. He thought I had jumped into the sea and tried to save me. He almost got himself killed in the process if not for others who helped him.”

Then she turned to look at Mark.

“Mark, Shaun is my half-cousin as you know earlier. We know each other since I moved to Aunt Rosy and we got along very well. Well… Shaun is like a confider to me, as I’ve always turns to him for advice… My job at the café was recommended by him too...”

As cars zoom right across the face of the table, the 2 guys looked at each other face to face again. The fury had ended as Shaun’s slowly tried to put on a smile back on.

“Eh.. bro… pai seh about just now.”
Shaun wished there was a hole for him to bury himself with.

“What do you want me to say?”
Mark just covered more soil on him.

“Well… I’m sorry.. Oh Man!!.. It’s really sissy to apologize in public you know.”
“Then we’ll call it a deal if you let me beat you up?”

“Mark… he already apologized… I apologized too ok?”
Sharon used her sweetest look and voice on him. It was something she developed to allure her bait into submission.

“Ok… ok… forget it… I was joking anyway.”
Mark tried to hide the fact that he had fallen for her trick.

“You’re the man! Bro… let’s have supper? It’s on me”
Shaun patted Mark’s shoulder with a more relax approach.

Supper came and they indulged with the pure fragrance of bak kut teh alone Mohd Sultan road.

“Oh yeah I almost forgot… what was Christine doing with you? Is there something that I didn’t know about?”

Mark suddenly remembered the fourth person earlier.

“Er… I don’t know what to say man…”
Shaun tried to avoid the question.

“Both of you together?”

Shaun didn’t reply but looked at him with the widest smile.

“Shit!!! When did that happened? How come I don’t even have the slightest idea?”

“Aiyah, Shaun is always so shy... How can this type of thing be so open?”
Sharon suddenly disrupted the conversation.

Shaun just looked back at his bowl.

“Bro, you are so wicked. You got the cheek to ask what did we do in Shanghai and you told me Christine all along liked me?”

“I was…. Only…….. Testing you…”
Shaun replied softly.

“Hey man! These types of things you gotta let me know in advance. I’m not that type of person you know.. Well no doubt Christine is not bad looking… but if I know she’s my buddy’s girlfriend I will surely know my grounds”

Mark joked as he finished up.

“Let me send the two of you home… ”

The mood was a lot better during the trip home as Mark and Shaun joked about their daily life in the office with Sharon listen attentively in the rear.

Then Mark turned on music to relax everyone as it was getting late.
Maybe the tiredness had drained her out as Sharon slowly fell into slumber as she listens to the music.

“bro…”
Shaun asked as he checked Sharon one more time.

“Yeah?”

“You liked Sharon?”

“Nope… I never had such ideas..”

“You despise her of her past?”

“Of course not, Why would I do that?”

“Then can you please help to take care of her too…She has suffer too much”
Shaun then unwinds the window and the incoming breeze blew his hair.

“Don’t worry.. I will..”

Mark replied as the car arrived at their void deck.

Shaun tried to wake her up but Sharon was too deep into her sleep. He then lifted her up as both of them walked towards the lift.

“its ok bro, I will send her to Aunt Rosy.”

“Yeah Shaun,… you better give Chris a call later on..”

“What for?”

“To tell her you’re home? Thought that’s what couples do?”

“Oh… ok… I will…”

That was his reply as the lift closes.

Mark then went back to his car and drove back home.
It was really a remarkable day of event.
First event was the relationship between Christine and Shaun… then it turned out that Sharon and Shaun was related in a way too.

“Shaun has always been so low profile… ,feels like I’ve known him better today…”

That was Mark’s last thought as he closed his eyes in that night.
-----------------------------------------------------

Sharon looked at Shaun as he carried her to the front door.

“Shaun…”

“Yeah..?”

“Are the two of you really together?”

“………….I….. of course we are…. I hope…”

“Why was she crying before we saw you?”

“Sharon… can do your good old cousin a favor?”

“Yeah…?”

“Don’t ask anymore questions… I have enough for today…”

Shaun said as he allowed her to get off before he turned his back to go back to his own house.

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

Mark woke up almost noon time when his mother came into his room.

“Wake up lah… MC can sleep until so late to skip breakfast and lunch?”

“Ok… it’s really tiring..”
Mark replied as he stretches himself.

Mark already had his off day planned out.
First stop was at MPH Bookstore at Citylink… then he would catch the 5pm show at Marina Square.

Alone?

That didn’t bother him at all as he all dressed up to enjoy the off day fully.

The MPH bookstore was one of the places where Mark loved to go whenever he’s free.

The old MPH building along Stanford road and Armenian Street was one of the places where people of his age would have come to know a great deal. The freshly brewed coffee coupled with the latest hard covers was ‘freshly’ delivered to the vivid readers. As the building was given conservation status in 2003, Mark had to content with the other outlets he frequent, one of which was in Citylink.

It was there when he first met Jade… when both of them were still in secondary school.

Mark brushed his old memories away as he reached the Citylink outlet.

As he browsed the latest arrival.. there was a book which he had really anticipated.

It was Mitch Albom’s For One More Day. Mark was fascinated by the caption
“What if you have one more day, with someone you’d lost?”

For One More Day is the story of a mother and a son, and a relationship that covers a lifetime and beyond. It explores the question: What would you do if you could spend one more day with a lost loved one?

As Mark eagerly read through the prologue, he moved backwards to find a leaning support. His movements accidentally knocked on to someone who was backed facing him.

“I’m sorry…”
Mark replied with his eyes still glued to the book.

“It’s ok…. Oh hi…. Mark…”


[To be Cont]

Book of Love 爱神の书



Chapter 24


Do you believe in Fate or Chance in love?

Are you someone who believes that everyone in life is fated? Who our parents were and how we ended up recording our first love.

Fate is said to be beyond our control. In Greek legends, Fate is the name of three goddess who control the ruling of human destiny Clotho, Lachesis, and Atropos.

Some people use fate to reject another’s love simply because they believe there’re better ones out there.

Chance on the other hand is a force which assumed to cause events that cannot be controlled or foreseen. A chance is the will of human to create and hope something better happens.

Whatever comes between the two of you, there’s elements of fate and chance in beneath.

Fate only brings two persons together for the first time. Chance recreates the opportunities to see the person again and again.

Everyday, as you travel to work or school. There’s bound to be the same group of people traveling with you. Out of the group of people, are there any whom you would take a second look?

If you do, then that’s fate. But you won’t know the person’s background, whether he/she is attached or not, whether he/she will like you or not and whether the two of you will hit it off or not.

That’s the chance you have to take.

The process of two persons knowing each other, the period of courtship and togetherness has a great deal of fate and chance in it.
It takes more than a million fate to find that someone. When you do, it takes another billion chance for you and that person to be together. So cherish him/her as he/she deserves.

Most importantly, don’t ever break off a relationship because of anything except the day when the love for each other dies. That’s the end of fate and chance.




Christine stared at her screen shell shocked.

“What for?” she replied.

“Nothing... just incase you want to know who I am?”

“You can just tell me here right?”

“Then it deplete all the elements of fun in it... tell me honestly... you don’t wanna know who am I?”

“Nope, I’m not interested.”

“Ok… even if I’m that person whom you’re in love with?”

“HEY! Who the hell are you?”
Christine was furious of that reply.

“You can find me at the Clark Quay tonight at 10pm.”

“Clark Quay is so damn big!! How do I know who are you?”

It was the end of the conversation as Eros did not reply since.

As Christine lay back on her bed, her mind was coming out with all the possible person that could view her blog.

Her medication took effect again and Christine fell asleep leaving to wonder in her dreams.

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

Mark was getting ready for discharge. His father was at work and his mum was not feeling well after yesterday’s traumatic event.

“Oh well. I guess it’s not a big deal.”
Mark thought to himself as he packed his bag ready to go.

“Hello!~”
Sharon was waiting outside the door.

“Oh hi…what a pleasant surprise!~”
Mark was glad that someone did fetch him after all…
“Let me carry that for you?”
Sharon offered to carry his bag.

“Nah.. It’s too big for your small build..”

“Chey! I carried bigger cartons at work…”
Sharon tried to impress as they proceed to get his report and medical certificate. Mark was given two days off by the hospital.

“So.. How’s everything at your side?”

“Errr.. My aunt didn’t scold me. She just kept crying and hugging me and apologizing to my father and mother for not taking good care of me. For once I really felt loved in her arms. I call my supervisor at the café and everyone wants me to report to work tomorrow because they missed me.”

“Yup… you know… this world is really special. Love does not necessarily come from relationship or family alone. Friends and all around us can let us experience love too.”

Mark patted on her head as they walked out of the hospital.

“You got any plans later?”
Mark asked.

“I don’t think so…”

“Come to my house for dinner!~ My family is very accommodating”
Mark offered.

“Well… I…”

“Aiyah just go lah…”
Mark hailed the taxi and hurried her in.

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

“Hello Auntie…”

Sharon put on her sweetest smile when Mark’s mother opened the door.


“Oh.. hi, you were that girl yesterday night…”

Sharon nodded religiously.

“Come on in.”
She ushered.

“Auntie, my name is Sharon.. nice to meet you again.”

“Ok Sharon, feel free to make yourself at home..”
Mark’s mother had gotten better after a long rest was currently preparing dinner.

“Luckily she didn’t know I jumped because of her…”
Mark thought as he enters his room to change.

Sharon was feeling bored at the living room so she knocked on Mark’s room.

“Yeah?”
Mark opened after changing.

“I wanna see your room..”
Sharon walked in before Mark could prevent.

“Wow.. not bad for a guy’s room. Very neat.”
Sharon jumped and sat on his bed.

“Yeah… get up from that bed please…?”
Mark ordered.

“Ok.. ok.. big deal…”
As Sharon rose from the bed, she saw a photo frame behind his door.

“What is that?”
She flipped the door and saw the photo of Mark and his previous girlfriend.

“That was my previous girlfriend… Jade. She died at sea few years ago.”

“You must have really loved her… You were calling out her name a few times on the way to the hospital.”

“I did?”

“Yeah… there was another name you called out.”

“Yours?”
Sharon shrugged.

“Then?”

“Don’t wanna tell you…”
Sharon sticks out her tongue and went into the living room once more.

Mark’s father came home and dinner was served shortly after.

The meal was simple, a few dishes with chicken, fish and vegetables. But to a person who had never experience the warmest of family relationships, a simple meal with all the family members sitting round the table and joked around was what Sharon really needs.

“Auntie, your cooking is great! I haven’t had such nice home cooked meal for a long long time.”
Sharon tried to hold back her tears.

“Then you eat more lah.. see your skinny build will know you haven’t been fed enough.”
Mark passed her some more chicken.

“Do join us for dinner next time… the more people sitting round the table the merrier it is to have dinner.”

Mark’s father added.

After the dinner, the whole family sat down to watch television. Sharon looked at her watch, it was 9pm already.

“Auntie, Uncle.. thanks for the meal, I got to be going already.”

Sharon walked towards the door.

Mark sent Sharon to the door but his father coughed as he was about to close the door.

“Shouldn’t you be sending her home?”
“No need uncle.. I can go home myself.”

Mark turned and frowned at his father.

“Take the car and send her home… why didn’t you develop my genes for being a gentleman?”

Mark’s father threw the keys at him.

Sharon was feeling a bit awkward as Mark asked her to wait for him to change up.

“It’s ok if you are tired you know…”

Sharon said as they took the lift down.

“Nah.. I can go for a drive…”
Mark tried to hide his tiredness.

“So where’s your aunt’s place?”
Mark asked as he started the engine to warm his car.

“Can I bring you to a place instead?”

“You sure? Your aunt won’t mind?”

“I already called her that I will be home late.. besides she can call me whenever she wants, I will pick up”

“So where is it that you want to go? Shopping? Clubbing?”

“Nope, it’s a place where I used to go whenever I have any problems that I can’t resolve.”

“Wow.. that mysterious..”

“Yup.. I will show you the way”

The car drove out of the car park and headed for town.

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

Christine was walking aimlessly at Clark Quay. It was almost ten and there was no sign of Eros or whoever that stalker was.

Christine chose to walk along the river side to be away from the crowds.

She came to the bridge across Clark Quay and was standing there admiring the night beauty of the skyscrapers. The wind blew gently across her face as she brushed her hair.

A quarter past ten and there was still no sign of Eros. Christine felt a little cheated by the fact that she actually believed someone online.

The feeling of anger and disappointment left Christine no choice but to step foot and head home. It was a wasted trip.

As she walks, Christine heard a familiar voice.

“Chris…”

She turned around and saw someone familiar.

“I’m Eros”
The voice came nearer to her and he advances.

“It’s not funny…”
Christine chose not to believe it.

“Why? Because I’m not the one you expecting?”
Christine just looked down.

“Why does it have to be you? Or all people?”
Christine refused to accept the fact.

“Why? Why? Why am I not Mark? Is that what you are asking?”

“Stop it.. Shaun…! please… I’m very tired of all these. If this is one of your lame joke.. you had me… so please end this.”

Shaun walked right in front of her.
“Didn’t you know I like you all these while?”

“I’m sorry… I don’t”

“It’s ok then… I’m just glad I got the chance to say it out. I know my chances are slim though.”

“Shaun, how did you know my blog? How did you manage to tag in my blog?”

“Oh… that was a coincidence. Remember you were in Shanghai with Mark? One night I came back to office to get my files then I realized your computer didn’t log out. Wanted to log out for you but saw you blog as it load… I sat down and read the whole blog all night… then I saw your latest post… So I decided to tag you.”

“And the time when Mark was admitted?”

“Yup… since the first time, I already used your ID to invite me as a reader.. so I can go to your blog anytime… I know that’s not very right of me… so I owe you an apology.”

Christine took a few steps away from Shaun.

“If you already know I like Mark… why do you want to tell me that you liked me now?”

“I don’t know… man.. Maybe I would stand a chance if I let you know.. I guess if I never then I might not have a chance again…”

“Shaun.. you should know the answer… I’m sorry..”
Christine quietly weeps.

“It’s ok… don’t worry about it.. ”
Shaun held her shoulders as Christine leaned forward to cry in his arms.

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

“See I told you this is a good place for thoughts right?”
Sharon excitedly giggled as she dragged Mark along.

“Yeah… this placfe is not bad"

“Wow… so romantic..”
Sharon suddenly gushed with envy.

“What’s so romantic about?”

“You see the couple over there…”

Mark took a closer look…

“Chris………………….? Shaun!!?”

The voice was frightening familiar to Christine’s ears. She had feared the worse as it was the truth.

“Mark?”
Christine opened her eyes as she pulled herself away from Shaun.

Shaun didn’t realized what had happen until he turned around.

“Shaun!!”
Sharon shouted.

“Sharon?!?! Wow… and Mark? Shit man!!”
Shaun exclaimed.

Christine looked at Shaun before turning her eyes to Sharon, the girl Mark risked his life in saving…

And so it begins,

Along the night skies under Clark Quay, a journey of an inevitable misunderstanding embarks.


[To be Cont]

Book of Love 爱神の书




Chapter 23


Someone once told me that “When you are in a relationship, you will be living two persons’ life from now on. Whatever decision you made, whatever situation you faced, it will the fate of two of you.”

When you are in a relationship, you will think about the person more than yourself. You might worry about her health, her studies, her job, her future, her life and practically everything about her.

When something happened to that person, you will be dreadful. You will feel like throwing away everything that you are currently doing just to rush to her.

Everything that is linked to that person will be directly and completely linked to you.

You won’t understand until you experienced it.

Somehow you would want the person to worry less about you.

When you experience the feeling of living the life for another person, whatever you do is not only responsible for your life.

You would eat less oily stuffs, you would smoke less, you might have to skip soccer matches on Saturday night so that both of you can catch a movie.

You would have to be more cheerful and you would listen to whatever he/she says.

You might be able to kick away some old habits if she doesn’t like it.

You begin to wonder sometimes that why are you doing all this?

Isn’t this your life and you are in total control?

As much as I would want to tell you, our life is in their hands now.

All because that person is in charge as both of you continued to walk the road.

This is Love; this is both your life and hers.





The sound of a car whisked through the quiet streets leaving a series of echo as it disappear, soon it was quiet all over again in the neighbourhood. Everyone was tucked comfortably in their beds recharging the energy for tomorrow’s work.

When the world is asleep, the night can be really quiet.
All the quietness can give people a sense of uncertainty & loneliness.
The lonely and quiet night that affects one’s mood.

Christine sat in front of her computer with a few folders on her desk.
She took a last sip from her coffee mug as the sentimental music surrounded her ears from her headphone.

Christine looked at the time, it was close to midnight. She had just finished one of the many proposals she brought back from office.

It was just one of the usual nights that she stayed up so late. All means of going to bed early had long been given up due to their ineffectiveness.

Whenever Christine tries to lay down to sleep, her thoughts will be filled with negative feeling of loneliness. She had to work until she is totally drained, that way she will be able to sleep the moment she lay down.

Christine continued her thoughts about the presentation and customers audit that was coming up as she got herself back to hitting the keyboard.

Then she stopped. Apparently her brain had stopped working and there was no way she could continue.

But she was still quite awake. She then began surfing around at http://thefashionwalker.com for online sprees that may interest her.

After buying a few sets of clothes from Taiwan, nothing else interests her as she continued to surf other websites.

Her attention turned to a web link among her favorites.

It was Mark’s blog.

Christine noted his address the first time he asked her “Do you know love?”

All these while, Christine had been reading Mark’s journal daily. Keeping tracks of his events and feelings.

Deep down she had wished that someday perhaps she might see herself been mentioned in his blog. Someone which Mark would want to declare to cyberspace the person whom he loved the most.

That was only a wishful thought.

Christine sighed as she surfed back to her own blog to post an entry.

“The most painful feeling about love is not losing it but never able to get it stared.

Where it all began…

I disliked him the first day I saw him, the first day when he entered our company. He’s not those hunky type and also not very chatty. Well
I guess nothing about him is great.

Then somehow I was attracted to him slowly. I don’t know why but sometimes I think he’s a very deep person, someone who seeks the true meaning of love. Then again, there are times when he’s really childish with his lame jokes.

I remembered the first year when we were having our dinner and dance. He asked me to partner him because he didn’t know any other females in the company.

I obliged only out of pity or I thought so.

It was after the dinner and dance that we went out together for supper. He was telling me about his army days and tried to impress me with his participation of triathlon.

His mood changes when I asked about his girlfriend and his first reply shocked me to my grave.

“I killed her”

He told me the truth later on with much relieved from me that I’m not having supper with a murder.


The night ended on a low note as he didn’t speak much while sending me home.

I would never declare to the world that I like him.

Maybe it’s because that we are working in the same company. Whether we are together or not, there will be lots of rumors flying everywhere.

Maybe I will forget him… slowly… if time allows me to.

I will …”

Christine stopped writing and posted her entry to the cyberspace. It was maybe the only place where she felt free and easy to disclose any thoughts that were buried within.

She walked to her bathroom and wash up.

Christine looked into the mirror as she wiped her face.
Her red and puffy eyes were the evidence of long endurance of sadness.

Christine’s mobile phone beeped as it continues vibrating on her desk.

It was a sms from Mark.

“Hey Chris and Shaun, I’ve got up with some trouble and currently ended up in SGH. Please help me to inform boss I won’t be reporting to work…”

Christine didn’t know what to do as her brain was temporarily froze by the news… until she saw a tag reply on her blog.

“If a person so important to you then will you tell him or will you show him?”

It was from Eros, again.

Christine was very much curious about this Eros character but she had more important thing on hand as she hurriedly got change and went out of her house.

There was no reply from Mark as she kept calling.

Finally it got through…

“Hello..” Mark answered half awakened.The reply came brought his life back to him.“You stupid idiot!!! What happened to you??? Which ward are you in right now??? I’m on my way there.”
Christine raised her voice as she tried to control her steering wheel.

“Har?? Who are you?”
Mark began to wake up a little.

“Chris lah”

“Hey Chris, its ok man. I’m fine.”

“Just tell me which ward are you in now?”

“Orrh.. I’m at Ward 78.. Bed 1”
Mark felt threatened somehow.

It didn’t take Christine too long to reach SGH.

As she enters his ward, Mark waved and greeted her.

“Hey….Chris..”

Mark took a glance at her as she enters, Christine was spotting a ponytail and wearing her specs.

“What happen to you? Anything serious?”
Christine sat down beside him.

“Nah… I’m ok, man.. You look very different without makeup you know.”

“What do you expect? Me to put on makeup to visit you? I know I’m ugly without makeup.. So be it..”

“Hey.. I didn’t mean that, I just wanna tell you that you looked different. You know in office, I always see you in office wear and pretty much glamorous types of dress code. Now I see you in singlet and flip-flops, I find you cuter you know.”

“Idiot.. Why didn’t you just die?”

Christine took a pillow and attempts to suffocate him.

“Hey watch it… you are hurting me.. Ouch!!”
Mark grabbed his chest in pain.

“Sorry.. Sorry…”
Christine stopped only to realize Mark was faking it.

“So tell me what happen?”

Mark then told her about Sharon, how he got to know her and realize her ran away case when they are back.

He also told Christine about Sharon’s blog and her suicide thoughts and all the stories that had him ended up here.

“You think you are hero or something? Thank goodness you are ok.”

“Hey Chris, why did you sound like my mum?”

“Because I care about you!”

Both of them stopped and looked eye to eye for a moment.

“It’s late, I got to be going… will visit tomorrow.”
Christine walked out quickly from his ward trying to hide her blushed face.

Mark just felt a little strange but he slept right through it

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

Morning came and Mark was ushered for x-ray scans for his lungs.
The doctor had told him everything was fine and he could be discharged this afternoon.


As Mark lay back on his bed to enjoy some last moment of recuperation, his mobile phone rang again.

“Hey Mark…”

It was Shaun.

“Wassup? bro”

“What did you do to Christine?”

“What do you mean by what I did? I didn’t do anything to her.. What happened to her?”

“Ohh… she called in sick too… same as you.. still don’t wanna confess there’s something between the two of you ?”

“There’ s nothing between us all along… you better go do your job now as you are the remaining person in our team.”

Mark threatened to hang up the phone.

“Ok.. ok.. You have a good rest man.”

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

Christine went straight to bed after getting her medication.
She slept through the morning and woke up finally when she felt hungry.

As she sat down and ate her porridge, her mind was still in a daze.

Then she flipped open her laptop and key it.

“Who are you Eros?”

To her surprise, the reply came very fast.

“I’m someone you know.”

“Don’t try to be funny…”

“I’m not.. ”

Christine paused for awhile before Eros type in another line.

“Shall we meet?”


[To be Cont]

Book of Love 爱神の书

Chapter 22

When the love begins to fade, another feeling begins to take over your mind and heart. This feeling is the opposite of love and is as dark as any feeling that may be.

This is the feeling of hatred that comes after loneliness.

It develops when the person whom you love cheats you over and over again. All the empty promises that never delivered. All the words and actions that triggered your jealousy and unhappiness.

You’ll feel that the world is against you. Nobody cared for you like before, nobody even know how you felt today.

You’ll find a slight happiness when you realized that you are alone. When you are alone, you have all the time in the world to understand yourself. Who you really are, what you really want in life.

I use to hate everybody. People who are better than me, people who are worse than me.. people whom I have no concern with.. practically everybody.

I've forgotten when I've developed with this kind of hate towards all living things. I guess I just want people to hate me in return. This gives me a sense of feeling of loneliness, the feeling of being alone. The sense of self-discovery I should say..

Everyone always say you need the support of people around you but deep down in actually fact, you yourself have to be strong because help doesn't come that often as you required. I don't need anyone, any friends, and family members at the end of the day all that matters is that I have myelf..

It’s this kind of attitude problem that I don't give a damn towards this whole world rather be a selfish grouch than a helpful soul who everyone abuses whenever there's a chance..

Maybe the only way to make me stop loving you is to hate you because the more I love you, the more pain I will suffer when u leave me… selfish may be the word which describe everything about me maybe… or is it that loving is been selfish all along?

Mark’s eyeball nearly popped out when he saw the scene. He just ran as fast as he could to the edge of the rocks.

“Sharon?! Sharon!!” He shouted.

The sea was calm and there was no response.

Mark hesitated for a moment as glimpse of his past memories rattled his mind once more for the fear for history to repeat itself.

He no longer takes it to the sea after that incident. In fact the death of Jade had left such a big scar in his mind that it indirectly created his phobia of water.

His heart was pumping heavier than before as he faced one of his greatest fear at the moment. Mark was angry about his fear and had to calm himself self down.

He continued to shout to the waters to see if there’s any response.

“Sharon.. it’s me.. Mark!~ Hey listen… can you hear me? Don’t do anything stupid ok? There’s still a lot to live for…”

Still there was no sign of anyone.

“Shit…!! Whatever the fuck.. ”

Mark thought to himself as he took off his shoes and shirt jumped into the sea. He swam around the place diving deep right into the sea with as much oxygen his lungs could hold onto.

The sky was already dark and it made him really difficult to the search and rescue .

As he desperately searched for Sharon, his mind was thinking about his ex-girlfriend. He couldn’t saved her that day, he had to save Sharon this time.

Mark battled the waves to swim further into the sea. He was tired and breathless but kept going on as his sub-consensus continued to push his body going forward.

Mark the felt something pulling one of his leg as he began to lose control of himself. It wasn’t something pulling but one of his leg was cramped by the swim.

The feeling was intense he was struggling and gasping for air.
Mark tried to swim back to shore but was too weak.

“Help… Hel…”

Mark continued to brawl against the handicapped of his legs but ended in vain as he sunk into the sea.

“Shit…. I’m done for this time…”
That was his last thought before he passed out.

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

“Mark? … Mark….”

It was the sound of Jade, his ex-girlfriend.

“Jade…? Is that you? I tried my best to save her already.., I couldn’t save you that day… I couldn’t save her today”

“Mark… I never blame you for anything…”

Mark couldn’t move towards the sound but there was a light that hurt his eyes whenever he tried to look at it.

“Jade.. will you forgive me?”
Mark asked.

“Silly.. I’ve never blame you, why should there be any forgiving?”

“Then can we be forever like this?”

“No Mark, you don’t belong here… I know there’s someone other than me in your heart right now. It saddens me to share your love with her but I guess it’s better this way. I don’t want you to love me forever, I’m glad you truly loved me once…”

“Jade…”
-------------------------------------------------

Before he knew it, he was choking out water as a force was pump right into his ribcage.

Mark coughed and coughed as he vomited all the water out.

His eyes were slightly opened and there were a lot of commotion surrounding him. A crowd had gathered at the shore where Mark was rescued.

“He’s awaken already… ”

“What a relieve… we almost lost him”

“Has the ambulance arrived yet?”

“What happened to him? Suicide?”

“I don’t know, he looked very desperate. I was having my routine night swim then I saw him jumped in with his clothes on. He looked as if he was looking for something. Then he began to struggle in the waters. Luckily I reached him in time.”
A man with a husky voice replied to the crowd.

A lot of voices surrounded him but none belonged to Jade.
So was he dreaming or did he really communicated with her?

“Mark.. you ok?”
A familiar voice caught his attention. Mark turned and looked at the person.

“Sharon… is that you?”
Mark was too weak to move but he tried to turn to look at her. He finally remembered why he jumped into the waters.

“Yeah.. it’s me.. what happen to you?”

“I… tried to save you…”
Then he passed out.

The ambulance came shortly and Mark was warded in the hospital for observations.

The second time Mark regain conscious, he found himself on the bed of the hospital. It was already 3am.
“Ah boy woke up already..”
His mother was the first to react alerting his father who had already slept on the chair.

“Ma… How come you are here?”
Mark lifted himself to sit down.

His mother got up and sat beside him. Before Mark could ask another question, his mother gave him a tight slap in his face.

“Why can’t you get over her? Why do you have to kill yourself?”

“Ma.. it’s not what you think. I didn’t commit suicide.”

“Then why the hell you jumped into the sea? You fancy a swim at night?”
His father threw his authority in.

“I… saw someone jumped so I went to save her.”

“You are trying to be a hero, and when was the last time you swam? It’s already so long. Can’t you just shout for help when you saw the incident? I could have lose you, you know?”

Mark’s mother began to weep again while his father comfort her.

“I’m sorry… I won’t do this again.. I promise.”
Mark lowered his head.

“You better be responsible of your own life… your mother’s tired. Since you are already awake then I will send her home to rest.”

“Ok pa… Please take care of her.”

“By the way, the girl who accompanied you in is still outside. I’ll call her in.”

Mark’s father said as they walked out of the ward.

Mark leaned back to the pillow and waited.

The door slowly opened, and Sharon stuck her head in to peep into the room.

“Come in lah.. there’s no one here.”

Sharon walked in with her large bag. She quietly sat at the couch near his bed. Mark looked at her and sighed.

“You ok already? You looked tired..”
She finally asked as she looked at him.

“Why did you want to run away? Why did you want to commit suicide? Is life so meaningless to you?”

Sharon didn’t reply him, instead her tears slowly dripped onto his bed sheet.

“I’m sorry…”

“Why are you telling me this? I know you have a sad history.. I guess everyone has a skeleton in their closet but we have to look forward right?”

“I guess so…”

Mark adjusted his position.

“Then why did you jump? Do you know I nearly got drown while trying to save you?”

Sharon was shocked when she heard this.

“I didn’t jump… although this thought ever appear on my mind.”

“I just ran away from home. I just wanted to find a place peaceful and quiet so I went to the beach. In fact I didn’t know you were there. I just happen to saw the commotion and realized it was you…”

“Then who was it that jumped into the water?”

“I don’t know but I heard a man was swimming there. Maybe you saw him taking a plunge….?”

“Maybe I saw wrongly, maybe I was too worried about you.”

“I didn’t mean to cause you to be like this…”
Sharon just didn’t know how to continue.

“It’s ok, please go home ok? I believe there are guys out there who won’t mind your past. As long as the two of you have a future ahead.”

Mark held her hand firmly.

“Don’t make the people around you sad & worried ok?”

“I will… I think I will go home now. Guess my aunt must be worried too. ”

Mark nodded.

“You have a good rest ok? I will come visit you tomorrow”

“Yeah…”

Sharon walked towards the door but turn back again. She walked straight up to Mark and kissed him on his left cheek before whispering.

“Thanks for saving me... somehow...”

Mark lay back on his bed as Sharon walked out. He saw his hand phone on the side cabinet and took it.

“Hey Chris and Shaun, I’ve got up with some trouble and currently ended up in SGH. Please help me to inform boss I won’t be reporting to work…”

Mark sent the sms to both Christine and Shaun. He put down his phone and went to rest. Before he fell into sleep, his phone rang.

“Hello..” Mark answered half awakened.

The reply came brought his life back to him.

“You stupid idiot!!! What happened to you??? Which ward are you in right now??? I’m on my way there.”

It was Christine.

[To be Cont]

Book of Love 爱神の书



Chapter 21



Sometimes it is ironic to say that love gives you the most blessed feeling that you’ve ever experience. When most of the times during your life, the thing that hurt you the most is love too.

Whether it is the time when you are secretly in love with someone or the time you were rejected, the feeling of hurt left a deep cut in your broken heart. Even when the both of you are finally together, you have to endure each other’s bad points and may finally break off in the end.

Guess love is a scary thing, so scary that many people had been hurt by love with some taking their own life with it.

With the possibility of getting hurt at some point,

Why do we still find love so mesmerizing?

The process of finding love is tough for there are obstacles that we can’t solve. However the end result is something that nobody can describe. Even the best poet or story writer can’t tell you what love is all about. Because love is something you need to experience.

To experience love is experience the upper and lower of your extreme emotions.

To experience love is to prepare to face the feeling of Festive, Contented, relaxed, calm, complacent, satisfied, serene, comfortable, Peaceful, Joyous, Ecstatic, Enthusiastic, Inspired, Glad, Pleased, Grateful, Cheerful, Excited, Cheery, Lighthearted, Buoyant, Carefree, Surprised,Optimistic,Spirited,Vivacious,Brisk,Sparkling,Merry,Generous,Hilarious,Exhilarated,Jolly,Playful,Elated,Jubilant,Thrilled,Restful
Silly, Acceptance, Agitation, Alarm, Amusement, Anger, Angst, Annoyance, Anticipation, Apprehension, Apathy, Awe, Bitterness, Boredom Betrayal, Cautiousness, Comfort, Contentment, Confidence, Courage, Depression, Disappointment, Discontentment, Disgust, Desire, Delight, Determination, Elation or Euphoria, Embarrassment, Ennui, Envy, Ecstasy, Fear, Friendship, Frustration, Glee, Gladness, Gratitude, Grief, Guilt, Hate, Happiness, Honor, Hope, Horror, Humility, Impatience, Inadequacy, Irritability, Joy, Jealousy, Kindness, Loneliness, Love, Lust, Limerence, Melancholy, Modesty, Nervousness, Negativity, Nostalgia, Pain, Patience, Peace, Phobia, Pity, Pride, Rage, Regret, Remorse, Resentment, Sadness, Self-pity, Shame, Shyness, Sorrow, Shock, Suffering, Surprise, Suspense, Unhappiness, Vulnerability, Worry, Yearning and Zest at some point of you life.

This is the feeling that keeps us going, to seek true love. To love and to be loved in return.

This is Love, emotionally.

“What had happened to Sharon?”
Mark thought for a while as the waiter went on to clear the tables.

“Was the previous post in her blog really true? If that’s true then it’s really bad.”

“Hey”
Mark called for the waiter.

“Yes Sir?”

“Do you still have the newspaper report that you mention?”

“No Sir, we’ve thrown away our old newspaper. But there’s a poster at the entrance; maybe you can take a look. Our café manager had put up to look seek Sharon’s whereabouts too. We had these posters in all our outlets.”

Mark went to the entrance, the poster was placed right where he entered the café, and how could he miss it?

There was a few pictures of Sharon on the poster.

“Missing Person. Sharon Tang age 22. Last seen one week ago. Wearing a blue polo-t and Evisu jeans. She should be carrying with laptop and mobile phone. However all efforts to reach her ended in vain. Anyone who have seen her please call 6345-7878 or approach any staff within.”

When Mark reached home, he went straight to his mother.

“Hey mum, do you still keep the old newspaper?”

“Yah, they are at the storeroom, what’s the matter?”
His mother was puzzled with the interest.

“Never mind, it’s ok. I was just looking for some old news.”

Mark dug out the stack of papers and speed read through the papers and before he finally saw the report.

Apparently Sharon looked plan for and was well equipped as all her belongings going off with her.

There was also transaction activities going on with her atm card therefore the police had classified this case as a case of ran away from home.

Nevertheless her auntie was hoping that she could be reached and urged the public to ask her to go home.

“Judging from the reports, Sharon should indeed have run away from home. But why? What was the reason behind this?”

Mark started his rounds of thoughts as he lay on his bed.
Finally he had to give up due to lack of information and he didn’t even know Sharon that well to help.

Knowing that it’s helpless, Mark decided to surf the web and went to Sharon’s blog to see if there’s more information available.

The blog was not updated since the day she was declared ‘missing’. Her last blog had given a glimpse of things to come.

“
This entry is probably the last entry I’m going to post.
It tells the darkest secret buried deep inside my heart.
Maybe it’s not important anymore but it sure is good to say it out finally.

For all those who know me, there’s one thing you didn’t know about.
About my life.

Sometimes I asked myself why I was born into this world. I guess I was born in the wrong world, in the wrong time and in the wrong family.



My parents never loved me at all; all they cared was gambling day in, day out. I have to take care of myself from primary school, washing my own clothes and their stinking ones too.

When they win, I would get a $2 pocket money. When they lose, I would get a beating worse than a dog. I can only cry in bed with the swollen wounds. The swollen arm is painful but not as painful as my heart that my own parents treated me worse than a stranger.

Then maybe my plead was heard by God.
He took away my mother by an accident when I was in secondary school one day.

All I remembered was that I didn’t shed a tear for her, even though she had gave birth to me. To me, it was probably the only thing that she had given to me, a miserable life.

My father turned from gambit to an alcoholic after the death of my mother, later he too suffered his fate as he was down with stroke a year later. He died when I was about to finish my secondary school.

After secondary school I came out to work. I met a lot of different men along the way. There were rich ones and some nice looking too. No matter how nice they look or how well they treated me, there was only one thing in their mind. It was my body.

I lose my virginity to a guy whom I didn’t know his real name. He didn’t want me to know but I know he has his own family and doesn’t want me to know his background.

I thought he loved me but our relationship ended within a few months. Then it sparks a round of high rolling sexual relationships I have with many people.

“When you love me, you have to please me. Then I will love you more.”

I was taught to know that love involve sex until I met him.
He changed my opinion towards guys totally.

He treats me with respect and didn’t dare to hold my hand when we go out. He was not a nerd or anything like them, he was simply letting nature take its path.

The two years that we are together will probably the best times I ever had with anyone in my life. We never had anything more than petting.

I moved in to live with Aunt Rosy. She treated me like her own daughter even though she was singles herself. Then I got a job in a café and everyone treated me so well that I felt family for the first time.

I felt that maybe for once, I can lead a normal life.
It was then I decided to tell him my past. All of it.
I guess it shocked the life out of him as he didn’t say a word till we parted our ways that night.

Things started to change as times goes by.
We met up less often.
He was rather speechless for the rest of our outings.

Gradually he didn’t even hold my hands anymore.
Then we barely see each other again.

It was only yesterday that I received his sms.
He had asked for us to break up. There was no reason given.

When I tried to call him, he didn’t pick up.
After dialing for almost a hundred times, I rested my case.
Then I received another sms from him.

Sharon, it’s really nice to be with you over these years. I really like you a lot but there are things which I cannot accept. I hope you will understand.

As I lay my phone near my bed.
Tears just dropped bit by bit.
I cried the whole night, right up till this moment as I type this blog.
My visions are blurred by the tears that came and my eyes are swollen with sadness.

I will start my new journey on my own this time. You may not see me again but I really thank you for reading this.

Good bye everyone.
Good bye Jason, you know I will still love you.

Sharon.”


Mark didn’t realize his keyboard had been wet by the tears that came.

“Sharon must have been hurt a lot.”
Mark wiped his eyes as he switched the website to his own blog. He was hoping to put out a notice to anyone who happens to bump into his miserable blog.

To help spread the word and find Sharon.

Mark realized there was a tag left by someone.

It was Sharon

The date she had left was after she had gone missing and it was only yesterday.

“So if my analysis is correct then she should be still alive!”
Mark exclaimed to himself as he read the tag.

“Have you ever heard the sound of waves that calls upon?
Have you ever felt the coldness of water that surrounds you?
Have you ever asked the depth of the ocean that rises above?”

“Waves, Water, Ocean? Shit!! She must be at the beach now.”
Mark suddenly felt a strong hunch that she will be there.

But which beach? Should he call the police? But nobody will believe what he says.

“So Changi beach? East Coast beach? Pasir Ris beach? West Coast beach?”
Mark scratching his head as he got more agitated.

“Cool down.. Think think think…”

Mark walked in circles.

“Ok, base on my understanding. The café that Sharon works has a branch at East Coast, so if anyone had seen her would already inform the aunt. West Coast seems too far and deserted to go and the beach there is not easy to find. Pasir ris beach always got a lot of people fishing.”

“Changi beach!”
Mark grabbed his stuffs and head out of the door.

Mark took a cab right from his house to Changi beach.
He was hoping deep inside that he was right about the location.
There was another thing he hoped.

That Sharon will not commit suicide.

It was close to evening when he arrived. Mark ran through the beach, looking for possible outcome from his derivations.

There was no person in sight.

Then Mark saw a figure sitting at the edge of the rocks that linked out to the sea.

The figure stood up… and to Mark’s horror.

That figure threw itself into the sea.


[To be Cont]

Book of Love 爱神の书


Chapter 20


What will be the most difficult thing you will do for the one you now love?

For some, it would be to forget about the past relationships that they had gone through.

No matter what went wrong, what happened between the two of you earlier, you will still somehow remember the person deep inside your heart?

Most of them will admit that we still think of the pervious person that we once shared.

It could be a song both of us used to sing in karaoke.
It could be a movie both of us shed our tears to.
It could even be a path or place we used to go.

The smallest of all memories that unfolds itself slowly through the deep emotions inside you.

Sometimes we are angry with our current partners for remembering their ex. Once the jealousy starts, it never ends.

But have we ever asked ourselves why we can’t forget about them?

I did not forget about her, that someone who used to share my life with. I remember what I did that angered her, what I did that made her very happy. I remember all the arguments we ever had and all the tears she shed for me.

I remember all these so that I can treat my current girl all the corrected thoughts and feelings.

People once told me “To live is to first learn to love. You will only know about life when you start to love.”
I find it only half true.

I would believe “To live is to first dare to love, then experience the heartache of losing it and finally finding the courage to love correctly again.”

Only then you will know what love and life is all about.





The plane departed Shanghai on a Sunday afternoon. Christine was again sleeping on the plane and Mark had to be contented with the entertainment system again.

He had always wanted to know how Christine is able to sleep on the plane. Little did he knew this time Christine wasn’t sleeping. She was only avoiding him.

The plane arrival at Changi Terminal 1 on Sunday night.

Mark and Christine parted their ways at the airport, as both parents were there to fetch them. As both of them walked out of the arrival hall, Mark had to pretend he didn’t know Christine at all to avoid her father.

Mark did get an eyeful of her father as Christine hugged him.
He was glad he didn’t walked out together with her based on her father’s physical build.

Once reached home, Mark and had a good bath and dinner before unpacking his luggage.

As he separates out all the dirty laundry, Mark found a uniquely looking pen inside.

“Wow... that looks expensive. I wonder whose pen is it. Maybe Chris? Nah.. Shouldn’t be. It certainly looks like a men’s pen to me. Maybe it’s Zhong Liang or Wenbin’s”

Mark thought for a moment relating to his China counterparts.

“Whatever! Finders’ Keepers!” That was the only conclusion drawn on his mind as he kept his pen in the drawer.

Mark was drained from the flight then he went to bed immediately after unpack his stuffs.

As he lay down on his bed, Mark is sure looking forward to tomorrow.
Not because that he loved to go to work but having the chance to see Jade again.

The night was quiet as his sweet dreams blossoms.


Morning came and Mark was all ready to go out after having breakfast. He had time his move very precise so as to be able to see Jade on the train.

It seemed rather childish to some people that Mark HAD her phone numbers, he could simply dial her up and ask to meet up.

But he didn’t. He wanted to play a game.

To Mark, this was call the game of destiny.

To find someone in the crowds, without the aid of anything, anyone. Just purely analytical sense and luck.

Maybe this is what fate is all about.
Finding the right person at the right time.

This was how he founded his first girlfriend, Jade.
He had never play this game since.

But when he reached the MRT station, Mark had decision to make.
It was as if the simplest decision he had to make.

A simple choice that stands at fifty-fifty chance.

But Front or Back cabin?

Mark stood at the middle of the platform with deep thoughts analyzing the situation.

The last time he saw her, she was in the front cabin. However he did not see her the very day.

“Could she went back to the back cabin since we already settled our differences?”

Before Mark could make up his decision, the train arrived at the platform. As it was the timing of the train Jade would usually take, Mark had to hop onto the train to make up his mind again.

Mark was squeezed and pushed by the fellow commuters to the inner portion of the cabin. As it was rather jammed at the early peak hours, it was near impossible for him to move.

A earlier determined Mark had to give up for the day. He just looked out of the window as the train continued its journey.

“Maybe we are not fated at all.”

His thoughts began to stagnant before he heard a voice behind him.

“So… we meet again? Hee hee”

The voice was crystal clear and sends waves of excitement through the spines of Mark. It was the voice he had shared long conversations with and longing to hear again.

Mark turned around to look for the source but he looked in vain. There was nowhere that he could see her.

“Here lah…”

The owner of the voice waved at Mark, she was sitting just beside him as he stood.

“Jade? Hey!”

Mark got a pleasant shock as he finally locates her.

Jade had her spectacles removed and put on light makeup. Whatever triggered the transformation didn’t matter. What matter most was the outcome.

Jade looked really glorious without her specs.
Gone was her usual long sleeves and blouse office style ‘uniform’.
Instead a low cut floral dress fitted right through her curvy figure.

It was not as amazing like the ‘ugly duckling tale’ as Jade didn’t looked that bad in the beginning. It was really more towards those pretty girl-next-door transform into a highly impressive socialite kind of scene.

Jade was definitely more feminine than before and Mark looked at her from a different prospective.

As his mouth opened, all that he could ever say out was

“Wow…”

Jade looked at the stunned Mark.

“Do I looked that bad? It took me a lot of courage to start wearing this you know.”

Jade started to adjust her dress.

“No.. you look great.. really. I’m totally speechless.”

Mark literally mouth-watered.

“Well.. looks like we are fated to meet again.”
Jade smiled. She looked exceptionally sweet this time.

“Yup.. how come you are in the middle of the train? You should be at the last cabin as usual?”

“Well, my card ran out of money so I have to top up. Then the train arrived when I reached the platform, so I just board in the middle.”
Jade shrugged.

“That’s really great!~”
Mark couldn’t believe how lucky he felt.

If her card was fully topped or he chose either end of train, both of them would not have met.

The two of them paused for a moment before Mark continued.

“So how are you?”
Mark started the usual round of talks as he did not where to start again.

“I’m fine, your soup really helped. You gotta teach me how to cook them one day.”

“Why not this weekend?”
Mark just blurted out.




“Hmmmm… I have to confirm with you again. It’s still too early to say mah. Maybe there are other guys who wanna date me too?”

Jade winked.

“Oh ok… we’ll see how again.”
The tone of his voice brought out the disappointment in him.

“Anyway, you’ve got my numbers right? You can always sms me nearing weekend.”

Jade relight his hopes one more.

Time passed too quickly when you least expected. The train arrived at Yishun at the rate that Mark could not accept. He wanted to continue the journey to Raffles Place but he hesitated.

It was Monday morning and his boss needs to have a meeting with him and Christine to discuss about last weekend’s presentation and follow up on the responses.

“Hey.. I got to alight.”

“Yeah.. you have a great day ahead ok?”

“Alright, bye…”

Mark bid farewell before pulling himself out of the train before the door closes. The route to office from the train station seemed longer than the train journey.

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

Mark was the first to reach the office. The quietness of being alone was disturbed with the voice of a fully charged soul.

“Dude! My brother! Congrats on your presentation!”

Shaun opened up his arms and shouted the front door as he enters.

“Hey man! Thanks”

“So.. did you.. and Chris… erhm.. you know .. you know..”
Shaun was elbowing him as he bitched.
“What? What do you want to ask?”
Mark shot back.

“Well… only a blind person won’t know she carries a torch for you. Didn’t the two you have a good time at Shanghai?”

“Yeah.. we spent through midnight!”

“WICKED!!!”

“Shut up Shaun, we were only rushing through the presentation.”

“Chey!! Spoiler! Boring bastard.”

“Hi guys, good morning! I’ve bought breakfast for everyone.”
Christine entered the office.

“Oh hiya Missy Tan. Oh my… you smell damn nice”
Shaun breathed her up as she walked past.

Christine stepped on his foot as she placed his breakfast on his table.
“Of course it’s nice. It’s Gucci.”

“Morning Mark.”
Christine placed his share too.

The three of them then spend the rest of the morning clearing up the unread emails.

Boss had initiated a debrief at 1100hr.

“Mark and Chris, both of you had done a great job. I have receive various compliments from Sales side and our China counterparts. Even our MD looks forward to an aggressive sales after your performance.”

“Thanks Mr. Lee, for the chance”
Mark replied.

“Keep up the good work both of you, and take the rest of the day off. You must be tired from the flight yesterday. See you tomorrow.”

“So where are you heading?”
Mark asked Christine as both of them went out of their boss’s office.
“I need to go for a spa treatment, I initially wanted to take half day but since he gave us time off.. better still.”

“Alright, I’ll see you guys tomorrow.”
Mark bid goodbye to Christine and Shaun.

As it was still early, Mark decided to take his lunch at the café where Sharon works. It had been awhile since the last time he saw her.

A stranger greeted Mark when he reached the café.

Apparently there was no sign of Sharon at the café at all as Mark scanned around.

After taking his lunch, he approached a staff at the café.

“Excuse me, is Sharon on leave today?”

The staff looked at Mark strangely.

“Sir, you didn’t know?”

“What?”

“Sharon no longer works here, in fact she had been missing for a week already, there was a newspaper report of her case few days ago but since then there was no news of her.”

[To be Cont]