OH MY GOD!
I slap Vi!
That sounds even crazier if I say it over and over in my mind. Why the hell would I think of doing that? She must be shocked! I should have talked to her alone and patiently not just storm up to her and slap her on her face! Oh my god, what should I do?
My phone beeps as I walk down the road stressfully, it’s Ian texting me:
Hey hun, where r u? at Vi’s house?
I just want to tell you, I GOT THE JOB!
*kiss*
I quickly text him back:
WHOA! Congrats!
Which branch are you in?
No, I’m not at Vi’s house. I’m on my way home, there’s sumthn happened n I’ll tell you the complete story later, k?
;)
I press send and shove it back to my bag. It’s late evening and more and more people are wandering out and about on the streets, wearing their best and chicest clothes. Most of the girls are wearing something light and fun, like dresses due to the “hot weather” in summer and the guys are wearing casual clothes.
My phone beeps again, it’s from Ian saying ‘ok, I can’t wait’ with little heart on the bottom. Aww! He’s so sweet!
I stop in front of a mini market and fetch some cookies and water to soothe me a little. After paying for the whole snacks and water, I push the door and ..
What was that?
It’s like I saw something black and when I see it, it disappears to the aisle 3 feet away from where I stand. Ok, maybe I’m too paranoid because I’m still shocked for what I’ve done. Easy…
I crack the cookies wrapper open and biting it delightfully.
Ok, is it just me or is there someone following me?
I can feel it!
It’s creepy!
It’s like I’ve been watched and followed since I left the mini market, or maybe long before that! Should I turn my back to make sure no one follows me? but what if there really is someone following me?
What do they want?
I stop in front of Tiffany’s and pretend to adore the necklaces on the display. And as I look around cautiously, I see no one in strange attitude, all are fine, all are people walking, laughing and passing me by.
Ok, maybe I AM paranoid.
As I ride the bus back to my house, I feel much much better and calm. I stuffed my mouth with 4 cookies and yes, I feel like a new person already. I can find huge mess has been made in the middle room with those 2 twin boys that are just too irresponsible to throw their own Snickers’ wrappers into the dustbin and I have to yell to them to pick it up or I won’t cook them anything.
Dad isn’t home yet but I will have to do chores before he arrives home. I take a shower and as I dry my hair, my mind wonders off (again) to Vi. isn’t there any other options between living with her drunken Mum or her ‘having an affair’ Dad? She’s supposed to have some other options, isn’t it? She’s supposed to be happy, living like a princess with her happy family, she deserves it!
As I spread
“Yes?”
“Are you gonna tell me the whole story or not?
“Oh shit! I forgot!” I say, closing the bottle and press the phone on my shoulder while my hands rub the lotion all over my legs and hands.
“Ok, so it begins when Vi took me out.”
“Uh-huh.”
“She told me this news. That her parents are going to get divorce for real and she has to choose who she’s going to stay with!”
“And who did she choose?
“She ran away! She ran away to Sean’s house! And she was being all miserable and tearful and she even thought of living by her own!”
“And?”.
“I slapped her! On her face!” I said in horror.
“What?! You slapped her? And what did she do?” Ian’s voice rises.
“I…don’t know! I ran away!” I say in desperation and it’s like I’ve been hit by the reality, “Oh god! I shouldn’t have left her, aren’t I?” I ask in panic.
“Well, I prefer you to be with her than just slapped her and ran away! She needs you more than anything now.” Ian says.
“But…will she forgive me? I mean, her life is jumbled up enough at this point without me being so stupid to slap her and…..oh god…” I floored.
“Just apologize and it’ll all be alright. I know you can do it. Vi and you are best friends, best friend stays.” He says dramatically. If the situation isn’t bad enough like this, I might laugh at this moment.
He’s all sweet and gay-ish when he said that. Oh, did I say that aloud in my mind? Mind you….I wasn’t supposed to say bad thing about my boy. He’s all nice and understanding, there, I corrected it.
“Oh..ok….i’ll do that.” I say in final, “So, how’s the interview?” I ask in a cheerful voice.
“Oh, it wasn’t that good! I even had no idea why am I being recruited! There’s this guy wearing Armani like head to toe and he asked why do I want to work there and he asked my report card and everything.”
“and?”
“I said because I need a job and my sister got a job already and it makes me feel like such a loser!” he says. “I even don’t know why I answered that too honestly! I could have just answered some good old sentences like ‘oh because I’ve always liked Ben and Jerry’s, Ben & Jerry’s is one of my favorite…’ blah blah blah. And even if it sounds cliché, it sounds better!”
We laugh for his stupid mistake and he told me where he worked. It turned out to be in the same shop as the ice-cream guy (will that be mean Ian is an ice-cream guy too? I have to find the ice-cream guy’s real name before Ian works there!). One of the staff there quitted the job yesterday evening and so Ian got the job. Isn’t it amazing that your boyfriend work in the same place as your friend?
“So, what can I say, congratulations!”
“Thanks.”
“I’ll go to your work place like every day! Ice creams there are so yummy.” I say.
“Sure, whenever!” as he says it, I can hear distant voice of Dad downstairs.
“I should go. Dad’s home.” I say.
“Ok, see you later. Bye Hun.”
“Bye!” and as the connections breaks off, Nathan enters my room, “Dad’s downstairs.”
“Ok.”
Saturday morning…..
Don’t ask the date, I’m not a school girl so don’t expect me to remember any date during summer holiday. There isn’t time and date, it’s a free season, free to do anything, and no one cares about time and date.
I rub my bleary eyes and straightened my back to stretch. It’s another day in summer holiday, nothing can be better, unless if you got into a fight with your friend, or got a zit when you’re suppose to be perfect, or your boyfriend broke you up. And I’m in the first situation.
I step my feet to the stairs and go downstairs to find Dad and the twins are there and there’s a woman with her back on me. They’re all laughing hysterically that they don’t even realize I’m there, with my loose pajamas and my messy hair.
Who the hell is this woman? Dad’ assistant? Oh my….i feel my throat is tight with the thought, Dad’s not having an affair while Mum’s gone, right? Vi’s dad alone has caused much trouble and I will NOT let Dad….
The woman turns her back and she runs and jumps and hugs me, “Honeeeyyy!! I’ve missed you so much!”
Oh….
It’s Mum.
Damn, how could I forget Mum’s back today?
“I bought you guys many souvenirs, you’ll get excited!” Mum says, releasing me. I look at her from top to toe, she looks tanner and fresher!
“Where, where?” Nicho asks impatiently.
“Later, ok? We should get some breakfast.” Mum says, kissing Nicho’s head who’s trying hard to avoid.
Mum cooks us breakfast and I mean Breakfast with big B. it’s real breakfast! After a week without her, this moment feels like a revolution. We ponder every inch of her home-made omelets with mushrooms, ham, and cheese. No more cereals, no more peanut butter spread, no more frozen pizzas! Freedom!
After we had our family breakfast, Mum took a shower and ended up sleeping and forgetting all those “opening the souvenirs” things. And so I dial Vi’s number and get into the mailbox and after trying several times, her sleepy voice speaks.
“Yeah? Who’s this?”
“Umm Vi. it’s Sugar.”
“What do you want?” she asks in a snap.
“Look, I’m sorry for what happened yesterday that I slapped you and everything. I guess I just lose my…..”
“Oh cut it Sugar! Can you please leave me alone?!” then the phone cracks. And for few moments I just stare at the phone blankly. Then with a slow turn, I realize this is not a good moment. Definitely not. My whole body freeze as I recall Vi’s tone just now. She’s really mad, isn’t she?
