Ana stood up from the bathtub and went to look at herself in the mirror.
She wiped the water off the mirror and her face came to view.
''You are such a loser, Ana. What is wrong with you? Why do you allow him to affect you so much?''
''Get your act together, Ana. You are not a kid anymore. You are 29 years, you will be thirty in a few months.''
….
Ana walked to the hall and sat across Jessy. She picked the cup of hot cocoa on the table and sipped before asking.
''What are you watching?''
''Family satire. This play is interesting and funny.'' Jessy said and continued to munch on her bag of coconut flakes.
''Are you not going to ask me anything?'' Ana asked cautiously.
''No. What is the use? You are not going to tell me anyways. I would rather watch this family satire.''
''I'm sorry!'' Ana suddenly said and Jessy turned to look at her.
''What are you sorry for?'' Jessy furrowed her brows suspiciously.
''A lot of things.''
''Name them!'' Jessy muted the volume and turned to look at Ana.
''Aye, can you let me off? I am really sad today.''
''No, I am not letting you off. Hey! Do you know how worried I was? I almost went crazy when you didn't answer the phone. Thank God your location was on and I was able to track you."
Jessy placed the bag of snacks aside and turned to face Ana. "Let me ask you, are you trying to drive me crazy or make me look older than my age? I am 28, you are 29. I am the younger one, why do I have to take care of you the older one?''
''I'm sorry!'' Ana pouted her lips.
''Stop acting cute. At thirty, it's cringe to act cute.''
''I am not thirty yet!'' Ana frowned.
''You have four months till you are thirty. Might as well get used to it.'' Jessy rolled her eyes.
''You are right!'' Ana smiled.
''Tell me, which of the jerks did you meet tonight?''
''Both!''
''Huh?'' Jessy muted the TV and turned to face Ana again with undivided attention.
''I met with Yu Shiao and Yu Lin Shen but I only spoke with Yu Shiao.''
''What? How? Where? When?'' Jessy asked, slurring.
''You know Shanshan brought the jacket back, right? So, after work, I decided to send it myself. When I got to the club, Lin Shen was singing so I decided to wait. I didn't know when Shiao came to stand behind me. I ran away after seeing him and the rest, you know.''
''Whoa! I can't believe this!'' Jessy said, shaking her head.
''Was it pure coincidence or planned?'' Jessy asked and picked her coconut flakes bag again.
.....
Two years ago…
Forever Restaurant.
'So… darling, won't you come closer?'
'Come closer to me, my love'
'Cos I want to feel your scent on me'
'Feel your sweet scent on my body'
The words of the song made Ana's face turn red as she looked at the live performance. Even though she didn't have the voice and was tone deaf, she could still appreciate good music.
Just listening to the lyrics of the song made her heart beat faster. It didn't also help that the man she had been in love with since her teenage days was also walking towards her at this moment.
Yu Shiao, a tall handsome man, the man of the dreams of many women was walking towards her.
He was her fiancé and the man she loved more than anything else in the world.
Just looking at him, Ana felt that the world belonged to her.
Ana straightened herself and turned to sit straight when Shiao got closer. Her face couldn't hide the happiness in her heart and her eyes shone bright.
She adjusted her spectacles nervously and smiled.
''Shiao, you are here'' Ana said and her young jittery heart beat with excitement.
''You prepared all this?'' Shiao asked as he looked at the candlelight dinner that Ana had prepared for him.
''Yes. You just won an award, so I wanted to make something special for you. I am your fiancée but I lack in a lot of things. I don't know how to cook so I decided to make this arrangement. But you don't have to worry, I intend to enroll in a cooking class. I will learn how to cook all your favorite foods.''
Ana said nervously. She reached for the glass of water and sipped as her hand trembled.
''Ana, you don't have to do this, but thank you.'' Shiao smiled apologetically.
''You are welcome. Shiao, after dinner, I have something to tell you.'' Ana said and adjusted her spectacles that rested between her nose.
''Let's eat before the food turns cold.''
''Mm!'' Ana smiled and picked her cutlery. Since young, she hasn't been good at eating with cutlery but today, she decided to eat with it because it was a special occasion. Even though she was struggling with it, she didn't mind.
As long as she was eating with the man she loved. She didn't really mind.
Shiao noticed Ana struggling with the cutlery and chuckled. ''Ana, use the chopsticks if you are not used to eating with the cutlery.''
''No, no. I am used to it. I am just nervous.'' Ana said but continued to struggle with the cutlery.
Shiao sighed and shook his head. He picked the chopsticks on the left side and held Ana's hand.
''What is it?'' Ana looked at him with an innocent and confused gaze.
''Use this instead. You don't have to do things you are not comfortable with. Just eat with the chopsticks.'' Shiao said and took the cutlery from Ana, giving her the chopsticks instead.
''Oo, thank you. I will keep practicing so that I won't let you down as your fiancée.'' Ana said, blushing.
Shiao smiled and continued to eat. He ate with such poise and gentleness that made Ana fall for him even more.
Shiao cut the meat in his plate into pieces and exchanged it with Ana's plate saying to her, ''eat this one.''
''Mm, thank you!'' Ana couldn't hide her smile as she started eating the steak.