JUST KIDDING. Fortunately (or unfortunately), last night's sleep wasn't my last. I woke up just fine and complete. But the moment I woke up, after checking a chat on my phone, my tongue uttered a curse.
Seriously, though. Yesterday, the matter of my blind dates was over. Yet, as soon as the morrow came, someone messaged me about our beloved classmate getting married the next month. And she was the 15th this year; let's not even count the number last year.
And heck. I don't even know why I was affected. I know. My reaction was overboard. It wasn't me who was getting married, after all. Yet, I acted as if I was involved.
I sighed.
It was my mother's fault. Her insistence on pushing me into a married life apparently took a toll on me.
After a while, I got out of bed. Done with my morning rituals, I visited a hardware shop for no particular reason. I was bored. There was nothing in the house for me to do. So, I decided to window shop.
"Good morning. How can I help you?" the salesman, perhaps the assistant supervisor, greeted me as soon as I entered the air-conditioned shop. He wore the same uniform as the General Supervisor, so I was sure he wasn't a salesman.
"Nothing in particular," I smiled. "I want to look around."
He nodded, returning my smile. I stared into his face for quite a moment before wandering around. The guy had the looks. I admit. He was tall, too. I could only reach the level of his armpits.
After looking around, I saw nothing that caught my eye. But I didn't want to leave yet. Outside was too hot for me to bear. I love this shop's cool temperature. So, I slowly took a step, acting as if I was interested in every piece of equipment I came across. When I almost reached the exit, I heard someone shout my name.
"Tatia!"
The voice sounded familiar. So, I turned around with a big smile, like a customer service facing her biggest client for the year.
"Ms Yan," I greeted, my smile widening to the point I never imagined. When was the last time I acted to please someone? Maybe two years. I've been unemployed for two years, after all. "I never thought you'll remember me," I said. Although my beauty was worth remembering, being in the industry let you meet lot of people. They come and go. And after encountering too many faces, you may forget lots of them. So, I wasn't expecting them to remember me.
I, myself, for example. I forget people as soon as I stop meeting them. The general supervisor of this shop was unforgettable, though. After all, this shop was quite famous in town.
Ms Yan laughed. She even slapped my arms. It took me a hard time not to touch the part she hit.
"Why did you leave the company? There's no one for us to seek help anymore since you left," she complained.
How funny. After how many years, there were still people who would ask me why I resigned.
"Growth," I replied. "I thought I wasn't growing professionally, so I resigned."
She nodded her head in understanding. "So, where are you working now?" she asked.
"I'm freelancing."
Her mouth formed an 'o' after hearing my answer.
"What kind of freelancing?"
"Writing and stuff. It's fun. I get to do the things I want because my time is mine," I replied. "I never knew freedom until I got to experience this."
Ms Yan laughed at my last words. I didn't get what's funny, though. During my time working in a company, I felt stifled and constrained. There was a voice whispering within me, telling me to move forward, to look for something I didn't understand, and when I resigned and embraced my desire to write, I thought it was the most joyous event that had ever happened in my life.
I had no regrets.
When our conversation ended, I had to leave the cool place, to my misfortune. The man earlier smiled at me at the exit, telling me to come back again. I definitely would. This shop was the nearest place I could visit when the heat was too much to overcome. I love how they use their air conditioner. They didn't care how much utilities they might pay for overusing it.
I thought of installing an air conditioner in the house. But that place wasn't ours. We were only renting it in the meantime. However, I advised my father, multiple times, never to forget to install an air-con in our new house, lest we die of heatstroke in the future. The temperature in the world was another disaster we faced, after all.
Having nowhere to go (since I was too lazy to travel downtown), I walked back home. However, before I could reach home, someone called me. I knitted my brows as soon as I saw the caller ID. Something was telling me that this call would bring me disaster. Regardless, I answered the call.
"Yes," I said, stopping in my tracks. "I never thought you'd call me anytime soon since you have an impending wedding coming to you."
"Seriously, Tatia," I heard the woman on the other side say. And I presume she was rolling her eyes in contempt. "I'm the one having the wedding, not you. Can you please stop with your disgusted tone?"
I shrugged.
"Fine. What is it?"
"My wedding's—"
"So, you're calling me about your wedding?"
"Yes. And will you let me finish my words?"
"Go on."
"Thank you," she replied sarcastically. "I am getting married next month," she said, changing the subject. "And you're invited as one of my bridesmaids."
I almost laughed at that.
"Why not your Maid of Honor?" I asked, raising one of my exquisite eyebrows.
"Because I know you'll not accept it," she replied. "Be one of my bridesmaids, will you? It's been a while. I'm hoping you'll attend my once-in-a-lifetime wedding and be there for me, supporting me. Please?"
I would love to tell her that a wedding wasn't only a once-in-a-lifetime thing, but I was still discreet enough not to say it.
I hummed. "What's in it for me?"
"Are you kidding me?"
"Well, you know I'm not fond of attending such a boring event," I said.
"Can't you attend, just for the sake of our friendship?"
That shut me up.
Sighing, I finally compromised. What can I say? Friendship was my weakness.
After agreeing with her, I proceeded home. This time, no one prevented me from reaching home. However, just as I was about to open the door and enter our little abode, I heard something fall behind me. I immediately turned around out of curiosity.
There — just three metres away from me — was a man crouching as he held his other knees painfully. Beside him were fruits of different varieties and a paper bag. My grip holding the doorknob tightened. Should I help or let him be? He was already a big man. So, maybe he could handle his predicament himself. Unfortunately, as I faced the door, my conscience began criticising me. My eyes fluttered, and my heart beat erratically. I could understand my eyes fluttering. But not my heart, which was beating like a drum.
Finally accepting my fate, I turned around once again and proceeded to help the unfortunate man. Smiling, I started picking up his delectable fruits.
"Be careful of these fruits. It would be a waste if you let the ground smash it," I said when the man looked at me, but I focused on getting the fruits in the paper bag.
"Thank you."
How manly.
That deep, hoarse voice enticed me to look at the owner of it. And that was what I did. Looking straight, I met a pair of smouldering purple eyes, a face as pale as a sheet of paper, and thin red lips.
I stiffened. I almost dropped the paper bag, and all these fruits would undoubtedly get smashed on the ground.
I couldn't help but gasp. What a piece of handsome and mouthwatering meat!