He wasn't superstitious but the day wasn't auspicious.
It has been 6 weeks now since the start of the year and he hadn't had a break.
He decided to stop by the river on his way home to catch a breather.
Walking along the streets leading to the river, his mind wander back home. His family should be having dinner by now. But his sister would not be joining in since she's busy with work.
The sound of bells ringing brought him back. The boutique shops are opening for business. He took a look around. It is a working day, so it wasn't crowded. There is still enough breathing space between everyone. Unlike the weekends where you have to squeeze shoulder to shoulder with the crowd and risk stepping on a lady's toes. Having this amount of space is great, you get to observe people and it's always a good time for reflection. However it also means that the ladies are at work and the students are in school. It will be a while before the younger generation will hit the streets.
A smile came to his lips as he stopped by a noodle house. His last visit to the shop had been splendid. It was exactly a year ago wasn't it? As he looked up to the sky, the ominous storm clouds convinced him take cover in the hut.
There hasn't been much change in the past year. The furniture hasn't been moved. No changes must have meant that feng shui has brought them good business in the past year. There were a few decorations to commemorate the year of the rat. But it wasn't exaggerated. After all it was a Japanese shop. Bowing low and greeting me warmly as I entered, the Japanese manager is still as affable as before. But his beer belly against his uniform is more pronounced now. It has been a good year for him. As he sat by my favourite seat at the corner facing the glass window, the menu was handed to him by an unfamiliar face. He took a brief glance at the menu and ordered tonkotsu ramen along with warm sake. The dishes remained the same, but there are now served by a few new faces.
As he pour myself a glass of sake and watch the rain drops fall from the sky, a blur of white appeared in front of him. That white figure continued its way into the shop and only after regaining his composure did he realised that he was looking at a girl. She was dressed in a white turtle-neck and pink skirt with matching heels clutching a white-golden handbag. Her back view reminded him of someone whom he can't recall. As she was drying herself, she apologize profusely to the manager and it was only then did it struck him who she was.
'Nora!'
Surprised that her name was called out, she looked around the empty tables. An old couple was looking at a young guy, and the smartly dressed guy was looking expectantly at her. Embarrassed that she couldn't recognise him, she was about to offer her apologies when she caught sight of the feature that was unmistakably his as the young man stepped up to her.
'Tyler? Oh Ty..it really is you! I wouldn't have recognised you had it not been for your fore..er..why are you dressed so formally today? You look like a businessman..'
'It's a long story..yes..my prominent forehead must have given me away.' And he grinned as he brushed his fringe away to let her take a look. 'It's really high now isn't it..Oh well at least it served its purpose in getting me recognise. Oh you are so wet. Here. Take this before you catch a cold.' as he took his coat off and put it around her.
Turning a little pink as she realised how blatant she was with her earlier remark, she let out a soft 'Thanks...'. Snuggling up to the coat, it was Bvlgari and she had chosen the scent specially for him. The rain that has now turned into a downpour. Turning back to Ty 'Hey..are you leaving soon? If not, can I have a tonkotsu ramen?'
^_^
'I thought you understood the reason behind that! It wasn't intentional! Unlike you who made me wait for 30mins even when you were coming from your house..'
'Well you still have 15mins to make up to me. And I'm not going to let you get away with it. Well at least you did try to make up to me. With those flowers...roses that ain't real. Ty, are you still as unromantic?'
It was the first date. About a year ago. Three hundred and fifty-five days ago to be exact. He was tied up at work and even after rushing to the venue by cab, he was late by forty five minutes. However, he had given her sufficient notice for her to leave her place later. And time itself wasn't an issue. He had simply postponed the meeting time one hour later. He was early by fifteen minutes. He had waited for her till she arrived. The problem had been the present. He was only able to conjure three stalks of roses. Plastic roses. Nora on the other hand had baked cookies for him. Cookies with chocolate chips and vanilla essence. Tyler knew that a real living red rose would have done the trick, and she minded the three stalks. Up till now. And thanking her for the cookies with mixed fruits. He was teased for a week.
^_^
'Uh-huh..' It was Way Back Into Love. The soundtrack from Music and Lyrics. The second movie we watched together.
'Seems like we only watched action and chick flicks, no?'
Isn't it obvious? 'You were afraid. The first movie. Protégé. You jumped out of your seat at the
scene of a dead corpse. Had we catch a horror movie, you will have been out of the cinema even before the opening credits are out!'
'Excuse me! It seems like you've hurt your mind pretty badly this past year! For your information, it wasn't me! It was you..yes yes..I remember now..What an excuse! You grabbed hold of me when the mouse was on the corpse. Don't you deny it!'
Oh Nora. You jumped and I thought something bad happened to you. I was worried. You will
never understand. 'Nora, can't you see? When the corpse appeared....'
^_^
'Nora, it was the soup incident wasn't it?'
Nora's mum was a great cook. Her signatures were soups. However, all the cooking had taken a toll on her health and she no longer cooks. Only on special occasions. Reunion dinner. Birthdays. Anniversaries.
Nora had invited me over for dinner that night. Upon hearing it, her mum had volunteered to do the cooking that night. But around that round table that night, between Nora and her mum, was a blank seat. And a bowl of soup that remained untouched.
'Ty, it was more of your job. You were putting too much into it. Neglecting everyone around you. Yes the meal was the final straw. But even if you had come that night, I would never have felt secured had you stayed on with that job.' She takes a slip of water. 'But you're doing great now, ain't you? You would never have made it this far with the previous company, would you? '
You see Nora, that 1 year and 10 months wasn't for me to choose. Unlike you.
^_^
'Well..I guess this is goodbye?' It's Saturday tomorrow. Let's head somewhere else, shall we?
It is past twelve now. We had been talking for hours. The rain has long ceased.
'I...I suppose so? I've had a great night.'
'Me too. You've been great company. Had it not been for the rain, I'd never have expected myself to meet you here you know?' Thank god for the rain. I've never believe in coincidence.
'It has been a while now hasn't it?' Tyler paused and took in the night scene. He was here to enjoy the night breeze. What had happened has been a surprise. A pleasant one. 'Well, all the best in your studies then!'
'And all the best in your new career. Take care then..' Walk me home will you?
He turned to go.
'Ty!'
'Your coat!' She passed his coat back to him. 'Thanks..again..' And she pecked him on the cheek and whispered something.
He gave her a nod and headed to the bridge. He hated goodbyes.
'Nora..' In life we make choices. You made yours and it's time for me to move on.
'It's late. Good night Nora..'
Tyler left without turning back.
^_^
'Good night Ty..You're still a bing. I mean it. And happy valentine!'
It is Saturday, the 14th.
Happy Valentine's Day.
No comments:
Post a Comment