Chapter
4
It has been a week since I last saw Rain. Although it was a mere
short encounter with her, she left this silly impression that I
never forget. I never told Paul about what took place during his
stay inside Milk Bar, but anyway, I don't see a need to tell him,
yet.
I was burning midnight oil, rushing to complete my project journal
which I am supposed to hand in by tomorrow. Jotting down my last
couple of sentences, I was rejoicing when I finally completed the
assignment. It was tedious.
I needed a break; I walked into my kitchen and got myself a glass
of water.
'Beep' - My mobile phone rang.
'Hi, Steve...Watcha' doing? I cannot sleep... chat with me? -
Rain.'
Ok, I admit I was shocked to receive a message from Rain, but who's
Steve? Who the hell is Steve? And how on Earth did she get my
number? I felt that I was being stalked to a certain degree.
'Hehe...I have my own ways...so sian right? When you want to but
can't sleep at night?'
I would have slept three hours ago, if not for my dumb project.
Sometimes, I think it's ridiculous; the ones that badly needed
rest, don't have time for them, while the ones with abundance full
of free time, doesn't want to sleep. My constant lateness has been
marked by my tutors in school. I guess it will affect my
participation marks - a vicious cycle.
'I can't sleep not because I don't want - my mind forbids me to...
=( '
Ok. I was forgetful about the fact that Rain was still on the road
to recovery from whatsoever problems she has. Anyway, most girls
have this tendency to key in expression-like symbols as part of the
message to convey their feelings. Does it help? I don't know. I
always believed that problems never vanished into thin air; it's
always what we do to the problems that eased the tension within us.
Maybe we are like machines, too much heat generated from functions
will ruin the entire system.
'Then how do we handle the malfunction?'
Buy new one? If I had the cash, the first thing I would do is to
change my computer, get a cable modem and a good-enough printer. My
computer model was outdated many times over and I think even the
garang guni fellow would roll his eyes in disbelieved.
'If only I could. I don't even have the 'cash'...'
My friend found me a part time job for me in Takashimaya, working
at Yakitori - the Japanese snack bar in Food Court. I don't have
the cash as well; I can only depend on myself. We are all born
penniless; it's our family, our environment and opportunity that
made us rich.
We continued chatting on SMS as if it was all planned. Then, I
looked at my Casio clock in my room - it was going to be four in
the morning. I don't know why I would engage so long a conversation
with her, but my fatigue seemed to have disappeared though. I had
to bid her farewell in my next message, if not I will be late for
tomorrow's tutorial.
'Good night Steve... I mean Cloud¡ =)'
The Steve business again? I had to sleep ¨C leave the thinking for
tomorrow.
(To be continued...)
