Category : Books-Fiction

Sub Category : Romance

                                          Chapter 10
          Bea stood mesmerized as Chris disappeared into the crowd. She looked at her phone, stunned by Chris’s actions. When she looked up, Chris was already out of sight. She didn’t snap back into reality until she heard the honk of cars from a distance. 
         Bea turned to walk. She made a few turns before finally arriving at the residence she has been living at ever since she was 14. The tall building loomed in front of her. It was an extremely run-down apartment that she had managed to rent a room for a very low price.
           The building was clearly not well maintained. The grey paint has long worn off and is now in an off coloured, distasteful brownish state. Weed was growing wild around the building and stray dogs and cats loiter around the compartment. 
           The only elevator in the building is still functioning but it doesn’t look to be in good shape. It would occasionally freak out and start shaking violently or sometimes it would even stop midway and the doors wouldn’t open. Just recently, the lights in it have been flickering non-stop. 
         Bea’s room is situated on the 7th floor and she would rather walk the stairs than risk her life.
           After climbing up the long flight of stairs that reeked off thick pungent cigarette stench combined with leftover food takeouts littered all over the place, Bea pushed open the heavy escape door and exited.
        She routinely walked up to her room. She retrieved a set of keys from her bag and unlocked the rusty door. It creaked as she pulled the door open.           She switched on the lights and the entire room came to life. It was a very simple white wall apartment with one bedroom. Apart from the essentials, there wasn’t any fancy décor. Everything was plain and boring.
        Bea locked the door and placed the keys in her bag as she walked over to her study table which was close to a window that looks out to the main entrance of the building itself. She placed her bag on the ground as she took a seat. 
         She picked up a picture frame that was on the table.           “I’m home." The girl mouthed while she brushed the surface of the picture in the frame with her finger tips. Her lips curled upwards as she stared at the two individuals in the picture. A man and a woman, both smiling and gazing lovingly at the baby they cradled in their arms.
           Bea was reminded of the day’s events when she let the frame sit back on the table. It was certainly out of the ordinary. She let out a dissatisfied frown at the thought that she had returned from the supermarket empty handed. 
         Recently, John, the school’s principal has been continuously asking, trying to persuade her to participate in an event as a school representative.           
          Today, was no exception, she was on her way back to the library from the toilets when she let her guard down slightly and was caught by John. Her face fell when she saw him. She respected him as the principal but she was starting to get borderline annoyed at his persistence. 
         Just when she was about to refuse him for the 100th time, a boy she has never seen before in her entire life interrupted them.
           John apprehended him. Looking all but delighted to see the boy, Bea on the other hand was secretly grateful that the boy had interfered. His sudden appearance had provided her with the perfect opportunity to get away from John. Even though she was plenty confused by the entire situation that enfolded between the boy and John, she was quick to make her break and ran straight to the library, the one and only place she knew John rarely goes to, hence serving as a brilliant hiding spot. 
          Soon after leaving the school early, not long after entering the supermarket looking for study materials and food ingredients, she bumped into the same boy from this morning. He introduced himself. Which puzzled her to the core.
          Does he not know? She wondered.          He then proceeded to tell her that someone had just tried to frame her for shoplifting and Bea couldn't think of anything else apart from the situation at hand. 
         What she did next was probably the most terrifying yet exciting thing she has ever done in her entire life.           She tried to get away from her framer. She remembered how fast her heart was beating. She remembered being extremely scared but with the boy behind her, she was at least able to stay composed and keep walking. 
         Going out of his way to help a mere stranger. A surge of warmness filled her as Bea wondered out loud, “Isn’t he a weird one?"
         Just then, as if on cue, her phone lit up as a notification from Facebook popped onto her home screen. She hadn’t received one in a long time, blinking in disbelief as she opened it. Chris’s name popped up in the recommendation, asking her to add him as a friend.
          [Your new added contact has a Facebook account; would you like to add Chris as a friend?] 
         Shocked, Bea scrolled through her sent messages. Just as she thought, there weren’t any messages sent out today. 
        When she went through her contacts, a name was saved, and it was none other than Chris’s! 
          “With this, we’re even!” Chris’s last words ringing in her head.          Bea now understood what Chris's words meant when he returned her her phone. 
          A little furious that she was tricked, her thumb brushed the ‘delete’ button but somehow, she couldn’t do it or rather she didn’t want to. And when she realised that she consciously didn’t want to delete it, she felt blood rush to her face.
          What’s wrong with me? She mentally reprimanded, convincing herself that the blushing was because of anger and nothing more. She isn’t someone that Chris should associate himself with. There’s no meaning in the saved contact. 
          Finally, very unwillingly, she pressed the ‘delete’ button, forcefully.
          I did it!           Bea smiled, satisfied with her action. But somehow, she felt a weird and uncomfortable tugging in her chest, that she recognised to be disappointment arising in her.          
          Frustrated, she dropped her phone on the table and fell backwards into her bed.          There’s no reason for them to contact each other so……why does she feel this way? 
          Seconds later, she jumped up from the bed and picked up her phone. She scrolled through her contacts half wishing Chris’s contact was still there, but the page remained empty no matter how many times she refreshed it.                
                      XXXXXXXXXX 
          Chris was humming in delight as he strolled down the sidewalk. Today has been nothing but downs from the very beginning but he did manage to get Bea’s number. So, he figured, it wasn’t that bad after all. 
         He had faked the whole ‘lend me your phone to send a text’ just to save his number in her contacts and at the same time, memorize her number. 
         He could hardly believe that Bea fell for that! She was surprisingly simply minded for the school’s top student. 
         Just thinking about his victory made him smile unconsciously. Chris didn’t know he was grinning like an idiot until his left cheek started to sting. 
         Suddenly, a voice called out from behind.
         “Chris! Wait up!” 
         Chris stopped in his tracks and turned to see Sarah waving to him from the distance. Chris had long forgotten about the time but he figured classes must have ended, since Sarah was outdoors.
          Chris waved at her, acknowledging her presence and she started to run over to him, leaving her friend she was initially walking with behind. 
          Sarah’s initial reaction to Chris’s mildly bruised cheek was rather a spectacle. She had her hands over her mouth and gasped loudly.
           “What happened to your face?!”   
           "Does it look that bad?” Seeing her reaction, Chris started to panic a little. It was starting to hurt less, he thought it was healing. 
           He quickly brushed that thought away. He was clearly over-thinking. Eric’s punch was nowhere close to decent. The most it’ll go away in a week.
          “It’s not that visible but with a closer look, it’s there alright. Did you not look yourself in the mirror?” 
           “I haven’t checked up on it. I don’t have a mirror on me and my phone died long ago.” Chris defended himself.        
           Concerned, she asked, “Did you get into a fight?” When she last saw him a few hours ago, he was perfectly fine. 
           “……Sort of.” He agreed hesitantly. He was not in the mood to tell Sarah about his encounter with Bea. He knows that Sarah would not stop with just knowing, she’ll ask tons of question. And Chris was already very tired. 
          Chris was about to tell her about Eric when he remembered that Eric and Sarah are good friends and things would only get complicated if she knew about the fight. He bit his tongue and decided to lie.          “I met with an ex today and she got super angry when I brought up the past, so she punched me.” Chris jokingly said. He prayed that Sarah would buy his lie.
          Sarah looked at him wide-eyed in surprise, which he had expected at least that much of a reaction, but he didn’t expect her to suddenly become awkward. She broke eye contact and started fidgeting nervously on her feet. 
          What surprised Chris the most was the glint of sadness in her eyes? He brushed it off immediately, telling himself he must be seeing things. 
          “……An ex?” 
          Sarah mumbled something. Chris couldn’t make out if she was talking to herself or him.          He looked at her, intrigued with her reaction.          Sarah was twiddling her thumbs and acting all nervous, she couldn’t keep still. 
          Chris stared at her in amusement, he has never seen her act this way before.           Unintentionally, Chris spoke his mind, “You’re really cute.”
          This managed to make Sarah stop fidgeting. She completely froze up and brushed bright pink.
         “W-What did you say?!” Sarah shouted at him as she pinched his upper right arm. 
         “Owh!” Chris cried out from the pain while dying from laughter. Was she angry or simply just embarrassed?           
           They had a good laugh and he was delighted to see that Sarah was back to her usual cheerful self.
           Sarah pointed at his bruised cheek and pouted, “Stop joking around! Be glad I didn’t aim for your cheek.”
           On reflex, he retracted his face away.           “Sure, sure.” Chris assured her half-heartedly. 
          She then slammed him hard on his back, causing him to arch forward.           
          Leaving her hand on his back to hold him down in a half bow position, she told him, “I’ll be off now! I’ve my part time job to go to!” 
         Chris turned his head to look up at her in pain and waved. She then lifted her hand from his back and headed off. 
          Chris rubbed his back as he straightened it. He watched her jogged off into the distance, suddenly, he was reminded of how much fun Sarah is, as a person. She just has so much energy and is always happy, as though nothing can go wrong in this world.
           She is fun……probably a bit too much fun.                                                       
                     XXXXXXXXXX 
           Chris walked down the usual road, passing the bakery that is famous for its drinks more than its buns, the row of stores that sold various things, the old florist and his dog. The fisherman’s 4 kids running around, chasing each other, calling each other names and the beautiful woman sitting alone on a bench, staring straight into the distance. 
          She was such a spectacle, with her long white linen dress and black straight hair that danced with the wind. Everyone would stop and stare.
          Chris slowed down his pace from a distance. He straightened his back, patted his hair in case there was any strands sticking out, even though he knew they wouldn't be any since his hair was straight, he adjusted his tie before walking up to the woman. With both hands in his pockets, he kept his head up and casually walked passed her, ignoring her, purposely looking in the opposite direction, not even casting a glance in her direction. 
          “Chris……?” He didn’t make it pass the bench before the woman in her early 30ies spotted him and looked up in Chris’s direction.
          Chris sprang around and strolled up to her, delighted. 
          “Haha! You caught me! Miss Adele.” 
          “I could tell it was you from a mile away.” 
          The lady lifted her right hand at Chris, which he picked up. She felt his hand gently. After making sure the hand belonged to Chris, she released it.        
          Adele’s sight is impaired but not to the point of complete blindness. Lately, she has been keener to use her touch to recognize people. 
          She also rarely comes out of her house so on the rare occasion she does, Chris loves to test her eyesight by ignoring her and acting like a stranger to see if she can tell if it was him or not. 
          “How was your day?” Adele asked. 
          “As per usual I have made it out in one piece.” Chris grinned widely.
          She laughed quietly. “Of cause Chris. How are you coping?”
          “So far so good.” Chris answered truthfully. 
          “Any luck with your job hunting?” She asked.
          “Haven’t any, but I’ll find one soon!” Chris cheerfully assured. 
          Chris hadn’t been able to find a job ever since he moved here months ago. He was running short of funds, he needed to find a job as soon as possible. Rent for the dorms are subsidized but they’re not free. Not to mention, food bills. 
          “If you need any help, don’t hesitate to ask me.” Adele offered. 
          “I’m sincerely grateful, you have been nothing but the outmost helpful.” She has already helped out plenty, he couldn’t possibly ask for more.
           She had a gentle smile, she knew beforehand that Chris was going to reject her.           “My doors are forever open for you. Do rely when the time is needed.” She kindly said.
           Chris waved goodbye out of habit. She strained her eyes to see and waved back. 
          After passing a row of shophouses and an enormous field. He was greeted by the familiar tall and very large white building. The automatic doors never failed to give Chris the feeling as though he was about to enter a different world everytime it opened, sensing him. 
          Just like every day, it was quiet, but the building had its’ fair share of visitors and the whispered chatter down every hallway. Everywhere, man and woman in white cloak roamed around. Chris could smell the familiar medicine smell that pierced his nostrils. 
           “You’re here early.” A familiar voice came from Chris’s right.
          He turned to see a man close to his thirties walking up to him. He had an air of authority and maturity wrapped around him. A sanitary mask pulled down under his chin. He was undoing his coat button as he walked towards Chris. 
           The mild dark circles around his eyes only seemed to add to his charm.           Chris noticed that the man’s hands were damped, and he was mildly drenched in sweat. Chris’s guess was that he just came out of the surgery room. 
          “I came to get this checked out.” Chris tilted his head to the right to show his bruised left cheek.            The man examined Chris’s cheek attentively. 
          “Sit there, I’ll get you something.” The man motioned his head towards the chairs designated for visitors before leaving Chris.
          Chris remained standing instead of sitting down as he was instructed to. He watched as the man ran to the medicine collection area. He spoke with the person in charge, wrote something in a book and came back with a bag of medicine. 
           “I thought I asked you to sit there?” The man raised an eyebrow. He always had that look when Chris disobeyed him and does something otherwise. 
           “I can stand.” Chris answered briefly. 
          The man smiled admirably and didn’t question further.          “Apply ointment to that bruise daily. These are regular medicine you can get at any drugstore. If you run out of them, you can get them there.” The man said as he handed the bag over to Chris.
          Chris opened to see some bottles and packs of medicine patches.           “Thank You.” Chris sincerely thanked him, grateful that the man decided not to ask where his bruise came from. 
           “Don’t mention it. You should take more care of yourself.” The man patted Chris’s shoulder.
          “You don’t look any better.” Chris joked. But he wasn’t kidding, the man did look soaked out of his energy.
          The man laughed. “I had a hectic day but taking down thugs and illegal drug distributors is honestly nothing!”           
         Chris looked at him confused. He had no clue what the man meant.          
          “What do you- ” Chris was about to ask when a woman, close to the man’s age poked her head out of the room that the man had earlier exited. Her eyes darted from left to right before finally landing on Chris and the man.
           “Oliver! We need you here!” She shouted and gestured for the man in a strict manner.           The man acknowledged her with a nod, and she went back into the room first.
           “Sorry Chris, work beckons, I’ll see you another time.” Oliver tipped his invisible hat and hurriedly followed the woman back into the emergency room.           
            Chris nodded in acknowledgement. He threw the bag of medicine over his shoulder and smiled. 
          Doctor Oliver is truly the best! 

All Rights Reserved © 2018 by Anne Teng
End of Chapter~Here's a random question for anyone that managed to read this far, what is your favourite ice cream flavour?This chapter turned out long, if you managed to read this far! You are amazing! Do comment and let me know!
. 
. 
. 
. 
. 
. 
.