Chapter 13: Picture

Kris' phone rang.

It was a message, from Katy, which read ,

'' Come out now ! ''

Feeling puzzled, Kris set down his phone and walked to the living room, upon glancing towards the door, he immediately turned back and started walking towards his room.

'' Kris ! Come back ! '' Eve's voice cut through the air and hit Kris right smack on the back of his head.

''Ouch.''
Kris muttered and reluctantly made a U-turn.

'' Hello Katy. ''
Kris uttered and could sense what was going to happen next as both Eve and Katy were staring at him, Eve angrily, Katy was doing so with a big grin on her face.

'' Told ya I knew Kris ! evilyn ! ''

'' Oi ! Don't call me Evilyn la ! Eve ! ''

'' Ok girls, don't fight'' Kris advised as he stepped between them both.

All of a sudden, a shrill voice rang out ,

'' Eve , I need your help, come here ! ''

'' Eve, you better go, don't let Ma wait . '' Kris responded with a hearty smile, while Kris could feel that Katy was trying very hard to contain her laughter.

She failed terribly.
Eve glared at Katy one last time before going to the kitchen.

'' Hey, can go on a date with me? ''

'' Sure, let's go on a -WHAT? '' Kris almost shouted.

Katy giggled foolishly and went on,

'' Yes silly boy, a date, you never go before meh ? Go la, please ''

The look on Katy's face made it impossible for Kris to say No, and he felt that he was burning up with his face getting redder by the second.

'' Wa ! You really first time date ah ! '' Katy asked and broke out into a barrage of laughter.

'' Shutup, Let's go''

10 minutes later, Kris and Katy stood in front of the supermarket.

On the way there, with Katy acting very mysterious and refusing to tell Kris their destination, Katy was grinning from ear to ear and breaking out into laughter periodically while Kris' emotions was taking a roller coaster ride.

When Kris and Katy reached the supermarket, all was clear, he was just to be the Man, which meant '' Carry all the things for the girl.''

Kris let out a gasp of relieved air and asked,

'' So I just help you carry your groceries la, don't need say date to make me come out help you de ! '' Kris reprimanded.

All Katy did was just stick out her tongue and handed the basket to Kris with a big grin on her face.

After half an hour, when Kris was about to queue up to pay for the items with Katy standing beside him,Kris' phone rang.

'' Hey, I got a message, help me take my phone out. No hands.'' Kris told Katy.

'' Orh'' Katy replied in a dull tone, but her eyes went bright when she saw Kris' phone.

'' Wa... ! This one costs $1000 right, 12.1 Megapixel, let's test the camera ! '' Katy announced delightedly.

'' Wait, my message ! ''


''Nevermind la, message only. 3,2,1, Cheese ! ''

'' Ka-cha ! ''

Kris barely had time to react before Katy took a picture of them together , and Katy immediately snatched the phone again to look at the picture.

'' Wa... so clear sia..'' Katy's eyes went even brighter .

Kris looked at Katy and suddenly realised that Katy was even more cute then back in the school.

It was now then he noticed how shiny her long silky hair is....

how pretty her eyes is....

and her childishness and petite form which was so attractive all of a sudden...

Kris felt a sharp pain issuing from his right arm,

'' Don't daydream here la! Blocking people ! '' Was all Katy said when Kris turned around to face Katy.

'' Okok, sorry ' Kris then apologised to the customers beside who he had held up and immediately went forward to the counter .

The trip back home was filled with Katy laughing at Kris for daydreaming at the queue to which Kris tried to ignore but instead received more teasing from Katy.

After bidding goodbye to Katy, Kris went back home and into his room to avoid Eve's endless questions.

He looked at his phone to check the time but instead all he saw was the picture Katy took being his wallpaper, at that moment, Kris felt as though something warm was spreading from the phone spreading to his fingers and to his entire body.

'' Hmm.... maybe this will be the only photo I will take with this phone..'' Kris thought to himself and smiled at the idea of it...

Chapter 12: Reply

'' Ringgggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggg ! ''

The alarm bell rang.

Kris eyes flew open and his heart was still beating very fast even although he realised that what happened was just a dream.

Blinking a few times, Kris sat up and looked at the clock. The clock wrote '' 3: 50 A.M ''

'' Is Katy awake..? '' Kris wondered, and started towards his phone.

Kris held the phone in his sweaty palms.

His mind went blank. He had no idea what to say to her.

Kris searched through his mind once again to look for directions in the Youtube Instructional videos he always watched.

Nothing.

Feeling helpless, Kris threw the phone onto the bed and forced himself to sleep.

Kris stared at the clock again.

'' 6:00 A.M ''

Kris had not slept at all.

He immediately got up and prepared for school to avoid Eve and Katy.

10 minutes later, Kris was already on his way there.

All of a sudden, it started pouring and Kris opened his umbrella, as he headed towards the overhead bridge, he saw a cardboard box title' Please Take Him. Thanks You ! ''

Feeling curious, Kris peered inside.

To his surprise, it was a dog, soaked wet from the rain with the bridge offering barely any protection.

Kris stood there for a moment and decided to place his umbrella above the box, so that the dog won't get any wetter.

For the rest of the distance, Kris ran as fast as he could to prevent getting more water seeping into his clothes.

Upon reaching school, no one was in the canteen and he sat there and waited .

'' Oi Kris... wake up.. ! '' Kris heard a vague voice calling out.

Kris opened his eyes and got the shock of his life when he saw his classmates all standing around, Ms Tan was walking towards them at a rapid pace and reaching them soon.

'' Go and change ! Why you so wet ! '' Nicky chided and held out a set of PE clothes.

Kris took it and ran to the bathroom, ignoring the muttering and questions of his classmates, and he noticed that the rain hasn't stopped yet, when he ran towards the bathroom.

When he reached the table where he had fallen asleep at, he discovered that the group still hasn't dispersed and tiptoed to see what was going on, all he heard was another person getting wet.

It was Katy, and the girls all searched their bags for some clothing to lend Katy, and Kris just watched on as the group of girls followed Katy into the washroom to help her dress up.

Kris had a feeling akin to sinking to the bottom of the ocean when he realised that he was being ignore by Katy.

The day ended uneventfully as he was ignored the whole day, in which Katy ignored all his attempts to start a conversation.

Kris thought of the dog and hurried off to look for it after saying bye to Nicky.

As he approached the dog, he saw two umbrella instead of one, and it warmed his heart to realise that someone else had also placed their umbrella there to help the dog .

He quicked his pace and picked up his umbrella and kept it while taking out his handphone

'' Hello, SPCA ? There is an abandon dog at street 51 , jurong west, under the the overhead bridge near Jurong Point. ''

'' Ok, we will collect it as soon as possible. Thank you. '' the cool misty voice at the other end of the line responded.

Picking up the other umbrella, he examined it and discovered that it was branded ' Katy' with the address which was similar to his.

It hit Kris why Katy was wet when she came to the school today.

He saw a glimmer of hope of being able to talk to her and rushed back to Katy's house with the umbrella.

'' Dingdong'' Katy's house alarm rang.

The gate opened and Katy was standing there.

''Katy, your umb-'' Kris stopped as Katy wanted to close the door.

He reached out and stopped the gate from closing.

'' Was the dog the reason why you were so late today ? '' Kris questioned.

'' Oh, so that umbrella was yours. '' Katy responded coldly.

'' Here'' Kris handed over the umbrella to Katy.

'' Katy please don't close the door what you saw yesterday is not what you imagined it to be and that girl is just at my house because she is staying at my house due to the H1N1 thing in which she had to be away from her mother and so I hope that we can be back to what we were yesterday and that you can forgive me ! '' Streamed out of Kris mouth in rapid-fire succession, as he was afraid that Katy would close the gate at any moment.

Kris's face turned red.

So did Katy's.

'' Ok. I believe you.'' Katy replied and closed the door.

Taking out his phone, Kris finally knew what to type in .

'' : ) ''

and he clicked ' Sent''.

Kris waited outside Katy's house .

A second later, Kris's phone vibrated and he opened the message with trembling hands.

'' : ) ...''

With that, Kris felt as though a huge burden had suddenly disappeared from his shoulders.

'' Hey Katy ! Shall we go to school together tomorrow? '' Kris shouted at the door, happiness evident in his every note....

The door opened. Again

Kris immediately turned around and pushed Eve back at lightning speed.

''Kat-''

'' Ah boy ! What are you doing !''

Kris looked towards the door, it was Ma.

'' Ma, i thought you are not coming back until later? '' Kris questioned, with confusion registered on his face

'' Hi Aunty'' Eve responded cheerfully.

'' Was worried bout you two lor . Let me get to the kitchen now, and no more hanky panky hor Kris ! '' Warned Kris's mother .

'' Good, Ma, I don't feel like eating tonight. I am very tired. Don't disturb me tonight . '' Kris announced , trying very hard to keep his anger down.

He then quickly stomped off towards his room without waiting for any confirmation.

Once in his room, his knees felt like buckling as he thought of the reprecussions of the scene that Katy saw. However, in another corner of his mind, he was sure that it was not Katy, just some salesperson who vaguely looked like her. 'Why the tears then?!' , the question that repeatedly shot through his mind.

He decided, he would ask her tomorrow... !

With that, Kris calmed himself down and dropped into sleep akin to a stone dropping into a river.

'' Katy.... hi...''

'' What ! ''

'' Er....''

'' What la..! Faster say. I no time! ''

'' Yesterday.... ''

'' Yesterday what ! Stop stuttering la ! ''

'' Was it you at my door ! Did you see what happen ! ''

'' Yes. So ? ''

'' Katy. I can explain.''

'' No need to explain, I am nobody to you anyway . ''

''Katy.... ! Your tear-''

'' Shut up Kris ! I hate you ! ''

Chapter 10 : ( No title)

''How did you get in ? '' Kris questioned while striding towards the sofa.

He wanted to be as far away from Eve as possible.

''How? '' Kris pushed on, when there was no reply.

'' You mother gave me the keys.'' Eve responded and also started walking towards the sofa that Kris was sitting on.

Eve sat beside Kris.

Kris stood up and went to the rattan chair that his mother was so fond of.

'' Why did you come back all of a sudden ? Didn't you say that you hated me six months back?'' Kris questioned .

'' Kris... I said what I said on the spur on the moment.. surely you know that by now ? ''
Eve pleaded.

'No'' Kris replied firmly.

'' Kris...'' Eve whispered and reached out for Kris.

Kris pushed Eve's hands away and asked, '' So why are you here? ''

'' Oh.. I have to quarantine myself from my mother because she just came back from Malaysia . My mother then called your mother and asked if she could let me stay at your house for a week ! '' My things are all in the spare bedroom already ! ''Eve replied with faint smile on her face.

'' You- WHAT?'' Pure shock registered on Kris's face.

Kris ran to the phone and his hands fumbled with the phone. After several minutes, he managed to get through to his mother.

'' Ma ! Eve staying here for the week ? ''

'' Ya la . Cannot ah ahboy ? I very busy, anything else anot ? By the way, you later fix something for Eve to eat okay ? I cannot make it to dinner. Treat her well okay ! She is our guest ! ''

'' Can let her stay somewhere else anot ma? ''

'' Cannot ! I promise Aunty already. Don't throw my face hor ! ''

'' Okay ma... '' Kris said, resigned to his fate after hearing his mother's authoritative voice.

All the while during the conversation, Eve was standing beside Kris with a foolish smile on her face .

'' Treat me like a guest okay ? '' Eve responded with a lazy grin on her unblemished face.

Kris knew , and he was very sure that he could not bring himself to hate, or even dislike Eve in the slightest sense, when Eve's lazy grin reappeared right in front of his eyes.

He was lying to himself all this while.

Kris hated himself for treating Eve like a friend, despite how he was treated, but one thing he was sure. He did not like her anymore. Eve was just a friend to her.

'' Yes a friend, just a friend only. '' Kris reassured himself.

' Sorry. Need the washroom. Be right back. '' Kris announced.

Once in the bathroom, Kris tried his utmost best to calm himself down and desperately tried to regain his composure.

He released his hands from the basin only when his hands were going bone white from gripping it .

Kris splashed some water on his face as a final preparation to meet Eve and he opened the door .

Knees buckling, he tried to find his way to the sofa and sat down and started to pour himself a glass of water.

Kris gulped down the glass of water and said,
'' Let me show you where to put your belongings''

Kris started towards the bedroom with Eve trailing behind him .

All of a sudden, Kris felt something warm and heavy collapse onto his back, and it was repeating,

''Kris, I love you. Don't ever leave me again ! ''
Kris felt his back getting wet and it stunned him to realise that Eve was crying.

'' Hey Kris ! What homework do you have for today? '' The door opened and a cheerful voice streamed in towards the direction of the door , which Kris recognised immediately as Katy's.

The door immediately closed and a loud bang issued from the behind the closed door, what Kris was positive he saw was tears trailing behind Katy for a split second before the door closed....

Chapter 9 : Eve

Chapter 8 : Her Appearance

''Let go of me ! '' Katy cried

''No...'' Kris whispered

''Stop it... It hurts ! Let go ! '' Katy pleaded desperately

Kris can't move a muscle , he only managed to continue standing there, barely hanging on, he simply could not bring himself to do it .

'' Let go before I shout Molest ! '' Katy cried again , tears streaming down her eyes .

Kris gripp hardened and all he could do was to stand by and carry on watching, he did not have to courage to let go.

'' Let. Go . Of . Me . Dan ! '' Kris could hear Katy shouting word after word at a man who was well-built and much more taller then him from the pillar he was holding on to.

'' Katy , come back to me, I need you ! '' the man who Katy called Dan pleaded.

'' Are you crazy ! It's over ! Finished ! Understand ? And let go of me !'' Katy replied, in an irritated manner.

Kris clenched his teeth and steadying himself, began to run towards the two .

'' Let go of her ! '' Kris warned Dan, his voice trembling slightly .

'' Who the hell are you ?'' Dan shouted menacingly

'' I am-'' Kris began

'' My boyfriend la '' Katy cut in .

'' Bastard... you are gonna- '' Dan began

'' POLICE !! Help ! Harassment ! '' Katy shouted all of a sudden.

Dan looked stunned for a moment and looking around him, started running for his life.

Kris and Kate stood there until Dan was gone .

Kris felt that he needed to do something.

He didn't know what to do.
It wasn't included in those instructional videos he frequently watched on YouTube.

Kate started crying all of a sudden.

Kris was even more shocked and racked his brain to determine what to do.

''Good bye, I am going home . '' Kate announced all of a sudden, and started walking towards the lift .

Kris looked at his watch and realised that he was late too, and he too walked towards the lift.

The lift was closing and Kris rushed in and what he saw was just more shock.

'' What the.. stop following me...! '' Kate glared at Kris.

'' No ... I live here too. Look, we even live at the same floor ! '' Kris exclaimed , pointing to the panel .

When the door opened again, Kris walked ahead and headed toward his apartment.

Kate was following behind, he just realised that she stay at the apartment directly opposite of his, as the couple there had just moved away.

No birds were chirping, no maintainence was going on, only the sound of Kate and Kris shoes brushing away the cold cement floor could be heard

The entire corridor was silent, so silent that it made Kris' goosebumps raise.

Kris's apartment door was locked, he started unlocking it when suddenly a figure started suddenly appeared from nowhere when Kris opened the wooden door.

''Hi Darling !'' The figure exclaimed , and hugged Kris .

It was Eve... !

The door behind Kris closed with a loud bang ....

Kris was shocked , and pushed away Eve.

'' Why are you here . '' Kris asked , his voice bordering on cold

'' Because I love you , Kris ! '' Eve replied angelically.

''Stop insulting love. '' Kris thought to himself, staring straight at Eve