"What have you done??!!"
I jumped guiltily and turned around slowly. Gulping, I looked up and into the eyes of fire. Beads of perspiration were already appearing on my forehead. Big, shiny ones. Some of them agreed to form a conglomeration by meeting and joining up together. I felt a stream of sweat down the back of my neck.
"What? What did I do?" All the while looking away into the distance. Refusing to look at her after that first look. Holding my book in front of me, I kept a safe distance from her, in case she suddenly had violent tendencies.
No answer. I couldn't help it, snuck a peek at her and "WHAM" my book slammed on to the floor. "Oooowwww!!! What kind of book is this? Why is it so hard and heavy?" She blew on her hand, all the time staring at me accusingly.
"Erm.. well, I don't settle for light reading.." I gave a slight sheepish smile, hoping this will crack her up so much that she would forget what she came here for. Or at least smile back. Or laugh with me. Or anything. But no, I don't even get "anything".
Still huffing and puffing on her hand, she kicked the book aside and brought up a chair to sit beside me. Close. Too close.
"Look, Jo, I didn't mean to scare you. You know I care about you right?" Silence. "RIGHT?" I nodded my head quickly. "Since you know, then… hey sit closer I want to tell you something."
Isn't it close enough already? But I shifted my chair a little. Actually the chair didn't move at all. I just shifted my butt a little, hoping it will seem I'm closer to her.
"No, closer Jo."
Hmm. Sounds serious. I scooted my chair closer for real this time and leaned towards her. "Yeah?"
"Since you know I care about you so much… WHY THE HECK DID YOU OFFEND HIM??"
Ouch. My ears hurt. I reached up and covered them. Pushing my chair to the other end of the table, I looked at her straight in the eye and said, "I didn't know what I say would offend him. In fact I prepared the questions beforehand, you know that. Anyway you have seen those questions yourself. You didn't say anything then."
Fire danced in her eyes. Smoke puffed out from her nose. "You must have asked him other questions not in the list right? Admit it."
"Well.. I just went with the flow. Asked him stuff that he mentioned himself. I just wanted him to expand on them a little more." I spoke softer and softer. Down to a whisper.
"Hmm. Expand eh? Well, you'll be glad to know he expanded on them well all right. Too well. You were even asked questions in the end and you didn't know how to answer. In fact, he put through those questions to you so well that you won't really be needed anymore. He will take your place in the future."
!!!
Time stopped. Everyone stopped moving. Like a standstill in a movie. Everything became a blur to me.
"Why don't you WAKE UP your idea, Jo? Why don't you WAKE UP? Why don't..WAKE UP? WAKE UP! WAKE UP LAH!!"
"Whaa…?" I rubbed my eyes and looked up into the eyes of fire.
"You don't need to work is it? It's already 8am. Wake up lah!" My mom turned and sashayed out the room.
Sigh. Another day. Another long day.
