Tuesday, February 26, 2008 @ 3:08 PM
Chapter 10
“Where are we going?” Joyce asked curiously. Wilson had tied a handkerchief across her eyes and blocked her sense of sight.
“You’ll know soon enough.” Wilson replied mysteriously. “We’re here.” Wilson announced suddenly.
Joyce pulled off the handkerchief and gasped at the sight before her. Wilson had built a small “hut” in the middle of the beach. The hut was decorated with heart shaped balloons and curtains which contrasted against the evening sky beautifully. Joyce smiled as she walked onto the platform. There were candles lighted and rose petals covering the floor. “Oh my goodness! Is this for real?” Joyce exclaimed and pulled down a balloon. “It’s like I’m in a fairytale or something!” Joyce released the balloon and it flew back to the top of the hut. Wilson grinned and led her to a table. “Candle lit dinner?!” Joyce exclaimed and turned to look at Wilson. Wilson just smiled and pulled out a chair for Joyce. Joyce sat down and continued looking at Wilson curiously. ‘Just what does he have up his sleeve?’
After a sumptuous meal, Wilson led Joyce to the side of the hut. He pulled on a string and all the balloons in the hut flew up into the sky, forming little pink and red dots in the sky. Wilson produced another balloon suddenly, and handed it to Joyce. Tied to the balloon was a note.
‘If you are willing to become my lifetime partner, please release this balloon into the sky, and let it fly to eternal love’s paradise.’
Joyce finished reading the note and turned to look at Wilson. “Is this some kind of joke?” Joyce asked. Wilson’s eyes illuminated hurt for a second. ‘Looks like it has just been one sided…’ Wilson was trying to comfort himself when Joyce suddenly released the balloon into the sky. “Joyce?” Wilson looked at Joyce intently. Joyce nodded shyly. Wilson carried Joyce up suddenly and twirled her around and around. “You agreed! You agreed!” Wilson shouted loudly. Joyce giggled and laughed. Wilson placed Joyce back onto the ground as sudden as he had carried her and took out a jewelry box from his pocket. He kneel down on a knee and opened the box. A beautiful diamond ring greeted Joyce. “Oh my goodness…” Joyce gasped. Wilson took out the ring from its box and put it on Joyce’s finger. Joyce held it up against the light and looked at it. “What flower is this, carved onto this ring?” Wilson smiled. “If you look at it carefully, you will discover that it is a Chinese word, and not a flower.” True enough, Joyce stared at the ring for a long time and figured out what word was carved onto the ring. “It’s the word *爱 (pronounced as ‘ai’)!”
“Yes. This ring was passed down by my grandmother. The ring that is given to the one whom you think is going to be your life long partner, your true love.” Wilson smiled at Joyce and explained. “It has a beautiful meaning.” Joyce replied as she continued admiring the ring on her finger. “Because it is difficult to carve on diamonds, this ring is extra meaningful.” Wilson added. “Joyce Lim, my true love, for eternity.” Wilson said and hugged her.
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“I’ll see you tomorrow.” Wilson said as he planted a kiss on Joyce’s forehead. It is now midnight and Wilson has just accompanied Joyce home. “Be careful on your way back. It’s late.” Joyce nodded and replied. “Night.” Wilson placed a hand on Joyce’s head and ruffled her hair. Joyce squealed and hurriedly took a few steps back. “Aww… My hair’s all messed up now.” “But you look cute.” Wilson winked at her. A smile crept up to Joyce’s face. “All right, I’ll get going now. Night!” Joyce walked up the steps to her apartment and rang out. Wilson waved and stood there till Joyce was gone. A shadow moved behind the bushes and disappeared into the night.
Jun Wei threw a few notes onto to the cashier and grabbed his bottle of beer. He had waited in the cold for Joyce all night. And what greeted him was Joyce and that guy named Wilson acting intimately. He gulped down the brown liquid in the bottle, hoping to drown his misery with it. He didn’t notice Isabel following behind him quietly all the time. ‘Seeing him like this, it pains me even more…’ A tear rolled down Isabel’s cheeks. She quickly wiped it off with the back of her hand and continued following Jun Wei.
Jun Wei returned home only at around eight in the morning, stinking of beer and cigarettes. Isabel walked out of the bedroom and nearly vomited when she went near Jun Wei. “You went smoking?” Isabel had returned home that night thinking that Jun Wei would be fine after a walk. She didn’t imagine him to go smoking. “It’s nothing.” Jun Wei sniffed and replied nonchalantly. Isabel went forward and shook him by the shoulders. “Wake up! If you want Joyce to be yours, you’ll have to work hard! By drinking and smoking, will Joyce know your feelings for her?” Isabel shouted loudly, hoping for Jun Wei to digest her words. “What’s the use…” Jun Wei pushed her aside and walked towards the bathroom. Not only Isabel, even he himself can’t stand the smell of cigarette which is on him. ‘How did I land myself up in this state? How?’
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“Morning, love.” Wilson’s voice streamed out of the receiver. “Morning to you too.” Joyce replied him as she hummed. “Let’s go to school together. I’ll pick you up at your apartment in around half and hour?” “Okay. I’ll see you then!” Joyce said and hurriedly hung up. She ran to her bedroom and threw open the doors of her wardrobe. “I better pick a dress quickly.” She laid out dresses on her bed. “Hmm… Which should I wear?” She picked a light green dress and held it in front of her mirror. “I don’t think Wilson saw me in this before.” She smiled as she changed into her dress. “Now for my make up…”
“You took so long!” Wilson wailed as soon as he saw Joyce. “I’ve been waiting for you since an hour ago!”
“Sorry…” Joyce looked guilty.
“Aww, come on. I was joking with you. I just missed you too much.” Wilson said and planted a kiss on her cheek.
“C’mon, cheer up.”
Joyce finally let out a brilliant smile. Wilson stood captivated by Joyce’s beauty. ‘Why didn’t I notice how beautiful she looked? I’d always just thought that she looked cute and refreshing…’ Wilson looked at Joyce, completely attracted to her. “Wilson? Wilson?” Joyce called out. “Hmm?” Wilson finally woke up from his thoughts. “What were you thinking about?” Joyce asked curiously. Wilson shook his head and smiled. “It’s a secret.”
* 爱 - it is the Chinese character for ‘love’
xiaoxi's note:
it's confession time! now that Joyce and Wilson became couple, would they meet any obstacles? WHat will happen to Jun Wei and Isabel? do look forward to my next chapter~!!=]
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