Thursday, June 19, 2008 @ 2:11 PM
Chapter 22“Ahh!” June screamed as Joyce knocked into her, bringing both of them to the ground. “What on earth are you doing?!” June exploded. “Are you guys okay?” Wilson immediately pulled the two sisters up. “Ha! I should’ve known. It must be you again.” June pulled her hand from Wilson’s grip and slung her bag over her shoulders. “Mum, I’m going out!” June glared at Wilson before making her way out the front door. Joyce turned and went into her room, throwing herself onto the bed. “Joyce…” Wilson knelt down beside the bed. “I’m tired. I think I need to rest for a bit.” Joyce closed her eyes tightly. Wilson sighed and wrapped the duvet tightly around Joyce. He stood up and was about to leave the room when his leg kicked something. “Ouch!” He whispered and bent down. “A photo frame?” He pulled it from beneath the bed. “The one in pink must be Joyce. Who’s the other girl? June?” He looked at the asleep Joyce and back at the photo. “I’ll ask auntie.”
“Auntie!” Wilson sat down on the couch beside Mrs Lim. “Who is this in the photo?” Mrs Lim placed her knitting on the table and took the photo frame from Wilson’s outstretched hand. “Ahh… I remember this girl. This girl standing beside Joyce, she used to be our neighbour. This photo was taken at the girl’s 10th birthday. They used to be very good friends.” Mrs Lim chuckled. “Used to be?” Wilson cocked his head to one side. “They quarreled, and never made up. After a few months, the family moved away. Joyce must really miss her. This photo is still as good as new even though it has been so many years.” Mrs Lim picked up her knitting again. “Did they have a chance to say good bye?” Wilson looked at the photo intently. Mrs Lim shook her head. “Is there any way I can contact this girl?” Wilson asked suddenly. Mrs Lim stopped knitting and smiled at Wilson. “Well, well…”
“This was the address and contact number they gave me, but it has been so many years. I’m not sure if they had moved away, or changed their number.” Mrs Lim handed Wilson a slip of paper. “Her name’s Anny.” She added, before walking out of the room. “Anny…” Wilson whispered. “Anny…”
Wilson dialed the number with shaking fingers. ‘Will she pick up the phone?’ He wondered as he punched in the last digit. The call was put through, and the phone rang for a few times. “Hello?” It was the voice of a lady. “May I speak to Anny please?” Wilson clutched the phone tightly, feeling excited. “Speaking. May I know who is this?” Anny asked curiously. “This is a long story…”
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“Where are we going?” Joyce followed closely behind Wilson into a café. “You’ll know when we get there.” Wilson grinned. He scanned the café and saw a girl waving at them from her seat behind the counter. He smiled and tugged at Joyce’s hand lightly. “This way.” Joyce followed him to a table which sat a girl. “You must be Wilson?” The girl stood up and shook Wilson’s hand. Joyce could not help staring at the girl.
There’s something very familiar about her… Just as Joyce snapped out of her thoughts, the girl threw herself at Joyce. “Joyce Lim! How can you bear not contacting me all these years?” The girl hugged Joyce tightly. “Miss, please let go…” Joyce struggled to pluck the hands away from her body. “Don’t you
‘Miss‘ me. I’m Anny!” She exclaimed and pulled Joyce back into her embrace. “Anny?”
No wonder it feels so familiar… It’s the eyes… Joyce stared at Anny who was sitting opposite her. “If Wilson had not called me, we would never meet again, right?” Anny smiled. “Perhaps.” Joyce nodded her head slightly and turned to look at Wilson. “How did… How did you find out about Anny?” She sounded hoarse.
‘One of my best friend…’ She added inside her heart. “Thanks to this.” Wilson pulled out a photo frame out of nowhere. “How did you…” Joyce stared at the photo frame in Wilson’s hand. “That photo frame… So you kept it with you all these while!” Anny exclaimed. Memories of their childhood started to revive themselves automatically, and laughter kept coming from their table.
Joyce walked happily with her hand linked to Anny’s, a small smile playing on her lips. Wilson followed closely behind them, carrying out the role of protecting the princesses. The soft breeze gently caressed Joyce’s body and the tensed emotions she has been feeling these few days finally got to relief themselves. “Look!” Anny squealed. “Neoprint house!” She dragged Joyce into the shop and changed her notes into coins.
She hasn’t changed… Still like taking neoprints… Joyce smiled as she watched Anny slip the coins into the machine slot.
Anny walked out of the shop saturated with happiness. “More neoprints to add to my collection. And they were taken with my bestie too!” She leaned near to Joyce, smiling contentedly. “Don’t forget that half is mine!” Joyce snatched the neoprints all of a sudden and took off. “Hey! You!” Anny shrieked and ran after Joyce at top speed. She reached for Joyce waist’s and started tickling her. Joyce screeched and shouted. “Hey, hey. We’re on the street!” Wilson tried to stop the two girls. “Your image! You guys are girls!” Wilson shouted again but to no avail. “Joyce! You’re wearing a skirt!” Wilson sighed and shook his head. “I didn’t know girls played like that…” Wilson sat down on a bench nearby and decided to watch the show they are putting up instead.
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“Wilson.” Joyce stopped walking. “Thanks for everything you have done. From the first day we met until now, you have always been taking care of me, bringing me happiness everyday. I know I promised you I will prove how much more I love you, compared to how much you love me. But you have proved once again that you love me more than I love you. I feel bad…” Joyce’s bright sparkling eyes were moist. “Living with my family must’ve bought you feel uncomfortable. Especially how June treats you… And yet you’re still so good to me…” Joyce could no longer hold back her tears. Wilson positioned Joyce’s head against his chest. “As long as I get to be with you, I feel happy. It doesn’t matter even if June detests me, because she will grow to like me. I’m certain of that. And also… Seeing you happy and contented makes me feel happy and contented inside. So don’t say things like you’re feeling bad anymore.” The both of them stayed that way, with the cars passing by on the road beside them. People walked passed occasionally, but they seemed so far away from their world. Finally, they broke apart when rain pelted down from the sky. “Let’s run for it!” Wilson held on tightly to Joyce’s hand, and the figure of two people running through the rain remained as a romantic scene in the hearts of passer bys.
* neoprints are photo stickers
xiaoxi's note
this chapter is especially for Anny. Anny, please get well soon!
you've always said you like my story, so all the more you shld get well quickly in order to read this chapter! Chapter 22 of Fate, a special chappie dedicated to Anny<3
this was typed rather last minute(it was a last minute decision to include this scene) so it might not be good, but i still hope you guys reading right now will like it.
the previous chappie was posted up 3 days ago and some of you mgiht've missed it. go to the column labeled 'stories' and click Fate, then click on Chapter 21 to read.
cheerios!
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