The Keychain (Part 1)

She saw him at Lee Wee Nam and a few days later, she saw him at the Cherry Boom Concert. Now she's on her way for something...

Kat: So what are you buying?
???: Well, it's something for him.
Kat: What? That guy?
???: You know which guy?
Kat: Yeah...that guy. The one you talked about where you saw him at the concert.
???: Yeah...that's the guy.
Kat: Well...you are the one buying. So I will just keep quiet.
???: Haha...thanks.

She, accompanied by her friend Kat, went to one shop to get a gift for him. She looked around and finally saw an item. It was a keychain.

???: Would this be appropriate?
Kat: A keychain?
???: I'm afraid he may not understand it.
Kat: You see, if he's meant for you, I am sure he'll be able to understand it.
???: I guess you are right.

She went over the counter and made the purchased.

???: Erm, excuse me, do you have a small box for this?
Salesgirl: Why sure...wait a while.
???: Thanks.
Kat: Does he know that you have something for him?
???: I'm not very sure.
Kat: En, sometimes guys can be clueless at such things. Unless you hold a banner in front of him that screams "I Love You", I'm afraid he may not get it.
En: Haha...he's not like that.
Salesgirl: Here you go.
En: Ah...that's just nice...thanks.

She bought the item and went back.

Back at home, she carefully took out the keychain and looked at it, unsure whether the message will be received by him. Nevertheless, she got some wrapping paper and wrapped the box.

En: I just hope that he understands what I'm trying to say.

Before she closed the box...she remembered something.

En: Maybe I'll write a note. Something that will reveal what I've been keeping.

She wrote the message and kept the keychain and message into the box.

En: I hope that someday, I will be able to pass this to him...

~~~

He was there beside her. She had just obtained the gift back from Kat whom she entrusted the gift to for safekeeping. Both of them had returned from a long walk only to find that the Lee Wee Nam library was closed.

He: I guess there's not much we can do huh?
En: I guess so.

Should she pass to him the box? After all she had walked quite a distance to get the box.

En: As a way of thanks. I have something for you.
He: Huh?
En: Here's something for you...

She took the gift from her bag and gave it to him. As he reached his hands out to receive the gift, she prayed that he would not hear how fast her heart was beating.

He: Thanks. This is quite unexpected.
En: You are welcome.

She wanted to stay on and see his reaction as he opened the box. Would he be happy? Would he be sad? More importantly, would he understand the message behind her gift? She wanted to stay and see.

As he untied the knots and unwrapped the wrapping paper, her heart beat faster and faster. What if he wasn't happy? What if he rejected the gift? It would hurt her a lot. Then she decided that as much as she wanted to see his reaction, her fear of rejection made her leave.

En: I need to go now. Sorry...but I hope you like it.

With that she took her bag and walked off. She dared not turn behind to see. She walked as fast as she could towards the bus stop. Then suddenly, he could hear him call her.

He: En!

Should she stop? No, she should just act as if she didn't hear. After all, if she walked back and he returned the present to her, it would be a sad event. And so, she left and went back home.

At home, she couldn't sleep. Was he happy with the gift? Did he understand the full meaning of it? Would he contact her since her number was in the gift? A lot of questions flowed through her mind...

~~~

It was Thursday night. En was in the bus on the way back home. Why didn't he call the number on the back of the paper? En was afraid that he didn't want to call her. What should she do? She can't do anything but wait. As usual, she ate her dinner and took a bath. After her bath her mother asked her:

En's mum: Why didn't you pick the phone? It was ringing for quite sometime just now.

Could it be him?

En: I didn't know as I was bathing.

En's mum: I see...well in case it rings, just answer it...you never know...it maybe some important...

Then suddenly, the phone rang! En jumped and ran to the phone. She picked it up...

???: Hello?

It was him! She recognized that voice.

???: Hello?
En: Hello?

Finally contact was made and he finally called! En was so happy and wanted to continue talking. However, her mother wanted to test this new guy. After all, she had to protect her daughter from bad guys. And so the "interrogation" began. While her mother talked to him, En sat beside her mum praying that he will say the right things and not offend her.

After a few minutes or so, her mother hung the phone and said:

En's mum: He's a nice boy.

En smiled immediately, knowing that that sentence meant that her mother approved.

En: So what do you think of him?
En's mum: He's polite and nice.
En: Oh yah, why did you say I was busy?
En's mum: Well, it's not that nice to talk so much in the first phone call.
En: Huh?
En's mum: I have a feeling that he will ask you out.
En: Wait...how do you know?
En's mum: Let's just call it "Mum's Instincts". And if he does call you out, remember to take your specs off.
En: But...
En's mum: Yes I know...in the past I always told you to wear your specs as I didn't want boys to come knocking on our door. You look much better without your specs.
En: But what if he laughs at me?
En's mum: Laugh? Well, don't think so much. Just go to sleep.
En: Like I can sleep like that...
En's mum: Haha...I guess this is what you call growing up.

With that mum and daughter talk, En went to her room. She looked at herself in the mirror. She put on her specs and looked...then she took off her specs and looked again. She wasn't sure if he'll like her look without the specs. Then she lay on her bed and thought if he really understood her gift. More importantly, will he ask her out like what her mother said....time will tell...

(To be continued...)