I was duped into watching a movie with her. Don’t get me wrong. I am not complaining. I am just stating an ironical fact. If that hadn’t happened, I most certainly wouldn’t have been with her. And if anyone aren’t able to read between the lines, let me say it plainly.
It is not with a tinge of regret that I recall this.
We had just finished watching ‘The King and I’ at the theatres. No, not the one with Yul Bryner but the one with Jodie Foster and Chow Yuen Fatt. If the former were true, only time travel would have made it a plausible senario.
Anyway, the truth is, she was the most beautiful girl that I had ever laid my eyes on. And I was glad that she had tricked me into doing it.
So there we were, standing in the train station, contemplating on our mode of transport home. For some reason, we started walking as we adorned it with a sprinkle of idle talk. I don’t quite recall what the gist of it but I was sure we were enraptured with the aforementioned film.
We did not decide outright to walk home. At least, that was how I remember it. Perhaps, as we walked away from the train and bus station, we felt that it was only natural to continue walking. Till this day however, I still wonder if it was natural to her.
The crux of my present contention was that this beautiful lady wasn’t wearing comfortable shoes. I could only imagine how painful it might have been. I think out of politeness, I did ask if her feet was feeling any discomfort. And I am not making it up to make myself feel less guilty.
Thus, from the Bishan Junction 8, we gingered along the pavements of Ang Mo Kio Avenue 8. When we reached Bishan Park, we decided to pass through it.
It wasn’t my first time passing through it but it felt different at that time. I wasn’t sure how many mosquito bites I had gotten but I suspect I had a few marks on my arms and neck.
I have never talked so much in my entire life at that point of time. Perhaps that was the reason it felt different. I was spewing out endless little chatter as if my red blood cells demanded it. On hindsight she must surely have not been impressed with my nonsensical rants.
But put up with it she did. And she put up with it so much that we didn’t realise that we were out of Bishan Park and had stepped onto Avenue 5.
It had been a long walk I must admit. I was pleasantly surprised with the breeze of the journey. I think we clocked 45 minutes. When we left the cinema, it was about 9. As we reached towards the end of the Avenue 5, it was close to 10pm.
I had another surprise waiting for me as we reached her flat. Her parents were waiting for her at the foot of the slope looking worried.
Being the gentleman that I was (or had to be), I introduced myself and shook hands with them. They didn’t say much but she got home safely.
That little surprise incident did not dampen my spirits for the night. Not a bit.
I was just happy that I got to do that little gesture of affection that we often take for granted. As we strolled home, our sweaty palms held on fondly to each other. I thought that my ear to ear grin while walking home was to last the whole night and beyond.
