“All right. I will be there.” said, nodded the details and hung up the phone. “Aunty Florence!” she called out to the kitchen. “That stupid burglar is caught! I’m going to the police station to identify his stupid face!”

“Do you need me to come along with you?” Sylvester asked, perceptibly concerned. He had just stepped into the living room the moment received the call. She looked at him with badly masked sadness. Five days ago they just had a quarrel. It was an argument loud enough it even woke Florence and Christopher up from their night dreams.

The misunderstanding left hanging helplessly in the air and no one bothered to retrieve it. “I will go with Chrissypoo.” she declared, trying to muster a cold front but failed. Fact was, ever since that heated argument, hadn’t spoken to Sylvester. Not in the normal way at least.

She knew she was at fault for being unreasonable. After all, Sylvester had already apologized. Being stubborn, she wasn’t ready to accept any explanations. Part of her was hurt - hurt at the fact he didn’t know she was worried for him. Or rather, he didn’t seem to notice her jealousy.

Sylvester having a girlfriend was something alien to . Emptiness nipped her heart whenever she thought of him going out on a date. She knew she own no rights to flare up. She knew she should bless him good luck. But for some strange, mad reasons, she felt awfully terrible.

This is called love.

It is something that often makes people act out of the logical zone. It was a word so strong that it could make people feel almost everything. That more or less enlightened ’s groundless behavior these days.

Her eyes lacked courage to meet his because of love.

She threw tempers at him because of love.

She rejected Christopher because her heart belonged to another.

was sure Christopher could only be her friend at the most. That space in her heart was meant for someone else.

That someone special…

Yet, heart-trending reality was, that someone was already taken. Never meant to be.

::::::

“Phew.” Inspector Taufik heaved a sigh of relief. “Finally that banana man is identified. Thanks a lot for your corporation.” he smiled happily at and shook her hand.

“I’m glad I am able to help.” she smiled. She actually wanted to burst out laughing at that smug grin on Taufik’s face. “I’m sure the police force will do something to reward you.”

“Really?” he let out a nervous laugh, scratching the back of his head. “But I am so damn happy for myself. I caught him with my own handcuffs!” he recounted with thrill, doing all sorts of hand stunts and actions. “Because of this banana man case I have to work so hard for investigations. I lose 7 kilograms. 7! Now I hate bananas!”

They walked down the corridor of the police headquarters together as he continued recounting the whole series of his police adventures to . At the counter desk, Christopher stood there waiting.

“Wow! Your boyfriend arh?” Taufik poked in nosily. and Christopher exchanged awkward laughs.

“He’s just a friend of mine!” she eagerly explained.

“Friend?” Taufik tossed her a blur-like-sotong look. “I’m so sorry. Then I bet that skinny-like-chopstick guy that was with you in your house must be your boyfriend?”

“No too.” said but her cheeks grew red like tomato. “That’s only my cousin.”

‘Paging for Mr. Taufik Batisah.’ the noise speaker on the wall came to ’s rescue.

“Eh oh.. Chief Inspector Ken is calling for me again. I have to go now.” Taufik bided them good bye before rushing back to the office. “Will chat with you guys some time ya! Tell that skinny cousin of yours to eat more! Do visit here often!” he waved at them with enthusiasm as he ran backwards.

“Who in the right mind would want to visit the police station often?” Christopher muttered under his breath, perplexed by this Mr. Policeman.

“Inspector Taufik is like that.” chuckled. “He’s the friendliest police inspector in the western part of Singapore. But his friendliest does get creepy at times.”

::::

“I’m going back to Hong Kong next week.” Christopher told as they walked out of the police station.

“So fast?” she stopped in her tracks, turned and looked at him.

“School’s starting for me soon.” he replied with a smile. “But I can always come here during my vacations.”

“That’ll be great!” cheered, “Without you around, my reasons to be talkative would be sliced off.”

“There’s still Sly in the house.” Christopher hinted with a glint of delight, “I heard from Mom he’s always the one that entertains you.” At once, that set of cheerfulness in faded off.

“He already has a girlfriend.” she explained, summoning all strength to conceal her disenchantment. Still, she failed miserably and Christopher could sense her sadness just with one look of her gloomy face.

“Then why not you accept me?” he joked in hope to lightened up the situation.

“You know we are not possible.” cracked up with hilarity and sent his arm a buddy punch. “You are too ‘brother’ for me.”

“But make sure the next time I return, you’ve already won him over.” Christopher winked, giving her encouragement. “If things were meant to be, fate would not separate you and him.”

Just then, the cell phone of Christopher rang, Fishing his phone out of his pocket, he flipped it open and answered the call. “Yes Mom, looking for me?” couldn’t make out any of the conversation but she could hear muffled sobs of Florence at the other line.

She cast Christopher a confused look as his face turned from normal to shocked and finally melted into fret. “All right we’ll be right over!” he said and hung up the call as fast as he could.

“What happen?” asked, sensing the uneasy tension.

“Sly got into a car accident.” Christopher muttered soberly. He tried in every way to break the news to her in a calm manner. But that was impossible. That dreadful news hit like a strong wave of current. She was so astounded her heart changed places with her stomach.

“It.. It can’t be..” she stuttered in disbelief as tears stung her eyes. “It just can’t be!” For the moment, nothing on Earth seemed to make any sense to her.

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End of chapter..

Eh oh… LOL…

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