Hopes
"Err.. No thanks, Ning, I think I'll give it a miss."
"Wa.. Every Friday ask you go out, you everytime not free one. What's up man? So not on!"
"Sorry Ning. It's just that tonight I have to accompany my wife at home."
"Ya la Ning! Don't keep ka-jiao David la! See, people so faithful to wife, like 24/7 bodyguard can! Then you lei? So old already still don't want to settle down!"
"Eh eh eh Pei Min, I'm still young okay! Swinging bachelor!"
"Pooi ah! David, don't care him. Just go do your stuff okay? We understand one."
"Thanks Pei Min. Ning, another time okay bro? Really sorry."
"No problems la dude! Go be your 100% faithful husband okay!"
David give a weak smile.
--------------------------------------------------------------
"Bye David! 5.30PM already!"
"Bye Natasha."
"Eh David still don't go?"
"Err left a bit of work, I want finish so I can rest properly this weekend without worrying of work. You guys going clubbing straight?"
"Yupp! Okay don't stay too long ah, your wife at home waiting for you!"
Pei Min poked Ning in the ribs.
"Ka jiao ka jiao! Very fun is it? Go already la! Bye David!"
"Bye all. Have fun for me too ya?"
With that, David averted his eyes back to his computer.
-----------------------------------------------------------------
7PM came.
David was the last person in the office.
He was normally the earlier partner reaching home on Fridays. It was also the only day in the week where he had time to cook for his wife.
"I wonder what Fang would like me to cook."
He called her number.
.....
"The number you called, is currently unavailable. Please try again later."
.....
"Hmmm. Never mind. I go NTUC and see what is good."
Packing his bag quickly, he left the office.
------------------------------------------
"Hmm. I think she will like salmon fillet today. Been a long time since I've cooked that. Maybe I shall cook some Western food for her. She loves my Western food."
He gathered the food and bought some candles and champagne and proceeded to the counter.
"Wa Mister, buy all this for cooking ah? Candlelit dinner ah?"
"Err ya, I cooking for my wife.."
"Wa so sweet! This kind of year, very few guys know how to cook, even fewer cook for wife loh! Your wife really very lucky."
"Okay la, I just hope she will enjoy it."
"Sure will one la! I tell you if my hubby cook for me even fried rice I'll think it's much better than shark fin's soup loh! Okay, $15.75. Member?"
"Err no. Here, exact change. Bye bye."
"Thank you for coming NTUC ah, see you again!"
--------------------------------------------
It was close to 8 when he reached home.
Opening the door, he peered in. His wife was not home.
Putting down his stuff, he proceeded to cook immediately. It was not long before he finished it.
He divided the food into two portions and set it on both ends of the dining table.
He lit the candles and popped the champagne.
And he waited.
-------------------------------
"The number you called, is currently unavailable. Please try again later."
-------------------------------
"The number you called, is currently unavailable. Please try again later."
-------------------------------
"The number you called, is currently unavailable. Please try again later."
-------------------------------
"The number you called, is currently unavailable. Please try again later."
-------------------------------
"The number you called, is currently unavailable. Please try again later."
-------------------------------
It was close to 12am.
Rambling of keys were heard coming from the outside of the door.
David's heart rose.
Footsteps.
"Ah Pa? Is that you? Why so late still not sleeping?"
"Girl? I thought it was your mum. I cooked for her dinner. Want to enjoy with her."
.....
"... Pa. Mum, is gone. You do remember.. right?"
It hit him.
It hit him hard.
Yes, his dear wife was gone. She had left him alone in the world. A world of agony. A world of pain.
A world of... nothingness.
"Yes girl, I do remember. But I harboured hopes. Hopes that one day she'll come back. Hopes that she will be lying there next to me in the morning. Hopes of quarreling. But, but..."
"Ah Pa, Ah Ma has left already. For heaven. We both know it's impossible.."
Heaven.
Yes, heaven.
While he lived in Hell on Earth.
David broke down.
-------------------------------
