hikikowriter

LVI | Coffee ❦ It’s my first timeseeing Rowan express awe. The door gives a tinkling laughas I hold it open for her. She steps intothe cafe, eyes wider than Famous Amos cookies. The floor is tiledblack and whitelike a chess board, the tables made of thick wood, paired with dark velvet chairs. But through … Read more

LV | Red Dress ❦ ‘We can’t!‘Mid-years start tomorrow. ‘I need to study.’ Rowan is sittingunder the rowan tree, textbook in hand. No Bible. ‘I went for your church picnic.‘You promised.’ Her expressionlessexpressionlooks panicky for a moment. The rowan treeby the school’s back gate is bald even though it’s April. I take her hand,pull her … Read more

LIV | Home ❦ She doesn’t talk to me in schoolthe next day. But when I text her after soccerwith my friends: WHAT DID YOU MEANYESTERDAY? She replies:SORRY FOR LOSING CONTROL. Ming looks overat meand grins. The girls are laughingaround us at something Jasper said. I didn’t hear. Kumar asks himto explain the math joke … Read more

LIII | Toilet ❦ I’m leaningagainst the railing, looking over the boardwalkat the sea. Sunset pigmentsand watercolour clouds. The wind mumbles incoherently, I listen without responding. Or maybe it’s not the wind,it’s that dudein knee-high socks. Apparently his name is Adam. And he really enjoys playing soccer.           (Knee-high socks,      … Read more

LII | Strange One ❦ We’re on a wobbly busheading to the west of Singapore. Some faraway parkwith a nice view of the sunset. The kindergarten kidin the seat behind me is talking loudlyabout his trivial prayerfor it not to rain today. I’m leaning my head againstthe window, watching Rowan next to metalking to the … Read more

LI | Picnic ❦ Today is going to be a bad day.   It’s Sunday afternoon.I just woke up. Rowan’s been awake for six hours, gone to church,eaten both breakfast and lunch,sat through a sermon,sang christian karaoke,smiled at many people. My motheris the only person I’ve seen so far(and only her backside), she was leaving … Read more

L | Breathless ❦ We order Korean fried chicken. I want beerbut Rowan says no. She buys coke. I have beer in my fridge,but I don’t tell her that. I try to look obedient. In the timeit takesfor the food to arrive, Rowan straightened outthe books on my bookshelves. I’m sprawledon the cold leather couch … Read more

XLIX | Movie ❦ I don’t particularly likeromance movies but I want to see Rowan’s reaction. I bet she’s neverwatched an NC16 showeven though she’s 17. I close the door. The curtains. Turn off the lights. There’s the faint whirof the air-con generator. I open Netflix. Type ‘The Notebook’. (It’s NC16 in Singapore, okay?) Start … Read more

XLVIII | Taming Who ❦ Kumar isworried about her, but Mingthinks it’s timeshe grew up. I don’t worryabout what my friends think of Rowan. Who knowshow long this will last? They’ll lose interest in her. So will I. Obviously,Tom and Jerrywill bethe most entertained.   ‘She won’t change,’ Jerry said. ‘Ah, you finally called.‘Never reply … Read more

XLVII | Trial ❦ What does take it slow mean?   School’s started again. I see rowanin class everyday but we don’t talk(unless it’s for project work). I still see herby the rowan tree at the endofeveryday. Now that I’m paying attention, I noticeshe’s not always readingthe Bible. Today,she’s standing there,staring up at the naked … Read more