hikikowriter XVI | Seat ❦ I skip assembly today. I’m not the only one.Half the class did too. Most of them are already in classstudying. So hardworking. My seat is occupied. I find myself looking into Ria’s eyes. She’s wearing lipstickor I’ve already forgotten the colour of her normal lips. She stares at me … Read more
XV | What’s Real ❦ After a long time,‘Let me show you something.’ Rowan leads meinto the back alleybehind the shophouse. There’s a giant blue dustbin by the backdoorof every shop in the row. Every shophouse alley in Singapore looks like this. I don’t think there’s anything to see. The alley is narrow,paved with … Read more
XIV | Date ❦ For some reason, we’re eating chicken rice at a bar. ‘What’s the shop called?’Rizwan asks,looking around. There’s an aquarium glowing in one corner, water bubbles rising,fake plants dancing,no fish. The walls of the bar are painted black,peeling in some places,decorated with chalk drawings. A futile attempt to cover upmarks ofpreviouscarpenteringadventures. … Read more
XIII | Rain ❦ ‘Eat dinner with me.’ Rowan stares at mewith her expressionless black eyes. ‘No.’ But the tips of her ears are angry red. She continues reading her Bible. She’s sitting under therowan tree like the first day we met, reading her book … Read more
XII | Effort ❦ We’re playing soccer in our usual park(the nearest one) when two of our buddies from another school appear, arms draped around each other walking like drunkards,laughing like drunkards,in love like drunkards. (They didn’t drink anything though.) The sun hasn’t setyet. Kumar waves at them furiously. ‘Ooi! Tom and Jerry!’‘Long time no … Read more
XI | Feather ❦ ‘Are you okay?’ Eeyore’s voiceis loudeven thoughthe class is noisy. The flying donkey sees me first. I point at Rowan.‘She’s over there.’ Eeyore folds its wings.‘Rowan is right.’ Its eyes gleamwith a hard light. ‘You are trouble.’ Mrs. Lim steps in front of me,before I can reply,her arms folded. ‘Excuse me,‘we’re … Read more
X | Ice ❦ ‘Why don’t you introduce yourselves to Rowan?’Mrs. Lim suggests. We’re the only groupstill in the classroom after receiving the ‘team-bonding activity’instructions. I roll my eyes. Julie stares at me angrily.She looks angry whenever she’s thinking. (Is she angry with Mrs. Lim?) (Or with us because we’re useless group members?) Rizwan sighs … Read more
IX | Group ❦ Ming puts his feet up on my desk. ‘Why must we do project work?’ I push his feet off.‘Don’t ask me. I don’t know.’ Kumar puts his feet on my desk. ‘Why can’t we choose our own groups?’ I push his feet off.‘Stop it! I don’t know!’ Nora peeks into my … Read more
VIII | Different ❦ ‘Who’s Rowan?’ Nora asks. I try to catch the parrot again.‘Shut up, shut up, shut up!’ it screams in Brient’s voice.The bird claws at my hand, lands on Nora’s head. Scratchesappear on the side of my thumb. They turn red. ‘Are you okay?’ Nora unwraps herself from the blanket.Hands me my … Read more
VII | Intruder ❦ ‘What’s wrong with him?’A female voice. ‘Dunno. He’s been like that since two days ago.’A male voice. I scowl. ‘What do you mean like that?’ Ming jabs his finger at thin air:‘See, see, see!’ ‘You’re so irritable,’ Kumar explains. Nobody asked.(Fine, i did.) ‘It’s been a year since I’ve seen you,’the … Read more
