Meeting Each Other

argh. what luck. she had to meet such an irritant. shayna walked down the roads of the busy commercial square down to Soup Junction, where her good friend Alyssa was working. at least she had a friend working around here so that she could vent her anger somewhere constructive.

"heyo" shayna called as she walked into the cafe.
"shayna! what brings you here? i never knew you could get out of bed before noon," alyssa joked. she was dressed in her white apron and white kitchen hat that made her look more like a nurse then a waitress.
"i just got off some dumb interview a few minutes ago. at that big firm down the road. the interviewer is such an irritating, chauvanistic, hormone filled baboon! argh! he doesn't deserve to treat women like as though they're some prize... or some sex object. i'm glad i got out of there pronto!" shayna said as she thumped her bag down on the counter.
"shayna. you have called every single guy who gets you on the wrong side a baboon. it's nothing new anymore," alyssa said, shaking her head.
"hey, you're supposed to be MY friend. you know how irritated i feel when i meet these kind of men? why can't i meet some guy who truly know how to treat a lady?"
"hmm.. maybe you aren't giving them much of a chance to prove themselves. once they get you all huffed up like this. that's it. it has always been like this hasn't it? since college, through uni and even now when you're trying to find work. seriously shayna, have you thought of not getting pissed at men this easily? maybe you can just find someone sweet admist all this angst." alyssa commented.
"ha ha ha. very funny alyssa. it's not like i want to. it's just that this guy... he's such an ass. i just merely get lost in the office and he treats me as though i'm some unruly kid running around in the midst of Shenton Way. he doesn't have to treat me like this. he doesn't have the right to," shayna complained.
"yes yes... no one has the right to make fun of you. anyway the lunch crowd is coming in soon and you'd be blocking the way of my customers," alyssa said, sticking out her tongue. "and you might be blocking the way for my chance at another cute guy."
"oh whatever. you and men. i just don't get it. mind if i just get over to your side of the counter and just stone there? I don't feel like going anywhere else."
"alright but you must not disturb my customers. my boss is really strict about it"
"yes yes... i will be good. i promise."

***

Colin finally made his choice of his secretary... and it's not that one who called him a baboon. what a childish girl. he couldn't believe she was 24! she sure behaved as though she was only 14. Peggy agreed too when she saw her storm off the room like that. maybe she thought she won something out of that but she's totally wrong. Anyway it's lunch time. the last thing Colin wanted is his lunch to be spoilt by some childish brat. He called up his good friend, Tyler who was just working just a few buildings away, to have lunch together. It's been awhile since they last caught up with each other.

"hey man. wanan go for lunch?" colin asked.
"yeah was about to head out. your treat. since you asked. there's this place around here i've been meaning to visit. you know the recently opened soup place just a few streets away?" tyler suggested.
"seen it but havent been in it. will see you there in a few alright?"
"sure. no problem. as long as you're buying."

colin was pleased with himself. he has chosen a wonderful girl as his secretary. she's not only pretty but also smart. not a bad decision. as he was about to leave the office, his phone started to ring. he checked it and it was Megan, his girlfriend. he picked up the call and tried to sound as chirpy as possible.

"hi baby."
"colin. i've been trying to reach you for the past hour. what happened?"
"oh. I just came out of an interview. had to find a new secretary remember?"
"i see. anyway, my mother has been bugging me to bring you home. she wants me to ask if you are free tonight for dinner with the family."
"well darling i..."
"colin dear... please? you promised..."
"erm... well, alright i guess."
"*giggling* great. pick me up at my office at 730? mom would be expecting us around 8pm."
"alright. I'll pick you up then. bye."

great. now it's meet the parents again. soon enough, his father would want to see Megan. then after that they would have to get married... then have to have kids... then it's the end of Colin Tan, bachelor of freedom and liberty for single men. darn. if only he came up with some excuse not to meet Megan's parents... but he's been pushing it off for a year already and all the excuses he could think about were used up. maybe Tyler could help. He's not been attached since the dawn of time but has many flings. maybe he could teach colin a trick or two. colin smirked and hurried down to meet his buddy.

***

shayna was dead bored. there were many customers that came to the shop. considering that it just opened it's doors recently, the customers just seem to keep flocking into the shop. alyssa was really busy but shayna just stood there and watched her dish out soup. shayna panicked. she better find a good job prospect soon or she'd have to resort to dishing out soup woth alyssa soon enough. maybe that's what her parents would make her do if she really can't find anything better. shayna hated the fact that her father presses her to look for a job but she just want to have fun first before getting tied down to any job that would then restrict her freedom and her enjoyment time.

"shayna! he's here! he's here!" alyssa called, bouncing with every step she took. boy, she was sure excited about whoever that was.
"who? what?" shayna asked, trying to sound excited but she sure wasn't interested in men.
"there... he's the cute executive that always passes by my shop every morning that i find totally hot. isn't he?"
shayna squinted her eyes and saw two men meeting outside Soup Junction. One of them actually looked really familiar... the one wearing that familiar grey suit... gawd! it's that baboon!
"you mean that one in grey suit with that funny hair do and dumb smile?" shayna commented, folding her arms in disgust.
"oh my god you know him?" alyssa asked in complete amazement.
"yes. that's THE baboon. what luck."
"he's the one that made you hopping mad today? oh no..."
"yes. pity me now..."
"no. that's not what i meant. there's no more hope of me knowing him anymore. most probably you'd just scare him off again."
"hey! what's the meaning of that! he's the one that's chauvanistic and irritating. you wouldn't be happy with him. trust me. his good looks are but a consolation from god. he's nothing but just a pretty baboon." shayna commented, her words filled with so much spite.
"he's finally coming into the shop! just be nice alright..." alyssa pleaded, still bouncing in her steps just because that 'gorgeous-looking' baboon walked into the shop with his friend. shayna rolled her eyes and agreed, leaning back onto the counters behind and still folding her arms. she couldn't understand why any woman would want to know him. that, horrible monkey.

***

"hello. welcome to Soup Junction. may i help you?" alyssa chimed with such energy and vigour. one might wonder why if they hadn't known her keen interest in colin.
"oh hi... can i have the minestrone soup and... oh my god. it's you." colin said, upone noticing shayna's death glares from the side. "my my, what a concidence. you work here too?"
shayna rolled her eyes and replied, "for YOUR information. i do not work here. and don't sound all excited seeing me here as though i'm your long lost friend. cos i'm not and i do not fancy you being here at all."
tyler got a little angry. "hey, is that how you treat your customers? because this is not the kind of service i'm expecting..."
alyssa kicked shayna and rolled her eyes. "stop it please," alyssa begged shayna in a whisper and turned back to the men. "sorry sirs. she's not working here and sorry for her rudeness. could i take your orders and i'll throw in free coffee..."
"alright. can we have the minestrone and the mushroom creme..." colin ordered, shooting a glance at shayna who was still obviously pissed off.

as the two men walked away to their seats with their soup and free coffee, alyssa turned to shayna, who was still sulking like a kid.
"what's the hell is wrong with you shayna? they are my customers! you want me to lose my job? now i have to fork out money just to buy them coffee..." alyssa complained, obviously very annoyed.
"i'm sorry lys. it's just that the stupid baboon... he... he..."
"shayna. he's just here for lunch. not here to spite you. he just asked if you worked here. he's a nice guy. why don't you be nice for once?"
"but i AM nice..."
"to me... but not to men. just get off his back alright. forgive and forget."
"whatever. i will go now... save you any more trouble around here. bye." shayna said, picking up her bags and walking out of the shop. she just couldn't stand the sight of that baboon anymore.

colin and tyler watched as shayna left the shop in a huff. tyler wanted to let out a laugh but colin just watched her... walking away.
"hey, how did you know her? she's one angry chick." tyler commented, sipping on his coffee.
"oh... she's one of the interviewees. remember the interviewee i told you that walked out of the room like a kid?"
"you mean that brat.. is her? *laughs* now i understand. bet she doesn't have a boyfriend. speaking about relationships... you still with megan?"
colin nodded without looking up. he was kinda worried about the meet-the-parents session later tonight.
"wow. it's quite a long relationship you have there. it's been what? two years now?"
"yeah i guess. i'm meeting megan's parents later tonight."
tyler chocked on his coffee. "what? i thought you told me you're gonna be a swinging single till you're mid thiries or something? now meeting the parents already? boy, what a change of heart. maybe before you know it... you'd be married and have kids by the time you hit thirty!"
colin sighed and answered, "come on. stop teasing me like that. i'll not get married so early. please, you know me. it's just that megan's been asking me to meet her folks for the past year... i couldn't think of a way to stop this from coming."
"you could just say you have to work late today... push it back. you know how parents can force you to do things you don't wanna do... like get married?"
"but i already agreed. you can't expect me to just change it now..."
"yes you can. say that your father needs you to handle some important case today and you can't get off work. that will save you for another few days or so...."
"you think i should do that?"
"why not? well, that is if you really wanna get married before you turn thirty."
"oh alright..."

tyler smirked. and continued with his lunch. colin on the other hand was quite worried about this whole conspiracy. what is megan gets all pissed off about it? but for the sake of his bachelorhood and for the good of his friends... he has to stop all means and possibilites where he could end up getting hitched before he wants it.

***

colin stared at his phone for awhile... maybe this isn't such a good idea.. maybe he should go in the end.. maybe he shouldn't. maybe it coud wait awhile... maybe... argh. it's getting to his nerves. colin closed his eyes and quickly dialled megan's number. the phone rang.

"hey dear! i didn't expect you to call. mom wants to know if you like beef or fish better..." megan chimed, sounding vrey excited.
"meg... i'm sorry honey. but i just called to tell you that i can't make it tonight. my dad's given me an assignment to do and i want to finish it up as quickly as possible. so i'll be in the office late tonight... i'm sorry sugar," colin lied, trying very hard not to lose it.
"but can't that wait till tomorrow? mom's already made plans..." megan complained.
"i know... i'm so sorry meg. maybe next time alright? this assignment is very important..."
"oh alright. i'll let her know. next time you better make it alright? see you soon."
"thank you sweetheart. i'll call you again later. bye."

right... that settles it. colin smirked to himself as he lean back on his chair and closed his eyes. maybe life should be more like this... instead of having to worry about settling down and all that nonsense. then, there was a knock on the door. it was his father.

"dad? what's up?" colin asked, sitting up. he noticed his father's expression looked rather grim.
"it's your brother. he just went into a concussion again. he's at the hospital now."
"what? which hospital? I'll go down now..." colin said. he grabbed the information from his father and sped away in his car.

colin has a younger brother, colby. he's much younger than colin but he's a very sickly boy. However, colin dotes on colby a lot. and he always made sure colby got the best doctors and the best medication. colby was very important to colin. now, colby's in the hospital, all colin could think about it going there and making him feel better.