In Touch With Thyself...

colin woke up especially and told himself he needed to get out of the house at least an hour earlier as he used to. he didn't want to increase the chances of him meeting megan in them morning would be less. after a quick shower, he just dragged any shirt and pants out of the cupboard. there wasn't time to pick and choose today. he grabbed his bag and decided breakfast could be taken outside instead of making his own. he would rather spend a little more than trying to come up with conversations with megan.

as he started his car, he made sure he was on a low gear so he could make sure that the coast was clear for him. he felt a little silly to be avoiding someone like that but he had to make sure that when he broke up with megan, it was a clean one. he didn't want her to carry false hopes for herself. besides, his heart is with someone already. speaking of that other someone, he was missing her so much that it made him decide to buy her something nice later when he took colby to the doctor.

he drove himself to a cafe where he could have a nice quiet breakfast on his own. bacon, eggs, sausages and a big mug of hot coffee. ahh. this is the life he said to himself. now he needed to think of what to get shayna. a bouquet of roses? nah... a little to pushy. lunch for her? nah... i don't really know what food she likes. candy? nah.. she always says that candy spoils her teeth but one might not hurt... then as colin drank his final sips of coffee and an idea struck him. it wasn't a very good one but at least he knew it would make her smile.

***

"now where do you want this?" shayna asked, holding up the table lamp.
"i guess that would be around... here," timothy said, pointing to the desk. she nodded and placed it at a corner of the desk.
"there! all done," shayna said, brushing her hands together.
"thanks a million, Shay. this place looks more like a home now," timothy said, pushing the last beanbag in place.
"not until the bed and television comes in," shayna said, laughing.
"oh yes. a bed is indeed important. meanwhile, do you want a drink? juice? i know you always loved my special fruit juice."
"your special fruit juice! how can i forget? when we left college i thought i would never have a chance to drink it again."
"well, now you have!" timothy said, pinching her nose. shayna giggled. they went into his kitchen as timothy pulled out a bottle with the nice reddish-orangy liquid inside.
"oh shucks. i thought you were gonna teach me how to make it. i never knew you made it already," shayna said, a little disappointed.
"don't worry. one day when i do have my groceries done i will show you how to make it. meanwhile just drink up," he said, passing her a glass.

"it tastes so good! i would never get sick of it. it as a taste of everything... orange, apple, carrot, celery," shayna said, drinking down the last drops.
"i can do a bottle for you everyday if you want. that is when i get groceries done."
"oh i couldn't bother you like that," shayna said.
"don't worry. since we're neighbours now and you are my friend, i should be taking care of you," timothy said, making shayna flush.
they gone quiet for a while and shayna started to wash her cup. timothy looked at her and smiled. he was glad he was gonna spend the day with her.
if only she was your girlfriend. then you can see her all the time and you can get close to her.

"ready to get to work now?" shayna asked, waking him from his fantasy thoughts of her and him together.
"alright. i guess it's also time to get to work. why don't you go back and have a shower first. i'll see you at the lobby," timothy said, passing shayna the rest of the bottle, "and you can take this to work."
"thanks timmy. i will see you later," she said as she left timothy standing there, watching her and smiling.

***

"do i have to get another injection again?" colby asked as he peered from the backseat.
"i'm not sure colby. you have to ask Dr. Chong later."
"is this for shayna jie?" colby ask, picking up the present beside him.
"yes it is. please don't break it."
"alright. can i give it to her then?"
"tell you what, let me do it this time then the next present you can give it to her," colin said as he parked his car.

he held colby in one hand and the present in another hand. he was almost sure that this would make shayna very happy. as they walked towards the building colby started to point.
"look kor. isn't that shayna jie?" he said. colin looked and and saw a girl, who looked almost like shayna coming out of a car and also from the passenger seat. she then saw a man coming out from the driver's seat? who was that? why didn't she tell him about the new guy? colin saw her smiling, her usual dazzling smile but this time she was not smiling at him but the other guy.

colin watched as they headed up towards the hospital. they were talking, laughing and having a good time.
"come on kor. let's go," colby said, tugging him at the hand. colin started to walk but his heart felt as though it plummeted at the spot where they were standing.

***

"hi colby! came for your checkup?" lila asked as she saw colby dashing through the corridor. colby just smiled and then sat down at the waiting area. colin came in, dazed and filled with confused thoughts.
"hi colin. here is your number," lila said, handing him a tag, "are you alright?"
"yea i am," he said nonchalently before retreating towards colby. lila watched him as he sat there and stared into his own little world. she wondered what happened to him.

just that that moment, shayna appeared from the wards. colin, lila and colby looked at her at the same time.
"jie!" colby called, running towards her and hugging her.
"hey colby," shayna said, carrying him into her arms. she walked towards colin and sat down beside him.
"hey you," she said as she noticed his clouded look, "what's wrong?" she reached out her hand to touch his. at that moment, colin felt as though he might be mistaken. maybe it was just another colleague who sent her to work. that's all. there was nothing to fret about.
"nothing. just worried about work," he lied, forcing a smile.
"you better take care of your health more than just being concerned with work. now stop frowning and give me a smile," she said, beaming at him. colin could not help it but smile back, now more genuinely.
"that's more like it. i like it when you smile," she said. colin handed her the present.
"here. i hope you like it," he said.
"what's the occassion?" she asked.
"nothing. i just thought you would like it."

colin, colby and lila watched as she opened up the box. it was a small bouquet of chocolate balls. it was really sweet.
"i didn't really want to buy you roses cos i didn't think it would be appropriate. i think this would be better," colin explained.
"it's really sweet of you. thanks," shayna said.
"jie, would you be going with us to see my new school later?" colby asked.
"sorry colby but i can't. i have dinner appointments with a friend already," she said, ruffling his hair.
"a friend?" colin asked, his eyebrows arched up high.
"yeah. an old college buddy. he just came back from london. and he shifted into an apartment right below mine and he's working right here in the same department," shayna said, excitement filled her eyes, "in fact here he is!"

colin watched as shayna walked towards a very handsome young doctor who was already smiling back at her. she took the doctor's arm and pulled him towards colin. that made colin's stomach wrench.

"colin, meet timothy, my old college mate," shayna introduced, "timmy, meet colin, my good friend."
"hi, nice to meet you," timothy said as he stretched out his hand.

colin wasn't so sure if he was happy to meet him too.