The Boys Meet

colin didn't know how to respond. he just stood there stunned for a while. then lila interupted that awkward moment.
"sorry but Dr. Chong is ready to see you," she said to Colin.
"thanks lila. see you around shayna," colin spat before walking away with colby. shayna watched as they left. colby's longing eyes were upon her but colin kept making him walk away from her. she didn't even have the chance to talk to colby.
"what a quirky friend you have there," timothy said, placing his arm around shayna. she stepped forward and away from his embrace.
"i think i better get back to work," she said, sounding really upset.

***
as lila, colin and colby walked towards Dr. Chong's room, colin turned to lila and thanked her.
"if it wasn't for you i wouldn't know how to respond," he said.
"it's alright. maybe you can show your thanks by buying me a drink sometime," lila smiled.
"yeah sure. maybe next week when colby comes in for another checkup?" colin asked.
"no problem. i'll schedule him just before i knock off next week," lila said.
"thanks again. see you," colin smiled before entering the room. after he disappeared into the room, lila jumped with glee as she looked at the name card. finally she got her turn with the handsome colin tan!

***
Shayna looked at colin's present. it was a very pretty bouquet and delicious too. she bit one chocolate off. it was her favourite milk chocolate tho she always complained that chocolates was rather bad for her, she still liked them anyway.
"shay?" she heard timothy call her. she quickly placed the chocolate bouquet at a hidden corner of her table and picked up her pen to pretend to do work.
"hey," she said as timothy came up to her desk.
"shay, i wanted to give this to you later during dinner but i think you might need it now," he said, handing her a longstem red rose.
"thanks timmy. you shouldn't have gone to buy it. you know i don't really fancy flowers," she said, admiring the rose.
"i know but a girl always needs a dose of flowers to brighten her day. i'll pick you up later," he said, tilting her chin up to see her smile.

"wow. a rose from Dr Leong, chcolates from Mr. Tan. Shayna, i really have to tip my hat to you," katy said as she walked pass Shayna's desk.
"oh katy. stop being stupid. Dr. Leong and I are just friends while Colin and I... well, i don't know the status of our relationship," shayna replied.
"well, from what i see is that you have two eligible men vying for you. i'm sure Dr. Leong doesn't really just wanna be friends with you... if you know what i mean," katy said, touching the rose.
"i don't know katy. it's just so confusing now."
"let you heart decide," katy said before leaving shayna alone. why was relationships so difficult? she couldn't understand what constitues love and friends? could good friends never get together? could the man of your liking suddenly be cold to you?

***

after colby was satisfied with his new school, colin took him home to tell everyone the good news.
"hey mom, dad. colby has chosen his school," colin said, passing Mr. Tan the application forms.
"that's great son. thanks for being such a great help," Mr. Tan said, clapping Colin on his back.
"stay for dinner," Mrs. Tan said, "the food is just about ready." colin hesitated for a while but thinking that Megan might be waiting up for him, he decided to stay on.
"need my help mother?" he asked, hugging her from behind.
"it's alright son. go wash up and change into something lighter. you look tired," she said, kissing him on the cheek.

colin headed up to his old room when he was still staying with his parents. they hadn't bothered to shift or change anything because they always wanted him to come back and stay for a few days with them though he had his own place. he pulled out a cotton tee and his old black shorts and headed for the toilet.

"kor, time for dinner," colby called as he banged on the toilet door.
"alright i'll be there," he called out. he ruffled his wet hair with the towel and pulled up his pants. he smelt so fresh, like the time when he was at shayna's place. he could still remember the scent of her hair when they were lying together on the same bed and the lavander shampoo she given him.

but she's out with some doctor right now and i bet she doesn't even care a damn about me he thought to himself.

***

"so where do you wanna eat?" timothy asked as they drove out of the hospital. shayna was still deep in thought, confused and burdened.
"i'm not really hungry yet," she finally said.
"alright. then let's take you to somewhere to chill out first," timothy said. shyana nodded though she didn't feel like going anywhere right now. she just felt like going home to mope around.
timothy took her to the riverside where he hoped shayna would be able to calm down and maybe talk things out with him. he knew that face shayna had. that moody and glum look when she was always troubled and worried about something. he wished he could somehow help her but shayna was always so strong and independent that she hardly let anyone into her problems. they sat down on a bench alongside the river. shayna heaved a sigh as timothy pulled out a coin from his pocket.

"what's that for?" shayna asked, puzzled.
"well, i wanted to give you a penny for your thoughts but since i only have a twenty cent coin here and no pennies, i think it should entitle me to at least one thought," timothy joked.
"wow that was a cheesy line," shayna said, snickering.
"here. take the coin and let me be your listening ear for once," timothy begged, taking her hand and putting the coin in it.
shayna smiled, "it's nothing actually. i was thinking about love and relationships. somehow i can't put a finger on what i want in a love relationship."

"why is that? you always knew what you wanted," timothy said.
"yeah i know but somehow this is different. this involves people and feelings and emotions. it's hard to decide for myself, not to mention for another person."
"yeah i understand what you mean," timothy said, leaning back onto the bench.
"you understand?" shayna asked, raising her eyebrows, "you were the most sought after guy in college and everyone wanted to be your girlfriend and of all the girls in school you had to choose Long-legs Cecila."
"woah! you still remembered?" timothy laughed. Cecila was his longest girlfriend back in his school days. they lasted a long nine months, "she was ancient AND to think you can come up with a silly nickname like that for her," timothy grimaced.

shayna laughed too. "when did you end it with her?"
"just before i finished the army. she was two timing me. i didn't like it so i decided to break it off," timothy said confidently.
"really? Long-legs was two timing you? with who?" shayna sat up, surprised.
"with Stanley."
"WHAT?! Santa Claus Stanley?!" Shayna exclaimed, placing her hands to the side of her and mimicking a fat round shape.
"just look at you and your crazy nicknames! yeah, it was the jolly Stanley. i agree he didn't look the part to be the other party but he has a great sense of humor that the ladies liked. i guess Cecila liked his humor more than my looks," timothy said.
"well, i must say they would look like the oddest couple in town," shayna laughed, shaking her head.
"yeah but i still can't believe she two-timed me," timothy said as he stretched himself and felt his bones cracking, "i bet you were never two-timed. you are such a sweet and great girl. no one would want to hurt you like that."
shayna went silent. she didn't know what to say. that made her think back of megan, colin and her. timothy then noticed her silence and quickly apologised.
"did i say anything that hurt you?" timothy asked.
"no. you didn't actually i'm not that great afterall. i was two-timed just recently," she admitted.
"really? you were the guy's girlfriend or..."
"the other one. but he broke it off with her to be with me but i didn't really want to be the rebound girl so we placed it on hold. we're just friends now," shayna said.

"have you ever thought of being with someone else rather than that person?" timothy asked.
"i'm not sure. i've not had guys knocking on my door unlike you... girls queuing up outside the hospital to meet you," shayna joked.
"hey... right now i'm single and pursuing so no other girls for me," timothy blurted out before he could even stop himself.
"pursuing? who?" shayna got eager.