Chapter Text
The air that greeted me was cold but artificial – which kind of set the tone for everything I’ve been seeing since I landed in sunny Singapore 15 minutes ago. Their world-class airport is clean, impressive and efficient, if not even extremely high tech, and tells all of the passengers of what to expect throughout the small island, maybe. But while everything is indeed remarkable, my mind is not allowing me to wander.
If only it weren’t for this small boulder in the pit of my stomach that started growing since I caught sight of the island’s neat and impressive structures visible from the window seat while my plane was hovering around the air minutes ago, then maybe I would feel excited for Singapore. But right now, I’m a small ball of anxiety and excitement.
My phone vibrates. I adjust my leather sling bag and fish my phone out of my right pocket, while still walking on the long stretch of brown carpeted area of Changi Airport. Everything feels international here indeed, but there are obvious choices that still make it distinctly Asian – for example, Newark’s all about long stretches of marble floors but it felt a lot more western neutral. Changi’s interiors still make me feel foreign, though not entirely not at home. I guess that’s what airports are supposed to do.
Your name pops up on my screen. I feel a small easy smile spread across my face, somehow trying to ease the anxiety that’s making itself at home in my stomach.
Lisa, I’m just running a little late. The immigration should be a breeze, so you should be out soon. You’re not going to be waiting for luggage, are you?
I look a little bit at your name, my thumb poised at the keyboard to reply.
: I just landed, take your time. My luggage goes straight to my connecting flight. Don’t worry about it.
Okay, you’ll be out of the airport in about 15 minutes, then. Gosh. I’m sorry.
: I still need to go through immigration, don’t worry. Take your time.
Yeah, but that’s just 5, 10 minutes tops. I told you they’re efficient.
There’s a new mall called Jewel that connects to the airport, they have this indoor falls there that most people find impressive. You might want to see it to kill time. I can meet you there?
Am I most people? I don’t particularly find indoor falls impressive, but I kind of balk a little at how easily I got categorized as generic.
I chuckled bitterly at myself. Yeah, shut up Lisa. You’re not special.
I smile at the suggestion anyway.
: Yeah, I can see you there. If there’s an Apple Store there I’ll probably go straight to it. Meet you there?
Some things don’t change. You’re still an Apple fangirl, lol
See you.
: See you.
I nervously flip my phone in my hand and rush a little towards immigration, feeling a distinct hop in my steps.
--
You’re right, immigration was a breeze. I easily locate the signs pointing towards “Jewel” and navigate towards the area. I pause a little over at the Duty-Free cosmetics and wine area and wondered if I should get you something before I go out, then again I’m not really sure what’s you’re into nowadays. I shrug it off and start going to the mall you mentioned.
Jewel is as impressive as they come, but I take only 10 seconds and leave the indoor falls everyone raved about. I’ve read about it before but these aren’t things that capture me nowadays. I still like the idea of natural things.
I guess I really am not ‘most people’ then.
I head towards the second floor and locate the Apple Store. I look around a little bit in the area and it’s crowded with people killing time before their flight, with their luggage beside them while looking at the new phones. Made me feel thankful I didn’t have to take out my luggage myself. I deftly navigated around the crowd and my eyes looked for a few pieces, before finally finding the section that I need, located on the other side of the area. I start walking towards that section when a pair of arms hug me from behind, an excited squeal heard through my left ear.
“Lisa!” The excited voice perked me.
My defences kind of left me in a bit of shock, so I wasn’t immediately able to process these things. You have to forgive me, I lived in New York for 6 months. In New York, someone hugging you could also be someone either mugging you or molesting you, you’ll never know. But realising I’m in an Apple Store in one of the safest cities in the world, it took me a good 5 seconds to calm myself down and slowly look at the mysterious hugger, finding a set of cat eyes almost dissolving into the wide excited smile occupying your whole face.
It took me a beat to kind of take this in, before getting assaulted by another warm hug. Your body moulded well into my own as you thrust yourself towards my neck, and while I was awkwardly bent from the surprise back hug you gave me earlier, you managed to fit yourself in every space to find my frame. I tentatively wrap my right hand around your waist to support you. I knew these were those hugs that are meant to be a quick welcome and I was bracing myself to let your lithe body go, but you seemed to have hugged tighter and warmer and lingered into my embrace. So, like perhaps anyone whose defences finally broke down, I finally melt into your wrap and allow my head to rest on your shoulders and bask in your affection.
“Someone missed me,” I utter into your freshly shampooed hair. I suddenly felt a little conscious that I probably smell of an 18-hour flight and cursed myself for not even bringing a travel-size perfume in my bag, but your tightening hug doesn’t seem to care. I feel a playful slap hit my back before you let go of me and grab both of my cheeks and stared at me with that usual grin of yours.
“Cocky,” You roll your eyes.
It was only now that I was able to take a good look at your face, understanding why I didn’t recognize you earlier in the first place: Wow, you got gorgeous, Ruby Jane. Is this what 2 or so years of living in Singapore does to you?
I see your cheeks blush and realize that I apparently uttered those thoughts out loud.
“Shut up, Lisa. You’re just jet-lagged.”
“No, seriously, Jennie, you look more beautiful now.” We start walking out of the store and towards the mall entrance. I’m starting to feel the heat of Singapore on my skin. It’s not an unwelcome feeling, but just…something new.
“Are you saying I wasn’t beautiful before?”
“I said MORE beautiful,” I look at you, checking you out from head to toe. You’re wearing a simple white oversized long-sleeved cotton shirt with sleeves folded neatly under your elbow and the hem tucked under a pair of light blue denim shorts, with a slouchy pair of brown boots. Your dark brown hair’s all free and wavy, a huge departure from the straight prim jet-black hair you’ve had since our University days. Your make up style has changed as well, highlighting all the best parts of your face.
I’m not lying. There’s something about you that changed – better. Like a Jennie 2.0. I mean, I’ve seen your face in some of the updates you post online, but wow, seeing you in person, you’re just…different. Better different. Overwhelmingly different.
You roll your eyes and try to fiddle with your phone, but there’s an obvious shy grin on your face. We leave the store and I follow you as you start walking towards the exit.
“I am booking a car to go to this place so you can have a little bit of food before our late lunch later at 2 pm. Jisoo has set up a reservation for us so she said to take our time.”
Ah. I almost forgot that we’re supposed to be meeting old friends at 2 pm. Your face distracted me from everything at the moment.
“How far is the brunch place from the late lunch place?” I worriedly ask while we step outside of the mall entrance, where a few people were milling about, waiting for their own car pickups. Not that I don’t trust your navigation judgments but everywhere in New York is traffic; it’s already 11:40 am so I’m not sure we have enough time to even go around.
“It’s just 10 minutes, don’t worry. Everything here is quite close so it’s not exactly that bad.” You glance at your phone again and then softly grab my arm. “Can you look for a plate number starting with SLS? The app says the car’s already here.”
I’m a bit taken aback by how quickly the car arrived. Must be a breeze living in the most efficient place in the world, indeed. I try to scan a few plate numbers. “What’s the car type?”
“Never mind, found it!” You flash me that gummy smile again and you grab my wrist effortlessly, guiding me to the car. I shake my head, smiling. You go around the other side of the car and get in from there; I slide into the other side of the backseat.
As soon as we’ve settled in I let you discuss things with the driver while I catch my breath. Now that we’re in an enclosed space, your scent easily takes up the backseat and I welcome the mild invasion. Traces of your shampoo, Chanel and your natural scent propel me into nostalgia.
I have missed you.
You twist yourself in your seat to face me, another gummy smile in your lit-up face. I don’t know if it’s the travel taking its toll on me or the overwhelming feeling of experiencing you again, so I take a deep sigh and pull a small grin, knowing I couldn’t match your energy. I think you knew. Your face slowly made way into a small, understanding smile; your eyes softening a bit on its gaze. You gently reach for my hair and I feel myself unconsciously close my eyes for a few seconds, the warmth of your hand so close to my face starting to feel familiar.
I see you gulp before commenting, “Your hair has changed. It’s more wavy now. I like it.”
I shrug, the tired smile not leaving my lips. From since landing here and meeting you to being this close and staring at your face, it hasn’t stopped making me feel overwhelmed, but I am not sure I want the feeling to go.
“I’m sorry I haven’t asked, but how was your flight?” You pulled your hand back and I almost wanted to protest – no, I think I actually did whimper a small protest – but I don’t think you heard.
“It’s okay, It’s as long as expected.”
“Did you get some rest at all?”
“I did. I didn’t even have to take some wine, I just went straight to dozing off. I didn’t get much sleep before the flight and Newark’s a bit noisy.”
“Oh, right. You did fly straight from New York, didn’t you? I thought you may have had other layovers.”
“No, just this. I wanted to see you guys before I go back to Seoul tonight.”
“I’m sorry I can’t tour you around too much. I mean technically I can since the CBD area is just 15 minutes from the airport and I’m sure you’d want to see the Marina Bay Sands and the Merlion. But you did say on Katalk that you don’t really want to walk around.”
I purse my lips a bit, tentative with my next answer. “I’m fine. I can visit Singapore separately in the future. I really just want to have a catch up with the folks here. And you.”
Your face brightens a bit and for a moment, I wish my layover wasn’t just 8 hours. I wish I could have just booked the whole weekend, but I need to be in Seoul Monday morning and there were a few things I needed to arrange before that. I wish work wasn’t a bitch.
“Thank you for picking me up, by the way. You didn’t have to.”
You just shrug, but your warm look lingers. We both look outside our windows for a moment, not sure where to pick up, I suppose. I gauge if there’s a feeling of tension, but I think we’re just trying to gauge each other at the moment.
“Singapore’s pretty impressive,” I start another conversation as I look at the line of flowers parading the middle part of an expressway. I remember seeing Singapore years ago, but probably not as vivid as my memories serve me. I just remember purely impressive buildings, the constant innovation. I don’t remember long stretches of greens and shorter, older buildings. “Really hot out, though.”
“I’m sure you wanted to peel off your skin the moment you got here due to the heat.”
I look at the long-sleeved oxford shirt I’ve inadvertently scrunched up to my elbows when I landed, trying to let in as much air to my body as possible. Beside my hand that’s resting on the leather seat of the car, your arm is sprawled lazily, and I see the distinct difference of my pale limbs that have known only Seoul and recently, New York’s climates, while yours have that distinct tan from living 2+ years in this small paradise.
Your skin still has that creamy delicious look to it as I remember from years ago, but has now been carefully loved by Singapore’s weather. I get a feeling of a little jealousy wondering how you spent your weekends here, perhaps maybe lounged on the beach with a book in your hand and a skimpy swimsuit in tow, or maybe Sundays going around the food markets in a soft summer dress that I’m sure would fit you perfectly. I longingly look at those long fingers of yours and remember how many times I have intertwined my own with them in the past, but I stop myself thinking it’s impolite: there are just so many things you can’t easily go back to like that.
The car goes around and you sit up in anticipation; your eyes roaming around. I do the same and realise that the neighbourhood looks different from what I expected: it has rows and rows of old shop houses but the bars and restaurants that occupied the lower spaces are relatively new and slightly out of place. One area has an old Chinese massage healing shop, but beside it is a Pilates gym. The white European folks mingling with the old locals. The old and the new juxtaposed.
I feel my eyes widen with interest as I scope the new place. The car slows down to a halt in one of the smaller alleys.
“We’re here!” You announce, getting off the car after thanking the driver. I carefully look at my side of the road to check for incoming cars before I open my door to alight and see you waiting for me at the curb. I smile a little to myself: it’s the small things that are tickling me today.
“What is it that you’re showing me today, Jennie?” I scan the shop with mild anticipation: it’s a relatively old eating place that looks a bit packed. We start heading inside and the place greets me with various smells I couldn’t place; something that kind of smells a bit like…curry? Or creamy chilli. The walls are littered with various newspaper clippings written in both Chinese and English, assuming news about how popular the place is. There’s a photo of a good looking guy with what looks like maybe the owner of the place. Another one with a white guy…wait, is that Gordon Ramsay? This shop must be that famous then.
“Well, you said you wanted to eat stuff that is distinctly Singaporean, so I’m getting you Laksa.”
“Laksa,” I repeat.
“Yeah. This is one of the best on the island.”
“Okay, yeah, I’ll try that I guess.”
“You sound hesitant.”
“Well, I’ve tried Laksa back in Seoul. I can’t remember it being that good.”
“Well, you haven’t tried THIS one, and I’m gonna tell you right now, it’s at least worth a rematch.”
I laugh at your term. You get to the counter and order us two bowls and a few other things, while I wait beside you. I quickly grab some cash and shove it to your hand just before you tried looking for your wallet.
“It’s on me, please. Please?” I repeat when your eyes looked like they were just about to argue. You roll your eyes and take my $50 and give it to the cashier. After getting the change, you motion to an empty table that just got cleaned up and we settle on the plastic seats.
A guy comes up to bring bottled water and coke, and you open up the soda and pour it into a glass in one swift motion. You then slide it to my hand.
“Drink a bit. You’re going to need a little sugar boost. You’ll thank me later.”
I smile at your thoughtfulness and take a small sip. You proceed to open the bottled water and pour some into the glass, then offer it to me as well. I chuckle at how you’ve been trying to get me to perk up, but I shake my head at the offer. Later, I mouthed.
“So. Tell me about New York,” You begin.
I nod a little, composing things in my head.
“Well, it’s nothing that interesting. I mean, the firm I work for made me go to the client site for about a few months to oversee the analytics part of the project I’m working on. It kind of made sense to fly over to New York till the whole thing was launched. It was supposed to be just less than 3 months but we kind of took on another project as well while I was there, so it got stretched to a few more months.”
My job hasn’t really changed much since two years ago, so it wasn’t really a very huge catch-up. You nod a little, your cat eyes looking at me intently.
“Who’s your biggest competitor now?”
I pause a little at the question. I’ve never usually been asked that before.
“I don’t know.” I slowly answer. “I’m not prepared for this question. I don’t know, to be honest.”
“Well, isn’t that usually the benchmark? Like who we can we compare to in terms of growth.”
The guy returns with two laksa bowls and saves me more response time. I look at the creamy bowl and see bits of the chilli and try not to wince. I’m sure it will be good. Both you and I pick up our soup spoons and play a little with the noodles. You start slowly eating through your bowl while I still play around with the soup a bit.
“I’m thinking about it, and…I don’t know. I mean, it’s good to kind of have a benchmark, yes, but wouldn’t it kind of take you away from your own goals? It might kind of distract you trying to see what your competition is doing instead of focusing on the development you have.”
“But how are you going to find out about new things that could help you grow?”
“That’s where the research and development comes in. It doesn’t have to be competitor data. It can be data from peers.”
“Wow. That’s a relatively deep life lesson there, Lisa.”
We both laugh a little. You motion towards my own bowl that I haven’t touched.
“I really should stop making you talk. Try it, please.”
I nod and take a bit of taste. What explodes in my tongue is an array of Asian flavours: coconut milk, a little but perfectly blended chilli, bits of seafood and other flavourful pieces. The noodles seem to be there as support to the strong taste and complements the whole bowl pretty well.
“Oh, this is fantastic,” I think I moan a little, but I’m far from embarrassed. Your face beams at the recognition. “This definitely makes my other laksa pale in comparison.”
“Yeah, I think other countries kind of toss in other much more local blends to appeal to the general public, that’s why that laksa in Seoul probably didn’t taste that authentic.”
Your eyes suddenly widen. I look at you with slight worry.
“What.”
You point towards my lips, with a slight giggle. I automatically touch my lips. You shake your head and grab a tissue, then softly dab just below my lip.
I am taken aback. I feel like we’ve kind of been treading on things carefully since we met today and this…sudden affection feels like the next step to being back to before. And like before, of course, I default to pulling off jokes to cover my emotions.
“Careful, Jennie. I’m starting to think this is a date.”
I grin slyly, or at least what I think is a semblance of it. To be honest my heart is still currently stuck on running at 60kms per hour thinking about how you caringly moved your hand to clean my lips with a napkin. Any contact you do just jumps my heart right now.
“God, years of not seeing each other and you still can’t help but flirt,” You roll your eyes, laughing. “It’s faster if I clean it up myself. The sooner I get it out, the faster you can appreciate the food I got you.”
I raise my eyebrow, implying that you are deflecting. I then shake my head and chuckle. “Like I said, this is fantastic. This store definitely does not shy away from the local taste. I love this. Thank you, Jennie.”
You proudly smile at your decision and we continue to eat through the remaining bowl of Laksa.