Saturday, July 23, 2011 0 comment(s)

Enjoy! (: And don't die of boredom. I apologize in advance for any grammatical errors. I didn't double check before submitting. This was the story I chiong-ed in the kopitiam with ma beer <3

Ending was a bit..rushed. Many parts are. Too much restrictions in writing this story. So..mehhh=__=

Act One

It was a Friday afternoon. Everybody loved Fridays because it meant two days of freedom before school starts again on Monday. The school bell rang. Almost instantly, the sound of dragged chairs and tables echoed throughout the school compound. Everyone burst out of their classrooms, eager to play outside or to go home and catch their favourite cartoon. Caryn, however, walked out of the classroom slowly with a tiny smile on her face.

Her homeroom teacher stopped her on her way out. "Congrats, Chia Wei. I'm sure your parents will be proud of you." This brought a bigger smile to her face.

It was a bright, sunny day. Caryn loved the feel of the warm sun wrapping around her skin. With the wind gently blowing against her face, she slowly made her way to where her mother would always pick her up - under the big oak tree outside school. She couldn't help flashing back to the proudest moments in her life where she walked up the stage in front of the entire school to receive her certificates. Caryn received gold medals for both Inter-state Math Quiz and singing competition. She was bursting with joy and couldn't wait to tell her mama about it.

Poh Eng left home to fetch her daughter from school later than usual today. She had been having a bad time with her husband at home earlier and will have to face him again later. The thought of it was simply depressing. How she wished things could go back to how they were before.

A black Proton Saga pulled up in front of where Caryn stood. It was mama. Caryn's excited face fell the moment she saw dried tear streaks across her mama's face. "Sorry Wei, I got held up at home." Poh Eng's voice cracked. Caryn didn't question any further. With a sigh, she got into the car and stuffed her treasured certificates back into her bag.

True enough, Peter stood waiting at the porch. Poh Eng killed the engine and they got out of the car. New streaks of tears ran down Ivory's cheeks. On the ground next to Peter's feet were two lugages. "Is this really necessary, Eng?" asked Peter. Ignoring Peter completely, Poh Eng turned towards Caryn and said, "Wei, go in and say good bye to your brothers. We're staying at ah ma's house for now." Caryn was dumbfounded, but she did as she was told.

"I'd rather leave than to stay in a place that reeks of that bitch of yours," her mama spat coldly at her papa. An argument broke out outside. Caryn hated seeing her parents like this. She hid behind the door, desperate not to cry. Who was this so-called bitch mama seemed so upset about?

Peter then raised his voice, "Why are you being so stubborn? We've talked about this many times already! My feelings for her can't be helped! Will you stop being so selfish for one second?"

Poh Eng's expression changed from total coldness to hysterical. "Selfish? Selfish you say? Speak for yourself, Pete! I gave everything, EVERYTHING to you. YOU promised me that we'd raise this family together. Whatever happened to that promise?" Poh Eng sobbed while pushing Peter back, emphasizing every word as she pushed. That was when Peter suddenly lost his temper and yelled at Poh Eng right in the face. "THINGS HAVE CHANGED. When will you learn to accept that?" In anger, Peter picked up a stool nearby and flung it across the porch. Caryn jumped as the wooden stool smashed into broken pieces against the wall.

Caryn had never seen the both of them this upset before. Sure, they have had a couple of fights in the middle of the night before, resulting in papa leaving the house. However, this was the first time papa smashed something out of anger.

What came next broke Caryn's heart. She watched from the gap of the door as her mama knelt before her papa, sobbing, pleading.

Deciding that she could no longer bear watching her parents fight, Caryn ran towards the television room where her brothers normally laze around, doing assignments. More smashing sound came from outside the house. Caryn stuck her fingers into her ears and ran, trying to shut their voices out. All sorts of emotions flashed through her. Anger...sadness...frustration.fear.

"It's okay Chia Wei. I'm here. You are not alone," a voice spoke out of nowhere.
Caryn frowned, confused. Where had that come from? It sounded like an old woman's voice.

She then broke into the television room and her brothers' hushed whispers died abruptly. It seemed that Caryn had interrupted an important conversation. "Sorry," Caryn murmured an apology awkwardly. Simon, her older brother merely gave a snort and went back to whatever he was doing on his laptop. Henry however, glanced up at Caryn, gave a small smile and shut his own laptop. "Hey Ryn, how was school today?" asked Henry in a friendly tone.

Henry was Caryn's second older brother and Simon, the eldest. They were both in college. Despite the age gap between Caryn and her brothers, Henry was the only person who acknowledged her and was always kind towards her. Compared to Simon who always ignore her presence, Caryn liked Henry better.

"School was fine, kor," smiled Caryn. "In fact, I got gold for the Math Quiz and the singing competition last week."

Henry laughed throatily. Simon rolled his eyes. Ignoring him, Henry said, "Well done, little sister. C'mere, you little brat," Caryn was then pulled into a bear-choking hug. "Kor.will ma and pa be okay?" Caryn felt herself tearing up again as spoke into Henry's chest. She looked up in time to see Henry's pained expression flash by. Forcing a smile, Henry said, "It will be fine, Wei. We just need to give them some time."

Henry softened at the sight of his little sister's tears. "Silly girl, there's no need to cry." Gently, he wiped the tears off Caryn's tiny face.

At that moment, the door was rudely thrown open. Poh Eng came storming into the room. Her fight with Peter was over and it was time to leave. As Caryn's mama dragged her out of the room, she turned back desperately and gave a tiny wave at Henry.

The lugages outside earlier were gone, as were her papa. Once in the car, Caryn's mother pulled away from the porch in full reverse gear and sped away. Caryn sat at the back, not daring to speak. She wondered whether she will be able to see her brothers again.

"It's okay Chia Wei. I'm here. You are not alone," the voice earlier echoed at the back of her head again. This time, clearer.

Act Two

Poh Eng pulled up in front of an ancient-looking house. It was her deceased mother's house that was left in her name now. Poh Eng used to bring Caryn and her brothers here before the passing of her own mama.

Caryn followed her mama into the old, wooden house. The whole place has a thin coating of dust. It has been a while since she last stepped into this place with her mama. She remembered playing with her other cousins in this extraordinarily long house. They loved peering into the well at the back of the house at night to see the moon reflection. At night, Caryn and the boys would sneak downstairs to the kitchen for snacks. They always avoided the seventh step because it creaks really loud.

Pulling the metal gates shut behind her, Caryn watched as her mama dumped the lugages onto the floor. She seemed to be lost in her own world.

".Mama?" Caryn called out to her mother. However, Poh Eng did not hear her daughter calling. Memories unfolded itself before Poh Eng's eyes as she walked on into the house.

A loud crash brought Poh Eng back to reality. She found herself standing alone in her bedroom. Poh Eng dashed out of her room towards the sound of the crash. It came from the stairs. Poh Eng ran down the hallway and peered over the railing. She found her daughter sprawled on her back with the lugages around her.

"Oi, don't be so clumsy can or not? There are fragile items in there," Poh Eng scolded her daughter as she descended the wooden steps heavily.

Caryn painfully got to her feet, trying hard not to wince. Maybe trying to get the lugages up into her room on her own wasn't such a great idea, judging by how tiny her body was. She had nearly broken her back when she lost balance at the stairs.

"Move aside, Chia Wei,"Ivory shoved Caryn aside as she bent to pick up the lugages. "Go shower. Ma will make dinner soon. Finish up your homeroom your homework after you shower." With that, Ivory turned and stomped back up the stairs. Caryn stood rooted there for a while, staring at her mama disappear into the corner before heading to the bathroom at the far end of the house.

The washroom at her ah ma's place had no water heater. Caryn bit the insides of her mouth to keep herself from squealing as ice-cold water hit her head. She looked down and curled her feet instinctively. She had always hated how the tiles on the bathroom floor were so tiny. It made her feel uncomfortable.

Soft, sizzling sound came from the kitchen. Poh Eng had heated up the oil in the wok and was adding ingredients in. The strong smell of garlic and onions hung in the air. Caryn walked out of the bathroom with her stomach grumbling. "Mama, what's for dinner?"

"What is it that you see in Tan Xiu Tan? I really don't understand. She doesn't do house chores, she's so spoilt and bitchy. How can you stand her, Peter?" Poh Eng spoke into the wok, her eyes a distant away.

Assuming that she was not wanted there, Caryn walked away. She unpacked her school bag and began doing homework on the dining table until it was time for dinner.

The mother and daughter sat and ate in awkward silence. Every now and then, Poh Eng would start mumbling into her bowl. Seeing her mama behave like this freaked Caryn out a little.

At night, Poh Eng's room door creaked open, her daughter walked quietly into the room, looking tired. Poh Eng turned and smiled at her daughter. "Come here, Wei. Let mama comb your hair." Poh Eng loved combing Caryn's hair before bed. It brought back reminiscence to the days where her own mama would comb her hair while singing to her. To Caryn, this was the only bonding time with her mama. Most of the time, mama was just too busy for her.

Caryn sat in her mama's lap as Poh Eng started combing her hair. They sat in silence for a while until Caryn's mama broke the silence.

"Wei, do you know? If you were not born, papa wouldn't have left us."

Frowning at the ground, Caryn's hand unconsciously reached for her chest. It ached a little. She suddenly missed Henry.
"You don't have to stand here and let her hurt you, Chia Wei. It's okay. Just walk out the door"

The old woman's voice was back again.

Caryn turned to face her mama. "Why would you say that, mama? Do you not want me?" There was hurt in her voice. Caryn felt her mother become stiff. "No, of course I do want you Wei, it's just that I wished I had you earlier."

"Lies!"
Caryn felt heat spreading around her ears and neck.

Caryn found herself getting off her mama's lap and walk towards the door. At the door, Caryn paused and said to her mother without turning back, "She says you're lying mama. Lying is bad."

Caryn then left the room with her mama staring blankly after her.

Weeks flew by within the blink of an eye. Poh Eng became more violent towards Caryn. There were more punishments, more yelling, more beating. By then, Caryn was already used to her mother mumbling to herself. The old woman's voice would constantly pop up in her mind whenever she felt sad or lonely.

One Sunday afternoon, Poh Eng locked her daughter in her deceased mama's bedroom for not finishing her homework. That was where Caryn met the person who has been talking to her.

Caryn hated it when she gets locked up. She had nothing to do but to stare into empty space, waiting for her mama to let her out. This was the first time her mama had locked her up in a new room. Caryn wandered around the room. On the wall hung many black and white portraits of a young woman smiling back at her. The young woman in the portraits looked a lot like her own mama, but prettier. Some of the pictures had a young man in it.

"We finally meet, Caryn." a familiar voice came from behind.

Caryn jumped and spun around to find an older woman smiling warmly at her. Caryn's heart raced fast. "How did you get in here?" The old woman walked towards the portraits and said, "This is my bedroom, sayang. Should I not be in it?" Caryn stared at the back of the old woman curiously, "Who are you?"

The old woman spun around and pointed towards one of the portraits that has the writing of the names Mary and Ah Huat. Caryn then noticed that Mary was the same person as the old woman. They were both wearing the same flowery dress.

"Mary?" Caryn whispered.
The old woman merely smiled at her.

The next day, Tina came over with her son that afternoon. Tina was Poh Eng's neighbour, also a childhood friend. "Is Chia Wei around, Eng?" Tina asked. "It has been a while since I saw your daughter. Maybe she could meet my son, Yen."

"Yeah, she's upstairs in mama's bedroom." Poh Eng rolled her eyes at her friend. "You can go find her if you like. I'll be here."

Tina led her son up the stairs; this place reminded her of her childhood days with Poh Eng. At the door, she heard something strange. Caryn seemed to be talking to somebody and was having a good time. Puzzled, Tina turned to her son and asked, "Did Aunty Eng say Caryn was with someone else?" Yen shrugged, "Don't think so."

A knock came from the door, interrupting Caryn's tea with Mary.
"...Mama?" Caryn called out.
"It's me, Aunty Tina," the voice outside said. "I brought someone you might want to meet." Slowly, Caryn got up from her seat and went to the door. "You have to open the door for me, Aunty. I'm being locked in." She heard the door being unlocked; an older woman who looked about her mama's age appeared at the door. She smiled down at Caryn and said, "Hi Caryn. Do you remember me? It's been so long!" The woman bent down and gave her a hug. Caryn stood frozen on the spot. Who was this woman? She couldn't remember.

A boy's head poked out from behind the woman. He looked about her age. "Hi," he greeted shyly. Standing up straight again, Tina pushed Yen to the front and properly introduced him. "Caryn, I want you to meet my son, Yen. Yen, this is Caryn, Auntie Poh Eng's daughter. She's the same age as you are."

Tina looked at her watch and gasped, "Wah, it's already four! I gotta get you to tuition class, ah boy." Tina looked back down at Caryn and said, "We live right across the street. Feel free to drop by any time, alright?" Before leaving, Yen turned back and gave Caryn a tiny smile. "I guess I'll see you soon, Caryn."

After the two disappeared down the stairs, Caryn turned back to find Mary gone.

"Eng, I think you're daughter's acting a little weird." Tina started as she and her son entered the living room again. Poh Eng put her paper down and asked quizzically, "What do you mean by that?"

"She was talking to no one when we approached the room." Tina continued. "I think...maybe you shouldn't lock her up like that." Then, they left.

At seven, Poh Eng and Caryn sat at the round dining table, having their dinner. It was the usual silence. Poh Eng suddenly slammed her chopsticks down against the table. Caryn nearly choked on her chicken. This was bad. Mama was unhappy about something. She was going to punish her again...

"Were you trying to embarrass me earlier just now? It really wasn't funny, Wei," mother spoke coldly. "I don't understand, mama. When did I embarrass you? " Caryn asked, confused. She had no idea what mama was talking about.

"Don't act dumb, Lim Chia Wei! I will not tolerate lies. You were trying to make me look bad by pretending you were mental, weren't you?" Poh Eng had lost her cool, she snapped at her daughter.

"No, I wasn't!" Caryn raised her own voice at Poh Eng. "She's real! I can see her!" At that moment, Caryn felt someone squeeze her shoulder gently in a reassuring way. She turned around. It was Mary. "She's here, right now mama! Look!" Caryn gestured to her back where Mary stood smiling.

Poh Eng threw her chopsticks at Caryn. "I've had ENOUGH of your little nonsense." Poh Eng reached forward and slapped her daughter across the face. Immediately, Caryn fell silent. She looked like she had lost her soul. Clearing her throat, Poh Eng said, "Clean up the dishes and go to bed." With that, she stormed out of the kitchen.

"It's okay, sayang. Ignore your mama. I'm here. I'll always be here for you." Mary whispered softly. Her eyes glittered with tears as she cupped Caryn's tiny face in her warm, wrinkled hands. "Come, I'll accompany you while you do the dishes and then we'll go off to bed."

"Thank you, Mary. You're my best friend forever." Caryn turned and sobbed into the old woman's chest. A slow smile appeared on Mary's thin lips.

Act three

"Hi, Caryn!" a cheerful voice came from nowhere. Caryn cracked open an eye lazily and then sat up bolt straight. Dizziness swept through her and she fell back to the bed, moaning.

"Woah, take it easy," Yen's bright, happy face popped in front of hers. What was he doing here this early? Caryn wondered. As if reading her mind, Yen answered, "Your mother let me in. I figured I'd swing by since it's a Saturday. No school tomorrow!"

"Do you wanna hang out with me at the river? It'll be fun!" Yen exclaimed. It was the first time someone had asked her out to play. Caryn thought about it happily and was about to say 'Yes' until it dawned upon her that she needed to finish off her Chinese essay or else her mama would lock her up again.

Yen saw her face fell and asked, "What's wrong?"

"I...can't play with you today, Yen. I've got homework to do," Caryn replied reluctantly. "Two Chinese essays that would take forever to complete," she added in her mind. "I'll help," Yen said eagerly. "What do you have?"

"...Two Chinese essays," Caryn mumbled.

To her surprise, Yen's eyes lit up. "Perfect! I'm good at Chinese. I can help you out." The two then got to work. Thanks to Yen, Caryn was able to finish both essays within two hours. To make matters better, her mama had permitted her to go out with Yen.

Mary stood at the door, expressionless. She watched sadly as Caryn abandoned her and went with the boy.

"Where are we going?" Caryn asked after the hundredth time. It was taking forever to reach the so-called 'river' Yen promised. "Soon!" came his excited voice.

True enough, after a few more turn down Heeren Street, a beautiful view came into sight. Caryn was stunned. She never knew such place had existed. The surrounding was serene and there were many shady areas to rest at. Birds sang, and the distant "whooshing" sound of the tree leaves made Caryn feel really comfortable.

Yen took her hand in his and led her to a spot under a funny-looking tree. It was short and stout and looked almost like a teapot. "This, is Elena," Yen pointed at the tree. She's my favourite spot to rest under ,also my sanctuary. I come here often whenever papa and mama argue."

Yen took a seat and patted on the space next to him, motioning for Caryn to sit as well. The two began talking about school. It seemed that Yen attended an all-boys school just nearby. Not long later, Caryn got used to Yen's presence and became comfortable around him.

Unaware of where the conversation was stirring, the both opened up themselves to one another and had a heart-to-heart talk. From Yen's story, Caryn knew that he grew up in the same environment as she did. Their family was not perfect, and it was a struggle between them to keep it together. Caryn then told him about her family condition as well.

Caryn felt a rush of affection towards Yen. He understood her feelings well. Since that day, the two of them grew really close together. Years passed. Even after Caryn and her mother went back to their own home and stay, the two still kept in contact. Caryn began to lean towards Yen and went to him whenever she felt troubled.

"Where have you been?" a voice surprised Caryn as she stepped into her room. It was Mary. It has been a while since she saw her. Recently, Caryn was either busy with tuition or out with Yen. SPM was drawing nearer; Caryn simply had no time for Mary anymore.

"I'm terribly sorry, Mary." Caryn said as she dumped her school bag on the floor. "I was out studying at Yen's place."

This made Mary sad. "You rarely talk to me anymore, Caryn. I thought I was your friend."
Mary walked out the room, hurt. Somehow, this bothered Caryn a little but she didn't go after Mary.

In the blink of an eye, SPM was finally over. Caryn was getting ready in her room, preparing to go for a movie date with Yen until a phone call came for her.

"Caryn, it's me. Yen." the voice said over the phone. It sounded sad. Yen paused, and Caryn waited to hear more. "I'm leaving to the States day after tomorrow. Dad wants me to study abroad there." Caryn was stunned. "I'm sorry." Yen said, then hung up.

Since then, Caryn built a wall around her and shut everybody out from her world. She wouldn't even let her beloved brother Henry in. She was still sad from the fact Yen had to leave her. At times, in her desperate moments, she began thinking of Mary, crying out to Mary...but Mary never appeared.

One night, just before she slept, the all-too-familiar voice came from the dark.

"Now you want me back, don't you? After dumping me for your love boy like that." It was Mary. She was back. However, her appearance had changed. She looked exactly like how she was in the portraits back in her ah ma's house.

This was the younger Mary, a more aggressive one. Gone was the friendly Mary Caryn once knew.

"Hold out your hand." She ordered. Caryn did so obediently. Mary took a pen knife from her pocket and sliced Caryn's hands. "Swear to me by blood, that we will never be apart again."

In a daze, Caryn answered. "I swear." Tears fell as her blood trickled down her fingers.