When There Is Nothing Left But Love

A few of them looked at me in confusion. “Are you constipated?”

No one but Nora was capable of making such a crass comment.

Rolling my eyes, I resumed my seat and replied, “I bumped into a friend that’s all.”

My reply seemed to have piqued her interests even more. “What friend? Is it a he or she?” Is he handsome?”

Oh dear…

Tessa’s gaze fell on me; her lips pursed with traces of disdain.

I lost my appetite after taking a few bites when Nora suggested a karaoke session on the second floor.

Everyone agreed to her suggestion. After all, they did promise themselves to play hard after returning home from Western Europe.

The second floor was full of private rooms for karaoke with a big pool hall in the middle. Customers who did not fancy singing karaoke could spend time playing pool out here. I regarded this to be a very thoughtful design.

I was terribly tone-deaf and could neither sing nor dance. Tessa seemed to view karaoke singing in the same light. But it could just be that she didn’t like it at all. For all that I knew, we both disliked the rowdy environment.

After spending some time in our private room, I excused myself to get some air.

Nora kept shooting me looks to get out of her

was wired wrongly for him tonight to subject himself to such discordant singings by a few

and maybe two or three women in between. Pool was not

I found a bench on the side

to me. It took me a few seconds

had had very few exchanges throughout the night; thus I was

from

she wasn’t even looking at me.

The man?

me which man she was referring to, I pursed my lips and hesitated for

of grievances among people. I can get over whatever had happened between us in

by her statement but chose to

are going to remain friends, it’s not in anyone’s benefit if our relationship remains as strained as it is. Since we

raised, still puzzled

as disagreement and retorted, “There’s no need to be arrogant, it’s fine by me if

“Tessa, I think sometimes you’re trapped in your

means we’re friends!” she exclaimed while holding out her hand.

handing it back to me. “I’ve saved my phone number and added my WhatsApp to your phone. Let’s stay