A Story of 2 – Chapter 1

The names in this story were changed to protect those innocent people who I might offend either directly or indirectly.

It was one of those hot and dry days in Malaysia when I decided to accompany Harry, a very close friend of mine, for lunch with 2 girls in the nearby Nando’s after he agreed to fetch me to my aunt place so that I can return the laptop which I borrowed.

As I was peacefully getting ready, then all of the sudden Harry called. Knowing that he will call once he is outside the house, I did not bother to answer and quickly picked the laptop and reach for the house keys. Call me Mr. Forgetful, I totally forgotten to put on my belt as the pants I was wearing were loose; thanks to the lost of weight in recent months. This turn out to be a hassle for me because for the whole entire lunch with Harry, I was consistently pulling the pants up.

Enough of my pants for now…

As ever, Harry was patiently waiting for me in his car and of course with his girlfriend, Cynthia, right beside the driver’s seat. But my eyes weren’t fixed onto those happy couple but more to the girl at the back sit. As I jumped into the car, totally ignoring that girl, I began talking to Harry and Cynthia. It has been an awfully long time since I last saw Cynthia, the last I saw her was about a week before she left Malaysia for Adelaide. Those times we shared together chatting almost everything under the sky was memorable.

In less than 5 minutes we were in the car park looking for any favorable parking spots. It did not take long before Harry zoomed into the spot, on the side note; the car park was mostly empty. As we get down from the car, I left the laptop in the car seat; totally disregards the laptop thievery which was spiraling across the state. As we headed down to Nando’s, while still ignoring the girl, Harry was basically asking me to reconsider putting the laptop in the car. Honestly, I paid almost no attention to Harry as my imagination was flowing towards that girl Harry brought with him.

It was until we walk past a notice board warning car owners not to leave their laptops in the car, only did I heed his advice. Quickly I asked him to pass me the car keys and asked him to accompany to the car. But no, he did not, he rather wait at Nando’s than accompany me, what a great friend of mine. Feeling dejected, I hastily walked to the car and brought the laptop to Nando’s.

Once I reached there, they were preparing to order lunch, only then it struck me again, I do not recall my wallet was almost empty, I was totally flat broke except for some coins. While scrolling down the menu, I begin to beg Harry to spend me lunch. Initially he came out with tons of excuses in order not to spend me but I know the old Harry I befriended with; almost always he will foot the bill when I have no cash.

However, that day was different; the girl he brought along was his cousin who decides to buy Harry lunch. Only then did he introduce me to her, her name was Angel. By then, I had introduced myself and in no time we started talking, though it was short and few but it is as though we knew each other for a long time, while we decide what to order for lunch.