Chapter 2

Chapter 2
Jing and I met up rather often after our first meeting. I talked about him a lot to my best mates, stuff like how he looks like, the way he laughs, the way we just click et cetera. My best mates insisted that I was madly in love with him. But I wasn’t, not then anyways. To me, he was like someone who really understands me and we can just talk about anything and everything under the sun. My friends wanted to meet him so badly that they practically forced me to arrange a group meeting. Under several death threats and sharp pencils at my throat I sent Jing a sms. “Hey Jing, this is going to sound damn weird… but my friends wanna meet you… you ok with it? You can get some other friends to come also... then it won’t be so weird for you. Sorry to put you in a spot but I’m being threatened by several pencils with ultra sharp points >.<”
He didn’t reply for what seems like eons... I was beginning to worry whether he thinks I’m crazy when he finally replied.
“Lol… Sure… I’ll get a few friends… and don’t worry… I’m cool. Both figuratively and literally hahah *cue shameless flicking of hair* How does this Saturday sound? Meet you guys @ orchard @ 11 am? You guys decide the activity…”
After several minutes of discussion, my friends decided that we should catch a movie then have lunch somewhere…

Saturday
My friends had just absolutely refused to leave their houses without making sure that every inch of them of perfect, (hair make up attire etc). Me? I was dressed simply in a baby blue shirt and plain jeans with my hair tied up in a high ponytail. I honestly couldn’t see the fuss. When my friends finally came and saw me they gasped in unison and screamed that I’m not going out to meet new people like that. Then they pratically jumped onto me with their foundation, mascara sticks and what not. Honestly speaking I was terrified. Imagine this 3 girls screaming and dragging you to the toilet and then brushing god knows what on your face. I mean I love my friends and all but I just don’t share their interest in this… I think natural is good. They think there is no such thing as natural. After they were done, I took one look at my watch and realized that we were going to be late. I dragged them out of the toilet and I didn’t even check what they did to my face because I was in such a hurry. Due to their fussing, we were about 25 minutes late. When we reached Orchard MRT station I scanned around and quickly spotted Jing. He was with 3 other friends as well. It was a bit awkward at first when I had to introduce my friends to them and he had to introduce his friends to us. The walk to Lido was a little more on the quiet side but after the movie things were ok. My friends are a spirited bunch and you can’t keep them quiet for long. Jing’s friends warmed up to them after a while as well. We then decided to have lunch at pasta mania. On our way there, unknowingly we started walking in pairs. Me and Jing were at the back of the pack. At first, we didn’t really talk. Then he spoke up first, “Don’t you think this kind of looks like a group date?”
“Hmm? Yea, now that you mentioned it… It does actually. Weird~”
“Did you?” he asked while staring intently at my face.
“What?!! No I so did not plan for a group date and if I did you so would not be my choice of a date” I replied quickly, trying to stop the redness that was slowly trickling onto my face due to his intent stares.
“Chill! I wasn’t going to ask that. And OW… I feel my ego bruising already… Though I was going to ask whether you put on make up today and why… Is it because you were excited to meet my friends? I KNOW you are secretly interested in… erm..erm… John yea that’s rite!”
“Hey John! ” Jing shouted to the guy all the way in front walking with my friend, Rin.
John spun around but before Jing could say anything more, I was covering his mouth with both my hands, which was really no mean feat as Jing is like several heads taller than me. John’s face was priceless when he saw us. His eyebrows went up and his mouth formed a small ‘o’.
I smiled sheepishly and said “It’s nothing; Jing was just going to say … say… how nice your hair looked today!” I muttered a lame excuse whilst trying to act like smothering Jing was the most normal thing in the world to do.
“Yea, right…. You know what? I won’t even ask what in the blue heavens you are doing. Just don’t kill him yet, we still need him to complete our science project due next week.” With that he turned around and began talking to Rin like nothing happened. The rest of my friends laughed whilst I turned crimson red and released Jing.
Jing gasped for air when I released him and shouted to John “Thanks a lot for saving me buddy… Now I know why you keep me alive for all these years that I’ve irritated the crap out of you.” Turning to me he said “Who knew that inside your small body contained that much strength?” With that he gave an amused smile and walked on.