"Hey, Jack. Ready to go?"
"Always ready. Where are we going Ha?"
"Just having lunch nearby. I am quite surprised that you come on Sunday?"
"Oh, why is that?"
"Forgive me for saying but you don't really look like the studious type."
"I am not. I am a genius."
I smiled. She chuckled a bit.

We walked across the tube station. It was a pretty long walk from the campus to town. Along the way, I can see that Ha was very giddy. Was it because of me?
"So, how's it going with your research?", I said served as an ice breaker.
"Pretty bad. Things are messed up beyond belief."
"That's research. And of course, my personal life as well."
She chuckled again. Man, am I on fire today.

After around 20 minutes of walking, we finally reached the place. It was a simple chinese diner, if there is such a thing. We sat down and ordered egg rice with pepper chicken, yes, both of us. The food arrived in an instant, making our small talk time margin to spill into eating time margin.
"You come here every Sunday, Ha?"
"Yup."
There was a moment of awkward silence for a while. Being an expert at tense moment, I can sort of predict what was Ha about to ask next. From the looks of thing, she seems to have a hard time enunciating her question.

"Jack, are you...single?"
Finally, the golden question. At that moment, I came to a cross road. Should I pursue Ay08 or Ha? I do not want Ha to end up in the same fate as An05. I regretted every single day of my life regarding the An05 incident. So, it was time for me to come to terms with my feelings. I would not want this to turn out like the epic tale of La00 and An05. This is the right thing to do.

"Ha, to tell you the truth, I do not know."
She kept quiet looking dazed and confused.
"What I meant to say is Ha, I am single. But I am seeing someone right now, and it has been quite a mindtrip."
Ha looked disappointed.
"So, that's why you do not want to go to the mamak with me," Ha said sadly.
I cannot see Ha being upset as my pasts with An05 began to come to mind. So, I tried comforting her through words.

"Tell you what Ha. Once this is settled, we'll go and have that mamak in Malaysia, regardless of my status quo. Do you like that?"
"Sure thing Jack."
"When are you going back to Malaysia, Ha?"
"Next week."
Then I realized that 2 months time just breezed by like the blowing wind. Have I been so into Ay08 that I have lost track of time?

"What time is your flight?"
"10pm. But I'll be leaving from Paddington at 6pm."
"I'll be at Paddington. I promise."
She smiled.
"And, can I have your Malaysian number Ha, for the mamak in the future?"
She smiled and gave me her number.

"Ha, I like you. You remind me a lot of my previous...complicated relationship. But at this moment, I am focused on someone else. The past had taught me that you have to stay focus on one girl at one time, or else I'll end up hurting everyone in the process. "
Ha just smiled.
"Jack, you are a nice guy. I bet the girl is lucky to have you."
Little did she know that I was going after someone's girlfriend. Sparing her details of my love life, we got up , paid our meals and said goodbye to each other.

I was walking home and then suddenly, my mobile beeps and came in a text. The text reads
"Jack, can we meet up this weekend? It is urgent! Mi07"
What does Mi07 wants with me?

In rare times, you will know that whether the decision made was good or bad almost instantaneously. Did Jack made the right decision? Who knows. But, he will find out the repercussions of his decision sooner than he thinks.

As usual, I arrived first. It is not that she was late, I was early. I was nervous as usual. With the things that happened last week, I do not even know what we are anymore. Lovers, friends, whatever. The thing I know was that I love her. So there I was, waiting for her at one of the few malls in the UK. Hands sweaty, checked....heart thumping, checked...butterflies in the stomach,checked...conclusion: I was freaking nervous. This is basically my first 'official' date with her.

After a couple of minutes, she arrived. Beautiful and graceful as usual. At that moment, I knew that I need to have her. I MUST have her. So, I greeted her in a most gentleman way ever. I grabbed her hand, bring my mouth to it and kissed it.
"You look beautiful, Ay08."
"Thanks. So, what's the plan for today?"
"Movie and then lunch. I thought of Watching Drag Me To Hell, is that cool?"
She just kept quiet.

Let me explain, Ay08 hate horror films. And, the reason I wanted to watch DMTH was because I love horror films, and DMTH is one of the best. I was just pushing my luck and she should have said no. On the contrary, she nodded and said
"Let's go."
I was surprised. I tried giving her another option.
"Are you sure? We can always watch Hangover instead."
"I am sure Jack. Let's go."
"All right, just do not walk out from the movie halfway through. It kills the mood."
"Sure, do not worry about me. Let's go."

We arrived at the ticketing counter just in the nick of time. I asked for 2 tickets to DMTH and I can see that Ay08 was nervous. We entered towards the dark theater slowly and we sat down somewhere in the middle. Coincidentally, the theater was empty and we were the only ones watching it. Guess everyone was working on 12 noon weekdays. The eerie silence coupled with the pitch black atmosphere really turns the notch up on the scare factor.

When the movie began, the loud along with the out of your seat moments really scared the shit out of me. I was enjoying every second of the movie. I looked to Ay08 to see how she was doing. She was squirming in her seat. Her hands deeply grasped my shirt. Her eyes was closed. She was not having a good time. I cannot stand her suffering like this. Hence, despite how much I love to see more of DMTH, I grabbed Ay08's hand and walked out from the cinema.

"Jack, aren't you enjoying the show?"
"Naa...I am a little frightened. Let's watch Hangover instead," of course I lied in order not to hurt her feelings.
She gazed sharply at me and said
"Liar! You were enjoying it."
"Fine, I LOVE it, but I cannot bear to watch you suffer any longer."
"I am big girl, I can handle it. Are you saying that I cannot handle a little horror film?"
I just smiled and Ay08 look confused.
"I KNOW you can. It is just that you might not ENJOY it, that's all. If you are not having fun, then it is not worth doing together."
Ay08 was flabbergastered upon hearing my answer. She looked so touched that she was about to burst into tears.

Her hands slowly glides across my face and pulled me towards her. She gazed directly into my eyes and I was attracted towards hers. I cannot look away. My hands just automatically move towards her hips. I pulled her towards me as my lips move towards hers. She closed her eyes expecting the kiss. Unlike last time, I proceeded on until our lips locked. For that brief moment, I was content. A little bit guilty but content nevertheless. That was my first kiss ever. I love Ay08 a lot and I have not forsaken the goal of making her my wife.

She grabbed my hand and smiled.
"Where are we going now Ay08?"
"Hangover is still playing. Let's go."

A perfect ending to a great HORROR movie? Or a perfect beginning? You decide.