Episode 17 - Home

There is nothing better than being in your homeland. But all of this is just happening for 2 weeks. In 2 weeks time, I'll be sitting in a 23 hours flight hoping that I could stay in Singapore forever. However, I'm just going to enjoy my life here for a while.

Nothing is better than laying down on your own bed.  Yes, I agree that over at New York, my bed is much more comfortable , but there is nothing better than your own bed. The setting of the room is still the same. I love it so much.

"Love, let's head out for dinner," Mom came into my room and sat on my bed. "Let's have chicken rice. I know you miss that."

Mom knows me best! She knows what I'm craving for! It's time to indulge in and lose all these fats once I'm back in New York. Singapore is a food paradise and I totally agree to that eversince I moved to New York.
I got out from bed and had a change of clothes.

20 mins later, Dad had the car moving in no time. Hawa Restaurant it shall be.

Episode 16 - Blessed

23 hours of flight without transit is so torturing! Thank God Mom paid for me a first class seat travelling with Singapore Airlines.


"Miss would you like a glass of orange juice?" An handsome steward asked.

I nodded my head and took a glass of orange juice from him. I'm not sure in which part of the world I am right now. 14 hours more to go!! I switched on the television and picked out a movie to watch. But no I found KBS Music Bank. That can kill the boredom . But soon after I got into a deep sleep.

"Good morning passengers of SQ 09. We will arrive in Singapore in about 10 minutes time. Please ensure that your seat belt is fasten and stay in your seats. Cabin crew please return to stations," the Captain gave instructions through the sound system.

"Hello Singapore!!!!! It's been long!!" I shouted in my heart. I can't wait to meet my family!

I walked down the way to the baggage area. As I was waiting for my luggage, i saw my little brother waving to me hoping that he could be seen. I waved back. I wish I could run to them now but the luggage is stopping me! Oh there comes my pink luggage!! I took it away and ran out to the arrival hall.

I let go of my luggage and hugged my mom.

"I missed you!! " Tears were already falling!

And then I went to hug my dad! I miss dad's hugs. My brother, Aiman, hugged me from behind. I miss this monkey! Nazrul was a little to shy to hug me as we are both grown up now. So he just gave me a wide smile.

"Aiman! Did you lost weight? Where is your pau cheeks?" I jokingly asked. He grinned at me .

As i was talking to my family, suddenly I received a hug around my neck! It was a moment of shock! I turned around and saw Irma!!

"Nisa , I miss you!!" She hugged me from behind.

"I miss you too!!!" And then I saw Rhea, Eve and Geralyn running towards me . Another group hug!!!! I'm so blessed!!

Tears start to roll down my cheek. I miss this group of girls as much as they miss me! Dad took my luggage. I walked with the girls hand in hand just like how we did back in Japan.

Episode 15 - Returning to my Homeland

"Are you done with your packing Nisa? We got 1 hour plus before leaving for airport," Mom came into my room and sat on my bed.

"Yes Mom . I'm almost done with packing. I have a great feeling that it would be overweight," I said that while putting my MacBook into its bag and then into my luggage. My luggage is sweet pink. Mom got it for me while doing our monthly shopping last month.

"Take it. Some money for you to spend in Singapore," Mom passed me a whiye envelope. I was reluctant to take it but Mom placed it in my hand.

I opened the envelope and took a look at the amount. A thousand dollar in Singapore currency. Astonished.

"Mom why so much? I'm just going for 2 weeks! " I said . I'm not good with money. I'm scared I will spend it away.

"Just take it. Shop in Singapore. Once you come back, there'll be a surprise, " Mom smiled it away.

Mom is full of surprises. But after she surprise me, I will feel bad after taking the surprise as I know she might spend a bomb on it.

I took my Iphone 4 from the drawer, too out its Sim Card and place the Sim Card into my Iphone 5. I'm leaving my New York line in New York.

I sent a message to Adelyn using my Singapore line.

'Hi Adelyn. I'm flying off to Singapore soon . If you need to contact me, comtact me using this number okay. Bye and take care. '

I decided not to leave any message for Daniel. I know he is still angry with me. In school, he pretend like he doesn't see me. An eye for an eye.

Episode 14 - A Tough Decisions.

A month since I avoided Daniel. I have been trying to figure out myself what is the real reason I've been avoiding Daniel. A month left before I return to Singapore for 2 weeks. I couldn't concentrate in lecture today. I don't really get it what he's saying. My phone vibrated and I brush my papers aside to get my phone.

- A new message received -

'Meet me at the linkway to Block B. Urgent' . A message received from Daniel.

"Adelyn, I need to head out for a while. See you later," i informed her. She was shocked to see me packing my bag in a hurry. What could be that urgent? When the lecturer's back was facing us, I sneaked out of the lecture theatre. Nisa is a badass.

I made my way to the place Daniel asked me to go. Seriously, what could be so urgent? I increased my walking speed.

As I reached the place, Daniel turned around like he know I am approaching.
Daniel gripped my hand as soon I stood infront of him.

"Nisa tell me what have I done? Why are you avoiding me? " Daniel questioned me

"No im not avoiding you. I just don't wanna be close to you," sometimes the lie is better than the truth, I thought.

"You know that I like you and I want to he by your side. You know that," Daniel said. He start to sound teary.

"No i dont know," I replied. I'm still in my stubborn self. I'll just pray hard that I won't regret this in the future.

"Look into my eyes now and say that you don't know. Look! " Daniel demanded.

I looked up to his eyes and said "I don't know."

Daniel let go of my hand and took a step back. And then he took a step forward.

"Fine. Since you insisted of not knowing my feelings towards you, I will leave you alone. I won't care about you anymore. But don't come back to me saying you are sorry. Cause once you do that, I'll never let you go," Daniel wiped of his tears and left.

I stood by the linkway without bothering the surrounding. I started to tear. Why am I tearing when I made the decision already? Sometimes, stubborness leads to nowhere. But I know now its not the matter of stubborness, I'm just unsure of my feelings towards him and I'm not ready to open up to anyone yet. I'm just not ready.

Episode 13 - Second Thoughts

It's gonna be a year eversince I left Singapore. A new year is coming and I made up my mind to leave everything behind as new year approach.

A normal Tuesday. I reached home with a sour face as gym today was really really tiring.

"How come you gained a kilo Nisa? I thought your diet plan is working well!!" Coach nagged at me. I kept my hea down all the time. I can't blame anyone else but myself. I feel fat nowadays. That's because Daniel stuff me with food. Everyday he would picked me up and have dinner together. Sometimes I rejected but he would appear out of nowhere. Just like now.

"Nisa, Daniel is waiting for you at the porch," Mom came up all the way to my room just to tell that. She could have called me.

"Mom can you do me a favour? Can you tell him that I'm not feeling well. Please ," I asked. I do not know why but I just do not want to meet him today.

"Okay darling. Have a good rest. Call me or Mak Ima if you need anything. How's gym? "

"Tiring as it is," I replied coldly.

"So you want to avoid him is it?" Mom asked. Wow how did she managed to know.

I nodded. Mom then gave me a kiss on the forehead and then she left the room. Soon I heard a car driving off. I looked out of the window, red jaguar was zooming past the dark street.

'Sorry Daniel'


Next day in school during lunch, Adelyn was telling me about this new movie and we should catch it together. A plan after school. Thank God my baking class is cancelled today.

"Rise of The Guardians is really awesome. Okay the trailer makes the movie awesome! Popcorn is on me!" Adelyn seem to want to go so much.

"Okay lets' run to the cinema once Mr Naggy released us! " I said.

We called our Marketing Lecturer Mr Naggy as he always nag at us before and after a lecture. How did his kids survive his nags? But on the other hand, I miss Mom's nagging.

As i was sipping my Coke, I saw Daniel walking towards me. Ohmy, what does he wants now?

"Adelyn let's go. I need the library," i pulled Adelyn away.

"Are you avoiding Daniel? "

Why does it seems that everyone can see me through? Am I that really bad in pretending.

"Yes I'm avoiding him and don't ask me why!" I turned to Adelyn and speak the truth.

Daniel was shocked as I walked towards his direction without looking up to him and smiling .

'I just need to get away from you'

Episode 12 - Daniel

Daniel is like a guy best friend to me. Apparently, Adelyndon’t agree to it.

“A guy and a girl can never be bestfriend only. One day oneof them will sure to fall in love with the other one, ” Adelyn said when I keptstressing on how good friends we are.

I agree to that as Rhea once said “In love, always expectthe unexpected” But I’m still not ready to open up my feelings to anyone yet.

A loud vibrations felt inside my pocket. A smile on my face.I answered the phone call.

“Hey. How’s your presentation just now?” Daniel asked.

“Its okay. Thanks for asking!” I loved it everytime beforeor after he would ask me about my presentation.

“Okay. Meet for dinner after your baking class?”

“Sounds like a perfect plan” I accepted the offer this timeround.

Knowing him for almost 2 months now, I can say that Danielis a good man. But never judge a book by its cover. Just like what happened betweenme and Kevin. He was nice to me at first and then he change for I don’t know whatreason. I fear that history will repeat itself.

Pak Salleh picked me up from school to my baking class. 15minutes drive and 20 minutes from home. I need to get a car license soon. I can’ttrouble Pak Salleh everytime. He had to send Mom to work every morning and thenpick me up from home to school. Then if Mak Ima need to run errands, he had tosend her too. And then with a little rest, he needs to pick me up if I have notrack training . But if I have track training, he would pick Mom up from work. IfI have track training or baking class or gym session, he would have to pick meup too. And the routine continues. I know it is tiring for him and he isalready in his mid 40s. He should get some rest.

I got in the front seat. I never regard him as my driver buthe is more like a father-figure to me as my real father is in Singapore. I wonderhow Dad is doing in Singapore. I miss my family.

“Nisa. You forgot your baking tools this morning. I put itin the back seat,” Pak Salleh told me.

‘Phew’ for a moment, I forgot about my baking tools.

“Thank you Pak Salleh! I totally forgot about it. Thank you,”Im always thankful to Pak Salleh. He is my hero . Okay, too dramatic Nisa.

Pak Salleh just smiled.

“Oh and today you don’t have to pick me up after my class. I’mgoing for dinner with Daniel. I told Mom already,” I informed Pak Salleh.

He just nod his head. And in no time, he stopped the car in frontof ‘Velvet Love’. 4 hours of baking lets go! Proper use of fondant is theagenda for today! I entered the baking kitchen. Seem like I am the latest fortoday.

“Okay class, since everyone is here. Let’s get started!” MsMary spoke.

“Please take a cake at that corner over there. Get back toyour station after that and wait for the next instruction,” She ordered.

Soon, I was too concentrated in doing my work that I didn’t seethe clock ticking fast.

“Okay that is all for today class. I hope you guys had thebasic of fondant today. Next week we will be making designs with fondant forall types of cake. See you all next week,” Ms Mary dismissed the class. 

Yay!Class is over! I packed my cake, took off my apron and left the kitchen in notime.

As soon as I got out from the shop, I saw Daniel standingthere with his back facing me. Exactly the way I like a man to pose. ‘Nisa, geta grip of yourself!’

“Hey! Did you wait long?” I asked him. I feel bad of makinghim wait for me.

“Nah no. 15 minutes. I was being too fast.” He giggled itaway. I love to see everytime he smile as he shows off his dimples.

“Haha. Where are we going?” I asked. I was hoping secretlythat he would bring me to Grey Papaya. I am craving for that please.

“A surprise.”

I sat in the car singing along to Everything had Changed byTaylor Swift and Ed Sheeran.

‘ I just wanna knowyou better now, I just wanna know you better now, know you, know you’

“Yes I wanna know you better too” Daniel replied.

I was taken aback. 

Episode 11 - Is It A Sign?

After sorting out my thoughts, I start to build up myself again. Kevin is not the only guy in this world. If before he enter my life I can live a happy life, why not after he ‘left’ me. To think about it, he didn’t left me. In the first place, we didn’t even have a proper status in our relationship. But its hard to tell myself that he Is my past now. No point waiting for him.

I walked down the hallway to my class. 45 minutes to class and I am early. Its going to be a long day today even though it’s Friday as I have track training today. But hey yea , no complaints!

Adelyn approached me from behind                             

“Nisa!! By any chance do you know who is Daniel?” She asked with her eyes wide open.

“No, who is that?”

“I don’t know how he know you but is he waiting for you at the library. Go to him!” Adelyn rushed me.

I was surprised. Since I am still early for class, no harm finding out who is Daniel. I walked towards the library. A 5 minutes walk from my faculty block.Standing at the entrance of the library, waiting for Daniel. I wonder how he looked like.Suddenly, a guy approached me from the left.

“Found your way around school already?” this blue eye guy approached me. And he took my thick accounting book from my hand.Oh so he is Daniel!

“Yes, I am getting used to this school.” I replied “Oh and how did you even know my name?”

“I am a senior remember?” he giggled it away. With those dimples on both side of his cheek. Guys with dimples is a major turn on, I swear!

“Yup, a senior. Anyway, what’s up you wanting to meet me?” that sounds a little too casual Nisa. But this is way too awkward.

“Are you free for lunch? I know you cant make it for dinner. Track training.”

I was taken aback when he know I am in Track and Field.

“Sorry I am on diet,” Goodness sake Nisa! What have you done?? You should never tell a guy that you are on a diet.

“oh wow, okay then.  Just thought of treating you to Grey Papaya!” He offered. 

Oh my! I love Grey Papaya! They have the most awesome hotdog bread. It has the same concept as the hotdog bread in Ikea back in Singapore. But I already said I am on diet, there is no way that I am taking back my words.

 “Thank you for the offer. Oh and I am late to class. Talk to you another time,” I said. I need to get away from this awkwardness situation. And there seem to be no one around the library at this timing. To be honest, I still have 25 minutes to class. Well.

“Oh okay do you want me to walk you to class?” He offered.

“Hmm no thanks ,” I rejected politely.

“Okay then. See you around!” He passed me back my book.

Okay mission accomplished.

Class started a little late today as Mr Brown was rushing some stuff before entering our class. Its problem discussion day. I can never get the hang of this topic. I opened my book and I saw a little piece of paper.

‘212-457-9876. It was nice getting to know you’ . I smiled it away and looked up to the screen.

“Daniel is a good guy. It can help you to get over Kevin,” Adelyn whispered to my ears.

Yes, I told Adelyn everything about Kevin. She Is like my best friend now and I can share with her almost everything and anything. I’m glad to have her. About moving on, its not easy. We all know that its easy to say that we will move on but our heart knows best.