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Working in a contact centre means you hardly even get five seconds to breathe, therefore the employees of FTX treasure their lunch break very much. Lisa, Jane, Desmond and Avery are no exception. They often lunch together at a food court nearby because they are just too lazy to walk with their other colleagues to some far away places (which happen to be only about 500 metres away) just to grab a bite. Avery doesn’t mind the walk actually since she has no problem to be seen in public in her comfortably hideous blue and green slippers; but Lisa and Jane on the other hand, insist on being seen in their beautiful four-inch heels that start hurting their toes from the fiftieth metre onwards.
One thing about having lunch together frequently is that they often run out of topics to talk about. How many times can you complain about your big boss? And FTX is not a multinational company so they don’t have that many colleagues to gossip about. So they find themselves talking about everything and anything, from movies to wine to beer to eatery to sexual position to gambling to smoking…
Today, they end up talking about fengshui, tarot and horoscope.
“I’m Libra,” Lisa says.
“Really? Me too! High five, Librans are beautiful!” Avery squeals.
“Based on your looks, you really shouldn’t be one,” Desmond says as he scans Avery from her messy hair to her slippers. Avery threatens to punch him.
“That’s because her moon sign is probably something other than Libra,” Jane says after swallowing a mouthful of rice.
“Moon sign?”
Jane nods.
“The horoscope that we are familiar with is the sun sign. However, based on our time and place of birth, we also carry with us a moon sign. Maybe your sun sign is Libra but your moon sign might be Gemini. It is never accurate to rely on sun sign alone. It is a must to read both our sun sign and moon sign together to find out our actual personality.”
“Whoa.”
For a moment everyone gets excited, wanting to know what their moon sign is, only to realize that no one knows their exact time of birth required to calculate it.
There is a moment of silence where everyone eats their food quietly. Probably thinking of where was the place they last misplaced their birth certificates.
“There’s this shop at Mid Valley,” Lisa says, breaking the silence. “That takes your picture with a special camera. It shows lights on top of your head, and the fengshui master calculate your fate based on the lights shown. My friends and I tried it. Very accurate.”
“I might have orange lights in my picture,” Desmond jokes as he sips his orange juice.
“Your light will probably be blue, pervert,” Jane teases him. “How much is it, Lisa? Sounds fun.”
“RM 38. It’s not that expensive. The costly part will be purchasing the crystals. Based on your fate, the master might advise you to purchase a certain type of crystals, which can cost thousands.”
“That’s easy,” Jane laughs. “I’ll ask him what kind of crystal I need and purchase them somewhere else."
*
Avery leaves office sharp at 5.30pm. She promises to watch The Fault in Our Stars with Kim 6.45pm at KLCC.
Girls find it entertaining to cry together.
She feels her phone vibrating in her handbag while waiting for LRT. It’s a Whatsapp message from Kim.
“Sudden meeting with client at Mid Valley. Unlikely to be a short one. Can you come here instead?”
Times like this Avery finds LRT’s lack of punctuality a blessing in disguise.
LRT after normal working hours is a battle. It requires hard work, determination and the ability to be rude. Never feel sorry for those who can’t get in unless you want to feel sorry for yourself. Squeeze in even when it looks like there’s no room. When ten people suck in their tummy together, a room will be created for a girl as thin as Avery.
With the familiar “beep beep” and an unfamiliar “Thud!”, Avery finds herself in LRT heading towards Bangsar, where she will be taking a free shuttle bus to Mid Valley.
“I’m here. Where are you?”
“Still in meeting. Call you when it’s over.”
Avery walks around aimlessly, hoping to stumble across something interesting.
Her wish is granted when she spots a shop selling crystals with a strange, antique-looking camera in the middle of the shop.
It’s the shop Lisa talked about during lunch.
She combs her hair and puts on a little lip balm. It’s a must for girls when they see a camera.
The master’s assistant takes her photo and passes it to the master.
“Anything you want to do before you die?” The master asks solemnly.
“Uhh, what?” Feeling unsure as to how to respond and offended at the words “you die” at the same time, these two words are the only words Avery is capable of saying.
“Doesn’t matter. Have your will ready. I don’t read fate for dying people.”
The master walks towards his own room with his assistant following him closely behind, leaving Avery alone with her photo.
LRT after normal working hours is a battle. It requires hard work, determination and the ability to be rude. Never feel sorry for those who can’t get in unless you want to feel sorry for yourself. Squeeze in even when it looks like there’s no room. When ten people suck in their tummy together, a room will be created for a girl as thin as Avery.
With the familiar “beep beep” and an unfamiliar “Thud!”, Avery finds herself in LRT heading towards Bangsar, where she will be taking a free shuttle bus to Mid Valley.
“I’m here. Where are you?”
“Still in meeting. Call you when it’s over.”
Avery walks around aimlessly, hoping to stumble across something interesting.
Her wish is granted when she spots a shop selling crystals with a strange, antique-looking camera in the middle of the shop.
It’s the shop Lisa talked about during lunch.
She combs her hair and puts on a little lip balm. It’s a must for girls when they see a camera.
The master’s assistant takes her photo and passes it to the master.
“Anything you want to do before you die?” The master asks solemnly.
“Uhh, what?” Feeling unsure as to how to respond and offended at the words “you die” at the same time, these two words are the only words Avery is capable of saying.
“Doesn’t matter. Have your will ready. I don’t read fate for dying people.”
The master walks towards his own room with his assistant following him closely behind, leaving Avery alone with her photo.
A photo where she stands under dim light, looking like a vampire.
“I don’t read fate for dying people.”
Feeling terrified, Avery leaves the shop as quickly as she can.
*
“I don’t read fate for dying people.”
Feeling terrified, Avery leaves the shop as quickly as she can.
*
“You’re not crying,” Kim complains.
“I can’t focus.”
“That’s not like you,” Kim eyes Avery suspiciously, recalling Avery's extraordinary ability of crying at movies like Transformers, Real Steel and The Dark Knight Rises.
Avery’s phone vibrates. It’s a call from an unknown number.
“Excuse me,” Avery bows a little as she exits the cinema.
“Hello, is this Avery Chan?”
“Yes, I am.”
“I am Kit Siang. I found your book at KL Sentral LRT Station. Death in Venice by Thomas Mann. How can I return it to you?”
Death.
It’s an omen.
“My friends and I tried it. Very accurate.”
Lisa’s words echo in Avery’s head.
“I don’t read fate for dying people.”
“Death in Venice by Thomas Mann.”
Avery really wants to think of something else but she can’t.
“Hello? Are you there?”
“Y-yes. Can I meet you at KL Sentral LRT Station 20 minutes later?”
“Okay. See you.”
“Thank you.”
Avery tells Kim she’s not feeling well, leaving her to weep alone in the cinema. She never enjoys reading Nobel winning books but this is a birthday gift from Hussain and she loves Hussain dearly, even though they had to break up because her parents forbid them to date each other due to the difference in their religions.
Also due to the fact that Hussain found a girl who actually appreciates literature, but that’s a different story.
Avery’s heart beats a little faster as she waits for the LRT. Any moment from now, she’ll die. The worst part is not knowing when and how. She wishes the fengshui master had been more precise. Will it be a car accident? Will she be raped?
She believes that fate cannot be changed but she also believes that knowing what will happen will lessen the misery.
“Anything you want to do before you die?”
She dials Hussain’s number.
“Just to let you know that I still love you.”
She hangs up immediately after saying the last word. Before Hussain can respond. She does not want to know his response. She just wants to get it out of her system.
On her way to KL Sentral LRT Station, she types away frantically on her smartphone.
“Leaving all money in my bank account to my parents equally. All books (with the bookmarks in them) on my shelf to Hussain. Clothes and accessories to my sister, Marcie. Guitar to my brother, Sam.”
She has no idea as to the validity of her will (if a note on her smartphone can be regarded as one) but she has to try.
Kit Siang is a charming guy who, after some small chat, invites her for a drink. Avery usually enjoys making new friends but today her thoughts are just too occupied so she rejects him in a manner she deems polite.
“That’s not like you,” Kim eyes Avery suspiciously, recalling Avery's extraordinary ability of crying at movies like Transformers, Real Steel and The Dark Knight Rises.
Avery’s phone vibrates. It’s a call from an unknown number.
“Excuse me,” Avery bows a little as she exits the cinema.
“Hello, is this Avery Chan?”
“Yes, I am.”
“I am Kit Siang. I found your book at KL Sentral LRT Station. Death in Venice by Thomas Mann. How can I return it to you?”
Death.
It’s an omen.
“My friends and I tried it. Very accurate.”
Lisa’s words echo in Avery’s head.
“I don’t read fate for dying people.”
“Death in Venice by Thomas Mann.”
Avery really wants to think of something else but she can’t.
“Hello? Are you there?”
“Y-yes. Can I meet you at KL Sentral LRT Station 20 minutes later?”
“Okay. See you.”
“Thank you.”
Avery tells Kim she’s not feeling well, leaving her to weep alone in the cinema. She never enjoys reading Nobel winning books but this is a birthday gift from Hussain and she loves Hussain dearly, even though they had to break up because her parents forbid them to date each other due to the difference in their religions.
Also due to the fact that Hussain found a girl who actually appreciates literature, but that’s a different story.
Avery’s heart beats a little faster as she waits for the LRT. Any moment from now, she’ll die. The worst part is not knowing when and how. She wishes the fengshui master had been more precise. Will it be a car accident? Will she be raped?
She believes that fate cannot be changed but she also believes that knowing what will happen will lessen the misery.
“Anything you want to do before you die?”
She dials Hussain’s number.
“Just to let you know that I still love you.”
She hangs up immediately after saying the last word. Before Hussain can respond. She does not want to know his response. She just wants to get it out of her system.
On her way to KL Sentral LRT Station, she types away frantically on her smartphone.
“Leaving all money in my bank account to my parents equally. All books (with the bookmarks in them) on my shelf to Hussain. Clothes and accessories to my sister, Marcie. Guitar to my brother, Sam.”
She has no idea as to the validity of her will (if a note on her smartphone can be regarded as one) but she has to try.
Kit Siang is a charming guy who, after some small chat, invites her for a drink. Avery usually enjoys making new friends but today her thoughts are just too occupied so she rejects him in a manner she deems polite.
There is an announcement that there is a breakdown with the train and everyone has to wait fifteen minutes more. Everyone moans and complains. Everyone except Avery.
She’s just happy that she has more time to write her will.
“Everything at my office cubicle to Lisa. Including the posters of Hugh Jackman and Johnny Depp but posters of One Direction go to Lai Kuan. All my old clothes to Angel’s Orphanage. My aerobics videos to Jane. Something she sorely needs. Collection of Archie’s comics to Kim. Batman figurines to Lailatul. All my narcissistic self portraits shall be burned to ashes along with my body and scattered at any beautiful sea. Actually, any sea except Port Dickson.”
She reaches home safely. No car crash. No gang rape.
Only a message from Kit Siang asking her if she has arrived home safely; and a message from Kim asking her to take good care of herself.
*
Avery survives the next day peacefully, and the next week, and the next month.
“Very accurate, my foot,” she laughs when she remembers all these as she walks past the same shop after a meeting with her client.
*
Men Charged with Murder of Ex-Girlfriend
KUALA LUMPUR: Man charged at Magistrate's Court for the murder of ex-girlfriend, Avery Chan Ee Ping whose body was found at his house.
Chemical engineer Mohammad Hussain bin Mohammad Yusof, 27, was charged with the murder of Chan, which allegedly took place at his apartment at Venice Hill, Batu 9 Cheras here between 10pm and 11pm on July 29, this year.
The charge was read out before magistrate Mohd Azman Shah Mohd Andalas here on Sunday.
Hussain nodded when the charge was read out. No plea was recorded.
Mohd Azman Shah sets Sept 2 for next mention.
She’s just happy that she has more time to write her will.
“Everything at my office cubicle to Lisa. Including the posters of Hugh Jackman and Johnny Depp but posters of One Direction go to Lai Kuan. All my old clothes to Angel’s Orphanage. My aerobics videos to Jane. Something she sorely needs. Collection of Archie’s comics to Kim. Batman figurines to Lailatul. All my narcissistic self portraits shall be burned to ashes along with my body and scattered at any beautiful sea. Actually, any sea except Port Dickson.”
She reaches home safely. No car crash. No gang rape.
Only a message from Kit Siang asking her if she has arrived home safely; and a message from Kim asking her to take good care of herself.
*
Avery survives the next day peacefully, and the next week, and the next month.
“Very accurate, my foot,” she laughs when she remembers all these as she walks past the same shop after a meeting with her client.
*
Men Charged with Murder of Ex-Girlfriend
KUALA LUMPUR: Man charged at Magistrate's Court for the murder of ex-girlfriend, Avery Chan Ee Ping whose body was found at his house.
Chemical engineer Mohammad Hussain bin Mohammad Yusof, 27, was charged with the murder of Chan, which allegedly took place at his apartment at Venice Hill, Batu 9 Cheras here between 10pm and 11pm on July 29, this year.
The charge was read out before magistrate Mohd Azman Shah Mohd Andalas here on Sunday.
Hussain nodded when the charge was read out. No plea was recorded.
Mohd Azman Shah sets Sept 2 for next mention.
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