“Xing fu shi kan de tou er bu shi she bu de ta de suo you....xing fu shi yin wei wo ai ni er bu shi ni ai bu ai wo….I love you. Ni dong bu dong?”
Chapter 1
"Deng..deng. Deng, deng, deng!" On and off, piano keynotes were heard drifting in the air. A guy of medium build sat down on the piano seat, his fingers touching the piano keys. He suddenly stopped.
As if searching for something, he lifted his fingers from the piano keys and started to feel for the laptop that he had placed on top of the piano. He pressed a tab and a fast and gruff computerized voice filled the room. He listened intently as the computerized voice reads out the document displayed on the laptop screen.
Cherie’s footsteps quickened. She hurried breathlessly across the hallway. "Oh my god, I must tell Wei Lian about this! Such a great opportunity…..Wei Lian!" Cherie pushed open the door to the piano practice room.
The door to the piano practice room sprung open so suddenly that it gave the guy who was still on the piano seat quite a startle. "Huh? What happened?" He asked in his usual indifferent manner as he turned towards the direction of the voice that called him. Hearing no reply, he waited patiently for the person to catch her breath before continuing.
Cherie bent down to catch her breath for a moment before waving the piece of paper in her hands excitedly. "Wei Lian! I just picked up an application form for the 20th Song Writing competition! Original lyrics and tune which is chosen as the best song of the whole competition will receive not only a cash prize of S$15,000 but also a Masters of Arts Scholarship in Music in an American university and…and best of all, a brand new Mazda 3 car!" Cherie excitedly read out the details of the crumpled paper she has been clutching in her hands.
Listening to his best friend, Cherie, reading out the competition details, Wei Lian only smiled. He kept quiet. Yes, he knew about the competition. It is an annual competition which chooses the best songwriter to go overseas for a sponsored Masters course in music. He loves music. Three years --- he had joined the competition thrice; and each time he had the best song, yet the sponsors dropped him. He smirked quietly inside him. He knows what these people are thinking. He knows better than anyone else that he is blind. So what if he got what it takes? So what if he wrote a good song?
"Wei Lian…you.. are you going to try again?" Cherie asked with a concerned look. She bit her lips, trying to say something. She forgot how the judges for the previous competitions had dropped Wei Lian even though he was the clear winner.
"Come on, stop smiling. Don’t give that kind of smile!" Cherie pouted her lips, complaining. Nah, she wasn’t really complaining or displeased. She just doesn’t like to see his indifferent expression.
"Then how am I supposed to smile lay?" The indifferent look on his face remained even when he is talking.
Cherie couldn’t resist but to reach out for his face and pulled both his cheeks sideways angrily. Wei Lian crossed his arms and allowed her to "abuse" his face."Kelvin Tan, you dare to be cheeky with me right? I shall pull; I shall pull until your skin loses its elasticity….."
"I don’t care, Kelvin Tan, you must join this competition. If I don’t see your name in the competition list, you’ll get it from me!" Cherie demanded.
"Huh? I can’t even drive lor. Join for what lay?" Wei Lian brushes aside her playful fingers and turned back to face the piano. His hand quickly reaches for the laptop and with a swift movement, he slammed the laptop screen down. He does not want her to know that he has been trying to pen a new song for the competition. He is confused. He is still unsure if he should give it another go.
Cherie thrust the application form into his hands. "Hehe…but I can!" She laughed playfully.
"Oh…you want the car prize lah…" Wei Lian nodded his head knowingly.
Knock knock! A sudden turn on the door-knob disrupted the light-hearted atmosphere between the two buddies. Wei Lian opened his laptop case, packed his laptop into the case quietly and closed the piano flap.
"Hey guys, gee..glad I found you people here! Whatcha doing?" It was Jason. Their best friend. And…the guy whom Cherie secretly loves.
"Eh hello hello. So free today ah?" Wei Lian stood up, slung both his bag and laptop bag across his chest and unfolds his white walking cane.
Cherie’s eyes sparkled as her eyes laid upon Jason. "Hi Jas!" Jason returned her a smile and turned to look at Wei Lian who briskly tapped his way out with his white walking cane. "Yalor. No lessons later mah. I come and you are leaving? How can, buddy? Was thinking of asking you guys to go for lunch." Jason gave Wei Lian’s arm a slight punch as he walked out.
"I ya, no need la. I ate already. Late for busking already. Later got class." And with that, Wei Lian continued walking.
"Oh ok lor." Jason and Cherie peered out from behind the door and watched him disappear round the bend.
"So are we going for lunch or what?" Jason turned back to Cherie. "He is going for busking, don’t tell me you are going to the library?"
"Of course." Cherie shrugged her shoulders and walked out of the piano practice room.
Huh? She meant lunch or library? Jason caught up with the fast-paced Cherie. "Eh Cherie, you going lunch or library?"
"I yo, lunch la. Lunchtime go library for what? I’m hungry. Faster la." Cherie pretends to roll her eyes.
Half an hour later…
Wei Lian swiftly sets up his equipment and a high foldable stool along the busy streets of the Bugis area. This is his favorite busking area. Sometimes he sings at night for the seafood and western food café behind his busking area. The owner of Jose Place Café is a nice old lady. He calls her Granny Gin. She had told him he resembles her grandson who passed away at an early age. If he had not died, he would have been around his age.
She had allowed him to keep his busking equipment in the café’s locker-room and busk at other times of the day near her café. On occasional nights, she even hires him to sing at the café. Wei Lian loves this petite, warm and loving grandma dearly.
Effortlessly, he quietly unpacked his precious guitar out of its case and settles himself down on his seat. He test-strummed the guitar and began his usual day of busking.
Café Mocha Love.
Both Jason and Cherie sat in the booth in this stylish yet cosy café. All of a sudden, there was an awkward moment of long silence. Cherie avoided Jason’s stare. She wished Wei Lian had joined them for lunch. He has not been joining them for lunch recently.
"Why are you looking so weird?" He asked.
Weird? "How weird?" Cherie pretended to look unconcerned. "Just tired I guess. You think too much la."
Jason laughed. "Is it? For a moment, I thought it might be because of Wei Lian that you are quiet leh. How come he loves to start busking in the afternoon recently? He on diet ah? No leh. His figure quite good leh. No need diet mah. Eh? I thought he got a class later?"Cherie saw him mumbling to himself to find out the reason why Wei Lian doesn’t join them for lunch recently.
She wanted to laugh but she decided to control her urge to laugh. Hai! Slow roach. When will he finally realize that she loves him? She looked down to examine her fingers quietly as Jason continued his guessing.
Jason is still mumbling and thinking. Finally, he gave up and looked up at Cherie, "Eh, is it he needs money recently?"
Of course not. You slow roach. She looked up and shook her head. "No la. He is not cash strapped. How can he be cash strapped? The café he busks at pays him good money. Don’t worry. He found a part-time job as a songwriter recently. They pay him well too." That is Cherie. Her usual way of talking when she is tired.
Anyone can tell that Wei Lian has been excusing himself so that the both of them can share some quiet moments together. Hmm. Well, not everyone though. But at least she can tell that he is obviously excusing himself. After all, Wei Lian is the only one who knows her secret.
She loves Jason. Since young, Jason has always been the one who stood up for her when she is bullied or gets into trouble. Wei Lian, on the other hand, is the one who always listens and keeps her secrets for her. She loves both of them dearly. But she knows that she treats Wei Lian only as a brother.
As for Jason…she knows those feelings are different from brotherly love. A pity, Jason is more of a player. He’d rather move on than settle down. The three of them know perfectly well why Jason refuses to settle down.
It is because of his ex-girlfriend. He couldn’t forget how Jessica had died in the car accident. Jessica had loved him a lot before she passed away. And now, it’s her turn to fall in love with him.
Deep down inside, she knows that she loved him way before Jessica became a couple with Jason. She detested that feeling of seeing them together and acting so loving towards each other. It was like stabbing her heart with a knife. But she controlled her feelings and made Wei Lian keep it a secret, as she knew that she would die any moment.
But when Jessica died, her heart had been transplanted to Cherie’s body. Yes. She lives on only because Jessica died. And her heart was compatible for her body. She had a big hole in her heart and could die anytime. The previous transplant had almost cost her her life. The most ironic thing of all, Jessica was her best friend at college. She is confused.
She had thought that it is because of Jessica’s heart that her feelings for Jason deepened. Is that the reason, or is it not? "Whichever reason it is, it is a fact that you love him. Isn’t it? It is that simple." Wei Lian’s words rang in her mind. "Whichever reason it is, it is a fact that you love him. Isn’t it? It is that simple…Whichever reason it is, it is a fact that you love him. Isn’t it? It is that simple…."
"Hey Cherie. Cherie!" Jason snapped his fingers and tried to bring back the attention of Cherie.
"Huh?" Cherie realized that she has been staring into space. "Shall we get the bill?" Jason asked. Cherie nodded, her mind was still wandering….
Chapter 1
"Deng..deng. Deng, deng, deng!" On and off, piano keynotes were heard drifting in the air. A guy of medium build sat down on the piano seat, his fingers touching the piano keys. He suddenly stopped.
As if searching for something, he lifted his fingers from the piano keys and started to feel for the laptop that he had placed on top of the piano. He pressed a tab and a fast and gruff computerized voice filled the room. He listened intently as the computerized voice reads out the document displayed on the laptop screen.
Cherie’s footsteps quickened. She hurried breathlessly across the hallway. "Oh my god, I must tell Wei Lian about this! Such a great opportunity…..Wei Lian!" Cherie pushed open the door to the piano practice room.
The door to the piano practice room sprung open so suddenly that it gave the guy who was still on the piano seat quite a startle. "Huh? What happened?" He asked in his usual indifferent manner as he turned towards the direction of the voice that called him. Hearing no reply, he waited patiently for the person to catch her breath before continuing.
Cherie bent down to catch her breath for a moment before waving the piece of paper in her hands excitedly. "Wei Lian! I just picked up an application form for the 20th Song Writing competition! Original lyrics and tune which is chosen as the best song of the whole competition will receive not only a cash prize of S$15,000 but also a Masters of Arts Scholarship in Music in an American university and…and best of all, a brand new Mazda 3 car!" Cherie excitedly read out the details of the crumpled paper she has been clutching in her hands.
Listening to his best friend, Cherie, reading out the competition details, Wei Lian only smiled. He kept quiet. Yes, he knew about the competition. It is an annual competition which chooses the best songwriter to go overseas for a sponsored Masters course in music. He loves music. Three years --- he had joined the competition thrice; and each time he had the best song, yet the sponsors dropped him. He smirked quietly inside him. He knows what these people are thinking. He knows better than anyone else that he is blind. So what if he got what it takes? So what if he wrote a good song?
"Wei Lian…you.. are you going to try again?" Cherie asked with a concerned look. She bit her lips, trying to say something. She forgot how the judges for the previous competitions had dropped Wei Lian even though he was the clear winner.
"Come on, stop smiling. Don’t give that kind of smile!" Cherie pouted her lips, complaining. Nah, she wasn’t really complaining or displeased. She just doesn’t like to see his indifferent expression.
"Then how am I supposed to smile lay?" The indifferent look on his face remained even when he is talking.
Cherie couldn’t resist but to reach out for his face and pulled both his cheeks sideways angrily. Wei Lian crossed his arms and allowed her to "abuse" his face."Kelvin Tan, you dare to be cheeky with me right? I shall pull; I shall pull until your skin loses its elasticity….."
"I don’t care, Kelvin Tan, you must join this competition. If I don’t see your name in the competition list, you’ll get it from me!" Cherie demanded.
"Huh? I can’t even drive lor. Join for what lay?" Wei Lian brushes aside her playful fingers and turned back to face the piano. His hand quickly reaches for the laptop and with a swift movement, he slammed the laptop screen down. He does not want her to know that he has been trying to pen a new song for the competition. He is confused. He is still unsure if he should give it another go.
Cherie thrust the application form into his hands. "Hehe…but I can!" She laughed playfully.
"Oh…you want the car prize lah…" Wei Lian nodded his head knowingly.
Knock knock! A sudden turn on the door-knob disrupted the light-hearted atmosphere between the two buddies. Wei Lian opened his laptop case, packed his laptop into the case quietly and closed the piano flap.
"Hey guys, gee..glad I found you people here! Whatcha doing?" It was Jason. Their best friend. And…the guy whom Cherie secretly loves.
"Eh hello hello. So free today ah?" Wei Lian stood up, slung both his bag and laptop bag across his chest and unfolds his white walking cane.
Cherie’s eyes sparkled as her eyes laid upon Jason. "Hi Jas!" Jason returned her a smile and turned to look at Wei Lian who briskly tapped his way out with his white walking cane. "Yalor. No lessons later mah. I come and you are leaving? How can, buddy? Was thinking of asking you guys to go for lunch." Jason gave Wei Lian’s arm a slight punch as he walked out.
"I ya, no need la. I ate already. Late for busking already. Later got class." And with that, Wei Lian continued walking.
"Oh ok lor." Jason and Cherie peered out from behind the door and watched him disappear round the bend.
"So are we going for lunch or what?" Jason turned back to Cherie. "He is going for busking, don’t tell me you are going to the library?"
"Of course." Cherie shrugged her shoulders and walked out of the piano practice room.
Huh? She meant lunch or library? Jason caught up with the fast-paced Cherie. "Eh Cherie, you going lunch or library?"
"I yo, lunch la. Lunchtime go library for what? I’m hungry. Faster la." Cherie pretends to roll her eyes.
Half an hour later…
Wei Lian swiftly sets up his equipment and a high foldable stool along the busy streets of the Bugis area. This is his favorite busking area. Sometimes he sings at night for the seafood and western food café behind his busking area. The owner of Jose Place Café is a nice old lady. He calls her Granny Gin. She had told him he resembles her grandson who passed away at an early age. If he had not died, he would have been around his age.
She had allowed him to keep his busking equipment in the café’s locker-room and busk at other times of the day near her café. On occasional nights, she even hires him to sing at the café. Wei Lian loves this petite, warm and loving grandma dearly.
Effortlessly, he quietly unpacked his precious guitar out of its case and settles himself down on his seat. He test-strummed the guitar and began his usual day of busking.
Café Mocha Love.
Both Jason and Cherie sat in the booth in this stylish yet cosy café. All of a sudden, there was an awkward moment of long silence. Cherie avoided Jason’s stare. She wished Wei Lian had joined them for lunch. He has not been joining them for lunch recently.
"Why are you looking so weird?" He asked.
Weird? "How weird?" Cherie pretended to look unconcerned. "Just tired I guess. You think too much la."
Jason laughed. "Is it? For a moment, I thought it might be because of Wei Lian that you are quiet leh. How come he loves to start busking in the afternoon recently? He on diet ah? No leh. His figure quite good leh. No need diet mah. Eh? I thought he got a class later?"Cherie saw him mumbling to himself to find out the reason why Wei Lian doesn’t join them for lunch recently.
She wanted to laugh but she decided to control her urge to laugh. Hai! Slow roach. When will he finally realize that she loves him? She looked down to examine her fingers quietly as Jason continued his guessing.
Jason is still mumbling and thinking. Finally, he gave up and looked up at Cherie, "Eh, is it he needs money recently?"
Of course not. You slow roach. She looked up and shook her head. "No la. He is not cash strapped. How can he be cash strapped? The café he busks at pays him good money. Don’t worry. He found a part-time job as a songwriter recently. They pay him well too." That is Cherie. Her usual way of talking when she is tired.
Anyone can tell that Wei Lian has been excusing himself so that the both of them can share some quiet moments together. Hmm. Well, not everyone though. But at least she can tell that he is obviously excusing himself. After all, Wei Lian is the only one who knows her secret.
She loves Jason. Since young, Jason has always been the one who stood up for her when she is bullied or gets into trouble. Wei Lian, on the other hand, is the one who always listens and keeps her secrets for her. She loves both of them dearly. But she knows that she treats Wei Lian only as a brother.
As for Jason…she knows those feelings are different from brotherly love. A pity, Jason is more of a player. He’d rather move on than settle down. The three of them know perfectly well why Jason refuses to settle down.
It is because of his ex-girlfriend. He couldn’t forget how Jessica had died in the car accident. Jessica had loved him a lot before she passed away. And now, it’s her turn to fall in love with him.
Deep down inside, she knows that she loved him way before Jessica became a couple with Jason. She detested that feeling of seeing them together and acting so loving towards each other. It was like stabbing her heart with a knife. But she controlled her feelings and made Wei Lian keep it a secret, as she knew that she would die any moment.
But when Jessica died, her heart had been transplanted to Cherie’s body. Yes. She lives on only because Jessica died. And her heart was compatible for her body. She had a big hole in her heart and could die anytime. The previous transplant had almost cost her her life. The most ironic thing of all, Jessica was her best friend at college. She is confused.
She had thought that it is because of Jessica’s heart that her feelings for Jason deepened. Is that the reason, or is it not? "Whichever reason it is, it is a fact that you love him. Isn’t it? It is that simple." Wei Lian’s words rang in her mind. "Whichever reason it is, it is a fact that you love him. Isn’t it? It is that simple…Whichever reason it is, it is a fact that you love him. Isn’t it? It is that simple…."
"Hey Cherie. Cherie!" Jason snapped his fingers and tried to bring back the attention of Cherie.
"Huh?" Cherie realized that she has been staring into space. "Shall we get the bill?" Jason asked. Cherie nodded, her mind was still wandering….
