third time's a charm

02

"Rehearsal?"

Lunchtime in their depressing office kitchenette area. Yet this was the only place where Win could feel like he could breathe again and be human. Of course, Win and New eat their lunch voraciously while Gun eats his out of a container. Based on his horoscope, he should have sushi today, so Win had his perfectly cut and lined sushi on a plate in front of him.

"Yes, Win, rehearsal." Gun repeated and thought his Chinese food tasted greasy and winced, "You're not going to my wedding without knowing where to stand or walk."

"Why do you worry about Win so much?" New said, "Win follows everything in order, he'll be fine."

"It's just that he tends to get nervous and plans often change when he starts reading daily horoscopes!"

Win chewed his sushi properly before responding, "You're going to marry a guy you barely even know and you worry that I will screw your wedding if I don't attend your rehearsal? Get real!"

But Gun seemed ecstatic about the idea of wedding bells and romantic escapades with his "soulmate" that he couldn't be bothered with Win's shenanigans. "I can't wait for you guys to meet him!"

"Uh-huh," said New. "And when we do meet him, we'll know him for almost as long as you have."

Win laughed. "I'll give it a year. You'll be begging to get out of the marriage soon enough."

"Ah, you're so nice," New teased. "I'll give it six months."

Tay entered the kitchen and went to get coffee before joining them on the table. "So, are we going to meet his friends too?" New shot him a look and he returned it with a raised eyebrow. "What? I'm just thinking, maybe we could find someone for Win!"

Win started choking on his food. "No, no dating!" He waved his hand in response.

"Forget about dating, just fuck the guy and move on," said New. Tay stared at him. "What?"

But Gun pondered about the suggestion. "It's not bad. Maybe you could meet someone special there and this time, it might be for real."

"And you don't have to die," New added sarcastically and Gun eyed him warningly.

Win kept eating. Truthfully, he'd rather eat than react to their proposal. "I'd rather have a relationship with my job."

New sniggered. "See? Now he's lying. I'll give it three months."

"I'll give it a day," Gun grinned when Win scowled at him. "Why do you keep following all these shits about your destiny and searching for signs..."

"It got me where I am today!"

"And where are you exactly?" New looked around. He went on, "In a boring office, exposing celebrities, writing about their scandals and stuck with a pathetic boss---"

As he was saying that, Gulf came in and put his meal in the microwave. Then, he whirled to face the group and leaned against the counter. "I heard that."

"Look guys," Win interrupted everyone and they all stopped to look at him as if what he was about to say was the most important thing on the planet. "I was prone to accidents and disasters since I was a child. My sister took me to a temple and met this shaman who told me to follow the signs to improve my life as I grew up. Since then, I never had any accident. Not once."

They looked at him in silence. Tay was the number one skeptic in the group and immediately said, "Sounds like it is full of shit."

"Maybe it's just coincidence, you know." Gun shrugged, "And that seer we met too...perhaps she meant it as a metaphor?"