Only for you

Chapter 2

“As soon as I look up, his eyes click onto my face. The breath whooshes out of my body and everything freezes for a second, as though I’m looking at him through my camera lens, zoomed in all the way, the world pausing for that tiny span of time between the opening and closing of the shutter.” ( Lauren Oliver)

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Chapter 2

What happened before

Two hours has passed by. To say that I am the same stick up bitch that I was would be a lie. I am happy – in and out- with Amanda. I have been laughing, smiling, giggling and talking non-stop with her- all the things that I haven’t done in many years, the things that I haven’t pretended to do. This strange spectacled girl has brought me back from the dark depths of my previous life and I am grateful to her for that.

Amanda had been helping me unpack and arrange all my clothes books etc into their respective places. I was enjoying listening to her babbling about her parents, her family and this school, though it brought back the unforgettable question that

“ Why didn’t I have them?”

 I had just finished unpacking my belongings, listening to Amanda's talks.

Suddenly Amanda screamed.

“ What What Wh…?”

“ Oh my god I just remembered’, she screeched making me hesitantly put my index finger in my ear, “ There is this new Chinese restaurant just down the street. I have heard from Bryan that the food there is just mindblowing, just literally mindblowing.”

And so here we were, walking down the same street that Amanda had described some twenty minutes earlier in our room. We had already been blessed enough to witness the wrath of our new warden who unsurprisongly had a great feeling of displeasure towards Amanda especially when she started to shout when one of the parents brought in their three year old girl.

“ I mean that girl was like so cute, but that old bitch of a warden- sorry if you would please excuse my very unfeminine habit- was so intent of kicking me out of the room. I mean I love childs, what is wrong with that?”

I shook my head at her own childishness. My uncle has a small girl but aunt doesn’t really trust me around her. I always have and will love childs. I guess that they were the ones who brought out the real me uptil now. Because of their innocence and carelessness, they have always been my most favourite stage in the cycle of life- the time when they are pure.

“ Earth to Brooke please,” I heard Amanda shout, waving her hand in front of my face.

“ I swear Amanda, You will burst my eardrums one day.’

“ Oh shut it, look there,” she pointed her gloved finger on the last building at the end of the street. Standing highly illuminated and decorated, "the Ichiban" stood just a few paces before us.

“Are you just going to stand there? God you are clumsy,” Amanda stated already at the gate of the restaurant where a few people stood staring at her and then at me wierdly.

“ Ohhhhh Amanda,” I sore under my breath before skipping to where she stood. She was already at the gate gaping ( or maybe drooling) at the huge signboard bordered with twinkling lights. I reached her doubling over in exhaustion.

" How can you be so tired? You look as if you have just ran a mile."

" Feels like it with you..." I muttered and was relieved that Amanda didn't hear it.

"Let's go inside", she took my hand and led me inside the big wooden doors and into the restaurant.

It was painted bright yellow with red and green dragons on the walls. Different types of hangings could be seen above our heads and the floor was wooden with paints. I looked to my left and right. The restaurant was beautiful and lively. There were couples, families and friends sitting indianstyle on the raised platform and chatting and laughing. Soon I will be one of them. It is one of the first public places where I can be at ease ever since my family got ripped away from my life. The brilliant lights and the chandelier added to its beauty. Different coloured candles were decorated on the walls. I heard Amanda speak beside me as I looked to see her talking to a young chinese girl.