Second Chances (Kathneil FF)

Second Chances - 4

Second Chances - 4

"Hi! Had your dinner yet?" Anita greeted her friend as she pulled her seat belt and made herself comfortable in the passenger seat.

"I packed some fried rice. A box for you too."

"Waah.. Thank you, ya."

"Thank... you," Joanne Lim turned to look at her friend, "for lending me your car."

"No worries," Anita smiled. "When is your car ready?"

"Tomorrow," Joanne answered, slowing down at a red light. "So, I'll just take a cab to work and you can have your car back."

"Don't be silly," Anita brushed her off. "I'll drive you to the hospital and if you can wait till the evening, I can fetch you and we'll go to the workshop together."

"You're sure?"

"Of course."

"Great! I have morning shift tomorrow and finish at 2. But I'll wait till you get off work."

"Ok, that settles it then," Anita smiled as she lifted her long hair and leaned towards the air conditioner vent. "Gosh, it's really hot tonight."

"Yup, about 42c this afternoon. Should be cooler now though."

"Sure doesn't feel like it."

Joanne grinned as she turned in towards their housing area.

"So, how's work today? You enjoying it so far?" The 30-something year old staff nurse asked.

Anita has just started working part time at the hotel as an arts instructor.

"Yeah," Anita smiled. "I even managed to sit with some staff and gossip."

"Really?"

"Yeah."

"So, what's the goss?"

"Nothing much, really. Just some Filipino drama crew staying here for 3 weeks."

"Filipino?" Joanne turned towards her friend sharply.

"Uhuh," Anita replied, tying her long hair into a twisted knot.

"Are there actors?"

"I think so."

"What are their names?"

"Huh?" Anita looked at Joanne in surprise and laughed. "Didn't know you're a fan?"

Joanne returned her friend's laughter with one of her own, trying to cover her earlier sharp tone.

"Just a little," she answered sheepishly.

Anita scrunched her nose and thought back.

"Uhmm, let me see... Well, I don't know about the others, but the one who just arrived is called Vanessa Thompson. Nope, sorry...Veronica Thompson."

"Any actors?"

"Not sure," Anita answered as she flicked a lint from her sleeveless denim shirt. "But I'm sure there is at least one. It's a romantic movie or drama or something."

"Ahh... I see."

"I'll see if there are any cute Filipino men around tomorrow, ok," Anita grinned oblivious to Joanne's worried frown in the dark confines of the car. "I never knew you follow Filipino dramas too. I thought you're just a Korean buff."

Joanne laughed, albeit uneasily.

"Naah, just curious that's all," she replied. "Filipino guys can be cute too."

Anita laughed, understanding her alomost 40-year-old girl friend. Life as a single girl can be lonely. Though Anita herself was not looking at getting a companion any time soon, the death of her mother two years ago did leave some kind of void in her life.

Yet, life went on and she was glad she had friends, work and her painting to keep her busy.

"Ok, dearie, we're home," Joanne said as she parked the car.

The two ladies walked two floors of the walk-up apartment to their respective neighboring units.

"Ok, night, Jo," Anita lifted up her box of fried rice. "Thanks for the rice and see you at 7 tomorrow, ya."

"Yup, see ya, have a good rest."

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