Chapter 13

Tutu Tan’s 2007 New Year’s Resolution

1. Get a new job – but in order to do that I first need to:
a. Identify what kind of job do I want?
b. Identify what direction do I want to head towards?
c. Should I remain a lawyer, or try out something else?
d. Do I need extra skills or qualifications?
e. Do I want another job?

2. Go traveling – I want to see the world! – But how will I afford? Guess I have to get a job then…

3. Learn a new skill and/or acquire a new hobby which is non work related – hm, come to think of it, do I have a hobby at all? Does shopping counts? Oh, that requires money too.

4. Get a boyfriend! – no, of course Ean doesn’t count! Wanna know when was the last time I had a serious relationship? No, better not.

5. Improve relationship with family – yes, I do have a family, in case you’ve been wondering.

6. How many resolutions does one need to have for a new year? Does it always have to be 10? … …

7. This is all I can handle, for now.

♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥

“Aquarius January 20 – February 19

Your address book is about to expand – and most of these contacts will come in useful later on in the year when you’re thinking about switching careers or moving house. In March, you’ll meet a man with love potential. But be warned, although this is a slow burner, it’s worth waiting for. When you finally get it together, by the end of the year, it will be dynamic. Keep your eyes peeled around April, too, when an unlikely male figure turns career mentor.

Don’t refuse any invites – especially as Jupiter’s effects are on full beam at the moment. Can’t be bothered going to that party on the other side of town? Force yourself! This is the one that’ll bring the most opportunities. Start putting any career goals you have into action straight away – you’ll be reaping the rewards by December.”

“Are you reading your horoscope?” Kaelyn sits down next to me on the sofa and props her legs onto the coffee table.

I quickly turn the page without looking at her. “Of course not! I was just checking out the new hair colors for the season. Do you think I’ll look good in blond?”

Kaelyn frowns at me in a manner which tells me that she thinks I’ve either lost my mind, or think she’s lost hers, and didn’t bother to answer me at all. That’s what you get sometimes when you’ve known someone since when you were 10 years old; they can tell you that they think you’re being silly even without saying so. Lyn¬ picks up the remote and switches on the TV. We are having a girl’s night in at Kaelyn’s place. Her parents are holidaying in New Zealand, and her brother Jake is out partying, as usual. So it’s just us girls and a stack of feel good chick flick DVDs. A pot of vegetable curry is warming on the stove, and Lyn’s just popped some naan bread to warm in the oven. I’ve opened a bottle of chilled Sauvignon Blanc and the night is ready to roll!

Then my friend has to say something so spoil the mood. “We must be getting old. Who else do you know stays home on a Saturday night watching Lake House and Devil Wears Prada?” I open my mouth to answer, but she cuts me off. “And don’t tell me Mr. and Mrs. Sachiiya, because you know bloody well I am referring to people our age.”

I turn in my seat so that I face Lyn, and then I say to her very seriously, “so, would you rather we get changed now and hit a club? Because we can, if that’s what you really want.”

She didn’t say anything for a while, but shoots me a pout. “That’s not what I meant,” she says after a while.

I know what she meant, but I still want to hear it from her. Something’s been bothering Lyn lately, and it’s not because she’s force to spend Saturday night watching DVDs with me. In fact, she was the one who suggested we hang out together tonight. So I continue to look at her expectantly.

Finally she gives an impatient sigh and hugs a pillow to her chest. She didn’t look at me when she says, “I – Marcus and I, we – actually, it was he who – I mean we –,“ she stops, sighs again, and then takes a deep breath before letting it out in a rush. “We broke up.”

Gasp! Hm, why am I not surprised? Oh, ok, I think I should sound a bit more sympathetic, Lyn is my bestest friend, after all. “Oh Lyn –“ I reach for her, but she holds up a hand to stop me.

“Uh uh – don’t say it. Don’t say anything. I know you’ll tell me ‘I told you so’ and I don’t want to hear it. I also don’t need your sympathy – comfort, maybe, but don’t feel sorry for me, because I’m not, feeling sorry, that is. We are grown ups, right? And these things happen – people get together and then separate all the time. Look at Ean, happily married one year, and divorced the next, but life goes on.”

“Mm hm.” I don’t say anything, just nod in agreement.

“And like you said, Marcus is a playboy. You’ve warned me about him, and yet I made the decision to be with him, but at least I was prepared, sort of. And it wasn’t like we’ve been together for forever or anything; it’s only been three months, and we had our share of fun. But we are not made for each other, I sort of realized that even from the beginning, but it was something different, and I wanted to give it a try. He made me feel special, like I was the center of everything, and I was! Just not for very long, that’s all. But it’s nobody’s fault. He is who he is, just not who I want him to be.”

“Mmm…” I nod again, trying to come up with something comforting and encouraging, yet un-clichéd, to say. “Sweetie, at least you knew what you were getting into, which sort of cushioned the fall, I guess. And –"

“It’s ok, Tu. I’m ok, really.”

“That’s good to know.”

“Besides –“ she pauses, looking hesitant.

“Yes?” I prompt.

“I’ve met someone new.”

“What?!”

She’s got to be joking! I mean, when does she finds the time to meet a new guy and I don’t know anything about it until now? I thought we were best friends!

“Who? When? – How come?”

Lyn actually laughs. “Shall we get started with dinner, and I can fill you in while we eat? And stop looking so shock, Tu. I said I met someone new, I didn’t say I was getting married!”

Huh, right. That’s my friend for you – always full of delightful surprises. I get up from my seat and follow her into the kitchen.

“By the way, Tu, your horoscope prediction is right, you need to start going out more.”