Afternoon Tea

1200 words (Background)


"What is this?" she asked.

Loi still held the bracelet in his outstretched hand. "It's a gift," he replied, innocently enough, unaware there could be any reaction other than quiet gratitude.

She turned her back and went to the kitchen, leaving him bewildered at first then increasingly uncomfortable as the seconds ticked by with no sign of her returning. Slowly he rose to his feet and reluctantly followed, not keen on his display of anxiety at her response.

"I can get it changed if it's not to your taste." He waited, she didn't speak. "But I thought it was the one you admired the other day when I bumped into you out shopping."

She was brushing crumbs off the bench top, deliberately pursuing each tiny grain and keeping her eyes from him.

"It is the one, isn't it?" he asked, not willing to believe he had made a mistake.

"Of course it's the one," she replied, sounding exasperated and finally facing him. "But what on earth would I want with it?"

He held it out once more, "It's yours now. Take it, I bought it for you." He smiled innocently yet again.

"I can't take it, Ah Loi," she explained, patient now she saw he had no idea what he had done. "Even if I want it, it's not something I can have."

"I bought it just for you, because you admired it."

"Admiring is one thing, having is something quite different."

He drew back, the puzzlement more apparent than any expression of hurt at the rejection. "You don't want it?" he asked.

She shook her head and smiled, "No. What would I do with it?" She laughed softly as the picture flooded her mind, "Where would I wear it? Where do I ever go to wear such a bracelet? What clothes do I have to live up to its grandeur?"

He bowed his head and studied it in detail. The diamonds sparkled and the clear blue sapphires caught the light, twisting it in their many facets.

"I see," he murmured, face flushed with sudden embarrassment.

She could have said more but decided the rejection for now was enough. Later, perhaps, they would talk again.

"The tea is ready, let's go sit down." She led the way to the sitting room and they sat opposite each other.

"Jai always work so late on a Saturday," said Loi. It was past four and no sign of him.

"He has to catch the bus from the MRT and often he just misses one."

"Why don't you buy a car? You could afford one, couldn't you?"

"We're doing our bit for the environment."

"You don't expect me to believe that," he mocked.

"Can or not, as you please. Besides, in Singapore a car is hardly necessary."

"But a car gives you status."

"If you need status," she sneered.