XXV | Witch

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We played soccer
until it turned dark.

Now:
surrounded by cans of Red Bull,
sprawled in the empty carpark,
faces lit by yellow streetlights.

Jerry leans on Tom's shoulder.

Tom tilts his can of Red Bull
for Jerry to drink.

He smiles
when it trickles out the side of Jerry's mouth

and wipes it for him.

Ming's gulping down his second can.

The girls who just watched us play
have joined us with their drinks.

Nora, Pretti, Angie
and two others I don't know.

Somebody's CCA friends
or something.

Everyone's here except Shuhui.

It's been a while since everyone stayed back after the game.

'That's just cause
'you haven't been hanging out with us,'
Ming said.

That's true.

I've been preoccupied with Rowan all week.

'So how?' Ming asks me.

'How what?'

I take a swig from my empty can.

'You've been busy with a new girl,'
Tom says mock-seriously.

A goofy smile.

'Lol.'

Some sniggers.

'Isn't he always?'

'We're not serious.'

I shrug,
leaning back.

'Who's this new girl?
'Why isn't she here?'

Jerry sits up.

'Rowan Lee,'
Nora pipes up.

'That holy holy girl won't want to hang out with people like us.'

Jerry's asking me
but everyone else is responding.

'She transferred from your JC,'
Angie added.

Jerry starts.
Smarts Tom on the arm.

'OMG, it's that Rowan!'

'Could be a different Rowan leh,'
Tom says.

Jerry stares at me
like he's trying to see Rowan in my mind.

'She's creepy.
'You should stay away from her.'

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