LII | Strange One

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We're on a wobbly bus
heading to the west of Singapore.

Some faraway park
with a nice view of the sunset.

The kindergarten kid
in the seat behind me

is talking loudly
about his trivial prayer
for it not to rain today.

I'm leaning my head against
the window,

watching Rowan next to me
talking to the boy with knee-socks
(across the aisle)

about some church stuff,

with her usual expressionless
expression.

Surrounded by people
of all ages
with similar expressionless
expressions,

she no longer looks weird
and out of place.

The strange one
is skeptical me.

During the journey
Rowan doesn't glance over at me.

Not even once.

The bus stops outside the park.

Most people
start to help
unloading of picnic equipment

but I don't.

I just stand
awkwardly
by the side

and watch.

A group of aunties
in sunglasses

and hand fans from last year's
National Day free pack

start talking to me.

'Rowan's classmate right?'
'How nice to see she brought friends.'
'Are you a christian?'
'Have you been to church before?'
'Then do you believe in God?'
'Is your family also non-christian?'
'Have you heard about Jesus?'

Just a second

before i lose my
mind

(and start swearing),

Rowan locates me
and answers
their questions

on my behalf

with a heated stare
that speaks in a language I cannot hear.

They nod and smile,
say kind things

that float pass my stinging ears
unheard.

'Don't keep disappearing,'
Rowan says.

She's really busy.

[Read the full story at novelconbini.com!]