It’s Christmas Eve, and she already made an appointment to meet Ryan for dinner at Boat Quay. She knows Ryan from ICQ chat, they chatted for 1 month and met twice for dinner and tonight is their first night out on a special occasion.

Canny got up from her bed, opened the wardrobe and peeped into her clothes. She realized that she didn’t have anything to wear for a special occasion. Then she noticed a white tube top and a purple short skirt folded neatly among her other clothes that she seldom wears.

The white tube top and the purple short skirt was a present from her boyfriend, Francis. He bought it for her when they went shopping at Bugis Junction a few months back. She and Francis had been together for nearly 2.5 years, until her birthday in June, whereby she told Francis that she wanted to end the relationship. She tried to put up with his selfishness and childishness for the past 1 year, and she finally decided to end it. The countless arguments and fights with Francis made her feel so fragile. She feels miserable most of the time as Francis started probing into her personal space after she asked for a break up.

He would just read her diary and her text messages to find out where she has been and who she was with. He wants to know who called her and where she goes. And if she refused to tell, he would follow her all the way from her place to her destination. Sometimes if he cannot find her or when she did not reply his call, he would wait for her at the void deck until she returns home.

Canny was terrified. The only person she can confide to then, was Ryan. Ryan has been a good listener. He has given her a new hope, and strength to carry on.

She had thought of applying for restraining order to keep Francis at bay, but she knows that won’t do any good. He will become more violent. Francis had threatened to hurt himself or hurt the new guy in her life if he ever found out who he is.

She remember clearly how after an argument in her room a few weeks back, Francis stabbed his arms with a sharp metal in front of her and she just sat there watching, without any reaction. She is horrified by the fact that the man she knows for 2.5 years can be so childish and irrational. The more he tries to hurt himself, the more Canny hates him to the core.

It was 5pm, Canny showered and changed into the white tube top and the purple skirt. She let her hair down for the first time when meeting a friend.

Ryan will be meeting her at Raffles Interchange MRT station at 7pm. She walked towards the bus stop to wait for the bus to the city.

Suddenly, Francis appeared from nowhere and confronted her.

“Where are you heading?” he asked her.

Canny was surprised to see him there and she knows he will question her.

“I’m going to meet some friends.” She replied briefly.

“Who? What friends?” he asked her again.

“Why would I tell you? Not that you know them..” said Canny, feeling rather restless and irritated.

“Are you meeting some guy?”, he asked further.

This time, Canny is getting pissed, she answered, “None of your business!”

Francis wasn’t happy with her answer, “I bought those for you..!” he said annoyingly, referring to the tube top and the purple skirt.

The bus came, she boarded the bus; and Francis followed.

When reaching the train station, she got off the bus and boards the train heading south from Jurong East Interchange. Francis too, entered the train and stood next to hear.

“You don’t want to tell me who you’re meeting… then fine! I’ll follow you…”, he threatened her.

Canny was very upset. At that moment, she felt that her whole world crashing down on her, anger and hatred filled her mind. She cried looking coldly at him while he pretended nothing happened. And the rest of the passengers in the train noticed the little drama.

They reached Jurong East Interchange and changed to the North East Line train. Francis still tagging close. Canny is not letting him getting where she’s heading. She quickly thought of a plan to get rid of him.

She and Francis were standing by the door. When the train reached Queenstown station, Canny watched as people got off the train, and seconds before the train’s door shut, she dashed out from the train.

She turned back, staring hard at Francis, who was staring at her in disbelief! He was inside the train while she watched him from the platform. The train left the station.

Canny, however, had guessed that Francis will not give up. She suspected that he will come back to Queenstown to look for her. Hence, she ran towards the overhead bridge and hide behind the wall at one corner.

The next train arrived at Queenstown from the city. Canny scan through the arriving passengers, and there she saw Francis, combing the crowd in search of her. Her heart was pumping and her hands were cold. After a while, Francis left with the other train heading towards the city. Canny stepped out from her hiding place, and waited for another train.

She was in the state of shock and her hands were shaking while on the way to Raffles Interchange. She kept looking back just to check if Francis is catching up with her.

She started to calm down the moment she saw Ryan waiting for her at the station. They had some drinks at the bar, followed by dinner. Still haunted by Francis’ shadow, she doesn’t feel like going home. She was very sure that Francis will be waiting for her at the void deck, like what he always does.

After the dinner, they proceeded to a club along Boat Quay. They danced the night away like there’s no one around, just the two of them on the dance floor. She just want to forget about her sorrows, and she just want to forget about everything.

As they danced, Ryan pulled her closely until their eyes met. The music was playing, and she can see some people were staring at the two of them, but none of them really bothered by the attention.

Then he pulled her close and kissed her. Time just passed by… the night was magic.

And it was true enough, Francis waited for her the whole night at the void deck.

He demanded S$10k from Canny in order for him to let her go. Canny just ignore his unrealistic request. Then he demanded that Canny return him whatever he had paid for her in their last few months together. In order to make him stop pestering her, she agreed to return him S$800 by installment. Canny’s take home pay was only S$1020, and she has to support her family at home, pay her room rental and her bills. She cannot afford to pay him all S$800 in one lump sum.

In order to release Canny from Francis’ never ending insults, Ryan has agreed to settle the amount for Canny.

Francis has never looked for Canny ever since while she and Ryan became a loving couple for more than 3 years.

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That was 5 years ago, Ryan and Canny were separated in 2003 when he left to further his studies and he is now married. Once in while, they still chat online, talking about what they have gone through together.

Canny remembers all Ryan did for her unconditionally. To her, he is always the angel that touches her deep within. She tells herself times and times again, that she will never meet another man like Ryan.

But she still has many Christmas seasons to go through, whether with someone or just by herself….