Page 51

Maureen smirks. “I’m the only one they trust with this.”
“Ah, makes sense. You’re a great maid of honor. She’s lucky to have you.”
Her smile wanes a little at that, and I wonder if I’ve said the wrong thing. We brisk-walk the rest of the way to the bridal suite in silence. When we get inside, Maureen says, “Just put the box down on the coffee table.” I do as she says and hesitate again. Should I leave, or should I wait for her? As though reading my mind, she says, “You can go now,” dismissing me with a flick of her hand.
Outside, I check the schedule and breathe a sigh of relief. It’s lunchtime, and after that there are a couple hours of break while everyone rests through the hottest part of the day. I won’t be needed for a few hours until portrait time in the afternoon, after which will be the wedding ceremony, followed by the reception. I’m about to go to the restaurant, where lunch is provided for allthe wedding vendors, when my phone rings. Second Aunt’s face pops up onto the screen.
“Meddy, got problem.”
My heart thumps to the floor. “What is it?”
“Ah Guan phone. It keep ringing, someone want to talk to him bad. Maybe I pick up and say—”
“Do NOT pick up! I’ll be right there.”
I run all the way back to my room. Even before I open the door, I can hear the faint sound of music. I tap the key card at the door sensor frantically and burst into the room. Fourth Aunt jumps up, then sighs when she sees me.
“You’ll give me a heart attack!”
“What’s that music?” I say, rushing inside.
“Shoes!” Fourth Aunt scolds.
Seriously? I kick my shoes off and rush toward the bed. Someone has put the duvet on top of Ah Guan, covering all of him save for his socked feet, which are poking out the bottom. His phone is on top of the desk, lying facedown, and the music is coming from it, because Second Aunt was right, someone keeps calling him.
“Why didn’t you turn it to Silent mode?” I reach for the phone and pause. What do I do? Now that I’m actually here, I don’t know what I’m supposed to do. Answer it? Shit, no. I can’t do that. I’m still standing there, frozen, when it stops mid-ring. Silence falls, thick and heavy.
“It’s going to ring again,” Fourth Aunt says. “Been ringing for the past ten minutes. Er Jie couldn’t stand it; that’s why she’s out there.”
“Out there?” I glance up and finally catch sight of Second Aunt out on the balcony, doing Tai Chi.
“That position’s called White Crane Spreads Its Legs,” FourthAunt says. I give her a look, and she goes, “What? I’m serious. You think I’m making these names up?”
“Yeah, actually.” I shake my head. Why the hell am I arguing about Tai Chi position names right now? “Where are Big Aunt and Ma?”
“Went for lunch. You know how they get all angry when they’re hungry. They get... hang-angry. Ooh, I just coined a new term!”
“The term’s ‘hangry,’ and you didn’t coin it.” I focus on the phone.Okay, Meddy. Think. Okay, first things first: we need to know who’s been calling. Yeah. Okay.
Taking a deep breath, I reach out while at the same time the rest of my body cringes away from the phone. Even my lips peel back, like my entire skin is trying to crawl off. I pick it up, grimacing, and tap the home key. The screen lights up, asking for an unlock code or a fingerprint.
I swear out loud.
“What is it?”
“I need his thumbprint.”
“Oof. Mm, yeah, not going to help you with that.” Fourth Aunt resumes plucking her eyebrows.
“Yep, don’t worry about it,” I mutter, walking to the side of the bed. “Okay. I can do this. No biggie. This is totally fine.” I dart to the bathroom, retrieve a hand towel, and wrap it around my hand. Deep breath. I lift the duvet, gritting my teeth as I see his hand. His pale hand. Mannequin pale. Shit, shit, shit. Gingerly, I maneuver it so I can press his thumb up against the home key. Nothing happens. Argh. Okay, other thumb. Still nothing. With increasing desperation, I try his index finger and finally hit jackpot. The screen lights up, and the phone unlocks. Thank you, sweet baby Jesus. I drop his hand and do a full body shiver. Yech.
Then I look at my prize. Ah Guan’s phone, unlocked. First things first: I go into Settings and turn off the phone lock, so I won’t need his fingerprint again to access the phone. Then I click on the calls history list and—
“Shit.”
“What is it?” Fourth Aunt says.
I look up at her, my mouth open, aghast. “It’s Maureen Halim.”