[Shrouded]

We must have fallen asleep from exhaustion. I woke up naked next to Jasmine, not remembering if we actually showered after sex or not. As usual, her curtains were not drawn so I was awakened by the sun. It was only around 10am.

I went to the bathroom to wash up and got dressed. She was still asleep.

Alicia was already at the dining table having a coffee.

A: You want one?

Me: Sure.

She went to make me a cup and set it down on the table.

A: Give her time.

Me: Huh?

A: She's still recovering from her failed marriage.

Me: I can't tell.

A: You have to trust me on that.

Me: What do I need to do?

A: Be there for her? Comfort her? Don't hurt her?

Me: I think I can do that.

A: Don't bother about Darren. I was the one who invited him over for sex. With me. Jasmine knew about it. I guess she wanted that feeling again.

Me: I do that for her.

Alicia laughed.

A: No you can't. Not that way. Unless you somehow enlarge your cock.

Me: I thought size doesn't matter.

A: To be honest, sometimes it does. Darren doesn't provide the security or comfort you can, but when it comes to pure physical pleasure, you can't beat him.

Me: Right.

A: Luckily for you, that's not what Jasmine wants or needs right now.

Me: But she still did it anyway.

A: Maybe she was just trying to figure out what she wants.

Me: Ok.

A: Don't think too much about it. Anyway, Alan says mom will be back just before lunch. Can we head back by then?

Me: Sure. But I don't have oranges.

A: Haha! You still want to collect ang pow?

Me: It's respect for tradition.

A: I think NTUC is still open. We can go over first.

Me: By the way, I'm curious. About Felicia…

A: She's the same as Jasmine. Recovering from a failed marriage.

Me: That's not exactly what I wanted to know.

A: Why did she want to sleep with you again? Probably for comfort. You don't just fuck us. You do more than that. To some girls that may be confusing. Felicia actually told me before that she kind of wished you guys were just friends with benefits previously. You could have been so much more.

Me: Meaning?

A: Means we may fall for you. She did, I think. And I still miss our naked cuddles ok?

Me: Err…

A: But I'm over that now. Besides, I want you to move on with your life. Whether it's with Jasmine or someone else. Only you can make that choice. And I'm damn sure mom is one of the reasons you're holding back.

Me: Maybe. Is that why you keep asking me to sort things out with her?

A: Mom isn't a very nice person. I'm surprised it took you so long to figure that out. She was just using you. But she trusts you enough that she wants you to be our guardian if anything happens to her. Which is strange. I don't think you're mature enough to handle it. Especially since you slept with us. But I don't want to be fucking my daddy.

Me: I really wish you didn't put it that way.

We finished our coffee. Jasmine and Felicia were still sleeping.

I kissed Jasmine goodbye and headed to NTUC with Alicia to get some oranges.

We reached her place just before 1130am. Surprisingly Ann's car was already parked outside so I had to park somewhere else.

Ann was sitting at the dining table talking to Alan. Amanda and her boyfriend were nowhere to be seen. Alicia went up to her and passed her the oranges.

A: Gong Xi Fa Cai! Hong Bao Na Lai!

Ann laughed, and passed her a red packet.

I did the same, and she passed me a red packet too.

A: How have you been?

Me: Ok. I guess.

Alicia grabbed Alan and dragged him away from the dining table.

A: It's been so long.

Me: Yeah.

Ann somehow looked happier, and more vibrant. She had put on some weight, I could tell from the roundness of her cheeks when she smiled.

Me: Am I still your partner?

A: Haha! I didn't think you'd want to be after all that has happened.

Me: I feel an obligation to you.

A: Weirdo. You shouldn't. But I know what our arrangement was.

Me: So what happens now?

A: You're a nice guy Mark. You deserve to be with someone who treats you right. I'm at the age where I don't really need to care about many things in life, and to be honest, I think I found the right person who can accept the things I do.

Me: So you're breaking up with me?

A: Yes. If that's the way you want to put it. I'm releasing you from your obligations. Besides, you haven't fucked me in ages, so I think you failed to fulfill those obligations.

Me: Funny.

A: But I'd appreciate it if you could still keep an eye on my kids. Especially Alicia. God knows what she's doing now that she moved out.

Me: She's doing fine.

A: Good to know. She doesn't really tell me these things.

Me: So I guess we'll be friends?

A: I hope you like having friends who will disappear on you for long periods of time.

Me: I get used to it.

A: Good. How are things with you really?

Somehow, this time, I didn't feel the need to update Ann on what was going on in my life.

Me: I'm ok. Really.

A: Good good.

Ann took out another ang pow from her bag.

A: For your parents.

Me: You don't need to.

A: Just take it. You know I can afford it.

Me: That's besides the point.

A: Anyway, I'll be waiting for Amanda to show up then have lunch with my kids. Do you want to join us?

Me: Don't think I can. Amanda's boyfriend is coming right? There's a limit of 5.

A: I forgot about that.

Me: I think I'll go visit my parents.

A: Alright then.

I thanked Ann again and went back to the car. I opened the ang pows. She had done it again.

$500 for me and $1000 for my parents.

Oh well, I guess half of my new PC just paid for itself.