Chapter 5 : Come on, we're going to be late!

Bzzzzzz… Bzzzzzz…. The vibration of my Sony handphone that I put next to the pillow woke me up from a long sleep. I reached it and quickly read what had appeared on the screen. "11 missed calls" I read it slowly. Before I hit the 'view' button on the screen of the phone, it vibrated again. Gina's name appeared. I answered the call.

"Hello."

"Hello Marina! Open the door. I'm outside!"

"Okay, hold on. But stop knocking my door now" I answered. I pressed the 'recent calls' button again to see who had contacted me eleven times before Gina.

'Gina'.

Yes, only Gina's name appeared there.

Slowly, I walked toward the locked room door. As soon as I opened the door, I returned to my bed.

"Marina what are you doing? Come on! We're going to be late."

"Do we really have to go to Shah Alam for breakfast?"

"We can’t cancel it last minute, Marina. I have called Ally and Michelle and they are on their way to Ali Corner now."

"Can you go without me?"

"It's not complete without you. Come on!" Gina hit me with a pillow.

"Okay. Okay. I’ll get ready."

"I'll wait outside Marina... don't be too long."

Reluctantly, I went into the bathroom and while I was having a shower, I thought about Shazlin and what had happened between her and Zara.

"I'm sorry Marina. Because of me, you're officially unemployed."

"You don't have to apologize Shaz. I should've left La Nona years ago."

"Thank you, Marina."

"I did what I had to do. Preventing you from killing Zara.''

"You know what? I think I should write a book."

"Oh really? A book on what?"

"How to deal with crazy people."

"I have idea for the title."

"What’s that?"

"CRAY-Z."

"You know what the Z stands for right?" asked Shazlin, holding her laugh.

"Well I know WHO the Z stands for!" I added. We both laughed hysterically at the idea.

*****

Gina parked her car in front of Ali Corner Restaurant near Plaza Alam Central in Shah Alam. Ally and Michelle who had been in the restaurant, which was partially walled, waved excitedly at us as soon as they saw us.

"Hi Marina..." said Ally as I reached the table. As usual, he pouted his lips and I knew what he wanted.

"Hi Ally. Welcome!" I gave him a flying kiss as a reply. So was Michelle. That was one of our 'politeness strategies'.

"Why are you two late?" ask Ally.

"I'm sorry... if it wasn't for her. We wouldn't be this late," explained Gina as she pouted her lips at me.

"I didn't feel like going out this morning, but someone was exceptionally persuasive..." I gave a rather cliché reason. The reason I had given them before.

"Come on Marina! It's not like we always meet. We're all busy the other days. This is the only time we have." said Michelle.

"I'm not busy anymore..."

"What do you mean?"

"I’m no longer working at La Nona"

"Are you serious? And why is that?" Michelle was excited to know more.

I took a deep breath. I knew, like it or not I had to mention Zara's name.

"It’s Zara. I can't stand it anymore!"

"Why? What happened? Tell me... tell me..." said Ally. If Ally had started urging, it would mean that the brunch session would be longer than what we had planned. To me, Ally had the criteria of an inspector. He would ask, ask, and ask until he got all the important details he needed.

''It seems that Zara must be looking for replacements now,'' said Ally.

"Probably yes. Why Ally? Are you going to La Nona again? "

"Don't be ridiculous. I still remember how she turned Yani's life to hell for several years," Ally reminded us of our friend who had worked for Zara before Shazlin took over.

"No wonder you hate the idea of Marina working at La Nona..." said Gina

"Now you know why, don't you? Working more than two years for Zara is no joke. You deserve an award Marina! " said Michelle. Gina and Ally laughed at what was said.

"So next time, choose the right job Marina..." said Michelle.

"I agree with Michelle. There's nothing wrong with being picky... " Gina said.

"Yes, if we do something that we don't like, we will be trapped and will feel the effects in years to come…" Ally continued.

"Oh yes. How is it going between you and Norman?" Suddenly the name came out of Michelle's mouth.

"We will meet tonight at Sunway Pyramid..." I replied.

"Does he know what has happened to you?" Asked Michelle.

"Not yet... Marina hasn't told him yet..." Gina answered on my behalf.

"Ha!? He doesn't know yet?! Your fiancé doesn't even know what has happened to you? Hmm…" Ally said.

"That's why I want to see him tonight. I want to tell him everything... "

"That is so…." Michelle did not continue. She smiled meaningfully.

"Finish it Michelle.."

"I don’t think I need to. You know it better, Marina."