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- Story Listed as: True Life For Adults
- Theme: Love stories / Romance
- Subject: Love / Romance / Dating
- Published: 04/27/2013
Traffic Lights
Born 1989, F, MalaysiaThe traffic lights turned green and the cars around me started to move. For a moment, I was stunned. I felt it hit me through the stomach so hard. My mind went blank but I am still breathing. The whole world is tuned out from me.
But I was too blinded by immaturity that I walked away instead of standing by his side.
Falling in love is like the changing lights of the traffic lights. There are three parts which akin to the colours of the traffic lights. Yellow is where you get the precautions warnings. Red is where all the warnings points to one direction and you might want to stop. Green is the determination on which path you take.
Yellow – Precautions Warnings
I met him four years ago at an alumni dinner.
He is a familiar face to me, it is just that I do not know his name. That is until the end of the night. His name is Chris.
Chris and I hit along well, despite the age gap (I am eight years younger). We talked just about anything, including the lecture slides he is preparing for the next day classes. I discovered that he is multi-talented. He is the administrative Joe at his work station during regular hours, a lecturer in times of need and a designer to fulfil his passion.
It is hard to say when did the lights turned yellow. But like the old saying Cantonese goes, some people just have the husband and wife looks, the fu chai seong. We only knew each other for about a few months, but an interesting comment was thrown to us one evening. The serving lady thought that we are a couple. God forbids, I thought back then.
Many reasons to why I thought that way and how stupid I was back then! Whenever he told me his frustrations, I dismissed it as a whine and told him off. Whenever he did not do what other men did, I dismissed it as his fault. Whatever he do, I judge him – little do I know how it is to walk a mile in his shoes. I see him as a man full of rough ridges and I could not accept what I see.
I took my judgement as a sign to ignore him. One most regretful action I took was on my prom night in my university final year and his hug is the hug I will never forget.
Amber – One Direction
Two failed relationships, two hopeless blokes and a stalker has come in and out of my life in between my university final year and my first year of working. It felt like the career is moving on the right lane, but the relationship lane is all clogged up. Detoxification is what I need.
Just like a refreshing juice, a message from Chris came in during one of my lowest points. Looking back at the old messages we exchanged, we were quite formal and “stiff” to a certain point. But unlike the previous times, we did not stop keeping in touch. We are at least actively messaging each other three to four days, out of the total of seven days.
In no time, the messages became a daily affair. Our day started with good mornings and ended with good nights from each other. I believe that my fellow ladies are mad with me now as I have ditched the “selling myself expensive” or jual mahal tactics. I tried, but failed miserably. There was once I did not wish him good morning, his messaged me asking if I was alright as he is so used to waking up to my good morning. I was touched and I remember telling myself his wife will be one lucky lady.
By March this year, it hit me hard that my job is taking me nowhere. Here I am, in a job where there is no hope to get an increment in salary and let alone, advance anywhere. I begin looking for new opportunities. But truth be told, it was not an easy search as I wanted to get back into doing finance. My adventure into administration was not a plus point for my credibility. There are times when I just want to give up. He being my best friend then, he was not spared of my frustrations.
In karma, he would have stayed away from me and left me alone to fend for myself. But he stood by my side and supported me in my career jump. For every interview on Saturdays and public holidays, he would be there accompanying me. For all my interviews that he could not make it, he would know of my whereabouts and how did it went.
One thing commendable about him is his involvement in my life. For every frustrating argument with my tiger dad, he would be there to comfort me. But for every fighting tiger, there are moments of tranquilization. Dad’s moment of tranquilization came when he was hospitalized for lungs infection. Though it was a minor surgery, but the mental stress and trips to the hospital was a really trying time for the whole family.
I did not know what to do. All of the sudden my world became a mess. I had issues getting to work and home, issues of coping up as the only child at home and I felt alone. But Chris did not move an inch from my side. In fact, he came closer.
Green – Which Path?
Knowing that I would be stranded at work when dad is unwell, Chris would send me home every evening and was even willing to pick me from home in the mornings to go to work. For all that he is willing to do for me, I am very thankful.
It was a rainy evening and we had plenty of work on hand. He came at about 8.45pm with an umbrella. When I stepped out of the lobby, the first thing he did was to hug and kiss me. I was stunned, but it all came naturally. It feels like it is a scene from a movie - the drizzle, the quiet atmosphere, the night skies and the chilly surrounding. The question that he asked me when we reached his car was, “am I too old for you?”
There is no such thing as being old, my dear. Age is just a number and I am glad that you have the maturity and understanding of a man your age.
I was with dad the day of the surgery, which is on Wednesday. Thankfully, dad was alright and immediately discharged on the same day of the surgery. I was relieved.
On Thursday evening, Chris picked me up from work immediately after 5.30pm. He seems tired. We chatted aimlessly about our day and funny things to keep our minds free as we sat through the horrible traffic.
At last, we reached the district where I lived. The traffic lights were amber. We were silent, until the lights turned green. He took my hand and asked, “Do you see me as your boyfriend?”
My heart pounded hard. I have liked him as more than a friend since April/May this year, yet when the question came, it felt surreal. I answered him “yes, I do”. I remembered saying along the lines that he has gone through quite a lot with me (being the job hunt and the sick dad), that we have known each other for four years and that I have kept my feelings to myself as I do not know how he feels. I was pretty nerve-wrecked and I did not look at his facial expressions.
The next thing he said was that he now takes me as his girlfriend. With that, I am officially out of the singletons club. I am now someone’s lady. I feel loved, protected and secure.
Green lights, the bustling traffic and surrounding got back to me. I thank God for answering my earlier prayers. I asked that He send me a great guy like him (God sent the exact person to me).
I took the path to give myself a chance to love someone so lovable. What will make you love a man? To me, it is his willingness, love, charisma, understanding and sense of responsibility.
With full of love, hugs and kisses, may we grow stronger and grow old together.
Traffic Lights(Number Kruncher)
The traffic lights turned green and the cars around me started to move. For a moment, I was stunned. I felt it hit me through the stomach so hard. My mind went blank but I am still breathing. The whole world is tuned out from me.
But I was too blinded by immaturity that I walked away instead of standing by his side.
Falling in love is like the changing lights of the traffic lights. There are three parts which akin to the colours of the traffic lights. Yellow is where you get the precautions warnings. Red is where all the warnings points to one direction and you might want to stop. Green is the determination on which path you take.
Yellow – Precautions Warnings
I met him four years ago at an alumni dinner.
He is a familiar face to me, it is just that I do not know his name. That is until the end of the night. His name is Chris.
Chris and I hit along well, despite the age gap (I am eight years younger). We talked just about anything, including the lecture slides he is preparing for the next day classes. I discovered that he is multi-talented. He is the administrative Joe at his work station during regular hours, a lecturer in times of need and a designer to fulfil his passion.
It is hard to say when did the lights turned yellow. But like the old saying Cantonese goes, some people just have the husband and wife looks, the fu chai seong. We only knew each other for about a few months, but an interesting comment was thrown to us one evening. The serving lady thought that we are a couple. God forbids, I thought back then.
Many reasons to why I thought that way and how stupid I was back then! Whenever he told me his frustrations, I dismissed it as a whine and told him off. Whenever he did not do what other men did, I dismissed it as his fault. Whatever he do, I judge him – little do I know how it is to walk a mile in his shoes. I see him as a man full of rough ridges and I could not accept what I see.
I took my judgement as a sign to ignore him. One most regretful action I took was on my prom night in my university final year and his hug is the hug I will never forget.
Amber – One Direction
Two failed relationships, two hopeless blokes and a stalker has come in and out of my life in between my university final year and my first year of working. It felt like the career is moving on the right lane, but the relationship lane is all clogged up. Detoxification is what I need.
Just like a refreshing juice, a message from Chris came in during one of my lowest points. Looking back at the old messages we exchanged, we were quite formal and “stiff” to a certain point. But unlike the previous times, we did not stop keeping in touch. We are at least actively messaging each other three to four days, out of the total of seven days.
In no time, the messages became a daily affair. Our day started with good mornings and ended with good nights from each other. I believe that my fellow ladies are mad with me now as I have ditched the “selling myself expensive” or jual mahal tactics. I tried, but failed miserably. There was once I did not wish him good morning, his messaged me asking if I was alright as he is so used to waking up to my good morning. I was touched and I remember telling myself his wife will be one lucky lady.
By March this year, it hit me hard that my job is taking me nowhere. Here I am, in a job where there is no hope to get an increment in salary and let alone, advance anywhere. I begin looking for new opportunities. But truth be told, it was not an easy search as I wanted to get back into doing finance. My adventure into administration was not a plus point for my credibility. There are times when I just want to give up. He being my best friend then, he was not spared of my frustrations.
In karma, he would have stayed away from me and left me alone to fend for myself. But he stood by my side and supported me in my career jump. For every interview on Saturdays and public holidays, he would be there accompanying me. For all my interviews that he could not make it, he would know of my whereabouts and how did it went.
One thing commendable about him is his involvement in my life. For every frustrating argument with my tiger dad, he would be there to comfort me. But for every fighting tiger, there are moments of tranquilization. Dad’s moment of tranquilization came when he was hospitalized for lungs infection. Though it was a minor surgery, but the mental stress and trips to the hospital was a really trying time for the whole family.
I did not know what to do. All of the sudden my world became a mess. I had issues getting to work and home, issues of coping up as the only child at home and I felt alone. But Chris did not move an inch from my side. In fact, he came closer.
Green – Which Path?
Knowing that I would be stranded at work when dad is unwell, Chris would send me home every evening and was even willing to pick me from home in the mornings to go to work. For all that he is willing to do for me, I am very thankful.
It was a rainy evening and we had plenty of work on hand. He came at about 8.45pm with an umbrella. When I stepped out of the lobby, the first thing he did was to hug and kiss me. I was stunned, but it all came naturally. It feels like it is a scene from a movie - the drizzle, the quiet atmosphere, the night skies and the chilly surrounding. The question that he asked me when we reached his car was, “am I too old for you?”
There is no such thing as being old, my dear. Age is just a number and I am glad that you have the maturity and understanding of a man your age.
I was with dad the day of the surgery, which is on Wednesday. Thankfully, dad was alright and immediately discharged on the same day of the surgery. I was relieved.
On Thursday evening, Chris picked me up from work immediately after 5.30pm. He seems tired. We chatted aimlessly about our day and funny things to keep our minds free as we sat through the horrible traffic.
At last, we reached the district where I lived. The traffic lights were amber. We were silent, until the lights turned green. He took my hand and asked, “Do you see me as your boyfriend?”
My heart pounded hard. I have liked him as more than a friend since April/May this year, yet when the question came, it felt surreal. I answered him “yes, I do”. I remembered saying along the lines that he has gone through quite a lot with me (being the job hunt and the sick dad), that we have known each other for four years and that I have kept my feelings to myself as I do not know how he feels. I was pretty nerve-wrecked and I did not look at his facial expressions.
The next thing he said was that he now takes me as his girlfriend. With that, I am officially out of the singletons club. I am now someone’s lady. I feel loved, protected and secure.
Green lights, the bustling traffic and surrounding got back to me. I thank God for answering my earlier prayers. I asked that He send me a great guy like him (God sent the exact person to me).
I took the path to give myself a chance to love someone so lovable. What will make you love a man? To me, it is his willingness, love, charisma, understanding and sense of responsibility.
With full of love, hugs and kisses, may we grow stronger and grow old together.
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