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Champ stood at his bedroom window.
The view before him was even more spectacular in the morning sunlight.
He smiled with a sense of appreciation and gratitude.
Leaving the window, Champ decided to do a bit of gardening before making breakfast.
Downstairs and into the kitchen he went.
He retrieved his gardening gloves and after unlocking the back door, Champ took off his suede house slippers and pulled on his trainers before heading out.
He walked along an avenue bothered by different plants, he stopped every now and then to water and plug out weeds.
An hour later Champ made his way back into house, pausing briefly to smell the scented roses that were in bloom.
Inside the kitchen, Champ took off the gardening gloves and placed them back in the drawer before washing his hands at the sink.
He mused over what to make for breakfast.
Some time passed before Pun came downstairs already dressed up, carrying his books and bag.
"I hope you are not leaving before you had breakfast?"
Champ said as he set down two glasses that were filled with freshly made fruit juice.
Pun looked at his watch.
"I don't want to be late for lectures."
Champ shook his head with disapproval.
"Sit and have some breakfast."
Pun placed his books and bag into an armchair before sitting down at the table.
"Who was the young man I saw you talking to at the bookstore event?" Champ asked his nephew.
"Which young man?" Pun inquired as he looked at the stripped donuts that his Uncle had made for him.
Champ closed the rice cooker and returned with a plate of steamed rice.
"He was tall, very good looking and carried a camera with him."
Pun gave an exaggerated sigh.
"Oh, him."
"So you know him?"
Champ looked at nephew as he added an omelette to the rice.
Pun nodded.
"He is also in his final sesemster at the University."
Pun dipped a piece of donut into sweet condensed milk before eating it.
"Is he studying the same course as you?"
"He is studying either Biotechnology or Biochemistry, I think. I am not really sure."
Pun was not interested in talking about Mick.
"Biochemistry?" Champ repeated with interest.
"He must very intelligent. Did you notice his smile while you two spoke?"
"No, I didn't notice his smile," Pun retorted through his teeth.
"Do you like him?"
Champ was obviously interested in what was going on between his nephew and this young man.
"Uncle, I hardly know him," Pun found himself on the defensive.
"Oh well," Champ picked up his spoon and dug into his steamed rice and omelette.
"I thought you two would make a nice couple."
Pun felt an unexpected rush of emotion at the thought of being in a relationship with Mick.
The very thought horrified him.
There was a knock at the door.
Champ waved his hand as he rose from his chair.
"Don't bother, I will go and see who it is."
Champ opened the front door and was surprised who the caller was.
"Good morning, Miss Nari."
Nari leaned forward and took a peep inside the house before saying.
"Oh, I see that you are having breakfast."
Before Champ could give a response Nari marched inside without an invitation.
"I just finished making this sweet coconut custard and I thought you and your nephew might enjoy some," Nari's announced cheerfully.
"Thank you. That's very nice of you to think about us," Champ's lips parted into a smile.
Naris placed the glass Pyrex bowl that contained the coconut custard on the table.
Smiling adoringly at Champ, Nari clasped her hands together and then turned her attention to Pun.
"Hello, Pun how are you?"
"I am fine, thank you."
"I see you are already dressed for lectures. How I wish your mother was still alive to see the wonderful young man that you have become."
"It's very nice of you to bring us the coconut custard. We will have it for dessert this evening," Champ said as he guided Nari gently to the front door.
But Nari was not done and so she paused.
"Please, Mr Champ, do you have my rent?"
"Oh yes, the rent."
Champ rushed to the coffee table and picked up a sealed envelope.
He handed it over to his neighbor and landlady.
"Thank you so much," Nari cooed flirtatiously at Champ as she pressed the envelope to her bosom.
Champ started guiding her gently towards the front door again.
"Come again, Miss Nari. It was nice of you to drop in and thank you for the coconut custard. I am sure my nephew and I will enjoy it."
Nari leaned even closer till their bodies touched while her lips begged for a kiss.
"Oh, Mr Champ , I hope you like it."
And as Champ closed the door she gave him a quick sexy wink.
After finishing his breakfast, Pun drove to Fai's house.
He called her.
"Hello, Fai. I am outside."
"Okay, darling I am coming out."
A moment later Fai came rushing out and got into the passenger's seat.
"How much time do we have?" Fai asked Pun as she looked through her bag.
Taking a quick look at his watch, Pun answered.
"About thirty minutes."
"Please help me put this necklace on."
Fai handed Pun the necklace before she turned her back towards him as he slips it around her neck.
After which Fai checks her reflection in the mirror while Pun started the engine.
"Are we picking up Toey from home?"
"No, he is waiting at the coffee shop for us."
Toey stood on the pavement in front of the coffee shop with three frappuccino orders.
He looks at his watch for the fifteenth time and then his eyes wondered down the street for any appearance of a red mini Cooper.
As Toey looked at his watch again Pun finally pulls up.
Toey quickly gets in.
"What took you guys so long?"
Toey demanded as hands them their frappuccino cup.
"We are sorry, Toey," Fai apologized.
"Just drive or we will be late for the first lecture."
Three hours later, Pun, Fai and Toey came out of the lecture hall.
They were hungry, exhausted and the frappuccino cups were now empty.
Putting the empty cups into a trash can, they drove to Patisserie Rosie for lunch.
After they were done with lunch, all three friends decided to work on upcoming issue of the University's literary magazine.
The magazine featured human interest stories, students original work of fiction, artwork, poetry and photography.
When the waiter came to their table, Pun orders a La Rosie, a Bulgarian rose yogurt with lychee and raspberry compote and rich sponge cake.
And after waiter brought the dessert, Pun shared it with Toey.
"Have you seen his Instagram?"
Fai directed the question to Pun.
"Who's Instagram?" Pun slightly confused.
"Mick's.'
"No," Pun answered drily.
"He has over two hundred thousand followers."
"Over two hundred thousand?" Pun exclaimed.
Fai nodded while looking at Pun.
"Let me see," Pun requested.
Fai turned her laptop towards Pun so he could have a look.
Pun studied the page carefully.
"What do you think?" Toey now spoke.
Pun remained silent.
"I like his page. His posts really artistic photography." Fai commented.
Pun waved in denial. "I find his page too sentimental and too pretentious."
"He has submitted a short story for the next issue," Fai revealed.
"Can he even write," Pun challenged as if the very idea was anathema to him.
"It's a student magazine anyone can submit their work for consideration," Fai explained.
Pun's dismay was evident.
"Just because he takes good photography he now fancies himself a writer."
"I have read his short story and I think he was has talent."
Toey told Pun as he licked his lips.
"I thought the same too," Fai quickly added.
"Well, I will have to read it myself," Pun said with an unpleasant sense of distaste.
"You should," Toey said as he opened his own laptop.
"Oh my God! Pun you have to see this!" Fai suddenly exclaimed.
"What do I have to see?"
"Mick just posted a picture of you on his page."
"What?"
Fai shifted her laptop towards Pun.
"Wait let me see," Toey jumped out of his chair and rushed over to take a look over Pun's shoulder.
"It's a beautiful picture."
Toey remarked.
Silently, Pun begrudgingly agreed.
"Look at the likes," Fai pointed, "it's only been a few minutes and the picture has gained 15 thousand likes already."
Back at the University, Pun went in search of the Biochemistry department.
And finally he located the laboratory were Mick was.
Before entering, Pun took a peek inside.
He found a sea of students in white lab coats, latex gloves and crystal clear goggles.
Taking a deep breath, Pun entered and spoke with the professor.
"Mr Mick, you are excused."
Mick came out and found Pun with his back turned.
"You wanted to see me?" Mick began.
Pun turned around to face him.
"I have a request."
"What's your request?"
"You posted a picture of me on your page."
"So you have seen it. Did you like it?"
Mick wanted to know.
"I have seen it. Whether I like it or not is irrelevant. I want you to take it down."
"Okay."
Mick reached into his lab coat pocket and bought out his phone.
Locking into his account he showed Pun the screen as he deleted the picture.
"Thank you."
And with that , Pun walked away.
Pun woke up on Saturday morning and laid for several minutes listening to the soft classical music coming from his Uncle's bedroom.
Throwing back the duvet, Pun slips his feet into the comfortable suede slides before pulling the window curtains aside.
Still in his pj's, Pun went downstairs to the kitchen.
He pulled the curtains aside to let in sunlight before switching on the electric kettle.
The electric kettle boiled and Pun made a pot of tea.
He put it on a tray, added milk, sugar and a teacup with a small spoon.
Then he took it up to his Uncle's room.
Champ was reading in bed while listening to classical music.
Pun came downstairs and made himself a cup.
Going into the sitting room, he sat down to drink the tea.
Pun felt optimistic.
Looking up, Pun realized three in the chandelier needed changing.
Putting down his teacup, Pun went back to the kitchen and came back with a new bulbs and a ladder.
Just as he was about to prop up the the ladder the gate bell rang.
It was too early for callers, Pun thought.
Pun took off his suede slides at the front door and pulled on his old sneakers before going to the gate.
The caller was Mick.
Pun stared at him like he was some kind of mirage come to life.
"Good morning," Mick greeted.
"How did you know my house?"
"I asked Fai for your address."
"Why would she give a perfect stranger my home address?"
"Am I really a perfect stranger?" Mick asked mockingly.
Calling Mick a stranger was a bit of a stretch.
"Why are you here?" Pun now asked.
"I have something to give you," Mick replied.
Pun now noticed the brown paper wrapped square shaped item Mick was carrying.
Pun simply turned and walked back to the house.
Mick took this as an indication to follow him and so he did.
At the front door, Pun took off the old sneakers and slipped on the suede slides. Mick simply took off his shoes and followed Pun with just his bare black socks.
"Do you want water or tea?" Pun asked his unexpected guest.
"Water is fine," Mick said smoothly.
Pun went to the kitchen and came back with a glass of water on a tray.
"Thank you."
And as Mick sipped the water, Pun eyed the brown paper wrapped item he was carrying with curiosity.
After Mick handed Pun the glass, he noticed the new bulbs and the ladder.
Then he looked up at the chandelier.
"Where you about to change the chandelier bulbs?"
Pun blinked. "How did you know?"
"I noticed the bulbs and the ladder."
"Yes, I was."
Mick placed the item he was carrying into a chair.
"I will change the bulbs for you."
Was he asking or was he telling him? Pun wondered.
Pun objected. "I know how to change a bulb, thank you."
Mick ignored Pun and his objections.
He simply turned off the power at the circuit breaker and positioned the ladder before ascending to the chandelier.
Mick then carefully assessed the chandelier to see how the bulbs were secured before starting a conversation with his host.
"As editor of the University's literary magazine what are you looking for when putting together a new issue?"
Mick unscrewed the dead bulbs.
"I am looking for new ideas. Something to make my readers smile and feel so that they can connect with literature."
"Did you know that from the beginning?"
"No, I didn't. As president of the writers club you automatically become the editor of the literary magazine. So I was thrown into the position knowing nothing."
"Am sure your Uncle was a great influence," Mick remarked.
"How did you know about my Uncle?"
"Well, Fai told me."
"That cow! I will strangle her when I see her."
"But that's the truth."
"Yes, he has been wonderful to my life. He would always tell me to follow my heart, to use my talents and listen to my instincts."
"I remember he saying, Pun if you look at what others are doing you will lose the clarity of your own thoughts."
Mick handed the dead bulbs to Pun.
"Some members of the writers club have described you as ambitious, driven, needy, a perfectionist and a bitch. Is that true."
Pun broke into laughter.
"I am certainly driven by what I do....And I am ambitious because I want the best for my life."
Pun paused as composed his answers in his head.
"As for being needy....well I need the people around me to represent the very best of what they do. And if that makes me a perfectionist and a bitch then so be it. I proudly wear it with honor."
Pun handed Mick the new bulbs.
In the process their fingers touched.
This touch disturbed Pun in a visceral kind of way.
Mick carefully screwed on the new bulbs until they were secured.
He descended the ladder while Pun turned the power back on to see if the bulbs were functioning properly.
Mick looking penetratingly at Pun asked: "Do you always look this perfect? Even in pyjamas and house slippers and not a strand of hair is out place."
As Mick spoke, Pun was still eyeing the brown paper wrapped square shaped item.
"What's that?"
Pun desperately wanted to know.
"You can only open after I am gone," Mick teased Pun.
"Well thank you for everything but you have got leave before my Uncle comes down."
Pun began pushing Mick towards the front door.
After closing the front door.
Pun reached the mystery item and sat on the floor as he placed it before him.
He tore off the brown paper to reveal a bubble wrap polyethylene covering.
Pun quickly removed it.
The mystery item was a picture frame.
Pun turned it over and gasped in astonishment.
It was the very picture he had asked Mick to delete from his Instagram page.
Mick had gone through the trouble of printing out an enlarged copy and having it framed purposely for Pun.
Looking at the picture, Pun felt infinitely more happy than he could put into words.
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