Page 80 of Dial A for Aunties

“Yep, we’re all counting on you,” Fourth Aunt says.

I shake my head in disbelief. “I can’t even with you guys right now.” I grab the unloaded gun from the dresser and stuff it into my back pocket.

“Okay, that’s way too obvious. It’s bulging out of your pocket,” Fourth Aunt calls out.

“They’re a lot bulkier than they look, aren’t they?” Maureen says, sympathetically.

“I don’t need help from you,” I spit out as Maureen reaches out.

“Okay, sheesh.”

“Meddy, don’t be so rude,” Ma says. “Maureen just trying to help.”

It takes all of my will not to scream at all of them. I grab my camera bag and take out two of my lenses, placing them with utmost care on the dresser. “Don’t touch these.”

“Yes, no touch, they are very expensive. You break, you pay,” Ma says.

“I won’t,” Maureen says, holding up her hands.

I stuff the gun into the bag and glare at them. “Right. So all I have to do is hold people at gunpoint before robbing them.”

“You can, I believe in you,” Ma says.

“Jia you!” Second Aunt gives me the traditional Chinese cheer.

“They’re so supportive. I wish my family were more supportive,” Maureen sighs.

“You can have mine,” I snap, and leave the room before I say something I’ll no doubt regret.

32

Compared to how it was earlier in the day, the bridal suite is practically deserted. Jacqueline’s parents are in the living room, talking quietly. They glance up at me with lined faces when I come in. The sight of their exhaustion might as well be a knife in my chest. I wish I could hug them and beg for their forgiveness.

“Hi, Tante, Om. Is Jacqueline here?” I say, hating every word, hating the fact that I’m intruding at such a sensitive time. I half-wish they’d throw me out right now. Instead, Tante Yohana nods and smiles.

“Ah, Meddy. Maybe she’ll talk to you. She’s in the bedroom.”

Swallowing, I head there. I swear my chest must be visibly moving, my heart’s kicking so wildly. I reach the impressive double doors and knock lightly. When there’s no answer, I grit my teeth and push it open just a crack. “Um, Jacqueline? It’s me, Meddy. Can I come in?”

There’s a sob. I can’t tell if that’s a yes or a no, so I push openthe door and walk inside, closing it behind me. Jacqueline is buried under about sixteen layers of frothy tulle, and I have to peel away layer after layer for what feels like an entire minute until I unearth her.

“Go ’way,” she sobs, batting away my hand feebly.

“Hey,” I say, softly.

She glances up and utters another sob. “Oh, it’s you. Is it just you? I don’t wanna talk to anyone right now, especially not people who I thought were close to me!” The last few words come out in a dramatic half-shout, and she buries her face in the pillows once more and wails into them.

“It’s just me.” Not knowing what else to do, I perch carefully on the side of the bed. I glance to the corner where the safe is and quickly look away. How awful of a person am I, to be thinking of stealing from this miserable person who’s been betrayed by practically everyone on her wedding day? I guess I’m pretty freaking awful, because my gaze keeps creeping back to the safe, and I have to consciously drag it back to Jacqueline. Or maybe I should try to get into it now, while she’s not looking? But I don’t know the safe combination.

“You know what the worst part of today is?” Jacqueline cries, suddenly sitting up.

“Um.” I sift through my mind. There are so many contenders. The corpse showing up at the altar? The tea ceremony gifts going missing? Her fiancé hiring random actors to act as his groomsmen?

“Whenever something good or bad happens, the first person I turn to is Maureen. And now I can’t, because even she turned out to be a dirty traitor!” She devolves into sobs again. “What is it about me? Am I so horrible that people close to me can’t help but lie to me? My own fiancé can’t even trust me enough to tell me that he doesn’t have enough friends to have as groomsmen. How messed up is that?” she cries, staring at me with her wet face.

What’s the right thing to say here? I mean, it is SO messed up, but then again, I don’t think that’s what she wants to hear. “Um. It’s not great, but it’s also not the worst thing a guy could do.” Except Tom has done worse, aside from being named Tom Cruise. He also happens to be a world-class douche. I shouldn’t be defending him. “Okay, yeah, it’s pretty shitty. Look, you want to know the truth? Tom’s kind of a shit.”

Jacqueline’s mouth drops open, and those huge eyes stare at me. Oh my god. I can’t believe that just slipped out of me.

---