THIS was the moment of truth. The time spent begging and waiting for this moment had finally arrived. I had finally obtained her phone number through her close friend. Now in the evening, cool and calm in the privacy of my own room with the phone right here next to me on the bed, all I had to do was to give her a call and chat and maybe, just maybe casually ask her out for a date. This would require some tactical planning on my part as I did not wish to come on too fast as it may frighten her away which was what unfortunately happened to my poor tactless friend sometime back...

"Hullo is Joey in?" *A nervous Mike speaks*

"Speaking"

"Er ... I'm Mike." *Trying to clear his throat*

"Oh hi Mike. What's up?"

"Er ... just wondering if you would like to see a show this Monday night?"

"Sorry, but I got class on that night." *Feeling disappointed*

"Er ... how about Tuesday?"

"Er ... Cannot leh." *Feeling annoyed*

"Then Wednesday?"

"Something on too." *Feeling angry*

"THURSDAY?"

"Busy." *Fuming*

"FRIDAY?"

"Aerobics class." *Where's the fire extinguisher?*

"SATURDAY??"

"So sorry but I got appointment." *On the verge of explosion*

"SUNDAY???"

"Church on lah" *That's the last straw*

"OOII, SO WHEN ARE THE BUSY YOU FREE HAR?!!"

*Clink* ... The line was cut ... immediately. And Joey never ever talked to Mike again.

Even now as I recalled his experience. I laughed silently but with the knowledge of his feeling of loss and fear at that particular moment because now I too was faced with the same BIG challenge of asking a girl of my dream out, a monsterous task which I will gladly exchanged with that of digging a trench. At least, things seemed to be a lot easier and much more predictable. All that was needed was just to dig, dig and more dig.

I sweated in front of the phone for the past one hour going over and over again mechancially in my mind the approach to take; thinking of how to react if she gave a very firm negative. Where we would go? What we would talk about? What time and venue to meet? ... Nothing could be left to chances. I was only waiting to pick up enough courage for the quest.

The fluttering in my stomach increased as my right index finger slowly (I do mean SLOWLY) pressed the first six digits but it froze on the seventh. My spirit seemed to have left me momentarily as I stared blankly at the digit number five. What if she is busy now? What if she is having dinner? What if she is on the phone? What if ... Aiyah!!! To the hell with 'what ifs'. My discretion being a better part of my imagination finally took over and hit the last digit...

*Ring* ... My breathing paused...

*Ring* ... I started to shiver...

*Ring* ... I hoped nobody was at home...

*Ring* ... That's it! One more ring and I'll hang up!

*Clink* ... Oooppsss! DIE!!! Someone quick call the ambulance.

"Hullo?" A sweet enchanting voice answered the call. It must be her. It had to be.

"Er hallo. Could I speak to Lyn please?" I tried to sound confident although the shakiness in my voice betrayed me.

The sweet voice on the other side of the line sounded very calming. My nervousness subsided and a big smile grew on my sweating red face. A smile which I think would take me one hour to wipe off.

*Clink* ... The line was cut.

The conversation lasted only for a short one minute and I was glad it was over. Lyn did not reject my offer... but neither did she accept it... In fact she wasn't in at that moment. It was her mother who picked up the phone and told me that Lyn had gone to a barbecue at East Coast and would be back by Sunday morning. Phew! At least, I can have another few more days to rehearse my speech. Thank God!!!