I kept shifting my gaze between the old woman and Jia Lian, the latter having gone still after she realised who she was looking at.
"Your… Grandmother?" I asked, moving over to stand by Jia Lian's side.
She nodded her head slowly, not taking her eyes off the old lady.
"She… She passed away… A few years ago… From cancer… It… It was sudden and… We didn't get to say goodbye…"
I frowned and looked back at the old lady who was still standing under the tree and smiling at Jia Lian.
Her gaze shifted to me and her smile widened, "Aiyo! Xiao Lian ah! You got boyfriend already ah? Why never tell Ah Ma?"
Jia Lian's breath hitched and she looked at me in a panic before looking back at her, "Ah…. Ah Ma… He… He's not my boyfriend…"
"Ah? Why not? So handsome boy you still don't want? What you waiting for? Ah boy ah? You single or not? Xiao Lian here very nice girl leh, you want?"
I looked back at Jia Lian, wondering what I should say but she just gave me the same confused look as well.
