Home Sweet Home

"Ah Zhen! You are back! Ah Ma miss you so much! Your Ta Ge told me yesterday you are coming back!

"Ah ma cook a lot of things for you, come let Ah Ma see you! Poor boy how come you look like you have not eaten in ages ?? Seriously Zhen I will ask Soong to pack home cook food everyday if you continue to look like this."

At times like this I wish i could sink under the table. So...Asian parental up bringing - my friends from the other parts of the world would laugh at me for still being grandma's / mummy's boy at this age but I guess there's always a plus point to such upbringing as well.

"Ouch Ah Ma don't pinch me pain pain! ahh don't pull my ears Ah Ma!"

"You ah! you make everyone so worried about you, later Ah Kong come back, you better apologise to him for your behaviour. Your Ma was so heartsick she cried for a few days"

"Sorry Ah Ma" Ray quietly said feeling totally guilty.

"never mind it's okay Ah Zhen as long as you are safe and sound,home is always here for you..."

It breaks my heart to see Ah Ma like that what they have to put through due to my behaviour. I felt so guilty at the same time I felt helpless. It wasn't that they tolerated my random behaviour of leaving, they choose to support what my steps were.

My luggage was brought to my room and after spending time with grandma she told me to go freshen up and change, my parents would be back soon and so are the others for dinner.

As soon as I walked in my room, the familiar scent filled the room, Ma remember my favourite scented candle and had put in on at the bathroom. I saw my usual towel on the bed with a hand written note son we will be back before dinner, take some rest see you soon love Ma and Pa.

Reading that I cried.... After all that I have gone through and they have gone through, truly blessed to have them to stay by me. I've left everyone behind to nurse my heart and that was really selfish.

The room was neatly clean - Soong Jie our home maid had still remember to put on my favourite white linen bedsheet on and next to the window she had place a vase filled with fresh flowers that soothes the eyes. I took out my neck chain and ring and got into the shower. Home feeling warm... miss this feeling. And after that, I fill my long yearning misses for my bed and pillow jumping onto it. "Hmm I miss you guys so much!" And as look up at the ceiling I thought how lucky and blessed I am to have such a wonderful family... feels like a lost bird going home to his little bird nest, all warm and cosy.

"San Ge! San Ge! Are you back? I can hear my sister's high pitchy voice from a distance. "San Ge!!"

As soon as I open my door she rushed in and give me a hug. "San Ge I miss you so much!! You terrible boy you made all of us crazy with your stunt!" My sister yelled out

"Sorry ouch you are stepping on my feet! How are you? you've grown taller." Messing up her hair I asked

"Yes and soon I'll be as tall as you!"

"Ta Ge and Er Ge were discussing about your birthday yesterday as Ah Ma wanted to throw one since you are back!"

And so soo much love throughout the day.

Ma and Pa joined my sister in my room soon. My dad was pushing back his emotions - we were all trained  by my grandpa to always stay calm as men of the house and my dad embodied every trait as the eldest managing a household with 3 sons and a daughter. And my mum was his greatest pillar and rock to the family.

Ma hugged me as soon as she saw me, she must have been so broken after I left "it's all okay" she said and kissed my cheek I can feel her emotions being released from this ordeal. Dad pat me on the back a sign that he is just relieved to have me home.

"Ah Kong is also home so we should head down soon" my dad said. One thing nice about having such big nucleus family - staying together is the warmth but... at same time there's almost no privacy.

Ta Ge and Er Ge are exemplar to the 3rd generations in my family and my grandparents had 2 sons and 2 daughters so my dad, my uncle and aunties literally runs the business for my grandpa with the help of my two brothers and cousins.  Each overseeing separate pillars of business property reits, retailers including fashion clothing lines insisted by my aunts. Fund investment and still trade business as the core. But due to the market volatility Ah Kong decided to diverse the portfolio and expand into entertainment instead minimising our risk and reliance on trade given market volatility.

"Zhen boy! Come down for dinner already!" My grandmother's voice ring through to my room. I jerked off my bed and hurried down quickly that would be the sign that my grandpa is back and probably seated on the table.

Everyone was well seated at the dining table when I walked in. I felt a mix feeling of happy, ashamed, guilty yet awkward. Ma came over and took my hand walking me to the huge round table. She must have sense my insecurity. "Come Ah Zhen don't let grandpa wait" she whispered

"Ah Kong." I greeted and bow while looking at grandpa's stern face. "Mnn, finally came back?"

The atmosphere was silent

"Haiya Ah Zhen come sit down and eat. Look at you so thin." Grandma as usual breaking the ice while grandpa quietly dig into the dishes. "Thank you Ah Ma" I reciprocated giving her a smile quietly

"Pa, Ma, Ta Ge, Er Ge" I greeted everyone as I sat down and grin at my sister.

"Soong Jie made this for you, your favourite soup lotus soup with peanut and pork rib"

"Xie Xie Soong Jie!" I look at Soong Jie helping to bring out the dishes.

"Hao Le, He Duo Yi Dian" asking me to drink more.

"Are you following you dad to work soon?" My grandpa interrupted. Sensing the sensitivity my dad quickly answered as he understood how to diffuse the discussion.

"Pa, Ah Zhen just came back I'll speak to him separately" my dad signalling to me to just obey and refrained from answering. I nodded quietly.