“Don’t you just love it here? I used to come here all the time when I was young. My mother would sometimes bring me here just for the ice cream there.” Helena pointed at a shaded spot across them. She looked into Bette’s eyes briefly before turning ahead.

“We would finish the ice cream and then continue to the hot dogs stand there…” Another chuckle made her stomach do flips. She kept silent in order to absorb all that is being revealed to her. Bette was in awe of this mysterious woman’s openness to her. After all, they were just two strangers who met in the park not so long ago…

“That was out monthly makan festival. It means ‘eat’ in Bahasa Melayu.” Bette was more intrigued than ever. She lifted her eyebrow in a silent inquiry of the language.

“My mother used to spend a lot of time in Asia, the South-East Asia in general and she managed to accumulate quite a number of longtime lovers in Malaysia. Bahasa Melayu is the official language there.” Helena explained. Her lack of sarcasm and anger over her own mother’s flamboyant behavior intrigued Bette further.

“And you’re fine with that?” Helena turned to her and she saw a glint in her eyes.

“Why wouldn’t I be? That was part of her charm- and mine…” She added after a dramatic pause.

“Honestly, I was mad at her for it a long time ago and it went on forever but… I understand now that it’s part of her nature and personality. I accept her- just as she accepts me.” A new found respect for this beauty was present in Bette as she reached out to caress her cheeks. It was an impulse and she didn’t bother to stop herself once she realizes what she was doing. Helena leaned into her palm in delight and closed her eyes. They had a moment.

“I’m sorry…” Bette took her hands away all of a sudden and made a dash to the nearest dustbin since the washrooms were located at the very end of the park. She threw up in it. In between taking breaths and throwing her guts out into the stinking dustbin, she felt a hand on her back and her hair pulled back from her face. After she was done, she turned away from Helena, apologizing profusely once again for her embarrassment.