Two Soybeans Ritual
"You did what ??!" I remembered screaming that before waking up. I looked at the digital number on my cell phone, 5.24 am. Damn, the stupid bad dream which I couldn’t even remember what was it all about now is making me wide awake. I looked around my bedroom still not wanting to be parted from the warmth cocoon of my comforter and try to search for the daylight coming through the crack of my bedroom window curtain. It was still dark outside. I lie there underneath my blanket and looked again at my W550i Walkman phone, 5.27 am.
"Might as well get out of bed" I thought to myself. I threw the comforter off my body, and felt the chill of the air conditioned room. Walking toward my desk I grabbed the cold mug of coffee from last night and took it with me. I sat down in the chair and sipped my cold coffee while looking out the window. The sky is still grayish in color from the deficit of sunrise which should appear in the next few minutes. In the stillness of this early morning silence I can hear the Ikea wall clock ticking showing the time to be 5.29 am.
"What are you doing ?" I said.
"The usual, preparing for breakfast"
"You drink your milk yet ?" I asked again.
"Of course, I’m making tofu now"
"How many, two as usual ?" I was half guessing and asking at the same time.
"Yup, you had breakfast yet?"
"I will later, maybe Belgian waffle" I said grinning to myself at the thought of having the hot thick waffle with butter and maple syrup.
"Be right back, I think my tofu is done"
I look back out the window and can now see the sun already out. The red hibiscus flower that grew on one of the tallest branch near the window is wet from the morning mist. I turned on the TV and switch the channel to the morning news. Not really watching I turned back to the view from my window and take another sip of my cold coffee.
"I’m back"
"Hey there, you had your tofu?" I asked.
"Yes"
"That was quick" I said.
"You ate yet?"
"Nope, later" I answered.
"Don’t forget your vitamins"
"I won’t" smiling at the reminder.
The voice of the newscaster on TV is now switching to Mandarin. I watch the sub-title text to follow the news a little bit.
"Be right back again, k?"
"Where are you going?" I asked.
"I’m just going to take out the the laundry and hang them to dry"
"K" I replied shortly.
All of a sudden I heard the scream of the alarm from my cell phone. My hand frantically came out from underneath the warm comforter trying to search for the noisy handset to shut it off. I looked at the digital number display, 8.00 am.
I lie still for a moment feeling the warmth cocoon of my comforter and playing back the dream I just had. A short and forgotten bad dream within a nice long dream. I then threw the comforter off my body and walked towards the door.
I miss the two soybeans rituals.
I miss the view from the window.
I open my bedroom door and head straight to the kitchen to make myself a fresh brewed coffee. Passing by the Ikea wall clock the time is now 8.05 am.
Image Source: Agedashi Tofu
