Synopsis
Vanessa honors her wager by accompanying William to a bustling traditional wet market to source ingredients for the bistro's big holiday feast. Amid the chaotic, colorful stalls and high humidity, she struggles with the sensory overload, confronts her past, and experiences a rare, genuine moment of connection with William under the tropical morning sun.
A Singapore Christmas - Chapter 3: A Market of Memories
The alarm on Vanessa’s phone went off at an unforgiving four thirty in the morning. She groaned, swatting at the device before rolling out of bed. True to her word, she had agreed to help William prep for the Christmas feast. She swapped her tailored corporate trousers for a pair of running shorts, a breathable cotton t-shirt, and old sneakers. If she was going to navigate a traditional local wet market, she needed to look the part.
William was waiting for her outside the bistro, looking impossibly awake. He held two plastic cups of iced local coffee.
"Good morning, corporate girl," he said, handing her a cup. "Drink up. Geylang Serai wet market during the holiday season is a full-contact sport."
Vanessa took a long sip of the sweet, strong brew. "I survived Black Friday sales in Manhattan, William. A little market isn't going to scare me."
Ten minutes later, Vanessa realized she had vastly underestimated the situation.
The Geylang Serai market was a roaring ocean of sight, sound, and smell. The air was thick with the scent of fresh turmeric, grated coconut, and raw seafood. Under the bright fluorescent lights, market aunties and uncles shouted prices in a mix of Malay, Hokkien, and English. Shoppers carrying heavy plastic bags jostled through the narrow, slick aisles. Christmas tunes played faintly from a distant stall, competing with the loud chop of a butcher's cleaver.
Vanessa felt completely out of her depth. She instinctively reached out and grabbed the back of William’s t-shirt to avoid getting swept away by a crowd of determined grandmothers.
William paused, looking back over his shoulder. A soft, knowing smile crossed his face. He didn't say a word, but he slowed his pace so she could keep up.
"First stop, the spice master," William announced, guiding her toward a stall piled high with vibrant mountains of ground chili, ginger, and lemongrass.
The vendor, a cheerful middle-aged man, beamed when he saw them. "Ah, William! Back for the secret Christmas sambal ingredients? And who is this pretty girl? Your wife ah?"
Vanessa’s cheeks burned hotter than the surrounding chili powder. "No, I’m just—"
"This is Vanessa, Ah Ma’s granddaughter," William cut in smoothly, saving her from her own awkward corporate explanation. "She’s running the bistro with me this month."
The vendor’s face lit up with recognition. "Ah, the girl who went to America! Ah Ma always spoke about you. She was very proud, you know. Always saying her granddaughter was going to change the world."
The words hit Vanessa like a physical blow. She looked down at her sneakers, a sudden lump forming in her throat. In her rush to climb the corporate ladder in New York, she had rarely called home. She had assumed Ah Ma was angry with her for leaving. She never realized her grandmother had been cheering her on from across the globe.
William paid for the spices and took the heavy bags. He looked at Vanessa, his eyes softening. "Hey. You okay?"
"I'm fine," Vanessa lied quickly, blinking back unexpected tears. "Just a bit overwhelmed by the... humidity."
"Come on," William said gently, guiding her toward the exit. "Let’s get the fresh coconut milk and head back. The hard part is over."
They walked out into the cool dawn air, the sky turning a soft shade of pink and gold over the shophouses. They found a quiet stone bench near a festive display of plastic poinsettias. William reached into his pocket and pulled out a small, brown paper bag.
"Here," he said, handing it to her. "A reward for surviving the market."
Vanessa opened the bag to find fresh kueh dadar—pandan crepes filled with sweet, grated palm sugar and coconut. She took a bite. The familiar flavor was sweet, warm, and comforting. It was the exact snack William used to buy for her when they studied for their exams together after school.
"You remembered," she whispered.
"I remember everything, Van," William said softly, looking out at the waking city. "I remember the day you left, and I remember the promise we made to always take care of Ah Ma's legacy. I know you love your life in New York. But there's a whole world of flavor and love right here, if you'd just stop running long enough to taste it."
Vanessa looked at him, the morning sun highlighting the sharp lines of his face. For the first time in a decade, the New York law firm felt a million miles away, and the icy exterior around her heart began to melt.
