Why do you breathe?

In about two weeks’ time I will be in Siena for my one month language programme. I could not hide the fact of my departure from my colleagues anymore. There are no secrets in this open-space concept office, everyone can hear every word you say as you make calls to do all the paper work arrangements.

I was trying to put off the ‘’questions’’ that I will be facing, you see. The kind of questions tactless relatives ask and make you wonder how to reply with a witty but cutting remark, when we meet once in a while at wedding dinners and Chinese new year. (ie, ‘’Why are you still single? When are you getting married’’)

So this time, I didn’t bother to prepare any witty replies. HR asked me, ‘’why go away so long, getting married ah?’’

Others asked, ‘’why you study Italian? Why do you like to study language so much?’’

I just smiled and kept quiet. Believe me, I was very tempted to ask in response, ‘’why do you like to go to noisy places like pubs and karaoke when you want to talk and catch up with friends? Why do you like to watch TV? Why do you like to smoke? Why do you drink so much alcohol? Why do you eat so much deep fried food and then later complain that you are too fat?’’

Yes, yes, you might as well ask me, ‘’why do you breathe?’’