A Question of Promise #3

Don’t forget the mango lassi.

A Question of Promise #3

a comic by thuyen nguyen

How long have you been here?

All night.

You’re lying.

I’ve been awake all night.

You got me.

I just came in then.

What happened last night?

One minute we were laughing, and the next minute we’re outta there.

Lord knows what Eden made of it all.

Luckily, I don’t think she’s the type that takes things too personally.

I have to go to school.

01

Quest’Dein School of beauty So, as you can clearly see...

opening the box would reveal a dog, not a cat.

Before we end for lunch, I just have a few notices...

Please leave quietly as to not disturb the makeup students’ sleep session.

This afternoon’s perm class trip to the museum has been cancelled.

advanced Cut&Trim students are reminded of next week’s encryption lecture.

Damn, my wax class’ plant experiment is due tomorrow...

Shuffle, shuffle as the students leave the room.

What’s going on, eric? Not your usual cheery self today.

Let’s go to lunch and have a coffee!

Sorry, eve.

Don’t really feel like talking-

I don’t drink coffee-

You do now!

!

sh

pu

02

Quest’Dein Coffee & cake

Look at all this food! Where to start...

Salad, sandwiches, soup... maybe not the seafood though.

ME

NU

OPEN FOR LUNCH Have you tried the desserts here? So good!

Double fudge pudding... oh, triple fudge!

It’s summer.

Why do you always wear a scarf?

Oh, come on!

You’ve got to give me that one!

because my head will fall off if I don’t.

Waiter! One of everything!

You know, before beauty school, I studied psychology.

Why so glum, Eric?

I’d rather not talk about it.

That mean you can psychoanalyse me?

I “studied” psychology.

I didn’t say I was good at it!

03

Really?

Who ordered the soup?

At Eric’s place...

I am bored out of my mind!

..

h.

..

is

h.

Sw

is

Sw

There’s only so many laps of the bathtub one can do...

Could enjoy the view from the balcony...

Watch yet another Suspicious teenager take a paternity test...?

Think!

Maybe the kitchen can inspire me.

Oh, why not?

Like you have any other options.

A-ha!

In here, as I recall.

I know I shouldn’t, but...

Yes, that’s it...

LLY ALS 04

!

g! ing R

Rin

Blast it! Just as I was about to get jiggy. ep!

Hello. Eric speaking.

Be

Dice?

It’s Eden.

He should be at school. That’s what he said.

He didn’t sleep at all last night. feeling guilty, i guess.

Hey babe.

Miss me?

I see. He’s probably gone somewhere for lunch.

Actually, I was after Eric.

Let me apologize for yesterday. Eric’s an idiot.

Oh, That’s not good... Okay, I’ll talk to you later.

Say, do you have to wear a schoolgirl uniform?

Hello? beep...beep...

Ah, good riddens!

Back to business

Why, hello!

I believe we’ve met before.

JELLY CRYSTALS 05

CR JE YS LL TA Y LS

Come to papa!

Holy cow...

So you don’t eat this much usually?

Noted.

How can you eat so much?

So eric, got girl troubles?

Let’s just say my date last night didn’t end well.

... ... nch nch Cru cru

What did you do?

Why do you assume it was my fault?

Everything was going well, then suddenly I just snapped.

No, I suppose not...

That doesn’t sound like you.

I have no idea why it happened. I was having a good time.

Well then, there’s only one thing to do.

06

We wouldn’t be here otherwise, would we?

I got really angry, and stormed out.

Ask her out to dinner tonight.

Don’t look at me like that.

What?

I can do it for you if you like...?

Simple as that, huh?

Pick up the phone, claim temporary insanity, and ask her out.

No, I think I can manage...

Damn. I missed Eden’s call.

Eden?

Good taste, sir!

LS D CAL

MISSE

Eden

12:07

we should head back; that is, if you are finished?

Good boy.

You’re going to do what I told you to do?

I need you to do one more thing...

I will personally find Eden and ask her to dinner tonight.

Promise.

Pay the bill.

What the-?

07

School lobby I’ve got a makeup class now. You?

I’m free until 2pm, so I’ll go look for eden now.

Umm... You are paying me back, right?

Let me know how it goes!

$100 for lunch... you’re too nice, Eric.

Let’s see...

Library

Have you seen eden?

seen eden?

Not today.

Sorry.

Is Eden around?

Have you seen eden?

I’m looking for eden...

Haven’t seen her.

Is eden-

You asked me already.

Wouldn’t know.

Oh, sorry.

Who?

I should just call her...

But what if she’s in a class?

08

What if her phone isn’t set to “silent?”

Eden! all phones must be turned off during class!

Uh-oh.

g!

rin

! ing

r

Hmm...

I’ll kill him!

that’s an instant suspension!

Why do all my eden fantasies end with her holding a knife?

Did someone just “shh” me?!

I’m sure she’d be a shuriken type of girl.

That’s, like, the biggest library cliche ever.

Shhhhhhh!

As much as I enjoy listening to your running life commentary...

What’s next? A Bespectacled librarian tells me off?

Sorry, Going now.

Shut up or get out.

09

Timetable

Let’s wait, shall we?

Almost bell time.

303

Either him, or a really bad stalker.

Is that Eric?

I wonder why he’s here...

He’s probably waiting for me.

10

You? Why?

We’re dating...

Dating?

Why didn’t you tell me?

it’s not official yet...

Erin! Eden!

Quiet please.

Sorry, Miss.

So...?

So what?

How’s it going with eric?

Let’s just say we might not be going on a third date.

Sorry, Miss.

Really? what happened-

Erin! Eden!

Last warning!

We’ll discuss this further after class.

NNGGGG!!!!

RRRIIIINN

11

So, what happened?

Nothing serious. our date ended prematurely, that’s all.

Yeah, I know how that feels! ha!

Eden?

Hey, how’s it going?

I’ve got to time my punchlines better.

Good. Sorry I didn’t answer your call earlier...

Fine. you?

about last night, I’m really sorry for leaving like that.

That means a lot to me.

Thanks.

I just went cuckcoo for a moment and ruined your night.

I want to make it up to you. Are you free tonight?

12

No probs.

Just wanted to know if everything was okay.

Hey, no worries. we all have bad days, right?

absolutely.

Your place or mine?

Actually, I was thinking of a restaurant. Just you and me.

He was the common factor in our previous so-so dates.

What about dice?

Hang on. Weren’t you and I also common factors?

I think he should sit this one out.

True, but if our dinner goes well tonight, we’ll know who to blame!

4:30pm JELLY CRYSTALS

I don’t feel so good...

the entire packet...

...and yet, firm.

I’m soft...

13

!

g! ing R

Rin

Ring!

Ring!

I’m coming...

p!

Bee

Ring!

Ring!

Hold your horses...

Ring!

Ring!

Not moving as well as I used to...

Hello. Eric speaking. click-click-click beep...beep...

damn wrong numbers. at least say something before you hang up.

Impolite-

p!

Bee

! g!

Rin Ring

Hello. Eric speaking.

I’ll be home late. eden and I are having dinner.

Dice, it’s me.

I think I already have.

Bye.

Think you can take care of yourself?

JELLY CRYSTALS

14

JELLY CRYSTALS

p!

bee

a couple of hours more to kill...

I need to “de-jellify” myself.

Eric’s bedroom the internet must have the answers.

break down gelatin SEARCH

!

ick

cl

What is “jelly wrestling?” better bookmark that for future reference...

Here we are: “Gelatin breaks down when mixed with bromelain.”

“bromelain is found in pineapples.”

And I know where to get some too...

Excellent.

The freezer.

Ah, eric. finally, your frozen hawaiian pizza fetish proves useful.

15

Let’s begin.

what do you feel like?

Somewhere in the city...

can you handle hot spicy food?

Dude, I think he’s dead...!

Yes, as long as I’m ready for it.

I mistook wasabi for avocado once...

How about indian? I know a nice place near the station.

Cool.

Lead the way.

This is not a comfortable silence.

Sorry, I was saving my “A” material for the restaurant.

16

I thought we’d be there by now.

Okay... let me see...

If you were a superhero, who would you be?

Would you like to see my superpower, civilian?

“Master of the obvious!”

Tree! sure.

You’ve thought about that before, haven’t you?

Not really. there’s been a glut of superhero movies recently.

Indeed, I have.

You like comics?

What superpower would you have?

Is that so you could sneak into women’s changerooms?

invisibility.

Yes, strangely enough.

Here we are.

OPEN Perfect timing!

It just opened.

17

So, you come here often?

Eden ordered the eggplant and potato curry with a garlic naan.

ME

NU

It’s weird to be the only people in a restaurant, eh?

Wow, totally cool!

Yeah. I like the eggplant and potato curry.

Eric ordered the tandoori set, which included rice and salad.

I’m a tandoori chicken man. boring but tasty.

For drinks: a mango lassi and a coke.

MENU

I’ve been in cinemas by myself. I pretend it’s a private screening.

we are the most famous couple in the world, after all.

exclusive restaurants, vip parties, designer clothing...

Well then: surprise!

I booked the entire restaurant just for us!

Yeah, the perks of being us...

hahaha!

18

Curry and naan?

Do you mind if I start?

Please, go ahead.

... munch

For you sir: the tandoori set.

...

munch

Thanks.

So, eden-

Did you just eat all of that, like, then?

Wow, that was delicious!

yes, but you ate a curry and a naan in 60 seconds.

Well, I didn’t want it to get cold.

Don’t forget the mango lassi.

you drank the lassi as well?!

Umm... I was thristy?

19

And now you’ve set the speed record for eating a curry and survivng...

I had lunch with eve today, and she almost ate the cafe empty.

Wait a minute.

if you can eat so fast, how come you didn’t on our previous dates?

Umm...

you exercised such great self-control until now.

ladies room

Will you excuse me? I have to powder my nose.

but in the end, it was the eggplant. always the eggplant.

Eden, you are an idiot.

-eeeeeeeeeee!!!!!

I should borrow “Star Trek II” next weekend.

-

e n i g r ube

A

Eric’s place For frozen pizza, they don’t go cheap on the toppings.

A bowl full of handpicked pineapple pieces...

20

I guess I should just dive straight in, eh?

I know it’s weird, but I can’t really explain it.

I just like eggplant.

I don’t think it’s weird. On the contrary, it’s kinda cool.

Scoffing down eggplant at breakneck speed is a party trick.

Sure!

Living with a sentient pool of water is weird.

Really?

that talent could make you famous someday!

How many girlfriends have you had?

Serious relationships?

Just one; in high school.

I was engaged once.

Elizabeth. she was nice. but she moved to a different state, and that was it.

really? What happened?

21

Haven’t seen her since, come to think of it.

He Ran off with another girl.

didn’t even have the decency to tell me to my face.

don’t be.

I’m glad it happened.

I’m sorry to hear that.

I don’t understand. were you getting cold feet about the wedding?

everything that happens in your life leads you to this exact moment.

If i had married that guy, I would have never gone to beauty school.

If i hadn’t gone to beauty school, i wouldn’t have met you or dice.

I think you’re giving me way too much credit here...

i looked up to the sky. the moon and the stars.

I know you think that our first date was a disaster, but that isn’t true.

I remembered when we first met. you left a good impression on me.

22

this exact moment? you and me eating curry, alone in an indian restaurant?

It’s been... great. awesome, even.

That night, the first thing I did when I got home was open the window...

I thought about dice. he changed everything i knew about life and humanity.

finding out my fiance was cheating on me was a bad surprise.

life is full of surprises.

Some good, some bad.

My life has become so much more interesting now.

I like you, eric. I like-like you.

you asking me out was a nice surprise. meeting dice was too, even though I fainted.

I really want it to continue that way for a little bit longer.

I like-like you too, Eden.

Now this is a comfortable silence.

Yeah, it is.

Dice, I’m home!

10:30pm

23

I’ve got great news!

eden and I are officially a couple!

My Pizza! my sweet hawaiian pizza!!

what the-?!

what are you trying to be? tapioca? ha!

You!!

I leave you alone for-

if you must know, I’m trying to break down gelatin.

stay right there!

I have to take a photo of this!

SHUT UP.

I required pineapples.

I’m sorry about your pizza, but it was necessary.

learnt about it during my pedicure class’ science week.

bromelain is found in fresh pineapple, not frozen.

which reminds me; my color & tint town planning essay is due on friday...

24

and how would you know that?!

Confused Unfazed by by their his actions awkward last first night, date, EricEden receives invites some Ericunwanted and Dice but over helpful to her advice housefrom for dinner. classmate Relieved Eve, who that he manages has a second to score yetchance, another free Eric accepts meal from and him. gladly When brings theyDice finally along meet(in again, a Eric glass andcup).

EdenEric’s agree learned on one from more hisdinner mistakes date. andMeanwhile is ready at home, Dicetotries make to find this date a wayato success... relieve his boredom.

WillWill thisthe night third have timeabe better a charm? ending?

Story, Art and Created by Thuyen Nguyen Copyright Š2007 Thuyen Nguyen www.devinquest.com