"Angie! Your alarm! Oi!"

Angeline fumbled to find it in the dark and turned it off.

"You're mad!" Linnie yelled before rolling over and going back to sleep. Angeline lay there for a moment, wondering what possessed her to set the alarm so early. Then she remembered exercise and jogging so she forced herself up. In the dark, she slipped on shorts and tee shirt which she'd hidden under her blanket the night before. Slipping quietly out of the room, Angeline made it through the dark living room and put on her track shoes. She was outside in less than a minute.

The air was thick with humidity and chilly. Bravely, she started to jog but her limbs were unresponsive. Then remembering the warm-up exercises that her P.E. teacher made her do, she stopped to stretch her muscles before starting off again.

It was better this time. Angeline kept up a steady pace, breathing in through her mouth and out her nose. She counted the blocks as she passed them. This time of the morning, there was hardly anyone about and she jumped at every shadow. There was the odd jogger who passed her and they would exchange understanding looks. Yes, all the ugly people in Singapore had to run in the darkness.

After half an hour and eighty blocks, Angeline had circled her estate twice. She was back under her own block with hands on knees, panting. She felt light-headed but happy and could feel her fat ooze out with each drop of sweat. She decided to top of the morning by avoiding the elevator and running up the eleven stories instead. She had to sink to the floor outside her flat for a minute before she recovered the strength to open the main door.

Mum and Dad were standing around the dining table having kopi-o when Angeline entered. She was horrified to see them awake.

"Where have you been?" demanded Dad. He stalked aggressively to her and Angeline was afraid he would strike her.

"Jogging." She cowered and prepared for the blow but it didn't come.

"Jogging? At six thirty in the morning?"

"I wanted to do it before school," stammered Angeline.

Mum came up beside Dad. "You went alone? You know how dangerous or not?"

"It's okay Mum, there was nobody around." But as she said it, Angeline knew Mum was right. She hadn't really felt safe in the darkness.

"When did you start sneaking out of the house like that?" Dad was still blustering.

"First time. Really."

"Why suddenly you must go jogging?" Mum sounded more understanding.

Angeline wondered whether to tell her the truth. "I want to keep fit. Our P.E. teacher told us we needed more exercise."

Mum and Dad exchanged looks. They seemed to be communicating telepathically. Finally, Mum spoke.

"Angie, it's good you want to keep fit. But we thought you ran away. Linnie said you set the alarm early and then woke up and left the room. We were worried."

"Next time you want to do this kind of thing, tell us first," added Dad. "And maybe you should jog in the evening instead of so early in the morning."

"Yes, Dad," said Angeline. "I need to bathe and get ready for school." She hurried to her room. After closing the door, she grabbed the pillow Linnie had thrown at her and whacked her sister on the head with it.

"Hey!" Linnie was up in an instant.

"Why you go tell Mum and Dad I ran away?"

Linnie snatched her pillow back to take a swing at Angeline but missed. "You woke me up then you left the room! That's all I said. Who knows what you're up to."

Angeline was mad at her but even she could tell Linnie didn't rat on her out of spite. Ignoring her sister, she collected her uniform and went into the bathroom. Turning the cold water on, Angeline stepped into the shower. She pushed her head under the spray of water and savoured the sensation of cold water sluicing down her back. She put her hands flat on the wall as she shivered. The water was making her feel alive, really alive. But she was hardly in the shower for five minutes when there was a bang on the frosted sliding door.

"Oi! Hurry up! I'm going to be late for work," yelled Linnie. Angeline hurried up. She washed her face and brushed her teeth double quick before dressing up.

Linnie was wearing a withering look as Angeline emerged. Angeline was feeling too good to be bothered by her. At the dining table, her breakfast was already laid out. Kaya toast and Milo. Angeline suddenly realised she was ravenous. She sat down and swallowed the three slices of toast fast. She was halfway through her Milo when she stopped. Did she just put back on all the calories she jogged off this morning? Putting down the mug, she stared at the Milo as if it had been poisoned. She chided herself, reminding herself she needed more self-control, otherwise she wouldn't lose any weight at all.

"Angie are you all right?" asked Mum.

"Yah," she said quickly.

Mum noticed her unfinished drink. "Finish your Milo."

Angeline covered up quickly. "Uh, I'm full already." Hastily, she got up from the table to retreat into her room. She gathered her school things. Linnie was at the dresser putting on her makeup. Angeline watched her out of the corner of her eye. If Linnie was a natural beauty, with makeup she was stunning. Angeline felt a stab of jealousy. Why couldn't she be as pretty as Linnie? They had the same genes after all. The sudden urge to grab Linnie's eyeliner and draw it all over her sister's face gripped Angeline. She forced the thought out of her mind and left the room.

"Your Milo," said Mum, as if she was continuing their conversation.

"Mum, I'm late." Angeline stepped into her shoes and out of the house. She didn't wait for the lift but ran down the eleven flights of stairs.