As per the last week, I made my way to the office without waiting for Mel. After the weekend, I definitely am not expecting her to fetch me to work. As I was on the bus, I braced myself for the attack from her. I had made up my mind that if I could not take it, it would be back to my original life again. No big deal about it.
The day started and ended without my incident. I was surprised, but of course, the standard OT stuffs which was “awarded” to me at the end of the day.
The remaining of the week passed quickly. I had alternate lunches with Gin and Liza, but still nothing from Mel. Again the standard stuffs, nothing out of the ordinary. To be very honest, I am not sure if I am to feel relieved. However, I believed that she is bidding her time and her attacks would come soon.
Soon it was the last day of the week. I was about to make my way home for the weekend at about 6.30pm even though the rest of the folks were still working.
I stood up and looked into her office and she was reading a document. I know even if I try to sneak away, she would somehow get a sniff of my disappearance. I was waiting for her to call but it never came. So, I took the initiative and rather face the music now and then. I walked into her room.
Me: Boss, I am going off.
Mel: ok….
She replied without looking up. I felt puzzled.
Me: nothing for me to do?
Mel: nope.
Me: really? nothing?
Finally she looked up.
Mel : what do you want?
Me: I thought you will have some documents for me to clear.
Mel: I already told you that there’s nothing extra. You can go home.
Me: I cant believe it. Anyway thanks and good bye.
I turned and started to walk out her room. Just as I was rejoicing, she called out to me. I knew there was something.
Mel: oh. wait. did you get your passport?
Me: yes. I collected it during lunch this afternoon.
Mel: Good. Send it to HR. They will take down the details and will be making arrangements for your trip with Woon soon.
Me: ok. I will go and look for them now. Anything else?
Mel: don’t bother. They already left. Normally they leave on the dot. Just remember to bring it on Monday.
Me: ok. Anything else?
Mel: no. bye.
I turned to go, anticipating her to call out to me once more. Surprisingly, she did not, so I made my way home.
I was expecting her to be back at 11.30pm, her normal time. So after dinner and topless since it was only aunt at home, I settled down to watch TV on the sofa as aunt made her way to sleep. At her age, she gets tired easily and normally by 9pm, she is already in bed. I intended to retreat into my room by 11pm so as not to bump into her.
It was unexpected, but I heard the door opened at 9.30pm. I was concentrating on the TV and did not heard her heels clicking in the corridor, thus had no time to get into my room to get dressed.
I turned my head and took a glance at her, and she was dressed in a yoga pants, sports bra with a loose singlet over it and sports shoes. No wonder I did not hear her.
She looked at me as well and I saw her rolled her eyes.
Mel: flasher.
I had no intention of picking an argument with her. However, I was still in the middle of watching channel 8 drama, I had no intention to return to my room. As I said the last time, I had my rights to my house as well, and I choose to remain topless and watching my TV.
I heard her went into and then to the toilet to bathe. I continued watching till the show ended. I switched off the TV and got up. Just then, I heard the toilet door open as well.
As I turned to walk towards my room, she exited from the kitchen. I took a brief glance at her, and my jaw dropped, literally. She was toweling her hair, which was still dripping, but it was her dressing that made me opened my eyes wide.
She was just dressed in a large old white Tshirt. Again it was those that had spent many years in the washer, and the material had grew thin. In fact, I knew it from the time that I had lived in the house of all those old clothes of hers lying around. However, by just seeing those old and well-washed fabric without actually seeing the person wearing it, it was hard to imagine anything about those old materials.
The shirt came down only 1/3 to her mid-thighs and the light from the living room illuminated the white fabric and I could see the black satin thongs that she was wearing. In fact, I am sure if I were to squat down, I could see the edge of her undergarments.
As for her top, the thin material offered no protection. With the hair dripping, there was already a patch on her chest and the darker shade of her nipple show through quite prominently.
Although I worked in the club and had contact with many scantily dressed girls on a daily basis, seeing my nasty boss dressed like this is another matter altogether. Even I never had any prior sexually thoughts about her, my body react to the view that I was presented. Without any control, I scrutinized up and down her body.
She saw my expression and frown.
Mel: what are you looking at? Pervert.
Me: You are dressed like this and then you said I am a pervert. I am around and I am a man. please be reasonable.
Mel: so? THis is how I dressed all the time before you suddenly decided to change your job. And you said I could do what I want at home.
True, that was what I said last week.
Me: errm…..
Mel: anyway if you touch me, I’ll make sure you get back in again.
Me: wait…. wait…. who says I have any intention of touching you?
Mel: good. You better don’t.
Me: but you should still wear something more.
Mel: you are topless as well.
I looked down and remembered that.
Me: I ….. I wanted to wear a top, but I did not know you will be back so early.
Mel: so? you want to be comfortable in your own place right? So do I.
Me: errm….
She left me dumbfounded with her argument. What she said is quite true, but she is not related to me. Is she mind fucking me?
Mel: you are going into your room right? So get lost. I need to blow dry my hair.
Why is she always so unfriendly to me? Anyway, I could not be bothered with her, but I wished she is nicer to me, not because I liked her or want to get into her good books. But imagine that you need to face such sarcastic remarks in the office and also at home. It was bringing unduly stress to my mind.
Without answering, I retreated to my room. Her figure was delicious, but her attitude sucks big time. By the time I closed my door, my dick had went back to its flaccid state.
I went to bed and sleep.
The next morning, I woke up and as per normal, Mel was still sleeping. Aunt at the market.
I did not hang around the living room, but stayed in my room to do some exercises such as dumbbells and pushups. I did not hear her wake up, but suddenly, she opened my door as I was doing my situps. My head was near the door, and as the door opened wide, I turned and look up the general direction.
She had took a step into the room before she realized I was on the floor. So her position was almost on above my head. With the unobstructed view, the first thing I saw was right up her Tshirt. The underside of her boobs and her black thongs in full view. It was not a lacy piece, but those made of cotton material. Her slender thighs were smooth and hairless.
Immediately, she jumped 2 steps back, out of my room while shouting at me and placing her hands on the bottom of her shirt to block my view.
Mel: WHAT ARE YOU PEEPING AT?!
I quickly got up and although I did not return her shout, I was not too happy that she did not knock first and then shouted at me.
Me: hey! be reasonable ok?
Mel : YOU WERE PEEPING!!! YOU FUCKING PERVERT!!!!
Me: COme on! I was doing situps! fuck…… how do I know you will try to come into my room.
Mel: YOU WERE…..
I tried to cut her sentence off but she continued shouting, and I have to shout above her voice for her to hear me.
Me : ……… I …. WAS………
Mel: ……..PEEPING…..
Me: …..EXERCISING………..AND………
Mel: ………UP ……… MY………
Me: ……….YOU…..WERE……..THE………
Mel: ………CROTCH!……….
She stopped to take a breathe, but I continued at the top of my voice.
Me: ……..ONE WHO OPENED MY DOOR WITHOUT KNOCKING!……….
I think she suddenly realized that and just stared at me furiously.
Me: I tell you, I was doing my situps, you look at my room, tell me where can I do it?
I took a step back into my room for her to have a look. I am not sure previously when I was away in the evening, if she did stepped into my room, but I was quite sure she did as she still had a cupboard of stuffs in my room. That cupboard was always locked and I do not have any idea what is stash away in it.
She did not come in and she remained in a furious mood, although she had now calm down.
Me: anyway, what do you want?
Mel: Of course it is to get something from my cupboard.
She rolled her eyes.
Me: ok…..
I initiate to move out of my room.
Mel: nevermind. I don’t need it anymore.
With that, she walked back into her room and slam the door and left me wondering if I should be the one to shift out instead. It is affecting me to continue living with such a bad tempered and mean person.
I decided and started to look for a place to move out to. Just then, my phone beeped.
*beep…*
It was Gin. I wondered why she texted me.
I read the text from Gin. Even though she text me before, but I was surprised, with the thoughts of her asking me out. I know that she is currently unattached, and just like most Taiwanese, she is pretty, with porcelain looking skin, small waist a huge jugs.
However, the most seductive aspect about her is her manners, which she inherited from her forefathers. The general population of her country is mostly courteous and polite, unlike the actual fist fights we see in their politics. In fact, they sound so polite that if you had never been to Taiwan, you would thought that they are flirting with you, including the sales guys at the shopping malls.
This is main differentiation that she had from Mel. Their attitude towards me. One is extremely nasty. The other is extremely nice. So I do have a soft spot for Gin.
Gin msg:
Dear all, just to inform you that Woon got into a traffic accident. He is hospitalized and is in a coma. He is warded in XXX hospital, ICU XXX.
I realized that it was a generic message to all the colleagues. Just when I was about to open my door, it opened again.
I jumped away from it to prevent it from knocking into my toes.
Mel: Hey! Woon in hospital. Can you send a basket of flowers to him and make the claims from HR tomorrow?
Me: Are you not visiting him?
Mel: Nope.
I stared at her. How can a person be so hard hearted.
Mel: I know what you are thinking. He is in a coma. Even if I visit him now, it’ll be useless. He wouldn’t know.
Me: ok. But I be going to visit him.
Mel: ok. keep me updated on his condition.
With that, she went back into her room, leaving me with a bitter taste in my mouth.
After changing, I made my way to the hospital.
There was nothing much I could do as I reached the ICU. All I could see was Woon’s head was wrapped up with bandages. Only his eyes were visible and they were shut. There were lots of equipment, but I could not tell which was which, except the oscilloscope and the drip.
I spoke to the Philippino nurse and understood that he had gotten into an accident while cycling and had suffered head injuries. There is no way to tell how long he will take to recover, or if he will recover at all.
Gin was the first one to text me because they were actually sharing a rented flat. They are not together, but sleeping in separate room. Apparently the police had went to his place and informed her. She had since contacted his family back in Korea.
I looked at him and wished him a fast recovery before making my way back home.
When I arrived home, Mel was sitting on the sofa watching TV. Aunt was in the kitchen. She had changed into another baggy Tshirt and shorts. Nothing to shout about, but at least she was wearing something. A bag of potato chips was in her hand and she was munching as she enjoyed the programme. I sat down on the armchair and she did not turned her head.
Mel: how?
Me: he is still in a coma. Doesn’t look good.
Mel: when can he come back to work?
Me: Is there all you care about?
Without turning her head, she glare at me briefly through the corner of her eyes before focusing on TV again.
Mel: the office cannot stop running. Without him, there would not be any sales.
Me: But we do not know when he will recover.
Mel: that’s the point.
She said dryly.
Mel: If he recovers in 1 month, then it’s good. But what if he takes 6 months to recover?
I thought about it. Woon managed the sales for the company. Without him, we do not have revenue to feed us.
Me: could we survive on existing contracts?
Mel: no. The top management wants to see the Top line increase from last year. Not dropping.
Me: but I am sure they will understand, right?
She put down her chips and looked at me.
Mel: Look. In company nowadays, there is no one that is dispensable. I also want to wish Woon to get well soon. But if there is no sales, then the management will close it down. I have too many people in the department whose livelihood depends on me.
I thought about what she just said.
Mel: We are just managing to increase sales this year. I know Woon is good, but the company cannot wait for him.
Me: is there no other way?
Mel: If you think of something, let me know. I will get HR to find another candidate on Monday.
Me: what if Woon recovers within one month?
Mel: We can get him another post in the company.
She had turned back to the TV. Although what she said is true, but she made it sound so cruel; that the company is always more important than individuals.
I did not want to speak to her any more. The more I speak to her, the moodier I got. As such, in a bad mood, I went back into the room and spend the whole day there, only coming out for my meals.
I sleep in the next morning and only woke up at about 11am. As I made my way out of the room to wash up, Mel was sitting on the armchair.
She did not speak and only after I finished washing up, she called out.
Mel: Oui!
I did not answer her.
Mel: oui!
I saw her looking at me when I walked passed her.
Me: are you calling me?
Mel: Then? Mum is not around right?
Me: I have a name you know?
She ignored me and just continued.
Mel: you said your passport is ready right?
Me: yes. So?
Mel: tomorrow morning, we are going in KL.
Me: for what?
Mel: I checked Woon’s email. He is meet a client there.
Me: what?! Why are you checking his email? And you mean you have access to all our emails?
Mel: can you go back to the office and get the documents on Woon’s cubicle? I am not sure where he placed them.
I rolled my eyes.
Me: and now you want me to browse through his stuffs?
Mel: Gin will be there to meet you.
Me: what?! Gin? har? why?
This time, she sound exasperated.
Mel: Why do I always need to explain to you? Sigh…..
Me: what?……!
Mel: I checked his mail because he is sales. I need to see what are outstanding. I have access because I got it from IT. I asked Gin to go with you because you may need to open Woon’s cabinet. And because of that, I do not want misunderstanding to take place. Now, go.
I stood there stumped. She had thought about all these while I was sulking about Woon yesterday.
Me: what time?
She turned and looked at the clock on the wall.
Mel: you have 10 mins to get ready. Gin is meeting you there at 12pm.
Even she had arranged the timing for me. unbelievable.
Quickly, she briefly told me which document to look for, and with just a change of clothes, I made my way to the office.
Gin was already at the lobby waiting for me. She was wearing flipflops, a capri pants and a little pink singlet that wrapped tightly around her figure. Her hair was tied up in a pony tail and she looked beautiful. She greeted me in her heavily accented English.
Gin: Hi.
Me: Sorry I am late.
Gin: you are not. Let’s go.
We went up and stood in the lift quietly. Once we arrived at the level, I was surprised that the lights were switched on and she told me that there were colleagues from the other department who were rushing out orders and so they worked on some weekends on their own accord as well.
We went straight to Woon’s desk. Looking at his desk, every thing was immaculately placed in their position. There was no extra papers or stationary lying around.
Gin: He is a tidy person, even his room. We should not take too long. It’s either here or here.
She pointed to the drawer under his desk and the cabinet on the shelf.
GIn : I’ll looked into the drawer and you looked for the document in the cabinet.
She passed me the keys and proceed to open the drawer. As she bended down, I caught a good glimpse of her fair cleavage through her tiny top. I reminded myself that I was here to search for a document and went to my task.
After awhile, I heard her standing up and she came over to the cabinet to look for it as well. Not long after, we found it and made our way out.
It was at the lobby that she spoke again.
GIn: are you going somewhere?
Me: no. I was just going home.
Gin: are you free? Want to have coffee?
Me: ok.
99% of the shops in the CBD are closed during the weekend, and so we made our way to Suntec and got ourselves to coffeebean.
Gin: sorry. I was feeling moody.
She started to explain that because Woon stayed in the same house as she is, without seeing him and hearing the police knocking on her door informing her this, she was affected. Not because she is in love with him, but as a housemate.
After she poured out her thoughts, it seemed that she feel better and the conversation started to get into other topics for me to try to get to know her a little better. Like a first date. The previous lunches was quite brief, and mostly about the office as I would need to liaise quite closely with her for processing orders.
Of course during the lunches, I had already found out that Gin was here for 1.5 years and our company is her first job. Because she is in operations, Mel does not bother her too much. She was from Taoyuan, and got the job here through an agency, so she does not know a lot of people in Singapore. Most of the weekends, she spends at home reading up.
As the conversation got into more mundane topics, she loosen up. The frown on her face disappeared and as she smiled more, I could see the dimples on her cheeks. I asked her if she had visited the local attractions but she had not and I volunteered to bring her around which she agreed.
Soon, my stomach started to growl and we went for a lunch and then shopping around. EVen though there was nothing that we wanted to buy, we enjoyed each other company.
For myself, I have since forsaken those friends that landed me in trouble. When you are inside for so long, the rest of the other friends would also have disappeared. As for those people from the night jobs, I would say that mostly are acquaintances, rather than friends. Thus, I was mostly in the same boat as Gin and we strike off quite well.
After dinner, we parted. She stayed not far from me, at one of those point blocks in Marine Parade. but because our buses were not going in the same direction, we went different ways.
Once I reached home, I passed the document to Mel.
Mel: what took you so long?
Me: I went out with my friends.
Mel: next time, you have an office document, please do not bring it all over the place. It is confidential.
I was in a good mood and not wanting to argue with her.
Me: ok boss.
Mel: we leave here at 11am tomorrow.
Me: har? so late?
Mel: we are driving up. the meeting is 4pm.
Me: ok…..
With that, I retreated to my room.
Monday morning
I got ready and waited for Mel since 10am. She took 1 hour to get ready.
Mel: Oui…. remember to bring the document.
Me: My name is not Oui, and the document is with you.
Mel: Oh….. ok….
she went into her room, collected it and came out again.
Mel: ok. Lets go.
She was dressed in her “power dressing”, the grey skirt and matching blazer. She wore a white shirt underneath.
We left the house and I was surprised that she was wearing flipflops. I did not asked as I am not interested to be reprimanded early in the morning. For me, a standard shirt and pants.
We did not speak until we passed the customs and on the North South highway. Aunt had packed some sandwiches for us and I passed her one. She took and ate it with a bottled water that I held for her while she consume her food. I had a driving license which my dad paid for it during my poly days, but I had not driven for a long time and did not offer.
Finally, once she was comfortable, she started to provide more information about the meeting.
It is a new potential opportunity which Woon was in contact with. Basically, just a China company that wanted to get some parts for a contract that they had won. We seemed to be the only company involved in the deal and because their factory is in Malaysia, we are to meet the project team today on the requirements.
We arrived about 3.45pm at the hotel. As their factory is off KL, the client had arranged to meet up with Woon here instead.
Once the car was parked in the basement, I got the items ready and she went to her boot, changed her flipflops into her 3 inch stilettos, and strutted off in front of me.
The client had booked the business center and they contingent comprises of all guys, 3 Malaysian and 1 Chinese from China. THey were expecting to see Woon and were surprised to see us. After Mel explained to them, the meeting went on for quite sometime and I was busy taking notes about the specifications of the parts and types that they wanted. Dinner was served in the room. By the time we ended, it was about 8pm.
We bidded the client farewell outside the meeting room and made our way to the lobby.
Me: that was long.
Mel: what did you expect?
Me: are we staying here or making our way back?
Mel: I did not allocate budget for this. We have to return.
I just nodded and prodded after her with all the items in my hands.
The hotel that we were in were not the most high class of all hotels. We walked down to the basement the same way we came. Mel walked in front of me and with me tagging behind, carrying her laptop, mine as well and the documents. She had since removed her blazer and carrying it in her hands while we were walking down the stairs.
The car was parked in the far end with the driver side facing us. With the day neared towards its ending, there were now only a few other vehicles between us and her car. She walked noisily with the clacking of her heels on the concrete floor echoing around the 4 walls. The place was not well lighted and apart from the sound her heels were making, it was eerily silent. I heightened my alertness for any other noises.
We reached her car without incident and I relaxed as I stood at the front of the car and waited before she closed the door. Once her door was slammed shut, before I could move, the passenger door suddenly opened. I was surprised and stood there for a moment as I did not know there was an automatic mechanism that allowed her to open the passenger door.
However, I saw a person climbing into the passenger seat and slammed the passenger door shut. This woke me up as the first reaction was to drop everything that I was carrying, and ran to the driver’s door. As I ran, I saw the shock expression on Mel’s face as turned around and face the guy.
I reached the door handle, but he was faster as he had leaned across to the driver side and engaged the central lock. I pulled and tugged at the handle, but to no avail.
Amongst the dead silence in the carpark, I heard her screams from inside the car. I pounded the window but they ignored me and saw the guy snatched the keys from her. In that instance, she turned to the door to try to open it, but the assailant was faster.
He pulled her hair with one hand and the other reached across her body, pulling her away from the door. That hand landed on her breast and as he pulled her violently, one of the buttons popped out and landed somewhere on the floor mat in the car. He continued pulling her hair and I could see horror and pain streaked across her face.
All this happened in a few seconds but it felt like eternity.
I ran over to the passenger door and tried on it as well. Of course the door would not open. I looked back into the car and his left hand had released her body, but he whipped out a 10cm blade and showed her. Immediately she stopped screaming, eyes on the blade, and he released her hair. He said something to her and passed her the key.
At this moment, I started to get frantic. I was pounding on the window, but they both were ignoring me. As I saw Mel inserted the key into the ignition, I lost it. I could not lose her here or I will blame myself for eternity.
I took one step backwards. I know I only have once chance. The engine came to life. With all the force I could muster, my fist landed in the middle of the passenger window. Pain shot through my hand, but fortunately the window cracked and gave way. It did not splintered but fall inwards like a piece of plastic with the spiderweb pattern on it.
Mel screamed again. I dived head first into the opened window. The guy turn around and swung his knife wildly. I evaded the first swing which was near my face, grabbed his swinging arm with my right hand, and in the meantime, I grabbed him by his shirt with my left hand.
He started to rain blows on me, but because of the confined space, the punched were not hard. At least not as hard as those I suffered as a bouncer. After struggling, somehow, I gained some equilibrium on my feet, and using all my strength, I pulled him out through the window opening and letting him fall onto the ground once his feet got through.
I leaped forward to grab him, but he rolled away, got up on his feet and started to run up the ramp. I wanted to chase, but I heard the car door opened. Turning around, I saw Mel, shaking and pale, but she walked towards me, with a hand covering her mouth.
Me: are you ok?
She did not reply and just pointed down towards the arm by my side. I looked down and noticed that my sleeve was drenched in blood. It was then I realized that I had suffered a wound on my forearm.
She did not get me up to the lobby, but instead bundled me into the car and drove me to the nearest hospital.
Google map guided her to the nearest hospital. We did not speak during the short journey as she concentrated on driving and wanted to get me to the hospital fast.
Once arrived, I was attended immediately. Mel stayed by me as I got my arm stitched up. My knuckles suffered hairline fractures as well so my entire right hand had to stay in a cast. It was almost 2am when I was given the all clear to go.
As we sat there waiting to make payment, Mel sat besides me. She was silent all these while but she finally spoke.
Mel: thanks for saving me. If not for you I would not know what would had happened.
I looked at her. Suddenly, she looked frail and weak. Not like the nasty lady that I had came to know.
Mel: why….. why did you save me when I was so nasty to you?
This caught me by surprised. I thought that it was her nature, but she actually knew that she was nasty to me. I deduced that it was on purpose.
Me: errrmm….. I mean…. don’t worry about it. It’s nothing….
I watched her face, a silent tear flowed down her cheek.
Me: really…. don’t worry about it…..
Mel: I am sorry that you are hurt…..
Me: this is nothing….. I mean…. this is just small issue……
She looked up into my eyes and through her tears, she smiled. The first time that she smiled at me, and to be honest, she looked very pretty.
Mel: thanks….. sam…..
I did not know what to say. I think it was her gratitude that made me feel soft. I did not expect her to do anything. I mean, as a human, if you see another in danger, you would try to safe the person right? I just did what is expected for me to do. A natural reaction, nothing else.
I looked pass her eyes. Her top was still missing one button and I could see her pastel coloured bra through the opening. She saw where my eyes went.
Me: haha…. nice bra….
I got a smack on my shoulder.
Me: ouch!
Mel: oh…. sorry…. sorry…..
She looked pissed off and held her shirt to cover the opening.
Mel: I forgot that you are a pervert.
I was about to retort her, but the cashier called my name and we made payment.
Even though it was very late, but I wanted to return back home. My hand was aching and the window to the car was damaged. We made our way back.
She drove slowly as visibility was not that good as in some places, the only lightings on the road were from the lights emitted from the car, and the wind coming in from the broken window will affect the car at high speed. Finally at dawn, we passed our customs.
I could see that she was tired as she drove slowly. the noise from the wind also diminished and I took this opportunity to speak to her.
Me: Mel…..
Mel: uhmmm?
She did not asked me to call her boss.
Me: I am really not a pervert. I was sabotage by my friends. I did not touched the girl. That is why I got acquitted. Not parole.
Mel: Har? I thought you were on parole?
She turned and looked at me, surprised.
Me: hey…. watch the road….
The car had started to drift towards the road shoulder. She quickly turned back and concentrated on driving.
Me: I was in the room, but I did not touch her. But anyway, it’s up to you to believe. The girl owned up finally.
Mel: why didn’t you say? I always thought you were a pedophile and a pervert.
Me: No. I assure you I am not.
She kept quiet and did not respond. By the time we reached home, the sun was already up in the sky.
She told me to stay at home and rest while she disappeared out of the house again.