Thank you for the kind words of support.
Hollywood is a distant dream, i think if given a chance to produce and perhaps direct a local production within the next 10 years would be considered a big achievement. haha.
There isn’t exactly a platform for works of this genre, i’m just glad i can find audience who enjoys my work on sbf.
We are nowhere near the climax for this piece.
Enjoy the ride.
James
All cautions were thrown to the wind as I made the 1st move, smashing the extended baton towards Clement.
He ducked and came at me with his knife. The sound of cold steel grind against each other as we tried to land kicks and knees upon each other’s body.
Our legs tangled as we tried to trip each other off our feet while our hands executed attempts after attempts to slice each other’s face off.
Clement : arghh!!
My baton has a longer reach and I managed to disarm one of his knife but Clement landed a cut on the back of my left wrist. It’s not deep but it stings and the momentary pain caused me to drop the baton.
There was no time to think or hesitate, our bodies became plastered together as we landed blows on each other’s body with elbows and knees. The blades of our knives were locked against each other as we grunted in the room.
A blow to the side of my head was met with a knee to his kidney.
Clement smashed his forehead towards my nose, I ducked just in time to receive the blow on my uppercheek. Blood vessels ruptured beneath my skin as that is sure to leave a bruise.
I slid my knife down against his cutting blade in a gamble, the grinding sound giving me the brief second of distraction that I needed to back away and slam a left kick into the side of his torso.
I know how hard I kick, that would leave a bruise much worse that the one I would have on my face after this is over.
I jumped in again, stabbing my knife from the stop, Clement’s forearm met mine, stopping the blade halfway as he tried to elbow me in the face as he forced a turn with his body.
I blocked the elbow but it was a hit hard enough to feel like I smack my own face with my arm.
Clement : aRGHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!
He slammed a kick into the side of my thigh and I gave him a punch to the side of his cheek.
Pain shot through our bodies as I charged at him, lifting his leg up in at attempt to force him to the ground but he countered the move perfectly, regaining the balance and landing a blow to the side of my face.
I slashed my knife upwards and he ducked, managing to move millimetres away from the blade before it landed on his face.
Realising the baton is right below my feet, I pick it up just when Clement is charging at me, he realised the added arsenal in time to halt as I swung the baton precariously close to the bridge of his nose followed by another close stab to his body that he deflected with his knife.
I panted for air and so did Clement.
Our eyes never left each other as I went at Clement again. He threw a knife towards me and I ducked but it was not fast enough. I felt the warm flow of blood down the side of my neck as I registered a stinging pain just below my ears.
I threw mine as well towards Clement’s torso, he did not manage to block it as well as my knife sliced cleanly along the surface of his body, ripping into his clothes and flesh, leaving what I would estimate to be a centimetre deep wound running along a 8cm length.
Clement applied pressure onto his chest , holding the knife in front of him.
I touched my bleeding neck, I could feel a large cut as well but it is not life threatening. If it hit any major arteries, I would not even be standing.
I stuck like a fencer making an attempt to hit with my arms and feet outstretched, swinging the baton left and right, I started to land blows after the 3rd attempt striking Clement on his forearm and knuckles.
He grunted and cursed as a hard strike to his knuckles caused him to drop his knife.
I flew in so fast that I surprised myself, landing a knee squarely to his chest. It knocked the air out of his lungs and as he staggered backwards towards the door he came out from, I ran and literally flew towards him with a kick on his stomach , sending his body back and swinging the door wide open.
Clement collapsed onto his knees as the contents of his dinner found it’s way out of his body through his mouth and landed on the floor.
Grabbing his hair, I knee him in his face and it’s over.
I was about to break his neck when I froze.
My body petrified by the scene in front of me.
My lips was shivering.
I blinked several times.
Jeff : uuhhh…. Uhhhhhhhhh…
I felt a lump coming up my throat as I groaned.
I groaned in disbelief as I brought my hand to my mouth.
There is this sinking feeling in my throat as I groaned again.
Jeff :uuuuuuuuuuhhhhhhhh~~~~.. no….. no…. no … please.. no….uhhh…
It was a groan choked with emotions as I navigated the boundary between remaining standing or collapsing in tears.
There was a doctor. He was in the midst of stitching up Gwen.
The machines were off. There were no beeping. Gwen’s face was drained of all colours, it was just a pale shade of white.
Her lifeless eyes were opened.
Jeff : uhhh…. Uhhhh….. aghhhh… ahhhhhhhhhhhh.. AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!
My left hand went to my forehead as I looked at the doctor who was trembling in fear while holding onto the tools he was using.
My feet staggered 2 steps backwards as I looked at Gwen.
Her opened eyes looking at me. I could still see the fresh streak of tears down the side of her cheeks.
The bruises on her arms, the swollen cheeks.
My heartbeat raced through the roof as I looked at Gwen, I was too late.
How could anyone do this to a little girl ?
When my eyes looked up from Gwen to the doctor, it was not the eyes of a human being.
It was the eyes of an animal.
Doctor : no… no wait… I’m just an employee… ahhh..
I grabbed him by his throat and slammed his head back against the sterile walls of the operating room.
Jeff : aHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!
His feet gave way, but I held him up, I punched him so hard his center of gravity shifted abruptly , causing him to fall headfirst onto the blood stained floor.
Turning to Clement who was laughing, I saw that he was slowling standing up. He’s trying to get back on his feet.
Clement : too late… hahahaha… too late….
I walked over to Clement and I sent him staggering back towards the wall with a series of punches.
I hit him again and again as he collapsed onto a lowered bed stack in the side of the room.
I did not stop, I could not stop.
My knuckles were bruised, skins are flayed but still, I did not stop.
I punched Clement on his face, again and again.
His arms were up, he tried to block his face like a boxer taking a defensive pose. I don’t care, I continued hitting.
Left, right, from the top, from the side. I punched so hard that it sent his own knuckles hitting onto his forehead.
Jeff : aHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Clement’s arms could hardly remain upright, I kept punching. Over and over again, I rained my blows on him. I dislodged 2 teeth from his mouth when I delivered an uppercut with a right blow.
I could see cut on my right hand deep enough to see the bones of my knuckles. Still, I did not stop.
Punches, knees to the face, kick to the face. It kept coming.
Clement was literally just bobbing against in his sitting position. A human punching bag. Grabbing his arm, I hyperextended it , using his own body as leverage with my foot and I dislocated his right arm from it’s shoulder socket.
His scream was choked back by a punch to his face.
I grabbed his left hand who was trying to block my hits and literally ripped his fingers apart from each other. I stomped on his knees and I wanted to dislocate every joint but I did not know how to do it. I tried hyper extending his legs but it was too hard.
It took too long.
It was faster to keep slamming my fist into his fucked up face.
My heart and lungs were burning as I shouted and alternated my punches and kicks with such intensity that every muscle in my body was screaming at me to stop.
The pain I was feeling physically was nothing compared to the cut I was feeling emotionally.
I shouted and shouted, venting my pent up frustration and anger.
I slammed my left foot to the side of Clement’s face, causing him to fall like a sack of rice. Still I did not stop. Turning and reaching for a stainless steel tray holding surgery tools, I lifted it up and slammed it onto his head several times until the medical grade steel got deformed.
I reached for the trolley and sent it over to Clement as well.
Jeff : AHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!! AHRGGHGH!!!!
Words could not describe the level of frustration and anger I had inside me.
For a brief moment, I felt I was not a human. That I was not capable of compassion.
The only emotion I felt was anger.
Pure, unfiltered and animalistic rage.
Pulling the tangled mess of steel and equipment from Clement, I dragged him upright.
He’s still alive. Barely.
Blood was flowing freeing from his mouth. His face swollen beyond recognition.
He could hardly support himself.
I sucked in breathes of cold air, filling my oxygen deprived lungs.
I grabbed Clement by his hair, his eyes could barely open as he looked at me.
A portion of his lips was hanging loosely by the skin, exposing the empty slots where his teeth should be.
He looked like he was losing conscious.
I hit his head against the tiled wall, knocking him awake.
The laboured breathes of a dying man greeted my ears as I looked at Clement in his eyes.
My right hand went around his neck.
Clement : ehhh…..ernghhhhhhhhhhhh.eghh!!
I applied pressure , clamping my fingers closed around his neck as I deprived him of air. There was hardly a struggle, there was nothing left in him to struggle.
Clement passed out within 30 seconds.
I checked him for a pulse. There is still one.
He’s still alive.
Turning to see the doctor groaning on the floor, I went to retrieve my knife.
I grabbed his hair and forced him to look at Gwen.
Doctor : please… please…. I was just following instructions…. I’m a doctor !!! please….
I shook his head as I yanked him so close to Gwen’s expressionless face.
Exposing his neck, I placed my knife at his throat.
Doctor : please… please… no… sozb… sobzz… please….
Jeff : did she struggle ??
Doctor : please….. please… sobzz…
Jeff : ANSWER ME !!!
He nodded his head.
Doctor : yes… sobzz.. yes… please… ahhhh…
Jeff : Did she fight for her life ?
He doctor nodded again, I could see a pool of urine spreading from under his knees.
Jeff : Tell me….. what is the oath… you took….when you became a doctor…
Doctor : please… please no… sobzz… sobzz… please…
Jeff: TELL ME !!!
I pressed the blade of my knife harder against his neck and he started to talk in between tears.
Doctor : sobzz… sobz… I… I solemnly pledge….. to …
Jeff : go on….
Doctor : dedicate my life to the service…. Of humanity… sobzz… sobzz…
Jeff: don’t stop….look at her…. Look at her when you speak !!!
I could feel his body shaking as tears poured down his cheeks.
Doctor : give due respect & gratitude to my teacher….practice my profession with conscience and dignity….sobzz… ahhhhh.. sobzz.. I’m sorry…. I’m sorry….
Jeff : shut up…. Go on …
I tightened the grip on the knife.
Doctor : make…. Make the health of my patient…. My first consideration… sobzz..
Jeff : almost there… go on…
Doctor : I’m sorry… I’m really sorry….sobzzz…
I slammed his head against the metal table Gwen was lying on and waited for him to continue.
Doctor : ahhhh.. sobzz… respect… the secrets which are confided in me….sobzz,,,,i…. I don’t remember the rest… I’m sorry… ahhhh…sozbbb… I’m sorry… I really don’t remember the rest…
Jeff : I see can why…
Doctor : Please… don’t… don’t do this… please….sobzz… I’m a doctor… sobzz…
Jeff: Does that make your life more valuable that the others ??
He shook his head as the tried to turn and look at me but I forced him to look at Gwen.
Jeff : I’ll finish it for you……
I closed my eyes and all I could see was Gwen. An image of her.
I took several deep breathes.
Instead of seeing her cold, naked on the operating table, I saw her smiling at me. There was someone by her side.
Gillian.
Jeff : …. You… respect the secrets which are confided in you……respect your colleagues as your professional brothers and sisters….
The images kept coming, flooding into my mind like a invasive thought. Like a silent movie, it kept coming.
Gillian has her arms around Gwen’s shoulders. Gwen was holding her drawing pad.
Both of them looking at me.
Gwen was smiling.
It was a peaceful scene. I knew it was not real, merely images and thoughts conjured up by my brain to help me cope.
Everyone needs closure. Even someone cold blooded like me.
I know it’s not real, I really do but part of me wished it was real.
That this is closure not only for me, but for Gwen as well.
No longer does she have to live in a world where monsters walked the earth beside her.
No longer does she have to live in fear.
No longer alone.
Jeff : you will not allow…. The consideration of race, religion, nationality or social standing…. To intervene between your duties and your patient….
My eyes fluttered for a moment and when I opened them, I was surprised to find my vision blurred. Blurred with tears.
Yet through the blurred vision, I saw that Gwen is no longer on the table. She’s clothed, in winter wear, compete with earmuffs and gloves. It looked like the sisters are going for a holiday.
They were finally going to travel together.
Gillian was adjusting her scarf for her sister.
They are about the same height but I could see the slight maturity you would have expected from a sister form Gillian. Gillian blew on her hands as she finished tying the scarf for Gwen, making sure her sister is snug and warm.
Gwen pulled out one side of her glove, offering it to Gillian. The winter clothes on them looked old, probably hand me downs but it kept them warm and happy.
Their gloveless hand held each other as they waved at me from the corner of the room.
Gwen mouthed the words ‘ it’s ok ‘ to me.
It’s not ok.
I’ve never felt so disappointed before in my life.
I blamed myself.
I was not fast enough. Gwen placed all her hopes on me, and I failed her.
Jeff : you will maintain…. Due respect for human life…. Use your knowledge in accordance…. With the laws of humanity….
Gillian and Gwen started to walk away.
As if something or someone far greater than us had walked into the room, I watched the muscles of Gwen’s eyes relaxed. They started to close.
The doctor sobbed as I held his head in my hand.
I finished up the rest of the code and came to the last line.
Jeff : You make there promises solemnly….. freely…. And upon your honour… ….where is your honour ??!!
Doctor : zobzzz… sobzz… sobzz… please…. Ahhhh !
I turned his head away from Gwen’s body and I slit his throat, letting his body convulse on the floor as his hands tried to stop the inevitable.
I dropped the knife and lowered myself to Gwen’s level.
Touching my forehead to hers, my tears landed on her face.
Jeff : I’m sorry Gwen….. life ….. is not fair…. I’m sorry….
I took in several deep breathes as I shook my head.
Jeff : your sister and you were dealt a bad hand in this life…… you deserve better…
I sat down on the bloodstained floor and leaned against the cold walls of the surgery room.
I felt so tired.
I don’t know if I fell asleep but I looked up and saw Gwen in front of me.
She smiled that radiant smile at me and the only thing it did was break me harder.
The innocence in her smile, her opened arms asking for a final hug.
Jeff : I’m…. I’m really sorry…
I felt her cold body hug onto mine as I broke down.
Jeff : AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!
Gwen’s wiped the tears from my eyes she shook her head.
Gwen : Thank you…. For being the only one that truly cared….
Jeff : No… no…
Gwen :Goodbye…. …..Sun Wu Kong….
Jeff : no…
My eyes closed and I hit the back of the tiled wall as I opened my eyes. My body drenched with sweat.
I took a deep breath and stood up.
I touched Gwen on her cheeks and said my goodbye as well.
Jeff : Goodbye Gwen…. Take care of your sister too….
I tore myself away from Gwen and I went over to Clement. I did not check him for his pulse again. I took my knife and with a continuous stroke using the serrated side of my knife, I sliced his head cleanly off his neck.
When I hit the bone part, I stopped. I did not want to waste the extra energy sawing through bone. I dropped Clement’s head and smashed my feet into the remnants of his head as I watched it fall sideway like a deflated balloon.
I kicked him a couple more times, hardly putting any strength into the attempt to hurt his lifeless body.
Turning to the doctor, he was no longer moving.
I opened the other door at the back of the surgery room.
It was empty. There are benches and drinks scattered throughout the area. I could still see smoke coming up from one of the coffee cup.
I walked to the end of the room and opened the door, feeling the brush of the cold air against my face.
The tracks on the soft grass are fresh.
There were vehicles parked here, waiting, waiting for Gwen’s organs not too long ago.
I headed back into the surgery room and checked Clement’s body for his car keys.
I walked over to his car and unlocked it.
There were stacks of documents inside his car including a suitcase fill with money in local and Australian currency.
There’s got to be at least 2-300 k inside that suitcase alone.
I flipped open the documents.
Names, pictures, medical records.
I looked at the dates, there are about a year ago.
I checked the folders for the ones that were labelled for this year.
Opening it, I flipped it to the middle and I froze.
I was staring at a familiar face.
Benson’s man.
Ah Huan.
I flipped the page. That blonde hair.
Owen.
He was lying. He knew about this.
I picked up my phone and made the call to the operator.
Operator : O’s insurance…
Jeff : I would like to make a claim for my policy….
Operator : policy number please…
Jeff : 442454
A dial tone came up for 2 seconds before the operator came back on.
Operator : acknowledged….. we are on our way…
She hung up on me after that.
I threw the documents into Clement’s car and I took the money, putting it in Billy’s van. Opening the glove compartment, I found passports and air tickets.
There’s another envelope of cash in the glove compartment and I took it as well.
I helped myself to the cigarettes on the dashboard and lit up as I leaned against Billy’s van.
30 minutes later, the 1st convoy arrived. Owen was in one of the cars.
The crew wasted no time as they hurried into the hospital to survey the mess I left for them.
Owen walked towards me and he could read the expression on my face.
He stopped 3 meters away from me and he looked at Clement’s car.
He saw the documents.
He sighed and looked at me.
Owen : yes…. That’s what we do…. But no kids…..criminals…. drug dealers…. Death row inmates….. no kids…. No fucking kids….
I did not say anything.
I finished up my cigarette and threw it on floor.
Owen : Jeff ….
I walked passed Owen, deliberately bumping him on his shoulder as I did.
Owen : It’s over…. Never again…. We don’t need these money…. Not anymore….
I turned and just shrugged my shoulder.
Jeff : Do I look like I care ?
Owen : You do…. More so that you care to admit….
Jeff : Fuck you….
Owen : I mean it…. No more…. Yiling’s drug business is pulling in enough…. We’re cutting this off….
Jeff : where is the VIP ?
Owen : Jeff ..
Jeff : WHERE !!
Owen’s men had their hands on their side arms right away seeing the outburst but Owen waved them away.
Owen : You’re tired… you’re hurt…. You’re emotional… and your judgement is clouded…. This is not the Hibiki I know…
He’s right.
He’s right on all counts yet I find myself still so fucking pissed at him. I turned and made my way up Billy’s van. I could not bear to stay at that place any longer.
Owen : Mandy is at the debriefing facility….. you get yourself some medical attention…. We’ll talk after your fucking head gets sorted out….
I showed him the finger and reversed the vehicle out of the compound. There is nothing wrong with my head.
There is something wrong with this world.
I took a slow drive towards the facility in Defu lane.
There was no longer a need to speed, to overtake.
The pace at which things move slowed down significantly.
It was coming to 2am in the morning by the time I arrived at the facility. I could see security is tighter than usual.
The crash barrier is up and the security guard motioned for me to key in my access code at the keypad.
I entered the code and the barrier came down.
I droved straight to the loading and unloading bay tucked at the back of the building.
I could see armed man stationed near the entrance.
Owen’s men.
I got out and went to the door.
They were speaking into their walkie talkie.
Before I got to the door, one of them opened it and said nothing.
I entered and the door shut behind me.
There is someone at the end of the corridor.
A woman.
She looked nervous. Dressed in jeans and t-shirt, she has her hair tied up in a high ponytail.
She was hugging a tablet in front of her chest. She’s armed, I could see her wearing a pistol by the side of her waist.
I kept walking towards her, there was no sign of her giving way to me.
I could see her swallowing a gulp of saliva as I got closer. Her eyes, she was looking at me, she knows.
She knows who I am.
I’ve never seen her before. She better have a good reason for blocking my way that morning.
I was not in the mood for administrative work.
When she spoke, her voice gave her away immediately. That voice.
The voice I have been talking to for the past few years.
Belinda : Hi….. Hi Hibiki…. I …. I meant Jeff…. I’m….. I’m…… I’m your operator….
She was literally shaking as I watched her fingers curled harder around the edge of her tablet.
Jeff : what do you want ? …
She immediately gestured behind her in a nervous manner.
Belinda : ermm… ermm…. Mandy is in room 3…. Billy is in the infirmary with Dr Lynn.
She plastered herself against the wall as I walked past her.
I’m headed to room 3.
I could hear Belinda close behind me. I stopped outside room 3 and looked at her, she better have a good reason for following me as well.
Jeff : Yes… ?
Belinda : I’m sorry…. I know you don’t want me to follow you but…. But Owen said I was not to let you out of my sight !!!… I’m sorry… please don’t make this difficult on me… !
I wanted to speak but I was exhausted. I could not find the right words. This is really the last thing I need right now.
I reached for her side arm and she yelped , trying to stop me from taking her weapon.
Belinda : no !! no no!!! please… NO!!!… I’m just following orders Jeff ….
I sighed and told her I’m just borrowing it.
Jeff : Can you lend it to me…. Please… ?
It took her a couple of seconds to register what I said and she literally jumped as I pulled the weapon out of the holster. Entering the room, I saw Mandy seated in the metal stool in the centre of the room. Her hands were handcuffed behind her, her ankles chained to the floor.
Mandy : Jeff…. Jeff… I’m sorry… I’m sorry….. please !!… I’m sorry… I have money… I’ll give you my share…. Everything… I’ll give you everything….
Jeff : Sure…. Where is the money ??
Mandy : You’ll let me go ?? will you ?? I’ll give you anything…
Jeff : yes… tell me… and I will let you go…
It was then she saw the gun in my hand and she started to beg me harder.
Mandy : Please Jeff… please !!! in the fountain…. There’s a waterproof package in the fountain…. There’s 60 thousand in it… please….
Jeff : anywhere else ??
Mandy : NO!!! NO!!… nothing more… that is all… that is all !!!.
I raised the weapon at Mandy and she screamed. She struggled against the restraints and begged.
Mandy : you promised…..you said you would let me go !!!
I levelled the weapon at her head and lined up the sight.
Jeff : I lied…
I squeeze the trigger in the room. The explosion of the weapon caused Belinda to scream. Mandy bobbed once as the bullet went through the front of her eye and exploded out the back of her head, painting the wall and floor of room 3 a bright shade of red.
Turning back to Belinda who had turned a shade of white, I could see her holding back her vomit. She covered her mouth as I put the weapon to safe and returned it to her holster.
Jeff : Thank you..
I opened the door and walked out.
I heard Belinda retched and vomited behind me as I continued walking towards the infirmary.
I opened the door and was hit with that familiar smell of disinfectant. That so-called hospital smell.
There are 2 beds inside, one of it is occupied by Billy. He was sitting up, heavily bandaged.
The ward trolley extended over his thigh, serving as a table.
There were 2 glasses of alcohol on the trolley.
Our eyes met and I knew Billy knew. He must have been receiving updates.
Dr Lynn stood beside Billy, looking every bit as radiant and beautiful as I remembered.
She’s hot, intelligent and married to a Colonel in the armed forces. The last time I saw her was almost a year ago.
Doing what we do, seeing Lynn is never a good sign. It only meant we got hurt. Lynn is like the sister I never had. If I have a elder sister, I would want her to be just like Lynn. Matured, pretty and always calm and cool.
Her smile works better than the best soothing balm and I credit her for making most of my scars looking better than they ever will be.
Dressed in Jeans, a white blouse with matching heels, Lynn looked at me from head to toe. The man that has her is a lucky guy.
Her hands came out from her coat pocket and she reached for a chair.
Tapping the seat, she gestured for me to go over.
The door behind me opened again and I could see Belinda coming into the infirmary form the reflection in front of me.
Belinda : Hi Dr Lynn…
Lynn gave her a nod and a smile.
Lynn brushed the hair from the side of my head to check out the wound below my ear.
No one said a word.
Lynn quietly prepared the disinfectants and put the tools she needed in a metal dish.
She set the things in front of me as I stared blankly at the wall.
Lynn : Belinda…..do you mind ?
Lynn gestured towards the cabinet on the other end of the room.
Belinda : oh…ok.. sure…
Belinda brought out 2 more glasses and a bottle of whisky. No labels, nothing, but I know it’s the good stuff. Doctors always has the good stuff stashed away.
She refilled the 2 glasses on the trolley in front of Billy before filling up the 2 new glasses.
Lynn looked at me, I could see she felt sorry for the state I was in. I felt her gentle hand touch my wrist.
Lynn : don’t be so hard on yourself….. you can’t control everything….
I nodded but said nothing.
The silence in the room was deafening. It was so quiet I could hear everyone breathe.
If this was out of a motion picture, I would imagine the camera slowly pulling backwards, retreating out of the infirmary with the 4 of us perfectly framed.
No one would move, yet the picture alone would speak volumes.
A vibrating sound broke the tranquillity of the room.
Then another.
And another.
It kept coming.
It all came form Belinda’s pocket.
She pulled it out and checked her messages, aware that all eyes are on her.
Lynn : do you need to go ?
She shook her head.
Belinda : Owen…. Owen wants me to… to keep an eye on…. On Jeff…
Lynn : it’s ok… I’m here… I got him….
She shook her head, clutching onto her tablet in front of her chest.
Lynn started to clean my wound.
Belinda reached for the glass of whisky and drained it in one go, panting and fanning her mouth as it brunt her throat on the way down.
She put down her tablet and poured herself another large serving.
Belinda : I…. i……
She was struggling to speak as she looked at us.
Belinda : I just want to say….. I just want to say……
She took another mouthful of the drink she is obviously not used to having.
Belinda : the VIP did not make it……
I looked at Belinda and asked Belinda where is the VIP located.
Jeff : Where…. Where are they…
Lynn : enough Jeff…… you’ve done enough….
She gave my cheek a light slap, forcing me to expose the wound on my neck to her in a chiding manner.
Lynn spoke without looking at Belinda, choosing to concentrate on my wound.
Lynn : Tell him what you told us earlier….
I felt the sting of the pain as Lynn dragged the line through my skin, closing up the wound below my ear.
Belinda : Butcher will be flying the royal family back to Indonesia…. That flight will not land……. Raptor….. he’s across the border at a Motel…. Waiting for the other men involved…..Gourmet…. he’s… he’s on a yacht …. With another doctor involved… currently sailing out of Singapore waters….none of these have been approved by the audit team… it’ll all be an accident….Owen set it up….
Lynn pushed my cheek with the back of her gloved hand, expertly tying up the stitch and cutting away the excess. She grabbed my face and turned it to the side, before turning back to face her.
Pulling away her gloves and took her glass of drink and raised it slightly in front of me.
Lynn : No child shall ever suffer the girls fate ever again…..Not on Owen’s watch….. not on our watch…
Billy reached for his glass with his good hand.
Belinda sniffed and she was crying. Wiping the tears with the back of her hand, she took her glass as well.
I blinked once and was surprised to feel the last roll of a warm tear streak down my cheek.
I took a deep breath, reached for my drink and touched the waiting glasses.
Jeff : Never again…
Billy : To Gwen….
Belinda : sobzz… to Gillian….
Lynn smiled and with that sisterly confidence that would reassure all around her that everything is ok, she added ;
Lynn : and to the silent guardians around us……men and women……. Who will never be named….you are the reason…..why we are not afraid of the monsters who lurk in the dark…
We drained our drinks and Belinda promptly refilled the drinks, mine first.
Belinda : Jeff…. Can you….
I turned at looked at her with what I assumed would be a pair of bloodshot and tired eyes.
Belinda : Can you…..can you….. write the incident report for why I have a missing round in my weapon ? …. Owen… Owen is anal about … about things like this….
Lynn burst out laughing and so did Billy.
I shook my head and could no longer hold it in and I laughed.
Belinda : what ?… what is so funny ?? !! it’s not funny….. I signed out for this!!
There was a knock on the door and one of the armed guard stepped in. He was carrying a bottle.
A fucking bottle.
He greeted the doctor and handed the bottle to Belinda.
I looked at that 17 year old bottle of whisky that Belinda was holding.
What kind of fucker Owen has to be to do this to me ?
Belinda composed herself and gave me that bottle of drink.
Jeff : Is this what I think it is….??
Belinda : No…. no… no… it’s not a new project…. It’s just something I got… for you…
I looked at her, puzzled and full of questions.
Jeff : Why ?? …..
Belinda : because…..because…..
Jeff : Because what ?
Belinda : I’m …….. I’m going to be your new intern….
………………………………………….
Thank you for all the comments.
Some parts are hard to read, those parts are hard to write and edit as well.
The emotional roller coaster is part of the fun isn’t it. To forget the daily grind and just immerse yourself in another world.
To kill a character is not an easy decision, not when i had to build it up from scratch. It’s like baking a nice cake knowing it’s going to be eaten and passed out into the toilet.
I like Gwen, i was deliberating her fate during early development, there were alternatives but i felt it’s better to let her go. Wasn’t expecting that big a reaction.
I don’t want go into detail for the rest of my work but many more characters will not see the ending.
Gwen’s part is touching, i teared when i wrote it, but there’s another part i literally broke like a dam. It’s really painful to write it, to paint that parting scene, and i think it’s going to be very painful to read it as well.
Thank you for reading my work and for leaving a comment.
Please accept my apologies for being unable to reply to everyone.
Drop me a PM or a mail anytime.
Cheers
James
I could not even be bothered to give Belinda a reply.
I could hear Lynn chuckling in the background.
Lynn : budget cuts man… we all got to deal with it… hahaha….
Belinda : I know… I know this is the last thing you would want to hear now but… but…. I want thinking it would be good if I can give you some advance notice…. And and….
I put up my hand and wave her off.
Jeff : No… period…
I started to get up and Belinda just went on and on.
Lynn called out for me to go back to her in 2 days to change the dressing on my wound but I did not reply her. She threw a packet of antibiotics at me and I caught it.
Belinda’s voice was drowning her instructions out.
She told me she had a degree in psychology and she has been looking forward to get out into the field for the longest time. I was not in the mood for this and I continued walking towards the door.
Belinda went on to tell me that the company is no longer sending it’s recruits to the same program the earlier pioneers went through. The budget cuts is eating into everyone’s department and Owen thinks it’s time to let the new recruits tag onto someone more experienced.
Belinda : I know you would not like this but… but… after looking through the profile and studying all your previous work, I know I want to learn from you….
I ignored everything she said.
It just went in from one ear and came out the other.
No means no.
I don’t give a fuck.
What the hell is Owen thinking ?
An intern.
Perhaps he forgot what is it we do for a moment. I walked along the quiet corridor towards the exit and was thankful Belinda chose to stay inside the infirmary and did not tag along.
I might just hit her given the mood I’m in.
I exhaled and went towards a locker room. I kept some spare clothes in the facility and I stepped into a shower stall.
As the cold water pelted my body, I took stock of the sores, the aches and the cuts I had sustained.
It felt like every bit of my body was hurting. I know my physical state would be back to normal in no time, the injuries I had were minor. It’s my mental state that I’m not sure I would be able to cope.
The feeling is just impossible to describe. It sucks.
I needed a break.
Perhaps a couple of months away from all this.
Maybe I’ll even give Yiling a call.
Fucking the local drug lord might be a good way to get my head cleared.
I sneezed a couple of times as I stepped out and dried my body.
Turning to look at the shower, I threw a few curses at it.
All the money and Owen did not even put in a water heater in the place for staff. I made a mental note to get an electric heater and install it myself the next time I’m here.
I did not head back home after the shower. I drove Billy’s van back to the office and I left it at the parking lot before getting into my own car.
I checked myself into a nice 5 star hotel in town and I collapsed onto the comfortable bed.
I woke up at 9am and read the papers while I ate my breakfast. There were a few articles about accidents near a church and an unfortunate fire which killed a few people. I refused to read it.
The articles will only contain the stories spun by Owen and his team.
I flipped to the pages about holidays and travel promotion. This would be a good time to just fuck it all and head off for a holiday. I gave Ah Keong a call about the gate he is going to install, I told him to fix it and send me the invoice.
He said he will take care of it.
I checked out of the hotel at noon and checked myself into another one.
Yes I’m running. Running away from reality. I just want to pretend I’m a tourist, visiting a country I hardly know.
I did nothing except sleep, eat and soak myself in the bathtub before I repeated the ritual again. I bought whatever I needed, clothes, toiletries, shoes, bandages.
I cycled through the few hotels within town.
Pan Pacific, Mandarin Oriental, Meritus, Ritz, then I headed over to Fullerton, working my way down to Sands. After I checked out from Sands, I drove back to the church.
The gate has been fixed. I could still see the barricades within the compound.
People walk by it as if nothing happened.
Live goes on. This is how fast things move in the country.
I entered the compound , there were a few foreign workers painting the walls of the nursery where I last saw the toddlers.
They paid no attention to me.
Walking to the fountain, I looked into the water. My hand reached under and I tried feeling around for indication of a package.
Circling the rim of the fountain, my fingers felt the material of a waterproof bag. I pulled it out and looked at it.
I walked out of the church and back to my car and dropped the dripping package onto the car floor. It’s money, no point letting it go to waste.
I drove around the island, dropping off the loot at various stash.
By the time I’m done, I could not decide if I want to continue burning my money at some hotel. I can afford it.
Before I realised it, I was driving into Sentosa.
I checked myself into another hotel and got into the bathtub again.
I realised suddenly how lonely I was. My phone had only 2 messages and not even a miss call.
Not that I’m expecting anyone to call me.
Billy told me he’s has been discharged and that he will see me back in office.
The next message is from Owen.
He told me I’m on a one month paid leave, thereafter, it will be unpaid leave until Lynn certifies that I’m fit to get back to work.
Fuck him.
I spent a good 2 weeks rotating through different hotels trying to get my fucked up brain sorted out.
By the time I checked myself out of Amara Sanctuary, I felt a little better. I’ve wallowed in self-pity for long enough.
Life goes on.
1st July 2013
Monday
I went back to office. Billy was in, and he gave me a nod as I went to my terminal.
Billy : You have a lot of emails…..and a very angry doctor looking for you…
Jeff : What…. Why ?
Billy : I think you forgot something….about your dressing…
Jeff : It’s fine…. Won’t die la…
I touched the pharmacy bought square plaster on my neck. I’ve changed it regularly but the wound is not exactly closing well. It’s gotten a bit swollen and I left the antibiotics she gave me in the shower at the locker previously.
I can’t really see the wound but at least I’m not bleeding and dripping pus.
Billy : You know what…. You better go find Lynn…. She told me she will slit your throat if her handiwork is ruined by you not taking care of it and it ends up scarring badly….
Jeff : ermm…ok…
Billy : I fucking mean it man…. I skipped my antibiotics and she almost broke my fingers again.
Jeff : How the fuck would she know if you skipped ?
Billy : Brother… I’m lying on the fucking bed 2 steps away from her desk…. You have no idea how desperate I am to check out of that infirmary….
Jeff : Oh…
I’ve know how feisty Lynn can be. She can be a monster if she wanted to.
You know how rumours of colleagues fly about every now and then about what someone has done in the past.
Word is someone tried to be funny with Lynn. You know, get fresh with her, she’s hot and I can see why maybe some men could not resist that temptation. That sweet face, the fresh look and that seductive smile, she would be the perfect target of your typical alpha male.
The story goes something like that man grabbed her breasts during treatment.
Lynn did not pursue the matter on the surface but she swop his medication, giving him shit that chemically castrated him.
Yes, chemical castration. She killed him, or rather his cock slowly. It took 12 months before that chap realised it but it was too late.
Another story that would make it into the urban myth of the company would be Lynn giving a colleague who tried to rape her a sex reassignment surgery. This I’m pretty sure it’s a myth, but the word is the man woke up only to realise his testicles has been removed, and his cock turned into a vagina.
Owen tells me the colleague now works in finance and no longer in the field. I’m pretty sure he’s fucking with me when he talks about that transgender colleague in finance but one thing I know for sure, Lynn is good with a knife.
Not only that, she can fuck with your head as well if she wants to.
Owen told me before a couple of years ago, Lynn made the butcher cry.
Can you believe that ?
She made the butcher cry !. The butcher is just 2 rankings below me and she made him cry.
As if that were not enough, Owen tells me that while we address Lynn as Dr Lynn, or by her name, the butcher calls her something else.
Owen : Lynn Zeh zeh…. ( Sister Lynn ) …
Jeff : You’re fucking with me….
Owen : oh ho ho ho….. trust me…. Lynn… is the last woman you want to fuck with…. And that’s not forget she’s dating a Colonel in the armed forces… Now you’ve never met the butcher….. but I shit you not….. butcher is someone you see and immediately feel danger…I saw with my own eyes….. butcher sitting upright , legs closed and both hands on his knees as he kept nodding away at whatever Lynn was saying….that…. is …… impressive I tell you….
Excerpts of that conversation came into my head and I could feel a shiver run down my spine.
Add to this a story Lynn shared with me some time back when she switched the medication of a colleague who refused to follow up with his recovery with her, I was suddenly tempted to run. She made him shit in his pants in his car in the middle of the expressway. When he made fuss in her clinic, the next thing he knew, he was on the bed wearing diapers for 3 days.
She can be an absolute bitch if she wanted to.
I could not help but touched my manhood subconsciously as I asked Billy about Lynn.
Jeff : When did she last called ?
Billy : This morning….i almost wanted to give her your mobile number but it’s against the rules…. She knows that…
Jeff : ok… fine… I’ll go look for her…
Billy : Her clinic is on the 3rd floor… good luck… It’s a Monday…. Half the people in there is looking to get an MC….
I looked at my table with documents piled up.
I still owe Owen the report from my last project.
I opened a brown envelope and I saw my knife inside, it’s been cleaned, sharpened and oiled. There was a note from Belinda telling me she was the one that did it.
I contemplated bringing the knife along before I meet Lynn but decided against it as I left the room.
Jeff : Lunch later ?
Billy : No I’m good… you go ahead…. I bet you miss the chicken rice….
Jeff : Yeah I do….
Heading down to the 3rd floor, I entered the clinic and took a queue number.
There are at least 5 patients in front of me.
The clinic looked like any one of those neighbourhood clinics you visit, it’s clean, tidy, with that unattractive white light and walls filled with posters.
I understand the clinic caters mostly to administrative staff in the company and of course, the occupants of the tower we share the office with.
I did my registration and told the assistant my name.
She keyed in my details and did a double take at the computer before looking back up at me.
Jeff : All ok ?
Clinic assistant : Yeah….
I watched her as she went to the glass door and turned the sign to ‘close’
Oh fuck, I should have brought along my knife.
Lynn must have put in a note or something.
I waited for about 40 minutes and I could feel the temperature drop as each of the remaining patient left the clinic. New patients were turned away and told to come back after lunch.
It’s coming to 11am when my name was called.
Clinic assistant : Jeff… your turn…
Jeff : Orh…
I stood up and watch her shut down her terminal and switched off the lights near her table. She grabbed her purse and water bottle, it looked like she’s about to head out for an early lunch.
My right hand instinctively reached to the small of my back but there was nothing there.
I walked up to Lynn’s door and I heard the snap of the electronic lock as the assistant scurried out of the way, leaving me alone with Lynn in the clinic.
I cursed under my breath as I touched my cock again.
I knocked on the door and open it. I was about to give a friendly smile when I saw Lynn with her arms folded, legs crossed with her heels dangling off 1 foot.
She is not smiling.
Her fair and toned legs , that pair of seductive heels and that short black skirt would have given me an erection but I was not getting any that day. Her white blouse had volume , pushed out by her full breast. Her white coat flared widely apart at the bottom near her waist.
Her eyes were emotionless as she looked at me like a teacher about to scold a student for forgetting his homework.
Before I could say anything, I saw her open her drawer and she took the packet of antibiotics I left in the shower and threw it onto the table.
I found myself gasping a breath of air as my eyes widened. My right hand went behind me again and once more, I found that the comforting grip of my knife is not there.
Lynn : Explain…. this..
Lynn pointed a forceful finger at the packet of medication.
There was only one expression that came into my head at that time at it came in the form of a Hokkien dialect.
‘ Ji pai hong gan’ ( Looks like I’m fucked )
Jeff : it… it was a… traumatic …..experience…. I meant.. that night….. a lot happened….
Lynn did not reply me, she waited for me to go on.
My survival instincts kicked in immediately. I’m a survivor.
Situations like this would require me to think on my feet.
My brain ran through the various possibilities that would play out and I immediately chose the one that would give me the highest chance of walking out of the clinic with my testicles intact.
Jeff : I’m… I’m sorry…. I’m really sorry…. My head was… fucked up… this will never happen again…
I held my breath and waited for Lynn to respond. She sighed loudly in the room and asked me to sit down.
I could see her getting ready her lecture as she prepared the tools.
She cursed at me the moment she removed the bandage.
Lynn : Fuck… it’s a bit infected already…. What were you thinking !!! Tsk !… I know you are upset but this is no reason for neglecting your own body…. Respect your body Jeff… you understand that or not…..do you know what I mean ?? …
I kept quiet as I hear the metallic clink of the tools in the dish.
Lynn : What is wrong with you !!! …. Not taking care of your own body is disrespectful….you are not being responsible… !!
Don’t say anything. I kept telling myself that.
Don’t say anything. Think of your testicles, think of your bowels.
Lynn : I take pride in my work !… and nothing makes me more angry… than seeing people like you take a piss in my work !!! …… this is going to leave a scar….a bad one… fuck….arghhhh!!!
I closed my eyes and nodded. Survival instincts still at play here. Don’t say shit.
Don’t say anything.
Lynn removed the old stiches and said I needed 2 more.
Lynn : See.. this part here….arhghhhh !!!… Tsk…It split open… arghhh !! it’s red and god…arghh !!
I looked down on the floor, suddenly realising the pain is a lot more intense compared to the night I sustained the injury.
Lynn worked on as she started scolding me for a good 10 minutes.
Jeff : yes…yes…. I’m sorry… yes…I’m sorry… yes… yes…. Ok… ok…. Never again…. I understand….
After a new dressing is applied, Lynn gave me a tube of cream.
Lynn : use this.. it will help with the scar… and…. Eat this…
I watch her give me a new bag of antibiotics from her drawer, throwing the old one aside.
I swallowed a gulp of saliva.
Jeff : What about the old ones….. I can eat the old ones… don’t waste…
She gave me a glare and I immediately took the new medications from the table.
I’m going to make Billy google it before I eat it.
I did not expect Lynn to pour me a glass of water.
She put it down in front of me and waited.
Jeff : You mean now ?? ermm… shouldn’t I eat it after food or something… ?
Lynn had her arms folded and she was looking at me with her head slightly angled to the side.
Lynn : Now….
Jeff : ok… ok… relax man.. …
I looked at the white pills and sighed as I popped 2 into my mouth before washing it down.
Jeff : done… happy now ?…
Lynn frowned and made me promise I will finish that course of medication.
Jeff : yes… yes…. I will… I swear..
She cleaned up and disposed off the gauze she used and asked me how am I feeling.
Lynn : You ok …. Feeling better ?
Jeff : yes… Owen says I need your… ermm… sign off… before I get back to work…
Lynn : Yes…. If not you’re going on unpaid leave for as long as I say so…
Jeff : I’m ok already…. I’m good to go….
Lynn : No you’re not….
Jeff : I’m serious… look at me… I’m good….
Lynn shook her head and clicked away on her terminal. She said I still have 2 weeks leave before it’s over.
Lynn : you should enjoy it…I wished I could get paid leave for a month…. I hardly have enough leave as it is…..
Jeff : Oh… I heard you are getting married soon….
Lynn nodded and told me it’s going to happen in 2 weeks time.
Lynn : You’re coming right… ?
I hesitated with my reply. I remembered seeing the invite in my mail some time back.
Lynn : I asked you a question…
Jeff : Yes… yes…. Wouldn’t miss it for the world….
Lynn : Where is it.. ?
Jeff : What…
Lynn : Where is my wedding held… ?
Lynn slammed her hand on the table as I stood up laughing awkwardly.
Jeff : I’ll check the invite again… hhaha… I’ll be there….
Good luck to the man that is marrying her.
Lynn : Many of your colleagues will be there….. Owen too…
Jeff : Is this a good idea… ? … for so many of us… to….
Lynn : why ? …. Haha… are you afraid ? …..
Jeff : why would I be ? …
Lynn : there are 300 employees in the company… I invited them all for the buffet dinner…. Not sure who will show up though….. but….
Lynn shut down her computer and took her purse from the drawer.
Lynn : but I only invited Owen, you and Billy for the ceremony….
Jeff : Wow… why the special treatment… ?
Lynn looked at me in the eye before letting it drift down to my body, then to my thigh, my legs and then back up again.
Lynn : Because I patched you up more times than you remember……. Especially in the early days…. When you are clumsy…and rash…. And…
Jeff : Ok.. ok.. enough.. fine… I’ll be there….
Lynn : Owen is my boss… I have to invite him… besides,,, he gives a big red packet…. I invited Billy only last week….
Jeff : Oh… I guess you guys hit if off eh…. When you were looking after him….
Lynn : No…
She gestured to the exit and told me Billy was helping her with her wedding montage.
Lynn : He will take care of the music… the montage…childhood pictures… hohoho…. All the computer stuff…..
Jeff : You shouldn’t be a doctor…
Lynn : What was that again ?
Jeff : Nothing…
Lynn : come… you’ll buy me lunch… there’s nice chicken rice at the café downstairs….
I smiled as Lynn removed her coat and hung it near the reception before we stepped out of the clinic.
Stepping into the lift behind Lynn, I let my mind wandered as I look at that tight ass and toned legs. Some women just look so good in high heels. I felt a slight rise in my cock and my heart fluttered.
Ok, she did not poison me.
We chatted about her upcoming wedding as we walked to the café.
Lala saw me coming and I had my drink ready before I reached.
Lynn : Wow.. you must be a regular…. Haha
Jeff : Long story… haha…
I looked towards the chicken rice stall and Xuehua is there.
She turned and she saw me. She saw me with Lynn.
I could see Xuehua checking Lynn out the way woman size up each other.
I got Lynn a drink and told her I’ll go place the order.
Lynn’s beauty is in a class of her own. She attracted her own sets of eyes in the café, being the resident doctor in the building also meant she knew a few familiar faces.
I saw her nodding and smiling to a few people entering and leaving the café.
I placed my order and Xuehua handed me the utensils.
Xuehua : so pretty…. You’re girlfriend ah ?
Jeff : huh ? …. No la… haha… my doctor…. I where got such fortune… haha
Xuehua smiled as she placed the rice on the tray.
Xuehua : you purposely choose pretty doctors to go to is it ? … hahha…
Jeff : haha…no… I only choose pretty chicken rice sellers to go to…
Xuehua laughed as I watched her uncle sever the neck from a chicken a little too forcefully.
Xuehua : she’s hot…. I would go after her if I’m a guy…. So pretty.. and sweet… I would go for her if I’m lesbian too… hahaha
She handed the tray of food to me.
Jeff : Well… she’s getting married in 2 weeks time…. I don’t think you have a chance…
Xuehua laughed and rolled her eyes at me.
I went back to Lynn who was looking intently at my exchange with Xuehua.
Lynn : She’s hot…. I would go after her if I’m a guy…. So pretty.. and sweet… I would go for her if I’m lesbian too… hahaha..
Jeff : wow… would you believe if I told you she said exactly the same thing ?
Lynn : hahah… no way…
We chatted as we ate, I was facing Lynn and looking towards the lobby whereas she was facing the stalls. I could see her looking at Xuehua a couple of times as she separated the skin from the chicken.
Jeff : Eh give me those… I like…
Lynn : so fatty… will clog up your blood vessels…
Jeff : a clogged vessel is the last thing I’m going to die of..
Lynn : Tsk !..
Lynn kicked me in the leg as she transferred the skin of the chicken over to me.
I laughed and I did not expect her to change her topic so suddenly.
Lynn : What’s her name ?
Jeff : What ?
Lynn : The girl you were talking to….she likes you..… haha..
Jeff : who ? Xuehua…… haha… no way….
Lynn smiled as she sipped her coffee.
Lynn : Trust me…. I’m the doctor….
Jeff : well…. Trust me…. She has a wall around her…. Turns everyone down… I don’t stand a chance….
Lynn smiled and I could see her looking at Xuehua.
Lynn : well…. She has good reason to… she’s hot… can’t imagine the amount of preposition she is getting….
Jeff : well… I like her too but….you know… people like us… we…
Lynn put down her utensils and she stood up.
Jeff : Lynn… hey.. hey… HEY !.. Lynn !!
I watched in horror as Lynn walked towards Xuehua.
Jeff : oh fuck…
I stood up immediately and was about to head over when I saw Xuehua look at me as Lynn spoke with her.
My eyes widened as I saw Xuehua laughed.
I froze. I looked around the café.
Every table that has a member of the male species is looking at the same direction as I am.
The direction where 2 hot girls are talking to each other.
Every few seconds, Xuehua would smile or laugh as she looked at me.
This was punctuated by Lynn turning over to look at me with her arms folded with a cheeky look in her eyes.
My heart was beating really fast. She better don’t make things awkward.
It’s going to be embarrassing if she says something stupid.
The seconds seemed to crawl as I looked on.
The girls look so good together. Lynn in her corporate looking attire while Xuehua is dressed casually in cheap chic clothing.
Even Eddy is looking at Lynn, grinning at the pretty doctor.
Then I saw Xuehua cast me another look before she nodded. I could see from her lips she said ok.
She said ok to something.
I walked over immediately, embarrassed that Lynn had to do something like this.
I heard Lynn talk to Eddy in a casual manner, like a old friend sending a greeting.
Lynn : Eddy…. Cholesterol medicine got take or not ?? …
Eddy : have… have… still have…
She pointed a finger at him and narrowed her eyes in a playful manner that is guaranteed to melt the heart of any man. Paired with a pout and a hand on her waist, Eddy even dropped his knife, smiling in a silly manner at Lynn.
Lynn : Must finish ok ??
Eddy : ok… ok… confirm….ok.. hahaha…
Before I could say anything, Xuehua smiled at me and turned away.
I whispered sharply at Lynn, asking her what did she do.
Jeff : what did you do !!! what did you say to her !!! don’t fucking embarrass me !!… what did you girls talk about !!??
Lynn raised an eyebrow at me as she took her seat.
She crossed her legs and sipped her coffee.
Jeff : Lynn !….what did you talk about !!!
Lynn : Are you going to finish your antibiotics ? …
I nodded my head.
Jeff : Yes.. yes…
Lynn : I want you at my clinic in 5 days to remove the stitches….
Jeff : Yes… yes… anything…
Lynn : hahahah…
I could see she was taking pleasure in toying with me.
She patted her chest as she swallowed her coffee.
Lynn gave me a playful smile with a twinkle in her eye.
Lynn : I invited her to my wedding…..
Jeff : what !
Lynn : I told her you needed a date….
Jeff : what !! why !
I could feel my face flush red as I turned to look at Xuehua. She was digging inside her bag for something. I looked at her come over and my heart beat faster. It was literally slamming against my ribcage.
Lynn : Alright… thanks for the lunch…. Finish your mediation… haha..
Lynn stood up and smiled at Xuehua before making way for her at her seat.
I swallowed a gulp of saliva as Lynn walked away, waving her hand in the air without turning back to look at me. Xuehua sat down, she pushed the dirty dishes aside and just looked at me.
I did not move.
I think all eyes in the café were looking at me.
A good 10 seconds must have passed as we just looked at each other.
Finally Xuehua shook her head as a smile slowly break out on her face.
Xuehua : You’re really like what she said….. a little boy at heart… don’t know how to make the first move… hahaha….
Jeff : what ? …
Xuehua whipped out her phone and dangled it in front of me.
Xuehua : Are you going to ask me for my number ? …. Or I have to ask you for yours?? .. hahah…
I fumbled for my phone and gave Xuehua my number.
She gave me a miss call and she looked at me coyly with her beautiful eyes.
I could not contain my curiosity anymore.
Jeff : What… what did Lynn say to you ?? ….
Xuehua laughed.
Xuehua : She asked me not to tell you… hahaha…
She left my table and I found myself smiling in a silly manner as I got up and walked slowly out of the café.
I feel like I’m floating on a cloud.
It’s like I’m high on something.
I could feel this tingling feeling of butterflies in my stomach.
Wow. I’m going on a fucking date with Xuehua. This is better than striking the lottery.
This had to be the best news I’ve received in a long time.
Well, if this works out, I owe Lynn a big favour.
I entered the lift and did not realise it was headed down. It’s ok. I’m not in a rush for time.
When the lift door opened in the basement level, I saw her walk in.
It a he, no, it’s a she. Fuck I can’t decide.
She’s a transgender.
With shoulders as broad as mine and about the same height as me, I could see her entering the lift and taking thein front of me closer to the lift entrance.
Through the reflection I could see her features clearer. The unmistakable features of a man. She has full makeup on, and even a boob job. She avoided my eyes, choosing to concentrate on the stack of documents she was holding.
As the lift headed up, it chimed opened on the 3rd floor.
I saw Lynn at the entrance.
She had one hand inside the pocket of her white coat while the other was holding her phone. She was looking and scrolling through her messages.
The girl, or the chap beside me saw Lynn and I could see the change in body language. She tensed up immediately, backed a few steps away until her back touched the back of the lift.
Lynn looked up and saw me but her attention went to the woman beside me.
In a trembling voice, I heard the transgender woman greet Lynn.
“ Hi…..Hi …… Dr…. Lynn…. “
Lynn barely acknowledged her greeting, choosing to give a toneless murmur.
Lynn : hmmm…
Lynn stood in front of the both of us as the lift went up to the 5th floor.
The woman kept her head down and scurried out of the lift as if she could not wait to get away from Lynn.
Subconsciously, my hand went to the front of my body. I crisscrossed my wrist as if I’m a footballer waiting for a freekick and I needed to protect my nuts.
As the lift door closed, Lynn spoke without turning back.
Lynn : You know Linda ? From Finance….
Jeff : err…. No…
Lynn : He used to be called Lionel….
Jeff : I… I see….
When the lift chimed 6, Lynn stepped out. She turned and looked at me, before she can speak, I immediately said what she wanted to hear.
Jeff : I’ll finish the antibiotics.. ! … and I’ll remember our appointment…
Lynn : good…
I found myself holding my breath in until the lift door close before I exhaled.
Jeff : Bloody hell….
I stepped out on the 8th floor and walked towards my office.
I’m looking forward to the wedding and my date with Xuehua.
Now I’m keen to meet the groom too.
I wonder what kind of maniac would marry a woman like her
……………………………………………………………..