Just as I was about to leave, Yiling stopped writing for a moment and she looked up at me for a couple of seconds before she went back to her work. The momentarily smile she flashed was gone from her face, replaced by her tired ice queen expression.
Yiling : This stays between us Jackson …….the last thing I need is Hong or Kamal bothering me about this….
I backed away from the door and I could no longer hold back my curiosity and I turned back, walking right up to her desk.
Yiling looked up and we made eye contact as I nodded.
Jackson : ok…. I won’t tell them…. But…. But…. how did you do that… ?
Yiling : you want to learn ?
Jackson : Predicting Toto lottery results…. ?? who wouldn’t ?
Yiling took a sip of the tea I poured for her before replying.
Yiling : ….I’m not telling………. see you tomorrow….
Jackson : ok….
Yiling : and don’t call me boss…..
I turned and looked at her, puzzled by what she meant.
Jackson : what ? ….
Yiling : Call me Yiling….
Jackson : why…. ? the rest calls you boss….
Yiling : something which I asked them to stop for the longest time…… It makes me sound old…. Like a fifty year old virgin… with problems finding someone to have sex with….
I laughed.
Jackson : I’m sorry… I wouldn’t have said any of that….
Yiling : If you knew who I was ? …..
I shrugged and said nothing and Yiling went on.
Yiling : At least you were being honest…. Tell the rest to stop calling me Boss if you can….
She went back to her work and I could tell the conversation is over.
Yiling got up and I watch her pull out another thick stack of folders from a shelf.
I went back to the farmhouse and I spent the night tossing and turning in bed. I thought of calling my grandfather to share with him the ridiculous evening I just had.
Would he even believe me ?
How is this possible ? A phone call and the numbers I bought came out as the jackpot prize.
The numbers are rolled in front of a live audience. The numbered balls are measured and weighed, there’s a dozen staff around, another dozen staring at the cameras.
How powerful and connected she must be to be able to pull something off like this ?
It’s not impossible but it’s quite unthinkable. You just need to make sure the weight of the balls are fudged. The winning numbers a lot lighter than the others. Maybe magnets, RFID chips, I don’t know what technology has to offer these days.
I gave up trying to figure that shit out and fell asleep when it was close to 3am.
I woke up and went to the cookhouse for my breakfast at 7am.
19th May 2015
Tuesday
7am
I saw alone as usual but I could not help but noticed almost everyone looked at me when they walk into the cookhouse.
It’s like news was being spread.
There is a new dumbass in town. Someone who thinks with his cock instead of his brain.
Seven appeared looking as if he just woke up, he saw me and gave me a wave.
He grabbed his food and drink before joining me at the table.
He gestured towards the castle before giving me the ‘ok’ sign.
Jackson : yeah… I’m… I’m ok….
Seven went on to gesture a hammering sign as if trying to ask am I working for Yiling now.
Jackson : yeah… I guess so…. I mean…. I’ll try…… as long as its nothing illegal …
Seven chuckled and slapped me on my back.
I finished my food and told Seven I’ll head back first. He gave me the thumbs up sign before going over to another table of men. I could see them eagerly peppering him with questions, it’s like they all want to know more about the cunt that tried to fuck the queen.
How do you even do the sign for a dumbass by the way ? Maybe he just points.
I went back to the garden, did some work and I just waited for my phone to ring. I don’t know what to expect.
What will Yiling make me do ?
Will I be able to say no when the time comes ?
I was excited, a little light headed in fact as I come to terms with what I had just signed up for. It’s like the feeling you get for the first day of work in a new environment.
I did my gardening work as usual until it was almost lunch time.
Kamal appeared by the farmhouse and handed me a key to a truck.
My heartrate immediately spiked when I heard him tell me the car plate number of the truck.
Kamal : go to Pasir panjang …. the fruits and vegetables distribution centre….
I was given a number and directions as to where to park.
There will be a lot reserved for me specially.
Kamal : The staff will guide you in when they see you….
Jackson : ok…. ermmmm
Kamal : what… ?
Jackson : what am I …. Delivering…
Kamal : dude… it’s a fruit and vegetable warehouse….
He shook his head and walk away as if I asked a stupid question.
Well it’s not a stupid question.
Would you not be worried ? Driving a truck and being given instructions like this. I’m going to collect stuff from people I don’t know, to deliver to another location I’ve never been. If this isn’t dodgy, I don’t know what is.
I realised 30 seconds later that is exactly what postmen have been doing for a few hundred years.
I found the truck beside the house where the ambulance was and set off towards Pasir Panjang.
Throughout the drive, I kept looking in the rear mirror.
I kept having the illusion that someone is following me. I would signal left, then give up at the last minute to go straight.
I made a couple of dummy turns and even went into a housing estate for a bit to see if I spotted any cars that were with me for too long. I have a good memory, I memorised the car plates of vehicles that followed me for more than 2 junctions.
Paranoia is setting in just as I arrived at the distribution centre.
I found the supplier’s stall and true enough, when the staff saw the truck, they gestured me over to a lot that was blocked by empty crates and boxes. I was pretty nervous when I backed into the lot.
Getting out of the truck, I was about to call the number given to me to reach a man called Ah Orh, Blackie, when the men that guided my truck in started loading it with stuff.
I quickly went over to see what they are putting into the back of the truck.
A variety of fruits and vegetables ranging from spinach to watermelons are being stacked into my vehicle. I looked around and the sight that greeted me is one that is far from comfort.
A half naked man with a large pot belly smoked while resting his leg on a box of chestnuts. A heavily tattooed old man was fanning himself with a cardboard while a younger man handed him a cigarette. Another old lady with age etched into the wrinkles on her face scooped porridge into her mouth before chewing into a chicken feet and spitting the bones onto the floor.
Perspiration dripped down the arms and backs of the men loading the vegetables into the truck. Most of them are topless and able to balance a half smoked cigarette precariously at the edge of their lips.
As the loaded up the truck quickly, I thought to myself, no way. No way it’s that straightforward.
This cannot be that simple. There must be something hidden within the boxes.
I started thinking about jail and my grandfather and I was beginning to regret my decision.
When the truck is almost full, I went over to one of the guys and asked who is Ah Orh ;
Jackson : Where is Ah Orh by the way… ?
Guy : He go toilet….we will settle for you… don’t worry….
Jackson : Ok… I see…. Thanks…
I tried to look at each and every box they are loading only to end up in their way, inviting a series of irritated looks. When I could not hold back myself any longer, I went to the same guy I spoke to earlier.
Jackson : so….. where is it ?
Guy : huh ? … where is what… ?
I gestured to the crates and boxes of vegetables they just loaded.
Jackson : Where’s the important stuff…. So I can…. Err… be more careful….
He looked at me as if I said something ridiculous.
Guy : what talking you ??? Siao ah… ( crazy )
Several other workers stared at me and I acted casual before walking to the side and wait for them to finish loading.
They secured the stuff and told me it’s done.
I went over to the guy again.
Jackson : bro…. is ok… just let me know to be more careful with which boxes will do….
I gestured towards the truck while pointing with my head while keeping my hands in my pocket.
The guy lit up a cigarette and walked me over to the truck.
Guy : These…. These… and these…. Tomatoes….. brinjal….. cabbage….below got papaya…. Watermelon….. pineapple……carrot… raddish…. Spinach…..sweet potato….. Long beans and broccoli over there….
He gestured to everything before asking me not to drive like a cunt.
Guy : Don’t drive like a cunt…. These food are for eating….. understand bo ???
He doesn’t get what I’m trying to say or he’s deliberately putting on an act.
Fuck this. I thanked him and got into the driver seat. I’m sure he’s been briefed to be discreet. Maybe even he don’t know what the stuff is hidden.
I called Kamal and told him the truck is loaded.
Kamal : Ok… go this this address….
He gave me an address before asking me to drive carefully.
I googled the address and it’s a old folks home near Tanah Merah.
With the air con at full blast, I was still perspiring as I made my way to the east side of the island.
I kept looking out for tails or for police vehicles in the vicinity. Every red light caused my bladder to contract a little, squeezing my pee to the verge of me wetting myself.
It took me almost 40 minutes before I turned into the compound of the old folks home. The home sat on a narrow strip of land.
An old man was waiting for me and beside him, stood someone familiar.
It’s Candy.
My eyes lit up immediately seeing Candy talking to the old man.
Candy was dressed up that day, in a pant suit complete with a black blazer. She looked good with her hair tied up in a bun. She was wearing a pair of grey kitten heels and she would easily pass off as the hot secretary of a businessman, but I know she’s part of Yiling’s inner circle. Definitely not someone to be trifled with.
Still, I would work with Candy anytime compared to Cindy the Giant and Xiaoyu.
Jackson :Hi….err… Candy right…
Candy : Yeah…. Hi Jackson….
I smiled sheepishly as Candy introduced Mr Ho me.
Jackson : hi Mr Ho….
Candy : Mr Ho is the director of this nursing home…. We supply them weekly with fruits and vegetables…. As part of our corporate social responsibility program….
I looked at Candy in disbelief as she told Mr Ho I am a new staff that works directly with Yiling.
Corporate social responsibility?
This is getting absurd.
Mr Ho : Thank you so much Jackson…. Really appreciate your help….
Jackson : Not at all … not at all….
After some small chat, Candy said she needed to go and I watch her hop onto her bike. A cute vespa that is red in colour.
She gave me a playful wink as she put on her helmet and I smiled excitedly at her. Ok, no queen for me, but there’s no rules about her personal guards.
Candy : see you Jackson …..
Jackson : see you…. Candy…
She scooted off and I helped Mr Ho unload the delivery together with another staff. He gave me a smile before working quickly to unload the boxes onto a trolley. I felt a bit embarrassed that the nursing staff is helping to unload the fruits and stuff but he’s bigger and stronger than I am.
Now the truck took 4 men, almost 20 minutes to load. It’s taking twice as long for me and the staff to remove them and set them all onto the loading floor.
Mr Ho wanted to help but I told him don’t need, I can manage. We worked quietly and I was surprised when I saw the staff carry an entire basket of watermelon effortlessly onto the trolley.
As I worked, Mr Ho made small talks with me. Time passes when you get a good conversation going.
Mr Ho is turning 65, but he’s still going strong. There’s a vigour in him that reminds me of my grandfather. He walked with a slight limp on his left leg, reminders of a motorbike accident in his younger days.
He’s cheerful and very chatty. Just like the friendly retiree you share a table with at the coffee shop.
I took an instant liking to Mr Ho.
Mr Ho : so you work with Yiling…. For how long ??
Jackson : Oh… err… just started not too long ago actually….
Mr Ho : nice… nice… she is a good person…. Very kind….
I came to understand that Yiling’s monthly donation accounts for almost half of the centre’s operating expenses, this excludes the fruits and vegetables being delivered every week.
Mr Ho was full of praises for her and it got to a point I felt ashamed for doubting Yiling’s intention for getting me to send stuff here.
Mr Ho : wow… today’s donation is a lot…… !! seems to be almost twice as much…. Good.. good… please help me thank her….
Jackson : no problem at all…..
As I sipped on a bottle of drink Mr Ho offered, he gave me a tour of the centre which has a capacity for 60.
Mr Ho : We’re full… filled to the brim……this centre has 12 full time staff plus another 3 part time…..even so, we still need volunteers to come in on weekends….
Jackson : I see…. Do….errmm.. do the residents get visitors.. ?
Walking through the courtyard, I could see some seniors watching TV, a few were pruning the fruit and vegetable garden, there’s a couple of them just staring into black space. A male staff looked our way before going back to his chore of painting a wall after waving at Mr Ho.
Mr Ho : ground floor is the courtyard…. Half of it it taken up by the carpark and loading bay…..just a narrow strip of corridor with some administration rooms…. There’s a small garden over there…..
Mr Ho explained that caring for the old is very taxing mentally.
Mr Ho : Some leave their parents here… and just disappear…
Jackson : what … ? that’s horrible…
He nodded and pointed to a old lady knitting on the chair.
Mr Ho : Mrs Sun…. her son drove her here last year… did all the admission documents…. Paid for 3 months and he never came back…. We tried contacting him…. But he’s gone missing…. The address… contact number… everything…. Leads to a dead end….
I stopped walking and looked at Mr Ho.
Jackson : Are you serious… ? !! this cannot be happening… not in Singapore… we’re a fucking first world country….
Mr Ho : hahah… this happens everywhere… even in Singapore…
He tapped me on my shoulder as I looked at him in disbelief.
Jackson : Then what is going to happen to Mrs Sun…. ? Who pays for her stay here…. ? she doesn’t get any visitors…. ??
Mr Ho : she doesn’t…. we survive on funding and donations… .. she keeps to herself most of the time….
Mr Ho walked me along the yard and pointed to another old man trimming the hedge.
Mr Ho : Mr Leng…. 85 years old… his kids visit him once a year….
Jackson :What…..why… ?
Mr Ho : busy… working…. Trying to make a living… at least he gets to see them once a year…..
I exhaled and at that moment, could not decide what is worse. Being abandoned by your kids, or knowing they are around and visit you only once a year.
Jackson : oh god… this is depressing…
Mr Ho : hahha…. Not many people have the stomach and heart for doing what we do…. But we manage….. with support from generous people like your boss that is….
Jackson : How… how long has Yiling been err… donating…. ?
Mr Ho : Since 2013… a couple of years now…. Would you like to see the top floor ?…
Jackson : what’s on top…. ?
Mr Ho : It’s the Kitchen…dining and activity area….
Jackson : Sure…
I stepped into the old hydraulic elevator that doubles up as the service lift. The industrial size lift takes really long to close, rumbling as it’s aging door pressed itself together.
Mr Ho : Sorry ah…. Old lift… this building is almost 20 years old…. I think young man like you… take staircase also faster hahah
Jackson : It’s ok… it’s ok… I’m not in a hurry….
The ascent to the 5th floor took almost a full minute, the lift itself is big. The size of your handicap parking lot give and take. It would comfortable fit 2 beds with space to spare for helpers.
Mr Ho : Level 2 ,3 ,4 are the wards and rooms…. Those area are more gloomy than the ground floor…. A lot of residents are confined to the bed…. Some are a bit temperamental….
Mr Ho shared with me during the long lift ride that on certain sections, they have metal grills and locks to separate male and female residents.
Jackson : Why…. ?
Mr Ho : Well… some…. Ermm.. .. there have been past cases of sexual assault…. By residents….in other homes…
Jackson :what the fuck….
Mr Ho : Sometimes they don’t even know what they are doing…. It’s complicated….
When the lift arrived on the 5th floor, the overall mood changed.
The elderly on the 5th floor are much more active. I could hear some laughter and the sound of mah-jong tiles being shuffled reached my ears. I could see a lot more friendly smiles and a old lady walked over and asked me who am i.
Jackson : Oh hello…
Mr Ho : He’s just a visitor Nancy…..
Nancy : you want to play chess ? I can play chess…
Jackson : Err… I’m not very good at Chess… hahah….
Nancy : Then you want to dance ? …..
She did a jingle with her nimble body before doing a body wave that would elicit cheers in the club as she struck a playful pose.
Jackson : wow… hahaha
Mr Ho : Ok Nancy…. Hahah…. Please…..
She gave a haughty frown at Mr Ho before giving me a wink, an obvious flirting gesture.
Mr Ho : She likes young men… hahah… we don’t get many around here as you can see… hahah…
Speaking of young men, I saw the same male staff I saw earlier on the 5th floor as well. I did not look at him directly but through the reflection of a TV that is switched off, I could see him looking at me. This time round, he wasn’t painting, he was sweeping the floor.
I brushed it off as it being a coincidence, they are short handed and the staff are probably running all over the place doing all manners of stuff.
Mr Ho brought me to the kitchen where food is prepared and cooked by a combination of in house staff and volunteers.
Mr Ho : It’s empty now…. Lunch time over…. But we have Milo and crackers over there for everyone if they feel like having some…. We have Chinese tea too but no coffee…..
Without realising, I spent almost an hour talking to Mr Ho. I left the home utterly impressed with what Yiling has been doing all this time.
I bade farewell to Mr Ho and left at about 4pm.
Mr Ho : see you next week…
Jackson : see you Mr Ho.
Looks like this is going to be a regular thing for me.
I started the engine of the truck and when I checked the rear mirror, I noticed something.
The same male staff coming to talk to Mr Ho.
They were looking at my direction together before Mr Ho ushered the staff out of sight.
I drove off and made my way towards Bukit Timah.
When I filtered into the expressway, I kept thinking about the male staff.
He was wearing scrubs like all a healthcare worker but the stuff he was doing seem unrelated to caregiving.
Why is he so interested in me ?
Maybe because I’m a new face.
I parked the truck and went back to my farmhouse. I dropped Kamal a text to let him know it’s done and he just replied me ‘ok’
Seeing the old folks earlier made me think of my grandfather. I decided to give him a call and I spent 30 minutes talking to him before he made me hang up.
Grandpa : expensive to call la…. end of the month you come up then we talk….
Jackson : I miss you grandpa….
Grandpa : siao ah…. Today never take medicine is it….
I laughed and hung up.
Heading over to the cookhouse for my dinner, I began to run through the only event that happened that day. I don’t think it’s by chance that I was made to send fruits and vegetables to a old folks home.
It’s Yiling’s way of letting me know there are other stuff I can help her with, but why me ?
Anyone can do the delivery, why must it be me ?
I thought about the old people staying there, I thought about Mr Ho. He’s charming, has the look that makes him likable. He has more streaks of white than black on his head but he has hair, quite a bit of it.
I don’t see any other vehicles in the compound when I get there. It was just Candy’s Vespa and my truck. Nothing wrong with it either, Mr Ho probably don’t drive.
Dinner that day was prawn noodles. I could smell it from the entrance.
Just as I was about to join the line of eager diners, I saw Candy gesturing to me from the other end of the cookhouse.
I went over with a smile, eager to get to know Candy better as a colleague.
Jackson : Hey Candy….i…don’t think I have your number yet…
Candy : you can ask me for it…. Haha….
I passed my phone over to her with a smile.
Her smile is as sweet as her name as she took my phone.
Ok, she’s not as hot as Yiling, but she’s still nice.
If Yiling is a 10, Candy is a easy 8
Jackson : so…. Ermm you’re here to have dinner ???
Candy shook her head and past the phone back to me.
She had entered her number and she was dialling it.
I waited to hear her phone ring but she just said bye and walk off.
Looking at my phone, I realised it was connected.
Jackson : Hello ? …
Yiling : It’s me…
I looked at the phone again just to be sure before seeing Candy laughing and walking off.
She just called Yiling with my phone.
Jackson : hi… sorry… I thought this was Candy’s number….
Yiling : I asked her to look for you duh…..
Jackson : oh… ok…. Yeah… what do you need…. ?
Yiling : today…. The delivery to the old folks home….
Jackson : yeah… what about it….
Yiling : did you unload everything on your own… ?
Jackson : no… someone helped me.
Yiling : How many… ?
Jackson :err… just one…
Yiling : Just one…
Jackson : he’s strong… why ?
Yiling went on to ask me what I thought about the place.
Jackson : It’s sad…. Some of the old folks ere abandoned…. Did you know that??
Yiling : yes… how many staff did you see in all when you are there….
Jackson : Mr Ho gave me a tour…. We went up to the 5th floor…. Skipped the rest…. Errr… I saw….
I felt my heart skip a beat as I answered Yiling’s question.
Jackson : 2…
Yiling : male… or female…
Jackson : both male….
Yiling : anything particular about the residents you saw ?? …. Did you talk to any… ?
Jackson : Just one…. She asked me to dance….
Yiling was quiet for a moment before thanking me for my help and hung up.
I looked at my phone and saved her mobile number. This must be one of her many phones, I wondered which is the one she used to dictate the winning numbers for the lottery.
As I sipped the soup for my dinner, I don’t know what to think.
Something feels off. The questions Yiling asked is unsettling on many fronts.
After dinner, as I bit down into a slice of watermelon, I remembered something that Mr Ho said earlier.
Yiling sent twice the amount of fruits and vegetables today.
It took me about 40 minutes to unload them all with the help of the guy who didn’t seem local. I brought them out, he loaded them into a trolley and push them round the corner, I don’t know where.
The food preparation area is on level 5, I assume the fridge and food storage is up there as well. The guy came back pretty quick after each trolley load, no way he took that slow lift up to the 5th floor with each load.
I remembered walking with Mr Ho into the courtyard where I saw the big lift at the end of the corridor. It was not being used either.
I finished my dinner and went back to the garden, shaking my head at the conspiracy theory that is brewing in my brain.
Too much TV and Hollywood movies already.
20th May 2015
Wednesday
9.30am
Candy came to the farmhouse and gave me 3 addresses. 3 address of 3 other old folks home.
I looked at the address before looking back at Candy.
Jackson : same thing… ?
Candy nodded.
Candy : same thing…. Deliver the goods…. If they offer to show you around, go ahead…. If not…. don’t bother…
Jackson : ok….
When I got to Pasir Panjang market, I started to pay more attention to the men loading the supplies. 4 men, 20 minutes give and take.
After they are done, instead of driving straight to the old folks home, I dropped by the pharmacy and got some bandages.
I bandaged my left hand up to make it appear as if I hurt myself before continuing my journey. This time round to a home located in Serangoon.
Candy is not there this time round and I had to wait for a couple of minutes before the gate was opened for me. A staff motioned for me to back the truck towards the loading bay.
I shut off the engine and came out of the truck.
I looked at the guy who came out to receive me. He’s well built, and he speaks with a foreign accent. No surprise there, a lot of our healthcare staff are foreigners.
Jackson : eh brother…..sorry…. hand pain…. I can’t help much….
He looked at the bandaged wrist and hand and said it’s ok.
This 2nd house that I’m is about the same size as the first but it has only 2 floors spread on a bigger plot of land. I used my leg to open the tailboard of the truck and waited for the guy to come back.
He came back with another staff wearing a white coat.
Steven : Hi there… I’m Steven…
Jackson : Hello hello….i’m Jackson…. Ya.. your stuff is here…. Sorry ah… I hurt myself yesterday…..
Steven : You’re new… what happened to the previous driver ?? …
Jackson : yah I am….I’m not sure…. Today my 2nd day….. Ehh…. Sorry I can’t help much but if you have a trolley, I can help push….
Steven immediately gestured that they are fine.
Steven : my staff will unload the truck…. Do you mind heading out for a coffee across the road… ? come back in 5, 10 minutes maybe….
I looked at the 2 of them and it was obvious they wanted me gone.
Jackson : haha.. I won’t say no to coffee breaks eh… hahaha…. Alright… do you all want any… ? I’ll bring back for you….
Steven : it’s ok… we’re fine…
I nodded and I noticed neither of them moved. They are just waiting for me to go. I started to make my way out of the compound towards the coffee shop across the road.
Turning back, I realised there is no way I would be able to see what is happening inside the home.
I quickly placed my order for a coffee. The pot was empty and I had to wait for a fresh brew.
The time taken for me to leave the loading bay, cross the 2 lane road over to the coffee shop could not have taken more than 2 minutes, I got my coffee in about 3 minutes tops because the owner had to make a fresh pot.
A continuous stream of cars slowed my crossing by a few seconds, but I was over to the entrance of the old folks home in 5 minutes give and take.
I was surprised to see Steven at the entrance when I walked in.
Steven : hey…. Bro…
Jackson : hey… what you doing here….
Steven : Do you mind…. Grabbing another for me…
He handed me a $5 dollar bill and alarm bells started ringing in my head.
Jackson : sure.. take mine first la….
I offered my coffee black to him and Steven accepted it without even asking me what is it.
I smiled and turned back towards the coffee shop.
When I went back the 2nd time, Steven was all smiles as he told me it’s done.
I looked at the empty truck and gave them a thumbs up.
Jackson : alright…!… early day for me…. cheers bro…
The other guy I saw earlier waved and smiled at me as I pulled out into the main road.
He hardly broke a sweat and they emptied the truck in less than 10 minutes.
Math.
It all comes down to Math. More people, shorter unloading time.
As I pulled into the expressway, I could feel goosebumps on my arms when I realised Yiling is not trying to show off the company’s corporate social responsibility program.
Something is going on at the old folk homes & centres, and I’m not there to deliver supplies & donations or to tour the facility.
I’m there to find out how many men are in there.
…………………………………………………………….
When I got back to the estate, I realised I don’t have Candy’s phone number so I dialled the number which connects me to Yiling. She did not answer my call.
I thought about bothering Hong and the rest but I reckon they are probably busy with their own stuff. I should be able to work independently on this. No reason for Yiling to just send me on a delivery run if I can’t value add.
I tried Yiling a couple more times that evening but still no word or a return call from her so I stopped trying. No point telling her one home at a time. Might as well just get it over and done with and give her the full report.
The 3rd home on Thursday turned out to be empty.
It doesn’t make sense.
I drove all the way to Hougang only to see an abandoned building. The 4 storey high structure has been cleared of all residents. The security guard stopped me at the gate and told me to turn back.
Jackson : Bro… I got delivery…
Guard : wrong address… wrong address…. Here… no more residents….
I turned the truck away and tried to think of what to do with all the food I was carrying. I can’t possibly bring it back to the distributors. I’ll just bring it back to the cookhouse and hand it over to whoever is on duty that day.
I’m not satisfied with just leaving after being turned away.
If this is the 1st home, I might have write it off as a wrong address and start calling for help but this being the 3rd home and having seen the weird shit going on in the others, my curiosity got the better of me.
I exited the cluster of nursing homes and parked the truck at a nearby housing estate.
I walked over to Hougang green mall across the road and bought a new set of clothes and a cap. After I changed in the toilet, I got some fruits from the supermarket and took a slow stroll back up the road towards the cluster of nursing home.
I stayed on the opposite side of the road and tried to blend in with the line of people walking towards the mental health hospital. I looked just like any other visitors heading in.
When I found a good vantage view diagonally across from the home I was supposed to deliver to, I stopped and pretended to talk on my phone for a while asking for directions to wherever I wanted to go from a imaginary friend.
Looking across towards the building, I could clearly see activity inside. Most of the lights were off but those at the top floor remained on.
I could see the fans turning as well. The windows are opened, the top floor is clearly not air conditioned. I could catch glimpses of movements and shadows from where I stood.
Every couple of minute, I could see the figure of a man walking briskly by the opened windows.
There’s a hive of activity up that.
I saw a figure appear at the roof top and I quickly turned away and continued walking. Pretending I needed to cross the road, I turned and looked up without tilting my head too much.
The guy is smoking on the roof. Another 2 just joined him.
I finished crossing the road, and started to make my way back down towards where I parked my truck, this time round walking directly by the gate of the supposedly empty home.
The guard is watching a foreign language film on his phone, I could hear him blasting the speakers. The gate itself needs a new coat of paint, the hinges are rusty but the chain around it and the padlock is brand new.
Beyond the gate, I could see several wheelchairs and trolley beds neatly arranged by the side of the loading and unloading bay. The bin centre right beside the guard house is full of junk as well.
Styrofoam pads and boxes of new laptops filled the trash bins. Lying along side the cardboard boxes of expensive laptops are a stack of about 8 pizza boxes. At least a carton of empty cola bottles laid strewn all over the bin as well.
I saw the security guard standing up and I quickly continued walking down the path.
The moment I got back to the mall, I went to grab another top and a straw hat. The kind that farmer wears. I grabbed some dirt from the turfing and rubbed some of it on the white print top I just bought.
I changed in the truck and I transferred some fruits and vegetables into the same box and retrieved a few cardboard boxes. I quickly flattened them and tucked them under my armpit.
I made my way up the path again, slowing down the moment I reach the bin centre.
The guard is still in his chair enjoying his film. Ignoring the stares of the people across the road, I started to dig through the trash bin to see if I could find anything interesting.
Someone just disposed off the packaging of a shitload of expensive gadgets. At least 8 laptops, routers and modems, backup hardisks, 3 large 23 inch monitors packaging laid at the bottom of the bin.
I could see the packaging for extension & network cables, even a projector.
I happily dug through the junk and collected the cardboard when the guard shouted at me from his stand.
Security : HOEI!!! HELLO!!! CANNOT TAKE !!! CANNOT TAKE!!!
I could see him getting ready to come after me so I quickly gave a apologetic sign before scurrying off with my own cardboards.
I did not look back and I quickly got back to the truck and changed out.
Looking at myself in the rear mirror, I chuckled and laughed.
I don’t fucking believe what I just did.
I drove the truck all the way back to the cookhouse.
Deuce was the one on duty that day.
I told him I have a truck full of food that needs to be unloaded and if he can help settle it.
He gave me a thumbs up before gesturing for me to back it up and he will handle the rest.
40 minutes later, it’s done.
I checked my phone, there are no messages or missed calls.
I decided to finish the last delivery before giving Yiling a detailed summary of what I observed. I can’t believe I was actually enjoying this. I feel like I’m Tom cruise doing some mission impossible shit.
Hong came by that night and asked if I could host dinner the next day.
Hong : Oei…. Jackson …. Tomorrow Friday…. Steamboat party ai mai…. Hahah
Jackson : ok sure…
Hong : ok swee ! I tell the rest…
Out of 4 homes I as tasked to check out, 3 are fishy. If the 4th one turns out to be this suspicious, I wonder what Yiling will do.
22th May 2015
Friday
11am
I made my way to the warehouse again and this time round, I did my shopping right there and then. I have a box which I asked the guys loading where can I get some vegetables for my own use. The man in charge of loading, Ah Cai, pointed me to their retail stall.
Ah Cai : that one… that one….
Jackson : Thanks…
I filled the box with a variety of vegetables and mushrooms. I wonder if Yiling would be interested to join us and if I should ask her out of courtesy. Better not, maybe I can ask Candy, but what if Candy decides to bring Cindy and Xiaoyu.
Fuck. I’ll just keep to the usual group.
When I asked how much it cost, the worker just waved me away and directed me to Ah Cai.
Jackson : Ah Cai… how much do I owe you…. ?
He looked at the box of stuff I took before saying it’s ok.
Ah Cai : on the house…. Take… take … take… Ah Orh won’t take your money…
Jackson : Wow… ok… thank you….
After the truck is loaded, I drove to Tampines where the other home is located.
I could tell instantly that this last one is normal.
Normal in the sense there are so much more activities going on.
2 Volunteers are trying to hang a banner up, a security guard asked me to sign in as a visitor.
An operations executive by the name of Loon attended to my delivery. The elderly are a lot more mobile in this home. Windows are all open and the place is airy.
It has a relaxed and casual vibe to it. A couple of social workers with lanyards around their necks came to talk to Loon as I waited for the unloading to finish. I helped out a little because I felt bad the men doing the unloading looks like they should probably be residents instead of staff.
A small bus turned into the compound and I smiled when I see a group of school kids taking turns to alight.
Loon : they’re here to perform a skit for the residents….
Jackson : really ? so cute….
Loon asked me to thank Yiling on his behalf for her continued support all these while.
Loon : we really appreciate what Yiling has done for us….. it’s been so long since she last drop by….. please help us thank her….
Jackson : No problem at all….
Loon even handed me a bag of handmade cookies by the residents to be given to Yiling.
At least the last one’s good.
I returned to Bukit Timah around 5pm in the evening and began setting up the steamboat.
Fridge is stocked, plenty of vegetables including those I harvested from the plot I grew.
No calls from Candy and Yiling, I wonder if I should get in touch with them or wait.
I decided to drop Yiling a text.
“ Hey Yiling… it’s me, Jackson ….. done with the deliveries…. Need to talk when you are free… “
I worked in the garden for a couple of hours until about 7.30pm before Hong arrived with a carton of beer. Kamal and Seven came together before Declan arrived.
We started the steamboat at 8pm and everyone ate as if we had starved for the whole day.
No one talked about work. I realised I didn’t know what they were up to the whole week. Kamal probably knew a little since he was the one who sent me off on the first day but the rest are probably in the dark.
I scooped myself a bowl of soup and listened to Hong bitch about Yiling scolding him about him mimicking her. Now he gets jibed by Yiling whenever he say something.
Hong : KNN ( curse ) Jackson…. I got wack by her you know…. because of you….
Jackson : hahah… sorry sorry… I didn’t know who she was…. If I knew…. I would have kept my mouth shut….
Everyone laughed as we put more food into the boiling broth. Declan asked how was my first week and I told him so far so good.
He did not press me further on what I did. It seems as if everyone has their work cut out for them, or there is some sort of compartmentalisation in place.
No one seemed curious about what I did that past week too.
After we are done with dinner, the guys started to talk excitedly about the coming ghost month in August.
The lunar 7th month, is a month where supposedly the gates of hell open. Sprits are allowed to wander the earth for a month. It’s also known as the hungry ghost festival. The Taoist celebrates it with much fanfare.
You could see offerings being made, people burning incense and all. There are many dos and don’ts to observe as well.
Now Hong is excited because this year, it is Yiling’s turn to host the annual dinner.
Jackson : host for who ?? …
Hong gave me a sly smile before looking to the rest of the guys. It’s as if he was seeking their permission to let me in on it.
Declan : You tell him now… he also won’t understand….
Jackson : It’s ok… just tell me… I’ll try….to put a picture together.
Hong gestured for more beer and grabbed a handful of peanuts before throwing them onto the table like a fortune teller about to divine the future.
Arranging 6 cans of beer around the nuts, Hong started to explain the background of the dinner.
Hong : It’s like those typical 7th month dinner…. Banquet… lots of people…. Member of parliament of the district will come… shake hand…. Smile… then of course… there is the bidding of auspicious items…
Now the special part about this dinner though, is that it will be done before the lunar 7th month. A whole month before in fact.
Jackson : Why ? …. What is the significance of holding a 7th month dinner if it’s not held during the lunar 7th month ??
Hong : I never said it was specifically a 7th month dinner…. I said it’s similar to the 7th month dinner….hahha
Jackson : What the hell…. Ok ok… go on…. I have attended some 7th month dinner before many years ago….the community centre always got tickets to attend at cheap rate…. Like 15 bucks for a bucket of groceries and a 8 course dinner….
Hong looked at me with that judgmental look with no smile before commenting ;
Hong : there… there… the auntie in you just came out again…
Jackson : hello… I don’t live in a castle…. I live in a 3 room flat with my grandfather and money has always been tight…. Good deals like this…. I need it….
Hong : ok… ok…. Whatever…
Hong explained that the dinner would usually be hosted in a hotel ballroom as compared to the ones done outdoors at markets and temples. Not all guest are Taoists, not all of them celebrates the hungry ghost festival so the annual dinner slowly gets shifted out from the lunar 7th month.
Aside from the date, hardly anything has changed over the years for this once a year gala event. To make things even more interesting, every year, a politician would be invited. A member of parliament.
Jackson : Why ?
Hong : There will be a charity bidding session…. Of which the amount raised will be donated to a charity…. Politicians dig things like these… so they usually turn up….
Before I could ask another question, Hong directed everyone’s attention to the beer on the table.
Running his finger around the external circumference formed by the booze. I could see droplets of condensation rolling down onto the table as he told me the dinner itself, is not special.
Hong : It’s the people attending the dinner….
Jackson : Who are they…. ?
Singapore is no stranger to the underworld. Triads still exists but very low profile. Gone are the days of open street fights and trashing of competitors’ businesses.
Now, it’s all about money and profit.
However, there is a reason why some gangs manage to stay together compare to the others.
It’s not money, it’s not loyalty and the oaths, it’s for a very practical reason.
Skillsets.
Skills.
Unique skill sets and experience handed down over the years by pioneers of the secret societies, many of which today operate openly as clans and associations.
Anyone can pick a fight, shout some gang cheer, extort money or start a illegal gambling den. There is literally no barrier for competition to enter, needless to say, these usually don’t last as authorities would clamp down on them pretty quick.
Skills however, is impossible to acquire overnight.
These are hone over years and decades of practise.
Passed down from father to son.
Hong pushed the 1st can out.
Hong : Boss and her company…. La Bella Vita…. we are the host this year….
Pushing another can up immediately, Hong added;
Hong : The Malu Malu…..
Jackson : the what ??
Hong : The Malu Malu…. They are located along Jalan Malu Malu… in Sembawang….
I burst out laughing uncontrollably.
Jackson : hahhaa… what the hell….. hahahhaa….this is a joke right….??
My laughter slowly died of when I realised no one else is laughing along.
Jackson : ok… sorry…. I’m sorry…. Please go on….
Hong : Malu Malu is helmed by 3 brothers…. They are cleaners for hire ….
Jackson : cleaners ??
Hong : They clean shit up….if you know what I mean….
I gave a raised eyebrow and waited for Hong to go on.
Hong : crime scene, blood, shit….. you name it….they operate a legitimate cleaning company, a pest company…. And a renovation company….
Jackson : No shit…
Hong : you want to rid a place of evidence….. you call them….
Jackson : you are joking right… ?
Hong : do you see me laughing ?
He’s right, the mood around the table is pretty solemn and intense.
Hong : The Malu Malu are not only good at cleaning up physical sites… they clean offices and accounts too…. If you catch the drift…. They have lawyers, accountants, even pathologist and retired crime scene technicians under their payroll…..
Kamal interrupted at that moment and added.
Kamal : don’t need to go into so much details…. Too much to digest… but know that they don’t go out and accept anyone who sends in their resume….most if not all of their men are gang members to start out with….
Jackson : That is so fucking cool…. Go on go on….
Another can of beer joined the 2 in the centre.
Hong : Then there are the thieves….
Jackson : what are they called ?
Hong : no special names… just the thieves…..
According to Hong, they are the best there is in the trade.
At the right price, they can steal anything.
Jackson : are you serious ??
Hong : everyone can steal…. The hard part is not getting caught…. And these guys…. Have a unbroken streak….
These people pulled off some of the biggest heist in the country, many of which goes unreported. From antiques to jewelleries, as long as the price is right, it can be done.
Hong : It’s a family business in a way….. all members are cousins, siblings, or extended family…. Very close knit…. They are all under a investment holding company now…. Doing everything from central kitchen for catering to operating franchises of coffee chains…. They’re everywhere…
Jackson : I see…. Go on… go on…
This is interesting. I never knew something like this exists in Singapore.
The 4th can joined the group and Hong paused, taking a sip of his opened beer before going on.
Hong : The monks….
Jackson : hahaha… what ??!! Monks…
Hong handed the explanation over to Declan with an extended palm.
Declan : The monks… they are a small group…. Not real monks of course….it’s just the way they call themselves.
Jackson : what do they do… ?
Declan : they are cheats… swindlers….
Jackson : oh you mean… magic rock… cheat those aunties and stuff….
Declan : No no…. those are petty crimes… you can’t make money off them….
The monks go for high stakes scams, targeting businessmen or investors. They don’t strike all the time but when they do hit, they hit hard.
Declan: their most recent hit, a director of a company that sells scam investments….. some Ponzi pyramid scheme…. They wiped 150 million off the company and that’s when everything started collapsing…. Things start to unravel….
Jackson : oh…. So they are they good guys….
Declan : how so ?
Jackson : they swindler the scammer’s money…. That’s a good thing no ??
Declan : errrr…. Never mind…. The Monks are vegetarians…. The own a chain of vegetarian eateries and are in the midst of opening the 1st vegetarian hotel in Singapore….
Jackson :Wow…. Ok….
Sensing a slowdown in the sharing of information, I took a 5th can of beer and put it into the circle.
Jackson : who else… ?
Kamal decided to chip in this round.
Kamal : The white snakes….
Jackson :Woah… that sounds damm badass man….
Kamal : Nah… they are a bunch of loose sand right now…. A lot of internal fighting…..they can’t get along with each other…. they too own a variety of businesses from rice distribution to property investment…..they seldom show up for the dinner, and even if they did, it would be one of the older guys with a few men just for show….. they are not interested in the power play going on in the country….
Jackson :I see…. What a pity…. White snakes is a kickass name…. best I’ve heard so far.
Seven helped to push the last can in and I sat up eagerly, looking around the table to see who would be the one that is going to explain the last group.
La Bella Vita
Malu Malu
The thieves
The monks
White snakes.
I could sense the apprehension around the table.
After a while, Hong decided to take up the challenge.
Hong : Rajahs , or also known as kings.
Jackson : woah…. Sounds damm princely and elitist man… hahha…
Hong : The Rajahs….. they are a big organisation…. Very violent…..and I’m not talking about kids fighting in the void deck or doing one on one in lifts mind you…. These people…. If they are out to hurt you…. You can be assured that you will feel pain….
The Rajahs are not thugs for hire but they are like thugs in business. Disputes if any are usually resolved by violence. They have been known to torch competitors offices and warehouses.
Not only are they violent, they are not afraid of the law or going to jail because they get paid to do so.
You need to take one for the team ? Sure. Full pay including CPF and AWS included. Your family gets taken care off.
Hong : Rumour is that as long as you are part of Rajah for more than 10 years…. Accommodation, car, your kids’s education….. they take care of it… rumour that is….
Kamal : Rumours only la… you live a life like theirs, how many can make it to 10 years… hahaha
Everyone laughed and Hong continued.
The Rajahs own a shipping and logistics company. They handle all manners of stuff as long as the price is right. From drugs to contraband items, even banned foodstuff like ‘Balut’ , a developing duck embryo, they can get it in for you.
The Rajahs are also involved in money lending, both legal and illegal, vehicle leasing, mostly industrial vehicles and construction cranes. They also own a couple of hotels located in the red light districts.
Kamal gestured to Seven as he shook his leg and brought a beer to his lips.
Kamal : Seven used to be from the Rajahs….
All eyes turned to Seven and he nodded.
Jackson : they… they poured acid… down your throat… ?
Seven gestured something which I don’t really understand and Declan added;
Declan : He followed the wrong leader…….got played out……when the Rajahs clean house…. They really meant it…. Thankfully Boss got to Seven in time….
Jackson : I see…. I see…
Hong : Rajahs…. They are the 2nd largest criminal organisation in the country.
I nodded as I sipped my drink, trying to digest the wealth of information I just heard from the group.
This is amazing. It’s like if you peel away the top layer of the bustling metropolis the country is, you discover there is a lot more going on underneath it all.
I looked up suddenly at Hong when I was reminded of something he said.
Jackson :wait… wait…. You said the Rajahs…. Are what… ? the 2nd largest criminal organisation….??
I looked at the guys around the table before it suddenly dawned on me who I was really working for.
Jackson : so …. the …. Biggest…. …. ?
Declan : oh…. Do you even need to ask ? hahhaha….
The guys laughed and Hong drained the can of beer he was holding onto before asking.
Hong : which reminds me…. Jackson…. You were pretty resistant to working for Boss initially….. what made you change your mind… ?
I was immediately on alert in case I say something I shouldn’t be saying. I can’t possibly lie outright either so I decided to give a calibrated answer instead.
Jackson : well…. I ermm…Yiling…. She…let’s just say I’ve seen her done something pretty amazing…. With a phone call… and… I’ve decided to jump in and see how far the rabbit hole goes…. For the record…. She didn’t force me one bit….
Kamal nodded with a chuckle.
Kamal : hahah… Boss…. Has never forced us to do anything we are not willing to….
Hong : agreed…. Hahaha…
It was at this time Declan took out a cigar holder from his pocket. He popped one out and proceeded to cut of the ends of it with a smile.
Declan : well…. Boss has many phones…. I’ve seen some pretty amazing stuff too…. Hahah…. But trust me…. you have seen nothing…..
Jackson : what do you mean… ?
Declan chuckled and stood up, indicating to the guys it’s time to head out for a smoke.
Declan : you ain’t see nothing…. Until you see Boss take out her old Nokia phone…..
Jackson : what does that do… ? break a brick haha ?? is it one of those indestructible phones ??
Declan : Nope…. A Nokia 8855 model…. She has 3 of them….i’ve seen only 1 being used before…..
I followed the group outside and Declan fired up the wind proof lighter to light up his cigar.
Declan shook his lit cigar at me and a sweet yet unfamiliar aroma filled my nose.
Declan : That phone call… put 23 Rajahs on the ground….amazing no one died or seriously injured…..
Jackson : what the fuck….!….
Declan : How else do you think we got Seven out ? hahah….
As the area outside the farmhouse filled with tobacco smoke, I asked.
Jackson : The Rajahs must be fucking pissed at Yiling isn’t it…. ??
Hong : oh…. You bet they are… hahah… .. but that’s what make the annual dinner all the more interesting isn’t it… hahahah…
Jackson : Who is leading the Rajahs…. ?
Hong gave me a sly smile.
Hong : A hot 25 year old slut with a come fuck me look and a penchant for wearing come-fuck-me boots with skirts so short, it’s impossible to miss a flash of her panty…..
Jackson : You’re shitting me…. so young…. ? she’s younger than Yiling…… makes you wonder right…. Why are organisations like these being led by girls
Kamal : That is a really sexist comment coming from you Jackson …. Gentle reminder…. The one giving you your pay cheque at the end of the month is a girl as well…
Jackson : well… it’s different in a way…..at least Yiling has decent dress sense…. She has that elegance of a matured woman….confidence…. and style…. The swag… she oozes charm….. sha has class….. and… and…
I barely finished my statement when I saw someone approaching us from a distance away. It’s Yiling and she’s not alone. Cindy towered behind her and Aaron was walking towards us from another direction.
I could not believe what I was seeing.
Yiling looked like she just came from a fancy dress party.
She was wearing a ridiculous pink top that barely concealed the neon yellow bra she was wearing underneath. On her head is a over the top straw hat as if she is going to the beach and she wore a skirt so short that every step she took, she risked flashing her panty to all of us.
She stumbled forward a little but Cindy managed to stop her from falling, Yiling laughed, obviously high from the drinks before trying to adjust her short skirt lower to cover her modesty. Her usually impeccable hair is a little frizzled and messed up.
Concentrating a little too hard on the ground in front of herself, Yiling was determined to make her way towards us unassisted.
The pair of black boots she wore reached up to her kneecaps and she was swinging a Hermes clutch bag wildly in her left hand while holding onto a bottle of wine in her right.
She sneezed and I saw her wipe her nose with the back of her hand before wiping it on the side of her short skirt. Noticing a leaf on the side of her neon coloured bra, Yiling picked it off and adjusted her boobs as if she was wearing a bra not suited for her breast size.
Yiling : yozz…!!! Boys !!!
Yiling called out from about 15 metres away and it was a jaw drop moment for everyone when she stumbled again, this time round falling flat onto the grass.
Yiling : fuck !… fuck !! arghh…
The fall flipped up her short skirt and her butt cheek with bits of her pink thong was immediately exposed to the entire world for a second before Cindy quickly bent down and covered it up.
Yiling rolled onto her back and Cindy had to cover Yiling’s modesty with her massive body as the lot of us turned and look the other way.
Yiling : why is everyone upside down ?? !!
No one answered her since she is obviously not her usual self.
Yiling : I’m ok…..relax… I’m ok….
As Cindy helped Yiling brush off the grass and dirt from her stained top, Hong had to rub it in.
Hong : you were saying…. ? hahaha….
Jackson : She’s good man….. she’s good….
Hong : hahah.. how so….
Jackson : She managed to convince me I’m working for a fucking cool kick ass boss with a single phone call….. and now… she destroyed my entire image of her in 5 seconds….
Declan laughed and chirped in
Declan : It’s a stressful job……There is still a lot more you don’t know about her Jackson … hahaha…
………………………………………………………………..
Declan : Anyway…… she’s drunk… time to go…
Jackson : What… why ??
I turned to see the guys casually trying to make their respective way away from the approaching queen.
Yiling could hardly walk straight and Cindy had to hold onto her a couple of times before getting shoved away.
Yiling : I’m ok Cindy…. I’m ok….. don’t worry…. Burzpppp….
As Yiling got closer, I realised the group of smoking men behind me have already started making their way out in a radial pattern.
Yiling : Where is everyone going !!! ?? hey !! Hong !!!
Hong pretended he didn’t hear her and quickened his pace towards the castle.
Yiling : Declan … Declan !!! hey… over here….
Declan went from a fast walk to a slow jog while Seven went into an all out sprint.
Yiling : what is wrong with you all !!! arghhh !!!
Yiling turned her attention to me as I watched her finished the quarter bottle of wine she has left before dropping the bottle on the floor for Cindy to pick up.
Aaron by then had caught up with us, it was then I realised he had another bottle of whisky in his hands.
Yiling : Aaron…. Aaron !!!! where is it… !! why so long !!!
Aaron quickly handed the bottle to Yiling before mouthing; ‘good luck’ to me. He too scurried away. For someone that always wanted to be near Yiling, him running away spoke volumes.
It became apparent enough that no one wanted to be near Yiling when she is drunk.
Yiling handed the bottle to Cindy who removed the seal and pulled out the cock with hardly any effort before handing it over to Yiling who stopped in front of me as she stabbed the soft grass with the heel of her boots.
Jackson : ermmm… yes ??
Yiling took a deep breath, had a swig of the bottle before adding.
Yiling : yeah… we need to talk…. Here I am….
I looked at Cindy and asked;
Jackson : What the hell is wrong with her…. ??
Cindy : There is nothing wrong with her….too much to drink…. But she’s ok…
Jackson :She’s not ok…
Yiling : I am fucking ok !!… come….don’t waste time…. here.. have some….
She thrust the bottle into my hands and before I could grab it properly, she took it back for another swig, leaving a sliver of her drool and marks from her lipstick on the neck of the bottle.
Yiling : Try it… try it…. It’s nice…. Taiwanese Whisky….
I held the bottle and looked at the state of the opening and declined.
Jackson : It’s ok… you go ahead…
Yiling : drink it !!!! it’s nice !!! Cindy !!! make him drink it !!!
I looked at Cindy who maintained her usual blank expression on her face without saying a word. Cindy’s biceps looked like they grew bigger or perhaps it was the tight fitting top she was wearing.
It suddenly dawned on me that Cindy would fit right in with one of those huge bounders at a club. The kind that can throw you out the door with one hand as if he was flicking dirt off his coat.
Cindy : drink it…
Jackson : ok… ok… fine…
Yiling laughed as she tapped me on my shoulder while I took a swig from the bottle.
Yiling : come… let’s talk….inside… burpzz….blergh…
Yiling did not remove her boots and walked right in. I could hear another loud burp and what sounded like her holding back her puke.
Jackson : Are you ok ??
Yiling : yeah…. I am…. I am…. Just a bit disorientated…. But I’m sober….
I remained standing and waited, unsure of what to do. My eyes went to the dirt and grass that she just brought in with her boots. Fine, it’s her property, I’m just a worker, I can always clean it up later.
Yiling : go on… go on…. Yeah… I’m listening…. Shoot…
I looked at Cindy who was standing 2 steps behind Yiling like a block of wood for clues whether I should give Yiling the report when she is in that state but her expression remained blank.
Fuck this. I’ll just tell her what I saw.
Jackson : ok… I visited the other 3 homes after the 1st one……
Yiling kept nodding and taking small swigs of alcohol from the bottle.
I was seriously in doubt she’s taking anything in at all but she reassured me that she is every now and then with a ‘ good….good observation ‘ , or a ‘ that’s very creative of you ‘.
I spent 15 minutes giving Yiling the low down on the things I’ve seen the past week.
Jackson : That’s about it…. So… what do you want to do about it….
By then the bottle of Whisky is already 1/3 gone and Yiling leaning heavily on her left hand while looking at me with that dazed look on her face.
Yiling took a deep breath and tried to stand up only to stagger and fall backwards, thankfully Cindy was there to catch her, making sure she sits back onto the chair.
Yiling : I’m ok… I’m ok …. Ok… where were we Jackson …
Jackson : I’m done…. I’m asking you what you want to do about it ?
Yiling : Oh… you’re done… ok good…. Thank you…burpzzz….oh god….ermmm thank you…
Jackson : You’re welcome… so what do you want me to do…. ?
Yiling gestured me closer with 2 fingers.
Yiling : drink with me…
Jackson : err… no I’ll pass….
Yiling’s lips covered the opening of the whisky and took a large gulp before realising it was too much. Her eyes narrowed and she frown before I saw her spit some back into the bottle.
As if that was not bad enough, her lips actually left the rim of the bottle as she spit more of the whisky back into the bottle, drenching the outsides at the same time.
Yiling : hssssssss…. Ahhhhhhhhhhh….. why… you…..scare of saliva ?? is it ?? you don’t share drinks with your buddies back in the army…. You…. You call yourself a man ah…. Don’t dare to share drinks…
I looked at Cindy, hoping she would say something but she did not. Again, I was met with that blank expression.
Jackson : I’m quite full…
Yiling : Full….. has nothing to do with drinking…
Jackson : maybe it’s more to do with personal hygiene…
She orientated her body to face me and with her legs apart, my eyes widened as I saw Yiling flash her pink thong that she was wearing at me. She literally spread her legs wide as she adopted at ‘ I’m the boss ‘ look while holding to the bottle and resting the other hand on her lap.
My jaws dropped as she maintained that position until Cindy walked in front of her and warned me to stop looking.
Cindy : Stop looking at her underwear….
Jackson : She flashed it at me… !
Cindy : You can choose not to see….
Yiling shove Cindy aside and crossed her legs before pushing the bottle over to me.
Yiling : Tell me Jackson …. What do you think we should do… ??
Jackson : Something is obviously going on… I think …
Yiling stopped me mid sentence, waving her finger in front of my face.
Yiling : ar… ar….ar….ar…….drink….. then you talk….
I exhaled and took another swig from the bottle but I did not drink any.
Jackson : you should report this to the police or something…. I’m thinking illegal employment of foreign workers…that’s why… they don’t want visitors… or when anyone visits…. They want them gone…. Most of them will be hiding I guess…
Yiling just kept nodding without a word, she rubbed her left eye and her fake eye lashes came out. She took it and pasted it on my table, giving it a few jab as if she was killing an insect.
Yiling : the….the one…. That’s closed….shifted….
Jackson : ahh.. yes…. I think that’s a headquarter for some worker smuggling ring…. It’s just my theory of course…. They bring them in, and house them somewhere…. And slowly deploy these illegal workers to construction sites….. dorms… or wherever… maybe even for crimes and stuff….
Yiling nodded and drank more from the bottle.
Seeing her breath deeply and trying to control her burping, I could see she was on the verge of puking.
Jackson : you know what… you looked tired… why not we continue this discussion tomorrow…
Yiling : No… no… I’m ok…I just need a moment….burppzzz….
I immediately offered the bathroom if she needed to go but Yiling declined.
Instead, she staggered over to my bed before collapsing face down with her legs still dangling over the side of the bed.
Cindy immediately went over to adjust Yiling’s posture properly but what happened next was like a good hearted cleaner not knowing when they switch on the fountain for the merlion.
The moment Cindy turned Yiling to face her, she erupted.
Yiling retched twice and managed to hold it in her mouth.
Jackson : toilet… toilet… !!!
Cindy managed to help Yiling up only to have Yiling puke all over her body.
Yiling : blerggghhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!
Jackson : oh fuck….
The puke streaked down Cindy’s top and pants and yet she remained 100% professional as she dragged Yiling towards the bathroom. Not only that, Cindy managed to hold back Yiling’s hair to make sure that while leaving a trail of puke on the floor, she did not dirty herself.
I could not bear to look and I turned away to grab something to wipe the floor.
About a minute and plenty of puke later, I heard Cindy call out to me.
Cindy : Jackson …. Come here…
Jackson : what….
Cindy : I can’t carry Boss without dirtying her clothes… you do it…
Jackson :Carry her where…
Cindy : put her on your bed first….
I went over to Yiling who was partially slumped over by the wall and lifted her up under her arms. Dragging her like a corpse over to the bed, I carried her up boots and all before putting her down gently on my bed.
She’s a mess.
I took a wet tissue and wiped her mouth, before brushing the hair away from her face.
Cindy : what are you doing …
Jackson : what? … nothing… I’m wiping her…
Despite cleaning away the solid bits of the puke from her top, Cindy’s top and bottom were badly stained.
Jackson :why don’t you go back and change or something… leave her here with me…
Cindy : No…. I know the kind of person you are Jackson …. It’s not safe leaving her here with you…
Jackson : what the fuck…. what kind of person am i… ?
Cindy : They kind I don’t trust to leave Boss with….
I don’t want to argue over something like this and I said fine. I will go back home.
Cindy : No you can’t…. Boss isn’t done talking… the issue about the homes is urgent…..
Jackson : then she shouldn’t have gotten drunk …
Cindy : No you cannot leave… you have to be here when she wakes up…
I don’t fucking believe this.
Jackson : ok fine… whatever…
I walked to my wardrobe and took a spare towel and some of my spare clothes before throwing them over to Cindy.
Jackson : wash up… take a shower while we wait….
Cindy took a couple of seconds to consider my offer before accepting it but with conditions of her own.
Cindy : thank you… but I cannot close the door and let Boss out of my sight…
Jackson : what !!!
Cindy : I will shower with the door open….
Jackson : Jesus… please… no ….
It was not a request. It was a statement.
I looked on in horror as Cindy removed her tight fitting top like a body builder removing his after a gym workout.
I immediately turned away but it was too late. I saw her body. I saw Cindy’s body and I think I won’t be able to have an erection for the next 2 weeks.
Her chiselled torso and her well defined muscles on her hands etched itself into my head.
Jackson :what are you doing !! close the door for fuck sake….
Cindy : If I close the door, I won’t know what you would do to Boss…. She’s vulnerable now….
Jackson : I’m the one that is fucking vulnerable now….
In her same monotonous tone, Cindy asked.
Cindy : You mean you have never seen a naked woman’s body before… ?
I covered my ears and started walking towards the door. I’m getting out of there. I never expected Cindy to run out shove me aside and shut the door again.
Jackson : wah chee bye ! ( curse ) fuck….
It’s been a while since I cursed in dialect but it just came out.
Cindy was totally naked and her thighs looked like they could crush my skull and I saw her vagina. It was fucking right in front of me.
It’s just normal reflexes, trying to look away from her privates down south, I looked up north only to see her topless.
My god, Cindy’s well built chest literally made her breast disappear. I don’t even know what to call that organ anymore.
The shock factor is too much for me to handle.
It was enough to make me stagger backwards before falling to the floor.
Jackson : arghhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!… my eyes…. !!! my eyes…..!!
With Cindy towering over me, I pushed myself backwards on the ground before quickly turning away.
Cindy : I said…. Stay here…. Until boss wakes up…. It should be soon…. Don’t make me grab you…
Jackson : please don’t grab me….don’t touch me…..i’ll do anything….
I kept my eyes closed until I heard the shower come on. Cindy really meant it when she said she’s going to shower with the door open.
Moments later, I could smell the same fragrance from the soap I used.
There was a thud and I realised Yiling had one foot off the bed. The boots she was wearing is pretty heavy.
I went over to Yiling, well aware that Cindy is soaping herself and watching me from the corner of my eye.
I don’t know what I was thinking, instead of lifting her leg back up, I knelt down and I went for the zip on the side of her boot.
I pulled the zip down, loosening the velvet like material and revealing a glimpse of Yiling’s beautiful legs.
Cindy was looking at me intently but I was not doing anything wrong. Not that I intent to do any.
How the fuck do you sleep with these on anyway, besides, she’s sleeping on my bedsheets and covers.
I gently shook the boot and removed Yiling’s foot from it before putting it on the bed.
Setting the boot down, I went over to the other and removed it for her as well.
Her toes are manicured, and I could see the marks made on her calves by the tightness of the boots she was wearing the whole night.
Her skirt rode so high up, all I needed to do was to change my position a little and I could see her privates.
I couldn’t cover her with my blanket because she was lying on them.
Instead, I went to my wardrobe and took out another piece of spare towel. Giving it a couple of folds, I laid them over the bottom of her body.
I continued cleaning up the mess on the floor and put the trash by the door. By then Cindy is done with her shower, the shadow of her towelling dry is cast against the floor of the farmhouse.
The light of the bathroom and Cindy’s large movements projected a shadow dance that seemed to drag on forever. I was left drumming my fingers on the table while staring at the exit.
I was contemplating whether I should make a run for it. Cindy will not leave Yiling unattended, but then again, I hate to think of the consequences if she ever gets her hands on me.
Cindy : your shirt is too tight for me…
I turned and looked at a sight right out of a horror movie.
The largest top I had is badly stretched and it looked like it’s cutting off oxygen for Cindy when she wore it but thankfully it covered her body.
I could even see her nipples through my top and I massaged my head a couple of times. Why must things like this happen to me.
Why isn’t it Candy who is here with Yiling ?
I wouldn’t have mind one bit if it was Candy showering with the door open.
Cindy : Your pants are too small for me…. no way I can fit in them…
I looked down and exhaled when I realised Cindy had my towel wrapped around her waist like a sarong.
She threw my pants back at me as she went over and stand beside Yiling.
I sat on a chair while Cindy remained standing beside Yiling.
Where the hell did Yiling find someone like her ? Why can’t she find girls of Candy’s calibre.
Sweet, smiling, a little shy, instead of a robot like Cindy.
I kept avoiding her looks but she just stared at me as if I’m a persistent threat to her boss.
Jackson : can you…. Don’t ….. stare at me….. it’s making me uncomfortable…
Cindy : why ?? why are you uncomfortable…??
Jackson : never mind..
Cindy : are you uncomfortable because I’m here and you cannot peep at boss’s upskirt….? Or are you uncomfortable because I am not wearing any pants…. ?
Jackson : are you even listening to the words coming out of your mouth…. ?
Cindy : Is it because I’m not pretty and sexy as boss…. That’s why you are uncomfortable …. ?
Jackson : No…!! please stop… let’s not talk to each other anymore…
Cindy : why….? why are you refusing to talk to me… ?
Yiling suddenly retched again, she vomited but only a little. I quickly took a small towel and wet it. Cindy’s hand was stretched and waiting for me and I handed it to her.
I watched Cindy wiped Yiling down starting from her mouth, then to her neck. Then her chest. Then I saw her hand disappear underneath her top and she was wiping her breast area where the puke had leaked to.
It was a truly sick and erotic sight that I guess no one will believe even if I told them.
A half naked girl with a towel around her waist wiping another drunk girl on my bed.
After Cindy’s down with the first round, she handed the towel to me and I rinsed it before giving it back to her.
Cindy : it’s on her back…help me turn her…
Jackson : just let her sleep it off come on…. Don’t need to be so…
Even before I could finish, I was given one of her usual cold stare.
Cindy turned Yiling to face me as she started wiping down her back. Barely 5 seconds later, what I dreaded most happened.
Yiling vomited onto me. It’s not a lot, but enough to stain my top and my hands.
Jackson : ewwww….
Cindy : It’s just puke… it won’t kill you….
Jackson : thank you for the information….
Cindy’s phone rang and she answered it with a cold hello.
She made eye contact with me and I knew it must be something urgent.
She needed to leave.
The look on her face says it all.
She needed to go somewhere and she don’t trust me alone with Yiling.
Cindy hung up the call and started texting. She’s probably asking someone else to come over and look after Yiling while she’s gone.
Jackson : you know what…why don’t I leave …. Yiling can stay here alone… and you go do your own stuff…
Cindy : it’s ok…. Don’t need….
Jackson : This is a waste of time… there’s no way of telling how long she will be out…
Cindy : She’s going to wake up soon….
Jackson : I doubt it…
Cindy : Boss has never taken more than 2 hours to recharge before…. She should be waking up anytime soon…
Cindy’s phone started ringing.
Mine started ringing too, it was Kamal.
Jackson : hello…
Before I could say anything, the door to the farmhouse burst open.
There are 2 men at the door and they are armed with a dagger each. They were wearing masks, and even the exposed bits of their faces were smudge black with camouflage cream.
There is zero talk, no threats, nothing.
They knew what they came here to do.
Without a word, they came right at us.
Cindy was immediately up charging towards the entrance and she effortlessly disarmed and threw one of the men against the wall so hard that I could feel the structure of the farmhouse vibrate.
Cindy : arGHHHHHHHH!!!
I kicked 2 chairs in front of the other guy that came at me in an attempt to go past me and towards Yiling. He avoided both of them and I lunged at him, barely avoiding his dagger before grabbing onto his armed hand with both of mine.
With 2 well placed kicks, he knocked the air out of me and send me crashing face first towards the table.
Cindy leapt over me and somehow sent him towards my box of gardening tools at the corner of the room.
I could feel my nose bleeding and I quickly crawl over to Yiling, putting myself in between her and the rest of the room.
Cindy is now tangled with the man crawling up from the mess of toppled gardening tools, grunting and landing blows on each other like a MMA match with no rules.
The 1st man recovered from the initial blow and tried to come at Yiling again
I threw a clumsy punch which he blocked effortlessly before kicking me so hard on the ribs with his knees that I could feel all the air inside my lungs being sucked out.
Enraged by the pain, I took 2 more blows from him before I landed one on his cheek, he blocked my subsequently punches and eventually grabbed my wrist but I did a kamikaze headbutt against his nose.
Inside the movies it was always the harder forehead hitting the bad guy’s nose, but in real life with no experience in shit like this, I nose fucked myself against his nose, sending obscene amount of pain into my own face.
Both of us grunted in pain.
I tried to trip him but the man threw me against the floor instead.
Jackson : fuck !…
I landed hand but I immediately bounced up, grabbed onto his waist and shouted like an enraged beast as I lifted him off the ground, and swung him against the open bathroom.
We crashed into the narrow space and his head hit the water closet with a loud thud.
I could taste blood inside my mouth my then as I got up and kicked that fucker in the face before groaning in pain as I clutched my toes.
Jackson : ahhh fuck !!…
I never knew kicking someone with my toes hurt that much.
Turning towards the door I saw Cindy up on her feet, bleeding on her head before she smashed the man she was tussling with against the wall several times.
Her massive hands grabbed onto his hair and started testing the structural integrity of the farmhouse with his skull.
I was about to try and wake Yiling up when I saw another masked men appear at the door. He was about to stab Cindy but I grabbed a fallen chair and charged straight at him, driving him man, chair and all out the farmhouse.
Out in the open I saw another masked man running towards us as I fell.
I was about to head back into the farmhouse when I saw Seven sprinting towards me.
The guy I just shove out was already on his knees and he contemplated coming for me but he saw Seven already reaching striking range.
He tried to swing a kick at Seven but was dodged effortlessly.
The 2nd masked men came straight at me and I retreated back into the farmhouse, leaving Seven to deal with the other guy.
Cindy’s towel had fallen off her by then and she was standing beside Yiling in a half crouch wrestling stance, the blood on her face, her messed up hair and her pumped up muscles is a scary sight to behold.
The 1st 2 men in the farmhouse are no longer moving.
The newly arrived masked men entered the room but he barely got in 2 steps when I saw Xiaoyu literally flew in, latched onto him by the waist with her legs as she jumped off the floor, using a combination of the swing of her body and counterweight, pulled him down to the ground.
Another masked man appeared out of nowhere, kicking Xiaoyu off his friend before she could do any damage.
I ran over instinctively, stomping the man on the ground with as much weight as I could muster before charging shoulder first into the man that kicked XIaoyu.
I felt a blow to the side of my face and my entire body just went limp for a second before I was kicked so hard I flew a metre or so as I landed on the grass turfing.
I felt as if my body was on fire and my muscles are all tensed up. I tried to force myself to get up but everything just went dark for a while.
I snapped out of my blackout heaving and gasping for air like I just woke from a nightmare.
Pushing myself off the ground, I panted for air as I took in the sight in front of me.
I don’t know how much I missed but it couldn’t have been a lot. I must be out for less than a minute.
I saw Seven jumped and delivered a kick with such velocity that his kick put a man already on his knees crumbling face first into the dirt that the impact made a small dent on the soft ground.
A sickening crunch reached my ears before the screams of pain as I watched Xiaoyu bent a man’s hand in an angle humanly impossible using her hands and knees before shutting his screams up with a 12-6 elbow blow on his head as she leapt up to deliver that blow.
Hong’s shouts of hokkien vulgarities reached my ears as he delivered a series of explosive packed punches directly into the man’s gut before shoulder ramming him into the floor.
I pulled myself back up on my feet and I saw Cindy charging out of the farmhouse with her hands around the neck of a struggling masked man.
The man head butted Cindy before kicking himself free from her grasp momentarily. Cindy took 2 more blows to her chest from the man’s punches before she managed to grabbed him by his shirt. With her fist clenched and her muscles pumped up, her swinging hand might as well be a club wielded by an angry orc.
The flesh numbing punch to the side of the man’s face must have hurt a lot more than it sounded because he literally blessed Cindy’s face and top with a mix of saliva and blood as he fell.
The manner in which he collapses gave a hint to how hard that fall was, as he fell to his right, both his arms went limp and swung like a pendulum to his left as he fell right into the embrace of earth’s gravity.
Half limping for reasons I cannot explain, I went back in and Yiling was still out cold.
I could see the man I put in the bathroom stirring and slowly getting up on his feet.
Running and jumping over the bed and Yiling like an athletic clearing a hurdle, I crashed into the masked men who had just picked up his dagger. I felt a sharp pain in my forearm as we got tangled together and realised I had been slashed.
It’s nothing major but it’s bleeding.
I punched as hard as I could, as many times as I could but my blows were being blocked. We were raining blows at each other and he had his legs wrapped around my back.
I heard Declan asking me to duck left and I did, seconds before my well used hotpot crashed spectacularly into the masked man’s face. Determined to follow through with the blow, I picked up the base of the hot pot and dismantled it into 3 sections with the man’s skull.
Panting and gasping for air, I took the hand Declan offered and pulled myself off the floor.
Declan : Get him out of there….
Declan and I pulled the unconscious assailant out from the bathroom and out into the open.
I shut the door behind me and took in the sight in front of me.
It’s over.
No less than 2 dozen of Yiling’s men were now on the open field spread in a radial pattern with Seven, Xiaoyu, Cindy and Hong forming a smaller semi circle in front of the farmhouse.
No one moved.
The entire estate is eerily quiet. Only the groans of pain of the men we put on the floor were audible.
Declan’s phone vibrated and he answered it. It was Kamal.
Declan : are you guys ok ?? …
A few moments later, I could see Declan relax visibly before hanging up.
Kamal, Aaron and Candy were holding off at the castle and thankfully they are ok too. There’s only 2 of them in the castle.
Wiping the blood off my face with the back of my right hand, I asked.
Jackson : is….. is this is a typical day…..? for you guys…..
I spit a mouthful of spit with blood in them onto the ground and waited for Declan to answer me.
Declan : Unfortunately no………. no one fucks with us like this….. not like this….
………………………………………………….
Quote:
Originally Posted by
godsfury
Bro ilikeoldchangke, who in your mind is boss yiling?
Can share w u which celebrity she is like? For me.. it’s jade rasif! Lol
haha. i do have someone in mind that i’m modelling her after but i would prefer not to share for now. Everyone has their ideal ’ Yiling ’ inside their mind, and i believe it’s all very different.
So you don;t mind working for Jade Rasif in similar capacity ? hahah