I spent the next few hours circling the entire park that is filled with weekend crowd. I came across entire family of otters, I saw monitor lizards digging on the ground for earthworms.
Squirrels, monkeys, the black swans and even some wild parrots. Just no signs of the newspaper seller.
I walked up and down the same stretch a few times before going to other quiet spots in the garden. I saw some colleagues and contemplated whether to ask them if they happen to see a newspaper seller around but I stopped myself.
It’s going to make me look stupid.
I saw some used newspaper by the foot of a rubbish bin. It’s wet and probably came from one of the families having their picnic nearby. Passer bys gave me weird looks when the saw me trying to read the newspaper on the ground.
It was from one month ago. I picked it up and threw it into the bin.
1pm
I went for lunch at coronation plaza and brought my ticket to the same counter where I bought the ticket from.
“Hi, errm , I think I won something. I said to the lady at the counter.”
The lady fed my ticket into the machine and did a double take at the winnings.
“Hello , you need to go head office to claim prizes more than $5000.” She said.
“Oh, where is the head office ? “ I asked.
She gave me a slip of paper with the address and opening hours. Guess I’ll just head down over lunch the next day then.
My phone rang and it was Sam. I was expecting this call.
He told me his truck got into a bit of accident and his work will be delayed on one of my site.
“Very unlucky leh, your weird phone call about truck hit people, now my truck really hit wall man.” Sam lamented.
I tried to probe a little, asking if he is ok and what happened.
Sam told me he lent his truck to his neighbour where his industrial office is. He got a stroke and crashed the vehicle.
“oh dear, is he ok ? “
“Literally up lorry. Die liao”
“Oh my god..” I said, pretending to be unaware of what is happening.
Sam asked for an extension of his project which I readily agreed. I told him we will sort out the paper work back in office.
5th November 2018
12.30pm
I waited for my queue number to be called and presented my winning ticket. I was showed to a lounge while the staff prepares the cheque for me.
She asked if I would like to make a donation to charity, I declined.
Not because I’m stingy or heartless. It’s because I don’t dare to touch the money. It’s $200000. It’s a large sum. I don’t know if I can touch it.
I honestly don’t know what to do with it.
I’m not exactly a spender and I save almost 50% of my pay cheque every month.
I took the cheque and looked at the number and my name on it. It’s surreal. It’s going to take me 2 years of work plus good bonus and not spending a single cent to get this amount.
I deposited it into my bank account before taking a taxi back to work.
My office has a view of Botanic garden. At least a small section of it anyway. Every couple of hours, I would just look outside, hoping I would see the newspaper seller again.
The days stretched to weeks and I began to experiment with the different combination of circumstances that gave me the chance to meet the newspaper seller.
I met him during my jog on a Friday and the skies were overcast. Then it started to rain.
I started jogging everyday and I did extra laps on Fridays.
Nothing.
When I saw it was going to rain, I immediately changed and ran out if I’m not working. It didn’t matter that it’s 11pm at night, I ran in the rain along the same stretch hoping to see the man but he’s not there.
If I’m in the office and it starts to rain, I will grab an umbrella and walked to the same stretch.
Nothing.
A month went by and I never gave up. There must be a reason why I met that mysterious man.
I refuse to believe something like this is a one-off incident.
21st December 2018
Friday.
11am
I’m going to go on leave for the last 2 weeks of the year and 21st is my last working day for 2018. The whole office is in the festive mood and my boss, Alvin, asked me out for lunch.
“Eh Jerry, You got lunch plans ? “
“Nope. You want to grab something together ? “ I said while dropping everything I was doing just to look at Alvin and reply.
Alvin is going to retire in a few years time and he’s known to be very temperamental. He used to be in the military before joining the organisation.
He has mellowed down a lot lately. Age catches up with everyone. I guess no matter how bad ass you are, you will reach an age where you finally decide it’s time to take things a bit easy.
Alvin belonged to the generation that demands respect even before he earned it. Not that he doesn’t deserve any but you know, he has that I’m older, therefore you respect me kind of setup in his head. He has issues talking to some of the young hires and always gets me to be the go between.
Not that I’m very old but I guess he sees the different between an early Gen X and the subsequent ones.
The 1st time I was scolded by him was because I replied him while drafting an email without looking at him. He told me off in front of the whole office.
“You look the man in eye when he’s talking to you!”
He said it with a raised voice like I committed some insubordination sin that silenced the whole office. From the corner of my eye I could see a few seniors shaking their head, they probably already placed bets when it would happen to me.
I knew immediately if I said nothing, or rebutted him for the outburst, the issue will escalate.
Saying nothing will only spur him to scold me again. The worse thing I can do is to give him a ‘blur fuck’ expression, pretending that I am unaware of his anger.
To rebut him will be to get on his nerves, thereby exacerbating the situation.
I don’t believe in wasting my breath with people who are not in the right frame of mind to listen. I believe in solving the problem by tackling the root cause.
The warning came as a shock to me, I wasn’t expecting to be treated like this by another adult but whatever. All eyes were on me and I stopped what I was doing and stood up.
I see no merit whatsoever in being macho or talking down to my boss so I apologised immediately.
A simple sorry will not suffice for old timers like Alvin.
‘Sorry’ is what you say, Alvin strikes me as someone who is more interested in what you will do.
I have to hit him back fast without giving him enough time to continue brooding about dumb shit like this.
“I’m sorry. It will not happen again. What was it that you want to discuss again ? ” I said, throwing the ball back to his court.
This way, if he continued scolding me for something trivial, he would be disregarding the task and issue at hand. Things like this drive old birds like Alvin nuts.
There was a 3 second stand off before Alvin asked me to go into his office.
It was all work related from the moment I stepped in and over the years, I learned all his pet peeves and dislikes. It’s one of the reason why I successfully cement my position in the team. Not just because of my academic achievements.
It’s because I knew how to handle Alvin. I knew how far I could push him without him stabbing me with his golden bayonet in his office.
Sometimes I know Alvin wanted to strangle me but he can’t. End of the day, the decisions we make, it’s all for the team.
Alvin has gotten rid of many people over the years but I know I’m here to stay.
I knew I could stay because Alvin don’t hate me like he hates the other scholars. Though I must say, sometimes I wonder if he hated himself since he’s one himself.
Alvin is tan, so tan that he gets mistaken as non-chinese frequently. He goes fishing every weekend and is someone that will feel right at home in the wild or among the green. It’s like the old soldier in him never left.
His temper is his biggest flaw to be honest. He has a very low ignition point and gets triggered easily.
“Let’s go eat at Adam road food centre ?” He said.
“Sure. I thought you didn’t like going there because of the bad exhaust? “ I teased.
“I’m on half day today. I’m heading back after that. Ahha. “
At 1pm sharp, I saw Alvin walk out of his office and I don’t want him to come over to my table to remind me it’s time.
I left the half-written email to a colleague from the ministry and immediately grabbed my wallet and phone.
Alvin drove and he parked at one of the lots outside the food centre along the road where the private houses are. Upon arriving, Alvin remained seated, and he continued talking.
We chatted in the car and he asked about work, if I’m happy, basically life in general.
A casual end of the year and I’m about to do your appraisal chat.
I followed his que that he is ready to get out of his car and opened the door.
Just when I thought we can head to the food centre, he pulled out a cigarette and lit up while looking at the way a particular tree is leaning over the road. He started talking about a project that is almost completed.
My stomach was rumbling by then but I knew from experience when a uncle like him starts talking about work, it’s best to let him finish.
I ended up giving him a summary of what happened in the middle of the afternoon sun while waving 2nd hand smoke away from my face. Alvin knew I hated the smell and he did what he could by turning away when he exhale but come on.
I’m literally standing right in front of him, no matter how he turn, the smoke is still getting in my face.
The more we talked about work standing like two dumbasses beside the car under the sun, the longer the impromptu meeting dragged.
Alvin lit up his 3rd cigarette when I saw a police car turn into the narrow road we were on. I’m not sure why but I have a bad feeling. The car slowed down before parking behind us.
I felt my heart skip a beat when I saw Chan and Sulyani alight from the vehicle. I have not seen them since that faithful day and seeing them now felt so surreal.
I’m glad they are ok of course but I immediately looked away and pretended to be checking the tree a distance away while talking to my boss about a dead monitor lizard stinking up a storage shed in the garden.
I waited for a while before turning back and coming face to face with the two officers.
Holding my breath, I was afraid they would recognise me from that day of the incident, but they didn’t.
Sulyani gave me a quick once over but turned her attention to Alvin.
Sulyani and Chan asked what are we doing there.
“why ? what’s the problem officer ? “ Alvin asked
“Just want to know what are you guys doing here “ Sulyani said. “you have been loitering here for sometime and someone made a complaint.”
“Smoking lah ? Cannot smoke here ah ? “ I could see Alvin getting into his defensive and aggressive mode and I quickly butted in.
People at his age hate getting told off, or rather, being told what to do, it didn’t matter if they are right or wrong.
“I’m sorry, we’re leaving right now.” I said while trying to stop Alvin from flaring up. I’ve seen him snap for something as trivia as a biscuit wrapper in the middle of the lake.
The resident of the private estate we are standing beside made a complaint to the police according to Chan. He asked to check our identifications and I could see my boss about to explode.
To him, this is not about the police doing their job. To him, this is two young punks trying to accuse him of something.
Alvin started raising his voice, not at the police, but at me.
“JERRY ! FUCK LA. Rich people…. Afraid to DIE AH. A little bit of 2nd hand smoke also need to call police!. Outside here is public road ok. not their grandfather road AH !”
It may appear that Alvin was talking to me but anyone could see that was meant for the owners of the property who made the complaint.
I could see the expression on Sulyani and Chan’s faces changed and I quickly put up my palms to try and defuse the situation.
Pulling out my lanyard and my staff pass, I explained that we work for Nparks.
I literally had to wrestle my boss’s staff pass from him as he kept trying to make things difficult.
Chan insisted on our IDs and I almost had to rob Alvin for his wallet to hand it over to Chan.
“He’s my boss, bad day for him. We’re done here. We’re going off. Now. like right now… I’m sorry for the trouble.” I said with a smile while trying to drag Alvin away.
I gestured for his cigarette, but that stubborn old fool decided to puff away more vigorously, blowing smoke towards the boundary wall of the house. He’s not taking this well.
Alvin lit up another cigarette, puffing 2 together like a chimmy, determined to fumigate the spot we are standing on.
“Jerry, you scare what ? nothing wrong ? we did nothing wrong !! EH. Public road leh ! you scare what ? ” Alvin said as I continued dragging him away and I could see Sulyani looking at me a little intently.
I think she is trying to recollect where she has seen me before.
“I’m hungry Boss, I got fixed lunch time. If I go back late I will get scolded. My lunch time is 1 to 2 ! “
“What the FUCK la ? . I’m your boss. I’m on half day. you go back late, who the fuck is going to scold you ? “ Alvin said in an agitated manner as he tried to pull his arm away from my hold.
Chan handed our ID back and suggested we leave and not loiter outside the property.
I alternated between pulling him away from the two officers and turning to look at the same guys I saved a month ago.
Sulyani by then had her eyes fixed on me. She was not moving and I could see she was thinking of something. Trying to recall where did she last saw me.
I managed to yank Alvin across the road and head towards the food centre.
“Haiyah !… what’s your problem Jerry… ? No need to be afraid of them. We did nothing wrong !.. “
“Boss, I’m hungry. Now peak hour, very hard to get a seat la. “ I said, dragging him like a mother dragging a stubborn child away from the toy section of the mall.
Upon entering the food centre, Alvin snapped at me.
“arghhhh!. If not for you.. I would have fucked that two young punk up…what the hell. Maybe I should go tell that property owner off also ah…what the fuck..! I think the trees in his property is sick, cut them all down… hazard to public….” He cursed again as I pointed to an empty table, gesturing for him to sit down.
Shaking my head, I went to grab two large mugs of sugarcane juice.
“Suar la, Suar la ( forget it ) . You so old already, still get worked up over this kind of things….for what ? “ I said, pushing the mug of drink over to him.
The frown on his irritated face got a bit better after the down a large gulp of the cold drink.
Alvin wanted prawn noodles and I told him I’ll get the same thing.
After a short wait, I was about to tuck into my bowl of noodles when I saw Sulyani and Chan coming into the food centre.
I don’t think they are there for us, they’re probably there to grab lunch too but they saw us. Or rather, Alvin saw them.
Sulyani and Chan did not see us initially, they went to get their own lunch and I started praying when I saw them looking around for seats. It just so happened that the table beside us decide to get up.
“not here, not here, please not here.” I mumbled under my breath.
Fate has a way of playing with people and as luck would have it, Sulyani and Chan set their food down on the table beside us.
Alvin set his utensils down in a defiant manner and started a staring match. I had to bite down on my tongue in order not to roll my eyes.
“Boss, come on la ! You 61, not 16 ! stare for what ? “
“ Eh Jerry, you something wrong ah. Why you so scare of police ? Stare only what ? Which law in Singapore say you cannot stare at police ? I curious about them what…. They handsome and pretty….“
Sulyani and Chan looked at Alvin as they cautiously scooped rice into their mouth. They must be wondering what is this man’s problem.
“haiyah… just eat your..” I could not bring myself to finish talking when my eyes saw a familiar sight.
I literally froze mid-sentence as I too dropped my utensils.
Right across the circular food centre, walking table to table, is the same old man I saw selling newspaper in the park the other day. I blinked a couple of times just to be sure it’s him and not someone who looked like him.
“Oei Jerry, Jerry. “ Alvin called out to me but I slowly stood up and I looked at the man going from table to table to peddle his newspaper.
He was wearing a cap pulled down low but I know it’s him
The man looked up and our eyes met. He broke into a knowing smile, as if the two of us shared some secret nobody else knows.
My suddenly change in behaviour caught Sulyani’s attention as well and she too, followed the direction where I was looking.
“Jerry, eh, Jerry….Oei… what’s wrong with you… ?” My boss called out to me but I did not reply him.
“Boss sorry, i… I … I saw someone I know… give me a minute…” I said as I started walking towards the man.
The newspaper seller turned and started walking out of the food centre. He just walked out.
I chased after him, coming out into a busy car park with cars lining up and waiting for a lot.
Turning my head around, I saw the newspaper seller walking towards the direction where we parked our car.
“hey ! HEY!” I shouted as I ran towards him.
I caught up to him in time and I’m right.
It’s the man.
It’s the same man I saw in the park.
“Oh my god. Fuck.. oh my god… how ? “ I asked while panting to catch my breath. Panting not from the short run, but from the sheer excitement of meeting him again.
“what how? Jerry “ He said with a grin.
“How did you do that? How ? “ I asked as I shook his frail body, getting a little agitated.
“I’m just a newspaper seller Jerry…” He said while keeping up his smile.
I had enough of this smoke and mirrors and magic, or whatever you want to call it.
The one man that could answer all the questions that was keeping me up all night is now smiling and playing dumb with me. He knew what I was trying to ask him.
I think I snapped and lost it for a moment, turning aggressive. It was unlike of me to behave in that manner.
I’m always calm and not many people can flip that switch but this man. This man could.
I could see it in his smile, he’s taunting me. Taunting me with something that he knew I wanted.
I wanted to know.
I want to know what is this all about.
I walked so close to him, speaking to him in his face like I’m about to pick a fight. I don’t know why but I could feel myself boiling the longer he takes to answer my question.
It’s like I’m turning into another man altogether.
“how… the fuck did you do that ? the newspaper, how did you do that?
The old man shove me back with both hands, causing me to go backwards and stepping onto the road. There are no incoming cars along the road but that flipped a switch in me.
It was a deliberate attempt to make me angry but by the time I realised it, it was too late.
I recovered and grabbed him by his shirt with both hands.
“what is your problem !” I was literally growling at him only to see him putting on his meek and helpless mask while facing my aggressiveness.
By the time I recovered and calm down three seconds later, I turned and looked around me to see several horrified faces staring at me.
Several passer bys are passing judgemental looks on my behaviour. An adult manhandling an old man.
Sulyani, who for some reason, decided to run out of the food centre after me when I came out.
And of course, my boss Alvin too, who just saw me shake down and bully an old man.
“ bloody hell… and I thought I’m the uncivilised one” He commented. “ Jerry… what’s happening.”
Sulyani walked across the road and pointed a warning finger at me.
“let go of him.” She warned.
I quickly let go of the old man, suddenly conscious of my own actions.
Sulyani looked at my boss and me before asking what is our problem.
“First is your boss, now …you…. Is there something going on here ?” She asked with her hands on her hips.
Sulyani looked so pretty up close that I didn’t know how to react. Her complexion is so smooth and fair. Her eyes are electrifying to look at. I seriously doubt any men can look at her in the eye and not be seduced instantly.
“Uncle are you ok ? “ Sulyani said “Is he bothering you Uncle ? “ She asked while shooting a glare at me with that electrifying pair of eyes, her hands going awfully near her taser gun.
“I’m just here to sell papers.” The newspaper seller smiled and tried to offer Sulyani a copy. “ would you like a copy ? “
“ok sure…” she replied.
“NO!” I said, my voice louder than usual, i grabbed the newspaper from her hands. “ I’ll buy it. I’ll BUY IT ALL..”
I pulled out a fifty dollar bill from my wallet and gave it to the seller, taking all the newspaper from him. All 4 copies of it.
Sulyani stared at me as if I’m mad and I tucked the papers under my arms, determined to shield them from prying eyes.
“dude …Jerry, you ok bo ? “ My boss asked in shock at my behaviour.
He has never seen me behave like this before.
Lighting up a cigarette, the newspaper seller blew out a cloud of smoke towards me before adding with a grin.
“I hope you enjoy the read” Turning to Sulyani, the old man tipped his cap before saying something that didn’t make sense at all to her. “Thank you, Officer Sulyani, glad to see you well..”
It was something only the both of us knew.
The man knew.
He knew I read the newspaper and I did something about it.
The man tipped his cap again at Sulyani and started to walk away.
I told my boss I need to take half a day off urgently and I started running away towards the direction of my place.
“Are you ok Jerry ? what’s wrong ? “ Alvin shouted at me as I continued running and turning backwards to look at him and Sulyani with a puzzled expression on their faces.
“JERRY!, are you ok ?! Hey ? ” My boss shouted and Sulyani’s eyes never left me.
Turning around to answer Alvin, I saw the change in expression on Sulyani’s face. She finally recalled who I am and where she saw me. I can’t deal with this now, I quickly replied my boss and picked up my pace.
“I’m fine !, just need to read the papers! “ I shouted.
I ran all the way back home and immediately spread the 4 copies of papers on the dining table.
“oh fuck” I panted in disbelief as I looked at the 4 copies of paper.
The publication dates of the 4 papers are the same.
However, the headlines are different.
A suicide, a murder, an accident and a bad fall.
I glance through the headlines and a smile broke slowly on my face.
“Fuck, I love a challenge.”
………………………
This is new.
4 different headlines on the same date.
I’m not sure what this means but I reckon it meant whatever happens could go 4 ways depending on what I do, or maybe, just maybe, I can do something that will totally remove all 4 headlines from the newspaper.
There’s no way for me to know for sure.
I stuck the 4 different headlines on the wall like before and I read through the articles in detail.
Taking a step back, I folded my arms with my marker in hand as I tried to make sense of what is happening and if there is any connection between the 4 articles.
I could feel excitement coursing through my veins as I devoured the information presented to me.
Publication date for the newspaper is dated for Thursday, 27th Dec 2018. The incidents all happened one day before on the 26th.
It’s 21st now, which means I have 5 days before it occurs.
I can’t tell if there is a connection between the series of incident. If there is, I will need to find it.
I read through the articles and noted down the names of the people involved, the location where the incident happened and the time when it happened.
From there I can slowly analyse the data.
Headline 1
A student at NUS, Spencer, fell victim to a sex for credit scam, losing his savings of $8000 over a period of 3 days. He first contacted this pretty babe online who is offering sex for $150. He went to a 7-11 shop in Hougang in the morning of 24th and bought $150 worth of Alipay credits. After sending the redemption code to the scammer, they demanded more. Spencer spent a total of $500 on credits before he realised he was getting scammed.
He wanted to stop but the scammers have his phone number. They threatened to expose his attempt to engage a sex worker on the internet and publish his details online. Spencer bought credits worth a total of $8000 between 24-26th December, sending them all to the scammer.
Despite having his savings wiped out, Spencer was still getting threats from the scammer who wanted more. Faced with the threat of getting exposed and too embarrassed to ask for help or go to the police, Spencer committed suicide after leaving a note for his parents on the afternoon of 26/12. No foul play has been suspected.
Headline 2
32 year old financial consultant Francis, drove his vehicle up a kerb along a stretch of popular eatery along upper serangoon road. Heavily intoxicated, Francis drove his rented BMW up a kerb and killed 60 year old Tan Shau Kun who was having supper with his friends on the morning of 26/12.
3 of Tan’s friends are injured and sent to Khoo Teck Puat Hospital. 2 of them has been discharge and the last one is warded for a broken leg.
Tan was pronounced dead on the scene by the paramedics. Francis has been arrested for negligence & drink driving. Investigations are ongoing.
Headline 3
A pimp for a brothel in Geylang was found dead on the evening of 26/12 at a shopping mall. Chua, an operator for a brothel located along Geylang Lorong 18 was found with a single stab wound to the stomach in the men’s bathroom located on level 3 of Heartland mall.
He was discovered by a cleaner doing his rounds at 9.00pm.
Chua was having dinner and drinks inside the mall with friends and they did not realise he went missing after heading to the bathroom. They assumed he left and they continued drinking.
The murder weapon has been found discarded in a bin by the carpark and investigations are ongoing.
Headline 4
An elderly man fell down the stairs while trying to give chase to a lingerie thief.
59 year old semi-retired Cab driver Alvin Choo fell down the stairs in the evening of 26/12 while trying to chase down a serial lingerie thief. The estate Alvin has been staying in for close to 2 decades has been hit with a spad of missing shoes and lingerie in recent months. Many neighbours have reported missing heels and ladies footwear apart from their underwear.
Alvin just completed his shift around 11.30pm and he discovered the lingerie thief trying to make off with some clothing from his laundry rack along the corridor.
Mr Choo gave chase and while struggling with the thief, he accidentally fell down a flight of stairs, hitting his head on a parked bicycle. He is survived by daughter and wife. Police have established the identity of the lingerie thief through swift investigations, however the suspect did not return home after the incident. The police spokesman has declined further comments on an ongoing investigation.
4 different headlines and they appeared to be isolated incidents.
There is a common denominator for all 4 incidents, and they all happened within the town of Hougang.
I printed a google map of the town and base on the description, roughly plotted the location of each incident.
The suicide, the accident, the murder and the fall, all of which resulted in death. 4 person died.
Taking a step back, it suddenly dawned on me that if I did nothing, at least one of these people will die. This is if I assume that actions of mine will start off chain reaction that affects others. 4 articles published on the same date could mean that if I save 1, the 2nd one will die, if I saved 2, the 3rd will die and so on.
There is a chance that if I save one of them , I might inevitably set off the events that killed the other 3.
However, if I don’t do anything, there is also a chance that all 4 will die. There’s no way for me to know.
I calmed myself down and tried to put things in perspective.
The victims are all within close vicinity of each other, the events happened within hours of each other.
I might just be able to stop them all. If I succeed, I would have saved 4 person.
The timing of each incident is different, I can see they are a few hours apart. That’s good news for me because it means they don’t all happen at the same time.
They are sequential.
4 different headlines, with different time of occurrence, I will take this as if I stop one from happening, it would trigger the other incident, thereby taking on the headline of the day, replacing the one I stopped.
However, if I can stop all 4 from happening, kill it in the cradle. None of these articles will appear on the newspaper.
That is the most plausible theory I can come up with.
I pasted a post it note on Article 1, Spencer.
This is the easy one.
Why ?
Well, I know his face, I know the location, I know the day when it all started.
I just need to stop Spencer from making the 1st purchase of the Alipay credit to stop the scam.
No scam, no threats by the scammer, no suicide.
This 1st case can be a warmup.
Base on the timing, the murder of the pimp, Chua, is the next to happen. I know how Chua looks like, which mall he goes to and which toilet he was found dead.
I might just be able to stop the murder if I’m there.
It’s dumb I know, putting myself in harm’s way for someone I don’t even know but I can’t help it.
Besides, if there are other people in the toilet, how are you going to stab the guy ? Surely you would think twice no ? I would think between Chua and me, 2 adults would surely be enough to stop the murderer.
Why would you commit a crime in full view of another person?
Or perhaps I can stop Chua from going into the bathroom. I mean, getting him to pee or shit all over himself is better than he end up dead right ? Maybe I can lock the bathroom or choke it.
Next would be the accident by the drunk driver. Francis. I can’t stop a moving car, I only know the direction which he is coming from. There was no mention of when Francis was drinking either. If not, I could have stopped him at his drinking hole.
However, I can clear the people having supper by the side of the road I guess.
I just need a way to convince the guest seated along the side of the road to move. Hell, I have 200000 from the lottery, I can book the whole fucking shop if I want to.
Maybe fill each table up with food and tell the operator I’m honouring the dead or something.
It’s doable.
Definitely doable.
Last would be the lingerie thief.
I know the block of flats where the incident happened but I don’t know which unit or which level it happened. However, there are several photos of the scene. All I need to do, is to take the pictures, head down to site and find it. The old locked bicycle that Alvin hit his head against is a dead giveaway.
If I can find that bicycle along the stair landing, I would be able to find the spot where he died.
I will then camp there and wait for either the thief to appear, or Alvin to start chasing. I’ll just need to be near the staircase when it happened to stop him from falling or hitting the parked bike.
I went through the articles again and going through my preliminary plan to see if I miss something out.
So far so good. It seems pretty straight forward. I’m on leave the entire week too, which gives me the time to prepare myself and walk the ground.
It can be done.
It’s exciting no matter how I look at it. If I pull it off, I’m going to save 4 lives and a few broken families.
22nd December 2018
Saturday
I took a cab to Hougang, starting with the block where Spencer stays.
Block 23 sits at the junction of Upper Serangoon road and Hougang Aveue 3.
Walking to the convenient stall, I went in and took my time browsing the drinks in the fridge. This is where Spencer bought the prepaid credits for the scammer.
I paid for a bottle of coffee and left the shop.
Under the block, there is a coffee shop, a clinic among other sundry shops.
A distant away, I could see a warning sign put up by the police, warning residents about sex for credit scams. Apparently, it’s not obvious enough for Spencer to see it.
I walked up and down the entire length of the block, looking at the multiple cameras as I thought of how to let Spencer know he is being scammed. Suddenly, I was hit with a great idea.
What better example to give others, than an example of myself being scammed?
Exactly.
I looked at my phone and around the vicinity.
All I needed to do, is pretend I was getting scammed, maybe get into a heated argument with the imaginary scammer on my end of the line. As long as I am within Spencer’s earshot, he will surely pay attention to me.
And if he still goes ahead and gets cheated when he sees me going through the same thing, I will probably just go ahead and slap some sense into him or something.
I took down some notes and it’s settled for Spencer’s situation.
Next, the pimp. I took a short bus ride to heartland mall and made my way up to level 3. This mall’s bathroom layout is a bit peculiar. There are men and ladies bathroom on the ground floor, but only ladies on level 2 and only men’s on level 3.
While the bathroom on level one is always crowded, the one on level 3 is practically empty. I mean, who wants to take the escalator up to level 3 to take a piss unless you happen to be near right?
Standing at the atrium, I could see it’s a sleepy neighbourhood mall. Some retirees are milling about, enjoying the free air conditioning. From bookshops to banks, the small mall has everything you could possibly need.
I entered the bathroom on level 3 and it’s not very big compared to what you see nowadays at the bigger newer malls.
The article says Chua died with a single stab wound in the 1st cubicle.
The toilet has a stale smell but otherwise still pretty clean. There is a small storage cabinet in the toilet. I opened it to see the usual cleaning products, some plastic aprons, some tongs for picking up rubbish and rubber gloves drying from the previous round of cleaning.
There is also a large bag of jumbo toilet rolls.
I walked out of the bathroom, trying put myself in the shoes of the assailant.
Where would I go ? Where would I run to ?
Heading into the fire exit staircase is the quickest route. It takes you down to level one right away and the camera along the corridor leading to the toilet will be the only one that I would pass through.
I took the route down and I could see the staircase is a frequent spot for the smokers who work in the mall. The steps are littered with cigarette butts and there is a stale smell of 2nd smoke in the air.
Retracing my steps up, i tried to make sense of the attack. There is a high chance that they know each other. The odds of someone stabbing a random guy in a toilet is just so darn low. Maybe it’s a personal feud or something.
I loitered around level 3, taking a couple of rounds around the atrium. There are eateries and restaurant on level 2. Trying to stop a potential murder on my own is just plain dumb, I need help.
My phone rang and I saw that it was Sam.
“hello?”
“Jerry ah Jerry… this time Jelly already la.” he said in an exasperated voice.
“why why why ? why you everytime talk like that Uncle Sam ? “ I asked.
“you went on leave never say earlier, who is going to sign off on my work completion ? end of the year boss, I need to pay bonus, I need to pay my workers. Brother…. Die la brother…”
“Oh shit…” I replied, suddenly remembering I left work in a hurry.
I was supposed to sign off the job completion and pass the document to my colleague who will then hand it over to Sam after he is done.
“How how? , die la brother. How like that ? When you coming back ? “
Looking at the restaurant, and the café, then back at the toilet, I was struck with an idea.
“Sam, I tell you what. You still left a bit not done right ? “
“housekeeping only, almost there. I can chope chope finish in 2, 3 days max.” He said.
“Sam, ok, calm down. You go ahead and finish the work. It’s ending on the 24th right.? “
“yes. Confirm I will wrap up on 24th.”
“Ok, good. you 26th, free or not, come meet me. I buy you dinner. I sign off and settle all your claims. I confirm you within 2 weeks get paid.”
“Zhun bo ? Chinese New year coming leh brother. Cash flow tight ah..”
“Yah la, yah la, you don’t loso (naggy) la , 26th Dinner. At. Errr… Kovan. Heartland mall. I buy you Korean BBQ.” I said while looking at the Korean restaurant on level 2.
The article mentioned Chua was eating and drinking. Among the restaurants I passed through, the Korean BBQ restaurant is the one that has the highest chance of hosting a dinner and drinks crowd.
There are no male toilets on level 2, with the restaurant entrance located closer to the upriding escalator to level 3 compared to the down riding one, chances are men who eat there will take the escalator up to level 3 to use the bathroom, instead of going down to level 1.
“Hougang ah ? steady la, I stay near there. What time ? “
“5.30pm”
“Ok. On ah, don’t fly me aeroplane ar (don’t play me out). Uncle old already…cannot take aeroplane… “
“I’ll see you on the 26th Sam.”
Sam is a bit taller than me but with the body of heavyweight boxer that let his body go out of control. He has a pudgy face that always seemed to be full of stubbles no matter how much he shaves.
His shirt is always those oversized tops with printed faces of wrestling legends from Hulk Hogan to Ultimate warrior.
On his left arm, there is an incomplete tattoo of a dragon. I asked him about the story once, and he told me he was doing it halfway when he was young but a fight broke out in the tattoo parlour. Everyone ran and by the time he came back, police are all over the scene. Being an underage smoker, with contraband cigarettes on himself, he quickly bolted. When he tried to get the tattoo finished, he realised the artist went to jail for some drug offences.
So the tattoo was left incomplete. Instead of a dragon, it looks like a snake with 5 claws.
With a couple of other tattoos, the usual gold chain and the Hokkien speak, Sam is the typical 50 year old boss uncle you see at coffee shops drinking beer after a long day of slogging under the sun.
Despite the menacing look on his face when he frown, he is actually a very nice person. He looks like a bear sometimes when he slouches his shoulder.
With a small business, a wife 20 years younger than him from Vietnam that looks like a super model, I actually envy Sam sometimes.
In particular the super model wife part. She’s not a mail order bride by the way, she was an employee in his company doing administrative stuff and someone along the way, she got promoted from admin to lady boss.
Anyway, with Sam beside me, I think if we were to appear in the bathroom alongside Chua. It’s unlikely that the assailant will go through with what he want to do.
I feel safer thinking about it already.
Next, I made my way to the eatery diagonally across the road from where the mall is. The coffee shop along the busy main road serves nasi lemak and chicken hotpot among other things. It’s a popular joint for dinner and supper.
I observed the big junction for a few minutes and the car that Francis will be driving could come from a few directions. There’s no way of knowing because the papers did not reveal the details.
I walked over to the coffee shop. I have been here for supper before many years ago with friends.
A walkway of less than 2 metres separates the busy road from the closest diner.
Recalling the picture from the article, I knew Francis hit the table right by the electrical junction boxes, pinning Tan against it while sending other diners flying in the vicinity.
Tan and friends are having chicken hotpot when the incident happened.
I walked up to the stall and asked if I could block book the shop for a party on the evening of 26th.
“Sorry, we already have a few tables books that night.” The staff said.
“Anyway we can work around ? I’m willing to pay.”
“Brother, here we do mostly regulars. I cannot cancel regular’s table for one off booking.” He checked his booklet and told me he can give me a table for 8 if I want to go ahead with the booking.
“Ok, but can I choose my seat ? “
The staff laughed.
“No, all taken, I can set up your table for you by there if you like.” He pointed to a pathway beside a cluster of trees.
I told him to let me think about it.
Crap.
I guess I just have to find a way to get everyone out of their seat. The 1st idea which came into my mind was to get a water truck and spray everyone, the same one we use to water the plants during dry season, but that will probably cost me my job and put me in jail for a few days.
Taking the foot path up and down a few times, I tried to think of ways to stop the car from ramming up the kerb. I saw a man sitting at the coffee shop drinking alone. His shirt is torn and dirty, he looked like he has not have a shower for a long time.
No one paid much attention to him until he vomited right onto the foot path.
A lady quickly gave him a wide berth and covered her nose, shaking her head in disgust.
As I got closer, the noxious smell hit me. The acidic smell of stomach bile and puke. It made me want to vomit as well.
Before I could deal with the retching reflex, I turned and looked at the puddle of vomit.
That could work.
I mean imagine having your supper and someone projectile vomit onto your table. Surely you would get up and start running won’t you ?
Yes. Vomit.
Vomit could work.
The hard part is timing the vomit.
I mean I could always do it early. Sure I’ll make a mess and maybe get on some nerves. There will be angry people about but I guess if I offered to pay for the diners including a all you can eat hotpot as an apology, I’m sure those rattled nerves will be soothed in no time.
It’s not fool proof but it’s what I could think of. It’s worth an attempt.
Finally I made my way to the block of flats where the lingerie theft took place.
Block 15, Hougang Avenue 3.
I took the staircase of all 4 cores and I found the locked bicycle that hit Alvin.
It’s old, rusty and appears to be discarded. The frames are broken on some parts. I checked the lock and the chain, those appear to be sturdy. You will need a mechanical saw to break them. Someone probably locked the bike here, lost the key and forgot all about it.
There are quite a few sharp parts and I have an idea to mitigate the damage should Alvin fall again or if I fail to stop him in time.
I’m going to go to the bookshop and load up on bubble warp, and tape.
Then I’m going to come back here and fucking tape up and bubble wrap the bicycle. If Alvin should fall again, the bubbled wrapped discarded bike should not hurt him as much.
As I walked to the bus stop, I was feeling quite happy with myself.
After paying for the stationaries, I decided to use the bathroom at the mall before I head over to bubble wrap the bicycle.
I used the urinal and turned around to look at the empty bathroom. It was then I realised there is a cleaning card located behind the door of the bathroom.
All public restrooms in malls have a cleaning schedule and the cleaner are supposed update and sign off after they clean the toilet. It’s a way of monitoring the cleanliness of the toilet.
I squeezed my bladder to quickly empty my pee, eager to take a look at the card.
Why ?
The card has the cleaner’s schedule broken down into hours depending on how frequent they need to clean the toilet.
Some are hourly, some are bi hourly depending on how crowded the malls are on different days.
The article states that the cleaner discovered Chua’s body at 9pm.
If I can find out what time is the previous clean, I can effectively narrow down the time of the attack to between that time, and 9pm.
I washed my hands and walked excitedly to the door.
I read the card behind it’s plastic holder and I could feel the expression on my face change.
The cleaning frequency on weekday evenings are done bi-hourly and the last cleanup is scheduled at 7.30pm.
Thereafter, the cleaner, working a 12 hour shift will need to be here again at 7.30am to clean up the toilet before the mall starts operating.
The article clearly says the cleaner discovered the body at 9pm.
Before I could ask myself why the cleaner would still be around at 9pm when he ends work after the 7.30pm final clean, I saw the name on the card.
The name of the cleaner is clearly stated on all the cards in the bathroom.
“Tan Shau Kun”
He was the one that would have been killed in the accident by Francis and his BMW.
“oh…” I mumbled under my breath.
Right about then, the door opened, bringing me face to face with Tan Shau Kun.
………………………………….
Tan walked with a slight limp into the toilet, passing me by without looking at me. Dressed in the cleaning company’s uniform, he hummed a melody as he entered the toilet.
I went to the sink and pretended to wash my hands as I watched him check and inspect each cubicle. No matter how I look at him, he does not strike me as a murderer or someone who would stab another man.
Tan looked friendly and approachable.
I left the toilet shortly after that and waited for Tan to come out. Standing across the atrium which gave me a direct view of the corridor leading to the toilet, I saw Tan limping out with a knife in his hand. It’s a small fruit knife, barely the length of a small ruler.
Tan saw a colleague and they exchanged greetings warmly while pulling out an apple from a plastic bag. They grabbed a chair each near the small pantry nook where the sink is before settling down.
Tan and his colleague started talking and I watch him slice the apple into smaller pieces while holding it in his hand while chatting. No matter how I look at it, he doesn’t look like someone who will stab a man in the toilet.
Pretending to walk closer so I can eavesdrop on their conversation, they were talking about some choke toilet bowl in the ladies. Someone threw their sanitary pad in it or something. Tan also complained about his boss asking him to clean up the staircase of the mall, it’s hard on him because of his limp to go up and down staircases.
It’s just the usual daily banter between fellow cleaners.
I took the escalator down to level 2. This is bigger than I imagined.
They’re connected somehow.
The aroma of freshly brewed coffee brought me to a café on level one and I ordered myself a cup of black coffee. As I sipped my cup of joe, I closed my eyes and tried to make sense of what is happening.
First the papers.
Suicide comes first, then the stabbing, then the accident, followed by the lingerie theft.
All 4 incidents happen on the same day, and they grabbed the headlines. So assuming I stop the suicide, the stabbing will take the headline. If I stop the stabbing, the accident will take the headline, and so on. This assumption is based on the time the incident occurs.
Running along this line of theory, Tan will stab Chua, pretend to discover the body before heading to supper with his friends. While eating, he gets into an accident and dies.
There may or may not be some other lines of connection between the other parties involved. I just don’t know them yet.
If I stop the stabbing, does that mean Tan will not go for supper and will not end up as an accident victim ? I put down my cup of coffee and cursed under my breath, reminding myself not to be so brash the next time I see the newspaper seller.
I have so many questions for him. At the very least, I need to ask him how the fuck this thing works.
After my coffee, I went back to the block of flats and bubble wrapped the sharp edges of the old, discarded bicycle. It looks silly but if it’s going to save someone’s life, it’s worth the effort.
I literally covered all edges with the bubble wrap.
Staring at my handiwork, I decided to apply a layer of bubble wrap on all edges near the bottom of the railings as well. Maybe I should buy a couple of mattress and put them there or something.
I took a cab back to office and spent a couple of hours finishing up what I should have done before running off the day before.
After I’m done, I did a round around the botanic garden on foot, hoping to see the old newspaper seller but I had no luck. I thought it was worth a try.
24th December 2018
Christmas eve
Monday
6am
I was up even before my alarm went off.
Today is the day Spencer gets scammed for the 1st time.
I have an idea of how to stop him. I could walk right up to him and tell him ‘hey bro, this is a scam.’ However, I doubt he would believe me. He might think I’m trying to scam him instead.
This is the way the human mind works. If someone tells us something, our mind chooses to be sceptical about it, but if we see something happening in front of our eyes, we tend to believe it.
Anything and everything is more believable, as long as our mind arrives on that conclusion without someone telling us.
Base on this line of thought, I decided to set myself up as a scam victim. Not that I’m going to get scam or anything, but pretending to be on the phone with a top up card in my hand looking worried as fuck is not hard.
The article mentioned Spencer first visited the convenient shop in the morning. It didn’t say what time. I took a taxi out to Hougang and arrived at the convenient store before 7am.
Entering the shop, I asked for a $100 Alipay topup card.
The auntie behind the counter took a card and loaded it with the amount I asked for.
I paid up and walked to the coffee shop just beside the convenient stall.
I ordered coffee and breakfast, choosing a seat that gave me a good vantage point of anyone approaching the convenient stall.
It turned out to be more than 2 hour wait.
At around 9am, I saw Spencer approached the convenient store. He carried a sling bag and wore a cap. He looked nervous and keeps looking at his phone while texting.
I finished my 3rd cup of coffee and brought my phone to my ear. It’s time to put on a show.
I saw Spencer hold up his phone’s speaker to his ear, probably listening to a seductive sweet voice of the scammer reassuring him that once he sends her the details of the top up card, she will let him know the address of where she is located.
Maybe she will throw in a couple of details of the naughty things she can do to him later after payment.
It’s always the same trick but people still fall prey to it. A sweet whiny voice of a girl can be hard to resist when your sperm sacs are full and you are thinking with your dick.
Spencer stopped outside the convenient store and reached for his wallet.
Walking towards him, I frowned and started talking to my imaginary scammer on the other line.
“what is the meaning of this ? I already send you the picture of my top up card, and you want more ? I send a few hundred already you know. “
I paused and from the corner of my eye, I saw Spencer looking at me.
Using a voice in distressed, I continued talking.
“ I really have no more money already. You at first tell me $50, then $100. Now you want $300!. Just send me the address of the girl already!”
I paced up and down the entrance of the store and Spencer is staring right at me as I pretended to pull my hair. Raising my voice, I threatened the imaginary scammer on the other end of the line.
“Oh FUCK YOU.. you think I afraid of you ? Fuck you ah.. I’m not paying you anymore…… FUCK off… what? What ? Gangster ? Gangster ah ? you gangster ? you sure ? COME LA.. come down now.. you here. You sure you here. ? Come here… I’m wearing blue, standing in front of the convenient store… come… I dare you to come… don’t talk cock with me… come down !.. fuck… you… fuck you ah..!” I cursed loudly in an agitated manner that it drew the attention of a few retirees having breakfast in the coffee shop.
I was breathing hard and I made eye contact with Spencer who was staring at me dumbfounded.
“WHAT ?! Never see people get scam before is it ?!?? You never see people kena (fall victim) the sex for credit scam ? What is there to look at? “ I said while glaring at Spencer in an aggressive manner. “I stupid la… I’m stupid… I really think a pretty girl will sleep with me for $120…I’m stupid…happy ? happy or not?!”
He immediately looked at his phone and switched it off.
Spencer turned around and pulled his cap down low and started walking away.
I bit my lips and fought back a chuckle. My face was flushing red and it was so fucking embarrassing but it got the job done.
See, this one is easy.
I ignored the stares the retirees are giving me and ordered another drink at the coffee shop. I just want to hang around a while longer to make sure Spencer never came back.
He didn’t and I’m so thankful he did not.
Surely that exaggerated act of mine is enough of a warning even for the most muddleheaded chap who is thinking with his penis. I mean come on. Even a simple foot and shoulder massage by a auntie in her fifties in Singapore will set you back between $40 to $55.
A sleazy massage shop needs $50-$88 as ‘entrance fee’ even before they pop the golden question if you need a ‘happy ending’. Those are separate charges by the way.
You really expect a pretty and hot 21 year old babe to have sex with you for $120-150 through the night ? Does chicken rice still cost 30 cents at the food centre ?
Despite the widely advertised warnings about falling prey to sex for credit scams, it’s still happening. The message is not getting through to the men.
Perhaps the government should start advertising how much legal sex services cost in Singapore. I mean there are legal, and licensed sex workers in Singapore, it’s 2018 for god sake.
Why are we still adopting the ‘don’t ask don’t tell’ mentality at this?
If you can put notices at airports telling tourists how much a cab ride would cost to go to town, why can’t you be more kind to your own citizens?
Put up a damm sign to educate the people how much legal sex services cost, instead of having them trawl banned forums and sites to find out.
Surely having a price comparison would knock some sense into the potential victims.
No one is saying we should be proud and advertise to the world we have legal prostitution in Singapore, but it’s nothing to be ashamed of either. Just make it known to these clueless young punks.
I’m sure it’s not hard to slip in a lecture or two during national service about this shit when there are already so many ‘F’ words being thrown around.
I could still feel the eyes of the coffee shop patrons on me and decided it was time to go.
They probably think I’m an idiot but it’s ok. As long as Spencer don’t jump, I’m fine with people thinking I’m stupid.
They will probably forget about this in a few days.
I took a bus to the mall where the stabbing will be taking place in a couple of days and did another walkabout.
I saw Tan again. He was smiling and talking to a shop tenant while pushing his cleaning trolley. He walked passed the Korean restaurant and waved to someone inside. I cannot imagine how he is going from a friendly neighbourhood mall cleaner to killing a pimp.
26th December 2018
Wednesday
5.30pm
I waited for Sam at the mall entrance and I saw him walking towards me with a old fanny pack around his body. He waved from a distance away, unable to hide the glee on his face that I am buying him dinner.
I have only bought him coffee and water so far. Despite his repeated attempts to ask me out and buy me lunch, I have refused his offers. It’s not nice for a public servant to be dining out with contractors who are footing the bill.
I prefer to draw a line between work and personal life.
Today however, I’m afraid the line is going to get blurred.
Sam was wearing his company’s polo t-shirt, the services he provides clearly advertised on his back. His expression clearly indicated that he is glad to be able to get away from wife and kids.
I could see him holding a file in his hands, the documents I needed to sign off.
“Yo yo yo, Jerry, Jerry, Jerry…” Sam said in a spritely voice.
“ya ya ya, Sam Sam Sam…” I replied in a ‘meh’ voice.
“Wah, you first time ask me come out eat ley…. I going to win lottery…” Sam chuckled as we start walking towards the restaurant.
He lowered his voice a notched and asked if I needed help with something.
I turned and gave him a raised eyebrow look, wondering how he read my mind.
“Actually last month, your colleague Trisha ah, wah liew, she ask my people help her clear one entire patch ah, no money one ok…! “ Sam went on saying the other contractor played her out, left a section of their site untouched and Tricia did not know about it until it was too late.
“But I steady one, I settle for her” Sam said ‘settle’ in a forceful manner, slicing his palm faced down to the front of his chest like he solved a nuclear crisis or something.
“Tricia always doesn’t check her site properly.” I said while asking for a table for 2 at the restaurant. “I’m the opposite of her.”
“She always wear high heels mah, girls wear heels kok kok kok, walk shopping mall and office only.” Sam took a seat and opened the menu.
“Order what you want, my treat today.” I said.
“I kidding with you la Jerry, how can I let you treat ? I buy la, I buy la..” Sam said while gesturing to the staff to place his order.
I told him it’s either I buy the dinner or I’m not signing off the document.
“wah, like that ah. You don’t regret ah… Uncle is meat eater I tell you..” Sam chuckled and started placing orders of beef and chicken.
Sam and I talked about work as the meat was served and left to sizzle on the grill.
6pm.
I was putting a slice of beef in a vegetable wrap when what I saw at the entrance of the restaurant sent a shiver down my spine. I was expecting a familiar face, but I saw 2 instead.
The pimp, Chua is right up front and a couple of bodies behind him, is Francis.
The group file into the restaurant, talking loudly drawing the attention of the other restaurant patrons.
Chua is wearing a black long sleeve shirt that is left tuck out of his pants. The 1st button of his top is undone, revealing a partial tattoo of a demigod. A gold chain sits prominently around his neck and he walks with a swagger into the eatery.
The look on his face is one that is on the lookout for trouble. He has that gaze that readily engages people who are looking at him like he wanted to pick a fight.
He cast a look at our table, no doubt spotting the equally tattooed Sam stuffing a mouthful of cabbage wrapped beef into his mouth. Sam, upon seeing someone stare at him, put done his metal chopsticks and rest both hands on his thigh with his elbows angled outwards.
The old school stare down lasted barely 3 seconds and continued even after Chua joined his friends at the table.
The table of 6 includes Francis, a bespectacled man with the douchbag haircut. Decked out in branded goods from head to toe, he looks like the typical insurance agent that wears an expensive watch and drives a continental car.
Minutes after sitting down, the behaviour of the group clearly riled up other customers in the shop.
The talked loudly and cursed openly, throwing the ‘F’ word about even though there are kids in the restaurant. Chua is also particularly rude to the service staff, shouting at them to get their attention during the dinner peak.
In fact, Chua is the most rude one out of the group. He openly picked on service staff and even tell other tables off when they asked them to lower their voice.
“Not happy ? huh ? beat me la… you want to beat me ? “ He said in a defiant many while pointing to his cheek.
When their orders are finally placed, they quietened down a notch, but just when I thought we can enjoy a meal peacefully, the sound of soju glasses and beer mugs hitting the table noisily started to fill the restaurant, drawing the ire of the neighbouring tables.
One of the guys 2 tables away with his girlfriend went over to ask his friends to lower their volume but Chua commented loudly that this is the atmosphere in the restaurant when he eats in Korea.
I was tempted to tell him that his is Kovan, not Korea when I reminded myself that stakes are a lot bigger than correcting his behaviour and English that night.
“Public space wo !, why cannot talk loudly ? why ? you want to act hero in front of girl is it ? come la beat me, beat me, I won’t fight back, beat me ?” Chua pointed to his face again, giving that really stuck up asshole expression.
Chua’s friend apologised and asked Chua to sit back down.
The group ate noisily and they spat food directly onto the floor. Their used napkins and the small bones from their beef ribs all went straight to the floor.
One of the female staff tried to give them a container to put their waste but they just waved her away in a rude manner. Within a span of an hour, Chua demanded their grill plate be changed twice, scolded a staff for being too slow and shouted at another staff for not coming to help with their meat in a prompt manner.
While the rest of his friends are a little rowdy in their behaviour, Chua is always the loudest one and he speaks in an aggressive manner.
“How to eat like that you tell me ? How to eat this ?! “ He said while throwing a half slab of rib onto the table before throwing the tongs at the staff.
The rib looked a little charred, you can probably scrap off the black bits at the side and its still fine. There’s no need to throw the whole slab.
Gesturing his index finger at the staff, he pointed to the meat he threw on the table.
“I tell you, you eat this and show me. So black !, you want me to die is it ?”
While a friend of his asked Chua to calm down, the others just chuckled as the staff apologised and offered to replace the meat with a new one.
I could see the staff trying to call the restaurant owner, probably to inform him about the difficult table.
Half a dozen empty soju bottles sat on the floor near the group with another half a dozen of beer bottles scattered about the table and floor.
For absolutely no reason at all, Chua started tapping the grill with the metal Tongs, scraping and making a din while eyeballing the overworked staff who was trying to take another round of orders.
“Neh sweel eh… ( breast not bad ). Come my place work want or not ? hahaha.” Chua teased the female staff who quickly took the menu and walked away.
“what a table of assholes.” Sam said while eyeing them in an irritated manner.
“ignore them la, just eat our food.” I said.
Seeing the group drink, Sam asked if we should also order a few bottles of beer.
“You’re driving, don’t drink.”
“I live just 10 minutes away.”
“but you’re still driving right. What if you hit someone, who is going to take care of your kids and wife ? ”
“Wah lau eh Jerry. You very the wet blanket leh… ok, ok, ok. Drink coke, Drink coke.”
7.30pm
This is the time for the last round of cleaning in the toilet. After that, Tan is probably going to be at other sections of the mall.
The newspaper article says Tan raised the alarm of the body at 9pm. Chua is still sitting a few tables from me. It’s going to happen soon I think.
The expression on the faces of staff and other restaurant patrons speaks volumes about the noisy table.
Chua has been harassing the female staff by the name of Brenda for the past hour. He commented on her breast, her legs, how smooth her skin is.
When a male staff tried to serve that table, Chua shouted for him to go away.
“get her to serve us, she got breast, got legs, you got what? Hairy leg ah ? “ Chua said as his friends laughed.
Everyone was looking at Chua and his friends, but they could not give two fucks what others thought about their behaviour.
The final straw came when Brenda was asked over to the table to cut down a few pieces of grilled meat for the men. While cutting, Chua deliberately made Brenda put the pieces of meat into the places of his friends around the table.
Since she is standing at one side of the table, she needs to reach over and stretch to reach the plates on the other side.
As she stretched, Chua openly ogled at her legs, bringing his face close to her thighs and doing the eyebrow raising kind of look at his friends who were all laughing.
“here one hour how much they pay you little girl…come my place work, I guarantee you…. Whoooo… hahha.” Chua laughed as he heckled the girl.” Don’t angry leh little girl…don’t wait you ask your boyfriend come and beat me wor…”
I can’t believe an asshole like him exists.
Brenda set down the scissors and tongs after she’s done and excused herself from the shop. As she walked past us, I could see her eyes are red. She’s on the verge of crying.
Brenda stormed out of the shop and a older auntie from the kitchen came out to tell the group off. She scolded them, telling them if they are here to eat, they are welcome, but if they are here to create trouble, they should leave.
Chua had the cheek to talk back to her in a haughty manner.
“ Please ah, I only want her to work for me ah, not you, ha. Haha.. not you. You no market. Hahaha” Chua said as a few of his equally intoxicated friends roared with laughter.
The auntie stormed angrily back to the kitchen and I could hear Chua calling out to her.
“ehhhh, Take chopper chop me ah ? faster ah..haha.. make sure sharp enough… if not will be painful…chop here… chop here” Chua said while angling his head outwards, displaying the back of his neck towards the kitchen.
The adults at a table with kids shook their head and decided to leave without finishing their meals. I don’t blame them. The way they are behaving is affecting everyone’s appetite.
Sam, however, is still focused on his food. He kept cooking and grilling the meat, rejecting the staff’s help because he says he can do a better job.
“I am the BBQ king when I’m young ok !” He boasted. “beef if too cooked not nice.”
A few minutes later, I saw Brenda come back from the bathroom, she obviously locked herself in a cubicle to cry or something.
As she walked in briskly, avoiding the looks from Chua and friend, I saw Tan at the entrance of the restaurant.
He appeared to be walking or chasing after Brenda, stopping at the restaurant entrance.
Tan is looking at Brenda with a worried look on his face, and right about then, Chua made another pass at Brenda.
“Oei, girl, girl… don’t cry la. Uncle play with you only you cry, next time how to play with boyfriend ? hahah” Chua said while sucking to the end of his chopsticks and shaking his legs under the table.
“Cannot play ah, cannot play don’t come out work la… stay at home read book ah… young people… cannot take stress ah ? “
The expression on Tan’s face has changed as he stared at Chua from outside the shop.
This must be the trigger.
Tan is related to Brenda.
Sam put his utensils down and I could see he too was getting riled up by that asshole.
“oei oei oei, what you doing ? “ I asked.
I never expected Sam to shout across the restaurant.
“OEI, KNN ( fuck you ), can shut up or not. The rest of us trying to eat leh What the fuck, whole evening kao pei kao bu ( making a scene ).”
Chua immediately stood up, pushing his chair back angrily while pointing aggressively at Sam.
“What’s your problem !” Chua wanted to come towards us but was held back by his friends who finally realised their friend is going overboard.
Francis turned and apologised to the restaurant on Chua’s behalf and Sam stood up, rising to his full height, unafraid to rise up to the challenge.
“come la, we go out talk..ai mai ? ( shall we ) lai ah (come on).. you think I scare of you ? I put you one hand ah CCB (I’ll give you a one arm handicap if we fight) ” Chua said aggressively, taunting Sam to a fight.
He even picked up the scissors that was used to cut the BBQ meat and offered it to Sam.
“come take, come…waiting for what? “ Chua taunted.”come and kill me la….waiting for what ? no balls ah ? you no balls ? COME!”
The owner of the restaurant finally arrived and he tried to defuse the situation.
Brenda looked distressed, and you could tell she just wants to get out of the place.
The shop owner offered to give all the tables a discount and calmer minds at Chua’s table agreed that they should stop drinking. The mood in the restaurant mellowed down a notch and Chua while eyeballing Sam gestured a middle finger to Brenda.
“all your fault ah girl… see, wear so short. Attract all the wolves, people gangster want to stand up for you ah. !” Chua said, making an obvious dig at Sam. “wait gangster kill me ah… say I pervert ah…”
At the point, I was tempted to let Chua get stabbed, but I knew at the back of my head we can avoid this. We can still stop this. He’s an asshole alright, but he doesn’t deserve to die because of it.
Sam, to his credit, did not let a comment like that rile him up.
“siao one you know these people… you see.. Singapore so stressful.. everyday got crazy people.” Sam mumbled and continued to cook the beef on the grill.
“KNN, take one scissors want to play hero…he don’t know my lorry got chainsaw ah.hahahha” Sam chuckled and I urged him to concentrate on his food.
I kept a close eye on Chua. He’s riled up so many people already. The moment he goes to the bathroom, that’s probably when it will happen.
Gesturing to Brenda, Sam requested politely that she help us cook the rest of the meat on the table.
“Come come, you help us cook here. That table no more food, you don’t go there. “
Brenda nodded gratefully and Sam excused himself, saying that he needs to go to the bathroom.
“You cook first ah, I high tide… later come back just nice I can eat..” Sam said to Brenda.
After Sam walked off, I tried to calm Brenda down by striking up a conversation.
“They’re just drunk and being assholes, don’t mind them.” I said to Brenda. “ You still in school? “
I struck up a conversation with Brenda, who only looked too happy to be away from Chua and friends and talking to someone who is not drunk.
She has been looking at me since I walked in and I’m not shy to admit I’m the best looking guy within the eatery.
Suddenly I saw Chua walk out of the restaurant.
“I’ve been working here for 5 months when I’m not studying, mostly part time. “ Brenda said. “I’ve never see you here before.”
Without replying her, I took out my wallet and told Brenda to put the bill on my card and we will be back.
“ I need to use the toilet I’m sorry. ”
Running out of the restaurant, I saw Chua walking briskly up the escalator to level 3.
I don’t know if he saw Sam heading up and wants to confront him, or if he really needs to use the bathroom.
I walked quickly behind Chua and upon arriving at level 3, I saw Tan eyeing Chua. That look on his face is not good news.
Shit.
Tan, seeing Chua walking to the toilet, started to limp rapidly towards us, coming down from the other end of the mall.
I avoided Tan’s gaze and walked slightly behind Chua towards the toilet.
From the corner of my eye, I saw Tan abandoned his cleaning trolley and he started limping towards the bathroom behind me.
I exhaled and tried to calm myself down. This is it boy.
Entering the toilet, I saw Sam at the Urinal. He was peeing and whistling.
Chua entered and slowed his approach. He took the centre of the toilet, looking at Sam’s back view without saying anything. If he is here to pee, he wouldn’t have hesitated and just stared at Sam.
I stepped in and before the door shut behind me, Tan’s hand stopped the door from closing.
Tan set up the yellow cleaning in progress sign outside the men’s bathroom and stepped in behind me.
Sam turned around, coming face to face with Chua while I heard the thud of the toilet door closing, shutting the 4 of us within the confines of the men’s toilet.
………………………………………………………………………………….
We are all animals at the end of the day. We are all controlled by our emotions.
You would need to be a block of wood if you cannot feel the hostile atmosphere in the men’s bathroom. A drunk, an angry cleaner, a giant of a man happily peeing at the urinal and someone who is biting off more than he could chew. Things are going to get ugly fast.
Sam is a nice guy when he is nice. Turning around after to pee to see someone eyeballing you to pick a fight is a signal for you to switch off the ‘nice’ mode. Guys are vulnerable when peeing and picking on someone in the bathroom when he is not ready is just plain dirty. If that doesn’t rile you up, I don’t know what will.
4 grown adults in a bathroom with a fight about to break out, you would think at least one of them have the brain to stop it.
You are right.
I’m that adult.
I want the 1st strike advantage.
It’s simple. Divert all attention to myself.
If I make myself the focus of everyone in the toilet, they will not be able to focus on each other.
Therefore, I need to present myself in a manner that demands immediate attention. Talking nicely and calmly, trying to separate the fight is not going to work after it starts.
This is something you need to nip at the bud.
I need something drastic, to hit at this with shock and awe.
“arGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!” I shouted at the top of my voice, clutching my heart and my stomach as I knelt down in the middle of the toilet. “arGHHHHHH!”
I could feel my kneecaps protest as I went down too hard, sending a thud vibrating across the tiled floor.
My agonising scream echoed throughout the bathroom as I ignored how disgusting the floor is, choosing to fall flat on my face with my head hitting the ground.
The sudden outburst caught everyone off guard. Chua jumped, he did not even realised there is someone behind him.
Tan froze too by the door as he looked at me whining in pain.
“kerzzz,…kerzzz….ffffffzzzzz….” I gagged and rolled around like I’m a zombie about to turn.
I tightened my facial muscles and made gasping noises that sounded like I was about to choke to death or something. I grabbed my throat, then my stomach like I was possessed. I held my breath, if I hold my breath, it would show on my face how horrible I was feeling.
Sam immediately ran over to me.
“Jerry, Jerry !, hey, hey, don’t scare me..ah… hey… Jerry are you ok ? “ Sam said while trying to support my head as I collapsed onto the floor while feigning spasms throughout my whole body.
He did not even wash his hands after peeing.
“call the ambulance. Call the ambulance !” Sam shouted at Chua whose face suddenly looked drained of colour.
He fumbled for his phone only to realise it’s not with him. Sam alternated between keeping me awake and trying to fumble for his phone only to find it out of power.
“i… I left it downstairs at the restaurant!” Chua looked at Tan who is staring at everyone by the door. “do you have a phone ? do you have a phone ? “
It took Tan a second to react and he pulled out his phone to dial for help.
“what’s wrong with you Jerry?” Sam asked.
“he’s choking, he’s choking.!” Chua said, throwing wild guesses out as he too knelt down to try and support my weight.
I never expected Sam to believe him.
“Choking ? what should we do ? “
“Bent him over, bent him over, we squeeze it out.” Chua said.
I continued my act of spasm while holding my breath and was horrified when Sam and Chua grabbed me off the ground. Chua went behind me, clasping his fist around my stomach.
Before I could react, Sam held my cheek with the same hands he used while peeing and tried to get me to open my mouth.
“Open Jerry, Open, spit it out. ! Open your mouth!”
No. No way.
I just had a fucking filling dinner of BBQ meat and shitloads of kimchi. Not to forget the glass of coke I drained. I could feel my dinner swimming in my stomach as Chua shouted for Sam to stand back.
Sam grabbed onto my jaw like he was about to uproot a tree sapling and I could taste blood in my mouth. He can’t control his strength properly in that situation.
All I could think of was if he splashed any of his pee on his hands while peeing.
“OK, Ok, pushing!” Chua said by my ears.
Chua’s clenched fist thrust into my abdomen and I thought I saw white light flashed across my eyes.
The thrust was immediately followed by my retching reaction. A truly natural reflex considering how full I was. It was not an act as I almost vomited, tasting the acidity of my stomach bile in my throat.
I groaned and I could feel my saliva pooling by the insides of my mouth. That was fucking uncomfortable.
I waved my hands in the air, intending to get them to stop.
“again, again, he almost vomit out already !” Sam shouted at Chua who himself was gasping for air trying to hold my bodyweight up.
I shook my head at Sam only to hear him reassure me it’s ok.
“Jerry spit it out, spit it out quick ! it’s ok !”
I felt the forceful thrust of Chua’s fist against my tummy again. This time, the puke came right up to my mouth but I gagged and swallowed it, feeling the burn down my throat.
I gasped and my eyes starts to tear. Sam could probably see bits of vomit by the side of my lips.
“one more time, harder, harder, you need to do it harder !” Sam urged Chua who, half drunk was struggling to save my life.
Chua grunted and shout as he depressed my tummy again.
“arghhh!”
Then I felt it.
I can see the merlion standing at the mouth of Singapore River in my head as I regurgitated my dinner back into my mouth. I press my lips shut because I was still trying to fight it, but there is no fighting a force like this.
I felt the dribble of my dinner spilling out of my lips before the dam broke.
Everything came out.
Sam gave my back a good smack and that was it.
My dinner came right out. A delicious meal of BBQ meat and banchan is now a colourful waterfall of colours splattering all over the ground.
Chua asked for help supporting a bent over merlion and Sam immediately shouldered half the weight.
The kimchi, the beef, the chewed up vegetables right up to the amazing pickled side dishes I had for dinner.
It all came out. My vomit splattered onto the pants of the men holding onto me but they were more concerned about me breathing.
Chua kept tapping me on my back as Sam supported me.
“it’s ok liao, it’s ok liao, come out already, come out already.!” Chua said “ spit everything out !”
My gagging reflex continued for a while longer. I’m sure you know once you get into that retching state, it just keeps happening until you are empty and drooling like a stoned baby.
I was lowered to the ground and tears rolled down my cheeks. I’m not crying, it’s the gag reflex that made me tear. I have never felt so uncomfortable like this before.
“shhhh, shhhh, shhhh, it’s ok, it’s ok. Don’t cry.. it’s ok… shit happens… shit happens.” Sam said, not a bit worried about my puke on his clothes. “ don’t need to cry over something like that la!”
I was sitting in a pool of my vomit and my tummy is churning.
Tan took a large roll of paper from the storage in the toilet and handed it to me. He also pulled a mop to try and contain the vomit from flowing everywhere as I groaned, sitting dazed on the ground.
“there’s, there’s no reception in here. I can’t call.” He said.” I’ll go out and make the call.”
I immediately shook my head, telling Tan there was no need to call for an ambulance.
“I feel much better now thank you.” I wasn’t planning to puke all over the place but if this is what it takes to stop someone from dying, I think it’s a fair trade.
The smell is horrible within the confined space and Chua, having drank so much at the restaurant, pushed his way into a cubicle and started vomiting too, affected by the smell of my puke.
He hugged onto the toilet bowl and I could see Tan looking at his back view. He was contemplating something.
I immediately tried to distract Tan by asking him a question.
“is there a hose I can wash myself with ? “
Tan showed me to the last cubicle where the squatting pan is.
Sam called out to Chua who was literally hugging the toilet bowl.
“oei, you ok bo ? “ He asked outside the cubicle.
Chua gave an ‘ok sign’ with his fingers without turning back as he let loose another round of puke into the toilet.