It was a Saturday night. A young girl, probably about twenty four to twenty five years old, was grooving at the dance floor with sexy moves, enjoying the attention she was attracting.
What the crowd did not know was that she had been doing this for the last consecutive two weeks. Her feet often ached after a night of dancing in her pair of killer stilletos. This was not an easy job.
The Dee-jay changed into another sexy number and Hailey Wong walked out of the dance floor, gently dapping away little droplets of persperation off her forehead. Her face was flushing pink as she made her way to the Ladies. Looking good at all times was essential for her job.
Hailey looked into the full length mirror in the Ladies and admired her voluptuous figure. She had specially picked this dress from Guess last Thursday. She loved the sexy black cutting that revealed a generous amount of chest and thighs. Her heels, an import from Salvatore Ferragamo. She shifted her body slightly to the right and admired the side of her calves. Her legs were long and well toned. Hailey flipped her hair back sexily and touched up on her bright red lips.
She went back to the dancefloor shortly and continued swaying sexily amongst drunk men and young guys. Several young men came up to her and offered to buy her drinks. However, she rejected their offers because they were not what she was looking for.
It was until ten minutes later, when she found a potential prey. He looked fifty, sitting by the bar, enjoying a glass of beer. The best thing was, he was alone. She looked at him from head to toe and surveyed his movements. Leather shoes and white business suit. She looked closely and could immediately figure out that it was an expensive suit.
Hailey has a habit. She always makes sure her target is the one she is looking for before committing herself into a new affair. That way, she will not get any unnecessary trouble later on.
"Can you buy me a drink?" She asked, slipping herself onto a stool beside the balding man.
He looked at her for a moment and continued drinking his beer.
Hailey smiled and looked at the bartender, "Mark, give me a Lychee Martini."
The bartender smiled and gave her a thumb up sign before proceeding into mixing the drink.
"So, what are you doing here alone on a Saturday night?" She asked, and spotted his wedding ring. "You should be with your wife."
The man ignored her and continued to take a big gulp of his beer. Mark placed the glass of martini infront of Hailey and Hailey flashed him a sexy smile. How sad, she thought, if only Mark was rich, she would definitely date him.
Hailey sighed as she took a sip of her martini, "life's hard, isn't it? Had a tiff with your wife?" She asked.
Again, the man showed her no interest.
"Come on, surely we can talk? I won't eat you up. Besides, I'm not that ugly right?" She asked in her sweetest voice.
"I'm not in the mood." He replied coarsely, signaling Mark to give him another glass.
Hailey touched his knuckles gently. "Oh, care to tell me more about it?" She asked, glad that he did not withdraw from her touch.
"I don't know. Don't want to talk about it. If you want to drink, you stay here quietly. Otherwise, just go." The man said when his beer arrived.
Hailey was fine with it. It definitely beats having to dance all night. Besides, all she had to do was to get him in bed.
********************************
The next morning, George woke up with a splitting headache. It took him a good whole minute to realise he was not at home. He felt the sheets and pillow. This is not my pillow, he thought and sat up.
He almost fell off the bed when he saw a beautiful young lady sleeping beside him, her hair spreading across the white pillow. She still had her make-up on and was naked.
George stumbled out of bed and went into the bathroom. He splashed his face with cool tap water and stared into the mirror. What happened? He thought. Who is she? He asked himself again.
Short images flashed past quickly. He drank with a lady, whose name he had conveniently forgotten, then, she helped him out of the club, and brought him to a hotel. He splashed more water onto his face when what happened after that became clear to him.
Never in his life, have he ever thought of betraying his wife. Now, he did it.
A pair of arms embraced his waist unexpectedly, interrupting his thoughts.
George jumped.
"Good morning, George."
It was a lady's voice. Immediately, he remembered the exact same voice who spoke to him at the club yesterday.
George untangled her arms from his buldging belly and walked out of the bathroom.
"Here's two hundred. I've paid for the room, I believe. Take it and go." He instructed as he took out two hundred dollars cash from his wallet and threw it on the bed.
The girl, still naked, walked up to him and smiled coyly. "If, I only wanted two hundred dollars, I wouldn't have stayed till now. I would have robbed you last night." She said and sat on the bed.
The girl watched in amusement as George struggled to put on his suit clumsily. She smiled and went up to him. Gently, she helped to button up the white shirt. George rubbed his temples and made no signs of rejecting her offer.
"Stay with me. I'll make you happy. You know that, right?" She asked, buttoning the top button. "Last night, you had fun. So did I. We share an affirnity." She continued softly, buttoning the second button. "I know you're married, but it doesn't matter right? We're all out to have fun. I promise to keep our affair a secret one." She went on, proceeding to button the third button. "I'm sure, I'm fresher than your wife, right?"
George groaned as the splitting headache came back. He rubbed his head and fell onto the chair.
The sultry lady smiled and touched his manhood. "I'll make you feel better, I promise." She muttered and George knew he could no longer reject her.
**************************************
"Spend one whole night outside, happy right?" Susan, George's wife of thirty years said sarcastically when her husband opened the front door of their beautiful condominium.
He had made sure his shirt was not out of place and no stain of Hailey were to be found. He checked the common places like his collar and neck. Safe. Hailey was a pro indeed.
Susan had been preparing lunch. He could smell his favourite stewed pork belly from the door.
"Cooking lunch? What's there to eat?" George asked, throwing his suitcase onto the white sofa.
His wife crossed her legs neatly, still seated on a single sofa. She may be fifty two, but she still maintained the posture of a tai-tai. She does her manicure monthly and always made sure she maintained a certain weight. However, her culinary skills were marvellous. George could never stay away from her stews.
"Whole night never come home, come home first thing you ask is, "What's there to eat?" So much for being concerned for your wife." She commented, placing her brightly manicured fingers on her upper thigh. "Where did you go? Quarrel abit only, you run out. Smart already right? Married for so many years, finally got guts to walk out on me." She questioned, her voice maintained a calm and relaxed tone.
George loosened up his tie and fell back on the sofa. He was exhausted, not to mention having sex again in the morning when he was having a terrible hangover.
"I have no time to quarrel with you okay. After lunch, I still have to go back to office. There are alot of things waiting for me to sign. Just go and prepare my food." He ordered and stood up, "I'll go for my shower first. When I come out, I want my food ready." He said and made his way to his bedroom.
Susan took a deep breath and stood up. Trying her best to keep her cool, she clenched her fist and forced a smile. "Sure. I'll do just that." She obliged softly and gritted her teeth as she watched her husband slammed the door behind him.
All these years, she had been treated like a dog. That was what George made her feel all the time, anyway. All he bothered was his business and their children, Cindy, Warren and Raymond.
Their oldest daughter got married two years back and stayed with her family over at England. Warren, this year twenty six, was also married to an air stewardess. He was a cabin crew. As for their last son, Raymond, was twenty four, and still studying in a local university. He hardly came home because he lived in the hostel with his bunch of friends. His mother had been very displeased with that decision he made. She only came to terms with it after the first year of impressive results.
Susan walked into the kitchen and lifted the lid of her pot. The pork belly was stewing just well and the smell filled the entire kitchen. She had specially went to the market this morning to prepare this meal for her husband after a terrible fight they had last night, and yet, not only did he come home unhappily, he was also cold towards her. Susan sighed and gave her stew a little stir before putting back the lid.
The rice was cooking. Susan took out some vegetables and started washing them. George hated a meal without vegetables. To him, it would seem like an incomplete meal. Susan took note of his likings and dislikes over the years and tried to be a good wife. Yet, his feelings towards her seemed to fade off as the years went by. Especially after Raymond started staying out. They seemed to have lost a common topic to talk about.
Susan was not very tall. She stood at one hundred and fifty five centimetres tall. George was alot taller than his wife. Almost a head. Before they were married, George loved her height. In fact, he loved everything about her. They courted for two years before getting hitched. Susan loved him very much. She may say mean things once in awhile during a fight, but she knew she never meant any of them.
However, after they got married, George started complaining about her height when Cindy stopped growing at one hundred and fifty seven centimetres. It was the genes, he said. He stopped complaining only after he confirmed that his two sons' heights took after him.
George came out of the room and sat by the dining table. He was top naked and only dressed in a black shorts. He took today's newspaper and started flipping through them. He had kept very quiet.
Susan felt her husband was very different. Normally, after a fight, he would always try to make things a little better so that they could have a peaceful night after that, but today, he was too silent.
She stir fried the vegetables and brought it out to the dining area. "I'll take the rice." She said and went back into the kitchen.
George placed the newspaper aside and looked at his wife from head to toe from where he sat. She can be too skinny for her age, but she still had a firm bottom. However, when it came to her upper part of her body, he cringed. How could any woman be so flat chested? He must be blind to marry her thirty years back, although she made a good wife. She simply failed in the looks department. Compared to Hailey, she was far behind.
George slapped himself lightly and muttered, "why am I thinking of her again!"
Susan stepped out with two plates of steaming rice. "What? Thinking of who?" She asked suspiciously.
"Oh. Nothing. My mother. She has been dead for five years. So fast." George quickly shifted the topic and was glad that his wife was convinced.
"Yah. Life very short. Your Ma also passed away so many years already." Susan said and went back into the kitchen to dish out the pot of her husband's favourite pork belly stew.
*********************************
That night, George sat on his bed as his wife buttoned up his pyjamas' top for him. Suddenly, he felt a pinch of guilt. How could he have betrayed his wife? She may be irritating and not as sexy as Hailey, but she truly loved him and bore him three wonderful children.
"What are you thinking?" She asked, finishing the last button before she got up. "You've not been yourself the whole day." She continued, climbing up on the bed.
George shook his head and shifted his lower body up to the bed. "No. Nothing."He replied.
Susan smiled and arranged the blanket neatly over her husband's legs. "Yah. Everytime I ask you what are you thinking, you always tell me nothing. Thirty years already, you still never change. So secretive ah?" She teased.
George smiled, "cannot ah? Sleep lah." He said and lay down.
Susan laid beside her husband and switched off the bedside lamp. She was contented to have her husband back.
Just then, George's handphone beeped.
The both of them sat up and Susan switched on the bedside lamp again. "Who is that?" She asked. "So late already."
Her husband took the handphone and immediately got out of bed when he saw the sender's name.
"I go make a phone call. You sleep first lah," He said, trying to keep his voice from shaking. He went out of the bedroom and read the message.
Sender: Hailey
Time: 10.45PM
Date: 1/6/2008
Hi baby. i keep thinking of u. Will u come over n find me now? I'm at home. I've got a special treat for u. u wun wanna miss it!
luv,
haileyyyy
George frozed on the spot. If she continued to sms him so often and randomly at night, Susan will bound to find out. He realised he just placed himself in a very dangerous position whereby he could not shake this girl off.
Just as he was worrying, his phone rang.
"Hello?" He said in a whisper.
"Hey baby. You read my SMS?" The other end asked, breaking out into a short giggle.
George rubbed his temple. "Will you please, stop calling me? I thought it was over."
The girl stopped her laughter abruptly. "It's not over, Mr Wang. Do you think it was just a pure night of fun? Don't forget, you were just asking for more this morning." She said, her voice in a more serious tone. "Besides, you won't want to anger me, baby. You wouldn't want your wife to know about us."
Wife?
George fell against the wall behind him. "What? What are you talking about? She wouldn't find out anything right?"
Hailey laughed mercilessly. "That's why I say, old uncles easiest to cheat. I had everything recorded down. All our raunchy sex positions too, baby. Do you want to watch it?"
George moaned in despair. "What is it you want?" He finally asked, realising that perhaps, money can solve this problem among themselves amiciably.
"I want you to be my sugar daddy. Can? Of course, I'll give you anything you want in return. But, you have to pay for my expenses and get me gifts. How about that? It's totally worth it if you think about it." Hailey explained.
"No. I don't want anything to do with you anymore. Can we settle with a sum of money? I don't want to have anything to do with you."
Hailey laughed. "The game starts with me, and it shall end with me. Only what I say count. Get it Mr Wang? I'll see you tomorrow morning at your office lobby. Nine." She said and hung up the phone.
"No-" George was about to stop her from continuing when she hung up the phone abruptly.
He threw his handphone onto the sofa and sat on it. How could he have allowed himself to make such a mistake? How could he have slept with a girl old enough to be his daughter? Worst of all, how could he betray his wife in a moment of spur?
He hated himself instantly. Susan must never find out. If she does, a divorce is going to be inevitable.
*******************************
George drove down to his office in his BMW and was not surprised to receive a phonecall from Hailey.
"What?" He asked impatiently, tugging at his earpiece as he made a sharp turn.
"Good morning baby. Had a nice sleep? I am outside your office building now. How long more are you taking?" Hailey's bright and cheery voice asked. She sounded totally different fro mthe menacing tone she used last night.
"Can you wait at the MacDonald's opposite? I don't want any colleages of mine to see you." Georg asked.
The girl giggled. "I'm waiting right here. Don't tell me where to meet you." With that, she hung up the phone.
"Fuck you!" George shouted and threw the earpiece onto the passenger seat beside him. He pulled the brake towards a side curb and rested his head against the steering wheel. What kind of trouble have he got himself into?
How could he have allowed himself to make such a mistake?
Just then, his handphone rang again. He picked it up, thinking it was that vixen.
"What is it?" He asked, his voice almost in a groan.
"Hello? George ah!"
It was Susan.
"You forgot your briefcase and herbal tea! I'm now reaching your office! You reach already tell me. I wait for you in your office okay?"
George lifted his head up in horror.
"You what?" He asked.
Susan laughed. "I'm on my way to find you lah, silly old man! Why you sound so shocked? And you drive very slow leh. I left house later than you, I also reaching soon already."
"Susan, um, I tell you, you wait for me at the MacDonald's opposite my office. Don't go to my office okay? Not too convenient. You know lah, Scott." George was referring to his American boss. Susan knew how much Scott looked down on her husband.
"Oh. Okay lor. I wait for you at MacDonald's." She agreed and hung up the phone.
George stepped on the accelerator and sped off. What a day! How could he have forgotten to bring his briefcase?! That sort of situation was almost impossible.
**************************************
MacDonald's was packed with office ladies and workers, queuing at the counters, most of them ordering the take-away $2 sausage mcmuffin and coffee. George never liked fast-food.
He saw his wife sitting at the side of the glass panels and moved over, muttering "excuse me" to the people at the queue. His wife apparently came in what she wore this morning, a flower printed white loose bloouse, and white tights.
"George!" She called and signaled him to come over.
Her husband sat at the round stool opposite his wife and wiped off his persperation.
"Wah! You ran a marathon ah! Why you sweat until like that?!" Susan asked, offering him her cup of iced milo.
George smiled nervously. "No lah. Very hot, that's all. My car park near my office carpark, so must walk very far."
Susan giggled like a schoolgirl. "You very silly leh! The carpark is only across the street. How far can it be?" She asked.
George gave another smile and took the briefcase.
"Thanks dear." He said and stood up hurriedly, "Scott is waiting for me. I'll see you at home tonight." He said and rushed off quickly.
"Hey!" Susan called after him, hoping that perhaps she could wish him a proper goodbye, but her husband seemed to be in such a great hurry. She smiled to herself as she took a sip of her drink. It has been a long time since her husband addressed her as "dear".
She was about to stand up to leave MacDonald's when she realised the red plastic bag beside her.
"Aiyoh! Herbal tea! How can I forget?" She scolded herself gently and brought the bottle of herbal tea she brewed this morning across the street for her husband.
******************************
Meanwhile, Hailey sat crosslegged on a black sofa at the lobby of George's office. She was impressed with the building George was working at. Many foreign office workers breezed past her, mostly Caucasians. She had a few affairs with a couple of Caucasians, but realised that Asian men are more effectionate as compared to Westerners. Besides, Asian men treat human values more seriously.
Not that she cared about human values, but Asian men are more afraid to let their wives know about their affairs, as compared to Caucasians.
Some men walked past her and took a quick glance at her. That was not new to Hailey. She wore a red tight dress that revealed her long slender legs and bright red high heels. She allowed her hair to flow freely down her breasts. Men threw her lustful glances, whereas women threw her glances of disgust.
Just then, George ran into the lobby panting. His white shirt was stained with persperation thoroughly from the front. She smiled at the breathless man and gave him a coy wave of hello.
He went up to her and grabbed her arm. She winced in pain as he dragged her to the fire exit beside the lift.
"Let go of me!" She wailed as he pushed the door open.
George threw the girl against the wall and leaned against the wall beside hers.
"Do you want to do it here?" Hailey asked with a sultry smile. She inched herself close to the man and touched his chest. "I didn't know you like it in the public."
George pushed her away. "That's enough. I'm here to tell you that we're over and I'm willing to pay any amount of money to get you to delete or give me the sex videos you took of us. I hope you'll oblige."
Hailey laughed mercilessly. "I told you, only I have the say in this gme. Which part of this sentence do you NOT understand?" She asked, pushing her fringe off her face. "Besides, if you agree to my conditions, you'll benefit too. Both of us will benefit." She whispered and inched closer to him.
George pushed her away again. Her perfume was intoxicating, but he felt himself reacting towards her advances. Why is she so irresistable?
"I'll keep everything a secret. I don't need alot of money monthly. Just three thousand per month and my bills, you settle. That's all. With that, you can do anything you want with me." She teased, licking his chin. "George, let's make this work out."
George grabbed the girl and kissed her fiercely. Hailey was smiling. All thanks to her sexy look, no men could resist her charm. For once, she loved the way he gave in to her pleas. She
could be sure, then, that she got herself this deal.
As George proceeded to lift Hailey's dress, the Exit door flung opened. He turned around quickly and saw Susan standing by the doorway, with the bottle of herbal tea in her left hand. Her eyes were filled with tears of anger and betrayal. For awhile, George regained his posture and felt embarrassed facing his wife with his zipper down.
He quickly zipped up his pants and started, "Susan..."
Susan threw the bottle of herbal tea at him and ran off. It was the last George ever saw of his wife.
When he got home that night, his wife had packed up and left. To where, he was not sure. All he knew was, she was never coming home. She did not even inform her children of her whearabouts. She simply disappeared from the face of this earth.
She did not even leave a letter.
Two months later, a "DEED OF SEPERATION" was sent to him, with Susan's signature on it.
**********************************
Hailey danced to the techno music as she closed her eyes and remembered how George left her and she could no longer blackmail him after his wife found out. It was never her intention to let her wife find out anything about them. In fact, the longer she could get hold of the man, the more benefits she was going to get. She had never fared so badly like this.
Tonight, she will get someone better. Except this time, she would be very careful. Very, extremely careful.
2008-05-31
2008-05-26
When Gods No Longer Listen
There was a period in Lee Boon Keat's life where he hated the words, "thank you, I will call you back."
That was when he was busy running around Singapore, trying to find a job that pays reasonably, has fixed working hours, and that he was familiar with.
He had been working with a logistics company for twenty five years. Sadly, during a recession, he was given "early retirement" with a sum of money as compensation. However, the money did not last long. Shortly after three years, the money depreciated. That was when, he decided not to sit around anymore, and find a proper job to generate a new source of income.
His wife have been working since she was twenty. Thankfully, she is still in the same company after almost thirty years. The company looked up to her in terms of seniority and decided to let her stay after a salary negotiation five years ago. You see, Mrs Lee had been nearly fired as well, due to the outsource of manpower. Due to that, Mrs Lee decided to negotiate with the board to let her stay for a few years longer, in the expense of a decrease in her salary.
Their youngest daughter, Vanessa, was also recently diagnosed with second stage of liver cancer. It was taking a toll on the family, especially when the medical expenses were excruciatingly high. Mr and Mrs Lee were very upset over their twenty year old daughter's plight. Never in their wildest dreams did they expect their young daughter to be sick.
They pray everyday for their youngest daughter to recover completely and for their eldest son to find a proper job and stay on it. Their son have just completed his National Service. Holding only onto his O level certificate, he did many odd jobs over the years, but could not stay longer than a year in each.
"So how is your daughter? Okay already?" Ah Teck, Boon Keat's buddy for thirty years asked with concern as they sat at a coffeeshop near their house.
On Friday nights, Boon Keat will be at the coffeeshop with a couple of his best buddies to enjoy a couple of beer and to chit chat about social issues.
The balding man shook his head and took a large gulp of his beer. "Going through chemotherapy now. Still have ten sessions to go. Poor girl, keep vomiting everyday. I don't know what to do. Somemore each time not cheap you know! They give her a jab before her chemotherapy and it costs almost three thousand dollars ok!"
Ah Seng, another buddy of Boon Keat chipped in, "It's okay! She will get well! Furthermore, she's so young! The chances of she recovering is 100%! Confirm!"
Boon Keat was not sure about that. He no longer had the energy to think about other issues besides money. Money, to him, was the most important thing he needed to solve all his family problems.
"How about your son? Now still no job?" Ah Seng asked, shaking his leg under the table. "My daughter now start work already. At this Tan Tock Seng Hospital. Not bad, earning about two thousand a month. Maybe they have positions for your son to try out. I'll ask her." He offered, inhaling the cigarette deeply.
Boon Keat sighed. "That boy! Don't talk about him! Everyday stay at home play his stupid computer game! I don't know what he is going to do with his life! He wants to rot, I don't mind let him rot, but now, we need money! I can't afford to let him rot anymore!" He grumbled and looked at his friend. "Can or not? Tell your Tanya to help."
Ah Seng sympathised his friend's situation and agreed to ask Tanya for help.
However, Boon Keat knows deep down that his friend was simply offering out of goodwill to help. If he had been truly sincere, his son would not have been jobless for a good eight months.
******************************
That night, Mrs Lee could not sleep. Her daughter had been tossing and turning on the mattress on the floor. She woke up a few times to take her daughter's temperature. If there should be any signs of fever, she must be sent to the hospital immediately.
Her husband snored loudly beside her in the dark. Mrs Lee's tears fell from the corners of her eyes as she turned her back towards her husband who reeked the smell of alcohol. She prayed every day to the Goddess of Guan Yin, but why nothing seemed to improve at all? Her family had so many problems, she could hardly breathe.
"Ma..." Vanessa's voice called out softly. She must have felt the bed moving a little when her mother shifted her body.
Mrs Lee sat up and moved herself to her daughter who was lying wide awake.
"Yes?" She whispered, soothing her daughter's long hair.
Vanessa's frail frame hugged her mother tightly. It felt like she was using all her strength because she seemed so weak. Mrs Lee was pretty amazed at how much strength her daughter possessed still.
"Ma, am I causing alot of troubles for you and pa?" She asked, her voice tingling with sadness.
"No," her mother choked back her tears, "no, ah girl. Don't say that. Pa and Ma will do all we can to help you." She continued, putting her daughter's head underneath her chin so that she could not watch the tears falling down her face.
Tears fell faster as she recalled what Vanessa's doctor told her this afternoon during her second chemotherapy session.
"She is going to lose her hair. That, you must be prepared," Doctor Ho said in a hush. "She is also going to get weaker, and skinnier. Normally, we'll give something to stop her vomitting but it depends whether her body accepts this medication well or not. Otherwise, she might still vomit even after I give her that dosage of medication." She explained.
"Then, will she be cured 100% after her chemotherapy?" Mrs Lee asked, holding the doctor's freezing hands, "please doctor! Please make her okay! She is only twenty! She still have one whole life ahead of her!" She pleaded in tears.
The doctor patted the hand and replied in a quiet voice, "I cannot promise you anything now, Mrs Lee. Wait till Vanessa finishes her chemotherapy, then we talk about it okay? For now, give her all the support she needs. Don't ever give up."
Poor daughter, she is going to lose her hair! Mrs Lee thought to herself and sobbed harder. Worst still, when she recalled how her father passed away due to liver cancer as well, she shook in fear. What if, Vanessa, like her grandfather, could not make it?
Vanessa held her mother's waist and snuggled close even though the weather was humid. "Ma, don't worry. I'll get well." She said in a little brave voice.
Mrs Lee cried loudly. She could no longer hold back her tears.
That night, Mr Lee's snores and Mrs Lee sobs could be heard all through the night.
**********************************
The next morning, after breakfast, Boon Keat went to a furniture shop opposite his house in hope to find a job. He had walked past the shop a couple of days back and saw a piece of note sticking outside the shop saying "FULL-TIME ASSISTANT REQUIRED". He bought a couple of furnitures from the shop before, so, he was quite familiar with the boss and place.
"Good morning, Ah Keat! How are you?" The boss, Lim Lai Huat welcomed him loudly from the front counter. He stepped out of the counter and went over to his ex-client, neighbourhood friend. "Coming to buy furnitures huh?" He asked in a bright voice.
Boon Keat smiled and wiped the glistening sweat off his balding head, "no, no. I'm here actually to talk to you about something."
The overweight boss laughed, "sure, sure! Come! Sit here! Got fan!" He invited and placed a stool under a ceiling fan for Boon Keat to relax on.
Boon Keat sat down and felt better. Sometimes, he cursed the weather for being too hot, however, his wife always lecture him for cursing the Gods.
Lai Huat stirred a cup of black coffee for Boon Keat and brought it over to him, "drink coffee." He offered and handed the blue tin cup to Mr. Lee.
Mr Lee took it with gratitude. They sat down and enjoyed the coffee for awhile before Boon Keat started a conversation. "So, Ah Mun not working here anymore? Why you alone today?" He asked, putting the tin cup down.
Lai Huat, in his white polo t-shirt grunted. "Don't talk about that boy! Very lazy! That other day, still can bring girlfriend come! He thought I was not coming back early, come here hanky panky! But I came back and saw them!" He complained, feeling angry again. "That girl almost going to take off her shirt already! What he think my place is? Hotel huh!" He shouted loudly, taking out his pack of cigerettes. "You smoke?" He asked, offering a cigerette to Boon Keat.
Boon Keat rejected politely, "I quitted."
Lai Huat withdrew his offer and placed the cigerette in between his lips. "Quit better. Look at me, smoke for thirty years still cannot quit. Hopeless already." He muffled as he lit his cigerette. "Very stressful nowadays. Run this shop myself, and nobody want to work for me because nowadays, young people want to work in aircon, high class place! Who will be so stupid to work here? No air con, place so old, and got such a mean boss!" He joked and laughed.
Boon Keat followed suit and shook his head, "no lah. You're not mean. I heard from Ah Mun you gave him bonus last year! Nowadays, bosses very seldom give good bonuses already. Singapore nowadays so expensive, but all the salaries also never rise. How to survive like that?" He lamented.
Lai Huat inhaled the cigerette deeply and rubbed his bulging stomach, "yah lah! This government, I really don't understand. This rise, that rise! Salary, no change! I try my best to give my workers what I can! If times are bad, I also cannot help it right?" He reasoned.
Boon Keat nodded in agreement. Speaking about the way the government works will never bring him to the main topic of being employed. Hence, he decided to stop the conversation about what the government did and concentrate on his initial intention for this visit.
"Huat ah," Boon Keat started, rubbing his bald head. "I have a request to ask from you. I wonder if you will allow." He started, looking around awkwardly.
The fat man laughed heartily as he pressed the cigerette out on a ashtray. "What? Just say!"
"Um. Since Ah Mun not working for you already, how about employing me?" He started, and paused, "you know lah, I've been jobless for four years! I kept finding and finding, but all they tell me is "we'll call you later", then, not a word from them! Some told me I'm too old for the job, but they never state on the newspaper they are looking for people below 35 what!"
Lai Huat looked at the fifty five year old man and lit another cigerette. "You know what I want my assistant to do or not? He have to carry heavy things, deliver heavy furnitures, climb up and down the ladder to fix nails, all that you know. For your age, not wise lah." He stated matter-of-factly.
Boon Keat was quick to argue. "Why? You doubt my strength is it? I can show you! I can carry a sofa all by myself! I can also lift a bed! My daughter nowadays sick, I moved my own king sized bed to the side of the room for her to sleep on the floor! I'm very strong you know! I'm also very good at fixing things! Nailing, hammering, painting, all of these I can do too! You cannot trust young people nowadays, they're too rash!" He explained and paused for half a second. "You see that Ah Mun you know already! No sense of responsibilities! Sometimes, we old men are more responsible then those young men!"
Lai Huat sat quietly, all the while listening to what Boon Keat had to say. In his mind, he was full of doubts. He knew that this man had been working as an office boy for twenty odd years, and he totally had no experience in this line, but, could he trust him? As a friend, yes. However, in terms of health, he had alot of worries.
"I won't pay much you know. Just a thousand per month. No medical benefit. No CPF, you know. Work from morning ten to at night ten. You can?" Boss asked, in the hope that Boon Keat might find the salary too low. He used to pay Ah Mun a thousand five monthly, inclusive of CPF. However, for Boon Keat, he decided not to commit too much.
Lai Huat could sense a bit of hesitation in Boon Keat and sat back. He knew that this offer was too much for anyone who once drew a salary of two thousand to accept. Besides, these are manual work, not office work.
Boon Keat looked straight into Lai Huat's eyes and finally made a positive decision. "Yes. Okay. CPF not important to me because I'm also fifty five already. No medical benefit also never mind! I hardly fall sick. Morning ten to at night ten also can because I live across the road only, so no need transport fees."
Lai Huat looked at his friend in disbelief. "Are you sure? Confirm? Hard work you know!" He asked.
Boon Keat nodded gladly. "I'm very happy to have found this job. At least now, we have an extra income."
For once, Boon Keat felt happy. Although he may have given up looking for his ideal job, he decided that for his age, this was the best God could offer him.
********************************
Boon Keat underwent some training from Lai Huat that day and he was told that the training was taught for free, so he will not be paid for that day. He learnt how to fix up a furniture and polish the drawers. He also learnt how to issue invoices and reciepts.
He reached home just in time for dinner at eight. To celebrate the success of a job interview, he bought a roast duck home for everyone.
"Boy ah! Open the gate for me!" Boon Keat called his twenty two year old son from the gate.
Jeroy, his grown up son totally ignored his father and continued to be engrossed in his online strategy game.
"Boy! I said open the door! You deaf or what!" Boon Keat shouted from the gate. Vanessa came rushing from the room and opened the front gate with the key hanging at the side of the wall.
"Pa." She greeted and helped her father with the plastic bag he was holding as he took off his shoes.
"This Ah Ming ah! Really!" He walked up to his son from the back and smacked him on his head hard.
Jeroy stood up immediately and backed off in defence. "What! You mad ah! Come home then beat people! Crazy is it!" He shouted.
Boon Keat was fuming. "Ya! Mad! Why? Because I have a useless son like you! Everyday play game, play game! Work don't want to find! Everyday do nothing! Is that what you want to do all your life?!"
"Shut up lah! Not like you're very good right! Four years never work, never bring money, still go out and drink with your friends using Ma's money! You also useless what!" The tall son shouted back and pointed at his father, "I become like this, also learn from you!"
Boon Keat slapped his son hard enough for his son to lose his balance for awhile. Jeroy leaned against the computer table and rubbed his face angrily.
Mrs Lee ran out of the kitchen and nudged her husband's arm, "what happen? Why you hit Ah Boy?!" She asked, another hand holding onto her son's muscular arm.
Jeroy shook off his mother's grip and stormed into his room. He slammed the door hard enough for Vanessa to jump from where she sat.
"I tell you! Pa found a job today! You think your pa idle at home everyday is it?! I tell you, you are not like me! I worked for twenty five years of my life to give you everything you need! Then the company sacked me and I went around looking for a job! I go out to look for job okay! You? You stay at home everyday and play your stupid game! I am going to smash your computer!" Boon Keat shouted at the closed door and unplugged all the plugs off the computer monitor angrily. "You think I'm joking! You getting from bad to worst!" He continued shouting as he took the entire monitor screen and walked out of the house.
Vanessa sat on the sofa quietly, afraid to say anything. When her father was fuming, it was better if everyone just kept quiet.
Mrs Lee shook her head and smelt something burning. "Oh no! My fish!" She yelped and went into the kitchen.
That night, Jeroy did not come out at all. He did not join them for dinner, neither did he come out to use the bathroom. His room was dead silent for the entire night. Boon Keat had instructed everyone to ignore him.
****************************
The next morning, Jeroy's room door was opened. Mrs Lee, being the first to wake up every morning, went into his room to check if her son was alright.
"Ah boy?" She called, walking into the empty room. The morning breeze blew into the room through the grilled windows, causing the flower printed curtains to flutter at its momentum.
There, she found a note on the study table. It was Jeroy's untidy handwriting and bad English.
After reading it briefly, she ran into her room in tears.
"Keat! Keat! Wake up! You see this! Ah Boy ran out of the house already!" She cried, shaking her snoring husband who was still in his dreamland.
Her husband sat up dreamily and looked at his wife. "What are you talking about?" He asked groggily.
Mrs. Lee turned on the bedside lamp so that Vanessa would not wake up and passed the crumpled note to her husband.
When you read this letter, I not here already. Go where? I also don't know. But my friends will take care of me lah! You two don't like me, think I very useless, okay lor! Now you all only have Mei to take care of, also can save more money lah! Don't have me, you don't need to feed me or pay for my electrical bill every month. Every month listen to you complain about my handphone bill and PUB bill really make me damn dulan (Hokkien term for "irritated")! I cannot stand it anymore lah! You all see what you all can do with your life! Don't need come find me already. Bye.
Boon Keat dropped the note onto his laps and stared into space for a good two minutes without speaking. His wife was sitting beside him sobbing. That was it. Not even a greeting or a sign off message.
He told his wife that Jeroy needed to experience life outside and that this trip for him, might instead do him good.
"If he comes back one day, he will be a different Ah Boy already. Let him be, "Boon Keat comforted his wife, although his heart was piercing with pain.
And so, Mrs Lee prayed to the Goddess of Guan Yin everyday for the recovery of her daughter's illness and the comeback of her son.
**********************************
It was finally Chinese New Year. A year had gone by and still no news of Jeroy. Mrs Lee flipped the newspaper everyday, hoping not to see any article of accidents or murder cases that might involve her son. No news, is always good news. She still prayed to the Goddess of Guan Yin diligently and offered fruits and tea.
The round table was filled with fresh raw meat and vegetables with an electric steamboat in the middle. The broth was boiling and Mrs Lee sat by the steamboat, waiting for her husband to come home.
Mr Lee came home at about six that day because Lai Huat had to go home for his reunion dinner.
"Sit, let's eat." Mrs Lee said with a smile when her husband opened the gate.
Boon Keat stepped into the house and sat beside his wife who had prepared a feast for him.
"This year, no reunion dinner because ah boy and ah girl not with us. Only you and me. So, we'll just settle for something simple okay?" Mrs Lee asked, lifting the lid of the steamboat.
Mr Lee looked at the two empty seats beside him and felt his heart ached. Last year, the family was seated at the reunion table, enjoying a feast of steamboat their mother prepared. This year, everything felt so empty.
He looked up at the altar and saw the Goddess of Guan Yin looking down at them. Beside her, was a photo of their beautiful daughter, Vanessa.
That was when he was busy running around Singapore, trying to find a job that pays reasonably, has fixed working hours, and that he was familiar with.
He had been working with a logistics company for twenty five years. Sadly, during a recession, he was given "early retirement" with a sum of money as compensation. However, the money did not last long. Shortly after three years, the money depreciated. That was when, he decided not to sit around anymore, and find a proper job to generate a new source of income.
His wife have been working since she was twenty. Thankfully, she is still in the same company after almost thirty years. The company looked up to her in terms of seniority and decided to let her stay after a salary negotiation five years ago. You see, Mrs Lee had been nearly fired as well, due to the outsource of manpower. Due to that, Mrs Lee decided to negotiate with the board to let her stay for a few years longer, in the expense of a decrease in her salary.
Their youngest daughter, Vanessa, was also recently diagnosed with second stage of liver cancer. It was taking a toll on the family, especially when the medical expenses were excruciatingly high. Mr and Mrs Lee were very upset over their twenty year old daughter's plight. Never in their wildest dreams did they expect their young daughter to be sick.
They pray everyday for their youngest daughter to recover completely and for their eldest son to find a proper job and stay on it. Their son have just completed his National Service. Holding only onto his O level certificate, he did many odd jobs over the years, but could not stay longer than a year in each.
"So how is your daughter? Okay already?" Ah Teck, Boon Keat's buddy for thirty years asked with concern as they sat at a coffeeshop near their house.
On Friday nights, Boon Keat will be at the coffeeshop with a couple of his best buddies to enjoy a couple of beer and to chit chat about social issues.
The balding man shook his head and took a large gulp of his beer. "Going through chemotherapy now. Still have ten sessions to go. Poor girl, keep vomiting everyday. I don't know what to do. Somemore each time not cheap you know! They give her a jab before her chemotherapy and it costs almost three thousand dollars ok!"
Ah Seng, another buddy of Boon Keat chipped in, "It's okay! She will get well! Furthermore, she's so young! The chances of she recovering is 100%! Confirm!"
Boon Keat was not sure about that. He no longer had the energy to think about other issues besides money. Money, to him, was the most important thing he needed to solve all his family problems.
"How about your son? Now still no job?" Ah Seng asked, shaking his leg under the table. "My daughter now start work already. At this Tan Tock Seng Hospital. Not bad, earning about two thousand a month. Maybe they have positions for your son to try out. I'll ask her." He offered, inhaling the cigarette deeply.
Boon Keat sighed. "That boy! Don't talk about him! Everyday stay at home play his stupid computer game! I don't know what he is going to do with his life! He wants to rot, I don't mind let him rot, but now, we need money! I can't afford to let him rot anymore!" He grumbled and looked at his friend. "Can or not? Tell your Tanya to help."
Ah Seng sympathised his friend's situation and agreed to ask Tanya for help.
However, Boon Keat knows deep down that his friend was simply offering out of goodwill to help. If he had been truly sincere, his son would not have been jobless for a good eight months.
******************************
That night, Mrs Lee could not sleep. Her daughter had been tossing and turning on the mattress on the floor. She woke up a few times to take her daughter's temperature. If there should be any signs of fever, she must be sent to the hospital immediately.
Her husband snored loudly beside her in the dark. Mrs Lee's tears fell from the corners of her eyes as she turned her back towards her husband who reeked the smell of alcohol. She prayed every day to the Goddess of Guan Yin, but why nothing seemed to improve at all? Her family had so many problems, she could hardly breathe.
"Ma..." Vanessa's voice called out softly. She must have felt the bed moving a little when her mother shifted her body.
Mrs Lee sat up and moved herself to her daughter who was lying wide awake.
"Yes?" She whispered, soothing her daughter's long hair.
Vanessa's frail frame hugged her mother tightly. It felt like she was using all her strength because she seemed so weak. Mrs Lee was pretty amazed at how much strength her daughter possessed still.
"Ma, am I causing alot of troubles for you and pa?" She asked, her voice tingling with sadness.
"No," her mother choked back her tears, "no, ah girl. Don't say that. Pa and Ma will do all we can to help you." She continued, putting her daughter's head underneath her chin so that she could not watch the tears falling down her face.
Tears fell faster as she recalled what Vanessa's doctor told her this afternoon during her second chemotherapy session.
"She is going to lose her hair. That, you must be prepared," Doctor Ho said in a hush. "She is also going to get weaker, and skinnier. Normally, we'll give something to stop her vomitting but it depends whether her body accepts this medication well or not. Otherwise, she might still vomit even after I give her that dosage of medication." She explained.
"Then, will she be cured 100% after her chemotherapy?" Mrs Lee asked, holding the doctor's freezing hands, "please doctor! Please make her okay! She is only twenty! She still have one whole life ahead of her!" She pleaded in tears.
The doctor patted the hand and replied in a quiet voice, "I cannot promise you anything now, Mrs Lee. Wait till Vanessa finishes her chemotherapy, then we talk about it okay? For now, give her all the support she needs. Don't ever give up."
Poor daughter, she is going to lose her hair! Mrs Lee thought to herself and sobbed harder. Worst still, when she recalled how her father passed away due to liver cancer as well, she shook in fear. What if, Vanessa, like her grandfather, could not make it?
Vanessa held her mother's waist and snuggled close even though the weather was humid. "Ma, don't worry. I'll get well." She said in a little brave voice.
Mrs Lee cried loudly. She could no longer hold back her tears.
That night, Mr Lee's snores and Mrs Lee sobs could be heard all through the night.
**********************************
The next morning, after breakfast, Boon Keat went to a furniture shop opposite his house in hope to find a job. He had walked past the shop a couple of days back and saw a piece of note sticking outside the shop saying "FULL-TIME ASSISTANT REQUIRED". He bought a couple of furnitures from the shop before, so, he was quite familiar with the boss and place.
"Good morning, Ah Keat! How are you?" The boss, Lim Lai Huat welcomed him loudly from the front counter. He stepped out of the counter and went over to his ex-client, neighbourhood friend. "Coming to buy furnitures huh?" He asked in a bright voice.
Boon Keat smiled and wiped the glistening sweat off his balding head, "no, no. I'm here actually to talk to you about something."
The overweight boss laughed, "sure, sure! Come! Sit here! Got fan!" He invited and placed a stool under a ceiling fan for Boon Keat to relax on.
Boon Keat sat down and felt better. Sometimes, he cursed the weather for being too hot, however, his wife always lecture him for cursing the Gods.
Lai Huat stirred a cup of black coffee for Boon Keat and brought it over to him, "drink coffee." He offered and handed the blue tin cup to Mr. Lee.
Mr Lee took it with gratitude. They sat down and enjoyed the coffee for awhile before Boon Keat started a conversation. "So, Ah Mun not working here anymore? Why you alone today?" He asked, putting the tin cup down.
Lai Huat, in his white polo t-shirt grunted. "Don't talk about that boy! Very lazy! That other day, still can bring girlfriend come! He thought I was not coming back early, come here hanky panky! But I came back and saw them!" He complained, feeling angry again. "That girl almost going to take off her shirt already! What he think my place is? Hotel huh!" He shouted loudly, taking out his pack of cigerettes. "You smoke?" He asked, offering a cigerette to Boon Keat.
Boon Keat rejected politely, "I quitted."
Lai Huat withdrew his offer and placed the cigerette in between his lips. "Quit better. Look at me, smoke for thirty years still cannot quit. Hopeless already." He muffled as he lit his cigerette. "Very stressful nowadays. Run this shop myself, and nobody want to work for me because nowadays, young people want to work in aircon, high class place! Who will be so stupid to work here? No air con, place so old, and got such a mean boss!" He joked and laughed.
Boon Keat followed suit and shook his head, "no lah. You're not mean. I heard from Ah Mun you gave him bonus last year! Nowadays, bosses very seldom give good bonuses already. Singapore nowadays so expensive, but all the salaries also never rise. How to survive like that?" He lamented.
Lai Huat inhaled the cigerette deeply and rubbed his bulging stomach, "yah lah! This government, I really don't understand. This rise, that rise! Salary, no change! I try my best to give my workers what I can! If times are bad, I also cannot help it right?" He reasoned.
Boon Keat nodded in agreement. Speaking about the way the government works will never bring him to the main topic of being employed. Hence, he decided to stop the conversation about what the government did and concentrate on his initial intention for this visit.
"Huat ah," Boon Keat started, rubbing his bald head. "I have a request to ask from you. I wonder if you will allow." He started, looking around awkwardly.
The fat man laughed heartily as he pressed the cigerette out on a ashtray. "What? Just say!"
"Um. Since Ah Mun not working for you already, how about employing me?" He started, and paused, "you know lah, I've been jobless for four years! I kept finding and finding, but all they tell me is "we'll call you later", then, not a word from them! Some told me I'm too old for the job, but they never state on the newspaper they are looking for people below 35 what!"
Lai Huat looked at the fifty five year old man and lit another cigerette. "You know what I want my assistant to do or not? He have to carry heavy things, deliver heavy furnitures, climb up and down the ladder to fix nails, all that you know. For your age, not wise lah." He stated matter-of-factly.
Boon Keat was quick to argue. "Why? You doubt my strength is it? I can show you! I can carry a sofa all by myself! I can also lift a bed! My daughter nowadays sick, I moved my own king sized bed to the side of the room for her to sleep on the floor! I'm very strong you know! I'm also very good at fixing things! Nailing, hammering, painting, all of these I can do too! You cannot trust young people nowadays, they're too rash!" He explained and paused for half a second. "You see that Ah Mun you know already! No sense of responsibilities! Sometimes, we old men are more responsible then those young men!"
Lai Huat sat quietly, all the while listening to what Boon Keat had to say. In his mind, he was full of doubts. He knew that this man had been working as an office boy for twenty odd years, and he totally had no experience in this line, but, could he trust him? As a friend, yes. However, in terms of health, he had alot of worries.
"I won't pay much you know. Just a thousand per month. No medical benefit. No CPF, you know. Work from morning ten to at night ten. You can?" Boss asked, in the hope that Boon Keat might find the salary too low. He used to pay Ah Mun a thousand five monthly, inclusive of CPF. However, for Boon Keat, he decided not to commit too much.
Lai Huat could sense a bit of hesitation in Boon Keat and sat back. He knew that this offer was too much for anyone who once drew a salary of two thousand to accept. Besides, these are manual work, not office work.
Boon Keat looked straight into Lai Huat's eyes and finally made a positive decision. "Yes. Okay. CPF not important to me because I'm also fifty five already. No medical benefit also never mind! I hardly fall sick. Morning ten to at night ten also can because I live across the road only, so no need transport fees."
Lai Huat looked at his friend in disbelief. "Are you sure? Confirm? Hard work you know!" He asked.
Boon Keat nodded gladly. "I'm very happy to have found this job. At least now, we have an extra income."
For once, Boon Keat felt happy. Although he may have given up looking for his ideal job, he decided that for his age, this was the best God could offer him.
********************************
Boon Keat underwent some training from Lai Huat that day and he was told that the training was taught for free, so he will not be paid for that day. He learnt how to fix up a furniture and polish the drawers. He also learnt how to issue invoices and reciepts.
He reached home just in time for dinner at eight. To celebrate the success of a job interview, he bought a roast duck home for everyone.
"Boy ah! Open the gate for me!" Boon Keat called his twenty two year old son from the gate.
Jeroy, his grown up son totally ignored his father and continued to be engrossed in his online strategy game.
"Boy! I said open the door! You deaf or what!" Boon Keat shouted from the gate. Vanessa came rushing from the room and opened the front gate with the key hanging at the side of the wall.
"Pa." She greeted and helped her father with the plastic bag he was holding as he took off his shoes.
"This Ah Ming ah! Really!" He walked up to his son from the back and smacked him on his head hard.
Jeroy stood up immediately and backed off in defence. "What! You mad ah! Come home then beat people! Crazy is it!" He shouted.
Boon Keat was fuming. "Ya! Mad! Why? Because I have a useless son like you! Everyday play game, play game! Work don't want to find! Everyday do nothing! Is that what you want to do all your life?!"
"Shut up lah! Not like you're very good right! Four years never work, never bring money, still go out and drink with your friends using Ma's money! You also useless what!" The tall son shouted back and pointed at his father, "I become like this, also learn from you!"
Boon Keat slapped his son hard enough for his son to lose his balance for awhile. Jeroy leaned against the computer table and rubbed his face angrily.
Mrs Lee ran out of the kitchen and nudged her husband's arm, "what happen? Why you hit Ah Boy?!" She asked, another hand holding onto her son's muscular arm.
Jeroy shook off his mother's grip and stormed into his room. He slammed the door hard enough for Vanessa to jump from where she sat.
"I tell you! Pa found a job today! You think your pa idle at home everyday is it?! I tell you, you are not like me! I worked for twenty five years of my life to give you everything you need! Then the company sacked me and I went around looking for a job! I go out to look for job okay! You? You stay at home everyday and play your stupid game! I am going to smash your computer!" Boon Keat shouted at the closed door and unplugged all the plugs off the computer monitor angrily. "You think I'm joking! You getting from bad to worst!" He continued shouting as he took the entire monitor screen and walked out of the house.
Vanessa sat on the sofa quietly, afraid to say anything. When her father was fuming, it was better if everyone just kept quiet.
Mrs Lee shook her head and smelt something burning. "Oh no! My fish!" She yelped and went into the kitchen.
That night, Jeroy did not come out at all. He did not join them for dinner, neither did he come out to use the bathroom. His room was dead silent for the entire night. Boon Keat had instructed everyone to ignore him.
****************************
The next morning, Jeroy's room door was opened. Mrs Lee, being the first to wake up every morning, went into his room to check if her son was alright.
"Ah boy?" She called, walking into the empty room. The morning breeze blew into the room through the grilled windows, causing the flower printed curtains to flutter at its momentum.
There, she found a note on the study table. It was Jeroy's untidy handwriting and bad English.
After reading it briefly, she ran into her room in tears.
"Keat! Keat! Wake up! You see this! Ah Boy ran out of the house already!" She cried, shaking her snoring husband who was still in his dreamland.
Her husband sat up dreamily and looked at his wife. "What are you talking about?" He asked groggily.
Mrs. Lee turned on the bedside lamp so that Vanessa would not wake up and passed the crumpled note to her husband.
When you read this letter, I not here already. Go where? I also don't know. But my friends will take care of me lah! You two don't like me, think I very useless, okay lor! Now you all only have Mei to take care of, also can save more money lah! Don't have me, you don't need to feed me or pay for my electrical bill every month. Every month listen to you complain about my handphone bill and PUB bill really make me damn dulan (Hokkien term for "irritated")! I cannot stand it anymore lah! You all see what you all can do with your life! Don't need come find me already. Bye.
Boon Keat dropped the note onto his laps and stared into space for a good two minutes without speaking. His wife was sitting beside him sobbing. That was it. Not even a greeting or a sign off message.
He told his wife that Jeroy needed to experience life outside and that this trip for him, might instead do him good.
"If he comes back one day, he will be a different Ah Boy already. Let him be, "Boon Keat comforted his wife, although his heart was piercing with pain.
And so, Mrs Lee prayed to the Goddess of Guan Yin everyday for the recovery of her daughter's illness and the comeback of her son.
**********************************
It was finally Chinese New Year. A year had gone by and still no news of Jeroy. Mrs Lee flipped the newspaper everyday, hoping not to see any article of accidents or murder cases that might involve her son. No news, is always good news. She still prayed to the Goddess of Guan Yin diligently and offered fruits and tea.
The round table was filled with fresh raw meat and vegetables with an electric steamboat in the middle. The broth was boiling and Mrs Lee sat by the steamboat, waiting for her husband to come home.
Mr Lee came home at about six that day because Lai Huat had to go home for his reunion dinner.
"Sit, let's eat." Mrs Lee said with a smile when her husband opened the gate.
Boon Keat stepped into the house and sat beside his wife who had prepared a feast for him.
"This year, no reunion dinner because ah boy and ah girl not with us. Only you and me. So, we'll just settle for something simple okay?" Mrs Lee asked, lifting the lid of the steamboat.
Mr Lee looked at the two empty seats beside him and felt his heart ached. Last year, the family was seated at the reunion table, enjoying a feast of steamboat their mother prepared. This year, everything felt so empty.
He looked up at the altar and saw the Goddess of Guan Yin looking down at them. Beside her, was a photo of their beautiful daughter, Vanessa.
2008-05-25
God Bless Sichuan
This is not going to be a story entry, but a post dedicated to the Sichuan earthquake victims and their families.
I was watching the charity programme on TV and cried. It was too heartwrenching. Recently, a friend of mine committed suicide and left us. Another friend of my friend's also left this world. Everyone around us are committing suicide where people in Sichuan are STRUGGLING to keep alive.
My heart was really aching. How can people be so different? Are our lives so easily taken away? By some failed relationships or stress?
I can't imagine how it feels like to losing your loved ones in such a natural disaster.
Please, guys, call and donate to the charity show. I donated $6. I know it's not alot, but I'm not able to give more than that. I seriously, would give all I have if I can, but I do it within my limits.
Life's short and precious, treasure it.
God bless Sichuan... T_T I'll do anything for them, just leave a message in the comment box if they're looking for some help there. I'm willing to offer any service I can.
I was watching the charity programme on TV and cried. It was too heartwrenching. Recently, a friend of mine committed suicide and left us. Another friend of my friend's also left this world. Everyone around us are committing suicide where people in Sichuan are STRUGGLING to keep alive.
My heart was really aching. How can people be so different? Are our lives so easily taken away? By some failed relationships or stress?
I can't imagine how it feels like to losing your loved ones in such a natural disaster.
Please, guys, call and donate to the charity show. I donated $6. I know it's not alot, but I'm not able to give more than that. I seriously, would give all I have if I can, but I do it within my limits.
Life's short and precious, treasure it.
God bless Sichuan... T_T I'll do anything for them, just leave a message in the comment box if they're looking for some help there. I'm willing to offer any service I can.
2008-05-23
Holiday
"Please? Just to Batam?" Twenty three year old Mabel pleaded her boyfriend of two years to take her to a year end vacation.
The couple had been together for two years, but have never travelled together, reason mainly due to financial constraints.
Ken groaned and shook off his girlfriend's pleading grasp. "It's not that I don't want to go with you. It's really because of money problems. Besides, end of the year is still a good six months away."
"But, we can plan right? We plan well, then you get a job in October. Then we can go to Batam in December! It's our third year anniversary too!" Mabel urged, nudging her boyfriend again.
This time, Ken got slightly frustrated.
"I told you, we can plan later. When we have the money, and when I get the job. Besides, we don't know what might happen in December right? What if, something crops up and we can't go? Or, what if we don't have enough money? We might not even live till then, maybe, right?" He explained, totally bent on not promising his girlfriend. "We'll see how in December alright?"
Mabel let go of her hand and looked down despondently. "By then, the rooms might already be fully booked because of the school holidays." She muttered.
Ken, glad that the conversation was going to an end, returned to his powerpoint project on his laptop. "Don't worry. We'll have a room for sure, alright?"
Mabel kept quiet. She knew that would be the answer for the entire discussion.
*****************************
"So how? You asked Ken already? What he say?" Minmin, Mabel's best friend asked her over the phone that very night.
Minmin had decided to plan a double date for themselves to Batam end of the year. She was ecstatic over that idea and requested for Mabel to ask Ken about it. She was looking forward to a romantic getaway with her boyfriend of one year, Ronny.
Mabel sighed, leaning against the bedpost. "I don't know. I don't think we'll be going. Ken doesn't sound too interested."
"What? Money again huh? But he'll be working by then right?" Minmin asked, her voice thickened with disappointment.
"Yeah. I don't know really. He doesn't seem to keen to go on a holiday. You know, I've been asking him for these two years to take me somewhere for a getaway, but, he never agrees to it. It makes me wonder if he truly wants to make me happy or not." Mabel replied with a heavy sigh. "It seems that each time we talk about this issue, we'll end up quarrelling, or, I'll be left disappointed. That is why I never really ask him anymore until now."
Minmin sighed as well. She felt sad for her girlfriend. From what she knew, Ken hardly even bought Mabel anything for their anniversaries or special occasions, let alone mention about a vacation. However, Mabel always seemed to explain to all her friends that Ken was still a student, so he was actually financially unstable yet to provide her with anything. Besides, Ken did sometimes bought her flowers and gifts on some good days. Mabel appreciated those days with gratitude.
"So how? Not going?" Minmin asked for the final time, her enthusiasm drained away.
Mabel shook her head as if Minmin was infront of her. "Nope. I guess you guys can go ahead."
The girls hung up and Mabel lay in the bed the entire night, determined not to let this matter get to her. She must, and she have to forget about this when morning arrives. That way, the disappointment and pain will all be slept away.
**************************************
The next day in school, Mabel was listless. She still had not gotten over last night's conversation with Minmin. How she wished she could go! Not alone, but with Ken.
Ken came from behind and hugged her. "Boo!" He said cheerfully.
Mabel jumped a little and smiled. "Hey."
Ken always looked good. His brown dyed hair was always styled according to the Japanese fashion magazines and his dress sense was always inspired by some Japanese rock star.
"How? Still unhappy about yesterday?" Ken asked, putting his arm across Mabel's shoulders.
Mabel smiled. "Nope. It's okay." She replied. "Where can we have lunch?" She asked, determined to avoid any question Ken might be asking regarding yesterday's conversation. She knew that it could be trouble if they continued yesterday's discussion.
They had lunch at a nearby school canteen. The best part about this couple was that both of them were students from the same local polytechnic. That way, they could meet for lunch daily and enjoy each other's company. However, on somedays, Mabel felt different. She felt that the mood for love was fading fast and Ken was not doing anything to salvage the entire situation.
"Are you still upset that we can't go on a vacation on December?" Ken asked, taking a sip of his Coke.
At last, the question she could not avoid.
Mabel shrugged. "I rather not talk about it."
Ken threw a glance at the petite girl. "Still upset right? I knew it. I'm just useless. Other people's boyfriends can take them for vacations, and your boyfriend can't. Yeah, I know." He muttered.
Mabel put her fork down and wiped her mouth with a piece of tissue. "Will you please, please stop saying that?"
"True right? I can't give you this, can't give you that. What you want, I can't give. Just because I'm poor, I'm useless. Is that it?" Ken probed, sitting back against the chair.
Mabel took a deep breath and sat up. "I said, no. Will you please drop it? It's no use talking about these now."
Mabel was trying to be patient.
She wanted to scream, "YES! Why won't you even attempt to try to make me happy?! Why? Even if you're poor, there are things you CAN do to make me happy! Why won't you even try?! Even if you promise me now that we CAN go on a vacation, if by then, something DO crop up or we lack money, at least we can DO something about it. Right now, you're like passing off a death sentence when November isn't even here yet!"
Ken rolled his eyes and looked away. "Whatever okay? I'm not as capable as Ronny. Not so rich. Cannot take you to a holiday. Okay? Useless me, okay?"
Mabel hated the way he put himself down during fights like that. He knew that Mabel would never agree that he was useless. That way, he could maybe, get Mabel to apologise and forget about the whole matter.
However, Mabel had been through this phase so many times, she no longer felt the need to apologise or feel sorry for him. If he had really felt sorry for himself, he would have done something more to make this relationship work out better.
They kept quiet for awhile. People sitting around them were now glancing over at their table, whispering amongst themselves. Ken's facial expression definitely was not helping.
"Look, let's just forget about this alright? I'll never ask for us to go for a holiday again. Whenever you think you are ready, you take me. I'll not ask again." Mabel sighed, giving in to this situation.
However, Ken did not take this positively.
"So now, you want to speak like that? You will not ask again? Why? Because I always disappoint you right? If you have the money, you go! You yourself have no money and yet you speak of me like that." He retorted.
Mabel threw the used tissue on the table angrily. "Fine! Is that what it's going to be like? You're now saying that because I AM poor, we're can't go on a holiday? Is that it? Or, should I say, it's because WE are poor? If, your dad ain't working, and your mom has cancer, you would have understood how much money means to me!" She cried, "All you think is yourself, yourself, yourself. What about me? All I ask for is a vacation with you. I don't care if we're going Malaysia or Batam or Bangkok. As long as we can go away to somewhere where you and I can relax and be happy, I don't care! You get it? That's why I want to go on a vacation so badly! If you don't understand me, go away!"
She stood up angry and grabbed her bag. She had enough. She could never believe how her boyfriend just put her down for having not enough money. It was true. She used her boyfriend's money for meals occasionally because she do not get much pocket money from her parents because of her jobless father, and an ailing mother who struggled to work.
She thought Ken understood all the while, but she was wrong. To him, she was always the one who was unreasonable and not sensible.
"Fine, if that's the case, there's no need to continue to be together." She muttered and walked off.
Mabel's heart was broken. Through and through.
*************************************
The cool breeze blew at her face as she sat on a white chair, facing the beautiful sunset.
Mabel took a sip of her cocktail and enjoyed every bit of the serenity Batam had in store for her.
Minmin and Ronny were running around in the water, with Minmin screaming her head off as Ronny attempted to catch her. Mabel smiled at the sweet couple.
December have arrived, and this was her vacation.
This was heaven. Her long awaited holiday.
The couple had been together for two years, but have never travelled together, reason mainly due to financial constraints.
Ken groaned and shook off his girlfriend's pleading grasp. "It's not that I don't want to go with you. It's really because of money problems. Besides, end of the year is still a good six months away."
"But, we can plan right? We plan well, then you get a job in October. Then we can go to Batam in December! It's our third year anniversary too!" Mabel urged, nudging her boyfriend again.
This time, Ken got slightly frustrated.
"I told you, we can plan later. When we have the money, and when I get the job. Besides, we don't know what might happen in December right? What if, something crops up and we can't go? Or, what if we don't have enough money? We might not even live till then, maybe, right?" He explained, totally bent on not promising his girlfriend. "We'll see how in December alright?"
Mabel let go of her hand and looked down despondently. "By then, the rooms might already be fully booked because of the school holidays." She muttered.
Ken, glad that the conversation was going to an end, returned to his powerpoint project on his laptop. "Don't worry. We'll have a room for sure, alright?"
Mabel kept quiet. She knew that would be the answer for the entire discussion.
*****************************
"So how? You asked Ken already? What he say?" Minmin, Mabel's best friend asked her over the phone that very night.
Minmin had decided to plan a double date for themselves to Batam end of the year. She was ecstatic over that idea and requested for Mabel to ask Ken about it. She was looking forward to a romantic getaway with her boyfriend of one year, Ronny.
Mabel sighed, leaning against the bedpost. "I don't know. I don't think we'll be going. Ken doesn't sound too interested."
"What? Money again huh? But he'll be working by then right?" Minmin asked, her voice thickened with disappointment.
"Yeah. I don't know really. He doesn't seem to keen to go on a holiday. You know, I've been asking him for these two years to take me somewhere for a getaway, but, he never agrees to it. It makes me wonder if he truly wants to make me happy or not." Mabel replied with a heavy sigh. "It seems that each time we talk about this issue, we'll end up quarrelling, or, I'll be left disappointed. That is why I never really ask him anymore until now."
Minmin sighed as well. She felt sad for her girlfriend. From what she knew, Ken hardly even bought Mabel anything for their anniversaries or special occasions, let alone mention about a vacation. However, Mabel always seemed to explain to all her friends that Ken was still a student, so he was actually financially unstable yet to provide her with anything. Besides, Ken did sometimes bought her flowers and gifts on some good days. Mabel appreciated those days with gratitude.
"So how? Not going?" Minmin asked for the final time, her enthusiasm drained away.
Mabel shook her head as if Minmin was infront of her. "Nope. I guess you guys can go ahead."
The girls hung up and Mabel lay in the bed the entire night, determined not to let this matter get to her. She must, and she have to forget about this when morning arrives. That way, the disappointment and pain will all be slept away.
**************************************
The next day in school, Mabel was listless. She still had not gotten over last night's conversation with Minmin. How she wished she could go! Not alone, but with Ken.
Ken came from behind and hugged her. "Boo!" He said cheerfully.
Mabel jumped a little and smiled. "Hey."
Ken always looked good. His brown dyed hair was always styled according to the Japanese fashion magazines and his dress sense was always inspired by some Japanese rock star.
"How? Still unhappy about yesterday?" Ken asked, putting his arm across Mabel's shoulders.
Mabel smiled. "Nope. It's okay." She replied. "Where can we have lunch?" She asked, determined to avoid any question Ken might be asking regarding yesterday's conversation. She knew that it could be trouble if they continued yesterday's discussion.
They had lunch at a nearby school canteen. The best part about this couple was that both of them were students from the same local polytechnic. That way, they could meet for lunch daily and enjoy each other's company. However, on somedays, Mabel felt different. She felt that the mood for love was fading fast and Ken was not doing anything to salvage the entire situation.
"Are you still upset that we can't go on a vacation on December?" Ken asked, taking a sip of his Coke.
At last, the question she could not avoid.
Mabel shrugged. "I rather not talk about it."
Ken threw a glance at the petite girl. "Still upset right? I knew it. I'm just useless. Other people's boyfriends can take them for vacations, and your boyfriend can't. Yeah, I know." He muttered.
Mabel put her fork down and wiped her mouth with a piece of tissue. "Will you please, please stop saying that?"
"True right? I can't give you this, can't give you that. What you want, I can't give. Just because I'm poor, I'm useless. Is that it?" Ken probed, sitting back against the chair.
Mabel took a deep breath and sat up. "I said, no. Will you please drop it? It's no use talking about these now."
Mabel was trying to be patient.
She wanted to scream, "YES! Why won't you even attempt to try to make me happy?! Why? Even if you're poor, there are things you CAN do to make me happy! Why won't you even try?! Even if you promise me now that we CAN go on a vacation, if by then, something DO crop up or we lack money, at least we can DO something about it. Right now, you're like passing off a death sentence when November isn't even here yet!"
Ken rolled his eyes and looked away. "Whatever okay? I'm not as capable as Ronny. Not so rich. Cannot take you to a holiday. Okay? Useless me, okay?"
Mabel hated the way he put himself down during fights like that. He knew that Mabel would never agree that he was useless. That way, he could maybe, get Mabel to apologise and forget about the whole matter.
However, Mabel had been through this phase so many times, she no longer felt the need to apologise or feel sorry for him. If he had really felt sorry for himself, he would have done something more to make this relationship work out better.
They kept quiet for awhile. People sitting around them were now glancing over at their table, whispering amongst themselves. Ken's facial expression definitely was not helping.
"Look, let's just forget about this alright? I'll never ask for us to go for a holiday again. Whenever you think you are ready, you take me. I'll not ask again." Mabel sighed, giving in to this situation.
However, Ken did not take this positively.
"So now, you want to speak like that? You will not ask again? Why? Because I always disappoint you right? If you have the money, you go! You yourself have no money and yet you speak of me like that." He retorted.
Mabel threw the used tissue on the table angrily. "Fine! Is that what it's going to be like? You're now saying that because I AM poor, we're can't go on a holiday? Is that it? Or, should I say, it's because WE are poor? If, your dad ain't working, and your mom has cancer, you would have understood how much money means to me!" She cried, "All you think is yourself, yourself, yourself. What about me? All I ask for is a vacation with you. I don't care if we're going Malaysia or Batam or Bangkok. As long as we can go away to somewhere where you and I can relax and be happy, I don't care! You get it? That's why I want to go on a vacation so badly! If you don't understand me, go away!"
She stood up angry and grabbed her bag. She had enough. She could never believe how her boyfriend just put her down for having not enough money. It was true. She used her boyfriend's money for meals occasionally because she do not get much pocket money from her parents because of her jobless father, and an ailing mother who struggled to work.
She thought Ken understood all the while, but she was wrong. To him, she was always the one who was unreasonable and not sensible.
"Fine, if that's the case, there's no need to continue to be together." She muttered and walked off.
Mabel's heart was broken. Through and through.
*************************************
The cool breeze blew at her face as she sat on a white chair, facing the beautiful sunset.
Mabel took a sip of her cocktail and enjoyed every bit of the serenity Batam had in store for her.
Minmin and Ronny were running around in the water, with Minmin screaming her head off as Ronny attempted to catch her. Mabel smiled at the sweet couple.
December have arrived, and this was her vacation.
This was heaven. Her long awaited holiday.
2008-05-22
Noi
The boat was threading across the sea, bringing thirty eight year old Jimmy to a village in Hanoi to find a bride. He had seen some photos when he was back in Singapore, but meeting the girl he picked from thousand of photos made him nervous. Jimmy never had a blind date.
This girl he was going to meet was Noi. She looked tall and slender from the full body photos and she was only eighteen. Jimmy had been warned by his friends that some agencies actually lie about the girl's virginity and health status, so it was essential for him to make sure she undergo a full body check up before he touches her.
He and his agent finally arrived at the jetty. As he got out of the boat, he took a deep breath. Jimmy have never been more sure than this in his life. He needed a partner, and his mom demanded him to find a partner. So here he was, at Hanoi, meeting one of the most beautiful and innocent girl he will ever meet as compared to the materialistic and superficial ladies back in Singapore.
The sun was scorching as they were welcomed by a local agent by the name of Chai. Chai looked fifty. His hair was greying and his eyes squinted at the hot sun.
"He is Chai. He will take us to meet Noi." Jimmy's agent, Darun, told him in English, thickened with Vietnamese accent.
Jimmy nodded and followed the two men. They took a car Chai was driving down to a small village thirty minutes away from the jetty. The village was filled with chickens and ducks, roaming around freely. Children stopped at their pace and looked as Jimmy stepped down from the car. All the ladies that were outside washing rice, rinsing clothes, chopping woods, went into their houses as soon as the car made its entrance. Jimmy realised that Noi actually came from a very conservative village, and that was a good sign.
Chai went into a house while Darun and Jimmy stood outside. Jimmy could hear Chai's voice coming from within the house, then an old lady seemed to be responding. After a short while, Chai came out and smiled at Jimmy.
He spoke to Darun in Vietnamese and Darun nodded all knowingly.
"Noi will come out. We must wait in that house." Darun told Jimmy as he pointed to a shack opposite the grounds.
He followed the two men into the shack and sat on a chair. The air was humid and Jimmy found himself perspiring. Chai had offered him a tin of water, but Jimmy did not touch it, for fear of the bad hygiene the village practiced.
They waited for about twenty minutes before Noi stepped into the house in a red dress. Jimmy was immediately smittened. She was tall and slim, just like in the photos. Her curves were just right. Her long hair was tied up neatly into a ponytail and she looked even more beautiful than any other women he knew in Singapore. She had eyes that sparkle when she looked at him shyly. Jimmy felt that this was not a wasted trip.
"This is Noi," Darun introduced.
Noi smiled shyly and looked down.
Jimmy smiled back and offered the girl to sit down. Noi sat beside her prospective husband and continued to look down shyly. Her grandmother sat on the other side of Noi, holding a handmade fan, fanning herself profusely.
"Noi is eighteen. She will go Singapore with you if you want her. She is ready to leave anytime from now, but you have to pay the money and leave your gifts behind before you can take her," Darun said professionally.
Jimmy smiled. "Yes, okay. I will bring her back tomorrow."
Noi looked up at him with a surprised look.
"This is the money we agreed on." Jimmy handed the envelope filled with cash to Darun, who in hand, took out the money and counted out aloud in the presence of the old lady.
The old lady smiled and took the money. With her palms meeting together, she bowed slightly at Jimmy and said something in Vietnamese.
"She say, thank you, please take care of Noi." Darun translated and wiped off the glistening sweat on his forehead.
Jimmy nodded and looked at Noi. Noi's features were delicate and soft. He almost could not believe how lady luck was on his side.
That night, Jimmy was not supposed to meet Noi. He could only really get to know her when they go back to Singapore. That was their rule. You pay, and the girl is yours. Jimmy could not sleep that night. All he thought of was Noi.
*****************************************
The next day, Jimmy woke up bright and early. He spent the entire morning buying rice, flour, live chickens, 8 fresh salted fish, assorted vegetables, eggs, tins of milk powder and sugar. He felt that these were sufficient gifts to give to his future in-laws for now. Besides, these foodstuff did not cost him much.
"Thank you!" Noi's grandmother took the packages with gratitude and spoke to her grand-daughter in Vietnamese.
Noi stepped forward to help with all the packages. The children in the village stood at the door and looked at the foodstuff Jimmy bought with envy.
Noi shifted a stool towards the window so that Jimmy could feel the breeze. "Sit, please." She spoke in a soft, pleasant voice. Her English, thick with the local accent.
Jimmy sat down and told Noi to sit beside him. She took a stool and sat shyly beside the man twenty years older than she is.
Jimmy might be turning forty in two years time, but he certainly did not look like it. He exercises frequently and did facials back at home. The problem with him being single was, he simply was not interested in the ladies around him. To him, Singapore ladies were too materialistic and vain. When it comes to marrying a lady, he was all back to basics.
Darun came shortly and nagged at Jimmy for leaving him at the hotel alone. They had their last dinner at Noi's house and left to catch the last boat to the city. Noi hugged her grandmother and cried for a long time. Jimmy's heart wrenched at the sight of it. He promised Noi that she could come back anytime to visit grandmother as long as she treats him like a husband.
That night, Noi and Jimmy shared the same room. On many occasions, Jimmy was tempted to give his bride to be a kiss, but he held back and reminded himself that they have all the time in Singapore for these business.
***************************************
Rosy stood at the arrival hall in Terminal One with her sister, Lily.
"Why so long? The schedule said it landed already but I still don't see my Jimmy!" Rosy complained and looked at her watch for the umpteenth time.
Lily sat on a chair and arranged her hair. "Aiya, don't worry. He will come out one! Just wait awhile can or not?!"
Rosy sat beside her sister and looked at her red painted nails. "I don't even know if that girl is good or not. Singapore so many girls, he only want that Vietnam wife. I want to see, how they communicate! Sure got problems one, I tell you! Those Vietnam, China brides... tsktsk." Rosy shook her head and massaged her aching feet. "You don't know right? They all become permanent resident and run away! All like that one!"
Lily sighed. "What to do? We already tell Jimmy one thousand times, but he still want his Vietnam wife. We already warn him, he don't listen, we also can't do anything right? You also sixty already, you still want to bother about his life so much for what?"
Lily could never understand her older sister. Rosy, for one, does not dress like her age. She loves flashy clothings and expensive shoes that often caused her to have aching feet due to her plump body size. She does her hair only at David Gan's hair salon.
"She see! If she come Singapore and tries to be funny, I will make sure she gets nothing and go back to Vietnam!" Rosy retorted and stood up.
Just then, she saw her son emerging from the check-out counter.
"Jimmy!" She called out excitedly and waved frantically.
Jimmy waved back with a smile and muttered to Noi, "that is my mother. She can be difficult, but all you have to do is bear with her, and make her happy. She likes people to tell her she is young and beautiful. Whatever you do, just don't make her feel old."
Noi nodded and waited for their bags to arrive. Noi was already starting to feel a little insecure about being in a foreign land. She felt sick during the flight and vomited twice. Thank god for Jimmy, he made her feel alot better by giving her sips of water in short intervals.
"That girl looks quite pretty what! Maybe abit too skinny only..." Lily commented as she saw the couple standing by the belt, waiting for their bags.
Rosy was still smiling at her precious son. She missed her son so much for the past three days. Jimmy was her only son and they have been depending on each other since his father passed away when he was only ten.
"Ma!" Jimmy called out happily as he pushed the luggages out with Noi walking beside him.
"Jimmy!" Rosy cried and hugged her grown up son when he stood beside her. "Ma miss you so much! Did you eat well there? My, my, you've grown thinner!"
Jimmy laughed and hugged his mother back. "This is Noi. She will be your daughter-in-law." He introduced as he let go of his mother's embrace.
Noi placed her palms together and gave a little bow. "Hello, mother." She greeted in a small voice.
Rosy merely let out a "hm" and held onto her son's arm. "How was it there? Hot?"
*******************************
Noi was in love with Singapore. Singapore is so much cleaner than her home back at Vietnam and there are trees everywhere. The people here drove beautiful cars, and live in tall houses. There are no chickens and ducks running around and the car she was sitting in was air-conditioned!
Jimmy interrupted her sight-seeing by putting his hand on top of hers. "How is it? You like Singapore?" He asked.
Noi nodded with a faint smile. "Yes. Beautiful." She replied, and she meant it.
She was told that Jimmy was rich. Noi had not meant to concentrate so much on that aspect, but she needed money for her grandmother's heart surgery. She was determined to get help from her husband in the future.
Jimmy's house was huge. His family dabbled in the food industry and fared very well for the past twenty years. It was all thanks to his mother's capability to start this business. Now, Jimmy is taking over it and it is still running very well.
"This is our house," Jimmy told Noi when the white Mercedes Benz pulled to a stop outside a white bungalow.
Noi got off the car and looked around. There was a garden and a mini pond with a plastic running fountain. She could see beautiful kois swimming happily in the pond and for once, she realised that she is now, really a princess.
Noi went into the house and stepped on the marbled floor with care. She was practically tip-toeing into the house. Jimmy saw that and laughed, "Noi! Relax and walk! You won't fall!"
Noi bit her bottom lip and placed her two feet flat on the ground. Inhaling deeply, she replied, "My feet. Dirty. No good."
Aunt Lily smiled and invited Noi to sit on a big sofa in the living room. "Sit. I'll get the maid to get you something to drink. You want sweet drink?" She offered.
Noi shook her head politely, "no. Water. Thank you."
"Siti! Give young ma'am some iced water!" Lily shouted from the living room as she slumped herself clumsily into a single sofa couch.
Rosy was in the kitchen to supervise the dinner preparation by the maids. She had instructed them to cook curry chicken and fried hokkien mee for her son. She wondered if the maids cooked correctly. Nothing else mattered more than her son's meals.
A short, dark skinned girl in shorts and t-shirt came out with a tray of drinks, the sound of ice chinkling against the glasses echoed in the living room.
"This is Siti." Lily introduced when the girl finally placed the tray on the glass table.
Noi smiled and nodded at the maid, who returned the favour by smiling back.
"This is your new mistress. Next time, she want to makan (eat for Malay) or anything, you do for her. Understand?" Lily instructed the maid who nodded knowingly.
Siti walked off after she was dismissed. Rosy came out of the kitchen and turned on the air-conditioner.
"So hot these days! I wonder why!" Rosy's voice rang loudly in the huge three storey house. She took the remote control and turned on the air-conditioner. "Those maids. So stupid. Uptil now, they still haven't finish cooking the curry. How many hours already!" She continued to nag as she walked to the sofa and settled herself ont0 her massage chair.
Jimmy chuckled and sat beside his mother. He placed his arm across his mother's shoulders and gave her a kiss on her head. "Ma. You're getting prettier and prettier. Three days never see you, you become younger huh!" He joked.
Rosy casually waved her hand at her son and giggled. "Of course! You know, your ma was a beauty queen in 1970 okay! Then, suddenly, you came into my stomach. Spoil everything!" She repeated this story for the millionth time.
"It was your fault what! Who ask you get pregnant before you marry Ah Wei? You ask for it. Not Jimmy's fault!" Lily retorted back at her sister, defending her precious nephew.
The argument went on for awhile until dinner time.
All the while, Noi sat there, absolutely quiet.
***********************************
The wedding dinner was a bash. Everyone complimented how beautiful Noi was in her evening gowns.
"So pretty! So lucky!" John, Jimmy's childhood friend of thirty three years gushed when he saw the bride.
Noi smiled shyly as Jimmy agreed with John with pride. "Of course! She is beautiful! My wife what!"
That night, Jimmy was drunk. Noi settled him down in bed and went to sleep.
*****************************************
It was the fifth month into their marriage when Jimmy could no longer take it.
It was nine in the night when Noi was watchin television in the room. Jimmy finished work early and sat on the bed with his wife.
"Watchin tv? What's on?" He asked, trying to sound as casually as possible.
Noi, her eyes still fixed onto the screen, replied, "drama. Very nice."
Jimmy nodded and sat up. He placed his hand on his wife's shoulder and waited for a reaction.
No. Noi did not push his hand away, or tell him she was tired.
Happy that he made the first step, he proceeded on to kissing her back.
That was when Noi turned around and recoiled herself quickly.
"Jim. I say. Time. Now, no." She said with a shiver in her voice. "You good man. I know you good man." She continued, pulling her shirt closer to her body.
Jimmy threw himself back and scratched his head helplessly.
"I married you for five months and I haven't even touched you! What kind of married couple are we?!" He cried and kicked the blanket in anger. "You don't love me is it? Is that why you don't want to make love?" He demanded to know.
Noi's tears rolled down her cheeks. "I thought, Jim wait. Noi wrong. Noi wrong. Jim bad." She spoke shakily.
Jimmy's soft spot would be a woman's tears. No matter how angry he may be, if a lady cries infront of him, he could apologise.
"Argh. Forget it." Jimmy gave up and took his pillow, "I'm going out to sleep."
With that, he went out of the room and slammed the door behind him.
Noi sat back onto her bed and realised that her plan can no longer wait. She must execute it tonight.
********************************
Noi woke up at three in the morning when everyone was asleep. For the past five months, she had been studying the house and the way the household worked. She had to be sure of what she could take, and what she could not. Her mother-in-law had been tough on her since she married into the family. She must not let this plan fail.
Quietly, she bent down and pulled out a light weight bag from underneath the bed. Quickly, she tucked in some clothes and undergarments. She opened up her drawer and found some jewelleries Jimmy had given to her during the night of their wedding.
Swiftly, she took it and put it into her bag.
As quietly as she could, she called the train station and requested to know the schedule of the earliest train that goes down to Malaysia.
After making a booking for one ticket, she changed into a simple shorts and t-shirt. She had to move fast.
The maids would be up by six. She had to act fast.
She tip toed her way downstairs and took all the ornaments she could find in the living room. She had been eyeing on those precious ornament for the past five months. All these antiques could be sold and the money could give her grandmother a better life.
Carefully, she also took about hundred thousand worth of hard cash from the family's safe. She had asked Jimmy for the passcode, but he had refused to let her know. However, one day, he relented when she agreed to let him touch her bosom.
"We are married,"was what Noi said to coax her husband. "No secret."
Taking all she needed, she headed out of the house and exited from the back door, leaving the large house behind her.
*******************************
"Do you want to wait for her here? She is coming out soon," Rin, a Vietnamese agent asked a thirty year old man who came all the way from Singapore to look for a bride.
The man nodded and sat on a stool.
After ten minutes, a girl walked in in a blue dress, her long hair tied up into a ponytail. She is slim and her body showed youth and vibrant.
The man was totally smittened.
"Hello. My name is Noi."
She said with a shy smile.
This girl he was going to meet was Noi. She looked tall and slender from the full body photos and she was only eighteen. Jimmy had been warned by his friends that some agencies actually lie about the girl's virginity and health status, so it was essential for him to make sure she undergo a full body check up before he touches her.
He and his agent finally arrived at the jetty. As he got out of the boat, he took a deep breath. Jimmy have never been more sure than this in his life. He needed a partner, and his mom demanded him to find a partner. So here he was, at Hanoi, meeting one of the most beautiful and innocent girl he will ever meet as compared to the materialistic and superficial ladies back in Singapore.
The sun was scorching as they were welcomed by a local agent by the name of Chai. Chai looked fifty. His hair was greying and his eyes squinted at the hot sun.
"He is Chai. He will take us to meet Noi." Jimmy's agent, Darun, told him in English, thickened with Vietnamese accent.
Jimmy nodded and followed the two men. They took a car Chai was driving down to a small village thirty minutes away from the jetty. The village was filled with chickens and ducks, roaming around freely. Children stopped at their pace and looked as Jimmy stepped down from the car. All the ladies that were outside washing rice, rinsing clothes, chopping woods, went into their houses as soon as the car made its entrance. Jimmy realised that Noi actually came from a very conservative village, and that was a good sign.
Chai went into a house while Darun and Jimmy stood outside. Jimmy could hear Chai's voice coming from within the house, then an old lady seemed to be responding. After a short while, Chai came out and smiled at Jimmy.
He spoke to Darun in Vietnamese and Darun nodded all knowingly.
"Noi will come out. We must wait in that house." Darun told Jimmy as he pointed to a shack opposite the grounds.
He followed the two men into the shack and sat on a chair. The air was humid and Jimmy found himself perspiring. Chai had offered him a tin of water, but Jimmy did not touch it, for fear of the bad hygiene the village practiced.
They waited for about twenty minutes before Noi stepped into the house in a red dress. Jimmy was immediately smittened. She was tall and slim, just like in the photos. Her curves were just right. Her long hair was tied up neatly into a ponytail and she looked even more beautiful than any other women he knew in Singapore. She had eyes that sparkle when she looked at him shyly. Jimmy felt that this was not a wasted trip.
"This is Noi," Darun introduced.
Noi smiled shyly and looked down.
Jimmy smiled back and offered the girl to sit down. Noi sat beside her prospective husband and continued to look down shyly. Her grandmother sat on the other side of Noi, holding a handmade fan, fanning herself profusely.
"Noi is eighteen. She will go Singapore with you if you want her. She is ready to leave anytime from now, but you have to pay the money and leave your gifts behind before you can take her," Darun said professionally.
Jimmy smiled. "Yes, okay. I will bring her back tomorrow."
Noi looked up at him with a surprised look.
"This is the money we agreed on." Jimmy handed the envelope filled with cash to Darun, who in hand, took out the money and counted out aloud in the presence of the old lady.
The old lady smiled and took the money. With her palms meeting together, she bowed slightly at Jimmy and said something in Vietnamese.
"She say, thank you, please take care of Noi." Darun translated and wiped off the glistening sweat on his forehead.
Jimmy nodded and looked at Noi. Noi's features were delicate and soft. He almost could not believe how lady luck was on his side.
That night, Jimmy was not supposed to meet Noi. He could only really get to know her when they go back to Singapore. That was their rule. You pay, and the girl is yours. Jimmy could not sleep that night. All he thought of was Noi.
*****************************************
The next day, Jimmy woke up bright and early. He spent the entire morning buying rice, flour, live chickens, 8 fresh salted fish, assorted vegetables, eggs, tins of milk powder and sugar. He felt that these were sufficient gifts to give to his future in-laws for now. Besides, these foodstuff did not cost him much.
"Thank you!" Noi's grandmother took the packages with gratitude and spoke to her grand-daughter in Vietnamese.
Noi stepped forward to help with all the packages. The children in the village stood at the door and looked at the foodstuff Jimmy bought with envy.
Noi shifted a stool towards the window so that Jimmy could feel the breeze. "Sit, please." She spoke in a soft, pleasant voice. Her English, thick with the local accent.
Jimmy sat down and told Noi to sit beside him. She took a stool and sat shyly beside the man twenty years older than she is.
Jimmy might be turning forty in two years time, but he certainly did not look like it. He exercises frequently and did facials back at home. The problem with him being single was, he simply was not interested in the ladies around him. To him, Singapore ladies were too materialistic and vain. When it comes to marrying a lady, he was all back to basics.
Darun came shortly and nagged at Jimmy for leaving him at the hotel alone. They had their last dinner at Noi's house and left to catch the last boat to the city. Noi hugged her grandmother and cried for a long time. Jimmy's heart wrenched at the sight of it. He promised Noi that she could come back anytime to visit grandmother as long as she treats him like a husband.
That night, Noi and Jimmy shared the same room. On many occasions, Jimmy was tempted to give his bride to be a kiss, but he held back and reminded himself that they have all the time in Singapore for these business.
***************************************
Rosy stood at the arrival hall in Terminal One with her sister, Lily.
"Why so long? The schedule said it landed already but I still don't see my Jimmy!" Rosy complained and looked at her watch for the umpteenth time.
Lily sat on a chair and arranged her hair. "Aiya, don't worry. He will come out one! Just wait awhile can or not?!"
Rosy sat beside her sister and looked at her red painted nails. "I don't even know if that girl is good or not. Singapore so many girls, he only want that Vietnam wife. I want to see, how they communicate! Sure got problems one, I tell you! Those Vietnam, China brides... tsktsk." Rosy shook her head and massaged her aching feet. "You don't know right? They all become permanent resident and run away! All like that one!"
Lily sighed. "What to do? We already tell Jimmy one thousand times, but he still want his Vietnam wife. We already warn him, he don't listen, we also can't do anything right? You also sixty already, you still want to bother about his life so much for what?"
Lily could never understand her older sister. Rosy, for one, does not dress like her age. She loves flashy clothings and expensive shoes that often caused her to have aching feet due to her plump body size. She does her hair only at David Gan's hair salon.
"She see! If she come Singapore and tries to be funny, I will make sure she gets nothing and go back to Vietnam!" Rosy retorted and stood up.
Just then, she saw her son emerging from the check-out counter.
"Jimmy!" She called out excitedly and waved frantically.
Jimmy waved back with a smile and muttered to Noi, "that is my mother. She can be difficult, but all you have to do is bear with her, and make her happy. She likes people to tell her she is young and beautiful. Whatever you do, just don't make her feel old."
Noi nodded and waited for their bags to arrive. Noi was already starting to feel a little insecure about being in a foreign land. She felt sick during the flight and vomited twice. Thank god for Jimmy, he made her feel alot better by giving her sips of water in short intervals.
"That girl looks quite pretty what! Maybe abit too skinny only..." Lily commented as she saw the couple standing by the belt, waiting for their bags.
Rosy was still smiling at her precious son. She missed her son so much for the past three days. Jimmy was her only son and they have been depending on each other since his father passed away when he was only ten.
"Ma!" Jimmy called out happily as he pushed the luggages out with Noi walking beside him.
"Jimmy!" Rosy cried and hugged her grown up son when he stood beside her. "Ma miss you so much! Did you eat well there? My, my, you've grown thinner!"
Jimmy laughed and hugged his mother back. "This is Noi. She will be your daughter-in-law." He introduced as he let go of his mother's embrace.
Noi placed her palms together and gave a little bow. "Hello, mother." She greeted in a small voice.
Rosy merely let out a "hm" and held onto her son's arm. "How was it there? Hot?"
*******************************
Noi was in love with Singapore. Singapore is so much cleaner than her home back at Vietnam and there are trees everywhere. The people here drove beautiful cars, and live in tall houses. There are no chickens and ducks running around and the car she was sitting in was air-conditioned!
Jimmy interrupted her sight-seeing by putting his hand on top of hers. "How is it? You like Singapore?" He asked.
Noi nodded with a faint smile. "Yes. Beautiful." She replied, and she meant it.
She was told that Jimmy was rich. Noi had not meant to concentrate so much on that aspect, but she needed money for her grandmother's heart surgery. She was determined to get help from her husband in the future.
Jimmy's house was huge. His family dabbled in the food industry and fared very well for the past twenty years. It was all thanks to his mother's capability to start this business. Now, Jimmy is taking over it and it is still running very well.
"This is our house," Jimmy told Noi when the white Mercedes Benz pulled to a stop outside a white bungalow.
Noi got off the car and looked around. There was a garden and a mini pond with a plastic running fountain. She could see beautiful kois swimming happily in the pond and for once, she realised that she is now, really a princess.
Noi went into the house and stepped on the marbled floor with care. She was practically tip-toeing into the house. Jimmy saw that and laughed, "Noi! Relax and walk! You won't fall!"
Noi bit her bottom lip and placed her two feet flat on the ground. Inhaling deeply, she replied, "My feet. Dirty. No good."
Aunt Lily smiled and invited Noi to sit on a big sofa in the living room. "Sit. I'll get the maid to get you something to drink. You want sweet drink?" She offered.
Noi shook her head politely, "no. Water. Thank you."
"Siti! Give young ma'am some iced water!" Lily shouted from the living room as she slumped herself clumsily into a single sofa couch.
Rosy was in the kitchen to supervise the dinner preparation by the maids. She had instructed them to cook curry chicken and fried hokkien mee for her son. She wondered if the maids cooked correctly. Nothing else mattered more than her son's meals.
A short, dark skinned girl in shorts and t-shirt came out with a tray of drinks, the sound of ice chinkling against the glasses echoed in the living room.
"This is Siti." Lily introduced when the girl finally placed the tray on the glass table.
Noi smiled and nodded at the maid, who returned the favour by smiling back.
"This is your new mistress. Next time, she want to makan (eat for Malay) or anything, you do for her. Understand?" Lily instructed the maid who nodded knowingly.
Siti walked off after she was dismissed. Rosy came out of the kitchen and turned on the air-conditioner.
"So hot these days! I wonder why!" Rosy's voice rang loudly in the huge three storey house. She took the remote control and turned on the air-conditioner. "Those maids. So stupid. Uptil now, they still haven't finish cooking the curry. How many hours already!" She continued to nag as she walked to the sofa and settled herself ont0 her massage chair.
Jimmy chuckled and sat beside his mother. He placed his arm across his mother's shoulders and gave her a kiss on her head. "Ma. You're getting prettier and prettier. Three days never see you, you become younger huh!" He joked.
Rosy casually waved her hand at her son and giggled. "Of course! You know, your ma was a beauty queen in 1970 okay! Then, suddenly, you came into my stomach. Spoil everything!" She repeated this story for the millionth time.
"It was your fault what! Who ask you get pregnant before you marry Ah Wei? You ask for it. Not Jimmy's fault!" Lily retorted back at her sister, defending her precious nephew.
The argument went on for awhile until dinner time.
All the while, Noi sat there, absolutely quiet.
***********************************
The wedding dinner was a bash. Everyone complimented how beautiful Noi was in her evening gowns.
"So pretty! So lucky!" John, Jimmy's childhood friend of thirty three years gushed when he saw the bride.
Noi smiled shyly as Jimmy agreed with John with pride. "Of course! She is beautiful! My wife what!"
That night, Jimmy was drunk. Noi settled him down in bed and went to sleep.
*****************************************
It was the fifth month into their marriage when Jimmy could no longer take it.
It was nine in the night when Noi was watchin television in the room. Jimmy finished work early and sat on the bed with his wife.
"Watchin tv? What's on?" He asked, trying to sound as casually as possible.
Noi, her eyes still fixed onto the screen, replied, "drama. Very nice."
Jimmy nodded and sat up. He placed his hand on his wife's shoulder and waited for a reaction.
No. Noi did not push his hand away, or tell him she was tired.
Happy that he made the first step, he proceeded on to kissing her back.
That was when Noi turned around and recoiled herself quickly.
"Jim. I say. Time. Now, no." She said with a shiver in her voice. "You good man. I know you good man." She continued, pulling her shirt closer to her body.
Jimmy threw himself back and scratched his head helplessly.
"I married you for five months and I haven't even touched you! What kind of married couple are we?!" He cried and kicked the blanket in anger. "You don't love me is it? Is that why you don't want to make love?" He demanded to know.
Noi's tears rolled down her cheeks. "I thought, Jim wait. Noi wrong. Noi wrong. Jim bad." She spoke shakily.
Jimmy's soft spot would be a woman's tears. No matter how angry he may be, if a lady cries infront of him, he could apologise.
"Argh. Forget it." Jimmy gave up and took his pillow, "I'm going out to sleep."
With that, he went out of the room and slammed the door behind him.
Noi sat back onto her bed and realised that her plan can no longer wait. She must execute it tonight.
********************************
Noi woke up at three in the morning when everyone was asleep. For the past five months, she had been studying the house and the way the household worked. She had to be sure of what she could take, and what she could not. Her mother-in-law had been tough on her since she married into the family. She must not let this plan fail.
Quietly, she bent down and pulled out a light weight bag from underneath the bed. Quickly, she tucked in some clothes and undergarments. She opened up her drawer and found some jewelleries Jimmy had given to her during the night of their wedding.
Swiftly, she took it and put it into her bag.
As quietly as she could, she called the train station and requested to know the schedule of the earliest train that goes down to Malaysia.
After making a booking for one ticket, she changed into a simple shorts and t-shirt. She had to move fast.
The maids would be up by six. She had to act fast.
She tip toed her way downstairs and took all the ornaments she could find in the living room. She had been eyeing on those precious ornament for the past five months. All these antiques could be sold and the money could give her grandmother a better life.
Carefully, she also took about hundred thousand worth of hard cash from the family's safe. She had asked Jimmy for the passcode, but he had refused to let her know. However, one day, he relented when she agreed to let him touch her bosom.
"We are married,"was what Noi said to coax her husband. "No secret."
Taking all she needed, she headed out of the house and exited from the back door, leaving the large house behind her.
*******************************
"Do you want to wait for her here? She is coming out soon," Rin, a Vietnamese agent asked a thirty year old man who came all the way from Singapore to look for a bride.
The man nodded and sat on a stool.
After ten minutes, a girl walked in in a blue dress, her long hair tied up into a ponytail. She is slim and her body showed youth and vibrant.
The man was totally smittened.
"Hello. My name is Noi."
She said with a shy smile.
2008-05-20
TAP
Mandy looked behind her spookily as she walked down the corridor of a quiet hospital. The lights were dim and flickering.
She quickened her pace as she heard footsteps following her.
The nurse walked faster and faster, almost running now.
She had to run.
Fast enough.
The footsteps were closer, clearer.
Run.
Run.
Run!
"CUT!"
Sharon stopped running and wiped off a thin layer of perspiration on her forehead as her assistant ran up to her with a bottle of VodaVoda mineral water and a box of tissue paper.
"Good job!" The director shouted happily as he gave the beautiful actress a thumb-up sign to signal the end of a day's work. Everyone started to clear the filming ground.
Sharon sat on a mini-stool and drank her water with relish. She had been filming that particular scene for four hours and she finally did it. She hated this particular director because he was known specially to "torture" actors in the entertainment circle. However, his movies always had good critics and that was why Sharon agreed to pick up the role as Mandy, a nurse who was working in a haunted hospital.
As everyone was busy bustling around the 3rd level of the abandoned hospital, Sharon's handphone rang.
Her assistant, Kimmie, quickly brought the phone to the actress who was busy packing her bag.
"Hello?" Sharon said as she signalled Kimmie to pack the remaining things into her bag while she walked to a quiet corner to speak.
"Hey baby. Finished filming, finally?" A cheerful voice quipped from the other side of the small Nokia phone.
"Ya. Finally! I was practically exercising alright! That stupid director kept making me run and run. So stupid," Sharon complained, leaning against an old wall. "What time is it now huh? I was so busy I didn't take note."
"Oh. Um. It's about..." There was a short pause, "about one a.m. Do you want me to come and pick you up? I'm around the vicinity." Her boyfriend offered.
Sharon smiled. Her boyfriend of two years can be the sweetest thing on earth sometimes. He can be pretty possessive at times, but his wealth and character made it easier for Sharon to overlook his tiny flaw.
"Okay. I'm starving by the way. Let's grab something to eat before going home," Sharon smiled to herself and hung up the phone after her boyfriend agreed to the idea.
"Kimmie! Are we done?" Sharon asked with a smile. She felt so much better now, especially after listening to her boyfriend's voice and having a sumptuous supper to look forward to.
Kimmie Lim was barely twenty. The polytechnic student was only taking over Sharon's permanent assistant, Liza, who was on a one month long holiday. Although Kimmie was just doing her holiday job, she took it seriously and Sharon had no complains or whatsoever about this young girl.
Kimmie slung the bag across her shoulder and nodded. "Yup! Done!"
The crew cleared everything and started to move off from the place.
As they headed down, Kimmie and Sharon were one of the last people to follow behind. Sharon was a staunch Christian, so she never really bothered about ghosts and stuff. However, Kimmie, being young and ignorant, nudged Sharon when they were reaching the 2nd level.
"Sharon, are you afraid of ghosts?" Kimmie asked suddenly, her voice almost in a whisper. She was probably worried the other crew might laugh at her stupidity.
Sharon giggled.
"Darling. If there were ghosts, I would be the first to bump into them alright?" The actress laughed and shook her head, "when I was nineteen, I believed in ghosts too. So I don't blame you honey." She continued as they continued to the first level.
One of the crew member, John, interrupted, "you wouldn't say that if you really met one, Sharon. This world is full of mysteries. You better watch out since you didn't participate in the prayer session before the filming of this movie."
Sharon smirked.
"Only stupid people hold joss sticks and bow to nothing alright? It's been two months now and we're still filming fine. I don't see the hassle of praying or something. Jesus loves us too much. Besides, "Sharon said and tucked a strand of hair behind her left ear, "ghosts don't even exist."
They arrived at the ground level. The abandoned hospital stank of urine and rotting animals. It was exceptionally bad on the first level.
"Ew. Somebody should come and clean up this place. I can't believe we're going to film in this hospital for the next one month." Sharon complained as she tip-toed across some broken planks.
The crew remained quiet as they headed towards the exit. Kimmie was grabbing hold of Sharon's arm as she tried to quicken her pace to follow the other crew members.
After a good five minutes walk towards the entrance, they finally arrived at the main gate. A car was parked right by the gate with the headlights still on.
"I've got to go," Sharon told Kimmie happily and bidded the crew farewell before rushing towards the BMW and hopping into the front seat.
"My god, Ben. You won't believe it. Thank God I exercise often or else I would have probably been dead by now, " the girl complained as she bent over and gave her twenty eight year old boyfriend a kiss on the cheek. She was well aware the crew members were looking, but she hardly bothered what others think of her.
Ben laughed and drove off. The night was quiet but Sharon's voice filled the car as they made their way to supper. Ben loves this lady. She is not only beautiful, but filled with energy. She always had this enthusiasm in her that he lacks. She has got to be the one woman he could spend the rest of his life with.
They stopped by a coffeeshop near Geylang and ordered frog porridge and beef horfun. Sharon could eat and never gain any weight. She blamed it on her high metabolic rate.
"Hmm! You can't imagine how hungry I am, okay?! That stupid Kenny made me ran like a mad cow for four hours! Crazy!" Sharon cursed and swear as she ate her porridge delightfully, "this is really good!" She quipped.
Ben laughed. "Take it slowly, dear. We've all night. Do you have filming tomorrow?" He asked, taking a mouthful of the horfun.
Sharon nodded. "Yup. At eight. Same place. Stupid you know, film horror movie in such a smelly and dirty hospital. Why can't they just build something up in the studio?" She replied with disgust and winced. "Oh. The thought of going back to that smelly place really spoils my appetite." She placed the chopsticks neatly on top of her bowl of half eaten porridge.
That night, Sharon reached home at about three. Ben had dutifully sent her to the doorstep and bidded her goodbye. He left after making sure Sharon locked the door behind her.
Sharon lived in a beautiful condominium down at Bukit Timah. She had recently upgraded from a private apartment to this very home because she loved the feeling of living in a wealthy vicinity. She made plans to buy a home with Ben in the near future at Sixth Avenue where all the wealthy people live at. That would be her ultimate dream.
Her parents are residing in America where she was raised since ten. She came back to Singapore when she was eighteen and stayed here ever since. Acting had been an interest. Sharon knew that she was born to entertain since she was seven. She picked up her first role as Tammy in a local serial drama when she turned twenty. That was her stepping stone to her career. Given her stunning beauty, being made popular in Asia simply took her four years. Now, at twenty six, she drives a Lexus, and does movies.
The night finally ended for Sharon at five. She did her normal nightly routine. She checked her voice machine, read mails, fed her dog, took an aromatherapy bath, did her facial and gulped down a glass of fruit smoothie. Only then, she felt comfortable enough to sleep.
It was about eight thirty in the morning when she felt a tap on her shoulder. She was still in a midst of her sleep when that happened. Disturbed by it, she woke up and turned around. It could be her dog, but to her surprise, there was no one. The house was exceptionally quiet too. There were no sound of intruders. Convinced that it might just be her imagination, she fell back asleep.
She had slept through the entire day, and woke up only at six in the evening when the sun was setting.
"Oh," Sharon groaned as she rubbed the back of her stiff neck groggily. It was strange. She had slept the entire day and she still felt tired.
"Shelbert!" Sharon called for her dog loudly as she sat up. The setting of the sun reflected the orange twilight onto her white bedsheets.
"Shelbert?" She called out again, only to find her puppy standing at the doorway of her room, staring her at her.
Sharon smiled and clapped her hands. "Shelbert! Come here!"
The brown puppy stood where he was and refused to move. Sharon was startled.
"Shelbert? Come to mummy." She urged again, this time, kneeling on the bed so that the dog could see her better.
The dog barked at her loudly and ran off.
"Shelbert!" Sharon cried and ran after her puppy. Her puppy ran to the living room and hid himself under the sofa. The gap was narrow, hence, Sharon could not stretch her hand in to pull him out.
"Shelbert!" She called again and sat on the floor despondently. She felt totally lethargic. It felt like she could not do anything. All she wanted to do was sleep. Just then, her handphone rang.
Rushing into the bedroom again, Sharon slumped onto her bed and picked up the phone.
"Hello?" She yawned.
"Hello? Sharon! Kimmie here! Are you ready? I'm downstairs!"
Sharon rubbed her temples and moaned. "Oh, alright. I'll be right down." She threw her phone on her bed and gently slapped herself. "Wake up!" She told herself and headed to the bathroom to wash up.
She had totally forgotten about Sherbert when she headed towards her carpark in her cap and her casual t-shirt and shorts. She tried her best to dress up, but she simply felt too lazy and tired to put on any cosmetics or get dressed up. She left house as quickly as she could after pouring some food into Sherbert's feeding bowl.
Sharon drove her Lexus out of the carpark and stopped by a pavement outside where Kimmie was waiting for her.
"Oh, you don't know how hot ..." Kimmie was grumbling as she closed the door and immediately gasped when she saw how horrible Sharon looked. "My god, Sharon! Did you sleep last night?"
Sharon looked at her rearview mirror and tapped her cheek worriedly, "do I look horrible?"
Kimmie immediately offered the concealer Sharon uses during filming. "Use this. You'll scare everyone, I swear."
Kimmie was kind enough to apply the concealer for Sharon as she drove themselves to the hospital that Sharon dreaded.
"I don't know, Kim. It feels like I haven't been sleeping in years. My whole body just feels weird. Do you think I'm just too tired?" Sharon asked as she pulled up during the red traffic.
Kimmie took a bite of her pork bun and offered another to the actress who declined politely. "You know," Kimmie started, "maybe you're just too tired. Do you want to take a break? I'll tell Kenny about it. You go home and sleep." She offered.
Sharon shook her head as she kept rubbing her stiff neck. "No, no. If we delay this whole thing for stupid reasons like these, I'll have trouble with other producers in the near future. You know how eccentric directors are."
They arrived at the filming ground shortly. Sharon found it harder to keep awake as she stepped out of the car. She just wanted to sleep.
Kimmie and Sharon made their way up to the 2nd level of the hospital where the filming will be done that night. The crew and the cameras were getting ready as Sharon greeted the director with a weak smile while Kimmie went to get her costume.
"Hi Kenny," Sharon said in a weakest voice.
The producer turned around and was pretty shocked to see the actress that was once so beautiful, looking like she have aged overnight. "Sharon! What happen to you? You look sick. Are you not feelin well?" He asked, his voice thick with concern.
Sharon smiled. "No, no. Not enough sleep, that's all. Just don't shine too much light on me tonight. We'll do those dark scenes first. Is that alright?" She asked, steadying herself while holding on the the back of Kenny's chair.
Kenny agreed to it and ordered everyone to shift the filming equipments to the forth level where there was a broken down lift. They had intended to use the one at the second level, but the doors of the lift refused to open up, hence, they decided to find one with the doors already opened.
"We'll do the lift scene first. Get ready," Kenny instructed Sharon when she came out of the changing curtain in her nurse uniform.
Kimmie passed the actress the script for the lift scene and took the changed clothes from her hands.
The make-up artist, Joey, came up to Sharon and ordered her to sit down while he worked on her make up. As he dabbed the concealer for Sharon, he said numerous "tsks". Sharon could not concentrate on her script and looked up to the skinshavened make-up artist with irritation.
"Can you stop saying tsk tsk? It's really irritating," Sharon complained, her brows frowning.
Joey pointed at her face and whined. "You look at your face! Do you ever do facials? Dark eye rings, bad skin! No matter how much concealer I put for you, you still look horrible!"
"I didn't sleep well last night, that's all," the actress mumbled and went back to her script.
Basically, this scene did not require her to run or do any physically exhausting stunts. She was only required to look scared and scream. Even for this screaming scene, Sharon did some preparation last week before they starting filming at the hospital. Ben had complained of deafness after she screamed at his apartment.
Sharon was asked to sit at a corner of the lift and curl up as tiny as she could. She did as she was told.
"Later, when Cindy crawls down from behind, you look up and you scream. Okay?" Kenny instructed as he took his place beside the camera man.
Sharon nodded and curled up, her face turned pale with horror. She could act well. No matter what she was asked to act, she could do it within minutes. Even crying was easy.
Cindy, the "ghost" had climbed up to the top of the lift and stayed there with her long wig and bloody eyes. She was ready to make the horror appearance.
"The strings okay? Cindy?" Kenny asked, pointing a thumb-up sign to the "ghost" lying on her chest at the top of the lift ceiling.
Cindy returned the thumb-up sign and got ready.
The camera rolled.
Mandy looked around fearfully as she curled tightly at a corner of the lift. Tears filled her eyes as she prayed aloud. "Oh God! Please, please don't let anything happen to me!" She buried her face into her hands.
Then she felt it.
She felt a tap on her shoulder. Mandy looked up from her hands and looked at Kenny. She did not remember reading this part on her script. However, Kenny did not stop or shout "cut", so she continued with the scene.
Mandy shook with fear when suddenly, she heard a loud, screeching scream in her left ear.
Sharon passed out.
*********************************************
"Sharon," Kimmie called gently as she slapped the actress's face lightly.
Sharon opened her eyes and felt her eyelids flutter as she struggled to sit up. They were still at the hospital, but the crew were all crowding around her. Everyone dispersed when the actress regained consciousness.
"Kim!" Sharon cried and hugged her assistant like a baby. Kimmie patted the actress and smoothed her hair. "Hush. I think you're too tired."
That night, Sharon went home with the company of Kimmie. She did not drive her Lexus back. She was not in the right state to, anyway.
"Do you live here alone?" Kimmie asked in awe as she helped the weak actress to the sofa. The house was beautifully done, with white lace curtains and fanciful decors. For once, she understood how the rich differed from the poor.
Sharon did not reply and sat down. Her body was aching all over. It felt as though she had been bashed all over for twenty hours straight. She could not move much and her head was throbbing with pain.
"I'll get you some wa-" Kimmie stood up and was about to head to the kitchen when she saw a brown puppy standing behind a couch. "Oh, you have a dog!"
Sharon had been so tired, she barely noticed her precious dog. Now that she realised Shelbert had been staring at her, his body stiff and defensive, she called out to him. "Shelbert!" She said softly, bending down a little to signal her dog to come over.
However, the dog did not move. Shelbert continued to stare at his owner.
Sharon got irritated and upset. She threw a cushion at the dog from where she sat. "Stop staring at me. Go away." She groaned and cried.
Kimmie came out with a glass of water. "Drink some water." She offered to the crying actress and sat beside her.
Sharon sobbed and took the glass. Wiping off the snort on her nose, she took a sip of water and faced Kimmie. She placed an icy cold hand on top of Kimmie's and asked, "did you hear the scream in the lift?"
Kimmie looked at the girl with smudged mascara streaking down her cheeks and shook her head. "No. You just passed out suddenly. We really didn't know why."
Sharon gripped Kimmie's hand. Kimmie winced in pain as Sharon pressed her long nails into the girl's tender flesh.
"I heard it. I heard it. It was so loud. It was like.."
Sharon let out a shrilly scream. Shelbert ran into the room and hid under the bed. Kimmie felt her hair stood up behind her neck. She was starting to get afraid.
"Did you hear that? It was in the lift. It was with me. Didn't you all hear it?! It was so loud!" Sharon asked nervously, still gripping onto Kimmie's hand.
Kimmie patted the cold hand that held onto hers and tried to shift herself into a comfortable position.
"Okay... Sharon. Nobody heard anything. You just passed out. Nobody knew what happened. Cindy haven't even made her entrance yet. I don't know what sound you heard, but it was definitely not one of us."
"And the tap! Someone has been tapping my shoulder! This morning and at the lift! There was someone tapping on my shoulder!" Sharon cried, unable to control her emotions any further. Suddenly, her life felt like it was in a mess, and, for once, she did not know what to do.
Kimmie kept quiet and hugged Sharon. Then she looked at the distraught lady whose hair was no longer in place, and she no longer looked so beautiful.
***************************************
"We heard some stories about you being disturbed by some spirits when you were filming "The Fourth Level". Is any bit of that true?" The reporter interviewing Sharon asked.
Sharon smiled and sat back against a big red couch, her dark brown curls neatly pushed back with her sunglasses. She looked happy and relaxed.
"Okay. First of all, those reports exaggerated abit," Sharon laughed and crossed her legs comfortably. "I wasn't possessed alright, and no, my boyfriend, now fiance, did not leave me or anything like that. We're still happy together, and yes, we're getting married next year." She revealed confidently, her white teeth flashing at the beautiful reporter sitting opposite her.
"Oh. Tell us what happened?" The reporter probed, hinting the actress that she had replied out of the point.
Sharon cleared her throat and looked serious, for once, since the interview started.
"I was apparently, disturbed by this spirit from the hospital. I didn't know who, or what it is,
but I was petrified alright. It haunted me for two weeks. I was practically skeletal and boney by the end of the whole thing." Sharon started, and showed the reporter some blue black bruises on her arms. "These, were inflicted by "it". I don't know how I got it, but all I know is, I was tapped on my arms and back so many times, sometimes there were bruises."
The reporter sat up. "Then? What happened?"
Sharon took a sip of her ice lemon tea and settled back down. " Anyway, I used to not believe in praying before filming alright? You can ask anyone who worked with me. Whenever they prayed, I would be standing at the side and only take part in the phototaking sessions as part of the publicising job." She paused for awhile and went on, "but after this incident, I learnt from my mistakes. I know, now, why we must pray before we film."
"It is to respect the dead and anyone "living" around the filming area. I didn't use to believe in that, but I swear, after all those tapping and "that thing" following me home, I learnt. So, no matter what, always remember to say a small prayer before occupying any space or doing anything on any abandoned grounds. You never know what you might get."
The reporter nodded. "I heard about these stuff too. So, how did all that haunting stop?"
Sharon laughed, "simple. Pray and offer some offerings to "it". As long as you're sincere about it, "that thing" leaves you alone, and oh yes, you've to let them know you're just filming there so that, you know, they won't get confused."
The reporter laughed and nodded. "It was that simple?"
The actress pulled down her sunglasses and smiled, "yes, because it was a female ghost who meant no harm. She was simply asking for help because I was wearing my nurse uniform all the while when I was filming there."
******************************************
Two months ago...
"Let's see the playback," Kenny told his producer in the studio after the crew came back from the hospital. Sharon had gone home early after the faint and everyone decided to call it a night since the main actress was not there.
The producer played back and stopped at a part before Sharon fainted. They saw a faint white shadow beside Sharon. They zoomed in closer and was terrified when they saw a face of a lady. She was screaming into Sharon's ear.
She quickened her pace as she heard footsteps following her.
The nurse walked faster and faster, almost running now.
She had to run.
Fast enough.
The footsteps were closer, clearer.
Run.
Run.
Run!
"CUT!"
Sharon stopped running and wiped off a thin layer of perspiration on her forehead as her assistant ran up to her with a bottle of VodaVoda mineral water and a box of tissue paper.
"Good job!" The director shouted happily as he gave the beautiful actress a thumb-up sign to signal the end of a day's work. Everyone started to clear the filming ground.
Sharon sat on a mini-stool and drank her water with relish. She had been filming that particular scene for four hours and she finally did it. She hated this particular director because he was known specially to "torture" actors in the entertainment circle. However, his movies always had good critics and that was why Sharon agreed to pick up the role as Mandy, a nurse who was working in a haunted hospital.
As everyone was busy bustling around the 3rd level of the abandoned hospital, Sharon's handphone rang.
Her assistant, Kimmie, quickly brought the phone to the actress who was busy packing her bag.
"Hello?" Sharon said as she signalled Kimmie to pack the remaining things into her bag while she walked to a quiet corner to speak.
"Hey baby. Finished filming, finally?" A cheerful voice quipped from the other side of the small Nokia phone.
"Ya. Finally! I was practically exercising alright! That stupid director kept making me run and run. So stupid," Sharon complained, leaning against an old wall. "What time is it now huh? I was so busy I didn't take note."
"Oh. Um. It's about..." There was a short pause, "about one a.m. Do you want me to come and pick you up? I'm around the vicinity." Her boyfriend offered.
Sharon smiled. Her boyfriend of two years can be the sweetest thing on earth sometimes. He can be pretty possessive at times, but his wealth and character made it easier for Sharon to overlook his tiny flaw.
"Okay. I'm starving by the way. Let's grab something to eat before going home," Sharon smiled to herself and hung up the phone after her boyfriend agreed to the idea.
"Kimmie! Are we done?" Sharon asked with a smile. She felt so much better now, especially after listening to her boyfriend's voice and having a sumptuous supper to look forward to.
Kimmie Lim was barely twenty. The polytechnic student was only taking over Sharon's permanent assistant, Liza, who was on a one month long holiday. Although Kimmie was just doing her holiday job, she took it seriously and Sharon had no complains or whatsoever about this young girl.
Kimmie slung the bag across her shoulder and nodded. "Yup! Done!"
The crew cleared everything and started to move off from the place.
As they headed down, Kimmie and Sharon were one of the last people to follow behind. Sharon was a staunch Christian, so she never really bothered about ghosts and stuff. However, Kimmie, being young and ignorant, nudged Sharon when they were reaching the 2nd level.
"Sharon, are you afraid of ghosts?" Kimmie asked suddenly, her voice almost in a whisper. She was probably worried the other crew might laugh at her stupidity.
Sharon giggled.
"Darling. If there were ghosts, I would be the first to bump into them alright?" The actress laughed and shook her head, "when I was nineteen, I believed in ghosts too. So I don't blame you honey." She continued as they continued to the first level.
One of the crew member, John, interrupted, "you wouldn't say that if you really met one, Sharon. This world is full of mysteries. You better watch out since you didn't participate in the prayer session before the filming of this movie."
Sharon smirked.
"Only stupid people hold joss sticks and bow to nothing alright? It's been two months now and we're still filming fine. I don't see the hassle of praying or something. Jesus loves us too much. Besides, "Sharon said and tucked a strand of hair behind her left ear, "ghosts don't even exist."
They arrived at the ground level. The abandoned hospital stank of urine and rotting animals. It was exceptionally bad on the first level.
"Ew. Somebody should come and clean up this place. I can't believe we're going to film in this hospital for the next one month." Sharon complained as she tip-toed across some broken planks.
The crew remained quiet as they headed towards the exit. Kimmie was grabbing hold of Sharon's arm as she tried to quicken her pace to follow the other crew members.
After a good five minutes walk towards the entrance, they finally arrived at the main gate. A car was parked right by the gate with the headlights still on.
"I've got to go," Sharon told Kimmie happily and bidded the crew farewell before rushing towards the BMW and hopping into the front seat.
"My god, Ben. You won't believe it. Thank God I exercise often or else I would have probably been dead by now, " the girl complained as she bent over and gave her twenty eight year old boyfriend a kiss on the cheek. She was well aware the crew members were looking, but she hardly bothered what others think of her.
Ben laughed and drove off. The night was quiet but Sharon's voice filled the car as they made their way to supper. Ben loves this lady. She is not only beautiful, but filled with energy. She always had this enthusiasm in her that he lacks. She has got to be the one woman he could spend the rest of his life with.
They stopped by a coffeeshop near Geylang and ordered frog porridge and beef horfun. Sharon could eat and never gain any weight. She blamed it on her high metabolic rate.
"Hmm! You can't imagine how hungry I am, okay?! That stupid Kenny made me ran like a mad cow for four hours! Crazy!" Sharon cursed and swear as she ate her porridge delightfully, "this is really good!" She quipped.
Ben laughed. "Take it slowly, dear. We've all night. Do you have filming tomorrow?" He asked, taking a mouthful of the horfun.
Sharon nodded. "Yup. At eight. Same place. Stupid you know, film horror movie in such a smelly and dirty hospital. Why can't they just build something up in the studio?" She replied with disgust and winced. "Oh. The thought of going back to that smelly place really spoils my appetite." She placed the chopsticks neatly on top of her bowl of half eaten porridge.
That night, Sharon reached home at about three. Ben had dutifully sent her to the doorstep and bidded her goodbye. He left after making sure Sharon locked the door behind her.
Sharon lived in a beautiful condominium down at Bukit Timah. She had recently upgraded from a private apartment to this very home because she loved the feeling of living in a wealthy vicinity. She made plans to buy a home with Ben in the near future at Sixth Avenue where all the wealthy people live at. That would be her ultimate dream.
Her parents are residing in America where she was raised since ten. She came back to Singapore when she was eighteen and stayed here ever since. Acting had been an interest. Sharon knew that she was born to entertain since she was seven. She picked up her first role as Tammy in a local serial drama when she turned twenty. That was her stepping stone to her career. Given her stunning beauty, being made popular in Asia simply took her four years. Now, at twenty six, she drives a Lexus, and does movies.
The night finally ended for Sharon at five. She did her normal nightly routine. She checked her voice machine, read mails, fed her dog, took an aromatherapy bath, did her facial and gulped down a glass of fruit smoothie. Only then, she felt comfortable enough to sleep.
It was about eight thirty in the morning when she felt a tap on her shoulder. She was still in a midst of her sleep when that happened. Disturbed by it, she woke up and turned around. It could be her dog, but to her surprise, there was no one. The house was exceptionally quiet too. There were no sound of intruders. Convinced that it might just be her imagination, she fell back asleep.
She had slept through the entire day, and woke up only at six in the evening when the sun was setting.
"Oh," Sharon groaned as she rubbed the back of her stiff neck groggily. It was strange. She had slept the entire day and she still felt tired.
"Shelbert!" Sharon called for her dog loudly as she sat up. The setting of the sun reflected the orange twilight onto her white bedsheets.
"Shelbert?" She called out again, only to find her puppy standing at the doorway of her room, staring her at her.
Sharon smiled and clapped her hands. "Shelbert! Come here!"
The brown puppy stood where he was and refused to move. Sharon was startled.
"Shelbert? Come to mummy." She urged again, this time, kneeling on the bed so that the dog could see her better.
The dog barked at her loudly and ran off.
"Shelbert!" Sharon cried and ran after her puppy. Her puppy ran to the living room and hid himself under the sofa. The gap was narrow, hence, Sharon could not stretch her hand in to pull him out.
"Shelbert!" She called again and sat on the floor despondently. She felt totally lethargic. It felt like she could not do anything. All she wanted to do was sleep. Just then, her handphone rang.
Rushing into the bedroom again, Sharon slumped onto her bed and picked up the phone.
"Hello?" She yawned.
"Hello? Sharon! Kimmie here! Are you ready? I'm downstairs!"
Sharon rubbed her temples and moaned. "Oh, alright. I'll be right down." She threw her phone on her bed and gently slapped herself. "Wake up!" She told herself and headed to the bathroom to wash up.
She had totally forgotten about Sherbert when she headed towards her carpark in her cap and her casual t-shirt and shorts. She tried her best to dress up, but she simply felt too lazy and tired to put on any cosmetics or get dressed up. She left house as quickly as she could after pouring some food into Sherbert's feeding bowl.
Sharon drove her Lexus out of the carpark and stopped by a pavement outside where Kimmie was waiting for her.
"Oh, you don't know how hot ..." Kimmie was grumbling as she closed the door and immediately gasped when she saw how horrible Sharon looked. "My god, Sharon! Did you sleep last night?"
Sharon looked at her rearview mirror and tapped her cheek worriedly, "do I look horrible?"
Kimmie immediately offered the concealer Sharon uses during filming. "Use this. You'll scare everyone, I swear."
Kimmie was kind enough to apply the concealer for Sharon as she drove themselves to the hospital that Sharon dreaded.
"I don't know, Kim. It feels like I haven't been sleeping in years. My whole body just feels weird. Do you think I'm just too tired?" Sharon asked as she pulled up during the red traffic.
Kimmie took a bite of her pork bun and offered another to the actress who declined politely. "You know," Kimmie started, "maybe you're just too tired. Do you want to take a break? I'll tell Kenny about it. You go home and sleep." She offered.
Sharon shook her head as she kept rubbing her stiff neck. "No, no. If we delay this whole thing for stupid reasons like these, I'll have trouble with other producers in the near future. You know how eccentric directors are."
They arrived at the filming ground shortly. Sharon found it harder to keep awake as she stepped out of the car. She just wanted to sleep.
Kimmie and Sharon made their way up to the 2nd level of the hospital where the filming will be done that night. The crew and the cameras were getting ready as Sharon greeted the director with a weak smile while Kimmie went to get her costume.
"Hi Kenny," Sharon said in a weakest voice.
The producer turned around and was pretty shocked to see the actress that was once so beautiful, looking like she have aged overnight. "Sharon! What happen to you? You look sick. Are you not feelin well?" He asked, his voice thick with concern.
Sharon smiled. "No, no. Not enough sleep, that's all. Just don't shine too much light on me tonight. We'll do those dark scenes first. Is that alright?" She asked, steadying herself while holding on the the back of Kenny's chair.
Kenny agreed to it and ordered everyone to shift the filming equipments to the forth level where there was a broken down lift. They had intended to use the one at the second level, but the doors of the lift refused to open up, hence, they decided to find one with the doors already opened.
"We'll do the lift scene first. Get ready," Kenny instructed Sharon when she came out of the changing curtain in her nurse uniform.
Kimmie passed the actress the script for the lift scene and took the changed clothes from her hands.
The make-up artist, Joey, came up to Sharon and ordered her to sit down while he worked on her make up. As he dabbed the concealer for Sharon, he said numerous "tsks". Sharon could not concentrate on her script and looked up to the skinshavened make-up artist with irritation.
"Can you stop saying tsk tsk? It's really irritating," Sharon complained, her brows frowning.
Joey pointed at her face and whined. "You look at your face! Do you ever do facials? Dark eye rings, bad skin! No matter how much concealer I put for you, you still look horrible!"
"I didn't sleep well last night, that's all," the actress mumbled and went back to her script.
Basically, this scene did not require her to run or do any physically exhausting stunts. She was only required to look scared and scream. Even for this screaming scene, Sharon did some preparation last week before they starting filming at the hospital. Ben had complained of deafness after she screamed at his apartment.
Sharon was asked to sit at a corner of the lift and curl up as tiny as she could. She did as she was told.
"Later, when Cindy crawls down from behind, you look up and you scream. Okay?" Kenny instructed as he took his place beside the camera man.
Sharon nodded and curled up, her face turned pale with horror. She could act well. No matter what she was asked to act, she could do it within minutes. Even crying was easy.
Cindy, the "ghost" had climbed up to the top of the lift and stayed there with her long wig and bloody eyes. She was ready to make the horror appearance.
"The strings okay? Cindy?" Kenny asked, pointing a thumb-up sign to the "ghost" lying on her chest at the top of the lift ceiling.
Cindy returned the thumb-up sign and got ready.
The camera rolled.
Mandy looked around fearfully as she curled tightly at a corner of the lift. Tears filled her eyes as she prayed aloud. "Oh God! Please, please don't let anything happen to me!" She buried her face into her hands.
Then she felt it.
She felt a tap on her shoulder. Mandy looked up from her hands and looked at Kenny. She did not remember reading this part on her script. However, Kenny did not stop or shout "cut", so she continued with the scene.
Mandy shook with fear when suddenly, she heard a loud, screeching scream in her left ear.
Sharon passed out.
*********************************************
"Sharon," Kimmie called gently as she slapped the actress's face lightly.
Sharon opened her eyes and felt her eyelids flutter as she struggled to sit up. They were still at the hospital, but the crew were all crowding around her. Everyone dispersed when the actress regained consciousness.
"Kim!" Sharon cried and hugged her assistant like a baby. Kimmie patted the actress and smoothed her hair. "Hush. I think you're too tired."
That night, Sharon went home with the company of Kimmie. She did not drive her Lexus back. She was not in the right state to, anyway.
"Do you live here alone?" Kimmie asked in awe as she helped the weak actress to the sofa. The house was beautifully done, with white lace curtains and fanciful decors. For once, she understood how the rich differed from the poor.
Sharon did not reply and sat down. Her body was aching all over. It felt as though she had been bashed all over for twenty hours straight. She could not move much and her head was throbbing with pain.
"I'll get you some wa-" Kimmie stood up and was about to head to the kitchen when she saw a brown puppy standing behind a couch. "Oh, you have a dog!"
Sharon had been so tired, she barely noticed her precious dog. Now that she realised Shelbert had been staring at her, his body stiff and defensive, she called out to him. "Shelbert!" She said softly, bending down a little to signal her dog to come over.
However, the dog did not move. Shelbert continued to stare at his owner.
Sharon got irritated and upset. She threw a cushion at the dog from where she sat. "Stop staring at me. Go away." She groaned and cried.
Kimmie came out with a glass of water. "Drink some water." She offered to the crying actress and sat beside her.
Sharon sobbed and took the glass. Wiping off the snort on her nose, she took a sip of water and faced Kimmie. She placed an icy cold hand on top of Kimmie's and asked, "did you hear the scream in the lift?"
Kimmie looked at the girl with smudged mascara streaking down her cheeks and shook her head. "No. You just passed out suddenly. We really didn't know why."
Sharon gripped Kimmie's hand. Kimmie winced in pain as Sharon pressed her long nails into the girl's tender flesh.
"I heard it. I heard it. It was so loud. It was like.."
Sharon let out a shrilly scream. Shelbert ran into the room and hid under the bed. Kimmie felt her hair stood up behind her neck. She was starting to get afraid.
"Did you hear that? It was in the lift. It was with me. Didn't you all hear it?! It was so loud!" Sharon asked nervously, still gripping onto Kimmie's hand.
Kimmie patted the cold hand that held onto hers and tried to shift herself into a comfortable position.
"Okay... Sharon. Nobody heard anything. You just passed out. Nobody knew what happened. Cindy haven't even made her entrance yet. I don't know what sound you heard, but it was definitely not one of us."
"And the tap! Someone has been tapping my shoulder! This morning and at the lift! There was someone tapping on my shoulder!" Sharon cried, unable to control her emotions any further. Suddenly, her life felt like it was in a mess, and, for once, she did not know what to do.
Kimmie kept quiet and hugged Sharon. Then she looked at the distraught lady whose hair was no longer in place, and she no longer looked so beautiful.
***************************************
"We heard some stories about you being disturbed by some spirits when you were filming "The Fourth Level". Is any bit of that true?" The reporter interviewing Sharon asked.
Sharon smiled and sat back against a big red couch, her dark brown curls neatly pushed back with her sunglasses. She looked happy and relaxed.
"Okay. First of all, those reports exaggerated abit," Sharon laughed and crossed her legs comfortably. "I wasn't possessed alright, and no, my boyfriend, now fiance, did not leave me or anything like that. We're still happy together, and yes, we're getting married next year." She revealed confidently, her white teeth flashing at the beautiful reporter sitting opposite her.
"Oh. Tell us what happened?" The reporter probed, hinting the actress that she had replied out of the point.
Sharon cleared her throat and looked serious, for once, since the interview started.
"I was apparently, disturbed by this spirit from the hospital. I didn't know who, or what it is,
but I was petrified alright. It haunted me for two weeks. I was practically skeletal and boney by the end of the whole thing." Sharon started, and showed the reporter some blue black bruises on her arms. "These, were inflicted by "it". I don't know how I got it, but all I know is, I was tapped on my arms and back so many times, sometimes there were bruises."
The reporter sat up. "Then? What happened?"
Sharon took a sip of her ice lemon tea and settled back down. " Anyway, I used to not believe in praying before filming alright? You can ask anyone who worked with me. Whenever they prayed, I would be standing at the side and only take part in the phototaking sessions as part of the publicising job." She paused for awhile and went on, "but after this incident, I learnt from my mistakes. I know, now, why we must pray before we film."
"It is to respect the dead and anyone "living" around the filming area. I didn't use to believe in that, but I swear, after all those tapping and "that thing" following me home, I learnt. So, no matter what, always remember to say a small prayer before occupying any space or doing anything on any abandoned grounds. You never know what you might get."
The reporter nodded. "I heard about these stuff too. So, how did all that haunting stop?"
Sharon laughed, "simple. Pray and offer some offerings to "it". As long as you're sincere about it, "that thing" leaves you alone, and oh yes, you've to let them know you're just filming there so that, you know, they won't get confused."
The reporter laughed and nodded. "It was that simple?"
The actress pulled down her sunglasses and smiled, "yes, because it was a female ghost who meant no harm. She was simply asking for help because I was wearing my nurse uniform all the while when I was filming there."
******************************************
Two months ago...
"Let's see the playback," Kenny told his producer in the studio after the crew came back from the hospital. Sharon had gone home early after the faint and everyone decided to call it a night since the main actress was not there.
The producer played back and stopped at a part before Sharon fainted. They saw a faint white shadow beside Sharon. They zoomed in closer and was terrified when they saw a face of a lady. She was screaming into Sharon's ear.
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