[Tavia’s Point of View]
Ten months, if I remembered right, I’ve known Raymond for ten months, and it’s been ten months since my world turned upside down. I walked out of my bathroom, the hot steam still escaping the small room as I ruffled my hair right after the blow dryer did its job. It’s been a while, too long since I’ve gone back to this routine. Walking out of work, smiling and waving good night to my colleagues, and while they go home to a nice and relaxing house, I get ready for a night in the dance clubs. This time though, I’m not there looking for a guy I can hang with for the night, this time, I’m getting ready to go to the night clubs, looking for my best friend.
The phone suddenly rang, and I only had about two people in mind that would call me at this moment. If it’s not Raymond then it’s my so called uncle Damian. After a short while, I’ve decided to accept him as my uncle, after all, I’ve got nothing to lose, and I’ve got no family left in this world beside him. Picking up the phone without looking at the caller ID, it was a fifty-fifty chance, Raymond, or Uncle Damian.
“Hello?” I answered in a somewhat monotone voice.
“I see you’ve asked Michelle if she knows of anyone named Yeung Chung Yan.” He laughed.
“Damian?” I asked, knowing of course it was him. “How did you know?”
“Because when I called her this afternoon, she sounded like she expected it. Then when I asked, she said you asked.” He replied, casually somehow.
“So Michelle Yim knows my relationship with you or what?” I asked him.
“Well…yeah…and your dad too. I’m guessing Dominic already knew a long time ago. But anyways, I’m just calling you tonight to ask a favor of you.” He waited, but for a brief second, I didn’t even get a chance to respond. “I need you to find your friend Nancy Wu tonight. I want you to convince her to let you take part in her company management.”
Just what I was about to do…well, except for the last part my so called last family said. I wasn’t planning on asking Nancy for taking part in her company. Why would he ask though? “Why do I have to do that?” I asked.
“Tavia don’t you want to take your father’s company back? I think we’ve been waiting long enough. My patience is running low, and it’s time to finally do something. To bring down Dominic you’ve got to get support from his partner first, and his most reliable partner is none other than Anthony Wu. Since Anthony trusts his daughter the most, and you’re friends with his daughter, this should be easy for you.”
“But she’s my best friend. I don’t want to get her involved in this.”
“Tavia…your best friend had already gotten herself involved the moment she and Raymond signed that contract. Now, I’m waiting for your news.” He hung up without another word.
Nevertheless, I looked back into my mirror after tossing my phone aside. I made some minor adjustments to my makeup, making sure it was a good look for night clubs. I was planning on just simply looking for Nancy and making sure she’s alright tonight, but it seems my so called uncle wants more. Nancy, my best friend, but yet again, if Raymond Lam is the man I love and I’ve already been tricking him from the start…
~*~
“Tavia! Haven’t seen you for such a long time! Has it been a year yet?” Eric’s loud, bubbly voice broke my mental silence.
I smiled. “No…it’s been ten months.” I told him. “Um…have you seen Nancy around? I’ve been trying to look for her, and Tracy said Nancy usually comes here.” I asked, trying to be heard over the loud, pumping music.
“Nancy? Yeah! But she left just a moment ago! She and Shirley just bought like fifty or so pills from me. Rich girls you know.” He smiled, taking the matter lightly.
I knew Eric was a drug dealer, and well, I didn’t mind that. But hearing that Nancy bought some pills from him wasn’t exactly good news, or common. “What? She told me she quit those like a while ago! Before I started working again!”
“I don’t know.” Eric yelled, trying just like me, fighting with the banging music. “One day she just suddenly asked me for some, and well I don’t turn down customers. Then she starts buying more and more. I don’t even know how a girl can take down that many pills in a week! I’m sorry!”
“Do you know where she is now?!” I asked.
“Nope! Sorry…customer!” he replied, pointing to the young girl who just approached us.
The music they played, ten months ago I would’ve actually gone up and asked the DJ to turn it louder, but right now, I hated it so much. I never thought Nancy would actually go back to buying drugs, and Eric was the one to let me know. I have to find her; I have to find her as quick as possible. Nancy’s fallen this deep once before, right after Ron left. It wasn’t until maybe a year or two ago that she stopped and stood back up. What’s happening to her now? As a best friend I feel so helpless. I don’t even know what’s happening to her now that would’ve caused her to start using drugs, again.
~*~
[Raymond’s Point of View]
Talking to Ron didn’t work out as I had planned. I agreed to go to a bar with him, and next thing I know, he gets madly drunk. I only gulped down two mere bottles of beer, wanting to question him more on anything, anything at all. But unfortunately, Ron’s mind was way too focused on his romance and love life right now.
I dragged him home, he was around my height, but it never occurred to me that he weighed so much more than I did. His weight was beginning to become a pain, but luckily I got inside his apartment and dropped him down on the couch. He turned, nearly falling off but somehow balanced himself to stay on. It makes me wonder what happens to a person when they’re drunk. I sat down, tired, resting after that long drag.
“I don’t want to hurt both of them…” he mumbled.
I sat up, wanting to hear more of what he’s saying. I listened closer, convinced that Ron had some idea as to what was coming out of his mouth.
“Nancy told me I can’t hurt two people at the same time over the same reason…but I just can’t fix it.” He continued to mumble.
“Ron sit up…you’re drunk…what are you talking about?” I asked him, hoping he heard me.
“The last time Nancy was at my house…she told me I’m hurting two people at the same time. I’m hurting her and Bernice…but I just can’t sort out my feelings…it’s just too hard.” He sighed.
“Did Nancy say anything else? Or did Bernice say anything to you?” I asked.
He shook his head. “Bernice doesn’t talk much about herself anymore… What happened with your company and Nancy’s, I had no prior knowledge of it. It’s like Bernice is constantly hiding something from me, something big. As for Nancy…” he laughed, choking on his words. “She told me I should marry Bernice. Even after what I did to her that night…she said I should marry Bernice…I was fully awake last night…and she was the drunken one…”
“Ron…Ron settle down. Just…” I sighed, wanting to help him, but I don’t know where to start.
“I don’t know what feelings I have for them. I don’t know which one I love…and which one I feel indebted to. Bernice…she helped me so much through that company and family crisis…and Nancy, I hurt her so much before, and now I even took her complete innocence away from her. What should I do?!” he asked me.
I could tell he was hurt, frustrated, and confused. This was Ron, he was always indecisive, but unlike those times when we were younger, he was troubled by it now. Before, he never really cared about the feelings of people he’s hurting, but now, Ron’s different. I guess this is somewhat a good thing, but where he is right now, I just don’t know how to help. He sat himself up on the couch, rubbing his head and placing his head in his hands. I watched him for a moment as we were both silent. Slowly, I saw something fall from his eyes. I couldn’t even believe it, but it was a tear. Ron cried in front of my eyes, and this had never ever happened before, for the many years we’ve known each other, he’s never cried.
“Raymond…I just don’t know what to do.” He sobbed, pain stricken but his tone was calmer than before.
I don’t know how to help, but from the teardrop that just fell from his eyes, the only thing I could say was, “Ron…who was that tear for?”
~*~
Eight o’clock in the evening, and I’ve just walked out of Ron’s apartment complex. I held my black jacket in my hand, my ears in synced with the sound of lightning above me. I looked around, looking for a place to stay in and hide from the rain. The only place I saw was a bus stop bench. I ran over to it, just as the rain was beginning to fall. I ran in, standing in the corner, watching as rain fell hard from the sky. It never rained this hard before, nor did lightning strike so often. I could see the bolts with my own eyes, a long, rigged strike of purple flash. It could be beautiful, if only the rain wasn’t this cold and lonely.
I turned to my right just as I heard footsteps approaching. It was a woman, a young girl actually, running towards this bus stop with her hands over her head. I couldn’t see her face clearly, so I waited until she got in. She was wet from the rain, dripping cold as she shivered, her head looking out towards the open, empty street.
“Worst night ever…” she mumbled to herself.
I looked at her. It was a voice I’ll never mistaken. Placing my hand on her shoulder, she turned around. “Tavia?” I asked.
“Raymond?” she smiled, still shaking from the cold, lonely rain.
“My god.” I sighed, putting my jacket around her shoulders as we sat down.
I gently wiped the raindrops from her face with my sleeve as I looked at her. She had make up on, different from usual though. She looked like she was going clubbing, but judging from the disappointment all over her face, something else was up. I pulled her into my arms, knowing that she’s still cold and freezing.
“What are you doing in the rain?” I asked.
“I went out…and just as I was trying to get home…it poured.” She replied, shaking.
“Why didn’t you call me?”
“You told me you’d be talking with Ron tonight, I didn’t want to bother you. Besides…we’re both here right now.” She laughed, looking up at the cold bus stop we’re both at.
I smiled, pulling her closer as she rested her head on my shoulder. It was a coincidence seeing Tavia here, but I’m glad we both have each other. We sat and watched the rain, since both of us never thought of bringing an umbrella tonight. For me, each drop that fell was cold, and filled with dreaded silence. Being with Tavia here in this rainstorm did make it better. It was odd, but the bolts of lightning I saw earlier became something beautiful in my eyes. They were so quick, and if you blinked, you could miss such a beautiful sight. Each flash of lightning was like heaven cracking up and giving us a pathway up. If only life was more like heaven, and the gateways would show itself to you.
Sitting here, with the girl I love inside my arms, I can’t seem to forget this faithful rainstorm. The lightning bolts looked purple to me, but I didn’t mind, it was beautiful. Each raindrop, though it echoed with cold and emptiness, with Tavia’s company it was something so much more. The cold gust of winds that were blowing at us, it wasn’t cold anymore, not when we were both holding on to each other.
~*~
[Michelle’s Point of View]
How long has it been? How long has it been since I’ve sat down in a café, meeting with someone without the knowledge of my husband? I could remember it, so many years ago. I can still see myself, sitting in this very same café, waiting for the very same man to come. The only difference was, back then, I was smiling while I waited. But today, today I didn’t really want to be here. I had no other choice but to come. Life really is a joy ride.
I looked up, and just as I had prepared to grab my bag and leave, he came into the café.
I sighed. Either way, he and I still need to talk so I guess now is the time.
“Did you wait long?” he asked, smirking like how he always would.
“You didn’t have to blackmail me just for me to come you know.” I replied. “Where are the bank records?”
“Here you go. It’s hard to believe you’d cheat your husband’s company just for the sake of some personal investments.” He laughed as he took his seat, such a despicable man.
I grabbed the stapled pack of bank records, tucking them into my bag, making sure they were safe. “A woman has to have a backup plan for herself.”
“It seems you don’t have that much trust in your husband. I guess the truth is, the idol marriage of the Hong Kong tycoons were all really just an act.”
“Forget that. What did you want to talk about now that we’re here?”
“Well…as a starter…don’t you think it’s funny that it’s been exactly 25 years since we’ve last talked to each other?” Damian asked.
I hadn’t realized what date it was, but he was correct. It’s been 25 years since everything started, and I had thought it would all end by now. Apparently I’ve been sadly mistaken.
“25 years ago, you…my so called girlfriend and Dominic tricked me into going over to England to further my studies. When I was over there…it was you who set me up, getting me deeply involved with legal matters, preventing me from taking one step out of that country. While I was over there, desperately trying to get home, you and that bastard Dominic caused the death of my brother, my only family member. Do you have any clue how I felt when I found out you were involved?” he asked me, his voice detested and disgusted.
“I really…I…I really didn’t intend for that to happen…”
“Cut the crap. All I wanted to know tonight is simple.” He paused, sighing as he tried to get the heavy burden off his chest. “When did you lose yourself?”
I was taken back. Many times, many times before…I asked myself that question. The many times I asked myself that, only one answer fitted the question, and unfortunately for me, it was an answer I could not accept no matter what. How should I tell him? How should I tell Damian when I know if I did it would only build up more hatred in him?
“How old is your son?” he asked me. “How old is Raymond Lam?”
I looked up at him. Damian is still quick, clever and watchful as before. He has figured it out.
“25…” I replied, fearing his eyes.
“You were pregnant with Dominic’s child…so you decided to send me to England…and end our relationship there…” he took a breath. “That’s all I needed to know…”
I regretted that night, that night I went out and got myself drunk. I decided to get myself drunk after finding out the news that Damian has a brighter future ahead for him if he studied in England. That opportunity was laying right there, waiting for him, and I couldn’t hold him back. I went out that night, and it just so happened that Dominic brought me home. The rest was a huge blur in my head, but afterwards, I used guilt as an emotional excuse, and forced Damian to leave. That was the start. That was the beginning of when I lost myself.
~*~
[Raymond’s Point of View]
The rain had finally stopped long enough for both of us to walk home. Tavia was cold and wet, so I left my jacket with her. Unfortunately, for some reason she didn’t want me to stay with her tonight. Adding on, she even asked to take tomorrow off from work. I didn’t ask her why, because if she doesn’t want to tell me, there’d be no point asking anyways.
Coming home, I realized the clock had just hit twelve. My parents must be asleep by now. Steven is still in Taiwan, helping my father handle some business matters with his personal investment. It really is quiet at home without that idiot around. I crept upstairs, keeping as quiet as I possibly could. Turning to walk into my room, I saw that my parents’ room was slightly opened. Their lights were still on, obviously saying they were still awake. I approached the small crack of light, suddenly stopping just outside the door as my dad raised his voice.
“Why…all of a sudden you want to stop and waste everything we’ve worked for?!” he asked.
“I’m done with it. We’ve done enough to their family for one lifetime! Money and power was all you ever wanted. That was the only reason you took me home that night, 25 years ago! You had this all planned out. I’ve thrown my life away for you. I’ve done everything I could…and it’s time to stop…”
I heard a slap. My eyes widened as I pushed the door open, still unable to make a noise.
“I…I…I’m sorry…” my dad mumbled as he stared at my mother. Both were hurt.
“Stop…just stop everything…stop hurting their family…we’ve done enough…and I’ve already lost myself…I don’t want to lose my son too.”
“Michelle…I can’t just waste our efforts this 25 years. Since that night, since Damian stepped foot on that plane, I was determined to take this company from Michael’s hand. Now, it was his daughter who showed up at my feet. Tavia Yeung…she may seem young and naïve, but I can tell that her mind thinks just like Michael himself. She could even do better than him, and I can’t let this pillar stand in my way.
“She’s dating our son! What are you planning to do? You’ve done enough to her family. Can’t you just be happy we’ve lived in a luxurious life for 20 years?”
“No…I’m keeping this luxurious life as long as I can. I want Raymond…and his children to live a good life. Keeping the company is the only way we can live this life…and to keep the company means to kick Tavia Yeung out. I’m planning on taking the 5% in her hands away from her…”
“You can’t…you can’t hurt this girl any further…and you need a reason in order to do that.”
“I’m the owner of this company…I can do whatever I want…”
My parents turned towards the door, their eyes caught on the sight of the young man standing there. I didn’t know how I felt, I didn’t know what to think, or how to accept this. My own parents have caused the one person I love the most pain in her life. They’ve hurt her time and time before, and they’re doing it again. The two people I’ve looked up to, I’ve idolized have turned into nothing more than two greedy, despicable liars.
They were looking at me, their own son who have just heard everything out of their mouths. There’s no excuse for me to use, nothing I can use to not believe this fact. I stared into their eyes just as they did mine. It was silence. My entire house was struck with a dead, creeping silence that I’ve never felt before in all my life. My own parents, doing something I could never imagine, just for the sake of their own greed and desire.
No comments:
Post a Comment