[Nancy’s Point of View]
Lying on our bed, I could feel the warm sun bring light to my eyes. Slowly I opened them, feeling refreshed, energized, and looking forward to the new day. The warmth was everywhere, wrapping me in its blanket. I could fall asleep again, but I had plans for the day…sort of.
Turning just slightly, my hand rested upon the crease of his neck. His eyes were still closed, possibly still asleep. For the first time in my life, I knew exactly what happened last night. I wasn’t drunk or drowned in the awful influence of alcohol. No, for the first time I allowed myself to let go. This new feeling inside of me, it’s hard to explain, but I can tell it’s a good feeling. It’s a feeling that made me want to get out of bed and just go have fun. It was a feeling that made me look forward to the days to come. I let out a soft, natural smile as I looked at him, just now beginning to open his eyes. We smiled at each other for a brief moment, until my heart realized something. Maybe this was what I needed all along. Maybe I just needed some simple, true, boundless love. Maybe I needed Mr. Kenneth Ma who’s been here all this time. Maybe, just maybe…Kenneth is the one.
“Good morning.” He smiled, pulling my closer to him by the waist.
“Good morning.” I laughed, playfully kissing his cheek.
No more maybes…this really was what I needed…all along.
~*~
[Tavia’s Point of View]
Time…I’ve lost track of time long ago, and all I see now are whatever is in front of me. What’s in front of me? A small slip of paper decorated with a beautiful ocean watermark. It was a check, a check for me, a check for half a million US Dollars. Since taking part in the stock market, I’ve learned the trade and rules of the game. Amazingly they are a lot easier to grasp than I had imagined, and now I wonder why I didn’t get into this sooner.
Walking down the busy street of Causeway Bay, people pass me by with short, discreet glances. I have half a million dollars in my hand right now, and people say money is the cure to everything. Is it really? If it is then why do I still feel a lump at my throat? It’s been there since forever, and I couldn’t even remember a day when that lump wasn’t there. There was a burden on my chest, something holding me back, reminding me that no matter what I’m still Tavia Yeung.
I shoved the check safely into my purse as I continued my stroll. Realizing that if I keep this up, everything will fall smoothly into place. Looking up, I checked for a clearance as I crossed the road. My eyes seem to be playing with me when I saw him again. He looked awfully familiar, but the logic in me fought this. He can’t be, he can’t be here…it’s impossible.
Without realizing it, I’ve already crossed the busy street and am well on my way with walking towards him. I can’t talk to him, can I? After so long, he may not even recognize me. We’re just mere strangers, nothing but two unrelated people on the street…right? I kept walking. I kept trying to speed up my pace to catch up with him. This was how it used to be, but yet I still wonder. Does he recognize me? Can he tell who I am even though so many years have passed? It’s hard for me to believe knowing what happened years ago, but this might just be a dream, or a miracle. No matter, I’ve put that aspect behind me. I don’t care if it’s a dream, just as long as I’m living it. The question now is can this man recognize me, his own daughter?
“I’m sorry…” that voice caught my attention.
Turning away from my dream chasing, I looked back at the person I ran into, standing in front of me. He had sunglasses on, but no matter how much he disguised his distinct features, I’ll always know it’s him.
“Raymond…” I spoke, unable to come up with anything else to say.
He simply smiled, nodded his head just slightly, and he walked around me, walking the opposite direction. It was as if we were total strangers passing by on the street. I couldn’t lie about my feelings, and it was something about this that made my heart ache.
I turned around, looking at his back as he walked away, chatting on his phone. This can’t be. This wasn’t Raymond. At least, that was what I had thought. Creating such an impact on him, it was understandable for Raymond to treat me as a complete stranger, especially since everything got so much more complicated.
“Raymond Lam…” I quietly whispered to myself, hoping by some miracle he’d hear my call.
I’ve lied to myself long enough and I can’t suppress it any longer. If going through with my plan requires such a loss, is it really worth it? Yes, yes it is. Hopefully everything will work out right, and in the end we’ll all be at fair grounds. But yet, I can’t seem to push back my roused up feelings. I kept looking in that direction, watching as my vision of him disappeared into the thick crowd of Hong Kong citizens scattered everywhere.
~*~
[Raymond’s Point of View]
No matter how tempting this sensation is, I cannot look back. I’ve already created enough troubles due to my swing of emotions, and I’ve promised myself. I’m not going to put emotion into work ever again, and Tavia…she’s considered work. Though every time I see her, or even think of her, it’s so hard not to show anything. I hate liars, and now I’m hating myself. As I crossed the busy road, fighting not to turn back and look at her, I find myself so pathetic. Even having to fake a phone call so that I can seem even colder, this was such a stretch. Tavia Yeung, why can’t she just settle down? Why can’t she trust and listen to me?
I turned the corner, walking down the street. Just then from the corner of my eyes as I’m fighting not to look, I noticed her. Yet she seemed to be following someone rather than just roaming the streets. She was following a man, someone I must’ve passed by earlier. Who was that man, and what did he have that Tavia would need?
*Ring…ring*
The phone vibrated in my hands as I faked a conversation, still irresistibly glancing in Tavia’s direction. My thumb reached to press the answer button, and I waited for the caller to speak up.
“Raymond…Ron and I are waiting for you at Café Déjà vu.” Bernice’s voice sounded softly.
“Ron will be there too?” I asked, a bit of guard and surprised.
“Yes…I didn’t tell you this…but it was actually Ron who wanted to schedule this meeting.” She replied hesitantly.
“Okay…I’ll be there as soon as I can.” I answered, hanging up the call.
Putting my phone away, my mind seemed to be trailing in three different directions. One was about the company of course. Now that Bernice had told me she’s forced to sign in with Damian, I guess I could find no other reasons to doubt her. Steven is still working on a compromise with Kenneth, no news since, while Ron is up on his own, only talking to me now. My second thought passage was emotions. I can’t deny it, but I still feel so much for Tavia, and a part of me just wanted to play the fool in her life. A part of me wanted to believe that she may be still helping me after all. But all the facts, all the numbers are stating otherwise. Now for my last passage is for a trouble that is not mine. Ron, he and Nancy have been like this for years before. Only till now that he may finally realize what he’s doing wrong, and I just hope that the next time I see him he’ll change. Nancy has been a close friend of mine, and seeing her like this just isn’t a comforting feeling.
~*~
[Raymond’s Point of View]
Ron probably has changed, but I’m still in the middle because of the way he acts with Bernice. Sure, Ron is becoming much like a fiancé to her, but even a blind person can see that there was no love. It was much more like a sense of gratitude, repayment of some sort, but it wasn’t love. Yet again, I probably shouldn’t even mention it at a time like this. Bernice and Ron are busy sorting out the files and staging our phases, while I’m sitting here thinking about this awkward couple. I myself don’t even know what love is, so what am I to judge them?
“Raymond.” Ron called, his voice deeper and seeming a lot older than before. He paused for a moment, waiting for my reaction. Only when I sat up and blinked a couple of times that he began speaking again. “I’ve taken to thought the fact how Kenneth Ma can be the key figure in this situation…but let us not forget that Nancy holds the most power in Wu Enterprise. After so many things, her dad will listen to almost anything she asks…and Kenneth is irrevocably in love with her. I actually think Nancy can help us more than Kenneth can. Besides…Kenneth Ma is known in the business world for being unpredictable…I don’t know if we can trust him.”
I nodded, slightly glancing at Bernice. Her reaction was neutral, seemed like she’s gotten over the affair between Nancy and Ron. “Everything’s worth a try.” I replied. “In my…or our current situation, there aren’t many options left. Steven is already trying to work things out with Kenneth, and as for Nancy…I don’t know if she even has any knowledge of this.”
It was quiet for a moment, but the silence was awkward between me and them, they were awkward amongst each other.
“We need to break it to her somehow.” Bernice replied. Her tone was more a cold business tone rather than sweet old Bernice. She was the one person I envied who can separate work and emotions.
Bernice pulled out her cell phone in an instant. I could see her scrolling through her address book, looking for Nancy’s number. She was also a quick thinking, making decisions in an instant. I watched as Ron suddenly placed his hand over Bernice’s, telepathically telling her to stop. She looked up at him, a little surprised. The awkwardness was growing, I can feel it.
“Why are you stopping me?” she asked him.
That was a trick question. I could see the worry in his eyes as he thought of ways to answer her. What I don’t get about my foolish friend is why he has such a tendency to put himself in tough situations. If he had admitted his love, he wouldn’t be calculating his every move to both important women right now.
“She’s pregnant right now…I don’t think bothering her with this would be a good idea.”
Bernice sighed. Her sweet and caring side would probably still take a step back away from Nancy, but her business side counts no emotions. All she had in mind…what was the best move she could make right here and now? “Well we have to get her help somehow. We’re trapped Ron…”
He nodded, his facial expression a lot more mature than before. He seemed like he’s actually thinking about his every move. Something I doubt I could ever do. “I’ll tell her in person. Being sincere is the best way to get Nancy’s help, and a phone call isn’t going to cut it.”
I seemed to be a mere spectator watching this awkward couple sitting here in front of me. Ron must still have something for Nancy, why else would someone like him be able to consider so much into this? As for Bernice, like before, she can clearly separate work from emotions. She’s different than all of us, and from a brief look she seemed to be perfect for someone as cold and distant as Ron…but as a close friend of both…I hate to say it but these two are eons apart.
~*~
[Tavia’s Point of View]
“Let go…let go…” those words repeated over and over in my mind.
This fancy restaurant doesn’t seem like an average place to conduct a private business meeting, but this was the only place I could feel relaxed, and apart from the outside world. I came a little bit early, and am just sitting here, scrolling through the old memories of my cell phone. I could still remember how I got this phone, I could still remember that very day. The memory was so clear to me, as if I’ve lived it just yesterday. Unfortunately this was no tomorrow, in fact possibly a year or two have passed from that day. Time flies by so fast, and in this year or so I’ve made so many mistakes.
My eyes opened wider when I clicked on the photo folder. Endless photos of Nancy and I flashed up on the screen. In them we were both smiling, in fact possibly messing with the camera and teasing each other. I haven’t had a decent conversation with her for a while, and looking at those pictures, I missed those times so much. I missed it when we’d talk and confide in each other every night, and I still missed those times when we’d freak out over the smallest things. Now, a year or two later, the only form of communication we have with each other is through a simple, distant thing called e-mail. What irony.
“Hey…what are you laughing about?” Kenneth’s voice suddenly sounded.
I looked up, folding my cell phone shut and tucked it into my purse. “I was laughing?” I asked.
He sat down, holding his tie back from dangling on the table. “Well you were smiling pretty widely. What’s so funny?” he asked.
I shook my head, letting the smile fade away as we got right to business. “I’m glad you could come. So can I have an answer?”
He was quiet for a moment, pretending to scan the menu as he processed his thoughts. “What I don’t get is why would you need me?”
“You’re Mr. Kenneth Ma. Everybody knows you’re unpredictable, so it wouldn’t surprise anyone if you did this for me.” I smiled, taking what Nancy had said about this man to heart.
“Unpredictable in business but a fool in love.” He laughed, sitting back as he handed the waitress the elegant menu after giving her his order.
“What do you mean?” I asked, a bit confused on what he was trying to say.
“If Nancy asks, I can’t lie to her. Even if I try to lie, she can tell it so easily. How much help can I give you?” he replied.
“I’m sure Nancy won’t question. Though Nancy has a brilliant mind, I know she never really likes to put her hand into business related things. Nancy’s probably one of those rare girls who turns away from money instead of doing anything for it.” I smiled, proud to admit I have a friend like her.
“Well if you say so…” he paused for a short moment. “I’ll do the best I can.”
Kenneth looked up and smiled. He was pretty confident in my plan, and by that smirk of his I’m pretty sure he’ll do me some good. Finally, some good news after a while. It seemed I’m not standing alone anymore, if anything I can refer to Kenneth for help. I couldn’t say how glad I was that this man was willing to trust me, but what gave me more encouragement was his confidence in my abilities. Kenneth is known for his spontaneous nature, but he’s also been a good decision maker. It’s more assuring for me to know Kenneth is in on this. I just hope that everything can end soon, and things will be back to the way they were supposed to be. I sighed in somewhat relief.
~*~
[Nancy’s Point of View]
If time never really stopped and I’ve counted right…it has been exactly 734 days. These 734 days hasn’t been easy, and all the troubles I could ever think of are coming to all of us, hitting us one by one. Sometimes I’d think I’ve gone crazy, staying at home, staying indoors for so long. But yet other times, I feel like I’ve just broadened my vision of life. Having so much free time on my hand, I’ve managed to think through a lot of things, most of which are ones which I seem to shy away from, long before. Though with both eyes closed, even I can see what was going on around me. Things were changing, and the problem is none of us knew if it’s changing for the good or the worse.
A soft system ring came to my ears as I clicked out of the stocks page on my laptop. I’ve received a new e-mail, from someone I haven’t seen in such a long, long time. I wonder how she is, faring in that treacherous world out there. Though through these e-mails, there is something in her words that just makes me want to think she’s seen the big picture, and how she’s stronger than what she thought of herself.
“Dear Nancy,
How long has it since we’ve seen each other face to face? I miss those good old times when I’d get off work, tired as hell, and you’d be lying around in our apartment about to die from boredom. I missed it even more, those times when we would be so childish to freak out and make a big deal out of the smallest things. Now things are so different from then, and time seemed to have stopped. I can’t tell if it’s good or bad, but my patience is killing me. I’m about to make one of the biggest decisions in my life, and unfortunately even I have no way of predicting its outcome. Just hope things turn out right, and someday we’ll go back to the good old days, childishly fooling around and complaining.”
She’s right. Everything, everything as we knew it has came to an abrupt halt, seeming as if time itself has stopped moving on. Either that or time has left us in the dust behind it, trying hard to keep up. Again, like her I too miss those good old days. And again, I’d do anything to get back to those innocent times. She also told me she’s about to make a big decision, outcome unknown. What could happen from here? What could happen to us and why can’t she just wait a little longer for some more help to come, some more clues to open itself up for us? This was her, my best friend who was known for hasty decisions. Hopefully unlike the million other times, when she makes a decision as rushed as this one, things will turn out the way she had hoped. As a so called best friend I’ve never felt so helpless. What kind of friend am I?
I closed my eyes, thinking. So many thoughts passed by, so many plans so many ideas, but none seems to work. One at a time, that should be it. Handle one problem at a time seemed like the easier way to go, but where should I start?
There was a pain, a small, piercing pain similar to that of a migraine. But quickly it faded away, leaving no traces as if it was never even there. Something hit me, something I haven’t thought of, and obviously something I’d never think of doing. But I guess, I’ve got to try everything in life, and now is the perfect time to try this out.
Pushing the chair back, I walked away from Kenneth’s high end glass office desk and walked towards the living room, turning towards the halls. I walked straight down, certain of where I’m about to go both physically and mentally. Work, love, and emotions, everything needs to be sorted out, and I’m sure I’m not the only one who would think this. But for me, I need answers…now. Patience is dying quickly and quietly in me.
“Hey…what’s up?” Steven smiled as I opened the door. “I heard you walking down the hall.”
I folded my arms and leaned on the side of the door, showing him a slight smirk I believe. “Why are you hiding out here?” I asked, knowing the question is straight and blunt but they are the easiest to say in this situation.
He laughed nervously. “What do you mean?” There was that nervous part that only made me more determined to find out.
“Steven…you’ve been here for two months…what’s going on?” I asked, knowing I’ve got to get it out of him.
His smirk faded instantly, looking back at me with large, serious eyes.
“You want to know…?” he asked…
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