THE lights in the Emerald Building then started to go out one after another. Only one lamp remained highlight on the table with five people sitting in a circle. Laughter blared amidst the dark atmosphere. The bodyguards could relax too. On another angle, the task of catering employees has come to an end.
"Father!" there was a woman's voice. "It's time to take your medicine."
Apparently, the woman was not alone. She was still wearing the same wedding dress. Cecilia, Adrian, Amelia, and several other Chinese people, walked to the table. Wait, was not this table coded with 'gentleman's code'?
"Ah, it looks like our time is up, gentlemen," said Alex, "ever since my wife died, my daughter has taken care of me."
Brody and Troy and laughed while I just smiled.
"This has not been over, gentlemen. We will continue it another time," said Alex.
John then helped his father to stand up and gave him an engraved wooden stick. This old Chinese walked closer
“KNOCK! Knock!”There was a knock on the door. I woke up. Who was interfering with my rest time? In fact, after all that happened last night, especially with Amelia, I still wanted to sleep a little longer. She consumed my strength.“Lang! Big K looking for you,” shouted Jenny from behind my door."What?" I'm half-conscious. "Big K, why?""Come out!" Jenny ordered.I then stretched my muscles and lazily reached for the cellphone. Since last night, Amelia, Julia, Aisha, and Kacey, took a turn to make me feels unpleasant. As I recalled, after having an incredible night with Amelia, I remember parking the car in the garage at 3:37 A.M.So, what time was it then? My cell phone screen reads 9:00 A.M. What? It was only nine in the morning, apparently. I thought it was eleven o'clock or even twelve o'clock. So, I fell asleep for about five hours.Even so, I did not feel dizzy, even though I was a little tired.
"JACK!" the young woman greeted a young man next to me."Zoey!" he returned her greeting.The woman then jogs into Ursula’s stall. I should make myself calm. I then took out my cigarette pack, took one, and lit it. I put the cigarette pack on the table. Jack grabbed it without asking my permission. Voluntary cooperation, mutual aid, and direct action. An anarchy young man indeed."Sister Ursula," Zoey said to the stall owner. "Do you have soap?"Apparently, she wanted to buy a bar of soap. As if knowing there was a foreigner beside her, she turned her head. When we looked at each other, I was shocked.It turns out that this young woman was the one who threw a blown kiss at me from the pickup car when there was an eviction refusal rally the other day.Could it be she also a ...?Wait! Why did she even look away, huh? Did not she remember who I was? The one who gave her a blown kiss. In fact, I did that on purpose to make he
"WANNA additional lessons," Zoey offered me gently and spoiled.Geez! Her voice was so melodious until it rang in my ears. I did not want this serenity to end quickly. Just let her sulk later. The important thing was I wanted to enjoy the warmth as well as the comfort of ..."Hey!" there was another female voice. "Young man, hey!"I was gasped.Damn! Where was Zoey? I turned my head to the right and left. She did disappear!"Zoey?" I asked in a panic."She already leaves back to Arynn's. You were asked, but you kept your mouth shut!" Ursula scolded me.Damn it!"Are you going to let your cell phone ringing?" Ursula told me, pointing at my cellphone on the table.Shit! I was so hypnotized till I could not hear a thing. I then took my cellphone, then I saw the name Big K, calling via WhatsApp."Hello?" I answered his call."# $ _ & = ©%," said Big K."What?" I could not hear him clearly.
I got into Santos's Jimny car, then started the engine. I stepped on the gas lightly. The offroad wheels rolled slowly. When I passed the deep puddle, I could feel the hardness of the car's suspension. Even though it was designed for offroad, the springs were still not soft. Not comfortable. What else could I do? Instead of using my car, it would go straight to the car repair shop.Not far from Bli Wayan's black-fibered house, my pheromone radar alarm blared. I pushed my body as well as my head, look toward left and right. Even though I knew, even if I sat upright, my view was the same. But I insisted focus on finding Zoey!Apparently, in this block, there were more and more productive age women milling about. On either side of the road, I could see each house with a large windowpane the size of its terrace.On the windowpane, tacked stickers like the one on the barbershop windowpane. Some say BARBARA, MADONNA, ANGELA, and other hot names. From behind the
I felt uncomfortable warding off her gift. Alright, instead of making her heart hurt by refusal, I would respect her by sipping the contents of the dimple mug. But half of it first? I was not strong enough if I immediately finish drinking in one gulp."Finish it," said Zoey.Ready, Ma'am!There was a sound of giggling. Then, as usual, Big K began to break the silence by pulling me back into the sofa. I drank the fermented drink without being distilled until it spilled over the sides of my mouth. It was fresh, to the point that my eyeballs were more sensitive to light."Music ...!" asked Big K to play the music again.Then, Big K introduced me to two other men I didn't know. This first man was thin and tall when compared to the girls on either side of him. Her hair was straight and wavy at the bottom, framing her pale white face. His nose is pointed like Pinocchio. In short, there is a Middle Eastern feel to it."Malique," he introduced himse
THE guests who attended the assembly looked shy. They just smiled. Ashley herself looked upset, so she was angry."Is there anyone who wants to go to school?" she asked.Ashley deserved to be upset. She was allowed to be angry. The thing was, Ashley and friends had accompanied these guests since 11 o'clock in the afternoon, as said Big K earlier. However, four hours later, no one was interested in 'school'."Really?" said Ashley, "I have accompanied you from eleven, and still no one wants to go to school?" Ashley then snorted.Suddenly, an intro to a song that I recognized, followed by a verse, confirmed my guess. At first, I thought this song would be sung by these girls. Therefore, I did not take it seriously.However ..."Party girls don't get hurt. Can't feel anything when I will learn. I push it down, push it down," sang a woman.Her first note was perfect and caught my attention instantly. That hoarse voice reminded me of the or
"NOPE," I stopped her.Zoey was surprised.Zoey then stood up. Sighed then walked away from me. I did not know if she was disappointed or happy? She turned to face me, leaned back against the doll rack, and then crossed her arms over her chest. Zoey said nothing. Or she was thinking about if I have a deviant sexual orientation."So, what do you want?" Zoey asked, breaking the silence by herself."Can you sing Adele's song Rolling in the Deep?" I asked.Zoey nodded."Sing it," I asked her, "I'll be the guitarist."When she turned around, unbeknownst to her, I positioned my cell phone in such a way that it could be seen that half of Zoey's upper body."Why it must be this complicated?" she protested while giving me the guitar."I already paid you," I answered carelessly.I then asked her to sit in front of a rack full of dolls."This is odd," she snorted, crossing her arms."Why?" I asked her while tun
WHEN I promised to free her, suddenly, the atmosphere became quiet. There was a strange frozen moment enveloping this 3x3 room. But Zoey remained silent, then nodded again as if to bless what I just said.Then I felt guilty myself for urging her to tell a story. I shifted my seat to get closer to her. It felt like I want to hug her. I guess Zoey also thought the same thing. When we were sad, we want someone to be around us.Then, Zoey took a breath, then exhaled. It was as if she was taking off some of the burdens of the past she was carrying."May I hold your hand?" I was asking permission."You already paid me," Zoey replied, "you can do whatever you want."I just shook my head."I just wanted to hold your hand," I repeated.Zoey then held out her palms.I held her palms then rubbed them as if I was going to read what had happened to the palms. It was rough. It reminded me of Julia's palm. I guessed the two of them are hardwo