Crushed Memories

2.30 am, 18th February
Charlize's Apartment

Matt lied down on the sofa and stared at the poster across the wall. His tummy still bulging from the food that was served just now. Everyone have left the apartment but Andez and him. Andez is in Charlize room chatting and having more wine but he had too many so he rathered just lay back in the living room.

Somehow that poster of a girl looked so familiar, she is so beautiful just like ... and then he remembered. It looked like his first crush when he was 12 or was it 13 or 14. It was too long ago. Even he drank a lil too much today, he still can recall. And his mind wandered back to the time when his heart skipped the first beat.... on the empire seat... in a badminton court.... at the clubhouse.

That was when it happened. It was just another day of badminton with Andrew and William. He was counting the scores on the empire seat while both of them are playing. Across them there were two little girls playing badminton and the third one which is older on the empire seat. Matt couldn't help noticing that she turned around and smiled every 10 minutes. It was the most beautiful smile he had ever seen.

Matt: Hey..got leng lui looking at both of you playing
Andrew: Wah... ok ok...I play better.
Matt: haha...



For some reason, that moment felt special. He tried to smile back each time she turned. He tried to make it not so obvious that he was actually looking. But it was so unnatural, especially when he didn't want to miss the smile when she turn.

When the game got more intense, his mind was preoccupied with the girl on the empire seat in the opposite court. A few times he had to be reminded of the score. It was hard, and the last time he looked up she was gone.

When the game was over, Matt's mind was still not in its place. While both Andrew and William went for a shower, He decided to walked to the bowling alley towards the video arcade to play a game or two. After he walked down the stairs and turned left to the arcade, immediately she walked past him. For some reason, his legs couldn't move. His heart that was beating awkwardly the whole day stopped beating for a good few seconds. He waited a few seconds to grasp the air around him and turned around, she was gone again. But for some reason he stared at the empty alley beside the staircase, still unable to move. And suddenly, her head bopped out from the corner and smiled the same smile he could not forget til now. He almost fell down on the floor when that happened.

Since that day, he always looked forward to the weekend where he will be able to go to the clubhouse. Each time he meets her, each time he would feel that crush on his chest. Each time unable to move or continue doing the thing he was doing. It was his first time liking a girl, he didn't even know what it felt like til he met her. It was his first crush. The silly feeling that you'll only get when you're young.

Matt opened his eyes and smiled back at the girl who seemed to be smiling directly at him in the poster. He wandered where could the envelope which contains the letter and the comic strip he had drawn for her but never had the courage to give her.



It was a strip bout every moment that he had seen her, drawn up in his favourite anime when he was young. He also laughed to himself when he remembered keeping the mentos wrapper in which he had found in the bushes for more than 5 years til someone threw it away. It was the only thing he could find in the bushes where he saw her throwing something there.



It was so silly of him to have thought that she was writing her number or something there. Every moment was still fresh in his mind even after more than 10 years. He have always wondered 'How would she look like now and what would it feel like to be able to meet her again?'. It would have been nice to even just know her name. But then again how could that be possible when he wouldn't know how she looked like now. Unless her twin sisters were there with her,... or unless she remembered me ... so sily and impossible'. He smiled to himself and rest his mind finally.

1 Missed Call

3.15pm, 17th February
Ken's House

Cold water started trickling over his half-awaken body. His mind still at ease, and the sex was great. He knew that she would have left by the time he woked up. She is always like that every since they broked up. But she has always been good in bed, and a slight grin appeared at the side of his lips. She will call him again, most probably today or tomorrow. He thought to himself. Confident.

He closed the tap and headed out to the bedroom naked. Leaving trails of waters behind him. As he slowly towels himself dry he reached out for his handphone and checked for miss calls. 'Mandy, 1 missed call'. He calls her back.

Ken: "Hey baby, what are you doin?"
Mandy: "Oh ...nothin...just helpin Mom prepare for tonight's dinner. How was last night?"
Ken: "It was alright...boring"
Mandy:"Ic, I miss you dear"
Ken: "I miss you too, I'll see you later on tonight at dinner alright?"
Mandy:"Ok"

*click* and the conversation ended.

Welcome Back

7.30 pm, 18th February
Charlize's Apartment

"ANDEZZZZZ!!, I can't believe it!" Charlize ran across the carpark towards the taxi parked at the guardhouse outside her apartment. The moment, surreal. Matt stood steadily at the carpark elevator as his eyes and Andez greeted one another. Both of them gave a brotherly smile. Both of them knew that these few days will be like yester years.

As the three of them enters Charlize's apartment, the crowd looked at Andez momentarily with question marks on their heads. All of them shook their curiosity off quickly and welcomed him to the party. "Happy Chinese New Year...welcome back" the crowd introduced themselves one by one before they sat down on the dining table. All but one was not seated. Charlize was busy and frantically running in and out the kitchen to get utensils and photo albums from her room to show to the crowd. She misses him so much. As memories started to flood her willful self, tears are becomin' visible at the corner of her eyes. For some reason, her heart could not stop beating. This is so unlike her.

The food started to dissapear from the table, along with the bottle of wines. What a feast.

Fling to love

9.05 am, 17th February
Ken's house

Sophie tip toed to the washroom, and put her clothes back on. Ken's body still lied flat naked on the bed, and he was snoring so loud. It is sad that she had to leave like this but the awkwardness would be intolerable if he woke up. She knew there is nothing to gain from this, she knew him too well. Yet, the feelings never really left her.

Her head is still spinning from last night, and there is a huge bulge on her head. She didn't even thought of bathing and just quickly wash up herself. Presentable enought to drive and head back home to face her roommates. Although this has happened many times before but with Ken it is different. She was nervous and scared. She was in love again. It is a love hate relationship she have with this feeling. She took one last glance at him and at the watch and left silently

Festivities

7:15 pm, 18th February
Charlize's Penthouse

'Snap!' A picture of all of Charlize's colleagues and friends displays on Matt's new camera. "Hey Matt, come take with us !" Charlize cried out to him from the crowd. "Its okei la! Later later.." he smiled back. The crowd began to dispurse and sat accordingly on the long glass table that seems too fragile to hold the amount of food catered. "Gong hei fatt choi..Gong hei fatt choi...sek fan sek fan" Charlize took her chopsticks and everyone started eating. Matt ate quitely throughout the whole dinner and occasionally steered his head to Charlize whenever she started to joke around. He doesn't really know everyone, in fact other than Bernard whom he had seen once at Charlize's birthday party...he can barely remember the others.

"Hey Matt!, why so quiet...anyways... I haven't seen you in a long while...what happen to you la? Got a girlfriend already isit?" she laughed. "Hhuh?! No la! Been busy with work and the 'night shift'....no time to sleep also" he grins. Charlize always knows how to dig in and she remembers things very well. He can never hide a single thing from her. They were best friends for years. Yet, he can never tell what is on her mind. "What night shift? Entertain boss's clients isit? I know those Japanese can be 'hamsap' (horny)le" she glance at the crowd with a naughty grin and looks back at him. "Yea man, those buggers are crazy drinkers and my boss always needs me there to interpret for him" he tried to reply without showing any signs of shyness. The crowd laughed out loud.

Slightly after, Charlize phoned ranged. "OMG OMG!! Its Andez!!" she opened her eyes wide and stared straight at Matt. "Oh...I forgot to tell you....he is coming back for holidays" he laughed. She picks up her phone and shouted "ANDEZZZZZZZZZZZ.....you coming back!!!". The crowd kept quiet in anticipation for her next reply. "What!?!? ....you're outside my place?!" she stood up and ran straight to the security video installed next to her bedroom. "OMG!!" another scream is heard from a distance. The crowd laughed like mad and still don't know what is happening. Who is Andez?

In peace with the past

6.15 am, February 17th
Ken's House

Sophie's body lies bare naked against the soft waterbed. She could barely open her eyes. She tries to tilt a little but the streaks of joltin' pain from her head prevents her from doing so. She has been in this room before, she can tell from the smell of the room. Just about then she realize there is someone hugging her from behind. She glance down towards her body to see the hands that is over her. It was the same firm grip that has held her this way almost everynight for 2 years. It is Ken's hands. Even the watch that she bought for him is still on it.

She could barely remember what has happened yesterday. But somehow she is happy that she ended up in his arms. Funnily, the bitter feeling and resentment isn't there. Just peaceful solace of old memories mixed with the present moment. She couldn't care less if she was taken advantage of. She still loved him, that is for sure. She smiled, held his hand and closed her eyes.

Mummy's girl

10.30 am, 17th February,
at Mandy's Bedroom

Mandy took a look in the mirror and smiled. 'What a beautiful day' she thought. The sun is not too bright and the weather not too humid. Just the way she liked it. Plus today is Chinese New Year's eve! She put on some clothes and hurried down the stairs to greet everyone. Her father is on the couch reading newspaper and her mom praying. Her dog 'Floppy' seems to be the only one that is excited to see her. It ran straight up the stairs towards her leg. "awwwww.. good morning baby!" she embrace the Maltese in her arms.

"Girl, go eat your breakfast at the back then come help mummy wash the praying table" her Mom turned and smile. "Good morning Mom" she kissed her gently on the cheek. In that brief moment she noticed that her mom is actually growing older. There are more wrinkles on her face and white hair are visible. It is high time she started supporting her. She continued on into the kitchen and ate the chicken porridge her mom prepared. It was her favorite since young. She loved her so much.

Dropping pieces

3.45 am 17th February.
At Darrren's Poolside


Sophie slid opened the glass panel and escaped out to the poolside for some fresh air. Those 'morons' just can't keep their hands of her especially when they are so freakin intoxicated. The tequila in her body already started to kick in, and she knows she probably will be too drunk to walk in an hour or so. In this few minutes of consciousness, she slowly search her back for her pack of cigarettes. With much effort, she finally managed to lid one up.

She took a puff and closed her eyes. The nicotine and alcohol starts shooting random shots of what happened tonight. Ken as usual were busy with Samantha, his most recent fling bitch. 'What a bitch! She even threw her a stare before kissing that drunk bastard. Just the thought of it makes her so furious and want to go in and take another 5 seconds shot. How could she had become like this. This was suppose to be a game that she is good at, and Ken wasn't like this before. He was this nice and caring guy that she knew, whom always brought her sweets every morning when they were in highschool. Although alot of girls had crush on him, he was always ignorant bout it. She still remembered their first kiss back den and their last after they had sex in the car one and a half years back. That was also the night she found out that he was cheating on her. ..

Thumpppppppph! She fell flat on the concrete floor and lost her consciousness.

Dreams & Reality

12.15am, 17th February.

Keagan lied on his bed staring at his phone. He had tried calling her at least 10 times now but to no avail. Sigh, it must be that her battery died again. She really needs a new battery for her phone. 'Maybe I'll get it for her sometime this weekend. His eyes hang in a daze, and slowly his consciousness begins to fade.

Sophie is fixing her makeup in the ladies. Some stupid drunk guy decided to use her face as a towel and somehow smeared her makeup. What a crazy night this is. Darren's party always ends up like this. Least she is still sober, it is hard to get drunk lately. It may be because of her night job that her alcohol tolerance have became so much stronger. 'Oh wells,' she give a last puck to even out her lipstick and headed back to the mainroom.

'Phew' sighs Mandy. Finally she got home, took a nice long bath and all ready to lie on the bed. 'Ken should be asleep by now' she checks her phone again to see if she did miss any message from him. Nope, there was none. She roll back on to her bed and takes her long overdued sleep. 'Goodnight baby' she whispered and dozes off.

High Society

11.15,16th February,
At Darren's Bangalow

The tall palm trees zooms through the side of the black BMW, the headlights cutting through the dark winding road ahead. "Hey, Darren...I'll reach there in 5, open up the gates alright?" Ken said on his cellphone. "Ok, what toook you so long man!" shouted Darren. He could barely hear himself with the beat in the crowded room. Much less, he was groovin on the dancefloor with this beautiful lady he adores. "Charlize,I'm going to get Ken alright...I'll be right back. He is at the door" he smiled and kisses her gently on the neck. "Eeww...you naughty thing.. go go." she replied in a seducive tone. She is already a lil tipsy from the red wine for dinner and the shots Darren made her. But she is fine, she intended it to be so. Its been a long while since she have let loose of herself. Her phone is already off after she gotten that three miss calls from Keagan. This is her night and nothing can stop her from doing what she wants. At least, not someone like Keagan.

Not long after Darren waited at the gates, 'the Man' has arrived. People call him that because Ken is the type of guy you want to have in every party. He is hilarious, extremely friendly and always turns up the mood of the scene. Everybody likes him. Both of them hurried up to the basement where the party is at, a fully enclosed in-house disco. Equipped with a bar, 3 sofas, dancefloor and the works. So many indecent memories they have left here and there is more yet to come from the night. The liquor merely began to flow and the crowd is already cozying up. And the ladies are all having a good time.

Within minutes, Ken walked back with two ladies in his arms and a bottle of beer. "Hey Darren, you never told me she is coming" he looked at Darren with a one sided smile then gave Charlize a cheeky look . "Man, Charlize...I've got to say... if I knew better, I would have dated you back in highschool" he laughed out loud. "I'm going to try to take that as a compliment, thank you" she smiled back boldly raising her glass of wine. As the night went on, the room got darker, the music got louder and everyone got closer.

Money & Honeys

9.30 pm, 16th February.
KLCC Convention Centre

Mandy's arms are beginning to sore from the camera takin and from passing the flyers. She still have one more hour to go. Ken never called her at all, but anyways she is too busy to talk right now. She only managed to sell 4 cameras today, the least compared to all the other promoters. '4 times $50 plus $200 is......$400' she counted in her head. Not to bad for a day's pay. She would be able to buy the watch soon, hopefully.

Right when she was talking to her supervisor, Keagan...her phone rang. "Excuse me ar.." she politely excused herself to answer the call. It is Ken. "Hey gal, I won't be able to fetch you tonight. I had to fetch my parents to KLIA...can you catch a ride back?" a steady voice on the otherside said. "Oh, that is okay. I'll ask one of the promoters to fetch me.... you drive safely k?" Mandy answered to her beloved's voice. "K den, call you later. Take care...bye". "Bye" she puts down the phone reluctantly. It would have been nice to be able to see him today after such a hectic day.But that is just too bad. Guess she will catch the monorail back. She doesn't want to trouble anyone. Quickly she cleared her thoughts and went back to her supervisor. "Okay girls, I really thank you all for these two nights. You've been a great help." Keagan smiled to all the faces. He could barely remember all their names. In his mind, he is wondering how Charlize is doing. '.How come no calls til now?'

Leavin on a Jet plane

7.20 pm, 16th February.
KLCC Convention Centre

Andez Tan: "Hey bro, do you still remember me? Happy Chinese New Year man... How is life?"
Matt: "Heheh....gong hei fatt choi! Wow...never expected the man from NYC to call. I'm fine...How is New Years in the big city wei?
Andez Tan: Okei only le. Actually I'm just hitting some balls right now at the golf club. You know what?... I might wanna come back to visit you man. Can house me or not?
Matt: "Really? Wei, this kinda things need to ask one meh? Just come down la..my parents are away anyways."
Andez Tan: "Hmm.. alright then... I'll make sure the jet is available. I'll be back within this week."
Matt: "Yea la rich man. Just gimme a call alrite?"
Andez Tan: "Will do man! Send my regards to your sis"
Matt: "Hahaha...very funny"
Andez Tan: "hehehe... ok den. I miss KL man ...keep ya posted. Ciaoz. "
Matt:"Bye."

Matt hangs up the phone. That is some great news. Now back to the camera. 'Which one was it that he is going to get again?' he tried to recall.'Oh yah, Canon'. He rushed quickly to the Canon store and with just brief negotiation and inspection of the Powershot SD550, he bought it. It was the best he could afford. The Leicas would have to wait. He headed straight to the exit. It is already 7.30pm. Mindy would be furious if he is late again.

Soft blanket

4.15 pm, February 16th,
In Sophie's room

The sunlight starts piercing into her skin, and her dead body starts to gain consciousness again. The soft silk on her body starts revealing life again, as she tries to awaken herself. Birds already started to stop chirpin, it was late in the afternoon. Her arm started reaching out for her handphone on the bed, and with half eyed open she looked at the time. '4.15 pm'. She held herself up with her toned hands. Half her memory from yesterday was gone, the other half that never seem to fade still laid on her bedside table... pictures of Ken.

Right about then, her phone beeped. 'One message - 4.16pm'. She sat up and opened her message box. 'Hi babe, why never reply my call yesterday. Anyways...how are you? I miss you so. -John-'. Without hesitation, it was deleted in a split second and she carried herself with her long legs to the bathroom. Her mind still a blank.

The cold water trickles through her body, as she stood there still. Slowly she washed herself up, as her mind started to review the day ahead. Tomorrow is Chinese New Year eve, her mom would not be back til late tomorrow as she is spending the night at Uncle George and preparing dinner at his place tomorrow. She left a note at her door yesterday before she came back along with a red packet. All she is hoping for is her food on the table before she left. She closed the tap and walked out drippin' wet to search for her towel. Her body revealed to the room. The stash of cash from yesterday was still on the table, lying on her black dress. $1,400.

'I'm bringing Sexy Back ...yeahh~~!' her phoned ranged. "Hieeee, Sophie speakin" she hurriedly picked it up with her wet hands. "Good morning siiiiiiiis, you just woke up eh piggg" Zann spoked back laughin. "Yea la ... I'm still soaking wet wei..." she replied. "I saw Jayden online yesterday, don't know why he suddenly spoked to me. He said to pass you this message, he is coming back tomorrow" she laughed crazily again and continued "Happy leeee... prince Auzzie boy cannot wait". " Crazily la you" she smiled at the news. "Eh..I call you back later can? ... I'm wet la". "Okei, byeeeeee~" Zann said and the line cuts off.

She dried herself up in a hurry and put on a baby-T and her undies. She couldn't be bothered bout her dripping wet hair and hurried down the stairs. 'Yes!, there is food' she thought to herself and headed to the table'. As usual, it is cold but without thinking she took a chopstick and gobbled the fried mee hoon.

Matterials

6.15pm, 16th February,
KLCC Convention Center

Finally, he got through. The turn out for this Top Gadgets' exhibition was more than he thought. At least he is in now, he fan himself with the ticket in relief. 'Now, where do I go, oh yes... camera section'.

It has been a hectic week, plus Chinese New Year starting the day after tomorrow. As it turns out, it may be a good thing after all since his parents and most of his relatives decided to take a trip to China this year. Least he would have the weekends to rest. Matt could still taste the alcohol in his breath, what a crazy crazy night. He wouldn't even have taken this job if not for the perks it offers and not to mention the company sponsored car. Least his mom could use the Proton from now. Guess he would have to start drinking more often than he thought. Those Japanese clients are hard to please, entertainment is almost always necessary to shorten the process. Least he got the contract signed, after 4 crazy months of negotiating.
'Leica, Lumix, Sony, Nikon' Matt skims through the banner and displays bobbing out of every tent. 'So many choices' he sighed while lookin at his watch. He better be quick about this as he got to fetch his sister in about 2 hours time from tuition. Judging from the budget he has, it should limit most of these high-end choices. As he browse through every tent, the flyers from the promoter girls kept piling up in his hands. Although he knew he couldn't afford Leicas, he stopped by for a quick look at his favorite models, the D-Luxs. 'Wow, D-Lux 3 is out' he frowned in amazement with his face almost touching the panels. He has been eyeing the D-Lux model and trying to save for it since D-Lux 1 but never succeeded.

First was because of his father's hospital bill and now his sister's tuition fees. Before he could turn around, a sudden white light flashes right into his pupil. Suddenly his vision blurred for a few seconds. "OMG, sorry sir ...are you alright??" a girl holding a camera was talking to him. At first he could barely make out her face because of that flashing incident. "Are you okay? Look! Your picture" she turned the camera around to show him the LCD display. "This is our latest model, the one you're looking at...I think" she smiled. For some reason, he couldn't open his mouth for a brief moment.

Her eyes were extremely enthusiastic and her smile plain sweet. "OHh... nice pic" he took the camera for a closer look and smiled back. Right about then, she started her sales pitch. "This camera is our latest model, has 2..8 er..er ..apeture..." she said nervously while looking back into this small pamplet to check for correction. 'How cute', Matt watched her and tries to keep an interested look at what she is saying. He could probably do the sales pitch himself as he knows so much more than her about Leicas. But he didn't stop her, he just couldn't. She was trying really hard. "So, are you interested in getting one for yourself? We have promotion today...it is only $1,899 today!" she closed her pitch. Matt almost stumbled when he heard that price. "er...I'll look around first okay?" he replied. "Alright, if there is anything I can help you with ...please tell me okay? I'm Mandy" she hands him a flyer and smiled abruptly before walking away to the next customer. 'MAn, soooooo expensive' he whispered to himself as he turned to walk away. All of a sudden, he felt a strange vibration in his pants. It was a phone call, from someone that haven't called in a long time. 'AndezsTand?'.

Mandy on My Mind

4:45 pm, 16th February,
KLCC Convention Centre.

The crowd was more than expected, over 20,000 people haved arrived. Their bustlin voices souded similar like the 10 'pasar malam' (night market) put together. Even the enchanting voice of the japanese sales lady in the video can't be heared now. The video that has been playin since noon -repeatedly. 'I wonder which is worst'' Mandy thought to herself feeling a little agitated as the day progresses. She knew she shouldn't have took up this job but she needed the money to buy that watch for Ken. The one that he had been eyeing everytime he passes by Uncle Henry's shop. Picturing his smile upon receiving it would made this all so worthwhile. "Excuse me miss" a sharp voice pierced through her thoughts. "How does this camera zoom? How many megapisel?" (megapixel) this scrony bald old man started asking. "Oh, press here and it is 7.2 megapixel" she smiled back. "Oh okay, tank-u tank-u".

On the opposite store, Keagan was just talking to one of his dealers and getting some fliers from the storage area. Occassionally he would looked back to keep an eye on the promoter girls he had just hired for these two days. Everything seems fine and he looked at his watch. 5.30 pm. This would last at least til 10 pm. At the corner of his eyes, he sees his secretary waving at him to get to the stage. He quickly took the fliers and dump it to the nearest girl. "Pass them around to our guest later ok?" he bent down to whisper to her. "Oh, yes sir" Mandy nodded.

Cold cold heart

1.50pm, 16th February
After lunch break in the car, KL

"Keagan, I'm so sorry baby but I can't follow you to product launch function tonight... I forgotten I have dinner appointment with the girls. You just gotta do without me alright? ...*phone beeps* (incomin call) ...anyways, they are calling me now...I talk to ya later!" she muttered and hangs up and accepts the second call. "Hi Darren" Charlize replied cherrily while checking her make up on her rearview mirror. "Hi, are you going to come over to my party tonight?" replied a deep steady voice. "Yeap... didn't you received your message, in fact...I have a surprise for you" she laughs knowing that he knows what she meant. "Surprise?...you broke up with Keagan for me?" he replied cheekily. Charlize rolled her eyes and decided to play along "No!, better..anyway, wait for me alright? Bye~" she hangs up in confidence.

She parked the car, and walked in to the 54 floor building where everyone knows who she is. Not because she owned the place, but she literally have built a name in this company. She was a star among the applicants when she first joined Ogilvy & Mather (not to mentioned the most beautiful, and she is still one of the most valuable creative staff they have. Its been only 4 years and what a climb for a 25 year old lady. The lift gave of a loud 'ting' and the door sprung open. She smiled forcefully to the lady at the counter whom she thought really needed a new hair cut and proceeded straight to the meeting room. She made it just in time, actually 2 minutes early. She is never late, and always prepared. Behind that glass door, she could make out their clients are just getting settled. Her managing director will also sit in for this one, for it is Nike. One of their key accounts.

Andezstand?

6pm, 16th February
At the freeway, New York

While cruisin in his convertible, Andez mind starts wanderin off to yester years. It has been a long time since he has taken a trip back to Malaysia. How much so he missed the food there and all his friends, especially Matt and Charlize. It is been a long time since he has caught up with him. Those college days and random bar hoppings with the bunch seems like just yesterday. He still remembered how they had became such close buddies. It was back in the highschool gangster days when he met Matt. The funny part was Matt was helpin the opposin gang when they were trashin out their conflict with one another. As usual, these conflict were never resolve peacefully, just hopefully not to bloody. Matt was the only one who stood his ground when everyone has fled, and he even given him a bruise or two. With almost 30 people surrounding him, he could still stare Andez in the face. That was when they shook hands and that was when Andez gained respect for him. "How did they got close ?" he wondered for a second. "Ahh, yes... Carmen" he smiled to himself almost giggling at how foolish he was when he was pursuing her. Matt was Carmen's brother, they both have similar features in fact. Very pan-asian and both with natural light brown eyes.

Thinkin' about his gangster days, suddenly another memory flooded him. Havin been the leader, Andez have always felt the pressure of keepin up to his status. And that particular day, was one that he had regretted; even til now. That is because he had taken the order of his superior to beat up this lawyer, and what was suppose to be just a warnin ended up in the obituary section of the following day's newspaper. It was lucky as he was not caught. But nevertheless, it took him so many years of sleepless night and drinking to drown away that guilt. It never really did. Just right about then, he stepped on the pedal and zoomed off to his clubhouse.

Merlots n' Mermaids

1.40 am, 16th February,
At Club de Macau, KL

It was just like any other night, under the fadin stream of lights at the corner of her eyes... all Sophie can see are shadows of her 'pretty boy' for the night and his friends in the room. "You're so leng chai le, Matt" she shouted out loud lifting the wine glass up in the air to signal her 'sisters' to join. She den tilted the glass and let the wine slowly drip into her mouth. Even under the lime lights, one can tell she has extremely sharp features for a pure chinese. She then skillfully manipulated her man and pour the rest of the red substance into his mouth. The liquor flowed throughout the night, the music gets louder as they progress, the party got wilder and their clients left so unwillingly.

At the dressin room,

"Sophie, are you comin over to Velvet with us this weekend?" ask Riona, the new girl in the club. She seems extremely friendly and has a very big smile and cherry face. "See how okay?, I might have a date with Jayden." she replied. "Ohh...tat guy you met online?..but I thought he is from Australia?" she bobbed her head besides Sophie, watchin anticipatingly for her reply. "He is coming down for 2 weeks" Sophie smiled cheekily. "Hmmph... good for you den, never share with Chi mui la?" (means sista) "Tell me if you're kay, coz John have been askin me where are you?" she winked, giggled and walked out of the room. "tata".