Chapter 10...Chapter 10...
Chi San: Bad. He is a complete wreck. He couldn’t do anything properly. Yesterday, Korean offered to buy him coffee and he practically bit Korean’s head off and told him to get lost. It was so unlike him.
Man: (sighing) Quin isn’t any better. She refuses to eat anything. She’s throwing herself into her work and spent a lot of time in the office. I hope she will be able to get over it. At least Fei still has Ching Ching. Quin has no one.
Chi San: Man, don’t you get it? Fei doesn’t love Ching Ching anymore. All he thinks of is Quin. Even though he has Ching Ching, it doesn’t mean anything to him. He stayed with Ching Ching because of reponsibility and guilt.
Man: It is all so complicated, isn’t it? Why can’t two people in love just love each other freely?
Chi San: Man, actually, I…
Man: What? What is it?
Chi San: I…I have to run back to the station. Will you be all right by yourself?
Man: Sure. Bye, Chi San.
Chi San quickly got up and exited the café. How could you be so weak? Don’t get involved with anyone. You vowed to love Tong Sum and Tong Sum alone. Forget about Man.
Man sipped her coffee, pondering. For a moment there, she thought Chi San was going to say that he still has feelings for her. Did I want him to say it? Man shook her head. Mun Yuen Lan, remember what you told yourself? You and Chi San are going to be just friends, and nothing more. You cannot, and you will not betray Tong Sum’s memory. A tear trickled down Man’s cheek. Oh, Tong Sum. If only you hadn’t left us. Life would be so much simpler and so much happier. Man wiped away her tear impatiently. She got up and walked out of the café. It was time for her lessons.
Quin stared at the file on her desk. What am I supposed to be doing? Oh yeah, look over this file. She picked up a pen and began writing mechanically. She looked at her words and shook her head. She crumpled up the paper and threw it away. She turned to her computer and started to arrange the computer files instead. Huh? Why is the .exe file in the .bat directory? She turned away from the computer and buried her face in her hands. I am a professional. I won’t let my personal matters interfere with my work. Quin determinedly picked up her pen and looked over her client’s file. She forced herself to focus and began writing. A knock sounded on her door.
Quin: (still writing away) Come in.
Fei: Kwan.
Quin: (looked up and the blood drained from her face) What are you doing here?
Fei: San Gor asked me to drop off this file.
Quin: You shouldn’t have gone through the trouble. You could have just sent a messenger.
Fei: I wanted to see you.
Quin: Fei, I told you very clearly…
Fei: I know. I understood. I just want to see you. Now that I’ve seen you, I won’t bother you anymore.
Fei walked out of Quin’s and shut the door. Quin stared at the file that Fei had left for her. Tears brimmed in her eyes.
Ching Ching: Where were you the last two nights?
Fei: (closing the door behind him) At the station. With San Gor. I told you I might not be back.
Ching Ching: I only expect it to be ONE night. And you didn't even call me to explain! Don’t you lie to me. I called your line and Chi San’s line at the station both nights. No one answered.
Fei: We were in the research department’s office.
Ching Ching: Are you telling the truth?
Fei: Whether you want to believe it or not, it’s up to you. Frankly, I don’t think it’s any of your business. And now, if you’ll excuse me, I’ll like to take a shower and a short rest. Don’t disturb me.
Fei walked to his room and slammed the door shut. Ching Ching stared at the door, tears trickling down her cheeks. What is happening to us? We used to be so happy together. But ever since we got back together, Fei had been so difficult. Another unpleasant thought entered Ching Ching’s mind. It must be her. Mo Chiu Kwan. Ching Ching’s tears dried as anger boiled up. I won’t let Fei go. I don’t care. That woman will not have him. Fei belongs to ME. Ching Ching grabbed her bag and exited the apartment. She knew where was Quin working. She overheard Fei’s conversation with Chi San the other day. She stopped a taxi and got into it.
Ching Ching: Central Police Station. And be quick.
Later…
Janie: Miss, you can’t go in there! Dr.Mo is seeing a client. Miss!
Ching Ching: Mo Chiu Kwan.
Quin: Ching Ching? Is anything wrong?
Client: Dr.Mo, I’ll talk to you again next week. Thanks for everything.
Quin: Ching Ching, take a seat.
Ching Ching: I don’t need you to be pretentious to me.
Quin: What do you mean?
Ching Ching: (in a burst of anger) Do you think I don’t know? Do you honestly think that I’m that stupid? You still love Fei, don’t you?!?!
Quin: I…
Ching Ching: Oh, I know it. Well, I am just here to tell you, stay away from my boyfriend. Don’t you think of trying to seduce him. He won’t come back to you. He chose me remember? He loves ME, not you.
Quin: I didn’t…
Ching Ching: I don’t want to listen to your pathetic excuses and denial. You are really selfish. You have a marvellous career. I am a cripple. How can you fight with a cripple? Do you have no heart(liong sum) at all? You are really a most hateful woman.
Quin was shaking her head, tears trickling down her cheeks. She tried to explain, but Ching Ching wouldn’t let her get a word in. Suddenly, Quin’s door flung opened, and Chi San poked his head in.
Chi San: Quin, I want a…Ching Ching?
Quin: Chi San, I…
Chi San: Quin, what happened? Ching Ching, what did you do?
Ching Ching: (shooting Quin a look of pure venom) Just stay away from Fei. I mean it.
Ching Ching: (sneering) You are worse than I thought. Wanting to have two men at the same time, huh? Well, you’re not going to have Fei.
Chi San: (coldly) Ching Ching, I think you'd better leave now.
Ching Ching: With pleasure. (turning to Quin) You make me sick.
Quin: She’s right. I shouldn’t have any contact at all with Fei. How could I have hurt her so? I’ll never forgive myself…
Chi San: Quin, listen to me. Are you crazy? It’s not your fault Ching Ching is so suspicious. You didn’t hurt her. She hurt herself.
Quin: But what she said was true. I still love Fei. And I spent that night with him…
Chi San: No, Quin. You mustn’t think like that. You mustn’t. It is not your fault and never is, and never will be your fault.
Quin was sobbing uncontrollably. Chi San put his arms around her as she cried. He reached for his handphone and called Man.
Chi San: Man, can you come down to Quin’s office? I need your help.
After calling Man, Chi San continue to hug Quin comfortingly and reassuringly, patting her back. All of a sudden, Quin’s office door flung opened with a loud BANG!
Fei: (hoarsely) What are the two of you doing?
Man: How is Fei doing?
(Chi San glanced at Man briefly, and looked away. Love each other freely? Chi San thought. He looked at Man and took a deep breath. Man deserves to know. Maybe, just maybe…)
(A child walked past their table, holding a toy clown. Chi San instantly stiffened. Tong Sum…)
Ching Ching stormed into Quin’s office.
(Ching Ching ignored the disgruntled secretary and flung opened Quin’s office door. The client was just getting ready to leave. )
(The client took a look at Ching Ching’s expression and scuttled out.)
(Chi San stared in shock at a red-faced Ching Ching and a sobbing Quin. He quickly rushed to Quin’s side.)
(She saw Chi San’s arm curling protectively around Quin’s waist. Immediately, she jumped to conclusions.)
(Chi San looked at Ching Ching and felt intense dislike towards her.)
(Ching Ching whirled around and stormed out of Quin’s office.)
Ching Ching had done much damage to Quin’s emotional sanity. And now Fei had misunderstood Chi San and Quin’s relationship. How will he deal with the thought of the woman he loves and his best friend together, or so he thought?
Back to MAIN
Yong June-Ling
Copyright 2001