| Fan Fiction |
by DTLCT
“Would you stop it?” Mandy said. “You’re making me nervous.”
“I can’t help it, sis,” Ray said. Although he says that, but he stops fidgeting altogether. However, he starts to pace back and forth in front of the door.
“Ge!”
“What?”
“Stop pacing. Maybe someone didn’t hear you.”
Mandy steps up to ring the doorbell again.
“Like I want to pace. It’s cold.”
Mandy smiles at Ray’s current behavior. Since he’s so sure of himself during breakfast when he announced that he would take care of the whole situation at hand. Now, he’s all panicky like a lost rabbit.
Ray stops pacing long enough to see Mandy’s smile.
“Are you enjoying this?” Ray asked. “You better not.”
“What?” Mandy asked.
“Your brother in a mess.”
“No, I’m not.”
Before Ray could say anything else, the door swings open. The siblings turn around to see Cliff greeting them.
“Cliff!” Mandy greeted him.
“Miss, how are you doing?” Cliff greeted her cheerfully.
“We’re both fine. Uh…is Dad in?”
“Of course. Let me go inform him that you both are here.”
“No need. We’ll just go in and inform him ourselves.”
Cliff smiles. “All right.”
Mandy tugs on Ray’s shirt sleeve to go as Cliff moves aside to make way for them. Ray snaps to attention but seems to follow Mandy mechanically into Mr. Cho’s study.
Mr. Cho seems to be focused on some sort of matter. When he hears the door being opened, he looks somewhat distracted. He is about to tell Cliff that he doesn’t want any visitors. However, upon seeing his son and daughter, Mr. Cho’s expression turns into a cheerful one.
“I guess this isn’t a good time,” Ray said upon seeing his previous expression. “Let’s go, sis.”
Ray turns and is about to leave when Mandy extends her hand out to stop him.
“Would you stop jumping to conclusions?” Mandy asked.
“You can see how troubled he looks,” Ray argued. “He can’t afford some more. Let’s go.”
Mr. Cho walks over to them at that time, smiling. “Wouldn’t you want to ask me first?”
Mandy still has a grip on Ray’s arm as she turns to face her father. “Something happened yesterday afternoon and we decided to cancel our trip to Jan’s house.”
Mr. Cho narrows his eyebrows. “Is everything all right?”
“It’s not something major that affects everyone in general, but important in a sense of our family.”
Mr. Cho still displays a puzzled look on his face.
“Uh…Auntie Bak came and saw me and…”
Mr. Cho finally realizes that Mandy’s face looks a bit puffy. “Are you all right?”
Mandy reaches one hand up to feel her face. “Uh…it’s all right now. Anyway, we’re here to ask you if you wan to come with us to mend things with Auntie Bak once and for all. But seeing that you’re quite troubled a few minutes ago, I guess we’re going alone.”
Mandy finally releases her grip on Ray’s arm and turns to leave also.
“Wait a second, you two,” Mr. Cho called out.
Both siblings turn around to face their father again.
“Considering how serious things are…” He pauses to look at Mandy’s mark again. “…I think I better come with you two. I was the one who caused it in the first place.”
“Fine with me,” Ray mumbled.
“Are you sure, Dad?” Mandy asked.
“I wasn’t there for both of you 17 years ago,” Mr. Cho said. “I want to fulfill my duty as a father now.”
Mandy and Ray exchange a look before looking at their father, nodding and smiling at the same time.
*****
During the ride to Ms. Bak’s place, Ray shifts back and forth in his seat, unable to stay still. Mandy, on the other hand, is unusually calm. Mr. Cho couldn’t help but be affected by Ray’s nervousness. Mandy detects the situation so she finally speaks up after half an hour.
Mandy puts her left hand on Ray’s shoulder. “Ge, could you stop? You’re making Dad nervous.”
Ray finally takes his eyes off the window and turns to face their father. He could see Mr. Cho’s unsure look also. “Sorry.”
Mr. Cho attempts to smile. “It’s all right.”
Ray had stopped shifting back and forth, but he now switches to tapping his feet.
“Ge…” Mandy called out.
Ray turns to Mandy. “What?! Can’t I just let it out a bit? I’m going to go crazy soon if I pretend I can stay calm.”
“I’m not saying you can’t. You can talk it out with us instead of keeping it inside and drive yourself crazy with your imagination.”
“If I say I want to go back home now, will you get mad?”
“It’s your call, but will you be able to sleep if you go back?”
“This is just great.”
Ray returns his attention to the window as they go back to silence with only the sounds of the train engine occupying the atmosphere.
About another half an hour, they finally get off at a stop. Ray steps off the train with Mandy behind him. He takes in the view of the station before turning to their father.
“Ready, Dad?” Ray asked.
Mr. Cho nods.
Ray and Mandy walk side-by-side as Mr. Cho walks slowly, trying to take in the view. Mandy’s hands rest on Ray’s right side for support, feeling like she needs to do this for Ray – even if he shows no signs of nervousness like before when they were on the train.
Although the train station at this place is not that spacious, but because of the crowd, it takes them about 15 minutes before they could get clear of the crowd.
“Last chance to back out,” Ray announced.
Mandy tugs on Ray’s arm. “You wish, ge.”
They manage to haul a Taxi within five minutes. Ray sits in front with the driver while Mandy sits with their father in the back.
The majority of the ride consists of only the sound of the radio to remind them of the reality in front of them. When they’re almost there, the driver finally speaks up since he couldn’t stand so much silence anymore.
The gives Ray a quick sideway glance. “So…you three are probably here on vacation, right?”
Ray nods. “You could say that.”
“If there wasn’t so much silence during the ride, I swear I would have imagined signs of reluctance.”
Ray turns to the driver. “What are you implying?”
“It just looks that way. You three look so gloomy I swear you’re going to a funeral instead of on vacation.”
“Don’t talk nonsense.”
“Okay. I apologize. But I’m just curious. I’m just not used to the quiet so I guess I over-reacted too.”
Mandy puts a reassuring hand on Ray’s shoulder to calm him down.
“It’s all right,” Ray said, his voice less hostile. “We just ran into a bit of a trouble so we have to delay our trip a little bit.”
“It happens,” The drive continued. “I was going to take a vacation too, but it ends up I have to fill in for my friend until he comes back.”
“Oh?”
The drive nods. “I can’t wait until he gets back. Hopefully he didn’t deceive me and went to Macau to gamble instead of going home to visit his mom.”
“You’re a very kind friend, young man,” Mr. Cho said. “How you would let your friend have time off first before your own.”
“Thanks, Mr. Cho. But I’m not that big of a man. If I know this job is that boring, I wouldn’t have accepted it in the first place.”
Ray nods, understanding how the route could be to the guy, but then he snaps his attention towards the guy again. Mandy isn’t very far behind. She stares at the guy cautiously also.
“What did you called him?” Ray asked.
The driver smiles. “Sorry. I guess it slipped. It’s hard to miss such a famous person considering everyone in the media knows him by now.”
“You read about him in the newspapers?”
“Umm…mostly. But I was thinking of getting an interview with him after the holidays, considering how busy he is. I was going to ask earlier but seeing how troubled you all are, I had to resist.”
Ray looks puzzled. “Wait a minute, aren’t you…”
“I said I’m filling in for my friend. I didn’t say I’m a Taxi driver.”
“That means…”
“I’m Ben Luk, a DJ at the local station.”
“Oh…”
“No wonder your voice sounds a bit familiar,” Mandy said.
“I guess I have a fan then?” Ben joked.
“How could you fill in for your friend then?” Ray asked.
Ben takes a quick glance at Ray again. “You live around here?”
“Used to.”
“You know this place hasn’t changed much. There are no procedures. As long as the boss finds someone to earn money for him, he doesn’t care who fills in.”
“Oh…I guess I forgot how complicated things can be.”
“Yes. And here we are. Hopefully you’ll have better luck aka solving your little setback and go on vacation again.”
Ray gets out of the car. “Thanks, Ben.” He hands him the money. “Here.”
Ben smiles. “I guess you know how to read the meter well?”
“I used to work as a Taxi driver around here when I was younger.”
“Oh.”
“If nothing changes, I guess it’s still the same.”
“I guess it’s hard to cheat you then.”
Ray smiles. “Don’t even think about it.”
Ben smiles also. “I can’t anyway, considering how I have the pleasure of driving the famous Mr. Cho around today.”
“And do me a favor.”
“Don’t tell anyone I saw you?”
Ray nods.
While Ray’s talking to Ben, Mandy is helping Mr. Cho out. Now, Mr. Cho joins them by Ben’s window and gives him a card.
“I’ll be busy for the next couple days but just call in and schedule an appointment, young man,” Mr. Cho said. “I’ll give them a call later to give you the closest spot.”
Ben examines the card and then looks up at Mr. Cho again. “Thank you, sir.”
Mr. Cho gives him a smile before taking a step back so he can drive out.
“Well…” Mandy said, turning to Ray – after Ben’s Taxi is far away.
Ray turns around to look at the old building ahead, sighing out.
Mandy puts a hand on Ray’s shoulder. “Need some fresh air before you go in?”
Ray hits Mandy’s shoulder lightly. “Very funny, sis.”
Mandy smiles. “I guess you’re ready.”
Ray sighs out again. “Let’s go.”
They climb the stairs to the 7th floor since this is one of the old buildings that don’t even have elevators. It is just like how it was 17 years ago. Memories began to flood back into Ray’s head. The loud “clap clap” sounds of his mother’s high heel on the steps and the soft mushy sounds of his tiny sneakers on the ground. The exception is this time, he’s with his father and his sister, and it is because they’re here to mend things with his mother instead of confronting his father. But the same unrest remains within Ray. The anxiety increases as possibilities after possibilities play into his mind of the outcomes this time around.
As Ray’s lost in thoughts, he feels someone tapping on his shoulder. He snaps out of his thoughts and turns to see Mandy, wrinkling his eyebrows. “Huh?”
“Dad’s tired,” Mandy said. “You go ahead first and wait for us.”
Ray could see his father standing on the landing to catch his breath so he nods before continuing on his way.
“Ray…”
Ray turns around to face his sister again.
“Remember to wait for us. We have to do this together as a family…this time around.”
Ray could see the determination in his sister’s eyes so he nods. Mandy sends him a light smile before turning to their father as Ray continues up the steps once again.
Ray stops in front of his mother’s door, feeling both anxious and nervous at the same time. Although he knows he could not back out at that moment, but he still couldn’t help his fidgety movements. He lets out a sigh before raising his right hand up to knock on the door. But before he could actually knock, he hears someone stopping him. He turns around to see Mandy catching up to him.
“I know I couldn’t trust you,” Mandy said.
Ray looks past Mandy down the steps. “Where did Dad go?”
“Here I am,” Mr. Cho said.
Ray could see his father out of breath, but still manages to make his way up to them. Mandy reaches out to steady Mr. Cho as he climbs the last steps up.
“All right,” Ray said. “Let’s do it before we all back out.”
The other two nod.
Ray turns to face the door again, knocking twice real fast before he decides to back out himself. They hear some rustling sounds coming from inside but then it becomes quiet again. Ray turns to look at his father and sister once more before turning back to knock – a bit louder this time. Sounds began to pick up again as Ray could hear a “Coming” from inside. He smiles, knowing his mother didn’t moved out yet – like she threatened yesterday.
Ms. Bak finally opens the door at that moment. “How may I… “ She finally sees Ray. “What are you doing here? I thought you wanted to defend outsiders.” Her face turns even grimmer when she spots Mandy and Mr. Cho behind Ray. “Despicable.”
After those words, Ms. Bak tries to shut the door on them.
Ray manages to place a hand on the door to stop it from shutting all the way.
“Let go,” Ms. Bak said, her eyes piercing through Ray. “If you’ve already chosen them, don’t bother coming here anymore.”
“Mom…I’m here…”
“It doesn’t matter why you’re here today. Don’t expect me to believe you…anymore.”
Mr. Cho finally brushes past Mandy and stands by Ray’s side. “Sheryl.”
“I heard enough from you,” Ms. Bak said in a cold tone. “You succeeded in taking my son away, what do you want now? Coming here around Christmas to gloat over it?”
“Sheryl, I know you’re mad at me and you have every right to because it was my fault. But please don’t take it out on these two.”
Ms. Bak seems to have second thoughts in her mind but she regains herself again. “It’s too late.”
This time, Ray’s not the one trying to stop the door from closing, but Mandy. She has managed to step forward and stops the door with her hands while kneeling down on her knees in the process.
“Please,” Mandy begged. “Even if you don’t like me, but could you give Ray and Mr. Cho a chance to talk? Their words only sound unreasonable and irrational because you’re mad. But please give them a chance this once. Let’s all go inside and let them talk as a last chance.”
“Mandy… “ Ray called out, crouching down to help Mandy up. “Sis, stop this. We’re not filming some modern family drama.”
Mandy turns towards Ray. “I’m serious.” She turns her attention back to Ms. Bak.
“Please…”
Ray could see Mandy’s persistent so he lets go of Mandy’s shoulders, kneeling down in front of his mother also.
“You two…” Ms. Bak said shakily.
“Mom, if you don’t agree, we won’t get up. And I mean it. You know how stubborn your son can be.”
“Sheryl…” Mr. Cho managed.
Ray and Mandy stare intently at Ms. Bak, waiting for her answer. She displays this look like she wants to see Mr. Cho on the ground with the both of them as well.
“Mom, you don’t expect Dad to kneel down as well, do you?” Ray asked.
“Ray!” Mandy yelled out.
Mandy’s little shout seems to apply that she had forgotten that she’s supposed to take everything seriously just like Ray had seemed to have forgotten as well.
Ray turns to Mandy. “What? He should. If it wasn’t for you, I wouldn’t have forgiven him in the first place.”
“So you’re the one who turned my son against me?!” Ms. Bak screamed out angrily.
“Mom…” Ray said, giving his mother his full attention again and sliding forward a bit to shield Mandy from view. “It’s not what you think. It’s…”
“Ms. Bak, I know it’s wrong to snatch Ray from you,” Mandy said. “It’s very selfish of me, but he’s my brother after all and…”
“Silence!” Ms. Bak yelled out.
It is almost a minute before anyone of them moves again.
“Fine,” Ms. Bak said in her passive tone again. “If you want me to give you all a chance, then I will. But make good use of it.”
Ray scrambles up from the floor, dragging Mandy up also. “Thanks, Mom!”
“I just don’t want to make a scene in front of the neighbors.”
Ray’s face falls again, but he puts his hands on Mandy’s shoulders and guides her inside as his mother opens the door wider. Mr. Cho walks in on his own, shutting the door behind him.
“You have half an hour…starting now,” Ms. Bak announced.
Ray leads them all to the sofa at the left side of the room and waits for them to sit down before beginning to tell his mother what happened since the day Mandy moved in, leading up to many discoveries and finally the reunion with Mandy and Mr. Cho. Mandy and Mr. Cho remain quiet so it wouldn’t aggravate Ms. Bak any further upon hearing their voices. After Ray’s finished, it is actually around 45 minutes but no one would want to speak up to remind Ms. Bak they had cut past time. They all wait in silence as Ms. Bak looks from Ray to Mandy to Mr. Cho with her radar eyes.
“You expect me to believe it was that coincidental and so simple?” Ms. Bak asked, looking at Ray again.
“Mom, would I dare to lie to you?” Ray asked back.
“You had no trouble doing just that for the past six months.”
“Mom…”
“How can you believe them just like that?”
“Mom, your son’s not a dummy although he might look like one.”
“Sheryl…” Mr. Cho began.
“Don’t try to deceive me anymore,” Ms. Bak said coldly.
“Mom…Lily’s already dead,” Ray said. “Could you please let it rest?”
“What?!” Ms. Bak exclaimed, alarmed.
During the whole time Ray told Ms. Bak of the story, he had left out that part. Now that Ms. Bak heard it, she’s as surprised as Mr. Cho when he first heard it himself.
“It’s true. I visited her grave a few times with Mandy.”
“And you didn’t tell me?” Ms. Bak turns to look at Mr. Cho.
“Like it would help if you visited her,” Ray said, his voice suddenly cold.
“Ray…” Mandy said, her voice quiet but audible.
Ray stands up abruptly at that time. He has on this frustrated expression like he couldn’t take it anymore. “I don’t know why I’m the one who needs to stay calm and break the ice for you both. What happened already passed. Why are we sitting around wallowing in misery for Dad’s past wrong? Like it’s going to make everything go away. And even if it could go away just by doing that, I wouldn’t want it to be. Because I learned independent all these years instead of just sitting around eating the family fortune away. You rather it’s only the three of us and maybe my other siblings who are growing up together and fight for the family fortune instead?”
Both Mr. Cho and Ms. Bak are somewhat taken aback by now. No one in their right mind would want a fragmented family, but Ray speaks it like he’s relief he has one – glad even.
Mandy stands up and puts a hand on Ray’s shoulder. “Ge…”
Mandy has resisted on calling Ray “ge” and Mr. Cho “Dad” for Ms. Bak’s sake but now she sees her brother all upset, she couldn’t help but feels sad by his frustration also.
Ms. Bak suddenly snaps out of her trance and looks at Mandy. She could see traces of the woman who had torn her family apart – only a little younger. She could also see the same innocent face staring back at her with a tint of fear in it. For some reason, she couldn’t imagine this little girl capable of deception – even though she knows too well that looks are misleading. She suddenly wonders if Ray has been deceived by that same innocent look. But is it really a deceiving look? Or is a truthful look? Should she give them a chance? Should she give herself a chance?
As Ms. Bak’s pondering things over in her mind, Ray scans the room once before speaking up again.
“I’m the one who got stabbed!” Ray continued in his angry voice. “And I still have this scar to keep as proof of what happened. And I’m still capable of letting go of the past, why can’t you both? People say that the older you are, the wiser you get, so why don’t you both prove it?”
“Ge…I’m sorry…” Mandy muttered, her voice breaking.
Mandy doesn’t want to cry. She told herself many times on the way here that she shouldn’t cry no matter the circumstances. She knows she won’t play the pity look card – or make it seem that way in front of Ms. Bak. But now that things had turned out this way, she couldn’t help it at all. She reaches her hand up to her face, wiping her tears away, frustrated at herself.
“Shame on you, Raymond Cho,” Ms. Bak scolded. “You just made a girl cry. Not to mention your own sister.”
Ray suddenly realizes it and turns to Mandy, patting her shoulders. “I’m sorry, sis.” He continues to pat Mandy absent-mindedly while trying to think of the next step and trying to calm down at the same time. Then it hits him. He snaps his attention to his mother again. “Mom…what did you just say?”
“I have to prove to you I’m wise, don’t I?”
“Mom!” His excitement apparent on his face.
“Sheryl…” Mr. Cho said in a relief tone.
Ms. Bak turns to Mr. Cho. “It doesn’t mean I’m going to forgive you, Daniel Cho. I’m doing this for the kids.”
Mandy suddenly kneels down on the floor in front of Ms. Bak.
“Thank you, Ms. Bak,” Mandy said in a hoarse voice. “I honestly want to apologize for what happened. I didn’t mean to…” She couldn’t say further as her emotion takes over, but she turns to look at where Ray’s scar is.
“That’s ‘Auntie’, not Ms. Bak,” Ms. Bak corrected her.
“Exactly, sis,” Ray said in an as a matter-of-fact tone.
Mandy tries to pull herself together, wiping her tears away and attempting to smile. “Thank you, Auntie.”
Ms. Bak gestures for Ray to help Mandy up. Ray does as instructed and helps her to sit down at the sofa again.
“There’s water on the stove, Ray,” Ms. Bak said. “I didn’t heat it because I went to get the door earlier.”
Ray understands his mother’s words so he heads towards the kitchen and boils some water to make tea for them all.
Mr. Cho finally relaxes as he could see that the atmosphere is getting less and less heavy.
“Daniel Cho, wipe that smile off,” Ms. Bak said. “You’re not here to stay.”
“Awww…come on, Mom,” Ray said – from the kitchen. “We packed our bags already. What are we supposed to do? I don’t want to go back and spend Christmas alone.”
“I didn’t say that you can’t stay. I don’t want him to stay. “
Mr. Cho gets up at that time. “It’s all right. I’ll just leave since I still have some things to take care of.”
Ray comes back out to the living room at that time. He turns to look at his mother.
“I’m already giving in to you two,” Ms. Bak said. “Don’t make it harder for me.”
Mandy gets up at that time and puts a hand on Ray’s shoulder, shaking her head.
“But…” Ray said.
“One step at a time, Ray.”
Ray looks disappointed but nods his head.
Mandy turns to Ms. Bak. “Let me go check on the water.”
Ms. Bak nods.
Mandy leaves the room at that time as Mr. Cho walks to the door with his luggage. They had tossed it loosely on the floor when they entered earlier to take care of important things first.
“Sorry, Dad,” Ray said.
Mr. Cho turns around to face Ray again. “It’s all right, Ray. Maybe there’ll be next time.”
Ray nods. “Hopefully. And it wasn’t my fault. You wanted to come and support us, but you didn’t prepare a long speech to help so…”
“Ray!” Mandy yelled out from the kitchen.
“It’s true though!” Ray yelled back at Mandy.
“It’s all right…really,” Mr. Cho reassured them. “I’ll see you after the holidays.”
Ray nods.
“Bye, Dad!” Mandy called out.
After that, Mr. Cho turns to look at Ms. Bak one last time before exiting. Ray closes the door and locks it after making sure Mr. Cho is doing just fine making his way down the steps. He comes back to the living room to see Mandy bringing out tea for them all.
“This is great,” Ray commented. “Tea after the talk.”
Mandy turns to Ray. “You’re being ungrateful.”
“Hey, I’m just making a comment.”
Mandy ignores her brother and puts the tea tray down on the coffee table. She takes one cup out of the tray before kneeling down on the floor again.
“Sis…” Ray said.
Mandy ignores Ray and turns to Ms. Bak. “Auntie, please accept this…”
Ms. Bak takes it quickly and gestures for Mandy to stand up. Ray moves over on the sofa and makes room for Mandy. He reaches out and takes two cups – one for himself and one for Mandy.
Ray turns his attention to his mother again. “So…Mom, what are we going to do for the rest of the time?”
“How long are you planning to stay?” Ms. Bak asked. “Don’t you have work?”
“It’s the holidays, Mom. No one cares.”
“How about you, Mandy?”
“I have to go back to work on Monday,” Mandy answered. “We have this important project to finish before we can ask for time off but I doubt all of us would get a break.”
“How about…”
Ray and Mandy wait for her to continue.
“How about if I go back with you two on Sunday afternoon?”
“You’re kidding, right?” Ray asked.
“Ray!” Mandy called out.
“You don’t want me to?” Ms. Bak asked.
“Um…it’s kind of unexpected, considering how I swear you put that act up just to throw Dad out.”
“I must admit you’re right.”
Ray doesn’t attack her with questions like he usually does but sits back on the sofa to wait for her answer.
“Because no matter what your father did, I shouldn’t take it out on you kids.” She sighs. “I did a lot of thinking after running into your father several months back. I was surprised to have run into him. I thought over things many times. And I realize I’m even more mad at myself than at him or…” She looks at Mandy. “…your mother even.”
Mandy looks down at the floor upon hearing that.
“I know I over-reacted yesterday because I can’t believe I would run into you again after so many years.” She clears her throat. “I couldn’t control myself. I promised to give you a chance. But I think I’m actually giving myself a chance to let go of the past and be happy again.”
Mandy looks up at Ms. Bak again and gives her a look full of gratitude.
“Aww…Mom,” Ray said.
“All right,” Ms. Bak said. “I’ll stop it with the talk. Let’s get something to eat, shall we?”
Ray and Mandy nod in agreement.
“I guess you two haven’t eaten yet.”
Both Ray and Mandy smile.
Ms. Bak gets up from her seat and walks into the kitchen. Ray and Mandy follow her. Mandy grabs the tea tray on her way past the coffee stable also.
“What are we eating today?” Ray asked.
“We’ll see what I have left,” Ms. Bak answered.
“I hope it’s not bread and bread.”
Mandy hits Ray on the shoulder with her free hand.
“Sis, you’ll get use to this kind of talk soon.”
Mandy begins to wash the cups and sets it back on the dish rack as Ms. Bak looks into the fridge.
“I’m going to have a banana first,” Ray said before turning to Mandy. “Want one, sis?”
Mandy shakes her head. “I can wait.”
Ms. Bak finally hands Ray some items from the fridge and closes the door. “We’re going to have one of my special dishes today.”
Mandy’s finally finished washing and is facing them again.
“Mom’ll go on all day about her special dishes,” Ray said.
Ms. Bak hits Ray on the shoulder while Mandy smiles.
After that, Ms. Bak begins to give Ray and Mandy instructions for preparing the ingredients. They end up helping Ms. Bak in silence for fifteen minutes before striking up a conversation again.
“All of your friends left for vacation already?” Ms. Bak asked.
“Jacky and Charm did,” Ray replied. “Jess’ waiting for me to come but I guess the other two will tell her I won’t be there.”
“You better call her.”
“I don’t want to. At least not yet.”
Ms. Bak looks at Mandy. “Just like his father, always like to hide.”
Mandy smiles.
“You have a boyfriend?”
Mandy nods.
“Kevin’s guilty, Mom,” Ray said.
Ms. Bak looks at Ray again. “You monitor him 24/7?”
“You bet.”
Ms. Bak smiles. “Typical.” Then she turns to Mandy again. “He got that worry bug from me.”
“See, Mom? It’s not my fault.”
“Oh, right. You mentioned Jacky?”
“Yea, the guy that…um…”
“I met while visiting yesterday?”
Ray meant to say “lured you away from the scene yesterday” but he knows it would be suicidal to clarify it, so he nods.
“He’s a nice kid.”
“He’s a cop.”
“Oh?”
Ray nods. “And the most ironic thing is he’s a coward in disguised.”
Ms. Bak waits for Ray to continue.
“He’s after Mandy’s cousin.”
Ms. Bak turns to look at Mandy.
“Actually, we didn’t know she’s Mandy’s cousin until later.”
Ray begins to tell his mother of the crimes that occurred at Constant Comfort months back and all the other details involved.
“It seems like a lot of coincidences happened around your place recently,” Ms. Bak remarked.
“It’s freaky,” Ray admitted. “Lucky I have Yoyo to fall back on or I’ll be dead meat.”
“Not Jessica?”
“Mom, don’t take it the wrong way. Yoyo’s my best friend since ages back. Remember? And Nnadia just came back yesterday. We went to the airport to pick her up.”
“It seems like a lot of people are coming back.”
“Yes. You’ll probably get to see them when we get back later.”
Ms. Bak nods.
After that, they continue to finish preparing the dishes and have dinner. Ms. Bak’s mood seems to improve more and more as the hour goes by. She asks Mandy many questions, but out of curiosity and not hostility like when they first came.
Ray gives himself an invisible pat on the back as they turn in for the night after his mother shows Mandy to an empty room next to Ray’s room.
© Tuesday, October 14th, 2008
Re-posted: Friday, October 16th, 2009