His Magnum Opus…

 

“YOU!!”

Yes, me. You can glare at me all your like, but that isn’t going to change anything now. Not even the dire state that you’re in right now. Nothing more than a Rottweiler baring its dull fangs, restrained behind the bars your set around you.

I can see that you’re set, reading to strike. But try me, I’ve won once, and I shall again, if necessary. Younger, stronger, faster and far more crafty, considering how I’ve out-manoeuvred you time and time again. Yes, you have a weapon in your hand, but what can that nearly-empty whiskey bottle do against the intrigue and scheme that I’m so capable of producing? You can always try, but I’ll win, again.

You have always wondered why, and who. Now that you know I’m behind it all, I supposed the biggest question mark is “Why??”. You want me to grant you that luxury?? The luxury to admit total defeat in the presence of a far more superior mind?? I can afford to spend some time reminiscing the past, for your sake. I can see that you cannot rest, not without knowing everything…

*********************************************************************

It’s true. He’ll be here tonight. My guys doubled checked it several times. He will be here soon enough, with plenty of time left to catch your plane. Yes, we’re just outside his usual route, but close enough to shadow him without being noticed, yes?

Yes, he’ll b…

BOOM!! CRASH!!

…there he is, unsurprisingly. Wait, wait!! He’s alright. NO!! We’ll be seen!! STOP!! Or I swear I’ll drag you home.Please, I beg you, not yet. He’s fine, just bruised a little. BACK OFF!! Shh…it’s alright, I think he didn’t see us. Yes, I think he’s alright…

Let’s go.

We’ll trail behind quietly. Tread lightly. There, that bus stop. Quick, before he turns. Okay, let’s quickly sprint past the TV shops…no…JUST THE TV SHOPS…

*********************************************************************

This is YOUR only time. He will. Say “Yes” of course. Nobody says “No” to you. I’ll never. Go. There isn’t anybody else. Trust me. You’ve planned this for so long…

At the count of three…three…two…HOLD!! Behind the pillar!! QUICK!!! No, I didn’t think he saw us…

GO!!

Me?? I’m just gonna wait. For what you ask?? Gonna wait for the prey to take the bait, of course. What bait?? You see, every prey has it’s own weakness. That’s what I’m gonna use as bait. What’s his?? Curiosity…curiosity and his self-righteousness. The prey thinks his all high and mighty, so I’ll use that to…

…Of course not; Of course all these are just in my head. If I were to do this, why would I tell you at all?? Why should I?

How did it go?? Good?? Great!!. He’ll go. You should put on the perfume I gave you. Yes. The Fleur d’Automne. My favourite. You’ll be the loveliest creature.

Yes, he will come.

*********************************************************************

There.

Not too close now…it’s pretty deserted. Can you see? Yes, Richmonds’ Diners. WAIT!! SHH!! There’s someone else!! No, they’re too far away. It’s downwind too. Impossible. Not without being seen.I’m telling you, it’s too deserted!!

NO!! They’ll know. The dump’s too exposed. You’ll be seen

Cold?? Come nearer. Rub your palms. There. Better?? Relax, calm yourself. You don’t have to get too worked up. Christ!! NO!! We’re staying p…

LOOK!! The other guy went back in. I think he’ll return…

*********************************************************************

He will. I know he will.

How would I know??

I just know.

And it’s a trade secret. You’re not supposed to know??

‘Cause he’s that kind of a guy. So loving and kind, indiscriminately. He thinks that’s his strength. But it shall be his undoing. Yes he should be heading to the lab right now. Why not the roof??

Definitely not!! 

He MUST go to the lab.  Why won’t he come to the roof?? Because the hunt needs to go just as the predator has intended. It’s all every intricate, calculated. There the prey shall meet his doom. His fall from grace. Then perhaps he’ll no longer have that arrogant smug on his face.

Why…you ask me?? ‘Cause he has his eyes on you!! You don’t think so?? I beg to differ. And that’s not the real issue; it’s the way you look at him, talk about him, think about him…

…Of course not; Of course I won’t tell you any of this. If I really meant so, would I tell you at all?? Ignorance is bliss.

About time.

Yes, I’ll be going. The hunt starts now. I’ll put an end to the buzz…

*********************************************************************

BOOM!! CRASH!!

He’s back. The guy from the bar. What’s that?? Not sure. Looks like a bottle. Liquor perhaps, unsurprisingly. Don’t look at me like that. I’m just stating the obvious. Alright I’ll drop it.

Look at how he drains it!!. Look at him. THAT”S your guy.

OUCH!! ALRIGHT!!

He’s on the move. Quick. You see that stall over there? On the count of three. NO!! NOT YET!! Wait till he’s beyond the hydrant. Where’s he going?? No idea. Just…follow my lead. Gosh.

Dead man walking.

*********************************************************************

He didn’t. But it’s true. Arrested.

It’s true. Why didn’t he come??

Of course, I can’t tell you. It’s a moment of glory. Master plan executed in perfection. Yes, I saw it all. From the start. Not a moment escaped my sight. How?? The cameras of course. What cameras?? The ones mounted on the wall. How?? Some help with the virus and a computer. Piece of cake.

Perfection. But it was meticulous. The amount of work needed to make sure this works was staggering. Had to make sure everything was where it’s supposed to be. The fabricated letter that you unknowingly passed to him yourself; the one I switched without you knowing, of course. The package in the lab. Bought off a pimp somewhere in the red light district. Cost me a fortune, those goodies. But it was worth it. Every single penny.

Of course, I had to plant the evidence deep inside the lair. The prey took it’s bait, so I had to drive it all the way in. So deep where it hurt the most. For this I had to do what will be my biggest crime. But this is all to protect you, from him. Can’t you see?? To keep you, from him.

What did I do?? Cameras. I told you, I’m good with them. Camped a few in your room, just for few nights. Snapped a few pictures. Edited them a little.Then sneaked in to remove the bugs, and stole a couple of the undies. Then I broke into his. Made it seemed like it was stashed secretly.

A perfect crime.

Too bad it’s my secret to bear alone. Of course, nobody else can and nobody else knew. You??

YOU MUST NEVER KNOW!!!  

*********************************************************************

It’s time. Time to go.

You’ll be late. It’s time. Time to go. The car is just around the corner. Go. We’ll be right on schedule. We’ll be in time to catch the plane. With time to spare.

You go ahead. Right behind you. Don’t look back…don’t look back…

*********************************************************************

“Me!!”

Not in your wildest dream, yeah?? Yes…you remembered…I’m surprised, and honoured. You still remember. Of course you would, after putting all the pieces together.

Yes. Me.

My name?? Do you remember?? You see my point?? You know her name. But I’m just another client.

It’s Hawkins. Brilliant, but troubled. Who else could have pulled something of this magnitude?? Who else but me?? Who else but the top mind of the institution. Yes, you’ve been a good teacher. And I, perhaps, your greatest student.

Why, you ask me??

‘Cause you’re Frankenstein and I’m your monster. Yes, Rhodes, your monster. Rhodes’ Monster. I’m your greatest invention.

You forced my hand. My existence is resulted  by the very thing you threatened to destroy. You made me. She’s everything to me. MINE ALONE.  More than you can imagine. I must protect her frail heart. NO ONE ELSE IS WORTHY OF THIS. No one…but me.

NO!! It’s MY duty!! You…you don’t understand!!

Come then, if you wish. Strike me. If you think your drunken limbs can still throw a straight. Why, I’ll just stand here. Nice range for a hook. Can you land it, on my right?? Come, it’s a free shot. I’m not too sure if you can land a straight in your condition, considering how short-sighted you are. But a hook is totally manageable. I think. I hope. Hah!!

No?? You looked like you’re ready to devour me. Whole. But what prey feasts on its predator?? Survival of the fittest. Well, as far as I can tell, you’re surviving pretty well. In the dumpsters, that is.

What do I want?? Just came to show you how far you’ve fallen. And to show you the full magnitude of your failure. You thought you’d protected her?? Kept her from being exposed?? From being shamed??

YOU FOOL!! It is I WHO HAS ALWAYS PROTECTED HER!! ME!!!

But then again, I supposed I owe you an apology. Your…your sense of…righteousness…choosing to keep her from being shamed…kept the police from investigating further, and kept me from behind bars. And I never looked back since. I’ve been by her side all these while, if this brings you any comfort.  Until she insisted on seeing you, one last time. Yes…yes, she was here. She saw everything. Witnessed everything.

No, no. She’s too kind to be an accomplice. What she doesn’t know doesn’t hurt her, yeah?? I’m sure you understand. I’m sure you’ll understand. Of course you do.

You’re my magnum opus.

Now…Frankenstein. Got to go. Nice chat. Where next, you ask me??

I’ve got a plane to catch.

Her Farewell…

 

How?? How…in the world things get to this??

BOOM!! CRASH!!

“Get out!!” a plump figure bellows at him, shortly after throwing him out his door, right onto the pavements. From afar he runs his thumb to the part of his lips where it caught on the pavement, and upon checking the damaged done onto it he casually wipes the blood off. He gives the man a ferocious stare, and for a moment I am worried that he might retaliate for that rude demeanour.

But he doesn’t, and I hear myself letting out a sigh of relief. Gradually limping his way out to of the alley, for a moment he seems so disoriented, perhaps due to the blow to his left cheek. Standing there motionless, he stares across the street. My primal instinct beckons me to swiftly shift myself into the shadows, shielding me from his piercing eyes. Moments after deeming that it is safe enough to steal a peek without being seen, I see him caressing his ever messy hair, another palm of his massaging the back of his head.

Perhaps he is badly hurt?

Let’s go.

Seemingly decided where to go, he heads onto the street and starts making his way towards an invisible destination, as if guided by some divine navigation. His pace is slow, and so isn’t making it very difficult to tail him from such a distance. It is amazing how he is impervious  to everything; not  the restaurants or the TV shops that has several Plasma and LED TV’s on display could steal his attention.

So like him; once he’s decided he’ll just plough through. Even at great cost…

*********************************************************************

Is this the best time?? What if he says no?? What if he’s someone else??

Go. There isn’t anybody else. Trust me. You’ve planned this for so long…

My heart was screaming out loud in fear. Afraid, of what the outcome would be. All that was in my mind was the repeated scene that I’ve coughed up in my imagination for the past whole week.Walk right in, heads down, both arms hugging the folder. Cast the letter into his hands and scramble out of there in the instance.

But there was no courage that could possibly calm me for this occasion. I could feel my knees trembling in fear, blood pumping into my ears.Jumpy. Then as he abruptly skated his chair across his office, I instinctively moved behind the pillar, hoping with all my strength that he didn’t notice my presence. Some rustling came out from his office, and a loud bang indicated that he slammed the trolley back into the folder cabinet.

Go!!

“There!! You’re another day late!! I needed you to get your report done last week,” he said while picking out my only defence from my arms, way before I could speak. This was not going as planned, at all. My lips were ready, but my heart wasn’t; no words came out to fruition, despite all the practice that I’ve done.

He swiftly turned around, back to his work, ignoring my awkwardness in his presence. He always had this sadistic side of him, always denying others from what they have intended. He knew I wanted to say something, but purposely delving back to work instantly to make me put in extra effort in this confrontation.

“Now thanks to you, I’ve lost another weekend…” He started to say something, but my mind was elsewhere, still panicking from the knowledge that we’re the only two living souls co-existing in his small but cosy room.

Half thinking that it might be a good idea to just back off and run off into the oblivion, he suddenly turned around, apparently surprised by my silence.

It’s now or never.

“Maybe…I…I…make it up…to you??” Mustering every ounce of courage in my body, I forced myself to look up. He responded with an quizzical and puzzled look, unsure about what he was supposed to infer from my fluttering sentences.

As my mind searched for the corresponding lexis to express the overflowing thoughts in my head, I remembered to thrust the letter into his hands. Right then he was stunned by the sudden appearance of the envelope, my limbs immediately took flight as my heart pumped adrenaline into my blood stream as if I am escaping a predator. I ran as hard and as fast as I could, only stopping after I exited the the faculty doors.

Will he come?

As I inhaled deeply to feed my oxygen deprived lungs, I made a note to prepare myself better for the appointment later tonight. I shall put on that Fleur d'Automne…

He will.

*********************************************************************

There.

He seems to have reached his destination. Another alley. Pretty deserted, and the alley has too little cover for me to go closer. A shadow rises from the protruding stairs, above which a sign says Richmonds’ Diners.

They begin to talk, but I am too far away to eavesdrop on their conversation. Mouthing a silent prayer, my eyes scours around for options so that I may move closer. For some reason I am agitated not being able to listen to what they are saying.

Perhaps that dump there would do.

NO!! They’ll know.

The other guy is lighting up his smoke now, but both of them does not show any indication of how much longer they intend to stay in the cold. Making up  my mind to stay put, I rub both palms against each other to generate some heat to counter the numbing cold that is gradually seeping into my bones.

Not giving up just yet, I scout around for possible location to camp. A loud bang rang  aloud  and the other guy has disappeared back into the diners, leaving him alone leaning against the alley wall. I can make it out from his silhouette that he is looking upwards into the sky. The blank expression in his eyes throws me back into that lonely night…

*********************************************************************

Will he come?

He will. I know he will.

I was standing in the moonlight, at the intended place of our first “date”. Perhaps at this point this is just another appointment, me another clientele. But I’m okay with that, for now. Things would be better, soon.

How?

I just know.

I grabbed the edges of my sweater and pull them closer towards each other, feeling the fabric tightly enclosing my back, giving me some warmth to counter the chill. It was a starry night, but there was no moon to illuminate the roof apart from the small wall mounted bulb. I recalled how he used to talk about the sky and the stars and the constellations and the lore men created for them during our sessions. I remembered how in awe we were at his charming passion whenever he talks about the celestial entities.

I was smitten. Totally.

You better go. Stop being a buzz kill.

About time.

Five-to-ten. Will he come? I stared into the dark horizon, screwing my eyes into focus, trying to look for signs of his arrival. The breeze was getting stronger and colder. Right then I felt rather vulnerable, both physically and mentally. Not entirely sure what to expect from this encounter either.

Where are you? Would you come?

*********************************************************************

BOOM!! CRASH!!

The sound of the crashing door siphon me back into reality, waking me up to another nightmare I am existing in this dimension. The resurfaced guy shoves a bottle of something into his arms, something I can’t really make out of in this darkness.

They exchange a friendly gesture and each head on to his own way, but not before that guy shouted something. If that meant anything to him, he didn’t acknowledge it. But he has this weird expression on his face. I have seen that face so many times in the toilet mirror, every time after I abruptly wake up from a bad dream.

He pops the cork out of the bottle and starts sipping. As he turns into the corner I arise from my hiding spot and start to shadow him again. This time he seems aimless, just wandering around, going where the winds bring him to be. His pace gradually becomes sluggish, as he continues to sip on the alcohol with an empty stomach.

Dead man walking.

*********************************************************************

This can’t be true. But he didn’t come!! Why didn’t he??

He didn’t. But it’s true. Arrested.

The next light I saw in my eyes were the sun’s. I had fallen into slumber while waiting for him to appear. But he didn’t. The institution was in an uproar. Police everywhere. There was a media blackout on the institution. Scores of reporters restricted just beyond the gates of the institute, forcefully trying to make their way into a blockbuster news.

I didn’t want to believe what I heard from the murmurs. A police proceeded to question me how I ended up in the building although the perimeter was enforced hours ago, wondering how on earth I slipped beneath their radar.  Slithering through his grasp, I ran with all my might down the stairwell, and I saw him being ushered into an armoured vehicle. Behind me were multiple footsteps chasing after me, but I ignored their call to stop.

As I reached the ground floor I sprinted with all my might, trying to hold on to the very last of my dreams. But the police stationed on the floor were expecting me, five of them shielding between him and me. Ramming as hard as I can into them, I flinched at the recoil of my rash action. Within seconds they have me pressed on the ground.

I heard a call for the paramedics, but I continued to struggle for freedom. An officer slammed the door close and indicated that it was good to go. As he was transported further and further away I summoned all my strength, trying to escape from this realistic nightmare. That was when I felt my arm punctured, and I gradually loss consciousness…

*********************************************************************

It’s time. Time to go.

I did not resist. But I can’t seem to peel my eyes off his back either. He’s slowly but steadily making his way into the park, probably one of the spot he used to put up for freezing nights. Once in every few pace he raises his bottle, draining more of those liquor. Whiskey.

Probably Jack Daniels, or Johnny Walkers.

But it probably won’t matter. Not anymore, after today. I didn’t come to say goodbye, nor to sympathise with his current predicament. I didn’t come to seek for the answer he never gave, because that won’t change anything. Nothing changes fate. Especially for those whose stars are crossed against each other.

Turning around, I bid my heart not to look back again, ever. I love him dearly, and I probably will always do. But it isn’t meant to be. He’s suffered enough for his fate. Me likewise.

It’s time. Time to go.

Aren’t you coming? Let’s go.

You go ahead. Right behind you. Don’t look back…don’t look back…

_______________________________________________________________________________

Copyright © 2013. All rights reserved. None of the works on this blog may be reproduced in any form without prior written permission by the blog owners.

Sumidagawa Blues

Yokota Airbase.

She still couldn't believe her luck when she received a call from the Commanding Officer with regards to their permission for her to conduct an interview with a fellow army officer. University reports were such a pain, and she could find no other field of interest to venture into.

She signed the relevant forms and was handed a visitors pass at the barricades. Never had she expected to meet an American in a Japanese Royal Air Force base. She had heard of them certainly, members of the United States Forces of Japan, but she expected to be assigned a Japanese, not a foreigner, and most definitely not a member of the Army. But as luck would have it, he might have been the only man up for the job of attending to an irritating sophomore.

"You're here."

The only gesture she managed was a slight nod of her head.

He was...incredibly dazzling. Not in a magical handsome sort of way. But in a way that one could not help but stop and stare. He had an air of elegance surrounding him and his stature was nothing less than perfect. His thick blond fringe was parted in two, and he sported a hairstyle that only someone like him could ever pull off. There was however, a glistening near-white marble cane that he clinged on to. Something that might have been his only flaw, had their relationship never blossomed further for her to understand him thoroughly.

The tour took exactly one hour and twenty four minutes. She was too shy, or rather, too captivated to manage much of a conversation with him until it all ended with the invitation for dinner at a familiar place he used to frequent beside the temples of Asakusa. It was awkward at first, no doubt, but when the weekly restaurant visits escalated to the daily exchange of messages on an online social platform, did the two of them start to show their true colours.

She wasn't that shy, innocent girl he thought her to be.
And he certainly wasn't much of a gentleman.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

On a fine day when she filled up with her favourite Cheese and Mochi Okonomiyaki and downed 5 glasses of Nama, she blurted out unconsciously,

"I love a man in a uniform"

He sneered. "Don't they all say so?"

His breath reeked of freshly grounded nicotine. And as he leaned over the table, she could almost feel the brush of his skin against hers. She was intoxicated beyond words. The musk of his aftershave must have made it worse.

Is he going to kiss me?

No, she shook her head, as he pulled back after grabbing hold of the sauce bottle beside her pair of unevenly placed chopsticks. This was getting ridiculous. But for once in her life, she couldn't control her thoughts nor actions. There must have been something about him that sent her to high heaven. She couldn't stop grinning.

"You never smile do you? Come on! Just one...For me?"

He sighed and grabbed the glass of beer from her hands.

"You're drunk."

His poker face had somehow managed to remain that way throughout the times they had ever spent together. On their fourth meeting, he gave her a shocking lecture and recollection of his past. Something that she had assumed he wanted to keep secret from the world.

"I'm not proud of what I did. When she left I cried for hours, for days, for weeks. But I couldn't let anyone know that. Imagine me, a grown man, crying over a woman."

She smiled. That feeling was all too familiar. Guess no one ever passes life by without experiencing heartbreak of some sort.

"And now that she's gone, all I have left to remember her by is this ring."

Oh, so that's what happened. Does that mean he doesn't have anyone special in his life right now?

"I knew you were staring. You wanted to ask me about it since the first day we met, didn't you?"

She blushed and twiddled her fingers around. She never expected him to pay that much notice. He was usually exceptionally nonchalant about most things and only chose to pay attention to those he deemed important.

Could it be?

"There aren't many hardships that you can run away from in life. If you escape once, you'll never be able to overcome it again."

He was trying to imply something, but she was too focused on the blue of his eyes to notice what they meant.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

On their eighth meeting, he realised he was staring at her a lot more than he ever did before. As she buried her head in the piping hot bowl of soup, he glared at the crown of her head and spaced out. Their frequent encounters would have to stop soon. The more affection she tried to show, the more he backed out. Her flirtatious gestures might have worked with many a man out there, but it did not have any effect on his stand. It was undeniably hard to resist her charms, but he never wanted to feel that way again. He quickly turned away as she looked up. He let out a little cough in an attempt to break the silence.

Without warning, she reached out to grab hold of his left hand and turned his palm upwards to face the dingy ceiling of their usual Okonomiyaki hideout, and proceeded to placed three silver coins of 100 on his palm.

"What's this for?"

"You know what I'm craving for."

He sighed. It wasn't as if he never expected her to start taking advantage of his position and time. There was only one American doughnut shop in the whole of Japan. And it was right where he was stationed for the next 5 years. The walk to Dunkin Donuts took exactly 6.37 minutes and the condition of his legs slowed him down by at least 3 minutes compared to a normal man's pace.

"A girl needs her sweets. Be it a measly piece of chocolate, desserts, the sweet scent of vanilla perfume or the sweet talk of men."

Especially yours.

"Am I wrong to assume that you love your doughnuts?" he chuckled.

"Except, they're not really doughnuts are they? They're more like a Mochi of sorts you know."

"And I assume you can't get enough of this chewy goodness."

She laughed.

It was rare for him to crack honest jokes. He did, however, have an unending supply of sarcasm which he never failed to provide her with.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

On their fourteenth meeting, she decided she had had enough of his indecisiveness and lack of response to her advances. She sulked throughout the dinner. She sulked throughout the drinks session in the bar next door. She sulked until he slammed down the ice cold glass of whisky that he had been clenching on to the entire night, hard onto the round black table in front of them.

"I guess you're just not in the right mood tonight. I'll leave you alone then. We'll talk when you're feeling better."

With all his might, he then proceeded to pull himself up from the couch that had sunk with his weight, and with the help of his familiar white cane, he made his way out the bar with into the cold winters night. The solemn look on his face reminded her of the times she saw him in the base. That look he had saved solely for his inferiors, appeared before her on the night where she needed his company most.

She must have frozen in her chair minutes before she realised that he had left for good. What she did next happened in such a frenzy that all she could remember was the rose red wine that she spilled onto the wooden floor and the slamming of the door as she rushed out in hopes of finding a single trace of him.

"Why do you always have to be so cold?" she shouted as she spotted his shadow around the corner of the Sumidagawa river and that old Kimono shop she used to frequent during the annual fireworks festival.

He froze.

"I never want to lose you. I hope you understand that."

And there was nothing else left to do or say, but to walk away.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

And to get to where you want to be, I realise there isn't extra space in your luggage for me.

Copyright © 2013. All rights reserved. None of the works on this blog may be reproduced in any form without prior written permission by the blog owners.

Brigadeiro

They call this the Ghetto - and very rightly so.

You, are the Oriental 'white' of the town.

You feel yourself drifting past the habitual passing glances as you nonchalantly place your right hand on the white-washed wall before breezing down the heavily cemented stairs.

Lying face up in a dingy basement, you feel the hot chocolate Brazilian on you. You are afraid, and yet the prospect of an entirely virgin experience was too much to resist. The thrill and excitement consume you entirely. You attempt to shut your eyes and yet you fail to control your urge to stare at what this new endeavour would do to you.

"This might hurt a little"

You tremble in excruciating pain and squeeze the cheeky little monkey grinning at you. Your tight grasp repeats itself rhythmically each time you swallow exclamations of pain.

Your mind begins to wander to thoughts of him. What would he think if he knew about this? You miss him, dreadfully, and yet it was days before his return. That is, if he would ever return. Your feelings of guilt arise as strongly as the waves of sadistic pain and pleasure that rock you to orgasm.

You exit a new woman. And you would never be the same again.

In the distance, you spot his familiar hair style and smile which you have missed for months. Your lips start to curl with a smile. Maybe, you think, just maybe, life isn't so bad after all.