Chapter 3 (1/1)

Letting out a yawn, Charmaine rubbed the bridge of her nose with her fingers while at the same time she cast a glance at the entrance of the hotel.  No sight of Raymond Lam anywhere.  He instructed her to be out here waiting at 11:00 pm sharp.  It was now 1:00 am and she was tired, hot and extremely annoyed at having to wait for him out in this sweltering heat while Mister Big Shot celebrity was inside in an air conditioned room getting filled up with tall, cool drinks.  It was so typical of him!  After their initial disagreement, more like argument, they have both elected to remain in stony silence for the rest of the trip over to the hotel.  It was only when Charmaine pulled up in front of the hotel did he decide to speak to her.  And when he did, his tone and attitude infuriated Charmaine to the point that she had the urge to slam down on the gas pedal and speed away with Mister Big Shot celebrity hanging half way out the car.  "Be here waiting for me at 11:00 pm!" Raymond Lam had clipped.  And as if that wasn't enough, he had the audacity to add in a sneer, "See if you can manage to be on time."  Charmaine had never in all her life hated anyone as much as she did Raymond Lam at that moment.  Sure, she had encountered a few celebrities who looked down on her but none of them made such a big display of making her feel inferior.  They usually either ignored her or simply treated her in a cold, impersonal way.  The superior look on his face heightened her dislike of him and that was when the urge came but professionalism quickly banished that urge and Charmaine simply sat back docilely in her seat without so much as a look at him.Charmaine threw a furtive glance at the clock on the dashboard again.  1:30 am was fast approaching.  She had an early meeting at the law firm where she interned and if she didn't get some sleep, she knew she wouldn't be able to focus her attention during the meeting.  Looking one last time at the entrance she made up her mind.  Screw him!  Raymond Lam can hail a cab home!  She ignited the engine and was about to pull away when she caught sight of him coming out of the hotel.  His movements were slow and he appeared to be staggering.  Great, she muttered with disdain.  He's drunk, exactly what she needed to top this evening off.  She watched as Raymond Lam made his way to the van.  If she had any sense she would pretend not to have seen him and drive off.  Let him find another ride home!  That was what he deserved for talking down to her.  Instead, the trustworthy side of her took over and with resignation, Charmaine got out of the driver's side to go around and slide the door open for him.Raymond gave her a haughty smile as he passed her to climb into the van.  "Good to see that you could follow instructions," he slurred and dropped himself onto the back row of seats.Ignoring his barb, Charmaine slammed the door shut and went back around to the driver's seat.  She turned in her seat to look at him and found him flat on his stomach with his legs hanging awkwardly to the floor.  His eyes were closed and his face was flushed from the alcohol.  If luck was on her side, she hopes he remains passed out until she drops him off.  Chanting that wish repeatedly in her mind she shifted the gear to drive and that's when she heard it.  Frozen in place she listened carefully, praying that she had misheard.  Seconds later that small burping sound came again.  Oh no she groaned and turned around just in time to see Raymond Lam vomit.  "What's wrong with you?" she snapped, her tolerance at its end.  The stench was overpowering and holding her breath Charmaine squeezed herself between the two front seats towards him.Raymond made a gurgling sound and attempted to sit up.  "I don't feel too good," he mumbled and blindly reached his hand out to her.  Grabbing her arm he used it as leverage to pull himself all the way up.  That seem to make him feel worse and with his hand clamped on her arm, Raymond heaved, vomiting all over Charmaine."You!" Charmaine screeched feeling the hot, foul wetness penetrating her thin slacks to stick to her skin.  "You!" she repeated with disgust and fury.Throughout it all, Raymond's eyes had been closed.  With the wave of nauseas passing, Raymond slinked back down on the row of seats.  His fingers slackened around her arm and he fell into a deep slumber.Staring furiously at Raymond's sleeping form it took all of Charmaine's willpower to remain calm.  She looked down at her ruin slacks and the gory mess splattered on the newly shampooed carpet of the van.  She wanted to cry in frustration, to kick him a few times and her thoughts even went as far as rolling him out of the van and letting him get run over or even worse… photographed in such an image breaking way.  But she did neither of those.  Pinching her nose from breathing in the horrid stench, she sidled her way back to the driver's seat.  Jazz was going to owe her big time for getting her into this mess.  Out of reflex, Charmaine glanced around at Raymond and the peaceful expression on his sleeping face rehashed all her anger and with a violet curse, she stepped hard on the gas pedal sending the car speeding down the street.---------------------------------------------Myolie glanced up and down the empty corridors for a sign of Raymond.  She had seen him come into the party and tried to get his attention.  Not once did he look her way.  She was positive that he had seen her.  How can he not when he nodded a greeting at Kenneth the moment he walked in and Kenneth had been pretty much glued to Myolie's side throughout the evening.  She knew he was ignoring her and she didn't like it one bit.  They're close friends and have known each other for years and years.  She couldn't understand why he would all of a sudden give her the cold shoulder.  It's true that she had made a move on him but if he didn't feel anything for her, he wouldn't have responded to her the way he did.  Perhaps he needed some time to sort things out.  She didn't mind if that was the case.  What she did mind was him ignoring her.  It certainly wasn't her fault that they got photographed going into his building together.  It was he who invited her over to his place for a drink.  Although she would admit that drinking wasn't on their minds but still, he did the inviting and not vice versa.  Ever since the picture of them together became the headlines of every magazine, Raymond had distant himself from her.  She understood that he needed to protect his wholesome image to his supporting fans but that doesn't give him the right to completely shut her out.  With frustration she stomped along the corridor, eyes alert.  She swore she saw him come this way.  She rounded a corner and bumped into Kenneth.Kenneth caught her before she lost her balance, "Whoa… you okay?" he asked softly."Have you seen Raymond?" Myolie asked eagerly, her eyes hopeful."He left," Kenneth replied in that same soft tone.  "In fact, he left not long ago."Sad and defeated at having lost another chance to talk to Raymond, Myolie turned from Kenneth and headed in the direction of the exit, "I guess I'll be going too," she said in a low shaky voice."Wait," Kenneth called out to her and when she paused, he hurried to her side.  "You have some time for a coffee, because I sure could use one."Myolie looked up into Kenneth's cheery face and with a small smile nodded her head, "Coffee sounds good."  She really wasn't up to it but she knew what Kenneth was trying to do.  He was very perceptive of her feelings and even without her saying a word he could easily tell if she was happy or unhappy.  And whenever she was unhappy, Kenneth would always be by her side.  "My treat this time," she said as they walked out into the hot, humid night."Whatever you want," Kenneth said tenderly and after helping her into his car, he got in himself.  "Any particular place you want to go?"Myolie shrugged her shoulders in response to his question.Kenneth drummed his fingers on the steering wheel for a couple of beats and then snapped his finger.  With more enthusiasm than necessary he blurted, "Let's go to that café where we first met.  I haven't gone there since that time and it'll be fun.  What do you think?"Giggling like a school girl, Myolie turned to face him, "I can't believe you would suggest that place.  Like you, I haven't been back there since that time and that's over eight years ago.  Will it still be open?"Kenneth pulled his seatbelt across his chest and buckled it in place.  Giving her a wink he said, "Well, there's only one way to find out.  Sit tight."-------------------------------------------------Charmaine pulled the van into the parking lot beneath Raymond's building.  She searched for the assigned space that Jazz had mentioned to her earlier.  She found it with ease and slowly drove into it.  When she had parked the car and turned off the engine she turned in her seat to look at Raymond.  He was lying in the same position as before.  "Hey, get up," she said tersely.  Raymond didn't move.  "Hey, you're home.  Get up and go sleep in your own bed," she said loudly.  When he didn't make any response, she shook his shoulder, roughly.  "I said wake up.  You're home!"  Raymond made a moaning sound before stirring.  Seeing that he was now somewhat awake, Charmaine grabbed the front of his tux and using all her strength pulled him into a sitting position.  "You're home!" she repeated louder this time."I heard you!" Raymond snapped with irritation and pushed her hands off him.  He opened his eyes slowly to look directly at her.  "There's no need for you to scream."With an angry huff, Charmaine slid the door open and jumped off.  She stood by the door and waited for him to get out.  After a few seconds when he remained sitting in his seat with a dazed expression, she said tightly, "Are you going to get out yourself or do I have to drag you out?"Covering a yawn, Raymond asked casually, "What time is it anyway?""It's time for you to go home," Charmaine answered in a sweet voice but there was no hiding the sarcasm in her answer.Raymond made a small movement but stopped.  Scrunching up his face he asked rudely, "What is that awful smell?""That awful smell came from you and because of you I now have to shampoo the interior of the van again," Charmaine retorted with impatience.  Glaring at him she fumed why he didn't just get out of her car.  Why did he have to agitate her even now with all these needless questions.In his muddled frame of mind, Raymond had already forgotten the question he had just posed and didn't seem to hear her response.  He lifted himself off the seat and stuck his head out of the van.  A wave of dizziness swept through him and he swayed, knocking Charmaine to the ground with him landing on top of her."Get off me!" Charmaine shrieked and pushed him violently off her.  She scrambled to her feet and turned fiery eyes on him only to find him lying on the ground where he had fallen.Raymond lifted a hand out to her and mumbled, "Help me up."Expelling an annoyed breath, Charmaine took his hand and helped him to his feet.  Raymond swayed again but Charmaine was prepared and kept herself balanced.  She was really going to let Jazz have it for getting her into this.  Picking up Raymond's arm she threw it over her shoulders and began the trek of getting him to his apartment.They were halfway across the empty parking lot when Raymond suddenly opened his eyes to look at her.  He made a face of revulsion and said in a scolding tone, "You smell awful.  You should go home and take a shower right after you drop me off."