Chapter 33 (1/1)

Charmaine walked in a trance down the crowded street and in her daze walked directly into a street vendor's cart.  The pain jolted her back to reality.  Rubbing at her sore arm, she looked apologetically at the vendor and murmured hastily, "I'm so sorry.  Very sorry.""Watch where you're going lady!" the vendor barked and with great effort maneuvered the cart around her with an angry huff."Charmaine!" Kevin called out to her from a short distance.  "Charmaine!  Over here!"Charmaine turned towards the voice and froze.  Seeing who it was drained the color from her face.  Kevin was the last person she wanted to see.  The shame and guilt of what she had done to him in the past made it more difficult for her to face him, especially now.  She had literally broke this man's heart for Raymond, who in turn, broke her heart.  Back then she never believed in karma but now she did.  If she thought about it, she deserved Raymond's betrayal because didn't she betrayed Kevin to be with Raymond?  Hiding the turmoil she was feeling behind a false smile, she greeted uncertainly, "K-Kevin.  How are you?"Kevin perused her and noted the dark circles beneath her eyes, her sunken cheeks and also the lack of color on her usual rosy complexion.  He immediately knew something was amiss with her.  With concern etching his face, he inquired softly, "Is everything alright?"Charmaine pressed down on her trembling lips, afraid that it might give her away.  She nodded her head enthusiastically and widened her smile.  "Of course it is!" she gushed, her voice sounding overly shrilled and unnatural.Myolie came up slowly behind Kevin, her eyes taking in Charmaine's disheveled and daze appearance.  But what caught her attention was the evident misery in Charmaine's eyes.  A person can mask their expressions but eyes… eyes are revealing on how a person is actually feeling.  No one can ever mask their eyes.  She didn't need Charmaine to tell her to guess what has happened.  She could see it all too clear.  "I'm sorry," Myolie said gently.Charmaine looked at the other woman and saw the knowing look on her face.  Unable to contain herself any longer, she let the tears, tears that she had been holding for a month, scald down her face.  Once it started, she couldn't seem to stop.Kevin quickly wrapped his arms protectively around her and guided her towards his car.  Ignoring the look of by-passers, he helped her into the back seat and after giving a quick nod to Myolie, he went around to the driver's seat.Myolie climbed into the backseat and sat down beside Charmaine.  "We'll talk at Kevin's place," she said in that same gentle voice that seems to have a calming effect on Charmaine.Charmaine's weeping reduced to a low whimper.  She closed her eyes and nodded with relief.  She needed to talk to someone about what happened.  She has kept everything bottled up inside for weeks and it was killing her physically and emotionally.  Who better than to confide in than Myolie?  Myolie has been where she is now.  Maybe if she shared her feelings on all that has transpired with Raymond, she would be able to get past this and move on with her life.  A life without Raymond.  Sniffling back a sob, she allowed Myolie to pull her into her embrace."It's okay," Myolie soothed softly.  "Kevin and I will be here for you.  We'll help you get through this."Charmaine lifted her teary gaze to Myolie.  She expected to see a look of gloating triumph on Myolie's face.  Didn't Myolie at once time warned Charmaine about Raymond and the kind of life he leads?  Instead of seeing contempt on Myolie's face, Charmaine saw genuine concern.  "Myolie, I…" she began, wanting to apologize for taking Raymond from her in the past.Myolie shook her head, "We'll talk later."----------------------------------------------------------Raymond sang the last verse and waited for the overhead red light to dim out before yanking the headphones off his head.  He looked towards the glass pane and shouted, "Can we finish this another time?"The two men sitting in the room opposite of the glass pane exchanged worried looks.  They were trying to finish recording his album but every day Raymond would find excuses to postpone it.  Recording an album normally takes about two weeks to complete, and that goes for even the most inexperienced singers.  However due to Raymond's brooding behavior, and unreasonable flare of angry outbursts, it has now been four weeks and the album wasn't even getting any closer to completion than when they first begun.  Kenny Wong, the sound equalizer, pointed at the clock behind him and said, "Its only early afternoon.  Can we try to get another song in before the end of the day?"Jazz saw Raymond's eyes narrow in annoyance and quickly stepped towards him, hoping to placate him.  "Ray, I know you haven't been feeling well lately but this album needs to be completed.""How can I record when I'm not feeling well?" Raymond shot back angrily.Jazz looked closely at Raymond and said quietly, "You haven't been feeling well for weeks and everyone notices how your mood has changed.  You're always cranky, and… and… "Pinning Jazz with a killing look, Raymond pressed, "And what?"Jazz decided not to continue in that direction.  Adding to Raymond's growing ire would only create more tension between them.  Searching Raymond's face, he asked, "Is something troubling you?"Raymond thought back to the night when Charmaine left him and a heaviness fell on his chest.  The pain of it is still a fresh memory in his heart.  He doubted he can let it go that easily or even forget her at all.  Meeting Jazz's curious gaze, he clipped, "No," and moved towards the door."Ray!" Jazz called after him, "We're not done in here."Raymond threw the door open with a bang and said, "We are for today.  We'll finish this tomorrow."Jazz looked over at Kenny and his assistant, who in turned stared with frustration at the door where Raymond just walked through.  "I'm sorry guys.  I promise we'll finish the album by the end of this week."  Jazz grabbed his bag and chased after Raymond.  He caught up with him outside the studio.  "Ray!  What's the matter with you?"Raymond walked briskly to Jazz's car and jumped into the passenger seat.  Without answering Jazz's question, he cast his glance out the window as Jazz got in and started the car, swerving it out of the underground parking lot.  They rode in silence: Raymond lost in memories of Charmaine whereas Jazz tried to figure out what was bothering Raymond and causing him to be like this.At a red light, Jazz turned towards Raymond and studied his set profile.  "Ray, we're friends right?"Raymond muttered a yes but kept his gaze out the window.Jazz took this as a good sign and continued, "I know you're not much of a talker and don't like sharing your problems with others so I won't ask any more questions.  I just want to remind you that after recording this album you have a movie to shoot.  This movie is the stepping stone you need to enter the movie industry.  Isn't that what you've been working so hard for?"Raymond didn't answer.  He continued to stare gloomily out the window.This didn't stop Jazz from trying to get his point across.  "I don't know why you've been in such a foul mood and as your assistant and also your friend, I only want what's best for you.  If it's something personal then I won't get involved.  However, I want you to remember all the hard work you've put in these years just to get this opportunity.  Now it's right in front of you.  Are you willing to give it all up?"Raymond finally turn and rest his gaze on Jazz.  In a low remorseful voice he said, "I'm sorry Jazz for acting like a jerk lately.  I don't know what's gotten into me."Jazz gave him a small smile but quickly focused back on the road ahead.  "Don't be.  I'm used to your moods by now.  I'm only concern that you're going to let this chance in a lifetime slip."Raymond looked out the window, letting his gaze sweep past the multitude of billboards, buildings and scenery as he tried to collect his thoughts.  Charmaine was gone.  He had hurt her and even though he wanted to make it up to her it was too late.  This was a fact.  He has a movie waiting for him to film.  A movie that he had put a lot of effort into getting.  This movie will launch his career in the film industry, something that he had been striving to achieve since he started his career.  But this movie can't start unless he finishes his album.  This was another fact.  Since he lost his dream of being with Charmaine he might as well concentrate on his other dream: to be a movie star and win an award for it.  Looking back at Jazz, Raymond said with determination, "You're right Jazz.  I've worked too hard to stop now.  Call Kenny.  Tell him we're on our way back to the studio and I'm going to finish the album."Jazz gave Raymond a beaming smile and pulled the car over to the side for a U-turn.  "You're going to make it big Ray.  Not that you aren't now.  But you're going to be even bigger!""Thanks for the encouragement," Raymond responded gratefully.  Lowering his voice he added, "My career is the only thing I have going for me now and I'm not going to let that go as well."