Chapter 48 (1/1)

Charmaine walked into Kevin's apartment and didn't see Myolie anywhere.  "Where is she?"Kevin bobbed his head towards the bedroom and said quietly, "She's in there.  She hasn't said a word since we left the police station.""Police station?" Charmaine repeated in awe.  The look on Kevin's face told her something big, no huge, has happened.  Feeling alarm creep in, she asked lowly, "What has happened?"Kevin flicked a wary glance at Raymond and locking eyes with Charmaine again, he quickly ushered her off to one side of the room.  Lowering his voice, he said, "Something awful has happened to her.  Something so tragic that I don't know will she ever be able to recover from it."Clutching Kevin's arm, Charmaine bit her fingers into his flesh while she asked anxiously, worriedly, "What?"Kevin's eyes glazed over with unshed tears as he fought to hold them in.  He looked down at the floor and said quietly, "She's been raped.""What?" Charmaine was shocked by what she was hearing.  She searched Kevin's face, hoping to find a hint of a smile, indicating that he and Myolie were only playing a joke on her but she didn't see it.  All she saw was sadness and helplessness on Kevin's face.  "When?  H-How?"Kevin took a shattered breath and Charmaine could tell he didn't want to talk about it any more.  Nevertheless, he said, "The night before, after she closed the store.  She was grabbed right outside.""I'll go and sit with her," Charmaine said softly and turned but Kevin stopped her."There's something you should know," Kevin said gravely.  "Her rapist is Ron Ng.""Ron Ng!" Raymond blurted out in a loud shriek.  He strode angrily towards them only to gentle his features when he saw the worried look on Charmaine's face.  Turning his attention towards Kevin, he seethed, "First he tried to hurt Charmaine and now Myolie."Astounded by the news, Kevin snapped his gaze on Charmaine, "He tried to rape you?  When was this?"Raymond answered for her, "It doesn't matter when.  Luckily I arrived on time.  Otherwise who knows what would have happened to her."Kevin nodded his in agreement.  Remembering Myolie, he said, "Charmaine, please talk to her.  I've tried and tried but I'm not getting through to her."Taking his hand, Charmaine gave it a comforting squeeze and promised, "I will.  I'll take good care of her."  She turned and headed in the direction of the bedroom."Charmaine!" Raymond called out to her and waited for her to turn around.  When she did, he slowly walked towards her.  "I want to be here to support Myolie as well," he said softly.Charmaine could read the compassion in Raymond's eyes and knew he was affected by this as much as she and Kevin.  Perhaps even more so given his history with Myolie.  Instead of responding, she merely nodded her head.  She saw Raymond smile with relief and it made her realize she wanted him to be here too.  Not for Myolie's benefit, but for her own.  With Raymond around, she felt safe and protected.  Giving him her own smile of gratitude she turned.-------------------------------------------------------Raymond sat stiffly on the couch as he waited for Charmaine.  Kevin sat stonily on the other end staring unseeingly at the wall.  The two men avoided eye contact and the uncomfortable silence made Raymond fidget in his seat.  He stole a glimpse at Kevin and saw the other man wipe at his eyes with the palm of his hands.  Bitter sympathy seized Raymond for he could imagine what Kevin was going through.  That night when Ron had attempted to hurt Charmaine, Raymond had never felt such an explosive urge to literally strangle someone.  Ron didn't get the chance to hurt Charmaine and still that boiling rage to retaliate is still within him.  He doubted he would be as calm as Kevin is now if Ron had been successful in his attack on Charmaine.  Feeling awkward since they weren't exactly friends and yet feeling a need to comfort Kevin, Raymond said quietly, "Don't worry.  Myolie is a very strong woman.  She'll pull through this."Kevin slowly lifted his gaze to Raymond.  Instead of responding to that comment, he asked abruptly, "Just what are you trying to get out of Charmaine?  Don't you think you hurt her enough!"Taken aback by the sudden sharpness of Kevin's tone and knowing fully well the cause behind it, Raymond said softly, apologetically, "I know what I did in the past was wrong and unforgiveable but I love Charmaine and want to be with her."Kevin smiled weakly with disbelief and snickered, "Sure you love her Raymond Lam.  That is until your next target comes along."Instead of being infuriated by that snide comment, Raymond said in that same soft, apologetic tone, "I know you and even Charmaine won't believe me now.  But I'm going to change your views on me.  I'm going to prove to everyone that I meant every word.""Sure you will Raymond Lam," Kevin said sarcastically.  "You'll say and do anything right now just to get on Charmaine's good side."Raymond nodded his head in confirmation.  "Yes and the reason for that is simple: I love her."Kevin gave Raymond a long hard glare as if analyzing how much truth is in his words.  After a few seconds, he said dully, "For Charmaine's sake I hope you mean it.  I don't want her hurt by you anymore.""I swear I won't," Raymond vowed in a calm, steady voice.  To his surprise, Kevin nodded and the icy demeanor that was on Kevin's face only seconds ago was gone.  "Does that mean I have your approval?"Kevin smiled faintly and this time the smile was natural and full of warmth.  "It only means I won't get in the way of you and Charmaine.  The only one you need approval from is Charmaine and no one else."Smiling boyishly in return, Raymond said, "I'm working on it and hopefully I'll succeed soon."Kevin looked at him intently then quietly asked, "Then what?  In your profession you're faced with temptations on an ongoing basis.  Even if Charmaine forgave you this time how do you think she would feel or even react at the first rumor that goes around with you and one of your co-stars?"Raymond was nonplussed by the question.  Having faith in himself and Charmaine, he said with overly confidence, "Once Charmaine believes in me again she'll realize rumors will only be rumors.  It's part of being a celebrity.""But don't you think Charmaine deserves someone who can offer her a steady, uncomplicated relationship without any excess baggage?"The in-depth question made Raymond at a loss of words.  He knew Charmaine deserved that and more but he is who he is.Seeing the turmoil on Raymond's face, Kevin had the answer he was seeking for.  Looking gravely at Raymond, he said, "If you really love her then do her a favor, let her go.  Don't pursue in something that will not work out.  It will only hurt her more at the end."Raymond looked away but Kevin's words continued to repeat in his head.--------------------------------------------------"How are you holding up?" Charmaine asked in a low soothing voice as she sank down on the bed beside Myolie.Myolie sat up in bed and allowed Charmaine to pull her into her embrace.  "C-Charmaine…  I-I don't know w-what to d-do."Charmaine gently rubbed Myolie's head, "Don't think about anything right now.""I can't!" Myolie wailed and broke out in tears.  "Every time I close my eyes I see him!  That's all I see!"Charmaine understood what Myolie was going through.  She had endured the same nightmares cause by Ron Ng.  Only, she was the lucky one out of the two.  She was saved by Raymond before Ron could do any real physical damage.  Myolie, on the other hand, suffered.  "Sshh," she cooed gently.  "We're all here for you and we'll always be here."Myolie pulled out of Charmaine's arms to look at her, "I feel so ashamed!  So dirty and used!" she wept.  "I don't now how to face Kevin any more."Charmaine grabbed Myolie's shoulders and gently shook her.  "Stop it," she commanded in a firm voice.  "You did nothing wrong!  The one who is wrong is Ron Ng and we're not going to let him get away with this.  Kevin loves you and very much too.  He'll be by your side no matter what!"Myolie shook her head vehemently, "Kevin only feels pity for me now!  He hasn't said it but I know that's how he feels!"In a stern voice, Charmaine asked harshly, "Is that the kind of person you think Kevin is?  Cruel and heartless and…""Of course not!" Myolie objected cutting Charmaine off.  "Kevin is the most selfless person I know.  That's why I love him."Hanging on that, Charmaine said, "And you also have to believe that Kevin loves you wholeheartedly no matter what happens."Myolie slowly nodded her head as if finally realizing the truth.  Smiling sheepishly at Charmaine, she said, "I really love him.  I'm so afraid of losing him because of this."Charmaine shook her head and said forcefully, "You will never lose him because his heart is yours to keep forever.  Trust me on this.""Thank you Charmaine," Myolie whispered.Charmaine responded by enveloping her in a hug.  "We're all here for you and we're going to get you through this together."