Chapter 52 (1/1)

Charmaine sat beside Myolie with Kevin on her other side.  They waited silently for the jurors to return to their bench.  As the last juror took his seat Charmaine felt a cool breeze beside her and turned in surprise to find Wayne sitting down.  Since the night he confessed his love for her, she now feels awkward and uneasy whenever he was around.  Wayne must have sensed her discomfort for he didn't call or looked for her either in the past few weeks.“I came right on time,” Wayne murmured giving Kevin and Myolie a smile of greeting.Charmaine bobbed her head in response and turned her attention in front of her.Keeping his own gaze straight ahead, Wayne leaned in slightly towards her and whispered, “Can we talk after this?  I think even you must agree we have to get things out in the open.”Charmaine was about to give him some lame excuse but then decided against it.  Wayne was right.  They really did have to talk or as he put it, 'get things out in the open.'  Running away or avoiding him wasn't the answer.  Turning to look at him, Charmaine gave him a warm smile and said, “I think a talk would be nice.”Wayne met her gaze and nodded.  A mutual understanding formed between them.  Although neither spoke another word it was clear that no matter what the outcome of their conversation would be, they will always remain friends.All of a sudden there was a roar of voices coming from behind them.  Charmaine, as did Wayne, Myolie and Kevin, turned in their seats to see what the commotion was about.  To their utter amazement, Raymond was walking down the aisle and turned into the row of benches directly across from theirs.  Jazz followed closely behind and sat down next to him.  When they were both seated, they turned in their direction and waved in unison.Charmaine's attention was fixated solely on Raymond as her eyes drank in the sight of him while her heart fluttered wildly.  Why did he always have to look so handsome and sexy?  And why does he still have the capability to affect her this way?  Raymond gave her a brief smile of greeting and casually looked away, dismissing her altogether.  So casual was he that Charmaine quickly felt heartbroken and rejected, feelings that she shouldn't be feeling.  Disappointed that he apparently moved on without her, Charmaine stared numbly down at her hands."Don't be like this," Myolie whispered and squeezed her arm assuringly.  "Raymond is only acting this way because there are reporters in here and he's only trying to avoid rumors."Myolie's words comforted Charmaine a little.  But still, she knew that wasn't the only reason behind Raymond's cool façade.  They have broken up already and she can't hold his actions against him.  After all, it was she who told him to leave that night.  Not wanting to worry Myolie, she whispered back, "I know.""Court!" the Clerk sitting in front of the Judge called out.  Everyone in the courtroom stood up and waited for the Judge to take his seat.  When all were seated again, the Judge turned to the two guards standing before the prisoner's bench and nodded his head.  One of the guards opened a side door and seconds later Ron Ng was led in by a third guard.  His hands were cuffed and there were signs of stress and fear in his usual arrogant face.  Ron scanned the packed court room, his eyes resting briefly on Charmaine but longer on Myolie, who stared boldly back at him with contempt.  He then spotted Raymond and his eyes narrowed with loathing.The Judge slammed his hammer onto the pedestal bringing all attention to him.  Turning to the jury foreman, he asked, "Do you have a verdict?"The jury foreman, who was a middle aged man, nodded his head and unfolded the piece of paper in his hands.  "We do Your Honor.  We find the Defendant, Ron Ng, guilty of the rape charges against Myolie Wu."The Judge nodded his head and asked, "Was this vote unanimous?"The jury foreman looked down the faces of all the jurors and after obtaining their nods, said in a clear loud voice, "Yes."The Judge slammed his hammer again and spoke.  "We, the people of the High Courts of Hong Kong, find the Defendant Ron Ng guilty of rape against Myolie Wu.  The hearing for the sentencing shall be one week from today."  He then stood up and as he walked down from his podium, his clerk stood up and announced, "Court dismiss.""Yes!" Kevin shouted, throwing a fist up the air in a sign of victory.Myolie laughed with joy but her laughter was cut short by her cries of happiness and satisfaction.Charmaine could feel her own tears sliding down her cheeks at the verdict.  She turned and hugged Myolie.  "I told you justice would prevail," she said quietly and laughed when Kevin wrapped his arms around the both of them."Let's celebrate!" he shouted."I'm going to get all of you for this!" Ron screamed from behind the bars.  The two guards quickly went to his side to lead him out of the courtroom but Ron struggled against them and managed to escape their clutches.  He barreled straight for Myolie and had almost reached her when one of the guards grabbed his waist from behind.  Flailing like a maniac against the guard's unrelenting hold, Ron's hand accidently struck the side of Charmaine's face, causing her to cry out in pain.  Before he had a chance to hurt anyone else, Ron was pulled roughly out of the room, kicking and screaming obscenities all the way out.Raymond who witnessed the chaotic scene instantly jumped to Charmaine's side.  Grabbing her shoulders with open concern he peered down closely at her.  He saw the inflamed skin and lightly touched it, "Does it hurt a lot??"Charmaine stared up at him and slowly shook her head.  The overwhelming concern on his face and the raw agony in his probing eyes undid her.  She grabbed his hand, was about to ask him if they could start over when the reporters in the courtroom descended upon them and broke the moment."Raymond, isn't she the same woman who you went into an unidentified apartment building with a few weeks ago?"  "What is the real relationship between you two?"  "Is she your girlfriend?"  "How about you Miss Sheh, are you willing to admit that Raymond Lam is your boyfriend?"Charmaine rapidly turned her head aside and encountered Raymond's dark countenance.  He was looking furiously at the sea of reporters' faces.  She could tell by the tightening of his jaw and the gleam in his eyes that he was beyond angry.Jazz hastily jumped in front of the reporters and held his hands out in a gesture of silence.  "Please, can we give them some space?"  However, the reporters weren't easily placated.  They continued to crowd them until Raymond and Charmaine were pressed up against a wall without a way of escape."Excuse me!  Excuse me!"  Wayne hollered as he pushed his way through the reporters.  He grabbed hold of Charmaine's hand and pulled her into his arms.  Turning to face the reporters he proclaimed, "Miss Sheh is my fiancé and she has no ties to Raymond Lam other than friendship.  Now if you will excuse us, we have some things to do."  Without giving the reporters any chance to question further, Wayne and Charmaine hurried out of the courtroom.  Kevin and Myolie quickly followed.-------------------------------------------------------"I'm sorry about that," Wayne said when they were in Kevin's car.Taken aback by the sudden apology, Charmaine turned to face him, "What are you apologizing for?"Wayne smiled faintly and explained, "For telling the paparazzi you're my fiancé.  I only did it so they would leave you alone and stop pressing you with questions about Raymond Lam.""I know," Charmaine replied and was grateful to Wayne for helping her.  Not only that.  She was also grateful to Wayne for reminding her that she and Raymond were too different and had completely different life styles.  The reporters back there, with their constant need to publicize Raymond, reinforced what she already knew.  She and Raymond would never work together.  It was as simple as that."Where to?" Myolie asked from the front passenger seat.With her better mood returning, Charmaine sat forward in her seat and lightly patted Kevin's shoulder, "Didn't someone mention about a celebration?""That's right!" Myolie chimed in.  "Some one did mention that."  She looked teasingly at Kevin and asked softly, "So where will this celebration of yours at?"Before Kevin could respond Wayne sat upright in his seat.  "You can drop me off at the corner and I'll take a cab from there.""What?" Myolie turned in her seat to look at him in surprise.  "You're not joining us?"Wayne darted a quick glance at Charmaine and shook his head, "I don't want to intrude."Charmaine knew that Wayne wanted to give her some space, especially after what just happened.  Yet, she wanted him there to join in the celebration.  "Didn't we agree to talk?"Realizing that Charmaine was no longer avoiding him and instead wanted him around, Wayne felt a glee of hope that their friendship would be back to what it once was, before he stupidly ruined it by confessing his love.  "Yes we did," he agreed with a tender smile.