Friday finally arrived. I took out a cafe colour blouse to pair with a dull olive knee-length tight skirt and tied up my hair into a ponytail for the graduation ceremony.
"My girl is growing up,"Steven teased.
"I am a fully grown woman okay otherwise you are not allowed to touch me,"she throw a seductive glance at him.
As if on trance, he reach out for her but she skipped away."Don't be naughty, I want to look nice for my graduation photos to be sent to my grandparents. I won't forgive you if you make me feel so embarrassed like the day when we meet your family in Central City,"she warned.
Reluctantly he kept his hands to himself since this is important for her. Steven phone rang the moment they arrived at University G. This caller ID cannot be rejected so he tell YaoYao to go in first and he will seek her later.
"Yes,"he answered.
"I am in town next week. See you,"clicked and the conversation ends.
The one person he has avoided for years is here and he can't refuse the meeting.
The entire faculty attention is already on YaoYao who look like an elegant swan in the midst of ugly ducklings not only with her clothing but her glowing beauty is unparalleled after being pampered for so many months. Even her appointed professor blushed when she approached him to thank him for his guidance before queuing on the stage. She just thought she look like her old self again with a touch of femininity and confidence which Steven has helped her built.
Whispers of greetings and introduction were heard around her but she was not interested. She remember the advice of her sisters in-law, a jealous man is a dangerous man. She didn't want to test the theory since she just recovered not long ago from his intense lovemaking due to being away and frankly none here could hold a candle to her husband.
Steven presence during the graduation ceremony confirmed the gossip and many of the students tried to get an introduction to YaoYao without avail since she didn't actually attended the class. Moreover Steven looked annoyed with knitted brows and all. Even the university director and professors kept quite after inviting him to the front seat.
He stood up to escort her from the stage after she got her degree. She tiptoed and pull his shoulder down to kiss his temple,"Don't frown on my big day. If it really trouble you, tell me after this." Everyone witnessed the magical transformation of his troubled face morphed into a happy smiley one in an instant. The boys lost hope while the girls dream on.
After the graduation class photo session and another with Steven and her professor, they return to work. Steven did not mentioned the phone call that had disturbed him.
Back at HK Architect, Felix was having some trouble to adjust his design in the west quarter due to lack of clarity with the actual landscape. Not surprised since we did the survey as fast as we possibly could to avoid confrontation with LokLok and his gang during the preliminary studies. She suggested to Felix that they could go to do a better survey next week since the gang might no longer be there after the last confrontation with Steven. He did warned them and the gang was wounded too.
Over the weekend she has contemplate on how to tell Steven of their returning to the west quarter for a more thorough study on the current landscape but in the end she gave up. His mind seems to be preoccupied with something. It was a change from being insatiable to once a night love making. She didn't want to worry him anyway and it's not like she is going alone.
Come Monday, after Felix pinpoint several more areas to be reexamined we set off in the afternoon. By the time we are done it was already late afternoon. She was glad they managed to do the reexamination without interference,"Are we done?".
"Yes except for this particular spot where you marked old Tang design structure of possible antiquity value. Can we go to have a look there?" Felix asked.
Ah, that's where Steven and herself got attacked by LokLok and gang. They shouldn't be in the area anymore right? "Sure but there used to be a gangster group around that area so we should be careful. Steven got into a fight, injured them and asked them to leave the area some time ago. Now the plan to redevelop the area is out in the news, they should be gone. Come let's go to wrap up our work."YaoYao is not sure if she is trying to convinced Felix or herself.
"YaoYao! We have found a treasure! This building really has historical value. You see the word on the door? It's an old writing of Tang surname, maybe it's a general residence related to the king at that time. We need to preserved this building in our plan. Weird that it is the only one in this area that seems to be nicely clean and taken care off though." Felix wondered standing in the middle of the courtyard sketching the roof design of the building.
Suddenly, doors were slammed opened within and around twenty people rushed out from inside. She only recognized one of them; LokLok who now limping on my leg. What shocked her the most was squarish white blocks neatly arranged on top of a table inside. It looks remarkably alike drugs she saw in movies.
"Why do you come back here YaoYao?!" LokLok was shouting at her.
"It's rare a real beauty like you came knocking on our door,"a bulky man who have wrinkly face and a cigarette in his mouth spoke.
"She is a friend, probably come looking for me. I'll just bring her away."LokLok bowing apologetically at the man.
The bulky man must be the head of the group. The man kicked LokLok in the head as he bowed and he went crashing to the side. YaoYao was stricken with fear when she saw LokLok spat out a mouthful of blood. This is true violence, they are not those bad street boys but real mafia instead. Felix dropped to his knees begging them to let us off.
The mafia head laugh and took something out from his pocket," I always give leeway to beautiful woman. If you eat this pill in my hand, I will let you and your friends go. How about it?"
She didn't have any other choice hence she grab the pill swallowed it and pull Felix's arm to get up and run. Not more than a dozen step, before they are even out of the main gate of the property, her knees buckle under and she drop to the floor. This round it was Felix who tried to pull her up.
"Now, now, why are you not leaving when I allowed you to. If you are not out of the property in the next two minutes, you are no longer allowed to leave," warned the mafia head.
Unfortunately, no matter how hard she tries, her limbs lose all their strength. She can only whisper to Felix,"Go get Steven." Felix ran out of the compound realising that's the best thing to do.
The mafia head came over,"So you have decided to stay and entertain me. Let's have you inside shall we?"