The Swallow and the Princess (Complete)
Chapter 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33
Turning around at the jeweller’s polite cough, he casually takes back his gold credit card, gives the man a slight nod, then walks out the door with the sophisticated looking woman latching onto his arm, her hands full with bags of shopping. The jeweller stares after them, shaking his head. He’s seen too many pretty ladies with their sugar daddies to be shocked, but…that man was what? Not even thirty, still young, too young to be so cynical, to have that cold look in his eyes that the jeweller had seen only in older men who come in regularly with different mistresses. Really, this was so sad, thought the jeweller,what happened to make such a brilliant young man so very cold? This heir to the biggest fortune in the city, this best lawyer in the country, this…he looks at the receipt, this Mr Alec Su?
“Nadia, I mean it, it’s over. I just don’t find your honey words and figure interesting anymore, and I don’t really want to see your face or hear your voice again. Just leave me.” Alec said quietly, in his office, staring out the window again, ignoring the woman in the tight black dress in front of him. She stared at him, her eyes filling with the tears, her voice just shaking slightly, like the perfect actress that she was, “But Alec, don’t you love me anymore? I love you so much, don’t you want me anymore?” He turned back to her with a cruel, cynical smile on his face. “Drop the act Nadia, we both know what this was about from the beginning. I just needed a female companion, while you wanted the money. Well, I should think that you’ve got enough from all the shopping you did with my card…don’t ask for too much, and I might still have a good word for you when you attach yourself to your next sugar daddy.” Nadia looked at him, trying to decide whether or not to pursue it, but seeing that unamused look on his face, she knew that this was not one of those men she could wrap around her finger. No one had ever done that with this man. She sighed. “Fine, Alec, but I do like you, and if you ever need someone in your life again…” He laughed coldly. “I don’t think so Nadia, there are other girls out there waiting for the chance, don’t worry for me.” “But…” “But what? You trying to make me believe you love me? Or could love me? I don’t think so, you’re one of those girls who loves money, not love, and I…” he trails off, staring into the distance, “This is reality, fairytales aren’t real.” He turns his chair to face the window again, dismissing her. She looks at the back of the chair, bits her lip, then turns and strolls away, slamming the door behind her. The mature lady secretary, June looks after her in amusement. Yes, its about three months, about time Mr Su gets rid of her, she thought. June had been Alec’s secretary for the last five years, and every time he takes on one of these females, he always get rid of them in about three months or so. The poor boy, she thought, for to her, Alec was but a boy, even though he was her boss. Always surrounding himself with these plastic dolls…
Alec was still staring out his window, his work finished for today. Why do those people down there struggle so hard to get to the top? I was once one of them, he thought, if I’d known, known how…lonely the view is from here…for where else was there to look when you are at the top but back down? In his dim distant memory, there was a vision, a vision filled with a warmth and joy he’d not felt for so long, he’d almost forgotten it.
“Swallow! Swallow you meanie, give me back my doll!” a girlish voice yells, as a young boy climbs up a tree, laughing, staring back down at the indignant little girl standing below him. “Come and catch me then!” Suddenly he slips, and falls down as the girl screams. With a thump as he lands on the bottom, the breath knocked from him, and his face screwed up with pain. “Don’t die, don’t die Swallow, you can have my doll now, I don’t want it, don’t die!” the little girl urgently pulling at his sleeve. He opens his eyes to see the little girl’s face all red and crying. He wanted to stop her crying, “Don’t cry Princess, I won’t die, I’m still have to grow up and marry you…”
Alec shakes his head, laughing at himself for remembering something so silly from his past. It was almost twenty years ago, and that young boy had died when he grew up to be who he was now…a man who was rich and respected….a man who had models and actresses lining up to be his girlfriend…a man who’d had to learn how to be apart, to be cold, to not get hurt…a man who’d forgotten how to love. A man who'd lost his princess. He looked up at the night sky and saw the first star come out. I wish..I wish...oh, I wish...
This place hasn’t really changed, she thought, as she wandered around her old bedroom, after finally making her family promise her some time to rest. Really, with her parents, seven older brothers, two sister-in-laws and two rowdy nephews, HOW was she to get any work done here?! But she was really happy to be back, she’d spent the last four years of her life wandering the world, writing her novels as she saw new places, met new faces…her cheerful, happy nature made her friends everywhere. But it was different here, here she was Vicki Zhao, with an emphasis on the ZHAO. She loved her family, they made her feel so happy and loved, but when people saw her, made friends with her, it was because she was the Zhaos’ darling favourite (indeed, ONLY!) daughter, and not because she was Vicki. And the same with her career, she did not want people to read her books because she was famous, she wanted to be famous BECAUSE of her novels! No, she didn’t want that, she reconsidered, she only wanted people to be happy from having read her books, she didn’t care whether or not they remembered her name, or the title. It was what she’d put in the pages that mattered, her beliefs and dreams of the world…she grinned at herself in the mirror. The world was a beautiful place, and she was lucky to be alive in it! There was joy in everything if you look for it…she nodded at herself, as if to reconfirm herself in this belief, then, with her big round eyes glimmering vivaciously, and a bright smile on her face, she went out to laugh and share with her family, to be once again, the effervescent girl she’d been since she was seven, since God had given her this gift, this big family when she’d been all alone.
Mr and Mrs Zhao watched with pride and joy in their hearts as they saw their special little girl, not so little now, chatting and exploding into peals of laughter surrounded by her brothers, all seven of them having returned just to see their precious sis. “Frank, isn’t it wonderful, our little princess is back, do you think she’s finished with wandering now? I’m so concerned for her, she’s getting older now, really ought to get married…” Her husband laughs at her. “How do you know she doesn’t already have a boyfriend?” he teases, and his wife gives him a mock frown. “Hmm, as if she’d kept it from us! Besides, she’ll act different if she did, less…less so carefree.” He shrugs, to him, Vicki was still a little girl, he was in no rush to have his little princess married yet. “I wonder if anyone we know has boys that are single…” “Lily, she’s only got back! Don’t scare her away with all your blind dates now!” His wife ignored him, her mind concentrating on getting her dear daughter, not daughter of her blood but certainly daughter of heart, married off. Maybe Sam will know some guys, she thought, staring at her youngest son.
Vicki congratulated herself as she finally left the book conference, not only did she get to do what she loved, which was to say hi and chat with her book fans, but she’d managed to arrange for the conference to fall on THIS particular day, thereby avoiding another one of those horrible parties her mother enjoyed dragging her to! She had no desire whatsoever of seeing that guy her mother had introduced her to anytime soon, the thought of another evening being a mindless, brainless, pretty smiling statue listening to the man bragging about the size of his bank accounts made her hair stand on end! When her mum had asked her if she’d enjoyed her date, she’d described in strong terms all the other things she’d RATHER be doing…like run screaming down the street like a maniac…leaving her brothers and dad in helpless laughter. She knew her mum meant well, but REALLY…Her mobile rang and Vicki looked at it apprehensively, sighing when she saw it was Kent, her second brother. “Hiya bro!” she said cheerfully, “What’s up?” “Is your conference finished now?” “Why?” asked Vicki suspiciously, wary of another plot. Kent laughed in her ear, reassuring her. “Don’t worry, it’s not another of mumsey’s plots, Piper and the kids are demanding you come visit us, we’re getting pizzas, come on Vic!” “I’ll be there!” she answered quickly, any excuse to get away from her nagging mum.
As she walked to get her car, her eyes caught sight of a doll in the window of an old toy shop. She froze and stared at the doll. It looked SO much like…her doll, the one and only thing HE’D left her. She’d nearly cried herself to death when her mum, irritated at seeing her still clutching the smelly, old doll despite all the new toys around her, had thrown it away. Her brothers had been freaked out by her crying, and spent the whole day searching the bins and running after the rubbish truck…but they never found it again. Vicki felt so strange, suddenly she smiled in remembrance of the little girl she’d been, the cry baby, and her friend…the one that was always running around, climbing up trees like a monkey…almost like a bird. But it had been so long ago, she barely remembered his face…coming to a decision, she tries to go in, then notices the CLOSED sign. “Crap!” she thought, I’ll have to come back tomorrow.
Alec ruffled through his cabinet, getting slightly irritated. Where was that stupid file? He needed it for the court case tomorrow, where the heck had he placed it? Suddenly he hit himself on the head. Crap, gave it to Kent to look at yesterday, totally forgot about it! He picks up the phone to call the extension number then stops. It was 6pm, everyone had already left. He sighs, and calls Kent at his house. “Hello.” “Kent, I need that file for Mr Lo’s case tomorrow.” “Well, and a good evening to you to, Mr Sunshine.” Kent’s voice sounded cheerful, ignoring Alec’s blunt manner as usual. “Yes, I have it, do you mind dropping by to grab it? I’m just about to have dinner…want to join us?” Alec thought about it, he WAS hungry, and Kent and his family wasn’t so bad… “Oh, alright, be there in 30 mins?” “We’ll wait for ya!”
Alec looks up and gives Piper and Kent a slight smile as they open the door. Piper leans over to give him a hug. “Long time no see, Alec! Where’ve you been hiding yourself?” Piper lets go as Alec stiffened, knowing his queer ways. “Oh, just been busy…” “Come on in, hey Alec, want to meet my sis? She’s just back from the States…” Kent broke off into laughter at Alec’s barely concealed pained look. “Don’t worry, I’m not pushing my sis onto you! She’s not the usual rich girl…” he saw Alec’s sceptical look and shrugs. “Oh well, you’ll see.” Alec winced as Kent turned around, he did NOT want to meet ANYONE’S sister or daughter, whether she be the shy little girl type or the flirty sexy woman…he didn’t want to hurt anyone, but…his heart felt too world weary….unbelievable as it sounded, a 28 yr old guy feeling too old to love! As he turned into the corridor, he heard loud giggles and…roaring??? Suddenly he felt a rush of wind as two little things rushed passed his legs, then staggered as some thing banged right into him. His arms automatically caught hold of the person, trying to keep upright, then his eyes looked down…into a pair of laughing, bright round eyes.
Momentarily stunned, he just stared down her, and Vicki up at him…who was this person, with the deep brown, unsmiling…almost sad…eyes? And why did she feel like she knew him? Suddenly remembering herself, she laughed up at him, “Oh, I’m so sorry, I didn’t mean to attack you, I was just running after those two little monsters!” She grinned up at him, and Alec felt so strange, hearing her laughter echo in his mind. Remembering himself, he let her go, looking at her, the girl looking totally unembarrassed and smiling friendly at him. “That’s OK, I don’t think you did me any permanent injury,” he said stiffly, totally unprepared for her to grin at him in reply. Suddenly two objects attached themselves to his legs. “UNCLE ALEC!!! Wanna play chasey?!?” wheedled the boys, staring up at him. “Uh…um, well…” he looked back up at the girl, who laughed, “Oh come on, why not?” Alec muttered, “Um...why not...” trying to find an excuse, but the girl took it for affirmation. He was totally unprepared for the girl to go,”OK THEN!!!” tapping him on the arm, “YOU’RE IT!!!” cracking up with laughter as she ran away, with the two little boys squealing with laughter after her, Alec stared after her in shock. Suddenly finding himself involved, totally confused, he had no choice but to chase after them. As he watched them screaming and giggling in mock fright at him chasing after them, he couldn’t help it but started to see the fun in this, and a smile appeared unconsciously on his face.
Kent and Piper watched in stunned silence at the sight of their cold, silent, world weary friend chase their sister and their sons around the house with a big smile on his face. Afraid of saying or doing anything to break the spell, they retreated into the kitchen, where they waited for the pizzas to arrive, with the look of dreamers waiting to wake up…
Alec looks at her, wondering why he felt so strange, why didn’t he feel like he needed to put up those barriers against this girl like every other woman he met? Why was he feeling so easy, so casual…looking at her friendly face, staring at him, he realised she’d asked him a question. “Uh, sorry?” She gives him an exasperated look. “You DO have a name, don’t you? I know I blab too much on occasion, you could at least pretend you’re listening!” He gives her a sheepish look, “Sorry, I was thinking, um, my name’s Alec, Alec Su.” Vicki shot him a look. “Oh, you’re my brother’s partner! My god, I’ve been playing CHASEY with ALEC SU?” “And what’s so strange about that?” demanded Alec, understanding her astonishment, but was nevertheless piqued. Was she going to get all formal and distant on him now…but wasn’t that what he wanted? He felt strangely pleased when he heard Vicki laugh. “Oh, I’m sorry, I’m so surprised you’re nothing like what they say, when I know damn well myself that the gossips can make a mountain out of a molehill…anyway, I’m Vicki Zhao, Kent’s little sister.” Alec more or less knew already, but was somewhat unsure what to do now, she was nothing like HE’D expected either, she was a rich girl, and he’d always avoided them as he hated being looked at as husband fodder, but…how was he supposed to react to a rich girl who played chasey and flashed sunny smiles without hidden meanings or schemes? “Um, nice to meet you.” He held out his hand, she shook it, then grinned up at him. “Oh come on, don’t get all stiff with me now, I mean, you HAVE been growling like a monster behind me for the last half hour!” Alec laughed, in spite of himself, liking this friendly girl. “Come on, they’ve probably eaten all the pizza now!” Vicki grabs his sleeve and tugs him along behind her.
The four adults sat around the kitchen table chatting and laughing while the two little boys, filled with pizza, and unable to convince their two older playmates to join in once again, ran off to play with their assorted toys in their room. Kent and Piper were bemused as they watched Alec chatting easily with their sister about his job, and the university that he’d went to, the best local restaurants around. Vicki, being the vivacious person she was, had bombarded them with hilarious stories about her travels, and they all laughed helplessly at the Vicki’s blunders as she travelled throughout foreign countries. Alec watched Vicki’s open friendly face as she talked, and suddenly he realised why he felt so strange, why he felt so comfortable around this girl it made him uneasy. She’s so…friendly, he thought, it’s because she’s not ‘hunting’ me, not trying to capture my attentions, not trying to impress me, she’s just…herself. Was that it? Was that why he was acting so very strange too, he himself was a bit shocked at how much he had talked and laughed tonight. It’d been so long since he felt so…happy? Was he happy? He wondered, totally confused by this cheerful and unpretentious girl. He jerked as Vicki clicked her fingers in front of his face. “Wakey wakey!” “What?!” “ Mr Su, do you ALWAYS stare off into space?” demanded Vicki pertly. “Only when you start blabbing!” teased Alec, and Kent and Piper laughed in agreement. Vicki stuck her tongue out at him, and Alec felt warm at her cuteness. “Fine then, I was going to ask if you wanted the last piece, but now…”she made to grab the pizza slice, when Alec stopped her, “Hey greedy guts, you had 3 already!” “Well, so did YOU!” “I’m bigger, need more food…” “Well, I’m prettier..” “And I’m TALLER…” Kent and Piper stared at them both bickering good naturedly over the piece of pizza. Finally Alec got a knife and carefully cut it in half, but Vicki still insisted that he’d cut a bigger bit for himself…
As Alec drove Vicki home to her parents house, a duty he’d agreed to readily, Vicki kept looking at him. He caught her gaze as he stopped for a traffic light. “What? What are you staring at?” self-conscious. Vicki gave him a steady look, trying to phase her thoughts. “Just wondering about you.” “What about me?” he demanded, as he shifted the gear into first. “I know the gossips are often wrong, hell, they said I was a pathetic writer who being rich daddy’s little girl should just find a rich husband and have babies, the only thing I know how to do…” she laughed, and Alec looked at her relaxed face. “Didn’t you feel bad about it?”he asked curiously, remembering some of the other upper class girls he'd met, and how much they'd made out of gossip. Heck, one thought he should MARRY her because the newspapers said they were a perfect couple, when he wasn't interested in even talking to her! “Not really, you kinda have to know what to listen to and what not to. Besides, here I am, a famous writer in my own right…but you…” “Yes?” She looked at him. “There are too many stories about Alec Su that they must be based on SOMETHING! Your always having lots of girlfriends but dumping them all before three months, your being all the models target ‘sugar daddy’, your being a strange and aloof man. But you were laughing and talking to us this evening like any normal guy.” “And what do you think?” Alec asked, feeling himself withdraw, growing cold, was she going to judge him? Or was she going to try to use that to claim that they should be together because she understood him? Was this yet another plot, this time a very subtle one, to get to him? “I think it’s because you don’t trust people, especially females, to get close to you, close enough to hurt you. I think you’re actually quite lonely in there.” She spoke quietly, Alec clenched his teeth. How dare she? How dare she say he is lonely, he is not, he is always surrounded by beautiful girls and...and…he knew she was right, but there was NO way in hell she was going to know that! “And how can you be so sure, Miss Know It All?” he said sarcastically, but she only gave him a somber look.
“I know because I was there too, not that long ago, inside my own walls. But I know you can smile, you do know how to laugh, so you can’t be as bad as other people say. I think you laugh because you’re not wary of me, because we’re friends. I want to be a friend, your pal, not some girl who gets to get rich off you. I’m not husband hunting, and you’re not female companion seeking. Why don’t we be friends?” She asked him, striking the point he’d noticed earlier. She was right, he WAS feeling at ease with her because she was not ‘hunting’, it was like she was a friend, a buddy, a pal, someone who could not hurt him. It would be nice to have someone like her in his life, with no strings attached, no chance of being hurt…the car stops. Alec still had not spoken, so Vicki gets out, turns around and grins at him, flashing that friendly, open smile. “So, Mr Alec Su, are we friends or are you going to run away in mortal fear of even having friend? I’m not going to eat you, you know!” Alec couldn’t help but smile, though a tentative one. “We’re friends, but Vicki Zhao, I am afraid of NOTHING, and I hide from no one, especially not of you!” “Of course not, Alec, why should you?” she asked innocently, then waved him goodbye before opening the door. Alec stared after her as she disappeared. No, she was a friend, just a buddy, there was no reason to be wary of her. He ignored that little twinge inside him as he drove off, as he unconsciously saw again, Vicki’s shining, vivacious face as she talked.
He’s not such a bad guy, I must remember not to tease him that often…but he is fun, once I get him out of that shell, Vicki thought, then laughed to herself as she remembered Alec’s shocked, then wary expression. He looked like I was going to eat him! She thought merrily. Poor Alec, I wonder what made him this way? Being the caring and wise girl she was, she’d seen through Alec’s disguise as they played, that deep down he was nothing like the cold, tough guy act he put on in front of people. Unconsciously, she decides to help him, to treat him like a friend. What Alec didn’t know was that she wasn’t always this friendly and open to everybody she met, it was strange that she’d warmed to this stranger so fast…but it was probably due to the same thing as what made Alec talk to her. Because HE wasn’t hunting her, out to court her! She was too wary of being the target for men wanting to get rich, or rich guys who wanted the ‘perfect’ wife to match them, she found someone like Alec Su, who was going to be just a good friend, very refreshing. She didn’t dare let anyone in again, despite her sunny exterior, her inner self still hurt too much from…hell, she thought, no wonder I warmed up to Alec so quick, he and I are kinda alike in that respect! No, though she knew she was wrong, she was too afraid to let anyone else in…unless, unless it was HIM. The boy who’d been there all along…
Vicki looked at the empty shelf through the window in horror. Oh crap! She quickly entered the toy shop and seeing the man standing behind the counter, she ran up to him. “Excuse me sir, but where is the doll that was in the window? I saw it there yesterday evening, and wanted to get it, but you were closed.” He looked at her in surprise. That old thing? It had been sitting on the shelf for god knows how long, and now two customers want it, in the SAME day? “Sorry miss,” he said regretfully, “A man came in first thing this morning and bought it already. In fact, I think he might’ve been waiting all night here, he was sleeping in his car when I opened the shop this morning.” Vicki sighed, disappointed. Oh well, maybe it was fate, trying to tell her to stop dreaming and get on with life… “How about something else miss? All of my stock is of good quality and real antique value.” “That’s ok, never mind.” Vicki left the shop, feeling disappointed, because that doll looked SO much like the one he’d given her, so many years ago. But then, maybe seeing it was a sign, a sign that he’ll come back for her, like he’d promised? Suddenly she laughed at herself. Oh Vicki, she thought, you’ve been writing too many romance novels! Yeah right, after twenty years, and on the other side of the world, he’ll really find you, when you’ve both got different names and different lives…hey, not a bad plot for your new book! But no, this was too personal, and still mattered too much to her to write down and let the whole world read. Instead, Vicki shook her head, pushing her thoughts aside as she concentrated on her errand. She’d more or less promised (after being bullied, yes, bullied by her family of THIRTEEN people!) to stay indefinitely here in Hong Kong, and if she was to continue to write (or even be able to THINK!) she needed to get a place of her own. Living with family was great, up to a certain point, and peace and quiet was too much to ask when you live with NINE other people, and another FOUR that visit nearly everyday! Picking up her mobile, she calls her friend Neil, who was a real estate agent.
“There is no problem with this case, Mr Ho, don’t worry about a thing, I’m sure I will be able to win you custody of your son,” Alec concluded, giving the man across from him a cool smile. His client was one of the higher social class elites, Mr Lo, whose mistress had finally convinced him to divorce his wife. “Well, if the best lawyer in the whole of the law field says so, then I’m relieved. Oh Mr Su, I would prefer it if you could manage to make it so I don’t have to give her part of my fortune. I’m sure you’ll be able to manage it,” he said widely, then shook Alec’s hand and left, leaving Alec staring after him. Never mind that your fortune was built up with your wife struggling beside you, never mind that she’s got no money of her own because all the company is in your name, as long as a pretty face is in front of you…Alec jerked himself up short. What the heck was wrong with him? He didn’t care about the client’s life, it was just a job, he’s a lawyer so all he has to do is help his client get what he wants and that is it! There was no need to get emotions involved…he’d got where he was today because he’d learnt not to care…so what was with him? Why did he suddenly feel so…dirty…for helping the man? It’s JUST a case Alec! He told himself, you’re a lawyer, this is what you have to do. Besides, it’s not like you believe in fairytales and everlasting love…his lips curled into a cynical smile at himself. Don’t pretend you know how to care! Once again steeling his heart, he puts the file away in his drawer. Suddenly his intercom came on. “Mr Su, there’s a Miss Zhao for you.” Vicki? He thought in puzzlement, then pushes the button, “Put her thru.” He picks up the phone.
“Hello?” “Hi Alec!” Vicki’s cheerful voice poured out from the earpiece, he smiles slightly, suddenly he felt a bit happier, though he would have no idea why. “What’s up? And where did you get this number?” he demanded, suddenly recalling he’d never exchanged numbers with her last night. Vicki laughs in his ear, and his face softens. “Well, dah, my brother kinda works there too you know!” Alec couldn’t help but chuckle along with her. “Ok ok, stupid question! So what’s up?” “I need to beg a favour, oh please, please say yes!” In her best little girl voice, but he could hear the laughter in it. “What favour?” he asks a bit suspiciously, but she only laughs at him. “Oh come on, nothing that requires you to murder people or commit arson, pleasssseeeee?!?” He couldn’t help but laugh at her whinging tone, “Oh, alright, what is it?” Vicki grins at his words. “Great! Could you come to this address, Flat A, 11th floor, Rainbow House in Laguna City? I ain’t telling you yet, in case you back out, come right now, I’ll wait for you, bye!” “But…” Alec was cut off by the dial tone. “But…that’s right across from my apartment,” he finished into the empty phone line. That girl! What strange thing was she up to now? He couldn’t even imagine, did he even want to know? He shouldn’t go, who knows what it might be about…but then he remembered Vicki friendly laughter last night, and her sparkling joyful eyes. He grabs his suitcase and jacket. They were friends, weren’t they? That’s why he was going, because they were friends, that’s all…he locks his door behind him, and tells June briefly that he’ll be out for the day, and to take his calls. As the lift door closed behind him, June stared at the lift in stunned amazement, then back at her boss’s empty room. Mr Su, leaving at lunchtime? When he’s never ever left the office before at least 7pm, no matter how much the particular girl of the moment begged him? Who WAS this Vicki Zhao?
The doorbell rang, and Vicki looks up from her pile of newspaper and rags. Opening the door to see Alec, she grins brightly. “Boy, are you a sight for sore eyes!” she greeted him happily. Alec just stared at her, unable to respond. At her round sparkling eyes, her bright smile…and that bit of paint on her face! And…on her overalls…and that silly paper hat on her head… “WHAT are you doing?!” He asked, surprised. Vicki wrinkles her nose at him. “What does it look like, genius? I’m painting!” Alec couldn’t help but smile. “I can SEE that! I mean, WHY are you painting?” She grins at him. “Oh, I just bought this place, and I couldn’t wait to decorate it! But then I didn’t know how much trouble that could be…you promised to help me!” “I..I what? You want me to help you PAINT the apartment???” Alec asked in surprise, backing away slightly with a most incredulous expression on his face. Vicki dodges behind him and shuts the door. “No, NO WAY you’re getting out of here! You promised! All my brothers laughed at me and told me to hire a decorator instead, I can only depend on you…so…” Vicki, grinning at Alec’s horrified look, she took out a previously folded hat, “I crown thee Prince Alec of the Kingdom of Decorating,” she announced solemnly, putting it on his head, “May you paint wisely and well.” Alec looked at her laughing expression, stupefied, but couldn’t help but grin, then laugh in reply. “Oh alright! But I’m gonna do a horrible job, but what the heck, I’m not the one who has to see it everyday!” Vicki shook her loaded paintbrush at him. “Don’t even THINK about it, my prince! I have absolute faith in your ability to paint…besides, I’m a bit stuck for choice!” She deftly dodged the paint that Alec flicked at her. “Hey! Paint the WALL, not me! Now, MOVE IT!” she commanded grandly, and Alec grinned at her pose before starting to paint.
After four hours, they’d stopped chatting and their minds were filled with nothing but the monotonous thought of filling spaces with paint…Vicki was bored. Painting her own home had sounded SO exciting at first, but now she knew it required A LOT of energy and time…her stomach rumbled slightly. Great, now she was hungry AND bored. Turning around to see Alec, in an old T-shirt she’d snitched from Kent, painting with a face devoid of any expression, she decided that it was enough for today. Creeping up behind him, she held the small paintbrush she had used to fill in the windowsills up near the back of his head. “Alec?” she asked innocently. “What?” asked Alec, turning around, as he did the brush swept right across his face. Vicki looked at his face and burst out laughing…Alec wiped his face with his hand, staring at the paint, then took one look at her. He grins slowly and holds out his hand with the paintbrush in front of him and advances…Vicki, in the midst of her laughter, suddenly saw him coming towards her with the brush held threateningly, backs away. “No, I’m sorry Alec, please don’t….noooo!!!” she shrieks and runs off giggling with him chasing after her. He gets paint on her clothes, her hat, when he finally corners her, she tries desperately to wrestle the paintbrush off him as he struggled to get it to her face, both of them laughing like crazy by now. “Aha!” shouts Alec triumphantly as dabs her nose with it, and would have continued if Vicki hadn’t grabbed his arms, pleading for her life as tears of laughter rolled down her face. “Ok ok, you win Alec!!! Come on, I’m starving, let’s go eat.” She touched her nose, and saw the white paint on her fingers. “What have you DONE to me?!?” Alec only laughs at her. “Hey, you started it! You look like a rabbit…” he cracks up again when Vicki wrinkles her nose at him and shows her front teeth through her parted lips, making a rabbit face. “Stop it!” Alec spluttered, choking with laughter, and Vicki grinned at him. “Fine then, YOU’LL pay for dinner! I’m gonna go wash this off…” “Oh crap, me too, you’re supposed to decorate the house, NOT me!” Alec wiping frantically at his face, the paint had dried, he’d totally forgotten about it…
He couldn’t help but think of how very different Vicki was from all the other females he had known. She is so amazing, I mean, she’s rich and beautiful,he admitted, thinking of her rosy cheeks and shiny hair, but he’d been with much prettier models to not be stirred by just a pretty face. But it was the way she was, so very full of life, so joyful…he shook his head, trying to clear the image of her bright, warm eyes laughing at him. Get a grip Alec, he thought, his eyes stabbing at his computer, she’s just a friend, that’s all. You don’t know how to care, to love, and…it’s just friendship. Don’t disillusion yourself, and her, he thought, Vicki’s a nice person. I don’t want to hurt her by acting like I actually feel that way when I don’t. He nodded, trying to convince himself, he was only laughing and smiling like he’d never done before in the last twenty years because she was his a true friend, something he’d never had before. That’s all, there’s nothing romantic about it, he decided, and so thinking, he starts reading the case details on his computer screen. Yet, periodically, his eyes would stray and glance at his window, at where Vicki’s apartment was, just across the road…
Inevitably, the next morning’s newspaper headlines was brazened with the words, “ALEC SU AND VICKI ZHAO, IN RIVER OF LOVE EVERYTHING TASTES SWEET, DINING IN STREET VENDORS…” Alec was in his office when his secretary June finally had the courage to knock on his door and show him the paper. Alec was always in the papers with this or that actress or model, but this time…he stared at the paper, and the picture of him and Vicki laughing over something as they ate, and felt really, REALLY angry. He didn’t understand it himself, he was used to being spied on and followed by entertainment journalists, one of the hazards of being in the list of ten most successful men in the city, but this time he felt so…so cheated on, he didn’t want people talking about what he and Vicki had, this precious…yes, he admitted to himself, this precious friendship they shared and make it sound like…like something big and fake, something dirty, something for the tabloids! His face paled with anger as he read the article, which told of all his having many past famous girlfriends, debating on whether he would also dump this rich girl after three months, and what had happened to Naomi, his latest fling? Was Vicki Zhao his next target, or was she a third person?
June watched her boss’s face growing white with anger, and felt surprised. He’d never taken any of the tabloids seriously, heck, that was why he kept getting new female companions, so they would have something to write about and leave him alone, so why was he acting like this? Could it be? She thought. Could it be this girl had managed to penetrate his icy shell? “June.” Startled, she looked at her boss. “Sorry, Mr Su?” Alec repeated himself impatiently, “I said, I want you to type a letter, I’m taking legal action against this paper for defamation.” She stared at him in shock. “But sir…” Alec waved her opinion aside. “Unless they offer both me and Miss Zhao a public apology, I will take legal action against them…” He was interrupted by his phone. Irritated, really to bite the head off any reporter it might be, he picked it up. “Hello?” “Hi Alec!” It was Vicki, still sounding cheerful, like always. Alec waved June out of his office, and she complied, secretly relieved, not knowing what to do at seeing her boss angry for the first time in all these years of working for him. “Vicki, have you read the paper this morning?” asked Alec, confused at her cheerful tone. She laughed ruefully in his ear. “Of course I have, I’ve only just sat the third degree with my whole family badgering me about how long I’ve been going out with you, did I know how many girlfriends you have, and whether or not we’re getting married.!” Vicki burst into laughter, and Alec stared into the phone, confused and amazed at her light heartedness. “Um, so what did you say?” “Well, I told them we were having an one night stand…” “WHAT?!?” Vicki cracked up, but Alec wasn’t amused. “Vicki, be serious!” “Oh alright! You take life too seriously, you know? Anyway, I told them we were just buddies, it’s not MY fault you’re so famous, and besides, who am I to fight with the Naomi, the catwalk queen?” Vicki teased him in a light tone. Alec was lost for words. “Aren’t you upset over this? I hated what they say about us, about you! I was going to take legal action against them, demanding a public apology!” Vicki paused, then replied, “Alec, I’m fine, I don’t really care what they write, and really, you must be used to having people make up stuff about you by now!” “Yes, but…” he stopped, unable to explain WHY he was so upset over it this time, heck, even he didn’t really understand it himself. Vicki continued, “Besides, it’ll just make it worst. As long as we both ignore them, they’ll get bored and leave us alone eventually.” “Oh, alright!” Alec agreed disgruntled, but had to admit that she had a point. Vicki changed the subject, in a light tone she asked, “So, are you coming to help me paint today?” Alec, totally bewildered by this girl, asked in a disbelieving tone, “What? After this? Aren’t you afraid we’ll hit the headlines again tomorrow, this time saying we’ve moved in together or something?” Vicki laughed down the phone line at him. “What? I thought Mr Alec Su wasn’t afraid of anything!” He couldn’t help but laugh, perhaps she was right, the tabloids would say anything anyway, so why let them affect their lives? “Ok, I’ve got a meeting, but I’ll drop by after six. And THIS time, we’re painting THE WALLS!” Vicki only laughed at him in reply.
June was so surprised when her boss called her over the intercom and told her to cancel the letter, that she didn’t react quick enough when Naomi Chan walked right pass her desk and burst into Alec’s room. “Miss…you can’t…sir?” Alec looked up, his face growing stern and cold, more like himself once he saw who it was. “It’s ok June.” She nodded slightly, and closed the door behind her, though she desperately wanted to see what would happen. Alec lifted his eyebrows cynically at the sight of Naomi, her face artfully distraught as she cried, “Alec Su, how could you do this to me?!? Who is she? Why are you with her?!?” throwing a paper on his desk. Alec only looked at her, his eyes distant as he said, without any expression, “What are you so worked up about? It’s none of your business what I do, what makes you think you have the right to be concerned about what I do, and who I see?” She stared at him, her eyes filling with tears, “Don’t you love me? Don’t you want me anymore? What has she got that I don’t?” Everything, Alec thought in reply, he couldn’t help but compare this good looking, sexy model with the vivacious, alive and joyful Vicki, and saw how full of life Vicki was in comparison. But this was the type of woman that Alec Su has, the only type he should have, they would never be hurt since they don’t really care about him anyway, anymore than he cared about them. Vicki…she was too precious a friend, he cherished their friendship too much, it was too precious a gift from heaven for him to…to grow fond of her, to…want her…she didn’t deserve the hurt he would deal her, the cold loneliness that was the only thing he could give…
“Naomi, Vicki is my friend, you’re my girlfriend, that’s all there is to it.” As her eyes brightened, he continued, giving her a hard look. “We all know what this is about, my money for your companionship, so don’t try to pretend you’re more than that in my life. Vicki…is my best friend, and she is worth a thousand of you! If I hear you ever say a single bad thing about her to anybody…” She took his meaning, and nodded timidly. He sighed, all the good nature that he’d felt after Vicki’s call had left him. “Leave me alone now, you’re coming with me to the ball on Saturday, I’ll pick you up at seven.” She looked at him as he dismissed her, reading his file once more. Not wanting to aggravate her sugar daddy, she left, still fuming at that girl who’d slighted her. It wasn’t because she cared about Alec, he was but another rich guy to latch herself onto, it was just…she was a famous model! She was the best, the most beautiful…how DARE this…this BITCH make her sound less? But she knew she couldn’t say anything to the tabloids, or make it sound like she was a victim, because she knew damned well that Alec Su was NOT someone to cross, and as long as he was ready to keep her by his side, why muddy up the waters, and break her own “golden rice bowl”, so to speak?
Bugger to them, she thought, and cheerful once more, she headed towards her apartment, not caring if anyone was following her. After all, if those reporters were desperate enough, they would have ways to find out she’d bought a new apartment, so why bother to hide it? Humming to herself, she thought back to how shocked her parents were when she told them about her new home. First they were upset, but when she’d put it to them that either she moved out of the house, or she moved out of the country altogether! She couldn’t get any work done in the midst of her family, and yes, her work WAS important to her! In the end, they’d decided her living a few suburbs away was the lesser evil…they were afraid of her jetting off to foreign countries again for another couple of years. She smiled to herself. They had no idea how fond she was actually getting of dear HK, it was so bright and invigorating, and besides, she had so many people here…her thoughts dwelt on her new friend, dear Alec, what a nice guy he was, once he stopped being so serious, yes, if she could but get a few novels done too, then life would be idealistic! She didn’t even think of finding a boyfriend to add to that list, in fact, she wasn’t sure she wanted one right now, she was quite satisfied with what she had now…but if she could but just find out what happened to HIM…
Her eyes surveyed the room. This apartment of hers had two bedrooms, a modest dining room and kitchen, her favourite spot was the living room, had glass windows all the way down to the floor, so she had a great view of the sea. [OK, strategically impossible from reality, but bugger it, I don’t know that much of the real estate places in HK!] She’d painted this room a light blue, and she was going to make this her den, she was going to put in thick carpet with rugs and big cushions instead of big furniture, so she could sprawl on the floor and read in comfort. Her room, she’d noted with some amusement, had a clear view of Alec’s apartment, she’d been so surprised when he’d told her he lived across the street, the first thing she’d thought of was maybe they could make faces at each other across the street! He’d given her a weird look and told her she was sooooo strange, which resulted in her running after him with her paint roller. Vicki grinned in remembrance, and was prying open the paint can for her bedroom when the door bell rang. Oh goodie, help! She went and opened the door, smiling at her volunteer painter. “Hey Alec, did you get mobbed by reporters?” He smiled at her, happy to see her cheery face, then rolled his eyes. “Was I ever! Did you know there are some below here as well?” “Well, you DO sort of live across the street, you know.” She grinned at him, but he shook his head. “No, they were trying to get your security guard to comment, poor man, but they all had heart attacks when they saw me. Something tells me the headlines tomorrow are going to be grand!” Vicki laughed, happy to see him so light hearted, she’d felt the urge to cheer him up, to make him laugh from the very first time she’d met him…was it only a few days ago?!? She shook her head in amazement, wondering at how at ease she felt with him. “Hmm?” she asked, seeing Alec staring at her. “I asked, did you want to start painting now or what?” “So eager? See, you should thank me for giving you this wonderful job!” she grinned at him. “Yeah right!” he retorted, “I just want to get it over and done with!”
Finally, they finished the first coat of paint in all of the bedrooms and dining room, Vicki had long decided to give up redecorating the bathroom, it looked fine, and she was too tired to bother with it. Alec had offered to start painting pictures of pig faces and turtles on the walls, but Vicki had threatened him with her paint roller. Both utterly starving to death, they decided to head for food… but paused when they remembered the people downstairs, should they make a run for it? Vicki suddenly grinned and picked up her mobile. “Well?” Alec asked warily, he could tell from her face that she’d come up with another one of her wild ideas. “You’ll see,” she replied enigmatically, then spoke into the phone. “Sam? Can you round up the gang? Snow White needs her Seven Giants…no, next year, OF COURSE right now! At my apartment, hurry, we’re starving…who else is here?” She grinned at Alec. “Oh, a prince, and a LOT of evil people downstairs! Hurry up!” She hang up just as Alec looked at her. “Snow White and seven GIANTS?!?” he asked incredulously. She laughed at him. “Hey, what do you expect, the only girl with SEVEN brothers?” “But giants?!?” She made a face. “Well, I can hardly call them the seven dwarfs, they’re all taller than me, it’s SO unfair!” Alec stared at her for a while, then cracked up laughing….
The reporters below were too busy waiting for someone to come down to pay any attention to the people who might be going up, after all, other people DID live here, and they were only after the couple. The unfortunate souls were unpleasantly surprised when a whole BUNCH of guys came down with Vicki, their cameras stopping in mid clicks in shock, what kind of headlines would this be? Where was the couple sneaking out…before they could react, Vicki and her gang of brothers and one friend had left the building rapidly, and climbed into their cars, driving off leaving a few reporters snapping pictures of the cars furtively. Once away, everyone Nicky’s car started cracking up and laughing like maniacs. “Oh god Vicki!” Kent gasped, breathless from laughing, only you could have thought of that!” “Did you see their faces?!?” laughed Vicki, tears running down her face, and the other guys started laughing again. “Wonder if they’ll even use it for an article, I mean, what would they say?” Everyone fell quiet, trying to image the reporters’ consternation at needing to make something up, but what? “Alec Su meets the Snow White’s seven giants?” suggested Vicki impishly, which made everyone in the car start laughing again.
Kent was giving sideway glances at Alec, who was sitting in the back with him and Sam. He’d never seen his partner like this before, and was a bit edgy about the whole thing. Vicki’s voice broke into his thoughts. “So, where are we going for dinner? Me and Alec are starving, since we had to slave away painting while YOU GUYS ditch me!” Nicky, who was driving, grinned. “Hey, we’re under orders from Mum, she thought if it took you too much effort to decorate it yourself, you might give up on the idea of moving…” Vicki snorted, “Yeah right!” and Alec in back, couldn’t help but grin. Kent couldn’t help but comment, “Yep, that’s our sister, stubborn as a mule!” “Hey, don’t pick on me!” Vicki, turning around and making a face at her brother, who only grinned back at her, unrepentant. “So where are we going?” “Oh, didn’t you know?” he asked innocently. “We’re under orders to take you and your ‘friend’ here home for dinner…” “WHAT?!? OK, Alec, we’re jumping car now…” “Hey girl, there’s a price to pay for being rescued, you know…” “I’d rather have faced the reporters, mum’s gonna give the third degree, we’ll be eaten alive!” “Too late!” Kent replied cheerfully, and Vicki made a face at him before giving Alec an apologetic look. “I’m sorry, Alec…” “It’s alright,” he said in a light tone, surprising everybody, including himself. “I’ll like to see the house you grew up in anyway, and you DID promise to show me your collection of published novels.” Vicki smiled back at him, thanking him for being such a good friend, then frowned at her brothers. “If ANY of you even MENTION us as a couple instead of being just friends as we are…” she left the threat unspoken, and all the guys in the car couldn’t help but smile at her cuteness.
Alec laughed ruefully as he sat down on Vicki’s bed with a sigh of relief. He’d never gone through the traumas of meeting a girlfriend’s parents, and to think he’d done that today, and he and Vicki weren’t even an item! Vicki grinned at his expression. “I’m sooo sorry! Please don’t take them too seriously, Mum always make mountains out of mole hills, and Dad, actually, I think dad likes you.” Alec looked up at her, she was relieved to see the humour in his eyes. “How did you survive with such a big family?!? I’m so exhausted from just spending the one evening with them!” Vicki rolled her eyes as she sat down backwards in her computer chair, leaning her arms on the back, “Now you know! And you wonder why I don’t take life too seriously, how on earth can I when I grew up with seven older brothers?! It’s amazing I’m still alive!” He grinned at her expressive voice, then leaned forward as Vicki waved him closer. “What do you wanna bet on that there are at least four of them eavesdropping on us right now?” They grinned conspiratorially at each other, then crept to the door. Flinging it open, they stared triumphantly down at the five guys who’d been leaning on the door, and were now sprawled on the floor in a heap. “AH HA!” shouted Vicki, “And what might you darlings been up to?” she asked sweetly. They got up hurriedly, looking slightly embarrassed as they mumbled something and ran off, with Vicki and Alec’s laughter ringing behind them.
Alec looked at Vicki’s shining face, full of laughter, and couldn’t help but feel warm inside. This…this feeling, this place, what he would’ve given if he’d grown up here…he shook his head as his smile faded. Wake up Alec, what’s the use of dreaming about something that could never happen? Vicki saw his expression change, and, knowing he was withdrawing again, grabs his arm, and chatting endlessly, drags him to her bookcase to show him all her works….so they talked and argued until the early hours of the day about her novels, Alec calling her a dreamer and accusing her of a misspent childhood reading too many romance novels, while Vicki argued that he was too cynical, and what did he know anyway? “Why don’t you take off your rose tinted glasses and see what the real world looks like?” challenged Alec, forgetting for the moment that that was the reason he felt so attracted by Vicki, the way she saw the world as something beautiful, but she only smiled sweetly at him as she retaliated, “But I like the view from here, hon! Alright, I’ll take them off for a while if YOU put them on and see how much better the world looks! Besides, I’m waiting for my someone to come and take them off for me, to show me the world IS rose coloured without the glasses…” Alec snorted in reply, “Yeah right!” But he suddenly felt slightly cold as she mentioned a someone…who was it? Did she mean her heart had someone in it already? He felt a desperate urge to ask, but didn't he already decide that he wasn’t going to fall in love with her anyway, so why did he care? He didn’t care, did he?
As Alec got home in the early hours of the morning, he shook his head in disbelief as he looked at the books in his hands. He couldn’t believe it, somehow he’d managed to make a pact with Vicki, he’d read her novels if she read some of the books he read, books that showed the reader exactly WHAT the real world looks like. She’d agreed readily, but…he stared at her novels, what the heck am I doing? I’m reading romance novels?!? He looked out his window at Vicki’s empty apartment, thinking about her. How does she manage to get me into these things? But still, it might be interesting to see the world through her eyes for a while…even though, he hastily added to himself, it’s not a real. Suddenly his mobile rang. Who could that be? he wondered, then saw the caller id. Vicki? “Hello?” “Hi Alec, just wanted to see if you got back safely, that’s all.” He smiled slightly, strangely happy about her concern over him. “Yes, I’m home, why, did you think I’ll get mobbed or something, hmm?” She laughed at him. “Ok, ok, I’ve gotta go now, I’m SO sleepy! Goodnite!” “Good night, Vicki.” Still smiling as he hung up, he looked at his watch. It was almost 3am. He had a court hearing tomorrow, he really should get to bed…but despite his thoughts, his hand reached out and picked up Vicki’s latest novel. Maybe just a few pages…
Mr Lo had walked into his office this morning and given him this file. As he flips thru it, he sees pictures of Mrs Lo with another guy, talking to him over coffee, in his embrace. Alec was too experienced a lawyer to see immediately that this was a rout, that it was all his client’s plan, the man had to have been working with him…but he could only stare expressionlessly at his client, as Mr Lo told him to use this, and that this will ensure the case goes his way….who was he to argue with his client? He was a lawyer, all he could do was present his evidence to the court, it was not up to him to question the evidence’s source, or his client’s actions…he knew this. He’d become the best lawyer in this city, no, in the Asian area by being 100% professional, 100% ruthless…so why did he feel so bad? He, Alec Su, didn’t become emotionally attached to anybody, much less than any case, did he? Remembering how enchanted he’d gotten reading Vicki’s novel last night, indeed, he had read it until he had to go to work, he felt slightly uneasily. No, it couldn’t be, he thought. She can’t have that much influence on me…but he remembered how he’d felt an unexpected yearning as he saw through her eyes, a yearning to believe, to feel…NO! It’s not possible, he thought, I’m too world weary to believe in fairytales, to feel anything again…he couldn’t have a heart, not in this profession, not in this world he lived in. He pushed his thoughts aside as he reached his office, and planned next week’s hearing…
Vicki sighed inwardly, once again suffering from her mother’s conniving. From outside appearance, she looked like she was absolutely enraptured by what her partner was saying, her in her light blue spaghetti strap dress, with her hair all done up with silver streaks running through it. But in fact she was utterly bored, yawning her head off as her mother’s latest choice of ball partner for her rattled on about how and what his latest business ventures were…he has the personality of a pea, she thought, inwardly wanting to run…oh why, oh why do I ALWAYS get this sort of partners? I mean, ok fine mum, I suppose it is appropriate to have a partner at this ball, even though I didn’t even WANT to come in the first place, but at the very least you could have found a guy that had a TEENIE WEENIE bit of a brain…only very slightly…arghhh!!! She looked around the table, it was big enough for 10 people, and her brother Sam and his date, Kent and Piper, and Nicky and his girlfriend Fennie was here too…she gave them a desperate look…help me!!! But they only grinned back at her, amused, under orders from Mrs Su, and, Vicki was so funny… She narrowed her eyes, inwardly promising herself to get revenge, as they ignored her and left her to the mercy of this man with the personality of a lump of wood….her date didn’t even see her desperate attempt for help, and continued onto his next topic, that of his investments….
Alec had his usual stony, expressionless face as he entered the ball room with Naomi on his arm, who was in her best Gucci black dress, that hung onto her like a second skin. He was utterly bored, he couldn’t believe he was even feeling anything, he should be used to the usual social chit chatter by now…looking around for a table, suddenly he heard “Alec!” Turning around, he saw Vicki waving at him, grinning happily. His eyes brightened, and he couldn’t help but smile and move towards her, Naomi had no choice but to follow him. She grasped his arm desperately, wanting to pull him away, but he didn’t even notice.
Vicki’s world suddenly brightened as she noticed a familiar figure in the crowd…yes! My saviour, my knight in shining armour… “Alec!” she called, waving to him, ignoring all the shocked looks around her as she broke the ‘rich’ protocol, ladies not supposed to raise their voices and attract attention…bugger to that, she thought, her eyes shining as Alec saw her, and walked towards her. Thank god… “Good evening Vicki!” “ Hi Alec! How are you?” she replied happily. “Tired, as you should well know! Are these seats taken?” “No!” Vicki quickly pulled him down to sit next to her, and Naomi sat down beside him. “This is my partner, Mr Andy Zhou, he’s the president of the Zhou company. This is Alec Su, the best lawyer in HK,” grinning at Alec, who rolled his eyes at her before shaking Andy’s hand, exchanging pleasantries. “Oh, you must be Miss Naomi Chan,” Vicki smiled at her, “ I’ve seen you in magazines, but your real person is much prettier.” Naomi gave her a tight smile, and replied coldly, “Thank you, so do you.” She squeezed Alec’s arm, wanting him to pay attention to her, but to her consternation Alec shrugged her arm off as he turned back to Vicki, who was saying, “I can’t believe you’re so awake today! You had what, four hours of sleep? I felt so sleepy all day, and I didn’t have to get up for work like you do!” Alec grinned in reply. “Actually it was only two! I HAD to go and finish the ending of your novel, after I hung up on you…it was really good, but totally unrealistic, as usual…” he laughed as Vicki made a face at him. “You’re so mean, don’t criticise my novel!” “Oh? Can’t take the criticism, hmm?” “Yes I can, but I don’t HAVE to take it from you!” “Oh, but I’m your most loyal reader now…” They entered into another one of their standard arguments, a regular occurrence by now, but it stunned the people around them, Alec Su, the silent, cold lawyer, laughing and chatting with Vicki Zhao? Their dates were just sitting there watching them as they talked, totally unaware of the others…
Alec felt somewhat bored as he waltzed slowly with Naomi, whose fantastic figure was pressed tightly against him, her forehead positioned just right on his shoulder. Was it an art? He wondered idly, did these women get lessons on how close to dance to the guy they want to attract, how to rest their forehead just so…was it part of the model training, or did they learn this as they wandered through their long line of boyfriends and rich daddies? As he moved them around the floor, he suddenly spotted Vicki dancing with that guy, Andy. The sight of her, in her light blue dress with her innocent smile, as she danced somewhat stiffly in the arms of that lump of wood irritated him…As they approached the couple, suddenly Alec said, “Let’s change partners.” Without waiting for anyone’s reply he drops his arms around Naomi and takes hold of Vicki’s arm. She turned to him in surprise, then makes a ‘whatever’ face and lets go of Andy, who looks on, helpless, unable to do anything except to close his arms around the fuming Naomi.
Alec felt strangely satisfied as he wrapped his arms around Vicki’s waist, and her arms lightly encircled his neck, her eyes shining up at him. “I can’t believe you just did that!” she so wanted to laugh, but saw Naomi and Andy watching, and feeling a bit mean, but unable to stop herself, she could only hide her face in Alec’s shoulder as she giggled silently. Alec could feel her laughing in his arms, and her face ever so close to his neck…he felt an unfamiliar tingle rush through his body…how could two women feel so different in his arms? But this was Vicki…and Vicki…she…she just felt RIGHT here, in his arms…Vicki, who was feeling quite happy and comfortable, looked up to smile at Alec, to open her mouth to tease him…then caught his eyes. He was looking down at her with the most intense pair of eyes she’d ever seen, how come she’d never noticed how deep his eyes were, it was like they was reading, searching her soul…she suddenly felt her heart beat faster, and her face starting to burn. “Alec?” she whispered, confused, but he only kept holding her, his eyes capturing the image of her face as they danced, why did it seem like her eyes were so familiar? Like he’d seen them before, a long time ago…or maybe, had he known them forever? Vicki felt his eyes piercing her soul…yet she felt so safe, his eyes were so very familiar, like a dream in her past, or was she dreaming now? Did she want to wake up?
The music ended. Alec still had his arms around her, and Vicki could feel other people watching them and embarrassed, she blushed vividly, which only made him stare at her even more…had she always look this breath-taking? “Alec…the music…” Vicki whispered desperately, but Alec only tightened his arms. “It’ll start again,” he said casually, and as the next song came on, they continued to dance, Vicki totally confused by his strange behaviour, and her own unsettling emotions, could only lean her forehead against his shoulder, feeling so strange, so confused, yet…so safe…Alec, his own mind not thinking, ignoring all his own misgivings and doubts, could only dance and enjoy this strange wonderful feeling he had as he held Vicki in his arms…
He glared up at him. “So you’re the one, Alec Su, right? Well, she’s my girlfriend and I can put my hands anywhere I want!” “YOU…” Alec was at lost for words, his blood boiling in fury, ready to punch the slime’s face in when a sharp slap echoed in the silence of the hall. The man held the side of his face, staring at a standing tall, brimming with fury Vicki, her hand still in the air from the slap. Her eyes burned into his. “I told you eight years ago I never wanted to see you again for the rest of my life, and I meant it. Vincent Yip, get out of my sight, you disgust me.” Her head held high, she turned and walked out of the ball room. Alec looked at the man, this Vincent Yip, still in shock over being slapped by the gentle looking creature, then ran after the disappearing blue figure.
He looked around, feeling frantic and desperate, feelings he never thought he’d experience…where was she? Then suddenly saw this slender figure sitting on a bench in the backyard of the mansion, he sighed in relief, and walked over slowly. “Vicki?” She didn’t answer, only kept staring off into the darkness. He sat down beside her, silent, wanting to ask, but respecting her space. Suddenly, her shoulders began to shake, and Alec looked at her in surprise. Vicki…crying? Oh god! He felt something stab at his heart, and hesitantly, afraid of how she might react, he tentatively reached out and patted her hands. “Vicki, are you ok? Please don’t cry, I’m here…” She broke down into sobs, and startled him by flinging herself into his arms. She sobbed into his chest, her arms wrapped around his neck, and he, Alec Su, the womaniser, the ruthless lawyer…had absolutely no idea of what to do. Hesitantly he wrapped his arms lightly around her, rubbing her back, making soothing noises in her ear. “It’s alright Vicki, I’m here, it’s alright.” In his mind, his thoughts were in turbulence. God, Vicki Zhao, the sunshine girl, the bright and cheerful girl, the girl with the rose tinted glasses, the one with the eyes filled with life and joy, she was crying! She was weeping and he felt like the sky had fallen down…what had made her this way? Suddenly the cool and impassive Alec Su felt like there was a raging fire in his veins, how dare someone do this to her, this beautiful, bright and cheerful light? He wanted to rip the guy into pieces, he wanted to make her stop crying, he wanted to make her eyes shine again…
Gradually her sobs died, and Vicki was silent in his arms. Alec looked down at her, her face hidden on his shoulder, and wondered. How was he to know that she had felt so…so ashamed? So angry, all the hurt that she’d kept inside her for the last eight years had finally burst out, and now she felt so drained, so tired, she only wanted to stay here, in this warm, safe embrace forever. “Feeling better now?” She looked up, her eyelashes still glistening with tears, and nodded slightly. He let go of her, and reached into his pocket, giving her a tissue. She took it gratefully, and cleaned her face. She could feel Alec watching her, his eyes full of questions, but he remained silent. She felt a warm feeling for this wonderful man beside her, his silence only spoke even more eloquently. She finally managed to dredge up a smile out of somewhere for him, to tell him she was ok. Alec felt his heart pounce at the sight of her brave, wan little smile. But all he did was say casually, “Do you want to talk about it?” She looked at him, this secret, this pain that she’d kept locked up inside her all these years, could she…would she? But looking into Alec’s eyes, searchingly, she knew deep down that this was the person she could finally let it go to…to bleed it out, finally. She nodded, and standing up, she held out her hand. “Come take a walk with me? I think I want to sit down on the grass.” He looked up at her, seeing her pale resolute face, he knew that she was finally letting go of that shadow he’d seen in her eyes once in a while. He reached up, and took her hand, and together, they walked towards the grass…
“It was just after my nineteenth birthday, I was still in university, studying literature. I was always happy and cheerful, because nothing drastic had ever really happened to me since I became a part of Zhao family…I guess, it was because my parents and my brothers cared about me too much, they sheltered me from the world outside, though I didn’t know that then. I never thought of myself as special, or different in any way, which, I guess, was an open invitation for someone like Vincent Yip. I met him at this party at uni, he came up to me and asked me to dance…from that night onwards, he would always show up unexpectedly, talking to me, giving me flowers and little presents, asking me to the movies…I…I was flattered, of course, he was so tall and handsome, and funny, just like the type of boyfriend a girl would want…We started dating, officially, and I did like him a lot but it was like, he was always so…pushy, I don’t know, maybe it was because I was still really young, I didn’t like the way he kept rushing me to marry him, I wasn’t sure if I could see myself with him forever, while he kept trying to convince me that all I had to do was marry him, and that would be it!” She paused to take a deep breath, her face was so pale, but Alec didn’t say anything. He knew there was more to come. Her voice a bit shaky, she continued.
“Then…then I think he was getting desperate in trying to ‘hook’ me, I don’t know, maybe he was afraid of all his efforts going to waste!” she laughed bitterly. “I didn’t know about this, but he must have gotten a private detective to look into my past…because one day he came up to me and told me he’d been adopted by his family, twelve years ago, from the States. That he…he was…my friend, my one and only friend from my orphanage.” Alec did a double take, what?!? Vicki…she was adopted? She…wasn’t the Zhaos’ real daughter?!? And from the States…could it be…his mind reeling, he barely heard Vicki’s words. “That detective must have been really good, Vincent told me so much about my orphanage, about our supposed pet names, and…and I missed him so much…” her voice faded, as her mind dwelled on that vague image of a certain little boy. She continued, “I fell for it, I believed him, and that made me agree to marry him. We had everything planned, we were going to elope, because we were afraid my family might not agree, since Vincent wasn’t of high society…” She laughed again, but her voice was so cold, it made Alec look at her in shock. She was laughing at herself, at her stupidity. “No wonder he was afraid of my parents, he was afraid that he would lose this golden opportunity! The day before we were supposed to get on a plane to Paris, I stopped by his house to give him his air ticket, even though we’d agreed to not see each other the day before our ‘wedding’. I’d forgotten to call him first, but I had his key…” she couldn’t go on, the image she came upon flashed in her mind, taunting her, laughing at her.
Alec looked her pained eyes, her white little face, and, ignoring all his thoughts and misgivings, put his arm around her shoulder and gave her a small hug. She turned and looked up at him with unseeing eyes, as she struggled to let go of it, the memory. “He was talking to another woman, laughing about how easily I’d fallen for him, about how rich they would be soon, about how…how GUILLIBLE I was, how easy it was to pass himself off as…as…” Stark pain shone in her eyes as she remembered her naïve thoughts, her innocent belief in fate, in that her swallow had come back for her. “I was so shocked, I didn’t know what to do! I bursted into the room, wanting him to explain, to hear him tell me he was only joking, and I saw…I saw them together, in bed together…” she gave a shuddering sigh, and buried herself in Alec’s arms. He held her tightly, his heart aching for this gentle creature who’d been used so cruelly, who’d been introduced to the real world in such a horrific way. She whispered into his chest, wanting to finish it, to let it all go, “He’d planned it all along, to marry me and get rich, then run off with that woman…he tried to explain, but…but I wasn’t THAT stupid, and that woman, she was naked in his arms, just sitting there, smirking at me…how could I have been so stupid?!?” she exploded, yelling at herself. “I couldn’t believe how stupid I’d been! After that, I ran away, travelling alone, always alone. That’s why I was in Europe for so long, I needed to get away, to be in a place where no one knew who my family was, or how rich they were, where people would look at me and just see ME, Vicki, not Vicki Zhao, rich girl…” She tried to control herself, but she felt her eyes welling up. She could name the tears as they fell, sorrow, pain, loneliness, self pity…
Alec couldn’t speak, he was totally at lost for words. Never in his widest imagination had he ever thought that Vicki Zhao, the wonderful cheery, sunshine girl, could be so lonely inside. They weren’t that different, really, only…he’d known since he was eight that reality wasn’t like a fairytale, made of sugar houses and happy endings…he’d known this, but this…this poor, gentle, fragile princess, had discovered it the hard way….he felt fire in his veins as he imagined her shock, her despair at seeing the real world…if only he could turn back time, he would hold her, and shield her from the real world forever… “You know,” he said casually, “I suddenly feel the urge to twist that guy’s head until his neck twangs like a broken guitar string.” Vicki looked up at him in surprise, and laughed, she couldn’t help it, the picture he painted was so funny… seeing his warm, gentle eyes staring compassionately back down at her, she suddenly felt a lot better. Alec heard her laugh, and saw her eyes twinkling again, despite the tears that still threatened. “Do you still love him?” he asked shortly, not trusting himself to not say too much. She gazed steadily into his eyes and shook her head. “No.” Alec gave her a look, not knowing whether to believe it or not. Vicki saw this, and tried to explain. “I guess the only reason I reacted the way I just did was because, it still hurt a lot. Not because I loved him, but because…he almost killed my belief in the world, in love, and ever since then, I’ve never been able to fully trust others, to let people in and see the me inside…but now…” she took a deep breath, and let it out slowly. “Now I feel a lot better! I’ve so wanted to let it all out, because it was so lonely in there, but…I guess, I needed to learn to trust again, to trust someone enough to let them listen.”
Alec’s eyes softened, he knew what she’d meant. No wonder the first time they’d met, she’d turned to him and said that she knew how lonely he was inside…but he’d never believed life could be any different, while Vicki…how did she pick herself up again, and live…so spectacularly? How could she still be so…so happy, and warm? He suddenly felt a lot of respect for this brave, courageous girl. She smiled at him. “Thank you, Alec. Thank you for listening.” Her very simple words stabbed Alec right in his heart. He was so distraughted, he wanted to tell her, to thank her for letting him listen, for giving him feelings he never expected to have again…he opened his mouth to say something before his rationale, his common sense caught up with him. “Vicki, I…” “Oh look!” Startled, his head went up to where she was pointing. It was a shooting star. “Quick, make a wish!” she cried, excitedly, clasping her hands together and closed her eyes. Alec, watching her beautiful, innocent face, looking like a mysterious princess, like a…an angel. He looked up at the disappearing star. I…I wish…oh I wish I was good enough for her…
“Don’t leave me alone Swallow!” the little girl sobbed, her tiny face was red and splotchy from crying. She clutched at his sleeve, not wanting to let him go. The little boy took out his handkerchief and made a clumsy attempt to wipe her tears. “Don’t cry Princess, I’ll come back for you.” He tried to put on a brave face, because he was a boy, and boys don’t cry, but he could feel his eyes feeling unnaturally hot. “Do you promise?” asked the little girl in a tiny voice. He reached over and pinched her little noise softly. “Of course, you promised to marry me, remember? See, ‘Melly’s our witess…witness,” he corrected himself proudly, he had to talk proper now he was getting new parents. He held out the little doll, and the girl took it happily. “Ok, I will wait for you to come back.” “Now stop crying, you look like a drowned kitten!” he teased, and they both laughed, their childish giggles echoing in the room…
Alec stirred in his sleep, the lingering echoes of children’s laughter and a pair of big round eyes haunting him…He sat up in bed, his heart beating, his thoughts still not awake as he heard again, from his past, a little girl’s voice, “You promised, Swallow, you promised!” His face pale, he stared with rounded eyes in the direction of his window, towards Vicki’s apartment…
Vicki mumbled in her sleep, trying to ignore the noise in the background, wanting to go back to the dream she was having…she was running after a car, and HE was waving back at her…She sat up with an exasperated sigh as the doorbell keep ringing and ringing. “OK, OK!!!” she muttered, struggling to get up, and pull her robe on, the dream already receding back into the dark corners of her mind. With a lingering strange memory of childish laughter, she walked barefoot to the front door. “Who is it?” she called, looking at the clock. It was 10am already! “Delivery miss!” Huh? She thought, delivery? When did I order anything? She put the latch on before opening the door to see a dozen of champagne roses and a delivery man grinning cheerfully at her. “Good morning, is there a Miss Vicki Zhao?” “Um, yes, I am.” She opened the door and signed off her name, before giving the man a tip. Closing the door, she walked slowly back to her bedroom and put everything down on her bed. Roses? Who knew she liked champagne roses? For a moment she wondered if it was Vincent, then shuddered. She picked up the card, and the box that had come with it. Slowly, she opened the card. “I’m sorry I once asked you to take off your rose tinted glasses, but I hope that one day you can take them off and discover once again the world is a rose colour anyway…but no matter what, I will always be here to listen to your story. Your friend, always, Alec.” Vicki stared at the card, her eyes filling with tears again, but this time, they were happy tears. Slowly she opened the box, and then…she couldn’t help it, she sobbed in happiness. It was the crystal swallow…..he’d remembered…did he know how much this meant to her?
Last night, as they walked to get Alec’s car, after they’d both forgotten their dates, forgotten there was anybody else in the world, she’d stopped by a window and stared at the crystal figurines. “What are you looking at?” he’d asked curiously. “Look at the crystal bird! It’s so beautiful…” He looked at her in amusement, she was always surprising him, not too long ago she was sobbing her heart out and now she was jumping up and down over a figurine…. “What IS it with you and birds?” he asked amused, remembering all the bird figurines and pictures she had at her house. Vicki had turned to him, her big round eyes full of emotions. “They…they remind me of someone, my one and only friend from the orphanage…he was always jumping around, climbing trees and falling down them like a bird, we always called him Swallow…” her eyes stared off into the distance as she smiled at the vague image of that little boy. She didn’t notice the way Alec’s blood drain from his face, as he stared in stunned shock at her….
Vicki cupped the crystal swallow in her hands gently, thinking of Swallow, of how much she had longed for him to come back for her, he’d promised, but he never came back….maybe he did, she scolded herself, maybe he DID keep his promise! You were adopted a month later, remember? Maybe when he came, you weren’t there anymore…no one kept their orphanage names once they were adopted, they were given new names, new identities to go with their new family…but she always remembered the boy from her childhood. That was why she’d been so hurt by Vincent, not so much that he’d cheated on her with another woman, but…but by the way he’d taken the one thing that was most precious to her, her dream of Swallow, and turned it into something…something bad. Because the Princess has never stopped waiting for her Swallow to come back…but now, as she weighed her old memories of a boy she’d not seen for nearly twenty years, to a fresher, more vivid face, the warm, laughing face of a man who’d almost forgotten how to laugh….she felt happy, but so very confused….
Alec stared at his computer screen, his eyes unseeing. In his mind he could only see a little girl with pigtails running after him as he was driven off, her face red and splotchy from crying, and her voice, “Swallow, you promised!” Swallow’s little Princess, HIS princess…his best friend, his…cheery, sunshine girl…Vicki’s laughing face with her round sparkly eyes flashed in his mind. They…they were the same? Vicki, the amazing, joyful, innocent, effervescent angel in his life now…was the Princess? But he…was he still Swallow? After all these years, after all he’s lived through, all he’s done, WAS he still the boy from the orphanage? WAS he still good enough for this precious, special princess?
June was bemused, and very much astonished. In all the years of working for Mr Su, he’d always given his credit cards to his female companions to get whatever they want, he’d never, ever bought anyone anything…this morning, she’d been told to order a dozen of champagne roses and a crystal swallow from Tse Su Lung jewellery shop, and send them with this card he’d handed her…she so wanted to see what it wrote! But her professional etiquette had held, and she’d done everything as she had to. Now, she was even more surprised, as Alec said over the intercom, “June, patch me a line to an operator in California, in the United States. I need to make a call.” Her eyes wide, having absolutely no idea what her boss was up to, she did as she was told…
Suddenly someone grabbed her arm and swung her around. “Vicki!” Shocked, she could only stare befuddled at the person holding her arm. It was Vincent! Her smile disappeared, and her face suddenly felt really hot. “What are you doing?!? Get your hands off me!” “Vicki, I need to talk to you.” He tried to look sad and pathetic, but that only made Vicki more angry as she could see right through his act. “We have NOTHING to talk about.” “But…Vicki, I’ve missed you so much, all this time…” he stepped closer to her, his other arm going around her waist. He was standing so close to her she couldn’t breathe. Confused, she closed her eyes, trying to think… “Vicki, I love you…” She looked up into his eyes, and saw…what she saw gave her enough strength to laugh, enough anger to push him away violently. “Really Vincent,” she said in a scornful tone, “You really ought to take some more acting classes, I’m not that naïve anymore! And that was some really lousy acting!” She looked at him openly, she suddenly felt really happy, because she no longer felt any sorrow, any pain at the sight of this man, she only felt pure disgust.
He saw her expression, and knew it wouldn’t work anymore. He dropped the act. “Fine then, I was going to give you some happy dreams first, but since you’re so pointed, then let’s get down to business, shall we?” Vicki rolled her eyes at him. “WE” she emphasised the word, “Does not exist. Therefore there IS no business to discuss.” She turned on her heel and tried to walk away, but Vincent quickly walked up and stood in front of her, sneering at her. “Oh, that’s where you’re wrong, girlie,” he said in a dangerous tone as he grabbed her arm in a grip of steel. Vicki tried frantically to free her arm, but he was too strong. “What do you want?!?” she cried, tears starting to well up in her eyes. Vincent leaned towards her, and said in a steely voice, “Compensation, honey, I want money! I’ve been waiting eight years to find you and get what I earned, and I deserve it! After all your family did to me, I deserve every penny of it!” She stared at him incredulously. “What are you talking about?!?” He glared at her, “After all your family did to ruin my reputation, which costed me my job, you should pay me some compensation!” Vicki’s mind reeled, her family, they had known? What did they do? But whatever it was, he deserved it! “WHAT REPUTATION?!?” She glared furiously up at him. “Whatever they said it would have been true! You did it all yourself!” She laughed scornfully at him. “If you’re waiting for money from us, don’t hold your breath!” She laughed up at him, her eyes for the moment, fearless and full of fire. His eyes flared, and he raised his arm as if to hit her…
Vicki shrank back in dreaded anticipation when suddenly someone grabbed Vincent’s wrist and wrenched it off her arm. It was Alec, his face like thunder as he smoothly raised his other arm and punched Vincent right in the face. Vincent staggered back, clutching his nose that was bleeding furiously. He looked up at Alec, and roaring with rage, ran towards him…Alec just stood there calmly. “Alec…” Vicki cried in warning, but it was not needed, at the last moment Alec’s fist came up and slammed into Vincent’s stomach. He doubled up with pain, crouching on the pavement, groaning. “If you come near Vicki again,” Alec said quietly, in a steely tone, “I’ll kill you. I mean it.” He turned away and looked at Vicki, who was staring in shock at him. His eyes lost their bleakness as he asked her gently, “Vicki, are you ok?” She nodded, unable to speak. He reached out took her hand, and led her away….
As they were driving along in Alec’s car in silence, Vicki finally plucked up the courage to ask, “Alec, what were you doing here?” She was still in shock from seeing this side of Alec, it was like she’d never seen him before. “I was coming to talk to you,” he said simply. She stared at him, his expressionless face, and wondered. What WAS he doing there, should he be at work? And then, there was the presents…Opps, she thought, she’d totally forgotten… “Thank you for the flowers and the crystal!” she said hurriedly, giving him a smile. “I didn’t think Alec Su BOUGHT presents for anyone!” He glanced at her smiling face. “But you’re not just anyone.” Vicki fidgeted uncomfortably at his serious tone. “Um, where are we going now?” She asked curiously. Alec shrugged. “I just wanted to get away from that piece of work back there, where DO you want to go?” Vicki fell silent, reminded of Vincent, and what he’d said. Alec looked over at her sombre expression and suddenly felt uneasy. “Vicki? What’s wrong? What else did that bastard do to you?” Vicki felt her heart beat faster at his worried tone. “Nothing!” she said hurriedly. “Only…” “What?” Alec demanded sharply. “Can we go to my parent’s house? I need to ask them something.” Alec looked at her thoughtfully, then nodded. He headed the car towards the Zhao mansion…
“Hello, this is Sister Rose speaking,” an old lady’s voice that sounded so familiar to Alec, even after all these years. He paused, in his mind he saw a scene from almost twenty years ago, when he had made this call too…
Flashback
“Sister Rose, it’s me, Swallow…um, I mean, Alec Su. How are you sister?”
his boyish voice whispered down the phone line, he was in his new father’s
study with the lights off…he wasn’t supposed to be here. “Why hello Alec,
we’re all fine here, and how are you finding your new family?” The boy
didn’t know what to say, he’d never had a family, so how would he know what
a family should be like? “Um, Sister Rose, may I please speak to Princess? I
promised I would call her,” his mind only on his little friend, was she still
sad, was she being bullied by the other kids? He was surprised by Sister
Rose’s happy voice, “Oh, Princess isn’t here anymore, she was adopted and
her new family came and took her away just this morning…” He froze, unable
to believe it…she’d gotten her family too! “That’s great! Can you tell
me where I can call her then? Where did they go?” Happy for his friend, he was
totally unprepared for the sister’s stern voice, “I can’t tell you that,
Alec, you know when children get adopted their information is private.” He
couldn’t move, couldn’t speak…what? She…she won’t tell…how was he to
know where Princess was? “But sister,” he began urgently, “I promised
Princess…” “Alec, Princess doesn’t exist anymore, she’s a new person,
with a new identity, in a new world, as should you be. Now be a good boy, and
listen to your parents.” She hung up, leaving a dial tone to sound unheard in
the little boy’s ear…he stood there silently, his eyes wide, as her voice
echoed in his head…princess is gone…she doesn’t exist anymore…no….
“Hello?!?” the old woman’s voice sounding quite irritated, woke Alec out of his dreaming… “Sorry, Sister Rose, this is Alec Su, I used to live here, twenty years ago,” he said crisply. Her tone was of pure delight. “Yes, yes, I remember, Swallow, right? My goodness, you sound all grown up now…” “Sister,” Alec interrupted her, “I need to ask you something.” There was a slight pause, before she spoke slowly, “Alec, if it’s about who adopted your friend…” “Yes!” he said, “I don’t need you to tell me where she went or who took her, I just need a yes or no answer…PLEASE sister, after all these years, surely it doesn’t matter anymore!” The silence stretched out for a long while, before she sighed. He took that for an agreement. Alec took a deep breath, his heart in his mouth, “Sister, is Vicki Zhao Wei my Princess?” His heart pounced frantically as he waited for her answer… “Yes,” she sighed so softly that Alec was afraid he’d heard wrong. “Yes, though I have no idea how you found out, and I don’t want to know. But Alec, after all these years, surely…” Alec didn’t hear anything else, he had this most incredulous grin on his face, his mind was already too full of shock, joy and elation. He hung up on the Sister after a barely coherent goodbye, grabbed his coat, and headed for Vicki’s house….
Imagining telling Vicki was very different from actually TELLING it to her face…he arrived to see her struggling with that Vincent Yip. His blood had boiled, how dare that man come and try to hurt his princess, his sunshine girl again? Running up to them, he’d seen Vincent try to hit Vicki…he saw red. He lost complete control at the thought of the bastard even touching his girl…so he’d punched him right in the face. Afterwards, he saw Vicki’s pale little face staring at him, he felt uneasy, his mind was in turmoil. She was so innocent, so pure, now she’d seen his other side, finally, the side that he presented to everybody in the world except her…how was she going to react? Would she be…afraid of him? No, he scorned his own fears, she knows me too well…doesn’t she? But she’d just been hurt by a guy who pretended to be swallow, would she believe me if I told her? What if…what if she doesn’t? Would she be angry? What if she didn’t feel that way about him NOW, Alec Su, not just Swallow anymore? Would he lose even this precious friendship, this special thing they had between them? His self confidence failed him, now he only drove to her parents’ house, silently debating with himself when and if, he should tell her the truth…and whether…and this was his most important dilemma, whether his heart was still untainted enough for this girl beside him.
Vicki felt uneasy, she’d seen Alec serious before, how could she not have? He was so often such a quiet and silent person…but she’d never felt edgy, never felt this strange flutter in her heart when he looked at her, never ran out of things to say…what was he thinking about? She wondered at his strange behaviour, and her own too. What’s different between them? She couldn’t answer that question, she felt slightly frightened by the change, yet, a bit excited too. So with her heart and mind in a state of utter confusion, she also sat in silence, as the car carried them to her family’s home, where she could finally lay some old ghosts to rest…
“Dad, what did you do to Vincent Yip?” Vicki asked in a calm, quiet tone. Frank Zhao looked at his daughter in surprise, in all the twenty years since she joined their big family, he’d never seen her so serious. He would never forgive the man who made his little princess stop being her cheery self. “How did you know about it?” he asked just as calmly, sitting down on his sofa. He patted the seat beside him, and she sat down, and leaned against him, enjoying the feeling of safety and protection she felt on her father’s shoulder. “He attacked me this morning on the street, trying to make me fall in love with him again. I laughed in his face. Then he demanded I pay him compensation for what my family, what you did to him…what DID you do?” “He…he came to demand WHAT?!? He came and bothered you again this morning?!? How dare he? Someone has to teach that guy a lesson…” he was furious, that man had DARED to try and hurt his little girl again, why he’ll…Vicki put her hand on his shoulder. “Daddy, it’s ok, someone did already.” He looked at her questioningly, and Vicki gave him an impish smile. “He tried to hit me, and Alec came just in time and well, it wasn’t pretty, but I think he’s learnt his lesson.” “Alec?” Frank gave his daughter a look, thinking, that young man wasn’t so bad, and… “So he talked you into feeling better last night before he took you home?” Vicki nodded, her mind still preoccupied with what Vincent had said to notice her father’s speculative look. Hmm, Alec Su, there are rumours, but Kent DOES vouch for him… “Dad!” He looked up, startled. “What did you do to him?” “Why do you want to know, honey? Don’t tell me you still care about him?” he looked at his daughter in consternation, but relaxed as she laughed lightly. Vicki shook her head. “No, I felt I’d let go of everything last night. It’s just that, I want to know, so I can finally lay all the ghosts to rest, that’s all.” She looked at her father, her eyes reassuring him.
Frank Zhao sighed, then said, “I’d heard about you dating so I’d hired a private investigator to look into Vincent Yip,” he began, then shook his head as Vicki started to protest. “Vicki, it’s just a parental thing, OK? Anyway, I discovered what he was trying to do, and when he cheated on you, and you ran away off to Europe, he came back to Hong Kong to continue his plans on hooking a rich girl. All I did was tell all my friends, and had your mum and brothers to tell THEIR friends what he was really like, that’s all. Everyone avoided him, none of the bigger companies hired him, but it’s not MY fault that companies want employees with a good reputation, is it?” he asked his daughter innocently, she only shook her head at him, then smiled. “Oh, daddy, how could you? But then, he deserved it!” “Yes, he most certainly did! He made my little princess go wandering alone in the world by herself for nearly eight years, afraid to go out with anyone seriously, afraid to let people in! But I’m so glad you’ve put it all behind now, you have, haven’t you, love?” Vicki only smiled, then hugged her dad, feeling happy to have a dad who cared so much about her. “Yes, it’s all over now, finally!” Frank Zhao only hugged his daughter back, then, in a mischievous tone, “So, it’s Alec Su, hmm?” Vicki pulled away in surprise, then seeing the teasing yet serious look in her dad’s eyes, she couldn’t help but blush slightly. Frank’s smile widened. Yes, his little princess was finally healed…
Vicki walked back down the stairs, her mind still on what her dad had said, and the way she’d reacted. No, she couldn’t be…could she? In love with Alec Su? The womaniser, the ruthless lawyer…the lonely boy who lost his belief in fairytales, the true friend, the one who listens to her story? She’d never really experienced love before, she wasn’t even sure anymore if she’d ever loved Vincent, if she had been in love with him, or in love with the dream of finding her swallow? Was this…was this fluttery feeling in her heart, this restlessness of her mind…love? She couldn’t help but laugh quietly at herself. God, the romance author doesn’t even know what love is! “Vicki Zhao, you are the utter limit!” she scolded herself, then froze when she heard a voice asking lightly, “Why are you talking to yourself?” She turned around and saw it was Alec, waiting for her like he said he would. She felt her heart beat faster as his eyes watched her intensely. “Um, I…um…” she didn’t know what to say, what the heck was wrong with her today? At lost for words? With ALEC?!? He came forward abruptly, his mind made up, “Vicki, can we go outside? I need to talk to you.” Without waiting for her reply, he leads her outside.
They sat down on these boulders in the middle of the landscaped garden. “What did you want to talk about?” she asked rather nervously, strangely not at ease with his closeness, considering how close they’d been yesterday. Alec stared down at her, at her blushing face, her nervousness, and knew, deep inside, she DID care. It made him wanted to turn cartwheels, to run and jump and scream, made him want to hug her and…no, he thought, calm down, you need to do this. He squeezed her hand. “Yesterday, you told me your story. Can you listen to mine now? I think, I want to lay some old ghosts to rest too.” Vicki looked up at him in surprise, HE wanted her to hear HIS story? The story he’d kept from the world? Her eyes gave him his answer, and as he held her hand, he felt safe enough, brave enough, finally, to let go of all the things he’d kept inside…
FLASHBACK
“You street rat! You little brat! How dare you break my perfume bottle! Do you
KNOW how much that costed?!? DO YOU?!?” a woman screeched as she hit his arms
and legs with a feather duster, him crying, shrinking away from the blows from
the woman he’d thought was supposed to love him…his new mum. Mrs Su’s eyes
were filled with fury, the boy had been a thorn in her side since he’d
arrived, he was her husband’s forever reproach, her forever shame, that she
could not bear him a child. Her mind filled with hate she lifted the feather
duster and swung down again and again…he yelled with pain, and as he saw her
eyes filled with hate glaring down at him, he realised how very unreal his
dreams were…
“Father, I…” he couldn’t speak, his whole body was hurting, his young heart was in shock, his eyes started to fill with tears… “Don’t cry Alec, men do not cry.” His father’s sharp reproach brought him up short. He stared at his father’s stern face, which showed no sympathy whatsoever. “You are here to be my son, which means you will be the best in everything, you do not have the right to do anything wrong. You will not cry, nor feel sorry for yourself, because you are Alec Su, my son, and I do not want to have a sissy for a son, do you understand?” His cold tone dried up Swallow’s tears. He could look at his new father without saying a word, only his eyes showed how much turmoil his young mind was in. “I’m sorry to have disturbed you, father,” he replied perfunctorily, and turned to walk out of the study. “And another thing, Alec. You are Alec Su now, Swallow is dead, I do not want to find out that you sneaked into my study and used the phone to call your guttersnipe friends anymore, or I will personally whip the skin off your back. Do you understand?” Alec took a deep breath, turning back, with his young chin held up high and eyes with a cold glint that resembled Mr Su’s eyes, “Yes, I understand perfectly, Father.” He walked out of the room and closed the door, shutting out his young dreams and beliefs, his childhood innocence, because the Swallow could not survive here. But Alec Su can…the cold and ruthless Alec Su, the sceptical, impeccable Alec Su, the emotionless shell inside which still hid that sad, lonely little boy who only wanted to be loved…
Vicki’s eyes were wide with horror and sympathy as she listened to Alec tell her of his parents, of how they’d treated him, of how the poor little boy had learnt, at eight years old, that love was a weakness and that the world was a sad place where money and power were the most important things…Oh Alec, she thought, her heart aching for the lost, lonely little boy he’d been, no wonder you don’t believe in rose tinted glasses…Alec, his voice impersonal even though his eyes were filled with the old familiar pain, continued. “ I came to scorn love, and the idea of family, and real friends…there were only people who didn’t have enough power to hurt me, and those that did, who I had to attack, before they hurt me first…I never knew what a family was supposed to be like, what it should be…” he faded off, staring into Vicki’s pained eyes, pain for him. “That is, until I met you.” Vicki started, then flushed slightly. “Me?” Alec smiled gently at her. “Yes, you, you and your wonderful family had me so puzzled and confused, then…just envious. It was you who showed me what love and friendship was meant to be, how very precious they were. Vicki, I want to thank you, if it wasn’t for you….” He struggled for words to describe what he his heart desperately wanted to say. “I…I would still be up there at the top, wondering why the people below me struggle so hard, now I know, it’s because they struggle for those they love, their families and friends…I always used to watch the people from my office, wondering why they tried so hard to climb up the ladder and I pitied them. I pitied their struggles, their ignorance, I pitied them because they didn’t they know how lonely the view is from the top.” His voice faded, he couldn’t speak anymore.
Vicki’s heart had reached out to him when she’d heard his loneliness, his need for warmth, his need for love screaming in the unspoken words. She ached to comfort him, to make him smile and let go of the pain. “Oh Alec,” she sighed, reaching over and holding his hands gently, her eyes smiling at him. “I’m so sorry, I never knew how much pain you had inside, I wish…” She paused as Alec looked straight into her eyes, her heart started beating frantically, her mind unable to process any coherent thoughts anymore. Alec stared into her bright, warm eyes filled with unshed tears for him, and he felt like the whole world had come to a halt. Slowly, he leaned forward, her mysterious eyes drawing him towards her…Vicki felt time stood still, she could feel his breath on her face, she closed her eyes as she leaned forward…
Alec enjoyed being with Vicki’s family, he felt like he was part of them, that there was no need to hide behind his mask of cold impassiveness…or was that because his princess was sitting beside him? He realised she still had not guessed he was Swallow…he hadn’t told her yet as he wanted to make sure she would care for the Alec Su that he was now, not just the Swallow from the past…who, he had to admit sometimes HE himself wondered, had somehow survived the world till now, locked up inside…Now he desperately wanted to talk to Vicki, to her the truth, to see her eyes light up with joy when she realised her swallow HAD come back.
Finally, tea was over, and they were about to run off to her bedroom to continue, he hoped, where they left off! Holding Vicki’s hand, they were about to walk into her room, into that dreamland from which Alec never wanted to wake up from when suddenly, his mobile rang. He frowned, not wanting to pick it up, but Vicki shook her head, indicating she’ll wait for him to answer his call.“Hello?” Alec’s voice, sounding irritated. “Mr Su? It’s Mr Tai, he wants to talk to you about tomorrow’s court case.” Alec frowned, his old teacher? What was he doing here in HK, and in his office? “Put him on,” he said, but June replied, “Um, Mr Tai said he would like you to come in and have a discussion with you.” Ah heck! “Oh, alright!” Alec sounded really irritated, “I’ll be there in half an hour.” He switched off his mobile, and looked at Vicki with a apologetic grin. “It’s my old teacher, he’s just come back from England and wants to see me right away. He’s always like that, gets his way all the time….I’m sorry Vicki.” Vicki only smiled at him. “Don’t be silly, of course you have to go! I’ll walk you out.”
At the door, Alec turns back to Vicki. “I’m really sorry Vicki! There was something I still had to tell you and…” She covered his lips with her hand, smiling at him. “Don’t be silly, you can tell me later.” His heart was beating rapidly at the feel of her hand against his lips. “I’ll come back later…”his lips moving against her hand, but she shook her head. “No, you’ve got that important hearing tomorrow, and you need to be ready. I’ll still be here tomorrow, you know,” she teased him, and he smiled. “Alright then, I’ll see you tomorrow?” She nodded, and opened the door for him. Alec stepped out, then suddenly turned back, and kissed her lips softly. “Bye, my love.” He hurried off before she could react. Vicki could only stare after him in stunned silence, then her hand reached up and touched her lips, smiling dreamily. “Bye, Alec.”
Vicki wandered back into the living room, the dreamy smile still on her face when she was bombarded by questions from her family about her and Alec. Blushing, embarrassed and totally lost for words, she ran up and hid in her room, her confused mind still on Alec and his story. It explained so much about him, about why he was so…cold…yet he wasn’t, she thought, remembering the first time she’d met him, and how he’d laughed and smiled at her. His eyes, sparkling with humour…suddenly she had a feeling of déjà vu, like she’d seen those eyes before, before she’d met him…how could it be? Her mind was still grappling with the fact that Alec’s past was so much like hers, he’d been adopted too, and from an orphanage…the blood drained out of her face and she sat down on her bed with a thud. No…could it be?!? Maybe she was just thinking too much, dreaming too much, but…a picture from her distant past flashed in her mind, and she compared it with the fresh image of Alec…could it be? Alec….was Swallow? Don’t be an idiot Vicki! She scolded herself, as if you didn’t make enough of a fool out of yourself with Vincent Yip….but then, Alec would NEVER lie to me like that…his story hurt him so much, it MUST have been true. And he’d said there was something else he wanted to tell her…so…WAS he Swallow? Has her Swallow finally come back for her? She was suddenly frustrated that he’d left, that she’d had to wait till tomorrow…then her eyes brightened as she remembered her father, and his habit of snooping into her relationships. Maybe…maybe he’s got a file on Alec already! Ignoring how much she’d hated the idea of her father investigating the people around her, she ran to his study, her mind only intent on finding out, for sure, who Alec was….
“Dad!” Vicki cried exasperated, “Stop playing with me! Tell me, you DID get private investigators to look into Alec’s past, right?” “But Vicki,” he protested mildly, “ I thought you didn’t approve of me doing that…” “DAD!” Mr Zhao grinned at Vicki’s tone. “Oh, alright, here you are.” He reached inside his cabinet and gave her a manila folder. Vicki stared at it in his hand, true, she DID hate it when you start to investigate people, it was like barging into their lives, but…she opened the file, and looked at it…she sat down heavily into the chair, her face all white. “Honey?” Her dad asked, concerned, but Vicki didn’t reply, her mind was still trying to come to grips with what her eyes were reading…
[Alec Su Yu Peng, found on the steps of St Bernard’s Home for Children at approximately age of one, given the name Swallow, was adopted by Steven and Mary Su when he was eight years old. Entered to St Paul’s Private Boarding School in 1981….]
Vicki couldn’t read the rest, all she saw was the word Swallow…it echoed in her mind, along with a picture of a little boy smiling at her, telling he she looked like a drowned kitten… “Vicki, are you ok?” Finally she looked up, her eyes pleading, she wanted so much to believe, but after last time, she didn’t know if she could… “Dad, are you SURE this is accurate? Are you really REALLY sure?” Frank Zhao saw his daughter’s fear of finding then losing her Swallow again, his eyes softened, and he reached down and took her hand. “Vicki, I rang up Sister Rose just to check this…yes, Alec IS Swallow, she even told me he rang her up again a few days ago asking the same question about you!” Vicki was shocked, he…he already KNEW? Then why hadn’t he told her, why didn’t…her eyes widened as she realised what Alec had been doing. He…he wanted to make sure I…I cared about him as the Alec Su now, and not because he was Swallow, she thought, her heart crying for him, for the strong, cold and ruthless lawyer…inside who hid a vulnerable, lonely boy named Swallow…oh Alec… “You know Vicki,” her father said casually, to wake her from her daze, “I really like this Alec Su, so when do I get to get another son?” Her head shot up at her dad’s words, then seeing his grin, she flushed…
Oh Alec, Vicki thought, were you going to tell me that
yesterday? You told me your story so I would understand who you’ve become,
because you were afraid I wouldn’t love you for who you are now, but…I…I
love you. There, she’d admitted it to herself finally, she’d fallen in love
with her best friend. With Alec Su, the womaniser, the ruthless lawyer, the
cold, quiet young man, who was so warm underneath. Can’t you understand? She
thought, seeing Alec’s face in her mind, you’re still Swallow, inside, where
it counts…and I love you, for all you are…She desperately wanted to see him
now, to hear him tell her he’d remembered his promise, to…see him smile at
her with those eyes of his…get a grip Vicki! She scolded herself as she
realised she’d been standing there staring into the tea leaves tin for ages.
You’ve got Alec Su in the brain! At that, she suddenly frowned. As a matter of
fact, shouldn’t he have rang her by now? She’d not seen or talked to him
since last night, his bedroom light across the street had been dark when she
finally gave up waiting for his call last night. She’d thought he must have
had to take his teacher to night entertainment, and he had that court hearing
this morning…she looked at her watch. It was 3pm already, time moves so fast
when you’re dreaming, she thought. His hearing should have been over at 12pm.
So where is he? Unless, did something go wrong? Suddenly she had this strange,
uneasy feeling. Oh no, she thought, please, nothing’s happened to him, has it?
Forgetting her tea, she picked up her phone and called his mobile. “The mobile
you have called is switched off or unavailable…” She swore
uncharacteristically at the pre-recorded voice. She called his office.
“Hello?” A female voice answered. “Hi, is Mr Su in?” “Oh I’m sorry, he’s not in, he had a court case this morning.” Vicki sighed, then said, “Alright, put me through to Mr Zhao please.” June frowned, who was this lady to sound so demanding? “May I ask who’s calling?” “It’s his sister, Vicki Zhao.” June’s eyes widened, “Oh, I’m sorry Miss Zhao, please hold,” pressing the buttons. As she put down the phone, she wondered at Vicki’s calm tone. Could it be she didn’t know yet? June wondered. “Oh dear,” she muttered quietly to herself, then picked up the phone again as it rang, and went back to her task of telling the reporters that Alec Su was not in, and no, they would not give any comments…
“Vicki?” Her brother’s voice sounding startled. “Yeah, hi Kent. Hey, do you know where Alec is?” She tried to sound casual, thinking it was probably herself overreacting. But the silence that followed her question made her catch her breath. “I…I was hoping you knew,” Kent replied heavily. Vicki felt all the blood drained from her face as she heard his tone. “What…what do you mean?” she whispered, trying to speak, her heart was in her mouth. “What’s happened?” She held her breath, waiting for Kent’s reply. He sighed, “You mean, you haven’t seen the news today?” “NO I haven’t! What’s happened to Alec, stop scaring me Kent!” she cried frantically at her brother, her hands gripping the phone tightly, her mind playing all sorts of horror images at her. “Just turn the tv on.” As if she was in a dream, she picked up the remote and pressed the button…
“This morning, the court hearing concerning the divorce of the famous Lo couple ended in tragedy as Mrs Lo refused to give up her son, and was accidentally dragged by her husband’s car 30 m before it finally stopped. Alec Su, the high profile lawyer in charge of defending Mr Lo, and responsible for the ruling in favour of Mr Lo by providing pictures to prove Mrs Lo was having an affair, was at the scene of the accident…” Vicki’s face when pale white when the camera panned out and filmed Alec, who was sitting next to Mrs Lo’s unconscious body, while everyone was screaming for an ambulance. His face was a horrible colour as he stared at the blood on his hands, and as the camera closed up on his face, she could see the crazed horror in his eyes….
“Vicki? VICKI!” Kent’s voice shouted worriedly down the phone line, Vicki made herself wake up, to think…she shook her head. “Kent, when was this?” “Three hours ago, no one’s managed to find out where he went, his mobile’s off, no one’s picking up at his flat, I was hoping he was with you…” Vicki forced herself to concentrate, to ignore the frantic way her heart was beating. “No he isn’t, I’m going out to look for him, can you get the rest of the gang to help me too?” “Of course,” Kent replied hurriedly, “I was about to do that! I’m really worried about him Vicki, in all the years I’ve known him, I’ve NEVER seen Alec Su react like this…” Stop it Kent, she thought silently, I don’t need this, I can’t be frantic with worry, I need to think, yes, think, where would he go? What will he do? And...will he ever be able to forgive himself? What should she do? She hung up on her brother, grabbed her keys and ran off. All along, she was praying, praying to all the powers that be, that her Alec would be alright…
Vicki was by this time, frantic. They’d spent the last six hours looking for Alec, but no one had found him. Her family had made her go home and wait for him to call her, that there was nothing left she could do, and told her not to worry, since Alec was normally so strong and he WAS a lawyer who had seen the world…but they don’t know him, she thought, feeling her hysteria rise again. He’s not that strong inside, what if he blames himself, what if he feels responsible when it’s not really his fault, what if…she shook herself awake as the car behind her beeped her loudly. Getting yourself killed on the road is NOT going to help Vicki, she thought, as she put the petrol on. Not knowing what to do anymore, she headed for home, praying he’d gone home too…
Alec had walked aimlessly out of the church into the rain, his soul had not made peace with God, instead his mind and heart was still in turmoil…he’d done so many cases in the past, some good, some…well, as a lawyer, no one questions the whether or not the client is telling the truth…that was for the jury to do….but he’d known all along that to survive he should keep work and emotions separated. He’d always had, until now…where was the ruthless lawyer now? Where had that cold, impassionate man gone? Suddenly he looked up, and realised in his musing his feet had taken him home, he was standing in front of Vicki’s building…staring up at her dark window….Vicki….Princess…silently, he collapsed against a lamp post, and slid down to sit on the ground…I can’t…I can’t face her…my precious princess…what have I done? Oh, what have I done?!? He covered his face with his hands, trying desperately to wipe out the horror and guilt inside him, the vision of the blood covered body that he’d helped to bring about…
Vicki had parked her car, and was about to go upstairs when some strange feeling made her take out her umbrella and walk out of the gates…there was a man sitting there in the rain, huddled up underneath the lamppost. Her heart missed a beat…Alec? Vicki felt a rush of pain and sorrow as she watched him, sitting there so lost and alone, holding in all the pain and guilt…oh Alec, her heart cried. Slowly she walked towards him, and standing above him, sheltering him with her umbrella, she didn’t know what to say, there wasn’t anything she could say. She only placed her hand on his shoulder, silently, showing her presence, her willingness to share his burden of sorrow.
Vicki? Alec looked up to see it was her, his princess, her eyes glimmering with the sorrow that he felt in his heart. Oh princess, don’t…don’t look at me like that, I don’t deserve this, I can’t…I can’t…what have I done? What have I done?!? And you, you’re still here…still with me… he felt his eyes heating up, himself gasping for breath as a swell of hysteria rose…suddenly he threw his arms around Vicki’s waist, buried his face against her and started to shake uncontrollably. “Alec!” Vicki’s heart bleed to see him like this, to feel him shuddering against her, she dropped the umbrella as she tried to hug him, comfort him. “Vicki…princess…” She was pierced to the bone by every one of his muffled cries because his face was buried against her ribcage, she could feel his muffled howls, his crying, his tears for the innocence he’d thought had he’d lost twenty years ago…she could only hold him, her own eyes glimmering with unshed tears for this man who’d finally remembered how to cry. As Alec finally let out all the guilt and pain he’d stored inside all these years, he could hear her murmuring in his ear, “I’m here, Alec, I’m here. I always will be, my Swallow.”
Vicki cupped his head gently with her hands, and he looked into her wide, tender eyes. “I’m still here because I love you.” He caught his breath, and opened his mouth to say something, but she stopped him, her hand over his mouth. “Alec, I love you for the swallow that you were, and the Alec Su that you are now. No matter what you did, I know that inside you feel guilt and pain over it, and that inside, you are still that gentle, loving Swallow that you’ve always been…I love you for who you are, for everything that you are.” Alec’s mind was in turmoil, she knew he was Swallow? She loved him? For who he was now? But…but he wasn’t good enough for her, she was so wonderful while he…Alec shook his head, not wanting to believe it, but Vicki leaned forward and kissed him on the lips, gently. Shocked, he remained still for a moment, then tightened his arms and kissed her back, strongly, passionately, his lips sought possession of hers as she looped her arms around his neck. He could feel her heart beating against his, taste the sweetness of her mouth, and intoxicated, he ran his fingers through her hair, her thick, silky hair…with hands that were tainted with blood…Alec froze, and pushed Vicki away violently. “No!”
Thunderstruck, Vicki could only stare at him with her wide, incredulous eyes that filled with shock, and pain. He wanted so much…NO! He clenched his fists, hating himself, hating what he’d become, hating the fact that he wasn’t good enough for her. “Alec…” she began, but he cut her off. “Vicki I can’t, I’m not good enough for you, my hands are stained with blood…” Vicki’s eyes widened as she saw his agony, he thought he wasn’t worthy of her? Oh Alec, where has all your confidence gone? “Alec, it wasn’t your fault! And Mrs Lo is alright, she’s only had external injuries…” “That I help caused! I knew the information had to be framed, but I used it anyway, see what kind of person I am? You can’t love me, I’ll only end up hurting you, like I hurt everyone around me…” “Don’t be silly!” Vicki, sounding exasperated, “You were only doing your job, and besides, the fact that you’re feeling so bad now MEANS you’re a good person.” “No I’m NOT!” he exploded, standing up suddenly, and Vicki hastily stood up too, wanting to go to him, but he warded her off. “No, Vicki, I can’t…I’m…tainted with blood and the stink of money…we…we can’t….” “I don’t care!” she cried, reaching her hands to him. “I love you, Alec Su, I don’t care! Whatever you’ve done, whoever you’ve become, you’re still Swallow…” “Swallow is dead.” His simple statement made her freeze. She stared up at the bleak look in his eyes, shaking her head, silently refuting his words. “Swallow is dead, DEAD!” he cried, and unable to bear the sight of his soul mate, his love staring at him with her round pleading eyes, he turned and ran…ran out of the apartment…away from Vicki…away from his princess….Vicki could only stare after him, as her face glistened with tears…
Alec sat in his office, struggling with his heart as he hid in the darkness. No one would look for the ruthless, powerful…guilt ridden lawyer in his darken office in the middle of the night. Alec sat in his chair, his eyes staring blankly at the stars outside his window, in his mind was the picture of Vicki’s smile, her soft gentle silence, her unspoken support, the feel of her soft, red lips…he groaned and clutched at his head. What had he done? The vision of Vicki’s pained look and her tears as she told him she didn’t care, that she loved him…it stabbed at his heart, his mind called her name endlessly, Oh Vicki, how I wish…the vision of the woman covered with blood made him sit up, staring into the darkness. Yes, he’d lived here, in the darkness of the real world for so long, he was covered with blood…did he want to stain Vicki as well? She was so beautiful, so innocent, so pure…did he, could he let her see what the real world looked like from where he stood? Take off her rose tinted glasses? His princess…she should have the best, and live happily in a rose coloured world, if I let myself…love…touch her with these blood stained hands, she’ll see, see what my world looks like, she’ll never be happy…Alec thought bleakly, I can’t…even though it’ll kill me…I can’t! I’ll never forgive myself if I hurt her…(sudden vision of Vicki’s eyes glistening with tears made him gasp in pain)….if I hurt her anymore than I have already…Alec took a deep breath, and, decided, he picked up the phone and called Naomi, for one last act, to set Vicki free from his grim and dark world. His face was hard as stone as he dialled the numbers, but his eyes, his eyes echoed with the burning pain inside him…a heart breaking pain that would never fade, as he said good bye to his dreams…forever…
“So what are you going to do?” asked Piper as she pressed a mug of warm tea into Vicki’s hands. Vicki remained silent, cupping the mug in her hands as if it was something precious. “Vicki?” “I don’t know,” she whispered, her eyes staring at the tea, “I really don’t know.” “Do you love him?” asked Piper abruptly, making Vicki look up, then slowly nod. “Does he love you?” Vicki’s eyes grew soft. “I…I think he does…” her voice faded, as she remembered the pain in his eyes as he pushed her away. “But what can I do? He’s hiding from me, hiding from that because he’s so worked up about the accident, he thinks it was his fault…” “He thinks he’s not good enough for you, right?” Vicki nodded, her eyes distant as she thought of Alec, his crying in her arms…oh Alec, her heart ached as she thought of how his world must have been shattered…don’t you understand I’ll always be there, no matter who you are, what you’ve done? Don’t you understand… “Then you’ll just have to make him understand, don’t you?” asked Piper perceptively, knowing from the look on her face what Vicki was thinking, what she was feeling. After all, Kent was a lawyer too, though not as ruthless as Alec, but still, not all cases left him at ease with his conscience…Vicki looked up at her in surprise, and Piper smiled gently, letting her know that she understood. She took Vicki’s hand and squeezed it gently. “Tell him what you think, tell him that he can’t hide from you, that he IS right for you, because…well, he could make you laugh and cry, and Vicki, I haven’t seen you cry, or smile like you did when you were with him in the last eight years.” Vicki could only stare at her sister in law, amazed at her perceptivity, yet hesitant as to facing Alec again so soon…if he refuted her again, she wasn’t sure her heart could handle it, not twice in one night! Piper nodded, and told her to go home and have a good sleep, and then tomorrow, she could sort things out with Alec, for good or for bad.
“Why didn’t you make her stay?” her husband’s voice came from upstairs as Piper closed the door. She looked up at him, where he’d tactfully remained unnoticed by Vicki, not wanting to intrude into their ‘heart’ talk. “Because she didn’t want to,” Piper replied simply as she walked up to him. “She needs time to think alone, with her memories of Alec, in her house, not here, where our little monsters can nag her tomorrow.” Kent shook his head, his eyes troubled. “Piper, I know this will sound bad, but I’m not sure this is going to work out, I’ve known Alec too long, as well as he let’s others know him. Vicki’s changed him so much, but…” “But what?” “But he might be right, Vicki really doesn’t belong in his world.” “KENT!” his wife’s angry look made him explain hurriedly, “No, I mean, he might decide to break up with her just because he loves her too much to hurt her by letting it happen, he might decide that he wanted to protect her…” “If that isn’t the most stupidest thing I’ve heard,” Piper exploded, “Trust MEN to think of such silly ideas! As if that’s going to be good for her…” “Hey, I’m not the one doing it, I’m just explaining…” he paused as his wife glared at him, suddenly linking him with Alec and all the other men who would lie to women to just ‘protect’ them. “Let me tell you, Kent Zhao, no one should have the right to choose the path for someone else to tread! And if you EVER lie to me, or try to shelter me…” she stopped as her husband, at lost for what to do, did the only thing he could…he leaned down and kissed her. Piper felt her anger melt away, and kissed him back, but deep inside, her heart felt uneasy for what Vicki might have to face, tomorrow…
Vicki sat alone in her room, her eyes staring at the dark window of Alec’s apartment across the street. Despite what Piper had said, her heart still felt uneasy, the words “Swallow is dead!” keep echoing in her mind. No, he didn’t mean it, he didn’t! Her eyes filled with tears again, as she saw Alec’s bleak looking eyes. To her, Alec Su WAS Swallow, his every look, every smile, every laugh, every tear of guilt…was the real Alec, hidden inside, totally separate from the ruthless lawyer pose he struck. It was this Alec inside that was also Swallow, that was so totally precious to her, and yes, he was worthy of her, he was! Because…her eyes fell on the crystal bird in her hands…because she could not live without him…as she was the light in his darkness, so too was he to her, without him…the world was a dark, and lonely place…a single tear dripped off her face and hit the crystal with a tiny ‘ping’ noise. It looked like, the swallow was crying too…
Vicki watched as Naomi strutted in and came around to twine her arms around Alec’s neck, her model perfect face giving Vicki a smirk over the back of Alec’s chair…Vicki felt her heart stop in shock, no…it couldn’t be…her eyes noted the shiny diamond ring on Naomi’s hand…it was as if the sky had fallen down…Vicki’s world suddenly went dark. She couldn’t speak, only stare helplessly at Alec…her Swallow…her love… “Vicki, was it something important?” Alec asked quietly, struggling not to give it away in his voice, the pain and horror of betrayal all on her face made him feel like he wanted to kill himself for doing this…but I’m saving her from more pain in the future, he reminded himself bleakly. “I’ve got a previous engagement with Naomi.” His face betrayed nothing of what he felt inside.
Vicki felt the world end as she stared from Naomi’s smirk to Alec’s impassive, cold face…it was like he’d taken a knife and stabbed her in the heart…With a strength she never knew she had, she pushed away her urge to burst into tears. Inside, in a dead, impassive voice, she said quietly, “I was going to say that I didn’t believe you when you said Swallow was dead, that you shouldn’t feel that you would only hurt me if we were together. That I loved you, and needed you in my life.” Alec couldn’t help but look up into her eyes, her round eyes sparkling with unshed tears on her pale face…he was suddenly struck by the vast world of pain he was seeing inside those eyes…oh god…what had he done? “I was going to tell you that swallow would never die, that he IS you, and here is proof…” Vicki slowly opened the box, and Alec watched, as if hypnotized as Vicki took out the crystal swallow. “But I guess I was wrong.”
Alec looked up at her, and felt his heart freeze at the cold steely look in Vicki’s eyes, eyes that no longer sparkled.He suddenly felt a cold fear. “Vicki…” he began, uncertain of what he wanted to say, but she cut him off. “Alec Su Yu Pen, you are a fool and a coward.” She stood up suddenly, and Alec could only stare at her, astonished at her strong, cold tone. “You’re right, are you happy now? Swallow is dead…and…and I hope I never see you again…” Her arm lifted. Alec opened his mouth as if to shout NO, his hands reaching out helplessly to catch his dream…his dream he’d broken, all by himself…the crystal swallow shattered into pieces as it hit the floor…Alec knelt and stared at the crystal shards…then up at Vicki, who was staring down at him with dead looking eyes, that were hiding the vast sea of pain inside… She whispered softly, “Thus it ends. Good bye, Mr Su.” She turned and strolled rapidly out of the room, with Alec’s hopeless, bewildered eyes staring after her as she left, not letting them see, the tears of sparkling crystal that rolled down her face…as her rose coloured world…finally, turned grey.
Vicki hung up on her father with a sigh. It wasn’t as if she didn’t want to speak to him, it was just…she felt tired, so tired. Every thing was so monotonous, every day was the same, and she no longer saw things to smile and laugh about. She looked down at her manuscript…almost finished, she thought, but do I really want this published? She’d tried to write like she used to, but her heart was too heavy, this story was too full of what she felt now, sorrow and pain, and reality…fairy tales don’t exist. She could only write what she saw, and this was how she saw things now…did she really want to let others read this, to let them see the world as she saw it now? No longer with the rose tinted glasses? Sighing, she picked up her pen, and finished it off…this story, about a princess, and her prince…a fairy tale that wasn’t. Vicki scribbled the last few sentences…
“I ride this day on the Worldroad, alone, with the wind in my hair and the sun on my face. I’d never dreamt of travelling thus as a child, beautiful princesses waited at home for their princes to come for them…I am a princess no longer, nor will my prince ever come again. Sometimes I hear stories of my prince, still searching for his vanished princess, but I know it is the dream of beauty he seeks, and not a real me. And me? I do not regret my path, my refusal to play the part of the fairy tale, which ends with the princess living happily ever after…only, no one ever talks about how she lived…in a curtained palace, imprisoned by love? While her prince sees only her face, and not her? The Worldroad is long, but I am not afraid to ride it alone. I have learnt, in the hardest way possible, one need not be ugly or beautiful, princess or commoner. One can be something else, if one has courage enough to ride alone.”
Vicki put down her pen, her eyes filled with deep sorrow. Yes, she thought, fairy tales don’t exist…I…I can ride it alone…I must….
Kent had insisted on delivering Vicki’s manuscript to her editor for her, as he needed an excuse to check on her anyway. He’d known how badly she would be feeling right now, since he saw the other half at work everyday, like a living, breathing robot, with utterly no expression on his face. But still, he was shocked to see Vicki when she opened the door. “Kent.” He stared at her, unable to believe how thin and pale she was…was this even Vicki, his cheery sister? “Vicki, what have you been doing to yourself?!?” he burst out, his concern written all over his face. She smiled weakly at him, “Nothing Kent, don’t fuss, I’ve just been staying up the last few days to meet the deadline…” “Deadline my ass! You’ve been like this for the last two months, haven’t you? I mean, always hiding at home, not seeing anyone…Vicki…” He paused as she turned away, not wanting to continue this. Kent sighed, and took his sister’s hand gently. He knew what had happened, it’d been as he’d predicted, his heart ached for this girl who though was not his sister by blood, but certainly was the sister of his heart. Seeing her lose her swallow, her dream of twenty years…was somewhat frightening. That bright and dreamy part of Vicki was what made her special, made her shine in the hearts of everyone who met her…he didn’t want to see it die.
“Vicki, Alec was only trying to…” “I know what he was trying to do, Kent,” she stopped him, turning back to him with her bleak looking eyes. “He was trying to convince me that I shouldn’t be so naïve as to believe in fairy tales that didn’t exist, that the world was not a nice place. Well, I guess he succeeded.” She laughed softly, self mockingly, as Kent looked at her worriedly. She’d put up these walls around her, like the walls that Alec had been too afraid to come out of. “Kent, don’t worry about me, I’m not going to do anything silly. I’ve stopped believing in things that aren’t real now.” Kent, staring at her dead looking eyes, thought, yes, that’s what I was afraid of…
Alec jumped when his door banged open and Kent strolled in, his normally genial face was bleak with anger. “Kent?” he asked, momentarily off guard, and could only stare in surprise at the big envelope Kent slammed down on his desk. “Read this.” “What…” “Just read it!” Kent yelled, unable to control his emotions anymore, “Read it and tell me if you think you made the right decision!” So saying, he turned and left the room, slamming the door behind him, his anger fuelled by the pain he was feeling inside. Alec could only stare after him in stunned amazement, then slowly opened the big envelope and drew out the pile of paper. His eyes widened as he saw what it said on the front, ‘Waking from the Dreams, by Vicki Zhao.’ His hands shook slightly as he flipped the first page, and, with his heart in his mouth, he started reading….
Vicki stared at herself in the mirror and smiled ruefully at herself. No wonder her brother had gotten so worked up over seeing her…she did look a bit dead. She picked up her hairbrush and started to brush her still wet hair, thinking. Her editor had rang her up, the mature Yvonne who’d confessed to be a addicted fan to her novels, and was almost in tears over her latest story. She wanted Vicki to write an epilogue, because the new story was too different from her usual style and her fans might not accept it, but then, if she really wanted it published like this…Vicki had remained adamant. She had no heart to write a pretty epilogue to smooth things over, to make the world sound like a better place than she saw it now…her eyes momentarily drifted to the window…across the street to the dark window of Alec’s flat…get a grip, Vicki! She mentally scolded herself, he…it’s over…but then why did her heart still feel like it was bleeding? Why did his face appear in her mind every few minutes, his voice whisper secrets to her in her dreams, and her hands itched to open the box she’d packed all her swallow mementoes? Her hands shook slightly as she put her hair up into an elegant bun but left tiny tendrils around her face, and applied makeup to try and hide her pale, thin face. Her sophisticated hairstyle only made her childlike face stand out more. She put on her sleeveless white dress, it only made her look even less like the cheery sunshiny girl she’d been, but there was nothing she could do…nothing could hide the sorrow in her eyes. I can’t believe I agreed to this, why am I even going tonight? But I guess Rick is right, I have come out of my ivory tower someday…the door bell rang, and with a sigh, Vicki gave herself one last look in the mirror and grabbing her bag, went out to face the world again.
Alec’s mind and heart was in a cloud of utter confusion as he opened the door for Naomi to get out of the car. The words that Vicki wrote kept going through his head…courage to ride alone…in the world…alone…he couldn’t help but contrast it to the novels she’d written before, the novels that he’d had to suspend his scepticism long enough to read, yet he’d been touched by them all the same, by the view they’d offered of the world. But her new novel…oh god, what had he DONE to her? Vicki…his mind cried endlessly, as he walked into the ballroom with Naomi on his arm…then froze, rooted to the spot by what he saw. Vicki…with another guy? Chatting so casually? Suddenly he found it hard to breathe, his eyes narrowed at the sight of them talking…his heart that had felt so dead for the last two months suddenly felt like it was being stabbed…it was killing him inside. Naomi tugged at his arm, wanting him to move to their table. Alec followed her, but his eyes were on Vicki on the other side of the room, wanting desperately to go over there and rip that man away from her, from his princess…wanting to grab her and hold her in his arms forever…suddenly Alec’s eyes widened as he finally realised the truth, the ironic truth, two months too late…he couldn’t live without Vicki…no…now, faced with the prospect of losing her forever…he finally understood…
Vicki could feel his gaze from across the room and her heart started hurting again…he wasn’t alone, that girl was with him, hanging on to him like a limpet…she’d sneaked a peek at him just as he’d walked in…she laughed bitterly at herself. All that stuff about having courage to ride alone, to believe in fairytales…and now your heart starts beating because he’s in the same room? Vicki Zhao, WILL you let it go? But she knew the answer to that without thinking, from the way her heart ached, from the images that flashed through her head…how could she forget? After dreaming this dream all her life…when she sees Alec’s eyes, his smile everywhere she went, feel his presence in the very apartment he helped paint… “Vicki?” She looked up at the man in front of her, and smiled weakly at him. Rick reached over and gently squeezed her hand, his eyes understanding. Thank god he is here with me, she thought, smiling at him, I’m not sure I could face this, Alec and his…his fiancée, by myself…
Alec saw the man reach over and take Vicki’s hand…his blood boiled. Who was this man?!? How…what is Vicki doing with him? What does it mean…his heart was on fire, his eyes burned as he continued to watch them, unable to control his emotions. He’d been such a fool, pushing her away because he’d thought he’ll hurt her if he let it happen…Alec remembered back to what Kent had told him after he’d finished the novel. “Vicki never cared who you were, and what you did because she loved you for who you are inside, something that you hide from yourself. You broke up with her to stop her from getting hurt further, but what gave you the right to choose her path for her? What you did hurt her a thousand times worse than what you imagined, Alec, you not only killed her swallow dream…you killed all her dreams.” Alec clenched his fists against his knees, his eyes on the distant, pale face of his princess. Oh god, what have I done? Vicki, my princess, what have I done?!?
Rick wandered off to the washroom as Vicki stared at the flower arrangement on the table with unseeing eyes. “Vicki.” She froze, her back stiffened as she recognised the voice. Slowly, she got up and turned around to face him…Alec. His beloved face, his smiling eyes made her heart ache with pain…two months suddenly seemed like two seconds…and he was as he’d always been to her, her soul mate, the only man who’d made her heart sing…Alec looked at Vicki staring at him expressionless, at her pale listless face, her tragic eyes…and felt a pang inside him. He’d done this to her, despite his wanting to keep her from pain and sorrow, he’d managed to wreak more pain on her than anything or anybody else…She broke the silence first. “Yes?” her voice was bland, revealing none of the turmoil inside her. Alec struggled inside, he had so many thing to say to her, to tell her…he didn’t know what to say…Vicki watched his internal struggle and felt herself soften. Alec, seeing her eyes soften as she looked at him, suddenly asked, “Dance with me, Princess?” Vicki felt her heart jump. He’d called her Princess…her mouth started to curve into a smile…then she froze…a familiar figure was coming towards them. Her face harden, and Alec could only stare at her changed expression in surprise…then changed to complete understanding as Naomi grabbed his arm, clinging to him. He looked at her blankly, then back to Vicki, whose eyes stabbed right into his heart. “I don’t think so, Mr Su,” she said, with a derisive look at Naomi, “And please don’t call me Princess,” she continued, her eyes were bleak as she stared into his soul, “As the Swallow is dead, so too is the Princess.” She turned and walked away, leaving Alec staring after her in stunned silence, her words echoing in his head…Princess…dead…noooo…
Vicki ran out of the ballroom, tears streaming silently from her face, she couldn’t hold it in anymore, the sight of the only man she’d truly loved…with another woman…she ran right into Rick, who was coming down the hall. “Vicki?!” he asked, bewildered, catching hold of her shoulders before she fell. “What’s wrong? What happened?” Vicki stared up at him through her tear-blinded eyes, then threw her arms around him and sobbed like a little girl. Rick stood there awkwardly, patting her back gently as she cried her heart out. All this was watched by a grim faced Alec who’d followed his princess to explain, to tell her the truth…and stopped dead at the sight of her crying in another man’s arms. Alec felt the whole world stop, his face was pale as he saw Rick comforting Vicki, clenching his teeth. Rick looked up and saw Alec watching them. He opened his mouth as if to say something, but Alec, nearly exploding from anger, turned and ran away quickly, away from the sight of his Vicki in someone else’s arms, away from emotions he thought he’d put aside, away from the tragedy he’d brought about himself…he couldn’t stop the tears that flooded his eyes…he’d lost his princess…forever…and it was all his own fault…
Vicki stepped out of the car when Rick opened the door, wavering slightly as she felt slightly dizzy. Rick grabbed her arms, steadying her. “Vicki! What’s wrong? Are you ok?” She laughed weakly, waving his arms off. “I’m fine, just haven’t been getting enough sleep, that’s all.” Looking up at his still worried face, she tried to reassure him. “It’s ok, I’ll be fine once I get into bed and hibernate for a few days.” Looking down at Vicki’s forced smile, Rick sighed, knowing that there was nothing that HE could do to make her better anyway. He nodded in agreement, “Did you want me to walk you up?” She shook her head, “No, it’s late, you head off home, I’ll call you sometime, OK?” Then, her eyes softening, she reached over and grasped his hand gently. “Thank you Rick,” she said simply, “Thank you for being there.” Rick only gave her a light grin. “Anything for a friend.” Then, he leaned down and kissed her forehead lightly. “Night, Vicki.” He got into the car, and drove away, with Vicki staring after him.
Heaving a little sigh, she turned around to walk inside when her heart jumped. She froze as she saw a familiar figure standing there in the shadows. He walked towards her slowly…Alec…her heart desperately named him, once again feeling that same bitter sweet mixture of love, and pain…
Alec had waited for Vicki, not knowing what he wanted to do or say…but the thought of losing her forever, which he’d only contemplated before, now presented to him in earthshaking clarity made him stand rooted to the spot, desperate to prevent it from coming true. His heart had froze when he saw Vicki come home with Rick, and when he’d seen her in his arms, and him kissing her…he’d clenched his fists, desperately wanting to run over there and rip the guy away from her…his heart felt like it was being stabbed…over and over again…Now Vicki was walking up, her little forlorn figure made him approach her, his face white with shock, and pain, desperately holding onto his anger…She stared up at him in surprise, her round eyes sparkling under the street light. “Vicki.” Vicki felt her heart jump as he said her name, almost breathless, she could only ask just as simply, “What?” “Who was that guy? Why were you with him?!” Alec demanded harshly, struggling to keep his voice steady, not wanting to let his jealousy show.
Vicki looked up at his white face glaring down at her and her heart fluttered. He…he thought she and Rick…he CARED about her… “I…he’s…” she began hesitantly, unnerved by his reaction, but Alec grabbed her arms, demanding urgently, “Well?!?” Suddenly her anger flared, how dare he act this, who WAS he to act like this, as if SHE had done something wrong?!? HE was the one with…with that woman… “It’s none of your business!” she exploded, “Who are you to question me, it’s none of your business what’s between me and Rick!” Her eyes glared up at him as she shook his arms off angrily. Alec was stunned at such an uncharacteristic reaction from her, then his blood boiled. He stood in front of her, not letting her pass. “Of course it’s my business, how could you go out with another guy…” Vicki pushed at him, her voice incredulous, “WHAT?!? YOU…YOU’RE saying that, when you…when you…” she couldn’t speak, she was so furious. “Get out of my way!” She stormed pass him but then he grabbed her arm and swung her around, wrapping his arms around him. Vicki froze in shock, then looked up into his intense eyes as he leaned down towards her. She panicked, “Alec, no…” her words were drowned as Alec claimed her mouth, kissing her hungrily, passionately, with an urgency that took her breath away…she tried to push him away but he only tightened his grip of steel, kissing her deeper…she couldn’t fight it anymore…this feeling that swarmed out from her heart and overwhelmed her…her eyes closed as her arms went around his neck…and she kissed him back desperately, wanting this moment, this kiss…to last forever…
“What do you mean, it’s not real? Vicki, I’m not making a joke! I love you! I really do!” “And for how long?” her simple statement made his breath caught in his throat. He stared incredulously at her, unable to respond. Vicki took a deep breath, and said quietly, “I know why you did what you did two months ago, but it didn’t make your pushing me away hurt any less. It was like the world ended, I’d lost everything I’d ever believed in, it almost killed me, Alec! I’ve only just managed to get back on my feet, to get used to the world as it is, and now you…I don’t know if can survive the pain the next time, or the next…did you want your pint of blood as well as your pound of flesh?!?” Alec stared at her, stunned at her intensity. “But Vicki…” She held up her hand, shaking her head, she didn’t want to hear it, no, if she did, she might not be able to resist…she would give in…and that would only bring her more pain… “No, I won’t, I won’t be so stupid again…” She turned to run, run from a dream she was now too afraid to believe in, run from a swallow that the princess was now too afraid to face, too afraid to love…she froze at Alec’s soft words. “You’re running from me, because you love me, right?” She took a deep breath, pushing the painful swell of emotions that rushed up from inside…and kept walking…leaving Alec staring emotionlessly after her…
Alec sat in the darkness of his room, staring into the night, across the street, to where his heart yearned to be. Vicki’s sad, panicked face as she refused to listen to him was imprinted in his mind. Vicki Zhao, his cheery sunshine princess, his happy effervescent girl…had became someone who was afraid to love…afraid of dreams…and it was all his doing…He clutched at his head in frustration, not knowing what to do, what to say, he only knew he could not lose her…could not live without her…as she could not live without him…if she would only admit that to herself! How wrong he’d been, when he said that Swallow was dead…when all along, he’d only been hiding inside…Alec laughed bitterly at himself, at the stupid decision he’d made that might cost him his happiness…forever. Thinking to save Vicki from grief, when he’d only ended up causing them both more pain than could possibly be imagined…he reached into his drawer and took out the box he’d kept for so long…and stared at the crystal shards inside, that represented their shattered dreams…if only he could mend it…if only…
Vicki laid in the darkness of her room, staring up into the darkness. Seeing Alec’s face, hearing his voice in her head, feeling his lips on hers…it only made her pain worse, ten times worse…all the composure and new strength she’d thought she’d found over the last few months were like they’d never existed…she felt so sad, so lost and so vulnerable…she wanted to fling herself into his arms and have him hold her thus forever…she wanted to never see him again, so she would never feel all that pain and horror of betrayal again…her mind was in turmoil…it struggled between what her heart felt and what rationale advised her. In the end, only one thought crystallised. She needed peace, and time to think everything through, and put it all down…she needed to go away…
Alec was adjusting his tie as he looked, as he usually did, out of his window to check on her, for any sign of her…he froze and watched in stunned horror as he saw Vicki come out of her building with a suitcase…what the…where is she going?!? She’s…she’s leaving?!? He thought incredulously, then without a second thought he ran out of his apartment to get to her, to make her stay…he could stand not holding her, not seeing her smile, not hearing her voice…as long as he knew she was just across the road from him…but now…he panicked as he kept pressing the elevator button, he gave up and ran for the stairs…he can’t let her disappear from his life like this…he can’t! He won’t!
“VICKI!” His voice cut right into her heart, her knees felt slightly shaky as she looked up to see him…Alec, my swallow, yet…she made herself smile at him, saying in a shaky voice, “Hello Alec.” He stared at her with such intense eyes that she felt herself go red. Unconsciously she gripped her suitcase handle even tighter. “Where are you going?” he asked quietly, his eyes never leaving her face. Vicki felt flustered, she didn’t expect to see him, to have to face him…and the temptation to stay… She smiled a fake smile at him, “Oh, I’m off travelling again to get some inspiration for my books, you know how it is…” She faded off as he gave her a disbelieving look. Oh don’t do that Alec, you know I can’t stand it! They stood there in uncomfortable silence, Vicki, fidgeting with the handle…”Don’t go!” Alec suddenly said, and she looked up at him, at his pale white face. He saw her expressionless look, and could not hold it in anymore. “Vicki, please don’t go! I can barely live with the fact that I can only see you from across the street, only hear your voice in my mind when I read your books, only see you smile in my memories…but I can’t live without knowing where you are! Knowing that if I wanted to see you, I could! Vicki, please! I need you!” The stark pain in his eyes made her heart stop. Oh Alec! She felt her eyes well with tears, and she couldn’t help herself, she took a small step forward towards his open arms…
“Alec honey!” They both stop dead, and Vicki’s face was completely white as she watched Naomi waving at them from across the street, then turned her wide, disbelieving eyes towards Alec, who was looking at her with a face pale with shock. “No! No Vicki, I can explain…” Reaching out to her, but she backed away, her eyes filled with pain and disbelief, shaking her head, “No! I don’t want to hear it! I don’t want to have you hurt me again and again!” She covered her face with her hands, not wanting to see him, to face him. “Vicki, listen…listen to me!” He reached out as if to take her into his embrace when suddenly a car pulled up next to them. Rick got out of the car, calling cheerfully, “Hi Vicki, sorry I’m late!” Alec froze, staring at the man with shocked round eyes. No, no, this can’t be happening…he swung back to look at Vicki, who’d looked up at Rick’s voice. Seeing Alec’s expression, and taking one last look at Naomi who had come up behind him, Vicki reached out and opened the door. Alec’s hand grabbed the door, stopping it, repeating one final plea, “Don’t go Vicki!” She turned to stare at him with dead looking eyes. “Mr Su, I hope you and your fiancée will be very happy. Good bye.” She slipped into the car, and slammed the door, locking it…ignoring Alec’s pleading eyes staring at her through the window. Rick could only shrug, and put her suitcase in the back, and got back into the car. He looked at her one last time…Vicki didn’t say anything, so he started the car…and drove off…Alec staring after them with stark naked pain in his eyes as he watched his love disappear with another man…no, no, NO! “VICKI!” he shouted desperately, too late…as the car turned the corner, and out of his sight…
The lights came on suddenly and Alec sat up in shock, staring at the man in his doorway…what the…his face paled as he stared in confusion…isn’t that…? “Kent told me you would be here,” Rick said quietly as he entered the room and sat down in front of the bemused Alec, who was still staring at him wondering if he was hallucinating…but…but didn’t he go with Vicki?!? Does that mean Vicki… “Where’s Vicki?!?” he asked urgently, suddenly wild with the hope that she was still here. “She caught the 2pm plane this afternoon.” Alec’s face fell, and he sat back in his chair, drained…then narrowed his eyes suspiciously. “What are you doing here? Why aren’t you with Vicki?” Rick couldn’t help but smile at his expression. “Why should I be?” he asked, deliberately provoking him. Alec stared at him disbelievingly, then grew angry at his lack of concern over Vicki… “What do you mean, why should you be?!? You…her…you’re supposed to be looking after her!!!” Rick couldn’t help but laugh, one minute he wishes I’m non-existent in Vicki’s life, the next he wishes I’m right with her! Alec’s confused stare made him stop laughing. Taking pity on the poor guy, he decided it was time to clear things up. “Things aren’t like what you think between me and Vicki, I guess she never got around to telling you, but my name’s Rick.” He paused, looking at Alec right in the eyes. “I’m her first cousin.”
Alec’s eyes widened in surprise, then realisation dawned and he couldn’t help but feel slightly embarrassed. “Um, I...um…sorry…” Rick waved his hand, telling him to forget it. “Vicki and I have been really good friends since we were little, so that’s why I’m so concerned about her, and why I decided I had to talk to you, Alec….I CAN call you Alec, right?” Alec only looked at him in surprise. “What did you want to tell me?” he asked quietly. Rick leaned forward and said intensely, “Don’t let her go, Alec, for your sake, as well as hers, I’ve known her nearly all her life and I’ve never seen her like this, not even that time with Vincent Yip. I’m afraid of what might happen to her, and you’re the only one who can save her.” “Me?” Alec laughed bitterly, “She won’t even listen to me…” “Then don’t TELL her, SHOW her! Show her that you love her, that you would never hurt her again, never push her away again, never leave her alone…do you know, I’ve never seen Vicki like this before, all alone even though she’s surrounded by people…YOU did this, and it’s up to you to make it up to her!” Alec stared at Rick, and whispered, in a tiny, uncertain tone, revealing his own inner fear, “Does…does she still love me?” His eyes looked beseechingly at Rick, the man he’d despised up till a minute ago, now his confidante. Rick hide his urge to grin, and told him, gently, “You know the answer to that already. So go do what you have to do.” Alec’s eyes brightened and he grinned like an idiot, for the first time in months, he suddenly felt alive again. He stood up, as if to run right off to the airport, then realised, “Where is she?!?” Rick shrugged, almost giving Alec a heart attack, “You don’t KNOW?!?” “She took a plane to the United States, she said something about putting all this to rest…now, if you wanted to put something to rest, wouldn’t you go back to where it all began?” Alec’s eyes widened, realising where she’d went…controlling his excitement, he picked up his phone to book a plane ticket…then shook Rick’s hands warmly, thanking him…for saving his life. “I’ve got to run, the next plane is in 4 hours, and I need to go home and get some things…some things I should have given my princess a long time ago…” And then...then the swallow will fly back to his princess, as he'd promised, so many years ago...
“Swallow! Swallow you meanie, give me back my doll!” a girlish voice yells, as a young boy climbs up a tree, laughing, staring back down at the indignant little girl standing below him. “Come and catch me then!” Suddenly he slips, and falls down as the girl screams. With a thump as he lands on the bottom, the breath knocked from him, and his face screwed up with pain. “Don’t die, don’t die Swallow, you can have my doll now, I don’t want it, don’t die!” the little girl urgently pulling at his sleeve. He opens his eyes to see the little girl’s face all red and crying. He wanted to stop her crying, “Don’t cry princess, I won’t die, I’m gonna grow up and marry you…”
She reached out and held her palms to the tree trunk, leaning her forehead against it as remembered Alec’s white face, his eyes filled with pain as he told her that he needed her…but as what, Alec, as what? As the dream that you would deny yourself whenever you feel down and depressed again? The girl that you would sacrifice to make yourself feel less guilty? As the princess from your past? As the sunshine girl who can cheer you up? What about me, Vicki Zhao, the not so happy girl now, the one who’s lost her belief in everything…the one who can’t help you, she can’t even help herself…no…I must let it go now, let him go…here, where it all began…let it end now…But try as she would, his face remained in her mind, his smile and his laugh made her heart ache…would it be like this forever? Would every little thing remind her of him, would he always be able to make her feel these strong feelings, these bittersweet feelings even though she’s never going to see him again? Was this what love was like? Could she not wake from this dream…this dream that she’d lived in all these years? She took a deep shuddering breath, wanting to let it go, hating herself for not being able to…
“Vicki jie jie!” a little girl’s voice called
her. Surprised, Vicki turned around to see a little girl of about seven run up
to her, struggling with a big brown parcel. “What is it, Seri?” she smiled
at this little girl she’d only met yesterday when she arrived at the
orphanage, but felt a strong bond with already. Serena grinned up at her big
sister, and held out the parcel. “This is for you.” Vicki raised her
eyebrows in surprise, and was about to ask where on earth she’d got it from,
since she’d told no one where she would be, but Serena had already ran off to
join her friend. Vicki looked down at the parcel in her hands, her heart
pounding….could it be…him? Sitting down on the grass, she slowly opened the
parcel, and took out a pile of paper, and a box. Her eyes caught sight of the
front of the pile and she gasped. It was HER novel…what was it doing here?
Curiously she flipped through it, and froze when she saw the last page…someone
had added to where she’d finished off…her eyes slowly discerned the words…
WAKING FROM DREAMS - EPILOGUE
“I pulled the reins and froze in shock at the figure that stood still in the
road in front of me…his long black hair was now short, his clean cut face now
a bit haggard, and all his silk and finery had been replaced by cloth of common
cotton…but I recognised him…His deep black eyes looked straight at me, and
into my soul like they had never before…I wondered why he would stare like
thus at me as I was no longer the beautiful princess of the fairy tale…but
then, he did not look the part of the prince. “My lady,” he said quietly. I
got off my horse, but could only stare back at him, this prince who I’d run
away from. “I am no longer a princess,” I stated defiantly, “I will not go
back and live in that dark, curtained palace!” He only smiled softly at me,
his eyes showing an expression I had never seen before, he was seeing ME, and
not the dream… “As you are no longer a princess, then I will no longer be a
prince. There is nothing there without you by my side, if you will not stay in
the palace with me…then let me join you on this world road.” I could only
stare at him, the prince who was one no longer, his eyes showing me something
I’d longed for, yet had thought were for others not myself. He reached out a
hand to me. “I know you are brave enough to ride this alone, but let me join
you, and let us share the wonders of this road of life together.” Suddenly I
knew, one did not have to be a princess or a prince, nor did it have to be in a
dream to have fairy tales come true and that riding alone wasn’t the bravest
thing…the bravest thing, the one that required the most courage, was to let
someone in, and riding the world road together…but I have courage to spare,
don’t I ? Reaching out, I took his hand…”
Tears ran from Vicki’s eyes as she read, soaking the page…could it be true? Could waking up from the dream…show her an even more beautiful place? Her eyes fell on the box that had been in the parcel…her hands shook slightly as she took it and placed it in her lap. Slowly, she took the lid off and her eyes widened…reaching in with hands that shook, she took out…the crystal swallow…reborn…glued back together with painstaking care…she cradled it in her hands as she stared down at it, her mind and heart numb as tears fell and tinkled softly as they landed on the reborn swallow…She felt his presence before she even heard his footsteps, Vicki looked up and stared at the figure standing in front of her…
But...but he had to…Alec took a deep shuddering breath, and said, “Vicki, I’ve been such an idiot. I know how much I hurt you when I pushed you away, I thought that that was the only way to save you, to make you suffer less in the long run, but I was wrong. God, I was so wrong, and I didn’t even know it until I read your story…” They both looked down at the pile of paper on the ground. “I realised then, too late, that I’d caused more pain and sorrow on you than anything you would have seen in my world would have, that I’D hurt the princess more than anything else in the world by telling her a lie, by telling her that her swallow was dead, when all along…I would sit everyday staring at those crystal shards, seeing them as pieces of our broken dream, and wishing…wishing that I could heal it, undo all the things that made you run away from me. Vicki, please, I…” Alec’s voice faded as he looked at Vicki, she was crying, tears sparkling as they rolled down her face. With a small cry of distress, he reached forward an gently wiped her tears away, muttering over and over again, “I’m sorry Vicki, I’m so sorry! I never meant to hurt you, to make you cry, please don’t cry, it hurts me so much to see you cry.” Vicki struggled with the painful yearning inside herself, trying to think, she stared up at him with her shiny eyes, and asked, in a quiet little voice that quivered, “What do you want to ask me, Alec?”
He stared down at her, his eyes filled with intense emotion as he said fiercely, “Let me mend our dreams, let me recreate them as I recreated the crystal swallow…let me heal the wounds I made in your heart, give me this one chance Vicki…let the swallow fly back to his princess…as he’d promised so many years ago…” He took her hands, and held them to his heart. “Let me drive away the pain that I created, let me spend the rest of our lives making up for what I did…” He took a deep breath as he finished, “I love you Vicki Princess, and I would like nothing better than to hold your hand and walk the Worldroad with you, through all the pain and sorrow, all the joy and happiness, and I promise that no matter how rose coloured or dark and grey the world looks, I will never ever leave you again…I can’t live without you, Vicki, the Swallow can’t, and Alec Su can’t either. Give me just one more chance Vicki?” His eyes were filled with apprehension and longing as he looked at her.
Vicki’s face was pale as she stared into his eyes, deep into his soul, searching for the answers within…his words were making her heart sing…the words he’d written in for her story had struck a cord inside her…yes, it took a lot more courage to let someone in again, to walk with them…but she could see the promise in his eyes…the promise of a future that had been the dream of her life…she couldn’t deny what her heart was screaming to her, nor the feeling that rushed up and made her feel alive for the first time in months…her eyes shimmered and suddenly she smiled, like the sun rising up, giving Alec the answer that he desperately needed…he stared, unbelieving, at her for a moment, to see if he was hallucinating…was this happening? She…she was smiling at him, her shining eyes reaching to him again…he threw his arms around her and embraced her desperately. Vicki wrapped her arms around his neck, and for a moment they stared into each other’s eyes, shining with love, before they kissed, passionately, desperately, searching and finding what their hearts had cried out for…
After a warm and somewhat tearful conversation over lunch with Sister Rose, who was so happy to her children grown up and so tall now, the two of them had spent the whole afternoon half heartedly playing with the kids at the orphanage, their minds were preoccupied with each other, their eyes drinking in the vision of their loved one…Vicki laughed as she watched Serena run off yelling at a little boy called Nicky, who’d kidnapped her favourite doll. Vicki grinned at Alec. “See something familiar?” Alec laughed, tightening his arm around her waist, hugging her to him. “Yeah, like deja vu, isn’t it? Wonder if our story will repeat itself with them…” Vicki sighed contently, and leaned against him, her eyes closed as they waited for the sunset. Alec looked down at this wonderful, precious dream in his arms…he wished he could hold her thus forever. “Vicki?” “Hmm?” she muttered, her face buried in his chest as he held her tight in his arms, not wanting to let go of her, as if afraid she would disappear again. He grinned down at her hidden face, and said teasingly, “Vicki, do you remember you promised me something too?” Vicki looked up, her face questioning as Alec grinned at her. “No, what are you talking about?” “Oh, so you want to break your promise, do you? Well, I’m not going to let you, and I have a witness!” “What witness?” Vicki demanded, curious, “What are you talking about…” Her voice faded as he reached into his backpack and took out a familiar object… “’MELLY!” she exclaimed, reaching for her old doll, then froze, her hand outstretched as she noticed what was on the doll’s neck, dangling on a piece of string…a white gold ring with the purest diamond that was shimmering in the light. She looked up at Alec, her eyes wide, unable to speak.
He grasped her hand tightly, and went down on his knees in front of her, his face suddenly serious. “Vicki, marry me? I love you, I want to be the one to hold your hand for the rest of your life, to be the one to walk the worldroad with you. I want to hear you laugh, to see your smile the first thing I wake up every day. I want to be the one who can take off your rose tinted glasses and show you the world is a rose colour, to show you that dreams do come true. Let me be the one to grow old with you…Vicki, marry me!” Vicki stared down at him, her eyes welling up with tears…this was her Alec Su, her swallow, her soul mate…she already knew what her answer would be, hadn’t her heart and soul been crying his name since she could remember? Staring down at him, she knew that Alec would be her future…and it would be a bright and wondrous one, full of love, life and hope…she nodded slightly, her face breaking out into the biggest smile as her round eyes shined down on him. Alec, his heart pounding like crazy, pulled the ring off the string, and with shaking hands, slipped it on Vicki’s equally shaking hand. Standing up, they looked at each other, happy tears flowing from their eyes as they laughed slightly hysterically, unable to believe this was true. Then Alec pulled her into his embrace, holding onto her tightly, his heart was singing…this was his princess, his dream, his Vicki….and now, he would never ever let go…
*****
Alec turned as the music started, his eyes mesmerised by the angel in the purest white walking towards him…his heart felt like it’d stopped as her shining round eyes stared right down his soul…his princess, his sunshine girl, his Vicki…as if in a dream, he reached out slowly and took her hand from her grinning father as they reached him. Vicki gave him a tentative smile from under her thin white veil and he smiled back, captivated. Oblivious to the crowd watching them with indulgent grins, they stared at each other, speaking without words, until the preacher cleared his throat loudly. Blushing slightly, they turned quickly to face him, their hands linked, now and forever, as they made their vows of everlasting love… “I do,” Alec’s enthusiastic answer made a few people laugh. Oblivious to anything else, he turned to look at his princess, his future as the preacher continued. “And do you, Vicki Zhao Wei, take this man as your lawfully wedded husband, in sickness and in health, in richness and in poverty, and promise to love, cherish and walk the world road with him till death do you part?” “I don’t.” Everyone gasped loudly. Alec froze, his heart stopped beating as he stared at Vicki, stunned. But Vicki’s eyes were twinkling up at him. “I DO promise to love and walk with him forever, but not even death shall part us.” Everyone sighed in relief as Alec’s heart started beating again, his hand giving Vicki’s a tight squeeze for the scare she’d given him…yet felt as light as a cloud for her words… “I now pronounce you man and wife. You may kiss the bride.” Alec reached out and slowly lifted the veil, to see his dream, his future smiling at him with her big shiny eyes…his princess, for now, and for all eternity…he leaned down and kissed her, sealing the promise of everlasting love…
*****
“What a perfect ending to this fairytale,” Vicki’s mum gushed, her face wet with tears as she watched her daughter and her new husband walk down the lane. Piper only smiled slightly. “No, it’s a perfect beginning, their dream will live on…forever…”
Serena closed the book with a sigh, and her hand gently caressed the cover of this book, her present from her favourite ‘sister’. “The Swallow and the Princess – by Vicki and Alec Su.” She smiled as she remembered her Vicki jie jie and Alec ge ge at their wedding, and how she’d been watching, a seven year old flower girl, not knowing what a wondrous thing was happening in front of her eyes…I wonder how they are now? She thought, sitting on a limb on the very same tree that their dreams had revolved around…their dream, their fairytale had come true…the swallow had come back for his princess…it made Serena smile, CAN these amazing things, these sweet dreams come true in a world like this? CAN their dreams live on? Do fairytales come true…suddenly she heard a voice calling her. “Serena!” Her heart thumped as she recognised him, he’d come back for her, as the swallow had flown back to his princess….her face broke into a big grin as she scrambled down the tree, coming to a halt in front of her own ‘swallow’. Staring into Nicky’s serious eyes, her heart sang as he smiled at her, of their childhood dreams…of their own fairytale…yes, Vicki and Alec’s swallow and princess dream will live on…forever…
