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Shortly after eating dumplings Li-Nam left everyone else to take his father home. He figured Phong must have been tired staying up all night with Suet. As they were driving both were wondering what was wrong with everybody back at the hospital. They got back and Hong Dao greeted them at the door. She asked about Suet and said if Phong visited Suet again she wanted to go along because Suet looked very familiar to her. Phong nodded. Then Hong asked about Phong?s memory of Quay.
He sat down on the sofa and told her. ?I don?t know how I feel about Quay now, but I remember that I used to love her very much. Maybe it?s because of my amnesia that I haven?t fully recovered all my feelings for her.?
?That could be it.? Hong Dao said, ?How about Suet? Do you remember anything about her or your feelings for her??
?What do you mean??
?Was she a very good friend or another girlfriend in your life??
?I don?t know. I can't remember anything. Let me ask my sisters.? He said getting up.
But Ying and Jing were already walking downstairs and heard him. ?No need to look for us. We have to talk to you anyways.? They said coming down.
?We don?t know about your relationship with Suet but we do know that you loved Quay very crazily at one time. Suet was a very good friend that was always around when you had problems with Quay and she tried to help you overcome it? Jing said.
Ying nodded and said, ?You better not fall back in love with Quay, she was a sweet girl and all but she was never as wonderful as you described her.?
?Yeah.? Jing nodded. ?You said she was very charitable, sweet, caring, and considerate. But each time we met her we saw that she was vain, self-centered and inconsiderate.?
?She can?t be that bad.? Hong Dao remarked.
?Well we never really knew her so we?re just saying what we thought at the time. It could be because we saw all those other traits in Suet that we thought Phong was just hallucinating.? Jing said jokingly.
Phong gave her a ?that?s not funny? stare.
?Well anyways how?s Suet?? Ying asked.
?Suet is doing better now, that poor girl. She?s been through so much.? Phong said. He stretched his arms out. ?Well anyways I?m going to sleep? He was so exhausted from last night that he went straight to his room.
*~*~* { Phong?s Dream } *~*~*
Phong heard a girl's laughter. He looked around him to see her. There was darkness everywhere but he could still hear the girl laughing and giggling.
?Come here Phong.? She called out to him. ?Come here, I have something for you.?
Phong ran towards the direction of her voice and saw the back of a girl. Her figure was very familiar to him. She was carrying something in his hands. He came closer to see what she was holding.
Suddenly there was a tapping on his back. He turned around to see Quay. I?ve missed you so much!? Quay said wrapping her arms around him.
He looked back for the girl that was calling him. She was gone. He looked towards Quay again but this time she was wearing a wedding dress. She was beautiful, like an angel that descended from the heavens.
?I?m sorry. I need to marry Fei.? Quay said sobbing.
*~*~* { End of Phong?s Dream } *~*~*
Phong felt like his heart was stabbed and woke up. Fei?s name sparked a memory in his head. He remembered everything about his relationship with Quay. It even sparked the emotions he felt on Quay and Fei?s wedding night. He remembered holding onto a girl that night, he remembered making love to her, he remembered looking for her, and he remembered a moment at the train station. Most importantly he remembered disappointment.
* ^ * ^ * ^ * ^ * ^ * ^ * ^ * ^ * ^ * ^ * ^ * ^ * ^ * ^ * ^ * ^ * ^ * ^ * ^ * ^ * ^ * ^ * ^ *^ * Shortly after Li-Nam and Phong left, everyone also left except Quay who remained in the hospital to tell Suet about what happened the night she fainted and was hospitalized. She even told Suet about the Coronary Heart Disease Suet was diagnosed with. Suet accepted it and figured there was nothing else she could do but deal with it and try to treat it. Quay supported her and the two continued talking about Phong.
?You can spend some time with Phong and see if you could revive his memory.? Quay suggested.
?That?s not necessary. He?s married now and has a son.? She replied referring to Hong Dao and Li-Nam.
?Are you just going to let everything slip by again!? Quay shouted. ?That?s what you always do. 23 years ago you should have told Phong you loved him and I bet you he would have probably told you he loved you too.?
?Don?t say such nonsense.? Suet said.
?I?m not speaking nonsense. I knew all these years Phong probably had feelings for you.?
Suet raised her eyebrow. Quay got up from the chair and continued. ?Do you remember the first time we met Phong?? Quay asked.
Suet nodded. Quay continued, ?It was at that old smelly restaurant. And then we saw him again at that charity event you dragged me to. And then at the shanghai shopping center.? Suet nodded. She never realized Quay remembered Phong from those incidents.
Quay shook her hand at Suet, ?No, no I didn?t remember those incidents. Phong had brought them up to me throughout the 2 years that we dated. He always thanked me for helping him and thought I was such a charitable person. I was confused at first but then I realized that he was talking about you. The girl he was in love with was never me!? Quay said taking a deep breath.
Suet gasped covering her mouth from this newfound knowledge. Quay continued. ?Even when I went shopping he picked out clothes that we more suited to your taste; plain and simple ones. When we ate he ordered your favorite dishes. I knew he had fallen for you but I tried to pretend I didn?t know.?
?Why are you telling me all this now?? Suet asked in a low tone. ?I can?t do anything about it now.? She shrieked.
?YES YOU CAN!? Quay said raising her voice a little. ?I?m sorry I didn?t mean to yell. If Phong loved you so much then I?m sure he?ll remember you and then you can finally be with him. Have a happy family with him and Lan-Yee.?
Suet shook her head, ?And what about Hong Dao? I can?t be inconsiderate like that!?
?It?s normal for men to have more than one wife.? Quay said
?How would you feel if Fei had more than one wife??
"This is not about how I would feel, I think Hong Dao seems pretty reasonable, nothing like me. She?ll probably be okay with it."
Suet shakes her head, ?Are you listening to yourself! I can?t sacrifice someone else?s happiness for my own.?
Quay let out a deep sigh, ?I suppose not.?
?Promise me you won?t let Phong know about the past. Let?s just keep it the way it is. If he remembers then we?ll deal with it then, if not then I?ll live with it.? Suet begged. Quay nodded reluctantly.
* ^ * ^ * ^ * ^ * ^ * ^ * ^ * ^ * ^ * ^ * ^ * ^ * ^ * ^ * ^ * ^ * ^ * ^ * ^ * ^ * ^ * ^ * ^ *^ * The next day Phong visits Suet again and brings Hong Dao. As they walked down the hall to Suet?s room Hong Dao remarks, ?Hey my room was 103 and now Suet?s room is 104 the one next to mine.?
Phong smirks and looks at the two room numbers as he enters Suet?s room. Suet was delighted to see Phong but when she saw Hong Dao, she became very afraid again as if she was 18 again and madly in love with a man who loved another woman.
?Hello, Suet. How are you feeling?? Hong Dao asked with a sweet smile as she was pushed into the room on a wheelchair by Phong.
?Better.? Suet replied surprised that Hong Dao was there
Quay was also there and smiled to greet them, ?Hi Phong.? She said then looked at Hong Dao and said, ?How are you Madam Li??
Hong Dao smiled and replied, ?Good and you Madam Kwok??
?Very Good.? Quay replied. Quay wanted to let Phong have sometime alone with Suet so she said, ?Madam Li can you help me get some food. Suet hasn?t eaten yet and you would probably know what snacks your husband is accompanied to eating.?
Hong Dao smiled and replied, ?I?m afraid it?s not convenient for me to go.? She said patting her wheel chair. ?I supposed Phong can accompany you he should know what he likes himself.?
Quay was about to refuse but Phong opened the door and said, ?Let?s go.?
Suet gave Quay a 'Go ahead' look. Quay shrugged and left with Phong. Hong Dao rolled her wheelchair over to Suet. They looked at each other in silence for a moment, then Hong Dao realized where she had seen Suet before. Suet was a nurse at the hospital Hong Dao was staying at when her husband died. An incident 19 years ago appeared in both women?s mind.
*~*~* { Begin Flash Back } *~*~*
Suet was trying to convince Hong Dao to come off a hospital ledge. At that time Suet was 21 and working at a hospital as a nurse while Hong Dao?s husband had just passed away leaving her and a 10 month old son.
Everyone had fruitlessly tried to convince Hong Dao to come back in but Hong Dao held onto her son refusing to come back. She wanted to jump off and met her husband in heaven.
Suet thought about Phong and got on the ledge with Hong-Dao. She told her about Phong and how he would probably never return to her side either but she would live a good life and raise their daughter because that?s probably what Phong wanted.
Hong Dao listened to her and was softening up but didn?t want to get back in yet. ?How can I forget about my husband?s death and continue to live my life. How can I forget the love that we shared!?
Suet smiled and replied. ?The Love that we lose is usually the one that hurts the deepest and feels the strongest to our hearts. But you have to remember it will never be forgotten. It will last forever in your child.? She said pointing at Li-Nam.
?Let time heal your pain and ease your mind, then you?ll realize that there is a lot more to live for.? She said as she stood up from the ledge and extended her hand hoping Hong Dao would accept it.
These words made Hong Dao realize that her eternal love for her husband would live forever as long as she did a good job raising Li-Nam instead of thinking about suicide. Hong Do reached for Suet?s hand and they returned safely into the hospital.
After that Suet would bring Lan-Yee to visit Hong Dao at times and they both talked about their husbands. (At that time everyone thought Suet was married and her husband was at war because she needed to make Lan-Yee a legitimate child.)
*~*~* { End Flash Back } *~*~*
Suet looked closer at Hong Dao and recalled the incident. The two women laughed joyously at this occasion. It was strange that they now met. Suet thought to herself, it was strange but the husband they both talked about was Phong. How ironic she thought to herself.
Hong Dao didn?t realize that Suet thought her real husband was Phong. She was just glad to see her savior who saved her life once.
* ^ * ^ * ^ * ^ * ^ * ^ * ^ * ^ * ^ * ^ * ^ * ^ * ^ * ^ * ^ * ^ * ^ * ^ * ^ * ^ * ^ * ^ * ^ *^ * Meanwhile Quay and Phong were awkward walking around with each other. Phong finally asked about Fei. ?So where?s Fei? he asked breaking the silence.
?He passed away.? She replied softly.
?I?m sorry.? He replied feeling remorseful about bringing up such a topic.
?It?s okay this happened a long time ago.?
?There was one thing I wanted to ask you.? Phong said nervously.
Quay looked at him and he asked, ?Did you love Fei more than me??
Quay nodded her head. ?I love Fei more than I can ever love you. The two years I was with you compared to the 10 years I shared with Fei are diminutive. I thought of you as a hero and had this obsession with you as such, whereas I fell in love with Fei because he was my hero. He really did save me.?
Phong was satisfied with her reply and they finished getting food back to the other two.
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