On the same night at about 11 p.m. inside another house Song playing: “Moonlight Sonata” by Beethoven
The small lamp on the wall was the only source of light in the otherwise seemingly dead living room. The room bore an indescribable loneliness in its solitaire décor. It seemed immensely vast since no furniture was placed in it except for a burgundy sofa, a small coffee table, a TV and a piano.
A woman sat on the sofa, a cup of red wine in her hand. Dressed in a sleeveless gray turtleneck and a black long skirt, the woman seemed to bear an unmistakable sadness in her eyes. Expressive eyes that had been waiting for something, longing for someone.
Her sorrowful gaze had remained fixed on the door instead of focusing on the turned on TV before her. It then landed on the dining table where a vase of forget-me-nots laid. If only the man who sent her those was here with her, she thought. She took a sip of the wine. Somehow, the liquor eased her lonely heart.
She then stood up from the spot where she had been sitting all evening and walked to the large window. Outside, the rain was pouring hard, making people want to just lock themselves in with the one they love and cuddle under a warm blanket. That was when she wondered what he was doing at this very moment. Somehow without guessing, she knew exactly what he was doing.
The doorbell rang.
She opened the door. Not to her surprise, Joyce was standing at her doorway.
Joyce: Hi Anne.
Anne: Come in Joyce.
Joyce entered and Anne closed the door.
Joyce: Louis asked me to come and give you this (she handed Anne a gift box).
Anne (taking the present): Thank you Joyce. And sorry, for making you come at this time and in this weather.
Joyce: Don’t be, it’s my job.
Anne smiled softly.
Joyce: I think I should get going now.
Anne: Goodbye.
Joyce left.
Anne then went to the kitchen and took out the birthday cake from the fridge and some candles from a drawer. She brought the cake to the coffee table in the living room and put the candles on it. She then turned the lights off. Sitting on the sofa, she closed her eyes, her hands joining.
She made a wish and then blew the 26 candles on her birthday cake.
Feeling emotionally drained, Anne walked to her bedroom with Louis’ present in her hands. As she placed the still unopened present on her night table, she reached for the picture frame that stood there. In the frame there was a picture of Louis and her in which Louis had his arm around her while she leaned on his shoulder. In the picture, both smiled warmly. “So happy, so free”, Anne thought.
A tear streamed down her cheek, and onto the picture frame.
“Song ending…”
The next day at Louis and Jessica’s Mansion
Jessica laid in bed, a happy smile spread on her face as she observed Louis’ sleeping form lying next to her.
The toned body, the broad shoulders, the healthy tan, and that innocent, adorable sleeping face... her husband. “How lucky I am”, Jessica thought. Yesterday, he had given her a magical time. She smiled at the memory of them eating her French cuisine (how Louis had pretended that the food was yucky), of them dancing, of them cuddling up together under a warm blanket, his body keeping her warm since there was no electricity. He was, without a doubt, the man she loves the most.
Jessica then stood up from the bed careful as to not wake Louis up. Going up to her dressing table, she took her car keys and the gift he had given her yesterday, a magnificent bracelet. She put it on her wrist. She quickly changed and then tiptoed out of their room.
About 30 minutes later
Louis yawned and slowly woke up. He reached out for Jessica but to his surprise, she wasn’t lying next to him. Louis then went downstairs to look for her thinking that she might be in the kitchen. As he reached the kitchen, he heard someone turning in the lock of their house. It was Jessica. She was carrying two bags.
Louis: Jessica, where did you go so early in the morning?
Jessica: To get this for us! (lifting the bags up). Hot delicious congee! I thought I’d get this since there still is no electricity.
Louis smiled at his wife’s thoughtfulness. They sat down at the dining table and ate their congee.
Louis: I’ll call for an electrician to check on our house. And tonight I have a very important meeting with a client, so I might come home very late. Don’t wait for me.
Jessica (making a slight grimace): Again?
Louis (shaking her hand): Come on Jess! I’ve got business to handle.
Jessica (pouting): OK, then. I’m going to pick up GiGi at Stephen’s place and I’m taking her to see Mom. I TOO will be home, VERY late. So don’t be waiting for me if your client cancels the meeting with you all of a sudden.
Louis (getting the sarcastic bit): Come on Jess, don’t be such a baby! Show me a smile? (making a funny face at her)
Jessica couldn’t help but smile at his goofiness.
Louis: What about I bring home your favorite dessert?
Jessica (her face lights up): Alright then. You’re forgiven.
Louis laughed.
“It is never hard to make Jess smile nor to be smiling because of her”, he thought.
Louis (looking at the clock): It’s already 7:30, I should be going. Bye Bye Jess (he kissed her goodbye).
Jessica: Bye Bye.
Inside Louis’ office
Louis was sitting on his black leather chair thinking about what had happened at his house last night. Who could it be?, he wondered.
He then stood up and took a file with him. He made his way to the smaller yet still very spacious office beside his.
Louis opened the door to the office.
Sunny was lazily leaning on his chair, his legs crossed and stretched out on the desk, a cup of champagne in his hand.
Sunny: Hi there Mr. Koo, come and have a seat!
Louis (put the file down on Sunny’s table, visibly not very happy with his attitude): Take care of this.
Sunny: Sure, no problem!
Louis: Yesterday somebody came into my house uninvited and took the HSBC file from my desk. I’d like you to find out who did it.
Louis then turned to leave but before he left, Louis spun around and said:
“You might want to watch your working ethic.”
As Louis was about to leave, Sunny immediately retrieved his legs from the desk. He leaned over and said in a hostile tone:
“Never forget what I did for you, Louis.”
Without turning back, Louis frowned and opened the door. Joyce was standing right before him seeming a little awkward for having seen his quarrel with Sunny. She was carrying a file in hand.
Joyce: Here’s the photocopy of the HSBC file you wanted.
Louis took it and said: “Follow me.”
Inside Louis’ office
Louis sat down while Joyce was closing the door. He gestured for her to sit in front of him.
Joyce: Sorry I...
Louis: It’s okay, Joyce. Forget about it. I wanted to ask you about Anne. How was she?
Joyce: Anne didn’t say anything. But I can feel that she was sad, very sad.
Louis (nodded in thought): Ok, you may leave now.
Joyce: Mr. Koo, are you alright?
No response.
Joyce: Mr. Koo?
Louis (snapping out of his thoughts at Joyce’s voice): Ohh, I’m sorry… I’ll… be fine.
Joyce stood up, walked to the door and as she opened the door to leave, Louis called:
“Joyce!”
She turned around to look at him and he said: “Thank you.”
She smiled back in reply and then left.
After Joyce left, Louis called Jessica.
Jessica: Hello.
Louis: It’s me, Jess. What are you doing right now?
Jessica: Nothing really, just shopping around with GiGi.
Louis (guilt eating away at him): I have to meet my client in Cheung Chau very late tonight so I wouldn’t be able to come home until tomorrow.
Jessica: Alright then. (attempting to assure Louis that she isn’t angry with him) Just don’t forget about the dessert.
Louis (smiles): Of course not!
Jessica: Goodbye then. Safe trip and don’t work too hard.
Louis: Ok, bye Jess.
After work at 8 o’clock at Anne’s house
Louis turned the key in the lock and entered the house holding a birthday cake. Anne was
sitting on the bench facing the piano. She was playing “Moonlight Sonata” by Beethoven. The sad melody reached Louis’ ears as it silently tore his heart in two. She played it with such melancholy and nostalgia that his heart ached along with hers.
Anne was so immersed in the music that she didn’t notice Louis entering the house. Louis moved to put the birthday cake on the coffee table in the living room and that was when she detected his presence. She stopped playing, stood up and moved toward him, facing him.
Louis: Anne, I’m sorry about yesterday I…
Anne silenced him with her finger on his mouth.
Anne: You don’t have to explain, I understand. (hoping to lighten the mood) So? I still haven’t eaten a birthday cake yet. So, let’s see what you brought. (she takes his hand and made him sit on the sofa)
Louis: Our favorite cake lah!
Anne: Let me guess. Dark Chocolate Raspberry Mousse?
Louis: Smart girl! Dark Chocolate for me, raspberry for you! (opening the cake box) Taaaa tan. Here you go!
Louis (putting the candles on the cake and then stood up to turn the lights off): (moving back to the sofa) Now, make a wish.
Anne closed her eyes, joined her hands together and repeated the wish she made yesterday.
Louis (curiously): So? What did you wish for?
Anne: It’s a wish, I can’t say it out loud. Otherwise, it won’t come true!
Louis (move closer to her, he tickles her): Now are you going to tell me what you wished for?
Anne (twisting her body, laughing): Alright. Alright. I wished to have a small weekend trip with you somewhere.
Louis then stopped laughing and he fell silent. Anne noticed the change of atmosphere. She quickly added : “I was only joking. I just want to be with you no matter where we are.”
Louis stared into Anne' eyes. He looked at her in such an intent and focused way as if he was trying to analyze every features of her face. He then took Anne’s hands in his and said, his eyes serious: “Blow the candles”.
She did.
Anne (standing up): I’ll go in the kitchen to take out some plates and forks. Be right back!
The next thing she knew, the joyful melody of “Happy Birthday” echoed throughout the house. Awkwardly played perhaps but so full of meanings. She immediately ran out of the kitchen. Louis stood up from the piano bench and said: “Happy Birthday.”
Anne ran towards Louis and she hugged him tightly, tears streaming down her cheeks. Only this time, they were tears of joy. They embraced for a long time. As they pulled away from the embrace, Louis kissed her.
“It’s been so long since I’ve seen this smile”, Louis thought.
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