Flying Burger (20 page)

"Honey, we spend so little time with our little bambino. We are away on business trips most of the time. I feel sorry for him," Mrs. Chen voiced her unhappiness.

"This cannot be helped."

"When I hugged him yesterday, he said he's already a big bambino."

"He's a chip off the old block. He has done well in his studies and I'm proud of him," Mr. Chen gave his stamp of approval for his son.

"My little bambino is the best in the world!" Mrs. Chen also gave her stamp of approval for her son.

"This foreign Gutsy Media Network is doing all it can to snatch our deal. I have to fly back to Austria to seal this business contract with the Austrian National Media Corporation. It's important."

"I heard that this Gutsy Media Network is a big, international corporation and they can offer very competitive rates. Honey, will there be a problem?" His wife was concerned.

"Don't worry. We are already at the final stage of negotiations, short of inking the paper."

"When do you need to fly off?" His wife asked.

"I will be taking the first flight tomorrow morning. Why?"

"So I can pack some clothes for you, my dear," his wife said.

"Forget the packing! Come to papa," he stretched out both arms and wanted to hug his wife.

"Oh! You're incorrigible," his wife chided him.

Mr. Chen chuckled loudly.

An hour passed by quickly before Mr. Chen felt hungry after his long flight, his wife went outside to buy some snacks for him. When Mrs. Chen returned with a packet each of fried kway teow and roti prata, her husband was drooling when he saw the food. "You know honey, I've been dying to eat these while I was overseas. They never had these kind of food, wonder why..." Mr. Chen was already busy eating to finish his sentence. His wife munched on a kaya toast and sipped orange juice. Looking at her husband eating ravenously, Mrs. Chen cautioned, "take it easy, don't choke." After this meal, Mr. Chen and his wife spent some quiet moments together.

The Chen couple was interrupted by a nurse walking into the bedroom. "Time for injection," said the nurse. She pushed in a small cart with all the required medical stuff. As she stood near the bedside, she held up a big syringe with needle and peered at it. Several drops of liquid gushed out of the needle tip as she pushed the syringe a little bit. When Mrs. Chen saw the horrific needle, she was shocked and worried.

"Excuse me, could you use a smaller needle?" Mrs. Chen asked the nurse, who was about to carry out the injection.

"Don't worry madam, I'll be gentle, he won't feel a thing," replied the nurse.

As time was getting late, Mrs. Chen agreed to return home to rest after much persuasion from her husband. "My poor darling, sleep tight," Mrs. Chen said and kissed her son's forehead. Looking at Chen Wei sleeping soundly, Mrs. Chen left her son's bedroom after a prolonged hesitation.

It was past midnight.

Inside the hospital bedroom, Mr. Chen kept touching his son's forehead at regular intervals to feel his temperature. He kept vigil by his son's bedside, at the same time communicating with his business associates using his laptop computer. A nurse knocked on the door and came in to check on Chen Wei. She took a portable medical sensor attached to the wall and held it over Chen Wei's chest. She pressed a button on the sensor and waited for a minute before she took the readings.

"How's my son?" Mr. Chen asked the nurse anxiously.

"He is doing fine. The temperature has dropped, but we have to keep him under observation for a few more days," she replied softly.

"Could I get you a cup of coffee or something?" the nurse volunteered.

"No. Thank you."

"If you need anything, just press the buzzer by the bedside," she told him and left the room. She was quite touched by this fatherly man who sat quietly by his son and yet busily working.

One hour later, Mr. Chen stroked his son's head several times. "Mmmm..., my big bambino," Chen Wei overheard his father mumbling. He was awakened by his blanket being pulled up to his neck. Mr. Chen showed fatherly love on very rare occasions. Chen Wei kept his eyes closed for he was happy that the 'Rock' was finally here. The nickname, 'Rock', was given to his father secretly for this was the impression Chen Wei had of his father eversince he was a young boy. Mr. Chen was a strict, no-nonsense family man, who had devoted much of his time into running his family business. His family business empire was the world-renowned Electra Media Corporation, reputed for its wholesome media content, crystal-clear videos, true-to-life sound and reliable high-speed transmission. Late into the night, Chen Wei woke up partially and glancing through sleepy eyes, he saw his father reclining on the couch next to him. His father was sound asleep. He felt contented and closed his eyes again.

The next day, Chen Wei felt very much better. He was surprised to find his dad gone. His mum sat close by. She felt her son's forehead for a brief moment before she was satisfied that the fever was gone. She had brought a basket of rosy apples for Chen Wei, his favourite fruit. She looked at her son lovingly.

"Oh mom!" Chen Wei protested and blushed slightly.

"Let me take a good look at you. I will be leaving soon to join your father when you are better."

"Where's dad?" he asked.

"Your father has an important business to attend to. He's very proud of you," Mrs. Chen told her son.

"He has bought a gift for you. He left it in your room. Your father and I love you very much, my dear," she continued.

Chen Wei smiled, the dimple on his left cheek evident.

Mrs. Chen took an apple from her basket and a knife. She started peeling the apple. She handed the apple to her son when she had finished peeling. Chen Wei ate happily.

"Does the apple taste good?" she asked.

Chen Wei nodded his head and grinned sheepishly at his mum.

"My big bambino," Mrs. Chen said affectionately.

"Mum, I want water," Chen Wei said in between chewing.

"All right, the 'Green Dolphin' brand?" Mrs. Chen gave her son a questioning look.

Chen Wei grinned widely and nodded his head.

"Or do you prefer the 'Spring Dew' brand, I heard this one is better?"

"I'll have the 'Green Dolphin', thanks mum."

Looking at her son's smiling, sunshine face, Mrs. Chen thought to herself, "don't tell me it's only a green dolphin, even if it's a blue whale, I'll take the trawler out to the ocean and catch one for you." Her maternal love was in full-swing. Mrs. Chen left the room to get this particular brand of water for her darling son.

After staying in hospital for one week, Chen Wei was well enough to be discharged. Back in his own bedroom, he found the present which his father gave him. It was a big rectangular box! This box was wrapped with smooth silver paper and tied with a yellow ribbon. Chen Wei was excited as this was the second present, apart from the polar bears, which his father gave him. He opened the present quickly. He took out a watch and gazed at it for a while, studying it carefully, as if he was a police inspector looking for a murder clue. He was looking at a limited edition sports chronometer, designed and crafted by master watch-maker, Teckron! The metallic silver watch chain held a rugged-looking chronometer, with night-vision capability. It was a shock-resistant, rank V 300 metre water-resistant watch, designed for the active sportsmen in mind. Coupled with a 4G virtual phone feature, this Teckron model was the dream of every youngster! Chen Wei wore it at once and only took if off on rare occasions.

A set of twelve wrist-bands was attached inside on the left-side of the box. There were two rows of six wrist-bands, in colours of black, blue, green, yellow, red and white. These wrist-bands came as accessories for the watch. Chen Wei saw that the colours of the wrist-bands on the top row were the same as that for the bottom row. He felt several of these bands with his fingers and found that the top row consisted of bands made with cotton, while the bottom row had bands made with leather! Together with this present, his father wrote him a note. Reading his father's firm handwriting, Chen Wei turned as red as a beetroot and felt as if he was floating on cloud nine! Mr. Chen wrote,

"For my big bambino,

Love,

daddy"

Back at home, in the privacy of her bedroom, Nikita was reading a book quietly. The song, ‘Scarborough Fair’, was playing softly in the background. This singer had a heavenly voice. When she sang, "...Will he be a true love of mine?", the same question flashed through Nikita's mind many times. Her thoughts were interrupted when she received a text message on her laptop computer. Nikita was beside herself with joy when Chen Wei invited her to his mansion tomorrow to help write the report on their recent space excursion. He gave her directions on how to get to his residence. Nikita accepted his invitation. When Nikita stood outside the main-gate of Octavia Mansion, she pressed the bell by the side of the gate. A security guard walked towards her. After verifying her identity, he opened the gate and let her in.

Inside Octavia Mansion, Chen Wei was resting on the sofa in the living room watching the news. Nikita arrived. She smiled at him and he got up to welcome her. She put down the basket of fruits on the coffee table which she had brought. Both sat down on the sofa. The Butler served ginseng chicken broth. He made it a point to give Nikita an extra large helping.

“Thank you,” Nikita said.

“You are welcome,” the Butler smiled and left the living room.

The two youngsters ate ginseng chicken broth quietly. After they had finished eating, Chen Wei switched television channels using the remote control on the side-table next to him. He turned on the MTV channel. Immediately, a pop singer began to dance vigorously and sang a rap song. It sounded just like a machine gun. Suddenly he asked a question.

“Could you sing?”

“Not really,” she answered.

“Could you sing a song, please?” he begged.

“Okay,” she agreed after much hesitation.

Nikita opened her mouth and cleared her throat. She sang ‘Twinkle Twinkle Little Stars’ with accompanying hand actions. Chen Wei burst into uncontrollable laughter. He laughed until he was clutching his stomach. Nikita was embarrassed and protested this was the only song she knew how to sing. Chen Wei apologised quickly and complimented her for possessing a good voice.

Both youngsters got down to serious work. While Nikita was flipping through the dictionary, she found a nice bookmark with the words, "To My Dear, Best Wishes! Diana", sitting in between the pages. She was momentarily disturbed. She regained her composure and continued with their discussion on what to write in their report. Before they knew it, it was already late afternoon.

 “My mother told me to be back by six,” Nikita wanted to leave.

“Oh my god. So fast,” Chen Wei was reluctant to see her leave.

"But we have not finished the report yet. Could you come again tomorrow?" he asked anxiously.

"All right."

Chen Wei felt a sense of emptiness when Nikita closed the door after her. When he saw a bar of chocolate lying on the coffee table, he wanted very much for her to have it. Without thinking, he grabbed this bar of chocolate and dashed out of the door. He saw Nikita walking further and further away into the distance. He chased after her. He turned around to face her and stretched out his hand holding the bar of chocolate.

"For you," he said.

"Thanks," she said softly and took the chocolate bar.

Their eyes met and Nikita saw Chen Wei's handsome face, against the backdrop of the setting sun. Chen Wei wore a white sweater with red-collar. She thought he looked like Apollo the sun-god, with a radiance emanating from his body outline. He smiled sweetly at her, exposing his row of sparkling white teeth.

Nikita quickly lowered her head and left in a hurry, her face blushing and her heart thumping furiously.

Chen Wei stretched out his right hand partially towards the departing form of Nikita and then slowly lowered his hand. He stood there motionless long after she had left. That night, Chen Wei watched the music video, 'Time to say goodbye', on television. He kept thinking about Nikita and her song, ‘Twinkle Twinkle Little Stars’. He was looking forward to their meeting tomorrow. A smile appeared on his face and he hugged his baby polar bear tightly. Before long, he was sound asleep.

That same night at Sunflower Villa.

Nikita smiled again as she looked forward to her meeting with Chen Wei the next day at Octavia Mansion. The song, 'Scarborough Fair', was playing softly in the background. The singer sang in a heavenly voice, "...Will he be a true love of mine?'