"So, for a start today we shall talk about dreams… Oh my goodness, there are so many dreams when you put it this way. There was once, when I was young, I dreamt I was returning from high school, and I walked out of a jungle right into a brown flooded water area in front of me. Oh my, that shocking sight just woke me up right away! What a nightmare! Do you all dream too? What do you dream about normally? Do leave me a comment below!" She was getting excited cause she saw one tuned in.
"Alright, alright, time for our guest of honour today! Jeng jeng jeng…" She made some drumroll sounds.
"Today's guest introduction is that some of you would like it, but some of you hate it with a passion. Ho ho ho, could you guess who is it?" She made the drums roll again before posting the picture in the live chat.
"It's Co Lian Dor!" She announced excitedly. "Wait a minute, don't get too excited! That's its glamorous stage name. Its original name is coriander or cilantro. So, without further ado, let's have Co Lian Dor introduce itself!" She announced and clapped before changing her voice.
"Yes, yes, thank you very much, Vi's V! Haaa, those of you who hate me love to complain about me being smelly, right! Hey, do you know I help you clean up your waste system? Do you think you can pee fragrantly with a healthy waste system without me?!" She imitated in a sharp, cranky voice. Technically, venting her anger from earlier.
By the time she noticed, there were two tuning in. Both was laughing hysterically at her silliness in the chat room and it gave her the encouragement to continue.
"Oh mine… cool down, Co lian dor! Aww, audience, please do not be offended and do be nice to Co Lian Dor and its family from now on. Just accept the fact that when you eat them, you will be happy, happy like me." She concluded as she laughed heartily before imitating Co Lian Dor's voice, but in a censored manner.
"Sorry, Co Lian Dor, no swearing in the show! And we are running out of time! Alright, time to wrap up now!" She concluded before trying to imitate Co Lian Dor's voice, censored swearing and added some hitting sound effects.
"Oh my goodness! You're so barbaric, Co Lian Dor! Goodbye everyone! I'm being chased for cancelling its airtime! Huarghhh!!!" She went off air while running and felt so refreshed as she saved the recording and added it to her page as a new post.
She knew she had fun acting it impromptu as her mind began to think of something for her next episode, not knowing how badly she had made Sebastian laugh in the middle of the road while waiting for his assistant to pick him up.
The other person was Sam, who walked out to look for her, happily skipping his way.
"Had fun?" He asked as she nodded, and knew he was one of them listening in.
"Did you listen with Jade?" She asked as he shook his head before changing his facial reaction recalling the cries he heard from her froom. She patted his shoulder while suggesting a detour.
He gave a questioning look. "You didn't sort things out well with her, did you?" She asked as he sighed.
"If you like her, why are you doing this?" She questioned. "If you like Sebastian, why did you break off?" He asked.
"Cause you told me so…" She retaliated as he sighed at the fact that she was right as they stayed silent for a few moments while strolling before she decided to leave the topic alone.
"Hmm… I wonder who the second one is. The new subscriber seems mysterious…" She mumbled to herself as Sam chuckled, knowing it was definitely Sebastian.
"Keep it up as long as you can destress." Sam encouraged her as she nodded while leaning on his arms, feeling a lot better.
Meanwhile, Wayne caught himself in an unexpected revelation with Penny.
"You're alright, Little Happiness?" Penny asked, a little startled to find him looking unwell for once. He looked up at her, a little flabbergasted, before hugging her because he knew it was Penny, whom he had waited for.
"You knew about Pei Ni, don't you? Pei Li's twin? Who had died?" Wayne asked in his shaky voice while letting her off his arms.
"Of course…" She replied gently, noticing the familiar brown cover book he was holding.
After a few nights of getting to know him, she began to allow herself to acknowledge the feelings for him, which she tried suppressing thinking it was Pei Li's cause; she knew exactly what had happened that night to Pei Ni, who had passed on and him.
However, seeing his devastated state tonight after discovering her diary, she began to realise probably the growing feelings were her own. His hug just confirmed it for her.
"And I also know…" She paused briefly to caress his right cheek with her shaky breath.
"That you're not at fault that night when Pei Ni died…" Penny revealed, watching Wayne being caught off guard.
"When did you start being… Penny…" He questioned to satisfy his curiosity.
"The same night Pei Ni died because of that man trying to…" Penny choked at her words, and it was the cruellest memory she had kept with her since then.
"The one who was screaming was Pei Ni and not Pei Li?" Wayne clarified as she nodded.
"Pei Li was hiding in the closet. When he is drunk, he can't differentiate the twins…" Penny explained.
"It wasn't her first time that night?" Wayne asked, half recalling, half clarifying.
"It wasn't… She was protecting Pei Li all along…" Penny said.
"Else Pei Ni wouldn't have come to play with me like it was normal…" Wayne continued recalling.
"She wanted to run away, Wayne… To put a stop to everything. She was looking for help to rescue Pei Li." It was the first time Wayne saw Penny crying as he helped her wipe her tears away.
"That night, I found myself in the closet after the chaos. It was probably Pei Li's first time witnessing the rape but she did not watch you being blamed for Pei Ni's death. I did by the corner of the window… You met my gaze for a moment, but I hid. I'm sorry…" Penny forced herself not to break down as Wayne held her.
"So you have been standing in her position when all… that…" Wayne was at a loss for words while staring at Penny.
"Yes… The rapes. The few miscarriages. Abortions… The abuses... I have been protecting her from all that. She must never find out about them. Unless you want her to perish for good." Penny threatened while looking into Wayne's reddened eyes.
His thoughts all along were not worrying about Pei Li cause he knew she was very well protected and innocent, but instead, he felt so bad for Penny. Never in his wildest dreams could he imagine himself to have such strong feelings for another personality of the girl he had a crush on since young.
"Pei Li was all along very protected. Very." Penny emphasised on it very much.
"So if you are not planning to be committed to protecting her after all this, I would rather you send her back to the hell hole where she came from…" Penny demanded as he held her closer in his arms.
"Just how much have YOU suffered?" Wayne questioned.
"Anything just to keep Pei Li safe…" Penny said with conviction, watching as he let his tears fall.
"What about you?" He asked as Penny looked away.
"How much has Penny suffered in protecting Pei Li?" He asked gently.
"Doesn't it hurt you, too?" His question made Penny feel vulnerable again as she wanted to hide it with her anger, only to find herself embracing Wayne, who was breaking down in her arms.
That was when Penny knew for once that it was fine to feel vulnerable. It was not her fault for any of the things she was put through. It was worth it cause she was not alone anymore.
"The marriage. The husband's duties. I want to fulfil it. Not just for Pei Li but for you too…" He said as Penny shook her head vigorously.
"No. Don't. I don't want to burden you with this. You have a better life out there…" Before Penny could finish her sentence, Wayne put a finger over her lips and wiped away her tears.
"With a price. You ought to work for me while we are in this secret marriage. The family knows, but not the public. It's to keep all the parties satisfied and, most importantly, to keep you safe."
Penny was so touched but also disappointed with herself for being so hopeless for once, as Wayne hugged her to comfort her.
"Why? Why would you want to step in and get involved? When you clearly want to stay away from your family? It's…" Penny was frustrated and at a loss for words as Wayne patted her head.
"Cause you showed me the value of life I didn't learnt, and this is an escape opportunity for both of us. A reborn life. A second chance. If you wouldn't mind, I won't. Once we establish ourselves, I won't stop you from a divorce, but promise me till then you will strive, like you always do, to stay alive and lead a better life. Not just for Pei Li but this time for yourself." Wayne's conviction was convincing, but she knew someday she would disappear.
"What if I disappear for good?" She asked, tearing up.
"Then let's make the best we can of our time together." He gently caressed her cheeks as Penny finally broke down in his arms. She let go of all she had held on to before succumbing to his intense kiss, where she could feel it was all that he ever wanted, not for Pei Li but for her being herself as Penny.
She understood his offer was a one-way ticket. It was a lifetime chance, and she did not hesitate to hug him tighter and promised herself that she would strive for a better life. She never regretted documenting that diary, which earned her a comrade now.