Melody of the Soul
Copyright B.G. Q. 2000. All Rights Reserved.


ACTORS                       ACTRESSES
Tony-Gallen Lo              Cathy-Jessica Hsuan
Chris-Louis Koo             Sandy-Ada Choi
Tommy-Julian Cheung    Alice-Nadia Chan
Eric-Deric Wan               Joanne-Kenix Kwok
Michael-Sunny Chan       Tina-Mariane Chan
Jerry-Bobby Au-Yeung
Johnny-Jacky Lui

CHAPTER 3

In the record room
Cathy: Morning Tommy!
Tommy: (Noticed she had on a lovely, sleeveless dress with a soft blend of colors. Her hair added even more to her lovely features since it was the first time he saw her tie it up) Wow, you look great! Are you planning to go somewhere?
Cathy: Actually it’s just the concert I mentioned the other time.
Tommy: Hmmm...just a little bit more training and I believe you’ll soon have your own concert. You’re doing great! Now, are you ready to sing the song I gave you last time?
Cathy: Anytime.
She smiled and put on the headphones. The music started playing... At a pause of the rhythm, she opened her lips to a beautiful opening that even she, herself, was quite surprised with. Tommy, who was remarkably induced by the angelic voice, watched with fondness as she slightly tilted her head in the cutest expression. A peculiar feeling suddenly struck Tommy when her eyes quickly glanced at him, sending with it the familiar sparkles. He leaned back with his gaze irresistibly fixed on her. She truly has a gifted voice, he thought. Although having spent just a short time of training, she already carried such a great potential of a future star...
The song ended, cutting off Tommy’s stream of thoughts. He quickly walked to Cathy.
Tommy: Is it just me or are you getting better everyday?
Cathy: (giggled) I’m looking for a good instructor here; one that can criticize my mistakes, not just bring up the good points.
Tommy: Well I didn’t finish my sentence. At the end of the song, I think you went rather low.
Cathy: Yes, that would be a good start. Any more? Don’t worry, I can take it.
Tommy: Haha, in that case, I’ll be honest and scroll down my criticism list.
The discussion went on. Cathy, too, was increasingly impressed with Tommy’s knowledge of musicology. This strong collaboration never quite happened before to each of them. By this point, no question was necessary to confess the special feeling that was blooming within Tommy’s heart.



Kowloon Restaurant
Joanne: Come on Tina, the concert is starting in 10 minutes!
Tina: Well, as much as I’d like to see this concert, I cannot throw away my food.
Joanne: Urghhh, we’re going in first. Just find us in there if you can. The place is packed!
Tina: Ok, go ahead, leave my food and me alone.
Sandy: I’ll make a bet. By next month you won’t be able to distinguish between her and a hippo.
Tina: Hey, for your information, I do go to the gym.
Alice: Well, we won’t waste these tickets, so just meet us in there as soon as you finish.
Cathy: Good luck eating that cheesecake!
The four stepped out of the restaurant.
Tina: Hey, who’s going to pay??
Alice: Don’t worry, got it covered!
Tina: Oh no, you are really leaving me? (Hurried with her meal).
As Tina ran out to catch up with the rest, she bumped into a man, causing his tray to fall on the ground.
Jerry: Hey hey, watch where you’re going. Luckily this restaurant has carpet or you would have paid for that.
Tina: What? You’re the one that bumped into me first. Ayya, no time to argue with you! (stormed out)
Jerry: You (Tina already disappeared) Hey, what kind of manner is that?


Concert Hall
Tina: Finally found you girls.
Cathy: Whoa that didn’t take you long!
Tina: Well, it could have been faster if not for that idiot.
Sandy: What? Did you scare away another guy?
Tina: Keep teasing; you all have 4 mouths; I only have 1. What can I possibly say?
Suddenly the announcement of the MC cut in their conversation
MC: Tonight we bring you one of Hong Kong’s hottest singers. During these last two years he has made his way to the stage as well as into women’s hearts. Here he is, Chris!
Joanne: You’ve been missing a lot Cathy! He’s now becoming one of the hottest guys. Just to let you know, Sandy’s been in love with him ever since he became popular.
Cathy: Ah, I guess I really did miss out on a lot of things. I’ll have to see this guy. Hmmm who could steal the heart of my annoying sister?
Sandy was about to pinch Cathy, but just in time Chris stepped out in the wild cheers and screams of the fans. He smiled and waved at them. As he quickly glimpsed down, he was dumbfounded to have come across the familiar face. The music began with the most enthusiastic applause and he quickly stepped back to perform the first song. The whole time he constantly glanced toward the person’s spot, but it was not until the very last song that he boldly stared at her for such a long time.
Alice: Hey Sandy, tonight’s your lucky night. He’s been staring at you the whole night!
Sandy: Really? You’re not just teasing me? Cathy, was he staring at me?
Cathy: Oh yeah! (Playfully slapped Sandy’s arm) Who’s going to escape my sister’s attraction? [hmm...he looks familiar.] He is great! His voice is so seductive. No wonder Sandy falls for him.
Tina: I know, isn’t he gorgeous?
Cathy: Hey, I have to go to the lady’s room; I’ll meet you gals outside later.
Alice: Ok, do you want me to go with you? (Cathy already left)
Up on the stage, Chris had finished the last song. He looked down at the audience and surprisingly she was nowhere to be found. He swept his eyes everywhere in search, only to end up in disappointment. He then left the stage with the wild screams from the crazy fans.



Sunday
Cathy: Sandy? Alice? Where are you? I’ve bought breakfast! Hm...that’s strange, they were just here. Where’d they go?
She walked in Sandy’s room but finding no one. She then stepped into Alice’s room and was surprised to see that the room is not quite organized like always.
Cathy: [Ay ya, this is so unlike Alice. She’s probably too busy and tired... I’ll just be nice and clean it for her this time since I have nothing to do.] Whoa, how come there are so many crumbled-up papers?
After a while she finished cleaning the room and tiredly dropped herself on Alice’s bed, knocking a little notebook on the floor. Cathy realized it was her diary. As she picked it up she came across the name Tony on one of the pages. Out of curiosity, she hesitantly opened to the page.
        Cathy’s finally back today. I am so happy that after 3 years she’s actually back with us, but most importantly, she’s still the same, adorable sister that I love so dearly. But why can’t I be totally happy? What if she still loves Tony? So what if I have him in my heart? It shouldn’t matter since no one knows my feelings for Tony. I ask myself every time why I still feel so uncomfortable hearing the name Tony coming from my sister. Why can’t I just act as if he means nothing to me? I’ve tried to forget him. I’ve tried so hard because I know how much he means to Cathy. From working with Tony everyday I cannot lie to myself and say that he has no feeling for her and that is also what hurts me the most. I’m afraid that one day I won’t be able to control my feelings anymore and everything will collapse. I hate myself for not being able to overcome these feelings, but I’ve set my mind. If there is a chance of them being together, I’ll just be happy knowing two important people in my life are happy... Cathy sat as if thunder had struck her at the moment. She no longer wanted to read and the words slowly blurred in her eyes. At this second she heard Sandy’s and Alice’s voices at the door. She quickly put the diary back and stepped out of Alice’s room.

Cathy: Where did you go?
Sandy: Whoooh, that was really tiring. We just went for a jog in the park.
Alice: Yeah, we were about to call you up but you were sleeping so soundly and we didn’t want to wake you.
Cathy: There, I’ve bought breakfast, but now I guess we should call it lunch.
Sandy: Wow, great, my favorite crab soup! Oh Alice, she has your fish-bubbles soup too. How thoughtful!
Alice: Hey, what happened to your "shrimp sour-soup"? Remember we three are the seafood combo?
Cathy: Oh, I already finished it... Hey, I’m going out right now. I might come back late, so don’t wait for me, ok?
Sandy: Where are you going?
Cathy: Somewhere.
Alice:  Remember tomorrow is the first time you’re going to perform to Tony. He’s going to make the decision as to promote you or not.
Sandy: Yeah, don’t come home so late and affect your performance. (turned back) Hey, she left again!
Alice: Is something bothering her?


Cathy walked aimlessly on the bustling streets. At this time, all she needed was to be alone and free of all her thoughts. The day suddenly seemed hot and muggy and the city too much of a hassle. Automatically, her legs guided her toward the beach. She strolled in the beautiful sand, not aware of anything around her. The unhappy thoughts never left her mind. Those words repeated verbatim: So what if I have him in my heart? It shouldn’t matter since no one knows my feelings for Tony. I ask myself every time why I still feel so uncomfortable hearing the name Tony coming from my sister? I cannot lie to myself and say that he has no feeling for her and that is also what hurts me the most... If there is a chance of them being together, I’ll just be happy knowing two important people in my life are happy....

Cathy: Happy...happy (she could no longer stand the thoughts but she forced herself to hold back the tears). Why is it that I have to find out now? Why was I so ignorant and couldn’t tell that she also loves Tony? And why does she have to be so generous, keeping all her feelings inside while bitterly hears us talk about Tony all the time? Why is Tony always a revolving matter to me... to us? She slowly dropped down on the sand and dug her face in her arms, the thoughts smothering her tighter and tighter. She didn’t realize a person was approaching her.

Person: [It’s really her! This world is not so big after all] (In content of seeing her, he was surprise to realize that something was certainly bothering her. He hesitantly stepped forward.)

Person: Hello.
Cathy didn’t even bother to look up.
Person: If you don’t mind I’ll sit here for a while.
Person: Is something bothering you?
Cathy finally looked up.
Cathy: Chris? (surprised)
Chris: (smiled) You actually remember?
Cathy: How can I not? You’re a big star. I was even at your concert last Friday (not showing much interest).
Chris: Not just from the concert. We’ve met before. There was a time when this girl bumped into me in front of Pacific Record.
Cathy: (looked at him) That was you? (murmured) No wonder he looks familiar. Chris
Chris: I saw you when I was jogging up there. I thought it wouldn’t hurt to try to help you release whatever that’s bothering you.
Cathy: You don’t even know me.
Chris: Sometimes it’s better to talk to someone that you don’t know...but of course, you don’t have to tell me.
Cathy: ...
Chris: (knowing that she wasn’t in a mood for talking, he stayed quiet for a while) Today is such a nice day. Take a look...very little cloud, sunny, even the water seems bluer. On a day like this, no matter what the problem is, it should be somewhat lessened.
Cathy: ...
Chris: Do you see those albatrosses? Aren’t they so cute? Sometimes I wish people could be carefree like them. But life is always full of challenges. Although by my intuition I’m sure what you’re facing right now cannot be a small problem, I think you’ll get over it soon.
Cathy: Don’t you think you’re talking too much to someone who you barely know?
Chris: Well, you can hold everything inside and be like a time bomb that’s ready to explode any second, or you can let it out somehow and not be tormented like this.
Cathy: (turned to him) How?
Chris: (grabbed her hand) Stand up, I’ll show you.
He pulled her on a huge rock near the edge of the water.
Chris: Close your eyes. Don’t worry, there’s no one here to laugh at you.
Not knowing why, Cathy did as told.
Chris: Listen carefully to the waves. Now what else do you hear?
Cathy: The wind?
Chris: Keep listening to it...Now open your eyes and look far away to the ocean. Think of nothing except what you’re seeing...
It wasn’t until now that Cathy realized how beautiful her surroundings were. The calm ocean slowly pushed its waves inland, leaving behind white bubbles on the soft sand. The blue water sparkled with its reflection of light from the afternoon sun. Lovely albatrosses soared innocently on the cloudless background. The gentle breeze blew her long skirt playfully, easing the heat of the day. Remarkably, like he said, it made her feel a lot better.
Chris: When you look at the ocean, humans are so small and weak. How much can they hold? Humans seem so vulnerable to many things but when being put on the larger scale, they’d realize that these problems are usually trivial.
Cathy: I feel better already.
Chris: That’s great. I have many other ways of releasing stress and unhappy thoughts, but I’ll save it for next time if I happen to catch someone in a bad mood again (smiled).
Cathy: (finally giving him a smile) Thank you.
Chris: Don’t thank me, I guess I just had nothing better to do during my free time.
They sat and talked until the red sun had set. Talking to Jimmy somehow took Cathy’s mind away from the thought of Tony. Then Cathy realized it was getting dark.
Cathy: I have to get going now. Chris: Would you like me to drive you back? It’s getting dark.
Cathy: That’s OK, I can make it home safely. And also, it’s good to have a walk once in a while.
Chris: If you say so. But I still don’t know your name.
Cathy: Cathy.
Chris: I wonder if we would see each other again?
Cathy: You know what...you’re a very unique person... Why don’t we let fate decide whether we will see each other again (smiled). Bye.
Chris: Bye! (looked at her until she vanished).



Cathy’s house
Cathy entered the house quietly. It was almost 12. Alice and Sandy were both asleep. She sneaked in the room and lied on her bed wearily. The problem of Tony and Alice were still there, but she was no longer bothered by it. Just let it go naturally, she thought. No one can control another person’s feelings. It’s perfectly natural for Alice to like Tony. She works with him everyday, almost. She then thought about the afternoon at the beach. A smile unexpectedly grew on her beautiful face. She soon fell asleep.





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