In Dong Xian's PDA: My confession

The alarm went off. I checked my watch, exactly 4am. I rang Leo.

I went into the bathroom, splashed cold water onto my face to wake myself up. No time to waste: time to work.

Equipment plug-in: ready... set ... go... 50 minutes left.... Everything going according to plan... wait: what the hell is Eric doing?...15 minutes left..."what now boss?" ... wait ... stock price fell to $22...Shin Dong Xian think! Think! Think!... Las Vegas jail... YES!... Must be Jackson...Leo, check...change strategy: buy all...2 minutes left..."We will be bankrupt if it drops to $20"... phone rang ... Eric...Time's up...with a big smile, Leo waved the paper at me, "Bingo!: just sign here, and we are done."

A battle of 50 minutes for the hotel: triumph again! I love the feeling of winning... really addictive...

But wait... something is not quite right... "Hold it", I said, "for another week..."

"Are you alright, boss?" Leo asked, obviously couldn't figure out why I wanted to hold.

I am not sure either. However, the victory come way too early, and I am not ready for it.

"It would be fine. They have nowhere to retreat now." I gave him a lame excuse, and walked away from my desk.

I stood at the balcony. It is 5:30am, the sun is just about to come up, and the air is still cold. The Han river is in front of me and you are somewhere there.

My mission has not been completed yet: I came for you but haven't got you yet. Now, the hotel has fallen into my hands, it is too early, way too early.

You did not even know what I came for. I could not hide it from you anymore. I need to see you, and confess to you now.

"Leo, give me the key." Leo handed me the key. I got into the car, started the engine, and drove straight to your apartment.

I parked the car. You are probably still asleep: maybe I shouldn't wake you up.

However, I really needed to talk to you, desperately.

Manager Xu? No, you are Xu Zhen Yin. Wake up, it's me, Shin Dong Xian.

I must apologize for waking you up at this early hour. However, I have to take you somewhere urgently as there is something that I needed to tell you. Could you please come down?

You asked me to wait for 5 minutes... 4 minutes: I saw you at the entrance of your building, wearing the similar outfit as you did when we went to the Shrine... the cotton candy... MacDonald's... the rain...

7:30am...There are only a few nuns saying their morning prayers in the church. In such solemn environment, I came to confess.

"Why do you bring me here? Are you a Christian? … " you asked.

Zhen Yin, this is a church, be quiet.

I didn't ask and went straight for your hand. You let me take and hold your hand: that is soft and warm. You let me lead you to a bench, and we sat side-by-side.

I have to say my prayer first...my lord. Forgive me as I have sinned. I come to confess to you and to Zhen Yin this morning. Please help me, as I need her to understand this. I couldn't lose her so please help me, my lord. In the name of the father, the son and the holy ghost. Amen...

I gathered all my courage, and said to you finally, " Actually, I am here to make a confession …" I wanted to tell you the truth, as I could not and did not want to hide anything from you anymore.

You seemed to be amazed that I have something to confess: have I committed a lot of sins? More than you know. So much so I have to frequent the church in Manhattan after my battles. In the church, I found my peace, my soul and my comfort ... sometimes, I even fall asleep there...

Asleep... your face fell on top of my arm. Asleep?

I checked. You are asleep. I told you that I fell asleep in church but I did not ask you to go to sleep as well...silly girl...

I nudged your head up gently towards my shoulder...Your head almost rolled off my arm. I moved quickly yet carefully as I did not want to wake you up... Finally your head is on my shoulder and my arm is around you.

A ray of morning sun gleamed through the tinted glass window, landed onto your face. You are asleep, looking so innocent and trusting. You didn't even know what I came for. Why do you trust me like this? Having you on my shoulder, I found peace.

I turned and looked at you. You are smiling: Are you having a dream? What is in your dream?

I caressed your hair gently as I didn't want to wake you up.

I hesitated, I really did ... but at the end, I am still overwhelmed with emotion and I planted a soft kiss on your forehead, declaring to the world silently that you are mine...

Zhen Yin: I brought you here to confess to you. I am a hunter, and I have come to hunt for Hotel Seoul. I could not really understand how you feel, but I could see that the hotel is important to you. You are where my happiness laid. If you do not like me hunting your hotel, I could give it up for you. Please understand: I come all the way for you and would not want to leave without you. I hope you could hear these words from my heart in your dream...

Amazing, you slept through all these...

At times, I have trouble understanding you. I got to where I am now by working hard and calculating all my moves carefully. I thought this is how the world runs but then, you have defied all my logic and reasoning. In your simple world, I see you living well and happy. Things do bother you, but nothing seemed to worry you much ... Zhen Yin, I am tired too...

...

Ring...ring...

So, I dozed off as well... but you head is still leaning against my shoulder, and my arms still around you.

It is your phone ringing. I heard part of your conversation, and sounded like you have to go back to the hotel.

You yawned again, "Sorry … I can't listen to your confessions." I smiled: I finished my confession already.

"You must tell me next time"

I would.

"You must!", you insisted. OK!

"Let's hook our fingers", you gave me your hand. My little fingers hooked up with yours and my thumb touched your thumb: hooked... promised...contract signed.

Wait a minute: we are not done yet: "Open you palm", I asked you to.

You open your right palm...zeeee... I brushed my right hand on your palm. You looked at me, eyes opened.

Finally awake, right? "What's that for?"

Carbon-copy, wasn't that obvious? A duplicate of our contract, our agreement for today: your gave me your trust, and in return, I promised you my love. What I come for is probably not important anymore as we have signed a contract. To make sure that we both remember this day, we made a carbon copy of our contract.

You laughed. I just love to see your smile.

"Let's go!", you said, walked off and I followed you.

My lord, thank you for what you have done for me this morning... Amen. I said my last prayer before we left the church.

Zhen Yin's thoughts: Your confession

Ring … Ring … Ring … What is that? … alarm clock … oh, the phone … half-asleep … I picked up the phone, still groggy, "Yes, I am Manager Xu Zhen Yin" Should be still on shift?

"Zhen Yin, I am sorry to call you this early … I am now at the lobby of your apartment", your voice came through the phone line.

"My goodness, you are Dong … Dong Xian mister?" I suddenly woke up. Yes? What? You are downstairs now? "Really? What is the matter?" "I need to wash up … at least 15 minutes" Yes, I see … please give me 5 minutes … On hanging up the phone, I jumped off the bed, grabbed some clothes, and dashed into the bathroom.

Took my bag and keys, locked the door, I rushed down the stairs, clean-face, casually clothed, hair not properly bundled, with little mascara ... just to make it in 5 minutes … I promised you to appear in 5 minutes …

I saw you, at the carpark, as fresh, boyish and well-groomed … Oppps! I touched my hair, trying to fix it but too late now … I bowed … Luckily, I made it … in 4 minutes … You smiled, I smiled. We are both in "blue" today. Meeting you early in the morning has brightened my day. "Come, Let's go to a place" … where are we going? … I boarded the car.

…

You brought me to a church. It is still early. It is a quiet place with a few nuns praying. "Why do you bring me here? Are you a Christian? … " I asked.

Before I could complete asking … you held my hand … and I allowed you to. Your hand felt warm and inviting. I held on to your hand. You lead me to a bench. Quietly, I followed. Seated, you started to pray. I followed suit.

Sorry! Excuse me … but I am really tired … I turned to a side and yawned. "Actually, I am here to make a confession …", you said. Confession? I turned to face you, "A confession?"

"I wish to reveal the truth to you. Who am I … my reason of coming to Hotel Seoul … I wish to tell you the truth", you said. You brought me here early in the morning ... What are you trying to say? I joked, "Have you committed a lot of sins?" Sorry, excuse me … I turned to one side and yawnnnnned ...

"Maybe you are right", you nodded. I … I … nearly dozed off.

Much sins? Then maybe you might need to visit the church often. Do you visit the church often?

You recited, "There is a Latefelica Church in Manhattan. I used to frequent that place. The New York Stock Market closes at 3pm. After a hard day of battles … … although drained, I'll take a train to Latefelica Church. The place … … confessions are optional. I could feel peace just by sitting there. I would even fall asleep sometimes …" … I listened … nodded … listened … and nodded … then … I … I … My head seemed to have fallen onto a nice pillow.

…

Ring … Ring … Ring … What is that? … Alarm clock? Phone? Where is that? … I saw you close, right in front of me … am I dreaming? … Where am I? I almost fell …

I felt your hand on my shoulder. I should have dozed off on your shoulder just now. My face warmed. How long have I slept?

You pointed towards my bag. Yes, my mobile phone. I picked it up, embarrassingly, for the ringing has interrupted the peaceful church. I am required to attend an urgent meeting in the hotel shortly. Yes, I'll be back shortly.

"You need to go back to the hotel now?", you asked. Yes, you are right. I looked at you apologetically, "Yes, there's some urgent matter … sorry … I can't listen to your confessions."

"I have confessed …", you replied. Sorry, I shouldn't have fallen asleep. What was your confession?

"No, I must listen", I looked at you, eyes glowed … "You must tell me next time." I smiled. "All right. No problem!" you nodded and smiled in agreement.

No, no, this wouldn't do yet … "Let's hook our fingers", I said. My little fingers hooked up with yours and my thumb touched your thumb: hooked... promised... I am pretty satisfied. Then, you asked me to open out my right palm … and you brushed your right palm against mine … zeeee... ermmm, what does this suppose to mean? I looked at you, eyes opened.

"The carbon copy of our contract!", you answered cheerfully. Oh I see! Ok! We have made a deal and also a carbon copy of our contract. I laughed, "Your occupation will come to light soon."

"Let's go!", you said, still smiling. You said your prayer before leaving the church.

You drove me to the hotel. With your hands behind the wheel, I sat back and relax, felt safe. You tell me to take a short nap. Thank you … you are caring, considerate … the cool morning air woke me a little …

I felt bad about dozing off just now. I do not know the words you have in mind but you should have something to say. I am unsure how long I have slept but I certainly felt safe and peaceful in your arms. You just sat there, wrapping me with your arm, protecting me in my sleep. If my mobile phone did not ring, I could have continued sleeping for hours. You could not move at all. You may have to stay in that position for hours. You didn't even blame me for not your confession. Why does you treat me so nicely? Please do tell me your confession(s) next time. I would like to share your worries. We sealed this deal with a promise … zeeee … Signed … Contract … Duplicate … I smiled. I might look simple and without a worry in the world. That's not entirely true. You have affected me in some special ways ... I don't seem to see the roads anymore …

I am very tired after the emergency meeting. My eyes couldn't even remain open. Bye, Snow White Lee … I saw Manager Wu at the staff room door and glared at him!

Along the corridor, I tried to stay awake … CLASH! … shocked … We didn't see each other round the bend and knocked together … Her things are dropped all over … I knocked into Chi Yoon, the lady boss of the specialty shop of the hotel. Her shop is opened for business almost round the clock. "Sorry …" we said together. I helped her picked up the things she dropped. Among the things, I picked up an antique looking box, with a nice looking fountain pen inside. Ermm, this is very unique .. I helped her carry the things back to her shop and bidded her goodbye. I went straight home for my bed. Gosh! I am beat!