Three Is A Pair
Alan was a social worker whose job was to counsel teenagers who have gone astray and to guide them back on the right track again. One of the teenagers he had counselled was Kelly who had been running away from her home to keep her stepfather's hands off her. She had been caught shoplifting a few times and was eventually sent to the Girls' Home. After a few counselling sessions, Kelly was touched by Alan's concern for her, something that she hadn't received since the death of her father and soon found herself in love with him. Alan had also grown fond of her but he wasn't sure if he was the right guy for her. She was only 15 but he was already 27 and he wasn't comfortable with the age gap. Kelly, however, assured him that age difference should not be an issue in true love. Gradually, Alan accepted her and they became lovers.
All went well until Kelly's mother found out about her relationship with Alan. She wanted her to stop seeing him as she felt that Alan was just taking advantage of her. Kelly refused and decided to move in with Alan who was still living with his parents then. Soon, both of them were living together like husband and wife even though they were not legally married. They had actually planned to get married on the day Kelly turned 21 and had even agreed on the number of children they would have.
The nature of Alan's job required him to be on standby or at least to be available when those under his charge needed him. Sometimes, they would call Alan in the wee hours of the morning to confide in him or to seek his advice but most of the time they just needed a listening ear. Once, he even had to rush down to the police station in the middle of the night to bail out a boy who was involved in a gang fight. Kelly understood that Alan's working hours could be quite irregular but somehow she had always hoped that he would ignore his charges and spent more time with her. Alan, on the other hand, assumed that Kelly would understand why he needed to be there for them just like he used to be there for her when she was under his charge but somehow he was wrong.
Kelly who had quit school and was not holding any permanent job, spent most of her time at home with Alan's parents. She wasn't really comfortable in their presence as his parents weren't that friendly towards her since they felt that she was much too young to be serious with their son. Initially, she did try to get into their good books by helping out with the housework but Alan's mother wasn't appreciative. Being young and quick-tempered, she would end up arguing with her which in turn strained their relationship further. Then when Alan returned from work he had to spend much of his precious resting time pacifying the 2 most important women in his life. Finally, he suggested that Kelly spent less time at home so as to minimise the chances of conflict. Kelly agreed, in fact, she was most willing to accept Alan's suggestion. Thus while Alan was at work, Kelly would be having a good time with her friends and would stay out late when Alan had to come home late. Soon, both of them were leading different lives - one would be busy helping others just like any responsible adult would while the other would be having a good time just like any fun-loving teenager would.
Though it seemed that Kelly was having a better deal in the arrangement, she wasn't enjoying herself as much as she ought to be. In fact, she would rather spend more time with Alan than to be with her friends who spent most of their time either loitering at shopping malls, singing karaoke or playing pool. Other than not wanting to spend unnecessary money (Alan would give her money for her outings), she also didn't want Alan's parents to think that she was a materialistic gal. Thus, whenever possible she would meet up with Alan and wouldn't hesitate to cancel her appointment with her friends.
However, going out with Alan wasn't always smooth sailing or at least it didn't always end the way Kelly would want it to. Once, they had to cut short the candlelight dinner they were enjoying when one of his counselees called, saying that she wanted to end her life. Though it might have just been a threat, Alan wouldn't take the chance and sent Kelly off before rushing to her rescue. Of course, Kelly wasn't too pleased with that but that was what attracted her to him in the first place - his strong sense of responsibility. She would console herself that he was just doing his job. Gradually, she got used to such an arrangement that she wouldn't get too upset whenever it happened.
Working with Alan at his centre, were other counsellors and one of them was Cindy who had a strong liking for Alan. She would take every opportunity available to be near him and to talk to him. Alan, however, had always made it clear to her that he would always treat her just like he treated his other female friends. Suspecting that he was already attached, she had always wondered who the lucky lady was. Then, one evening while out shopping with her friends, she thought she saw him with a gal - a teenage gal. Out of curiosity, she decided to excuse herself and followed the couple. Upon closer observation, she recognised Kelly as one of the 'problem teenagers' at her centre. Initially, she thought it was just one of those outings that Alan would normally have with his counselees - something that she herself would do with her charges. But after trailing them for a distance, she found their behaviour far too intimate to be that of between a counsellor and a counselee. Eventually she confirmed that Kelly was the gal Alan was attached to.
It came as a shock to Cindy as she just couldn't understand why would Alan prefer someone who was not only so much younger than he was but also someone with a complicated family background. Moreover, Alan was breaking the centre's rule of not to get romantically involved with the counselees. She wasn't sure if she should make a report against him. She knew that Alan had always loved what he was doing and wouldn't exchange his job for anything else and making such a report would certainly end his career. But on the other hand, it might also bring Alan back to his senses and he might even leave Kelly which would then give Cindy another shot at winning his heart. After much thoughts, she decided to talk to the supervisor about it as she reasoned that even if she didn't do it somebody else might.
The supervisor didn't want to believe what Cindy told her at first but when she saw the pictures Cindy took with her handphone, she had to accept the truth. Not wanting to lose a good counsellor like Alan, she agreed to give him a second chance and not terminate his service. Cindy was happy with the promise and looked forward to having another chance to capture Alan's heart. However, sometimes things just wouldn't turn out the way one had planned. When the supervisor questioned Alan about his relationship with Kelly, he decided to come clean as he had been under tremendous pressure trying so hard to hide his secret affair and that he also understood that he couldn't keep it under wrap forever. He admitted that Kelly was his live-in girlfriend and that they had planned to get marry when the time was ripe. The supervisor reminded him of the rule against such relationship and advised him to send Kelly back to her mother. Alan acknowledged that he had broken the rule but claimed that he couldn't stop himself from falling in love with her. Instead, he offered to resign as he simply couldn't imagine how his life would be like without Kelly. The supervisor was dumbfounded while Cindy was devastated as she couldn't believe that his love for Kelly could be so deep that he was willing to give up his much beloved job.
As Alan walked out of the centre, he felt relief as the secret that he had been keeping from his colleagues had finally been let out of the bag. Though he would miss his work and his counselees, he looked forward to being able to work regular hours and thus spending more time with Kelly.
Alan couldn't wait to share the good news with Kelly. Though he had lost his favourite job, he looked forward to being able to spend more time with Kelly who had been complaining about his irregular working hours and how little time they had for each other. Kelly was indeed delighted to hear that Alan had quit his job and would be looking for another job with regular working hours. They decided to go to their favourite hangout - the beach, to spend the night by the sea.
They hired a lover-bike as Kelly wasn't very confident riding on her own. It was a breezy evening and they were so engrossed in their discussion on the type of jobs that Alan could take on that they didn't realise that they were riding along a stretch of path that was under repaired. Unknown to them, a section of the railing lining the canal had been damaged and the dim lighting along the path made it difficult for them to spot the opening in the barrier. As they neared the canal, Alan noticed the gap in the railing. He braked hard to avoid falling into the opening but Kelly whose hands wasn't on the handles, was caught off guard and was thrown off the bike. Somehow, while trying to balance herself on the sandy ground, she slipped and fell into the opening, landing hard at the bottom of the canal. Fortunately, the tide wasn't in and the water level was at its lowest. However, Kelly lay there motionlessly and was not responding to Alan's call. Alan who tried in vain to look for a way down to the canal, decided to summon for help. The police and ambulance arrived shortly and they were sent to the nearest hospital.
The doctor at the ER department decided to give Kelly a full body scan to check for any internal injury or fracture. Other than a swollen skull, they didn't find any other injury but they found out something unexpectedly. They discovered that Kelly was pregnant. The doctor reported his finding to the police officer who was investigating the freak accident. Upon further probing, the officer discovered that Kelly was still a minor - she was one month short of turning 16.
Meanwhile, Alan who still didn't know about Kelly's pregnancy, decided to call Kelly's mother to inform her of the mishap. Just as he finished making the call, the investigating officer approached him. He asked how he was related to Kelly. Alan claimed to be her boyfriend. Then the officer went on to ask if he knew that Kelly was underage. Alan nodded. Upon seeing that, the officer requested that Alan followed him back to the station to assist him in the investigation of a criminal case. Through the questions asked, Alan realised what was coming and agreed to cooperate. However, he requested to be allowed to see Kelly as he wanted to know if she was out of danger.
The doctor said that Kelly seemed to have slipped into a coma, probably due to the concussion she suffered when she landed heavily on the concrete base of the canal. She needed to be warded for further observation. Alan had to leave with the officer with a heavy heart, not knowing when he would see Kelly again. He would very much like to be the first person she saw when she regain her consciousness.
Though Kelly's mother didn't agree to Kelly moving in with Alan, she was not totally against it either. Having remarried after Kelly's father died of cancer when Kelly was only 9, she had been worried that her second husband might not treat Kelly as his own. But when she saw that he doted on Kelly as much as she did, she was glad to have married the right man. However, as Kelly grew older so had her husband's fondness for her and when Kelly told her of her unwillingness to be near her stepfather, she would reprimand her for being ungrateful, saying that she was lucky to have such a loving stepfather. And when Kelly started running away from school and later from home, she thought that Kelly had got into bad company, never suspecting that her husband was the root of the problem. It was only when her neighbours' young daughters began to avoid her husband that she realised that something fishy had been going on behind her back. She could have been wrong about her husband being a loving father but then Kelly had already moved in with Alan.
Though she hardly visited her mother since she moved out, Kelly would call her regularly to update her on her well-being. Kelly's mother was surprised to receive Alan's call on that fateful night as they had neither met nor talk to each other before. She rushed down to the hospital upon receiving the news of Kelly's mishap. However, it seemed that she wasn't fated to meet Alan as he had already been taken away by the police by the time she arrived. Then another shocking news awaited her. The doctor told her of Kelly's pregnancy. She was speechless, not knowing how she should react - happy or upset. Then came the shocking part - the foetus, which would have been exposed to the harmful radiation when Kelly was being scanned, had to be aborted. Of course, Kelly had the right to choose to carry it to term but she would risk giving birth to a deformed baby. However, being a minor and still in coma Kelly wouldn't be in the position to make that decision while Alan not being her legal husband wouldn't have the right to decide too. Thus, Kelly's mother being the only legal guardian, had to make the decision.
Being a mother herself, she knew that it wasn't easy bringing up a normal child, what more one with deformity. She decided to give the 'green light' to terminate the untimely 'gift of life'. It wasn't an easy decision and hopefully, Kelly would forgive her. The doctor decided to remove the foetus while Kelly was still in coma as nobody knew when she would come round and it would be too dangerous to delay the operation.
Meanwhile, at the police station, Alan was being interrogated by the investigating officer who suspected that he had had sex with a minor. Being a counsellor, Alan had always advised his counselees against having premarital sex but for someone who was living under the same roof with somebody whom he loved dearly, it would be quite impossible not to be tempted to eat the forbidden fruit. He knew the consequence he would face if he were to admit to the charge and he was ready to pay for his 'crime of passion'.
In the eyes of his mother, Alan had alway been a filial son and would do anything that she wanted him to. Somehow, ever since he fell in love with Kelly, he had been doing things that upset her. Then when Alan told her that Kelly would be moving in to stay with him, she was furious but eventually agreed when Alan threathened to move out. Though, she didn't like the idea of living with a stanger, she learnt to bear with it for the sake of her son. Her husband who was a more forgiving person, treated Kelly more cordially and would come to her defence when his wife got too nasty. It seemed that the two most important men in her life were turning against her, thus it was not surprising that she treated Kelly like a jinx. Her belief was confirmed when Alan had to resign from his job because of her and was further reinforced when Alan was arrested because of her.
When Alan called to say that he was at the police station, she thought that he was there to bail out one of his counselees again. But when he told her that he was the one being investigated, she almost fainted. Alan was sorry that he had to put his parents through such an ordeal but there was no turning back for him as what had been done could never be undone. He was eventually charged for having sex with a minor and was sentenced to 2 years imprisonment and 3 strokes of the rotan. His mother who was at the trial, fainted upon hearing the harsh sentence. As Alan was being led out of the courtroom, his mother was being carried out in a stretcher. Apparently, she had suffered a heart attack and unfortunately she didn't make it to the hospital. Alan's father who had always been a cool-headed man, suddenly began talking to himself. The death of his wife and the imprisonment of his only child were too much a blow to him. He was eventually sent to a welfare home since there wasn't anyone around to care for him.
One week after Alan was imprisoned, Kelly suddenly came out of her coma. Her mother was overjoyed and couldn't wait to fetch her home. However, Kelly couldn't recall what had happened to her nor could she recognise her mother. Her mind was a blank as if it had been reformatted. The doctor explained that it might take her some time to recover her 'data' since she had been in coma for quite a while. He said that it would help if she was around people and places she was familiar with. Kelly's mother decided to take her home in the hope that the familiarity of the house would help to regain her memory.
Kelly's stepfather was happy to be seeing her again, especially when she couldn't recall who he was and what he used to do to her. Though Kelly's mother had her suspicion, there was nowhere else she could send her to since she didn't know how she could get in touch with Alan. She told herself to be more wary of her husband and to make sure that he didn't get too close to Kelly. She even arranged for her to sleep with her in the masterbed room while her husband would sleep with their sons in another room. She got her husband to agree to the arrangement by saying that it would help in Kelly's recovery since she used to sleep with her when she was younger.
All seemed to go well one week after Kelly's return and gradually she could recognise her two younger stepbrothers whom she was spending most of her time with. Then one evening, Kelly who had been playing with her stepbrothers in their room, felt asleep while trying to coax them to sleep. Later that night, Kelly's stepfather returned drunk as usual from his drinking session. As he staggered into his sons' room, he was surprised to see Kelly lying on the mattress, sound asleep. She looked so inviting in her crouching position that he suddenly became sober and approached her like a hungry wolf.
Meanwhile, Kelly felt a cooling sensation at her tummy as the cold air from the aircon blew in her direction. Next, she felt her bra being undone. She thought she was in dreamland but it felt too real to be in a dream. She opened her eyes but couldn't see anything as her t-shirt had been pulled over her head. She tried to break free and to scream for help but a pair of strong hands held her down and covered her mouth. As she was fighting for her breaths, flashes of her past memories came rushing back. Just then, the room lit up. Next, Kelly heard her mother shouting at the person to her to let go. As soon as the pair of hands was withdrawn, Kelly got up and was stunned to see her stepfather standing next to her. She burst into tears while her mother moved forward to embrace her.
Kelly's stepfather explained that he was just trying to help Kelly change into something more comfortable as it had been a very warm night. Kelly's mother who didn't buy his lame story, chased him out of the room. She was sorry that her daughter had to go through such an ordeal and even apologised for not having believed what she told her before. Kelly said that they should report him to the police but her mother thought otherwise. He had been a responsible husband and father who provided for the family and she couldn't imagine what would happen to the family if he were to be sent to jail. She pleaded with Kelly to give him another chance as the family simply could not survive without him. Kelly was in a dilemma. Was it fair to her to be molested and yet having to keep quiet about it? Would it be selfish of her to report him and to deprive the family of their financial support? Just as she was fighting over what she should do, she suddenly remembered Alan. If he were around, he would have protected her and kept her safe but what had happened to him. Why wasn't he around for her when she needed him most? She decided to look for him the next day.
One good outcome about the unfortunate incident was that it restored Kelly's data and she remembered all the happy times she had with Alan. As she approached the flat where she had lived with Alan for the past one year, she sensed something amiss. It looked as if it had been vacated for quite some time. She wanted to find out what had happened from the neighbours but it seemed that most of them were not at home. Just as she was about to leave, she noticed a pair of eyes peeping at her through a window of a neighbour. As she neared the window, the person slammed the window and uttered something that puzzled her. It came from an old lady who said something about a jinx and doing a great disservice to the family. Not knowing what to do next, she walked aimlessly amidst the blocks of flats. On one hand, she didn't want to return to her mother's as the thought of seeing her stepfather again frightened her but on the other hand, she had no where else to go to since she didn't know of Alan's whereabouts. Why didn't he contact her? Had he left her for somebody else?
Life had not been easy for Alan in the prison. It was an irony that he who had always advised his counselees to stay on the right track and not to end up in prison, would end up being on the wrong side of the law and be put behind bars. Then when he was told what had happened to his parents, he sank further into depression. He kept blaming himself for his mother's death and his father's insanity. At times, he would even ask himself if the sacrifices that he had made for Kelly were worth it. Was she really a jinx liked what his mother used to tell him? Why hadn't she visited him? Had she abandoned him now that he had become a convict?
The inmates who shared the prison cell with Alan, didn't like their newcomer, especially when they found out what he was in for. In fact, they despised him for having taken advantage of a minor. They would 'blanket-party' (to pull a blanket over him and then rained punches on him) him during the night and pretended that they knew nothing of it. Though Alan knew who the culprits were, he didn't bother to report them as he didn't want any more troubles.
The day when Alan received his rotan was the worst day of his life. The pain from the caning was so intense that he thought he was going to die. When the first stroke was executed, he almost fainted and after the third stroke, he didn't feel anything anymore as if his bottom wasn't there. He had to spend the next few weeks lying on his belly. His cell mates wouldn't miss the chance to tease him and to poke at his tender butt. Though he knew that they were just making fun of him, the pain could be so unbearable that he would lose his temper. Fortunately, one of them who had been through the same painful experience was there to help him along and to apply the medication to his rear.
Cindy who found out about Alan's plight from a mutual friend, paid him a visit. She almost didn't recognise him and it hurt her deeply to see him ending up in such a state. Alan was too embarrassed to face her initially but somehow was glad to have a visitor. They chatted for about an hour and she promised to visit him as often as she could. In fact, she visited him so often that the wardens thoguht she was his wife. Alan was grateful to Cindy for the concern she showered on him and regretted not having taken her advice. He even wondered if they could have become lovers if Kelly didn't exist. However, Kelly did exist and he had been longing for her to pay him a visit. Then during one of the visits, Alan asked Cindy if she knew what had become of Kelly. Cindy knew nothing about her whereabouts or well-being nor was she interested. But at the request of Alan, she was willing to find out what had happened so as to put his mind at ease. However, deep in her mind, she was hoping that she wouldn't locate Kelly as she wouldn't want her to see Alan again. She was convinced that Kelly wasn't suitable for Alan especially after seeing what had happened to him.
Kelly's stepfather who worked as a contractor had tendered for a project in Batam. He had to stay on the island during the weekdays and would only be back on weekends. Kelly was delighted to know that she could sleep in peace during his absence and would spend her weekends at her friend's to avoid him. Kelly managed to find a job at a fastfood restaurant where she hoped to run into Alan as he used to patronise such places with his counselees. Being a greenhorn, Kelly faced much difficulties in adapting to a working life as compared to the kind of life she used to enjoy when Alan was still around. Fortunately, the manager, Danny, was a helpful and caring supervisor. He would guide her along, making sure everything go smoothly for her. Though most of Kelly's colleagues were about her age, she perferred to be with Danny and would look for him for assistance rather than to seek their help. It seemed that Danny reminded her of Alan and sometimes, she would even mistake him for Alan and called him 'dar'. Danny who felt Kelly's attachment to him, realised that he was slowly falling for her too. Soon, they were spending most of their free time together and their relationship flourished.
Though Kelly enjoyed the company of Danny, she still missed the times she had with Alan. She had never stopped wondering what had happened to him and why he hadn't contacted her at all. Had he really forgotten about her? Danny who sensed that she was emotionally disturbed, would try to find out what was troubling her. Kelly wasn't sure if she should tell him about her past with Alan. What if Alan were to appear again? Should she go back to him or should she stay with Danny? She didn't know how she should react if the day were to arrive. She just hoped that she would never have to face that situation.
Though Cindy had promised Alan that she would find out what had happened to Kelly, she didn't really mean to do it. However, one would normally bump into people whom one had hoped to avoid and Cindy was no exception. She was shopping with some friends at a mall when they decided to have a bite at a fastfood restaurant. There was a queue and while waiting for their turn, she was busy chatting with a friend. Then when it was her turn to order, she was shocked to see the smiling face at the counter. It was Kelly's. The meeting was so unexpected that Kelly, who thought Cindy looked familiar, had to ask her a few times for her order.
The discovery was a very disturbing one as Cindy didn't know if she should inform Alan about it. She decided to observe Kelly at her workplace for a few more times to find out more before deciding what she should do. She soon discovered that Kelly was in a relationship with the manager and had even caught them behaving intimately a number of times after they knocked off from work. She decided not to tell Alan what she had found out but instead she intended to bring him there after his release which was due in a month. She wanted Alan to find out about Kelly new relationship himself rather than she telling him about it, lest he should suspect that she was making up the story to make him forget her.
It was the eve of Alan's release and he was having a farewell gathering with those who had helped him during his stay there. They had become friends and promised to keep in touch and to meet up again (not in prison of course). Just then one of the inmates got into an arugment with another. Alan being in a good mood, walked over to try to break them up. But he failed to realise that settling a quarrel between 2 convicts was different from that of between 2 teenagers. He thought that his counselling skill would come in handy in resolving the argument but it turned out otherwise. In the end, one of them who was pissed off by Alan's interference, swung a chair at him. It hit him hard on his head, rendering him unconscious instantly. Alan remained so for the next few days. When he finally did came round, he wasn't his usual self anymore. The impact from the blow was so great that part of his brain was permanently damaged. The doctor confirmed that Alan had become mentally retarded. Cindy was so taken aback by the change of event that she decided that she had enough of the relationship. She decided to return Alan to Kelly since she was the cause of all his sufferings.
Kelly was about to leave for home when Cindy appeared. She told Kelly that she was Alan's colleague. When Kelly heard her mentioning his name, she thought she was dreaming. Then when Cindy told her what had happened to Alan and the hardship he had been through for the past 2 years, Kelly was reduced to tears. She found it hard to believe that Alan had actually been through so much because of her when all the while she thought he had a change of heart. Cindy urged her to visit him as soon as she could as he wasn't in the position to care for himself given the condition he was in. Kelly was in a dilemma. Just when she was progressing well with Danny, she had to choose between him and Alan. Should she leave Danny and go back to Alan who had sacrificed so much for her? Or should she forget about him since he was already a retard and stay with Danny who loved her just as much? Who should she choose?
Kelly had sleepless nights over what she should do. Danny who noticed her agony tried to help her out but she wasn't ready to share what was on her mind. After much persuasion and assurance, he managed to get her to open up to him. Kelly told him of her past relationship with Alan and what happened to him eventually. After hearing her out, Danny didn't know how to advise her nor did he want to as he didn't want Kelly to make a decision that she might regret later. He told her that he would be behind her regardless of her final decision. Kelly knew that she needed to make a decision fast as delaying it would only prolong the mental torture for both of them.
The next day, armed with her decision, she met up with Danny. She told him that she had decided to go back to Alan as he needed her more. She was all that he had left and if she was not going to care for him, nobody else would. He had always showered her with his love so it was only right that she did the same thing for him when he needed it most. Moreover, he had ended up in that state mainly because of her and she wouldn't be able to forgive herself if she were to abandon him then. Though, mentally prepared for such an outcome, Danny's eyes were reddened with tears when he heard that. He understood why she had chosen Alan over him and stood by his promise to support her decision. However, before departing he said to her, "I can't stop you from leaving me but you can't stop me from waiting for you either." Kelly was touched by what he said but she would rather he forget her and to carry on with life with somebody more deserving.
Kelly moved back with Alan to his parents' flat, the place where they had spent some of their happiest moments. It wasn't easy for her to take care of him, especially when he was dependent on her for almost every task. Imagine from having been cared for by somebody who was 12 years her senior to having to look after somebody whose intelligence was 12 years her junior. She quit her job at the fastfood restaurant to avoid the awkwardness of seeing Danny and worked as a waitress at a Chinese restaurant. Fortunately, her mother had agreed to help to take care of Alan while she was at work. But on those days when her mother wasn't available she would chain him to the bed, leaving him with enough food to last the day. However, there were times when Kelly felt frustrated, having to spend all her free time attending to Alan rather than join her friends in their merry making. It didn't help when she couldn't share her problems with Alan who would only add on to her frustration with his tantrums. She had nobody else to turn to as she was ashaned to let her colleagues know about Alan's existence.
It was Danny's day off and he had just finished a game of pool with his friends. They decided to have dinner at a nearby restaurant. It was a Chinese restaurant famous for its Peking Duck. While waiting for the dishes to be served, Danny noticed a familiar face from among the waitresses. He got up from his seat and approached the waitress. He couldn't believe his eyes when he saw that it was really Kelly, still wearing her signature smile. Kelly was equally shocked to be seeing him again. It had been almost 2 years since they separated. They exchanged greetings but before they could say another word, Kelly was being called away. However, both felt good to be have run into each other again. From then, Danny would patronise the restaurant on his off days while Kelly would look forward to his every visit. As Danny re-entered her life, Kelly felt much better being able to confide in him matters that Alan would be too 'young' to understand. Danny even visited Alan and got along quite well with him. Once, he suggested that they bring Alan out for an outing which Kelly wasn't very keen for fear of the attention Alan might attract. But Danny was sure that it would do Alan more good than harm and that nothing would go wrong. Indeed, in spite of the unwanted attention, they did have a great time together. Gradually, they were going out so often that the curious stares from the public didn't bother them anymore.
It was Kelly's 21st birthday but she seemed to have forgotten about it as it was also a Sunday - the busiest time of the week. As usual she was busy attending to the customers when the 'Birthday Song' was being played over the PA system. She thought that it must be for the customer who was celebrating his birthday there. However, when the birthday cake was being pushed out, it headed towards where Kelly was standing. As it neared, Kelly was shocked to see Danny standing next to the cake. He had actually made arrangement with the restaurant to celebrate her special day. Kelly was moved to tears by the thoughtful gesture but before she could recover from her pleasant surprise, Danny was already down on one knee and proposing to her. His action caught everybody, especially Kelly by surprise. Kelly didn't know what to do but those around her certainly did. They cheered her on to accept Danny's proposal but she was still hesitant. Knowing what was on her mind, Danny assured her that she wouldn't have to abandon Alan after their marriage as all 3 of them would be living under the same roof. Kelly didn't know what to say but she didn't resist when Danny put the ring through her finger. It was indeed the best present Kelly would ever receive and most important of all, she got to share her life with the 2 men whom she loved so dearly.
The next day, armed with her decision, she met up with Danny. She told him that she had decided to go back to Alan as he needed her more. She was all that he had left and if she was not going to care for him, nobody else would. He had always showered her with his love so it was only right that she did the same thing for him when he needed it most. Moreover, he had ended up in that state mainly because of her and she wouldn't be able to forgive herself if she were to abandon him then. Though, mentally prepared for such an outcome, Danny's eyes were reddened with tears when he heard that. He understood why she had chosen Alan over him and stood by his promise to support her decision. However, before departing he said to her, "I can't stop you from leaving me but you can't stop me from waiting for you either." Kelly was touched by what he said but she would rather he forget her and to carry on with life with somebody more deserving.
Kelly moved back with Alan to his parents' flat, the place where they had spent some of their happiest moments. It wasn't easy for her to take care of him, especially when he was dependent on her for almost every task. Imagine from having been cared for by somebody who was 12 years her senior to having to look after somebody whose intelligence was 12 years her junior. She quit her job at the fastfood restaurant to avoid the awkwardness of seeing Danny and worked as a waitress at a Chinese restaurant. Fortunately, her mother had agreed to help to take care of Alan while she was at work. But on those days when her mother wasn't available she would chain him to the bed, leaving him with enough food to last the day. However, there were times when Kelly felt frustrated, having to spend all her free time attending to Alan rather than join her friends in their merry making. It didn't help when she couldn't share her problems with Alan who would only add on to her frustration with his tantrums. She had nobody else to turn to as she was ashaned to let her colleagues know about Alan's existence.
It was Danny's day off and he had just finished a game of pool with his friends. They decided to have dinner at a nearby restaurant. It was a Chinese restaurant famous for its Peking Duck. While waiting for the dishes to be served, Danny noticed a familiar face from among the waitresses. He got up from his seat and approached the waitress. He couldn't believe his eyes when he saw that it was really Kelly, still wearing her signature smile. Kelly was equally shocked to be seeing him again. It had been almost 2 years since they separated. They exchanged greetings but before they could say another word, Kelly was being called away. However, both felt good to be have run into each other again. From then, Danny would patronise the restaurant on his off days while Kelly would look forward to his every visit. As Danny re-entered her life, Kelly felt much better being able to confide in him matters that Alan would be too 'young' to understand. Danny even visited Alan and got along quite well with him. Once, he suggested that they bring Alan out for an outing which Kelly wasn't very keen for fear of the attention Alan might attract. But Danny was sure that it would do Alan more good than harm and that nothing would go wrong. Indeed, in spite of the unwanted attention, they did have a great time together. Gradually, they were going out so often that the curious stares from the public didn't bother them anymore.
It was Kelly's 21st birthday but she seemed to have forgotten about it as it was also a Sunday - the busiest time of the week. As usual she was busy attending to the customers when the 'Birthday Song' was being played over the PA system. She thought that it must be for the customer who was celebrating his birthday there. However, when the birthday cake was being pushed out, it headed towards where Kelly was standing. As it neared, Kelly was shocked to see Danny standing next to the cake. He had actually made arrangement with the restaurant to celebrate her special day. Kelly was moved to tears by the thoughtful gesture but before she could recover from her pleasant surprise, Danny was already down on one knee and proposing to her. His action caught everybody, especially Kelly by surprise. Kelly didn't know what to do but those around her certainly did. They cheered her on to accept Danny's proposal but she was still hesitant. Knowing what was on her mind, Danny assured her that she wouldn't have to abandon Alan after their marriage as all 3 of them would be living under the same roof. Kelly didn't know what to say but she didn't resist when Danny put the ring through her finger. It was indeed the best present Kelly would ever receive and most important of all, she got to share her life with the 2 men whom she loved so dearly.
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