Fifteen

[Yardstick]

TS, you rest well. While we love to read your stories and are hungry for the updates, we understand that you do have a life apart from this world of ours.

[BMW69]

Take care bro. Looking forward to an update.

[micheal3373]

any update today?

[ilikeoldchangke]

Sorry.

Really could not find the time to edit and finish this off.

I hate to leave things hanging but work suddenly got crazy this couple of days.







I'll definitely update after CNY.

Wish everyone a happy and prosperous CNY.

Huat ah !

[sean69]

no prob bro.. Happy New Year!!

[miniboy]

will wait for the best time to read
HAPPY NEW YEAR

[Coffeecans]

take care bro and have a very horse-seh year!

[eeemen]

Same to you too bro, shall look out when it's been updated. Thanks , cheers, ....................

[Fowler09]

Awaiting ur return bro. Have a good rest in tis festive season.

[ilikeoldchangke]

The expression on my face must have been priceless that morning in Selene’s office.


In fact I don’t even remember what expression I wore on my face but Selene did not let the awkward silence go on for too long.



The first question she asked was pretty standard.



Selene : Are you ok ?

I wanted to speak, I opened my mouth but nothing came out.

The words stuck and choke in my mouth and I just did not know what to say.



It came as a shock.

Honestly I did not expect Cidney to do that. At least not without letting me know first.



James : I…..i…. did…


I wanted to say I did not know. The last thing I wanted was for Selene to think I was the main reason why she quit.


Selene raised up both her hands, her palms facing me.

Selene : Cidney called me last evening and asked if I could meet up with her.

I gave her a questioning look and asked her what did Cidney tell her.




If she had told Selene that she slept with Beng Soon, everything would be over.


Thankfully that was not the case.

Cidney had met up with Selene to talk about leaving.



Selene : She said she’s just feeling a little tired, and now that her projects are coming to an end, this would be a good time to take a break.


I wanted to ask some questions but Selene gestured for me to hold them. She was not done.


Selene : The first thing I asked was about you.

Our eyes met for a brief moment and Selene carried on with her talking.



Selene : I was so sure that it was you who caused her to leave the office but thankfully I was wrong.

Selene stood up, leaving her seat and walking over to my side of the table.



I remained seated while she leaned herself against the table, folding her arms at the same time.

She was close enough to me for the arousing scent of her perfume to drift into my nose. It’s an interesting moment because while part of my mind was dealing with the shock of Cidney leaving, another part of my mind was thinking about Selene.



The thought of having Cidney gone and in return allowing me more time for Selene flashed across my mind for just a brief moment before disappearing altogether again.


Selene : Seriously though James, if I knew Cidney was leaving because you hurt her in the relationship, I would really consider killing you.



She did not look like she was joking and I did not laugh. I just kept very quiet, staring at Selene’s table although with her leaning against it, her legs and thighs were closer to my line of sight and I was trying very hard not to stare at them.



She was wearing a skirt that day, it was not tight and short like what she wore when she was younger but it was of a tempting length.
One preferred by matured women who knows that covering up could be more potent than flashing her assets around.

Her skirt ended at her knees, and her lovely legs shone under the light in the office as she spoke.


She went on to tell me what else Cidney said, her work allocations, the projects she was handling, mostly work related stuff.




Selene : I’m quite upset James…. Cidney’s a good girl… is there something wrong between the 2 of you ?

James : I… don’t know.



I did not wish to continue the conversation and I asked if I could take the rest of the day off.

I wanted to speak with Cidney.



I needed to speak with Cidney.


Selene rejected my request right away.



Selene : It was Cidney’s request btw. She knew you would want to talk her out of it and made me promise that I would not approve your leave.




I got up and was about to leave when Selene stopped me.


There was nothing dramatic, no shouting, no blocking of doors.


Selene : Take this with you.

I took over another envelope and inside was a cheque made out to the company by Cidney.



Selene : She wanted to leave this week, offered to pay off her 1 month notice.

Selene pushed the envelope into my hands and said there was no way she was taking that.




I left Selene’s room and immediately made my way to Cidney’s place. I saw her packing some of her clothes in the very luggage I repaired for her in the living room.

James : What are you doing ?



She just smiled and said she missed her family, and she would like to take a short break to visit them.


I wanted to ask her what was the meaning of that.


It is a breakup ?

Is it a timeout ?


In the end I just kept quiet.

Cidney came over and knelt down by my side on the floor.

I did not know what I was feeling but she said she still loves me but she really would just want some time alone.



She seemed a little distant and I was feeling pretty shitty. I placed the cheque Selene gave me on her table.



I left her 2 hours later to head back into office.


I received a text later that day that she would be flying off on Thursday,the 19th.



19th May 2011

Thursday




I was heartbroken at the airport that day but I did not show it.
It was as if I was refusing to acknowledge that Cidney would be gone.


She only bought a one way ticket but she said she should be back in a couple of weeks.

There was no drama at the airport either.


We parted with a kiss and a hug and that was it.



I did not cry, I did not drink myself to death, I did not sink into depression.

Mixed feelings. That’s what I could call it.

I was feeling a little sad that Cidney was gone, but on the other hand, with Cidney off my twisted mind, I began thinking about Selene.




25th May 2011

Wednesday

10.30am



Other than a message to let me know she arrived safely in Thailand, there were no other messages from Cidney.

The reality of Cidney no longer by my side slowly sank in and I was feeling lousier and lousier as the day goes by.



Not a single day went by where I did not regret what I had done.

All the things I had resort to because I was thinking with the wrong head.



Thinking with my small head.

I knew I would go mad if I continued thinking about it so I forced myself to work.



The harder I work, the more occupied my mind would be.

The more occupied my mind would be, the less I would be thinking of the monstrous things I did.



Besides work, I was also thinking more and more of Selene.

Having grown use to regular sex with Cidney, the sudden withdrawal took me by surprise and I took to the only option I had.



I masturbated.

When I grew sick of doing it in the toilet. I did in in the office.



I knew I was on the verge of losing it one evening around 10.30 pm when I was kneeling in Selene’s office with my nose in her cardigan, my dick in my right hand while my left was trying to hold on to one of her spare pair of heels.






21st June 2011
Tuesday


I could not remember the last time I worked that hard or masturbated that hard in my life.

I did not leave the office until at least 11.30pm to catch the last train. I made sure I was one of the first few in the office as well.



There were new projects from the same client that Cidney was working with. Now that she’s gone, I was handling them.

My arrangements with Beng Soon continued, it felt as if I lost a part of my soul everytime my bank account got a little fatter.

Beng Soon asked where was Cidney, and I told him that she decided to take a break.



He must have sensed something wasn’t right from my tone and he did not ask anything else.


I still think of Cidney pretty often but I could feel her slowly slipping away.



They say time heals everything, and I could feel my sick mind slowly moving on.




30th June 2011
Thursday


I had a call from my Sister Cheryl that afternoon right after my meeting with Selene. She asked me if I was free on Saturday afternoon and I said I was.

After all I’m just a single and lonely man.



I agreed to have lunch and she told me she was bringing along a friend.

James : Don’t try to match make me I’m telling you.

Cheryl : Don’t give me that rubbish James, I’m bringing along a friend, I don’t care.



James : You try to introduce someone to me I’ll get together with her, sleep with her then leave her.

[ilikeoldchangke]

Cheryl : Haha. Talk is cheap …. Talk is cheap….. See you on Saturday…. And behave yourself.




2nd july 2011

Saturday

10.30am



Cheryl came over to my parent’s place early that morning with bags of groceries. She started making the soup base for steamboat and I helped to prepare the rest of the ingredients, setting them out on the table.


My parents ate first around noon , I was hungry and wanted to join them but Cheryl stopped me.


1.30pm

My parents left the house for some shopping and I paced around the table, looking at the food.



2.15pm

My sister left the house and went downstairs, adding that she’s going to be right back.



Barely 5 minutes later, the door opened.


It turns out that Cheryl’s friend happens to be my boss.



Cheryl : Tadah…!!!... My friend…

Selene gave a questioning look at the both of us while I rolled my eyes at my sister.



Selene : What’s going on ?

Cheryl : So James… what did you say you were going to do over the phone. ? haha



I ignored her and made my way to the dining table.


James : I wasn’t expecting to see my boss on a weekend.


Selene was in a simple t-shirt and shorts that afternoon, and her hair was tied up in a ponytail. I saw her kicked off her sneakers and I could feel the weeks of sexual depreviation creeping up on me.



It was gone the instant my sister lifted up the cover for the steamboat.

It seems men’s basic needs is still food after all.


We had a long lunch. A really long one.



We chatted about old times, in fact most of our conversation was centered around our growing up years. We even talked about the time when the 2 girls came over totally drenched in their school uniforms.


It brought back nostalgic memories for all of us.

We were laughing, slapping our thighs, enjoying our food.



Sitting around the table were not 3 adults facing the challenges of everyday life, it was 3 teenage kids, carefree and happy, ready to conquer the world.


As the steamboat bubbled to a thick concentrated stock, we all dropped our chopsticks and sipped on hot tea.

The laughter died down and somehow the topic of our discussion got a little more serious.



There was the economy, work, families and the future.




At 5.30pm, the 3 of us somehow just stopped talking. There was no awkward silence, just 3 old friends who knew that even though we were not speaking, we were all comfortable.



5.45pm

Selene spoke first.



Selene : James…Cheryl...

I turned to look at Selene, the woman I had a crush on since I was 15. She has aged but in a beautiful and graceful way.





You know that kind of feeling when you looked into an old friend’s face and could still see the teenage sparkle in it, Selene had it.



I saw not only the beautiful and sexy woman she had become, but also the young innocent student I first laid my eyes one , and of course, I also saw the curious and naughty teenager who was eager to explore her sexuality.



Selene : I wanted the 2 of you to know this first.


I felt a lump in my throat , even before she spoke, I could feel it coming.

Then out of the blue, the words hit me like a stinging slap across my face.

Selene : I’m getting married.




There was half a second of delay before Cheryl jumped up , pumping her fist into the air and hugged Selene.

Cheryl : Congrats. !!! I’m so happy for you.



I recovered from my shock and gave Selene a hug too, feeling her soft breast pressing against my body, smelling the sweetness of her body scent.

James : Congrats ..

We chatted for a while longer before I started bringing the dishes to the kitchen.



I could hear the 2 girls talking excitedly among themselves as I started doing the dishes.





6.15pm

The girls were heading out for coffee and to shop, I declined their invitation to join them.



6.25pm

I muffled my scream in my pillow, allowing my angst and pent up frustration to come out vocally.


It made me so mad to know that Selene was slipping away slowly from my grasp.



I changed into my jogging gear and I started running without proper warmup.
I was running like a mad man and by the time I got to Bedok reservoir, I was panting and heaving uncontrollably.



I got to the water edge and took in a deep breath.


No I’m not adding myself to the statistic.

I felt the rise of acid in my throat for one second before I emptied my lunch out into the reservoir.



I sincerely extend my apologies to the residents who depend on it for water.




I emptied my stomach and began to jog slowly around the body of water.

The setting sun and cool breeze calmed me down a little. By the time I completed one round and starting on my slow walk back home, my mind was clear.


I thought mostly about Selene and when I took a deep breath, I could see the big picture.

It had never been that clear before in my life.





I calmed myself down, and took slow deep breaths.

I asked myself repeatly what was it I wanted from Selene.


Then from the abyss of my sick and twisted mind, an answer floated up.

It’s ok if she’s married.



I wanted her body. If I could have her heart, that was a bonus.






I had a hot shower when I got back home before lying down on bed.


My eyes fluttered before closing, my breathing slowed, my body relaxed even though it was aching from the run.

In the silent dark room, I was in my own world.



I could feel my mind churning again.

I retrieved the pair of socks I had swapped from Selene more than a decade ago, pressing it against my face, I imagined them to be freshly worn, freshly soiled by her sweat.




And I started thinking.

I did not know how much time had past or what time i slept that day.




If i could be sure of one thing, just one thing.


I knew fell asleep with a knowing smile on my face.

[Mangaman]

Welcome back TS! Gong Xi gong Xi!

[Sen5eS]

thanks fer updates !

[iluvbreast]

Happy New Year Bro ilikeoldchangke,

May this year of the horse brings more prosperity and fortune (so you have more time to write more here , yes I'm greedy) to you.

Still my favourite writer of SBF because:
- your stories are properly concluded
- your stories have unexpected twist(s)
- and when we find your style familiar (not sian about it), you come out with something darker and more interesting

Please keep up the good work.

[zhot]

Thank you TS!!! I can finally work today. Need to read your story 1st before I'm able to start work.

Happy new year to you!