Please Don't Pity Me...

Finland didn't say anything when Caspar pulled her hand through the hotel lobby to the elevator. The hotel staff couldn't hide their astonishment and curiosity from the scene happening before them.

They bowed respectfully as Caspar and Finland passed by, then turned to look at the two until they disappeared into the elevator.

"I... I now believe that you are the owner of this Continental hotel. That's enough. Thank you for your help..." Finland stammered.

Caspar smiled as he pressed the number 40 in the elevator. Finland thought to herself; 40th floor... that's the highest floor.

"You can thank me by taking me out on a date. You can choose between dinner at a Michelin starred Restaurant* or a day at Universal Studios. An 800-dollars bonus is a lot..."

Finland pursed her lips and started calculating the expenses she would have to make.

"Dinner at a Michelin restaurant then..." she replied. A smile of victory curled up on her face.

Finland knew that Singapore was home to the cheapest Michelin-starred restaurant in the world: Liao Fan Hong Kong Soya Sauce Chicken Rice & Noodle. It sold very delicious chicken rice for less than 10 dollars/serving.

The only downside would be that the queue could be up to two hours long... But, Caspar didn't say that the Michelin Restaurant should be an expensive one… Right?!

"Hahahahaha..." feeling so proud of herself, Finland laughed out loud. Caspar looked at her in amazement.

"Is there something funny?"

"Um... nothing. I promise, if I get my bonus, the 800 dollars from the company, I would treat you to a Michelin restaurant," Finland replied while trying her best to hide her sneaky smile.

The elevator stopped on the 40th floor and the door opened.

There was only one door on this floor. Caspar pressed the card he was holding and the door opened. In it was the most spacious penthouse Finland had ever seen.

"Whoaaa... what is this?" Finland asked in surprise, "Is there only one room on this floor?"

"This is called a penthouse. A penthouse is a unit on the highest floor of a building. This one is made up of the whole floor. I have an almost 360-degree view. Would you like to see what's inside?"

Finland entered Caspar's penthouse with her mouth wide open. She had never seen a room as big, as luxurious, and as elegant as this... not even in magazines. Now she believed 100% that Caspar was the owner of this hotel. He was not lying...

No kidding…!!

Some people were born very lucky. Caspar was very handsome and, judging from his car and his penthouse, very wealthy. He must also be very smart since he worked as a famous surgeon and this semester he was teaching medical students at NUS. In short, Caspar is a perfect human, and Finland couldn't find even the slightest flaw.

At least not yet.

She shuddered thinking about this. Jean was right. Nobody was perfect. He must have some weaknesses or flaws. Usually, the more perfect people looked on the outside, the more severe their flaws would be.

Maybe Caspar had a mental disorder...

Maybe he had a wife and he was cheating on her...

Or maybe he was still single because he was abusive...

Or...

Oh God... what was his missing flaw? Finland would have been better prepared if Caspar were poor, or was getting bald, or had a tacky fashion sense...

That was all acceptable….

But what if his flaws were invisible and fatal…?

Ugh... Finland tried to control her heart. No matter how perfect and charming Caspar seemed to be, she wouldn't allow herself to give in to his charm and fall in love. Her life just started to improve; she had been working hard, she finally had a decent income, and she had a lovely place to live. She wouldn't allow herself to ruin her life with love….

"Hey, what are you doing?" Caspar asked, surprised to see Finland muttering to herself, "Come here!"

He was standing next to the floor-to-ceiling window and waved his hand for Finland to come closer.

"I want to show Singapore to you."

Finland walked slowly towards the window and with every step she took, her eyes widened.

From the window to the left she could see Marina Bay with its distinctive Marina Bay Sands building shaped like a flying fish, and to the right, she saw the Singapore Flyer whose lights moved in circles following the turning of the carousel. All parts of the city were bathed in glittering lights.

She bit her lip to make sure she wasn't dreaming. From this point of view, Singapore was very beautiful.

"Very beautiful..." Finland said softly. "Thank you. I've never seen Singapore from this angle before..."

"I offered you to stay here last month, for free, but you refused." Caspar coughed a little, "You don't believe in my good intentions."

"Sorry, after all the hardships I have been through in life, I don't believe in people that easily, and that includes their acts of kindness," Finland replied. " If someone gives me something without expecting anything in return, I would feel very suspicious and I would wonder what this person wants from me in return. I can't imagine, if I stay in your hotel for a month, what you would want from me in return... I dare not guess."

Caspar looked at her in surprise. "You can't believe that I have no hidden motive? I was just feeling sorry to see you in trouble; you had no place to live and you couldn't even pay for a taxi. There are many rooms in this hotel. For me, there is no difference if there is one extra guest staying here for free."

"Oh..." Finland's face froze, and immediately Caspar realized he had said something wrong.

"What's the matter? Did I say something offending?"

"I don't like being pitied. Sorry, I know your intentions were good, but in my life, I have never allowed myself to rely on others nor wished for other people's mercy. I am now able to rent a room with my own money, and I like where I live. Yes, I couldn't afford a taxi last month at the airport, but I could wait for the MRT. I never asked you to take me home, so I don't owe you anything. Your help in booking a venue at your hotel for me was also not for free, because I promised to share my bonus by buying you dinner." Finland looked at Caspar with a frown, "Please don't pity me..."

Caspar was stunned. A moment later he nodded.

"I'm sorry if you feel offended. I just like helping."

"It is okay." Finland leaned over and excused herself to go home, "Thank you for showing me this amazing place. Now, if will you excuse me... I have to catch a bus home."

Caspar could only nod. After Finland disappeared from his sight, he sat on an elegant Victorian sofa in his living room and looked at Singapore from the large window he had just shown Finland.

He pondered.

When he first saw the girl at the airport, he was attracted to her pair of sad-looking eyes that seemed to carry the burden of the world. He had lived for so long and he had never seen such a sad look; it touched his heart.

He just wanted to help and made sure the girl was fine. He even thought of various ways to make the girl smile. But just now Finland said firmly that she didn't like it if anyone felt sorry for her…

***