Screws Checked

Yiu Seaside Villa

A few days ago…

Cielo timidly walked towards Stevenson and asked if everything was alright. He told her 'yes' with a matching nod, yet his eyes told her something else. Lucas left the villa after having a word with Stevenson, and the latter's aura changed from playful to being alarmed.

The hum of the sea breeze, and the song of the waves suddenly changed from relaxing to distressing. Stevenson inched closer to Cielo, hugging her by surprise. He inhaled lime basil and mandarin from her skin, chuckling at the thought of them sharing the same scent. She patted his back in reply, her gaze on the helicopter in the distance.

"You smell like me. Let's get you your own set," he said, mirth apparent in his eyes. "I like it though. Let's keep it this way," Cielo replied honestly. She promised she would give "them" a try and she intends to work hard on it. And if sharing the same scent would make him happy, so be it. "Steve," she called out, tracing circles on his back. People call him Stevenson or Coach, but never Steve. He smiled, hearing the unfamiliar name, knowing that only one person would ever call him by this name - Chinshih Dong.

The instant her name flashed in his mind, his face turned sullen and his embrace tightened. He thought of ways to go as far away as possible from the Capital, but how? Nobody leaves this wretched place unscathed. In his daze, he did not pay attention to what Cielo was saying.

"Steve? I said I want to see a doctor."

"Ha? Why?"

"I think it's unfair that I don't remember you," she pulled away and tilted her head to get a good look of his eyes.

"You don't have to," Stevenson held both of Cielo's arms comfortably firm. She looked to her right where his ring finger adorned a marriage band. She held his hand with her hand that showed the matching wedding band and bit her lower lip. Stevenson tried to bargain with her, fearful that bringing back her memories would make her leave him, so he said, "We can start from scratch, what do you say?"

Later that night, Stevenson left the master bedroom — Cielo deep in slumber on the king size bed. He entered the study and made a call. After a few rings, a sultry voice echoed from the receiver, making him roll his eyes. Obviously, he didn't want to ask a favor from that person. If there is a word of wisdom that his father imparted, it was: never to trust anyone, not even yourself. But he had no choice. There were only two people in the Capital whom he grew up with: Lucas and this devil.

"Let me be honest with you, Stevenson. You are borderline obsessed with that girl, which is creepy and needs medical attention. Oh wait. You are not the patient. Ha!" the lady on the other line commented in a mocking tone.

"Ha ha. Funny. So when are you free? Just pretend that you're giving her an assessment. That's all. And it's not like you haven't done that before."

"What do I get in return?"

"I will give you a pass."

Dr. Aila Zhang smiled. The Zhangs had 400 years of history as doctors in the Capital. To this day, they monopolized the healthcare system in the Capital, yet they never reached the likes of the four clans: Yiu, Sai, Wan, and Co. A single pass to bid for a land in the Capitol Hills was enough for their family to secure a spot on top of the food chain, especially now that it was near impossible for her sister to snatch Lucas. The guy was head over heels that little ball of sun.

"I'll take your word for it then," Dr. Aila Zhang said before hanging up.

...

Capital Therapy Clinic

Stevenson followed Cielo around like a puppy, too afraid to tell her the truth and also scared that someone would take her away. He stood guard by the bathroom door, and the longer that Cielo stayed inside, the greater his anxiety level was. But what made him more terrified that he could spill his guts was the moment the door of the waiting room opened, revealing the imperious Yiu Lala.

"Omo, Stevenson! Finally, you will have your screws checked."

"Aha ha. Aha ha. Auntie is funny."

Stevenson tried to act naturally but Yiu Lala noticed his uneasiness. Why is this moron grasping the doorknob of the bathroom door, she thought to herself. Yiu Lala grabbed her sunglasses on the table and turned around to leave without a word. Stevenson exhaled his stress but immediately straightened up when he heard Yiu Lala's stilettos slowly and painfully make a thud on the carpet towards his direction.

"You know how I Iove smelling fear?" she said, stepping a stiletto on Stevenson's foot. He winced in pain but did not forget to nod his head.

"Don't be so weak, nephew. I can smell you sweat from afar. What would they say about our family if somebody catches your scent? Now," Yiu Lala removed her stiletto and locked her sight on the bathroom door, "Why does it feel that you've been caught red-handed?" she asked, tapping her sunglasses on his chest.

Before he could open his mouth, the door vibrated. "Steve? Are you there? The door is stuck," Cielo called out for help. What she didn't know was Stevenson was clinging onto the doorknob.

"Omo!" Yiu Lala's hand flew to her mouth, her fingers covering the gaping hole. "You should have just told me it's a girlfriend." She tapped her nephew's shoulder twice and said, "You can let her go. I won't bite." However, Stevenson did not let go of the doorknob. He held onto it. He would not let You Lala see a glimpse of his beauty and take her away from him. His terror turned into apprehension, forcing him to bark at his Auntie, "You should leave my matters alone, Auntie. You will meet her at the right time."

"The more protective you are, the more curious I will be. Open. The. Door."

…

Out in the hallway, Dr. Aila Zhang and Jenny reached the elevator doors, yet Yiu Lala's shadow was still nowhere in sight. The good doctor patted the girl's back and gave her a sweet smile. "Just continue with yoga. Breathing exercises can help a lot and will come in handy too."

Jenny responded with a faint smile before moving her focus back on the monitor showing the elevator floor number. The doctor knew her presence was not welcome and so she decided to go back to her office and leave the girl alone after saying goodbye.

On her way back, Dr. Aila Zhang passed by a waiting room with its door slightly ajar. She quickly remembered that she had a meeting with Stevenson today too but was taken aback when she heard the standoff between the aunt and her nephew. Her heart started to pound for she knew who Stevenson came with, and it was none other than the infamous cadet witness. She gathered her thoughts for a moment before stepping in with a smile on her face.

"Auntie, Jenny is waiting for you."

"Omo! I almost forgot about my child. " Immediately, Yiu Lala walked towards the door but stopped midway and said, "I will pay you a visit one of these days, nephew."

Dr. Aila Zhang escorted the imperious Yiu Lala towards the elevator and waited for the mother and daughter to ride the lift. She let out a stressful sigh as she headed back to her office, witnessing another drama yet to unfold.

Meanwhile, inside the bathroom, Cielo could hear muffled sounds. She inched closer to the door and planted her ear on it, trying her luck if she could listen to what was going on over the other side.

"Stevenson, are you there?" Cielo called out again.

Cielo started to panic inside the bathroom, she could hear voices, yet the door won't open. Was somebody holding her hostage? She frantically pounded on the door calling for help, her back drenched in sweat. A few moments later, Stevenson opened the door and saw Cielo's distressed appearance. She panted, wiping the sweat from her forehead.

"The door must be old and needs fixing." Stevenson made up a story, twisting the doorknob to prove his claim. Cielo looked around the waiting room but saw no one, so she asked, "I heard a lady's voice. Where is she?"

"Oh, that was the nurse. She's looking for the keys but we don't need it anymore." Stevenson looked up to the ceiling, a dead takeaway that he lied and Cielo saw through his lies. Ever since that Lucas Co went to their place, Stevenson had been acting paranoid, tailing her everywhere, never letting her leave his sight. And what just happened? He locked her up in the bathroom! Cielo felt the need to bring the truth to life and settle things once and for all.

"I'm not Cielo. And I'm not your wife, am I?"

Edited by Swaning