[ilikeoldchangke]

Stepping off the stage with Hong who could not stop laughing, we parted ways at my table

Yiling had a really wide smile on her face as I took my seat.

She did a gleeful clap with the bottom of her palms still connected while her fingers tapped each other rapidly.



Yiling : wow….. hahah… that was awesome …. haha

Jackson : Thank you….

Yiling : good job… !

Yiling tipped the flute of Champagne at me and I met her glass with my beer.

Ben : Jackson ….. your bullshit…. Very the smelly leh… I can smell from here…. Ahahhaha…

Jackson : It’s real…

Ben : hahahha…. If you say so….



Ben insisted I downed a full glass of beer with him or he’s going to take it that I’m not giving him ‘face’.

I could see Rachel looking at me but she didn’t say anything, just an uncomfortable stare. I avoided her looks and stared to focus on the food in the different dishes in front of me.

It’s a weird feeling. You know the feeling you get when someone is looking at you as if you did something wrong, that was the vibe I was getting. Rachel is definitely eye balling me.

When I finally met her looks, she smiled warmly and tipped the ends on her wine glass towards me and I returned her toast across the table.

As if giving Yiling a warning that she has her eyes on me, Rachel directed her eyes towards her after leaving mine.

Brad is nowhere to be seen, and as the euphoria of my triumph slowly wears off, I’m beginning to wonder if I had gone too far.


I decided to turn my attention back to the food. It’s paid for after all.

During my time on stage, I had missed out on the Scallop, the Foie gras, baked fish, and a chilled dish I don’t even know what it is.
What would have been a nicely plated Foie gras instead is instead triple stacked.

Yiling : I don’t like Foie gras….. I put it on your plate by the way…. But I ate the sauce and the accompanying sides….

Jackson : what…. Why ?? … it’s so nice…

Yiling : It’s fattening….

Ben : I also don’t like Foie gras…… I also put on your plate…. I prefer Chicken gizzards…. Hahaha…

That explains the mess but it’s delicious.


As dinner continued to be served, it was not hard to observe that the conversation around the table has been split into 3.

The Rajahs had the attention of the malu malu, the thieves and the monks. Rachel was telling everyone about her recent trip to south America

Ben and King started talking among themselves and Yiling asked me how did I come up with such rubbish. I told her I read about it in a story on an online forum.

Yiling : really ? …. What kind of forums have stories like this ??? ….

I replied in between bites of a stalk of asparagus .

Jackson : The kind girls don’t go to…

Yiling : oh…


Nothing of note happened for the rest of the dinner until dessert was about to be served and I made my way to the washroom.

After relieving myself, I gave my face a couple of splash of water at the sink before wiping it dry.

Going through the 2nd piece of napkin, I saw a man enter the bathroom.

Our eyes met through the reflection of the mirror. I recognised him. He’s one of the man that has never left Minister Chin’s side the entire evening.


He entered the bathroom and before the auto closer could swing to a close I could see his colleague stopping anyone else form entering the washroom from the outside.

Without a word, he walked and checked each cubicle in the washroom to make sure it was empty.

He’s here for me.

Jackson : yes… ?

He eyeballed me for a few seconds. His build, his height and his bearing. Definitely a military man.


James : my name is James…. Minister Chin would like to have a word with you…

Jackson : In the toilet ??

Another man entered the toilet. He has a security ward on him.

As James washed his hands, his colleagued waned me down. It beeped at my phone and my wallet, both of which I removed and put them on the countertop.

I turned to look at James who when bent over slightly at the basin, revealed that he was carrying 2 pistols with spare clips on a shoulder harness.


Jackson : We are in one of the safest country in the world…. Is there a need to carry those around….

James adjusted his hair without looking at me as he replied.

James : We are in one of the safest country in the world….. because …… I carry these around….

The door to the bathroom opened and the guy with the wand left while Welly walked in with a smile. He must have heard the exchange between James and i.

Willy : The world is a dangerous place ……. If you’ve seen and experienced what James did… you’ll want to have those around you too….

His hand was about to reach out and I quickly extended mine to meet his. They’re right about Welly Chin.

He has balls.


He’s willing to shake a man’s hand in the toilet without even thinking twice.

Welly : Young man….hahaha….very interesting auction..…. Hahah

Jackson : very nice to meet you Sir…

Welly : Jackson …. Am I right…

I nodded with a courteous smile.


James : So…. He’s the guy that made you spend $10888….

Welly laughed.

Turning to look at James, I added.

Jackson : I’m the guy that saved him $9112 ….

Welly nodded and explained on my behalf.

Welly : I made a bid of 20, he could have gone for the win against the Rajahs…. I was curious to see what he would do….there’s a lot to consider within that short period of time…..hahaha… good to see that you are quick on your feet….I see you have met James…


Jackson : yes…I have…Not everyday I meet a guy with guns in the toilet….

Welly : hahaha…

Extending an open arm towards James, Welly added that James has been serving the current Prime Minister for almost 5 years. With the impending change in leadership, he has now been assigned over to Welly.

Jackson : And now he’s with you….

Welly : he’s a very intense and serious man…. But I trust him with my life….James… do you mind giving us some privacy… ?

With a curt nod, James left the room.

Welly : It’s not everyday you find a man who can tell a good story….ever considered a career in politics…. ? hahaha…

Jackson : I’m afraid no…. not my cup of tea….


Welly : but you haven tried… who would you know it’s not for you…

I took a moment to choose my words carefully, I’m talking to the future Prime Minister afterall.

Jackson : I’m sure you can tell…. Most of what I said earlier are lies…. They are meant to entertain more than anything else…. At the end of the day…. Nobody gets hurt…. Egos get bruised… but that’s about it… in your line of work…. Everything you say… everything you do…. It affects the lives of many people…

Welly smiled and said he knew where I’m coming from.

Welly : Politics is not about making people happy Jackson …


Jackson : no it’s not…but in today’s day and age, I would say making voters happy is important….

Welly : ahhahaha… I agree…. I agree…..

Welly chuckled before adding.

Welly : Yeah that’s true….. that’s true…. So….. what do you think…. ? .. should I be a leader that listens …..? or one that leads…. ?

I hesitated for a moment before replying.

Jackson : how can you lead…. If you don’t know what your people want…. ?

Raising both his arms to his side, Welly did the action of a scale.


Welly : wants and needs are 2 different thing Jackson ….

Jackson : it’s a balancing act you have to juggle…. While walking on a tightrope….

Welly : so…. I’m essentially a clown…. Working in a circus… hahah

Jackson : hahah… I don’t mean that….i don’t envy your job at all…. Not one bit….