The homeless man was pushing his cart fill with recyclable item along the quiet road . It was early in the morning and his daily routine had just begin . The foul smell from his dirty cloth cause his noise to twitch , he haven’t bath for months and promise himself to take a dive in the ocean the next time he goes there . He halt his cart and saw something moving on the grass 10th feet away from him . Curious he approach the couple who was sleeping on the ground . The man was curl up with his arm wrap about his shoulder while the girl beside him was completely cover with a oversize jacket . The homeless man hover over the girl and search her face .
Lavadee slowly open her eye and saw a stranger above her . She scream and sat up . Jame immediate woke up and saw the homeless man fall backward . Lavadee pull Jame’s arm to force him to sit up . “That man was watching me !” she shouted .
His eye was half close as he stretch himself and fall back to sleep , she held him tight and force him to look at her by clamping his head with her hand and said “Are you scar that a stranger was watching us just a second ago ???” she stare into his sleepy eye with disbelief .
Jame turn to the stranger and watch the man hurry along the road pushing his cart in full speed , then he turn to the girl next to him , “just a homeless guy …don’t worry he gone”
“a ..homeless guy?” she suddenly remember where they were and where they had slept . Outside …under a bridge in the middle of nowhere ! She stood up and swirl around at the strange environment. Jame gather himself up and they walk out of the grass field and onto the road .
“We need money to make a phone call to Rome” he said making his way toward the public fountain and begin using the water to wash himself . After Jame finish she was next in line but a homeless man jump from no where and break in front of her to use the fountain . She wanted to cry as she stood there dumbfounded , wondering what had happen to her life ? Here they are using a fountain for their toilets , making them no difference from any homeless person that roam the street . After the man was finish she force herself to use the water to wash her face and mouth .
“how are we going earn that money ? We don‘t even speak their language ?” she slip her arm into the jacket and begin to button it up .
“the only thing I know how to do is gamble”
“we need money to gamble and we do not have any!” she hug her stomach to stop the growling . She flushed .
“what we need is food” he pointed out and she smile weakly . He sighed .
“I’m starving”
“I know lady , I know. Come on lets goes into the market .”
“Then what ?”
“Do you want to eat or what ? If you do just follow me”
They make their way thru the busy street market and Jame suggested they should hold hand because they can get lost in a city’s overwhelming size and fist-shaking traffic. She nodded and felt his hand slip in her. There was ancient temples and pagodas, and elaborate building at every corner as they walk down the narrow path , squeezing thru the crowded of at least nine million citizen . Along the curb was small shop and restaurant . The smell of outdoor cooking fill their nostril as they stop to stare thru the glass window , inside was juicy roasted duck dripping with greasy fat oil . The chef was a young skinny man wearing a dirty apron and in his hand is a large knife . He was chopping duck for customer and shouting order for cooker in the back to prepare , he turn and notice the couple gazing hungrily at the roasted duck . “Wa sin ri wo ne eh ?” the chef asked .
“I think he talking to us” Lavadee whispered
“I heard him but I don’t understand a word he said , probable asking us what we want” he assumed and then monitor the chef with body language by pointing to his mouth and rub his belly . The chef nodded his head and thought the two was tourist who doesn’t speak Chinese , he put down the knife and signal the couple to come inside the small open door restaurant , cleaning the table and pulling out the chair .
Lavadee and Jame was thrill by the warm welcome , they sat down with a wide grin on their face . The chef said something in Chinese . The couple shook their head on cue then turn to point at the roasted duck . The chef understand and quickly prepare a delicious duck meal with rice and stir fry bean . Then return back to chopping duck at the counter .
“we don’t have any money to pay him ” said Lavadee , picking up the bowl of rice and chopstick . Just the smell of stream rice was making her stomach growl .
“are you hungry or what ?” Jame reach for the duck meat and dip it in the sauce . He swallow it slowly while closing his eye to enjoy the delicious texture that swirl in his mouth . Never had he taste anything this good ! The last meal he had was more than 24 hours ago . What a pity that his life had degrade down to this , eating a normal meal with not a dime in his pocket and he know by the end of this lunch the worst will come. When he open his eye again he saw Lavadee had nearly clean out half of her bowl of rice ! The greedy whore he thought and quickly stuff all he can into his mouth while reaching for more duck meat . They were like little children battering over a piece of candy with their hand snatching into each dish while the other ready to slap the hand away . They clean out all the dishes and wipe their mouth . They didn’t have the energy to move with their stuff body but they were aware of the chef monitoring their behavior . They know their way of eating probable had cause suspicious .
“he looking at us , what should we do ?” Lavadee whispered
“you think you can take him ?”
“what do you mean?” she stare at him in confusion then back to the chef ‘s back side.
“use your woman charm ! Give him a kiss or two--”
“I will never do such a thing!!” she protest hotly .
“It’s your area of expertise ..isn’t it ?”
Lavadee glare with hurt and pride . She didn’t reply back and silently fight back the tear that was threaten to spill out . There nothing she can say to clear her name of the charges he laid upon her . Since the day she meet him , the image he had of her was nothing but a gold digger and a con artist . Jame waited for her to fight back like she always does but when it didn’t came he begin to wonder if he had hurt her emotional but the thought is to far outstretch , he have to remind himself that the reason she marry his cousin at the first place --- was solely for money and nothing more . But his mind was also in tremor by the way she beautifully look this morning --- he shook his head from such thought and said , “Alright. Go wait for me down at the end of the street where we pass the tofu shop”
“are you going be alright?” she asked not realizing the concern in her voice.
“yes , just go ! Hurry!”
She stood up abruptly and walk out the shop . Jame could had swore she was running for her dear life down the street and not once did she turn back. And for a moment there he thought she was concern about him , it was probable wishfully thinking. Lavadee reach the tofu shop and went to lean on the light pole to catch her breath . She turn slightly toward the direction she run from and there was no sign of Jame . People was flocking the street , wheel cart being push by labor worker, student on bicycle , pitchy voices fill the air with Chinese language. Then in the distance in the crowed of busy people , breaking thru a smoke of steamy rice , she saw Jame running toward her . She couldn’t hold the smile and wave excitedly toward him. He wasn’t smiling but his face was restraining and frighten . It didn’t take her long to notice a few feet behind him was the chef , in his hand was a butcher knife swinging high in the air and was chasing after Jame with full madness. The chef was shouting “Si wo xion ah li pin!!!”. Lavadee immediately took off running without waiting for Jame to catch up with her . She heard him holler “ Lady! Wait for me !”. She didn’t dare wait ! With a crazy man tail behind them holding a knife as if he going chop them up like roasted duck , it was enough for her to scream for her dear life .
She took a turn into a dark alley and climb over a crumble wall , thru the tall grasses , muddy ground she came out behind an old abandon warehouse . The place was eerie , building structure was deteriorate and there was cob web caught in her hair and jacket. Suddenly she felt a hard hand covering her month from behind . She kick backward and try to scream.
“shush! It me !” he whisper against her ear and slowly release his hand once her body begin to relax . She turn around .
“did we lost him?”
“I think so” he turn to look back and then back to her , “lady ! Why didn’t you wait for me! It was hell trying to catch up ! You were running like a wild cheetah ! I was trying to get ahead so I can lead the way ! Now , I don’t know where the hell we are !”
“I was scar ! What happen back there!”
“Well, the chef kind of figure I was going to escape when I ask to use the bathroom and the rest …” he grin .
“These people can’t be serious ?! They willing to kill for a un paid meal ?!”
“Luckily , I often jog in the morning but …you!” he chuckle as he remember how hysteric the girl run , as if she was a headless chicken .
“It’s not funny!” she pouted and slap his arm from laughing at her.
“It was cute really…” he smile and pull her toward his chest . He stare down at her sweaty face and smooth the hair from her cheek. He almost forgot how lovely she smell….lemon mix with roast duck ? He pull away and pretend to search for something. She was confuse by what just happen , she could had swore he was about to kiss her ? Can’t be . They hate each other ..remember?