Chapter Eight : Revelations
[The secret past of Seamus Lim, Airco lucky draw and best laid plans explore the nature of true friendship.]
Seamus, Benedict and Choong Leeng very nearly did not make it for the Airco lucky draw. But they were glad that they did, and they were also glad that the reason why they nearly did not came about.
As usual, Ben and Seamus made Choong Leeng walk to their apartment to meet them before walking them to the publication room. Choong Leeng knew something was wrong that morning when the door to their apartment was already open. Their doorstep was littered with a box of cookies - she bent down and ate one. Chocolate chip. Not bad. Inside, she could hear the sounds of tragic sobs and wails of "She almost got me... she almost got me!!" As she turned into the living room, she saw Seamus sitting crouched on the floor, his head in his hands, sobbing violently. His whole body was trembling as if he was in ice water, and Benedict was sitting opposite him, trying to comfort him.
"Thank goodness you're here Choong Leeng... I don't know what to do with Seamus!"
"What happened?"
"Well, the doorbell rang this morning, and I thought it was you. Looking back, I knew it couldn't have been you - you're never early. Anyway, I asked Seamus to answer the door, as I was still spraying Aramis Life behind my knees. After a while, I heard a terrible commotion. I rushed to the door (my left knee remains un-odourised) and I saw Seamus bullying this poor little girl scout! I had to wrestle her away from his mad grip on her! He was yelling right into her face... something like You didn't think you could hold me with your ropes forever did you?!? After that, he's been snivelling ever since!"
"What's wrong with you Seamus? If you wanted free cookies you could've asked me... my mom is an excellent baker... you didn't have to bully a kid for them!"
Seamus lifted his head out from his hands, and it frightened Benedict and Choong Leeng to look at him. He had an expression of utter contempt. "Of course you can look at me and pretend you are better than me... when you do not know what I have been through. If either one of you --- had to go through what I did when I was 10... I'm sure that you'll be the same. But I'm better than both of you will ever be ... I would never wish for either of you to feel what I have felt. Just leave me alone... you do not understand!"
"Then tell us - TRY to make us understand!"
"You want the truth?"
"Please don't tell me you're going to be cliched enough to yell that A few good men line at us. YEAH we want the truth and YES we can handle the truth!"
There was nothing else for Seamus to do. He stood up and began his story.
You think I don't know what the people in college say about me?
Of course I do.
I hear their whispers. I hear their remarks. Things go around.
Everyone is saying that I'm a wannabe. That I pretend to be 'cool' and 'mysterious' to intrigue girls, and to make them fall for me. The jealous males spread rumours that I'm gay - two very extreme point of views! And neither could not be further from the truth! When I see a pretty girl, do you think I'm not interested? The fact of the matter is that I'm too afraid... afraid that all girls are like the girls I got to know back in Penang!
The fact of the matter is also that I do not know many girls --- I do not mean to discriminate. I went to boys schools all my life, from primary to secondary. As you notice, even in college, I do not hang out with girls. Sorry to say this, but Choong Leeng, I've always treated you as a brother - as a comrade - never as a sister.
Yes - back to my story. Although I have not known many girls, I was never afraid of them! Even when I was 10, I knew that I had super good looks that seemed to enthrall the opposite sex. I was bold, I was outgoing, I was adventurous. I was a man's man, and a lady killer. Everywhere I went, even girls older than me would stop and look at me, and whisper about how cute I was. Even at 10, I thought I was invincible... I had all my badges collected when I was in the boys scout when I was 10, and I was even made the scoutleader.
As a scoutleader, I was brash and reckless - and all the guys in my troop loved me for it. Of course, I knew that some guys who were older than me - the 12 year olds - were jealous. But I was just too goddamn popular.
It was the popularity that led to my downfall...
I still remember it like it was yesterday... it was November 28, and the scouts were having their annual camping trip in Sungai Pisang. However, it was new for me because I was going to be leading the troop this year, instead of the previous senior. Of course there would be a teacher in charge, but it was Old Mr Roberts, who really let me run the whole show. As always.
Once we got there, us boys were pissed to find out that our old campsite was situated really near the brownies' site. We were 10, we were anti-girls and all that ... so we waged war against the other girl brownies from a neighbouring girls school. I thought it was a load of laughs, but little did I know how cruel and evil girls would be.
That night, after a whole afternoon of games and taunting the womenfolk, I went off to take a whiz when I suddenly felt a lot of hands grabbing at my arms and legs. I was totally immobilised and taken by shock. Those bitches from the neighbouring camp were taking their revenge out on me, and they dragged me to a barren part of the forest, far from the campsite, where my screams couldn't be heard. Don't laugh at me Benedict - these girls were 12 years old - a good 2 years of growing ahead of me. And we all know how much more mature girls are at that age. They had me tied up pretty quick with these ropes... ropes were everywhere....
Sorry, I couldn't help myself... I must look weak to you two. Get a grip, Seamus... oh yes, where was I?
I was tied spreadeagled to four stakes on the ground... these girls really knew their knots - I'm sure they had the knot badge sewn on. Once they saw that I wasn't getting anywhere fast, they started spitting insults at me.
"Oh so this is the infamous Seamus that all the girls talk about... he ain't so high and mighty now is he?"
"Ayuh... he was pretty arrogant this morning, wasn't he girls? Talking about how weak we were and throwing rocks at our tents."
"He isn't THAT good looking anyway... look at him grimacing and wriggling... he looks like a grub in a cocoon!"
I knew that they were saying all this to humiliate me and to get me to start apologising, but I was big headed... I refused to bow down to these stupid girls. I swore and cussed and I threatened them to release me. "Otherwise I would get the seniors from my troop to really manhandle you bitches! LET ME GO NOW!!!"
All that they could do was throw their heads back and laugh. You don't know what a chill their laughter brought to me...
"Your seniors? Well, guess what? Your seniors are here right now..."
From the back of the bushes, stepped out 3 of the troop leaders - you don't need their names. In fact, I have forgotten them. I don't even remember how they look like. They came towards me, and for a second there, I was relieved. Then, one of them reached out and started pulling my pants down.
"What are you doing?!?! Untie these ropes...! What the heck is going on!!?!?"
Another senior reached out and unbuttoned my shirt. The other one stood towering over me and said, "Seamus... don't you know that it's never too good to be better than your elders? We have watched you flaunt your supposed genius qualities over us. How do you think it makes us feel to know that we're not better than a guy 2 years our junior? Now I will humiliate you... put you in your place. Harry here has always had a huge crush on you... but you never took any notice of him. He's going to make you cum in front of the girls here! I'll like to see how you can go around school with your holier than thou attitude, knowing that Harry can make you scream in ecstacy in the middle of the forest floor!"
I was pulling away at the ropes harder than ever... I was frantic. Harry had my pants down to my ankles, and he was kissing my knees... and slowly moving his way up to the top. Meanwhile, the other guy who had stripped me of my shirt turned to the other and said, "Can I have my turn after Harry's? I want to cut Seamus's thighs... and lick the blood from them."
I hate to imagine what would happen if Mr Roberts didn't show up. I am forever indebted to that man. At first I thought he was in on the orgy, but all those years of carrying his books to the office and taking over all scout duties for him paid off. He ensured that later, those fucked-up, gay ass seniors of mine were expelled from school. He even wrote a letter to the girl's school principal to detail what happened. And he sent me for counselling. He even promised to never let the details of what happened go any further. Sure, there were whispers of a near Seamus torture, but I think my popularity and good looks saved me, as nobody wanted to believe anything against me.
And that has been the way it was til today.
Benedict and Choong Leeng were silent. They never knew that something so horribly scarring could happen to Seamus. Choong Leeng was the first to speak up.
"I'm sorry that you had to go through what you did, Seamus. But I think it's extremely STUPID of you to let what happened so many years ago dictate the way you think and act now. Sure, those girls from the school that tied you up were pretty FUCKED up, but that doesn't mean that all girls are like that! So all this time, you had your vision clouded up that girls are cruel because of what they did, but don't you think that your seniors are the one who are really the ones to be blamed? That they could think of doing such things to you just because you were more popular? And because of THEM... because of THEM, you are unable to acknowledge me - Choong Leeng - a young and sexy, intelligent babe - and instead, you think of me as a guy so you could withstand me. I absolutely RESENT that!"
"Yeah!" added Benedict. "It sucks that that happened to you - but I can't believe that you didn't think we were good enough pals to you for you to confide in us. Even if we can't make you feel better, at least we would know how to handle your feelings and emotions better. Now I feel like such a horrible friend because I have teased you mercilessly, without knowing what you had to go through."
"I... I didn't know that you two would accept me as a friend after knowing that," said Seamus misearably. "After that incident, I isolated myself from people, knowing that they could turn against me so easily if I surpassed them. I... I didn't want to be hurt anymore!"
"How could you think we would be so bastard-y!" exclaimed Benedict.
"I... can't help myself! I have to protect myself from getting into a similar situation! Mr Roberts can't be around me all the time!"
"You can depend on us to always be your friend, and to count on the fact that we will be accepting of you - in whatever situation you have been in!" added Choong Leeng.
Tears welled up in Seamus's eyes. "Thank you --- Benedict, you have been like a brother to me all this while. I should have trusted you more. And you..." he turned to Choong Leeng. "You are quite truly - the first female friend that I ever had."
* * * * *
"So when are you going to tell me who the princess you know is?"
Lumpy had been slaving over Goldie for the past 24 hours, trying desperately to find the identity of the princess who he would seduce to submission with his wit and care, in order to gain his looks again. Goldie had not been very helpful, saying things like, "Hmm... judging from the photo of you prior to the witch's spell, I don't see why you would want to revert back to looking like that. I think I would thank the witch for making you a moose, since it was a improvement from your face" and "I don't know if I should tell you who she is.. I mean, she doesn't want anyone to know her real identity... you know how royalty can be if you disobey their orders. I don't want to get beheaded..."
But Lumpy was persistent... spent the whole day following Goldie's orders and pandering to her demands. She was a big gossip at heart, so it wasn't long before she was telling them (Thingy, Lumpy, Dianne and Igene) who the girl was.
"It's Kimchi. You do know who Kimchi is, right?"
Aside from Dianne, the rest didn't know.
"Well, that's cos she only came in the pub a few times. Most of the time it's Wison, but in class, Wison, Kimchi and I are like the three musketeers. So she confided in us that she was actually a Korean princess studying here. She's also damn beautiful, but I think I shouldn't have raised Lumpy's hopes. She's never kissed a guy before - never had a boyfriend either. I doubt that she would fall in love with you when the legions of men after her (all good looking KOREAN men with thick eyebrows!) have failed. Forgive me for giving you this spark of hope, Lumpy. Get used to your moose face, I suppose," said Goldie.
"Don't you dare, little brother of mine!" yelled Thingy. "This is your once in a lifetime chance... if you do not pursue Kimchi, you're still as stupid as your 13-year-old self who traded in his looks for Digger!"
Lumpy's eyes brimmed with tears. "Yes sister... I will gambatte! I just hope that all of you here with me today will help me in my quest.... my quest to get Kimchi to fall in love with me! Wish me luck!!!"
"Absolutely!" cheered Thingy and Igene. Dianne and Goldie were silent --- could they really betray Kimchi by making her go for this moose of a boy when she could so obviously do better? Before Lumpy could protest at the lack of support from Dianne and Goldie, Benedict, Seamus and Choong Leeng burst through the door.
"Are we too early or too late for the meeting?"
"Too late. We already drew the lots. All the other Airco members have left the publication room," replied Thingy.
"Darn. So who are the people going for the Moonway Ball?" asked Benedict. He crossed his fingers and hoped for the best.
"Well, as I mentioned before, it will be me, Anubisha, Edward K and Dianne Brah. The other 6 lucky winners are Eurene Tonk (I swear, he must've rigged the damn thing), Raquelle Thong (head of campus news), Natalie Yeo (the sexcretary), Graze (fashion dept member), Choong Leeng ("That's me!" gasped CL) and Benedict Neo," announced Thingy.
"YES! This is sooo how we planned it to be!" declared Benedict while walking back to the apartments with Seamus and Choong Leeng. "Now you can give me your ticket and I can invite Clara to the prom with me!"
"Whoever said that I was going to give the ticket to you?" said a flabbergasted Choong Leeng. "This may be a pretty good idea... Joanne asked me to sit at her table, but I guess I can sit with the Airco people, and sneak over to Joanne's table occasionally."
"You mean Joanne invited you too? Joanne invited me as well. Geezus... she asked me to be her date!" replied Benedict.
"So basically Benedict wants Choong Leeng's ticket because he wants to sit with Clara at the Airco table... and Choong Leeng wants a ticket at Joanne's table because they are friends, a ticket that Joanne is willing to pay on behalf of Benedict... does anyone see the obvious solution to this whole situation?" Seamus sounded extremely exasperated.
"What's it?" said Choong Leeng and Benedict in unison.
"Well, Choong Leeng, you give your ticket to Benedict. Now he has a ticket to invite Clara. Then Benedict - you tell Joanne you're going to the prom with her -- and she'll give you a ticket. And you give this ticket to Choong Leeng. Now she has a ticket to sit at Joanne's table. Perfect!"
Benedict and Choong Leeng simultaneously weighed the pros and cons in their minds. Neurons listing out the advantages and disadvantages of Seamus's devious plan, working at superspeed. Benedict knew that he would be seriously wounding Joanne by doing this, but he HAD to go to the prom with Clara... and he was broke. What with all his CD buying sprees and the cost of living in KL. Plus, it would be revenge for all her dumb stalking. However, that meant he would have to keep up a pretense of niceness towards Joanne until Moonway Ball. And when she found out... she would be SO pissed at him that she would stop stalking him! It was a fool-proof plan!
As for Choong Leeng, she realised that Joanne would want to kill her when she found out that the person sitting next to her at the prom wasn't her supposed date, but her. However, she knew that Joanne would most likely pin the blame on Benedict, and not her. She could just use her special power - her blur queen look - and that would erase all blame against her. And she would much rather sit at Joanne's table, with all the other science stream girls than to sit next to Benedict at the Airco table. Helping Benedict this way would also mean that he owed her one - and he'll let her use his computer more often! It was a fool-proof plan!
Benedict and Choong Leeng shook hands on the deal, and that night, Benedict sms-ed Joanne to tell her that he was going to the prom after all.
"Really?!? Oh my God, you REALLY are going to the prom!?!?" asked Joanne.
"Yes, I will be there," he answered, which was the truth.
"I'm so happy! I'll pass you my ticket when I see you tomorrow!" Joanne replied.
"Sure. See you there."
Benedict was pleased. He managed to answer all her enthusiastic statements without lying. Of course he was going to the prom. Of course he would see her there. But he never confirmed that he would be going there with her, or sitting with her. The second person that he called was Clara...
Does Clara end up going to the prom with Benedict? Is it really a fool-proof plan? Will we see repercussions of Seamus's past in future episodes of Forbidden Blue Durian? I guess we'll just have to find out!
Seamus, Benedict and Choong Leeng very nearly did not make it for the Airco lucky draw. But they were glad that they did, and they were also glad that the reason why they nearly did not came about.
As usual, Ben and Seamus made Choong Leeng walk to their apartment to meet them before walking them to the publication room. Choong Leeng knew something was wrong that morning when the door to their apartment was already open. Their doorstep was littered with a box of cookies - she bent down and ate one. Chocolate chip. Not bad. Inside, she could hear the sounds of tragic sobs and wails of "She almost got me... she almost got me!!" As she turned into the living room, she saw Seamus sitting crouched on the floor, his head in his hands, sobbing violently. His whole body was trembling as if he was in ice water, and Benedict was sitting opposite him, trying to comfort him.
"Thank goodness you're here Choong Leeng... I don't know what to do with Seamus!"
"What happened?"
"Well, the doorbell rang this morning, and I thought it was you. Looking back, I knew it couldn't have been you - you're never early. Anyway, I asked Seamus to answer the door, as I was still spraying Aramis Life behind my knees. After a while, I heard a terrible commotion. I rushed to the door (my left knee remains un-odourised) and I saw Seamus bullying this poor little girl scout! I had to wrestle her away from his mad grip on her! He was yelling right into her face... something like You didn't think you could hold me with your ropes forever did you?!? After that, he's been snivelling ever since!"
"What's wrong with you Seamus? If you wanted free cookies you could've asked me... my mom is an excellent baker... you didn't have to bully a kid for them!"
Seamus lifted his head out from his hands, and it frightened Benedict and Choong Leeng to look at him. He had an expression of utter contempt. "Of course you can look at me and pretend you are better than me... when you do not know what I have been through. If either one of you --- had to go through what I did when I was 10... I'm sure that you'll be the same. But I'm better than both of you will ever be ... I would never wish for either of you to feel what I have felt. Just leave me alone... you do not understand!"
"Then tell us - TRY to make us understand!"
"You want the truth?"
"Please don't tell me you're going to be cliched enough to yell that A few good men line at us. YEAH we want the truth and YES we can handle the truth!"
There was nothing else for Seamus to do. He stood up and began his story.
You think I don't know what the people in college say about me?
Of course I do.
I hear their whispers. I hear their remarks. Things go around.
Everyone is saying that I'm a wannabe. That I pretend to be 'cool' and 'mysterious' to intrigue girls, and to make them fall for me. The jealous males spread rumours that I'm gay - two very extreme point of views! And neither could not be further from the truth! When I see a pretty girl, do you think I'm not interested? The fact of the matter is that I'm too afraid... afraid that all girls are like the girls I got to know back in Penang!
The fact of the matter is also that I do not know many girls --- I do not mean to discriminate. I went to boys schools all my life, from primary to secondary. As you notice, even in college, I do not hang out with girls. Sorry to say this, but Choong Leeng, I've always treated you as a brother - as a comrade - never as a sister.
Yes - back to my story. Although I have not known many girls, I was never afraid of them! Even when I was 10, I knew that I had super good looks that seemed to enthrall the opposite sex. I was bold, I was outgoing, I was adventurous. I was a man's man, and a lady killer. Everywhere I went, even girls older than me would stop and look at me, and whisper about how cute I was. Even at 10, I thought I was invincible... I had all my badges collected when I was in the boys scout when I was 10, and I was even made the scoutleader.
As a scoutleader, I was brash and reckless - and all the guys in my troop loved me for it. Of course, I knew that some guys who were older than me - the 12 year olds - were jealous. But I was just too goddamn popular.
It was the popularity that led to my downfall...
I still remember it like it was yesterday... it was November 28, and the scouts were having their annual camping trip in Sungai Pisang. However, it was new for me because I was going to be leading the troop this year, instead of the previous senior. Of course there would be a teacher in charge, but it was Old Mr Roberts, who really let me run the whole show. As always.
Once we got there, us boys were pissed to find out that our old campsite was situated really near the brownies' site. We were 10, we were anti-girls and all that ... so we waged war against the other girl brownies from a neighbouring girls school. I thought it was a load of laughs, but little did I know how cruel and evil girls would be.
That night, after a whole afternoon of games and taunting the womenfolk, I went off to take a whiz when I suddenly felt a lot of hands grabbing at my arms and legs. I was totally immobilised and taken by shock. Those bitches from the neighbouring camp were taking their revenge out on me, and they dragged me to a barren part of the forest, far from the campsite, where my screams couldn't be heard. Don't laugh at me Benedict - these girls were 12 years old - a good 2 years of growing ahead of me. And we all know how much more mature girls are at that age. They had me tied up pretty quick with these ropes... ropes were everywhere....
Sorry, I couldn't help myself... I must look weak to you two. Get a grip, Seamus... oh yes, where was I?
I was tied spreadeagled to four stakes on the ground... these girls really knew their knots - I'm sure they had the knot badge sewn on. Once they saw that I wasn't getting anywhere fast, they started spitting insults at me.
"Oh so this is the infamous Seamus that all the girls talk about... he ain't so high and mighty now is he?"
"Ayuh... he was pretty arrogant this morning, wasn't he girls? Talking about how weak we were and throwing rocks at our tents."
"He isn't THAT good looking anyway... look at him grimacing and wriggling... he looks like a grub in a cocoon!"
I knew that they were saying all this to humiliate me and to get me to start apologising, but I was big headed... I refused to bow down to these stupid girls. I swore and cussed and I threatened them to release me. "Otherwise I would get the seniors from my troop to really manhandle you bitches! LET ME GO NOW!!!"
All that they could do was throw their heads back and laugh. You don't know what a chill their laughter brought to me...
"Your seniors? Well, guess what? Your seniors are here right now..."
From the back of the bushes, stepped out 3 of the troop leaders - you don't need their names. In fact, I have forgotten them. I don't even remember how they look like. They came towards me, and for a second there, I was relieved. Then, one of them reached out and started pulling my pants down.
"What are you doing?!?! Untie these ropes...! What the heck is going on!!?!?"
Another senior reached out and unbuttoned my shirt. The other one stood towering over me and said, "Seamus... don't you know that it's never too good to be better than your elders? We have watched you flaunt your supposed genius qualities over us. How do you think it makes us feel to know that we're not better than a guy 2 years our junior? Now I will humiliate you... put you in your place. Harry here has always had a huge crush on you... but you never took any notice of him. He's going to make you cum in front of the girls here! I'll like to see how you can go around school with your holier than thou attitude, knowing that Harry can make you scream in ecstacy in the middle of the forest floor!"
I was pulling away at the ropes harder than ever... I was frantic. Harry had my pants down to my ankles, and he was kissing my knees... and slowly moving his way up to the top. Meanwhile, the other guy who had stripped me of my shirt turned to the other and said, "Can I have my turn after Harry's? I want to cut Seamus's thighs... and lick the blood from them."
I hate to imagine what would happen if Mr Roberts didn't show up. I am forever indebted to that man. At first I thought he was in on the orgy, but all those years of carrying his books to the office and taking over all scout duties for him paid off. He ensured that later, those fucked-up, gay ass seniors of mine were expelled from school. He even wrote a letter to the girl's school principal to detail what happened. And he sent me for counselling. He even promised to never let the details of what happened go any further. Sure, there were whispers of a near Seamus torture, but I think my popularity and good looks saved me, as nobody wanted to believe anything against me.
And that has been the way it was til today.
Benedict and Choong Leeng were silent. They never knew that something so horribly scarring could happen to Seamus. Choong Leeng was the first to speak up.
"I'm sorry that you had to go through what you did, Seamus. But I think it's extremely STUPID of you to let what happened so many years ago dictate the way you think and act now. Sure, those girls from the school that tied you up were pretty FUCKED up, but that doesn't mean that all girls are like that! So all this time, you had your vision clouded up that girls are cruel because of what they did, but don't you think that your seniors are the one who are really the ones to be blamed? That they could think of doing such things to you just because you were more popular? And because of THEM... because of THEM, you are unable to acknowledge me - Choong Leeng - a young and sexy, intelligent babe - and instead, you think of me as a guy so you could withstand me. I absolutely RESENT that!"
"Yeah!" added Benedict. "It sucks that that happened to you - but I can't believe that you didn't think we were good enough pals to you for you to confide in us. Even if we can't make you feel better, at least we would know how to handle your feelings and emotions better. Now I feel like such a horrible friend because I have teased you mercilessly, without knowing what you had to go through."
"I... I didn't know that you two would accept me as a friend after knowing that," said Seamus misearably. "After that incident, I isolated myself from people, knowing that they could turn against me so easily if I surpassed them. I... I didn't want to be hurt anymore!"
"How could you think we would be so bastard-y!" exclaimed Benedict.
"I... can't help myself! I have to protect myself from getting into a similar situation! Mr Roberts can't be around me all the time!"
"You can depend on us to always be your friend, and to count on the fact that we will be accepting of you - in whatever situation you have been in!" added Choong Leeng.
Tears welled up in Seamus's eyes. "Thank you --- Benedict, you have been like a brother to me all this while. I should have trusted you more. And you..." he turned to Choong Leeng. "You are quite truly - the first female friend that I ever had."
* * * * *
"So when are you going to tell me who the princess you know is?"
Lumpy had been slaving over Goldie for the past 24 hours, trying desperately to find the identity of the princess who he would seduce to submission with his wit and care, in order to gain his looks again. Goldie had not been very helpful, saying things like, "Hmm... judging from the photo of you prior to the witch's spell, I don't see why you would want to revert back to looking like that. I think I would thank the witch for making you a moose, since it was a improvement from your face" and "I don't know if I should tell you who she is.. I mean, she doesn't want anyone to know her real identity... you know how royalty can be if you disobey their orders. I don't want to get beheaded..."
But Lumpy was persistent... spent the whole day following Goldie's orders and pandering to her demands. She was a big gossip at heart, so it wasn't long before she was telling them (Thingy, Lumpy, Dianne and Igene) who the girl was.
"It's Kimchi. You do know who Kimchi is, right?"
Aside from Dianne, the rest didn't know.
"Well, that's cos she only came in the pub a few times. Most of the time it's Wison, but in class, Wison, Kimchi and I are like the three musketeers. So she confided in us that she was actually a Korean princess studying here. She's also damn beautiful, but I think I shouldn't have raised Lumpy's hopes. She's never kissed a guy before - never had a boyfriend either. I doubt that she would fall in love with you when the legions of men after her (all good looking KOREAN men with thick eyebrows!) have failed. Forgive me for giving you this spark of hope, Lumpy. Get used to your moose face, I suppose," said Goldie.
"Don't you dare, little brother of mine!" yelled Thingy. "This is your once in a lifetime chance... if you do not pursue Kimchi, you're still as stupid as your 13-year-old self who traded in his looks for Digger!"
Lumpy's eyes brimmed with tears. "Yes sister... I will gambatte! I just hope that all of you here with me today will help me in my quest.... my quest to get Kimchi to fall in love with me! Wish me luck!!!"
"Absolutely!" cheered Thingy and Igene. Dianne and Goldie were silent --- could they really betray Kimchi by making her go for this moose of a boy when she could so obviously do better? Before Lumpy could protest at the lack of support from Dianne and Goldie, Benedict, Seamus and Choong Leeng burst through the door.
"Are we too early or too late for the meeting?"
"Too late. We already drew the lots. All the other Airco members have left the publication room," replied Thingy.
"Darn. So who are the people going for the Moonway Ball?" asked Benedict. He crossed his fingers and hoped for the best.
"Well, as I mentioned before, it will be me, Anubisha, Edward K and Dianne Brah. The other 6 lucky winners are Eurene Tonk (I swear, he must've rigged the damn thing), Raquelle Thong (head of campus news), Natalie Yeo (the sexcretary), Graze (fashion dept member), Choong Leeng ("That's me!" gasped CL) and Benedict Neo," announced Thingy.
"YES! This is sooo how we planned it to be!" declared Benedict while walking back to the apartments with Seamus and Choong Leeng. "Now you can give me your ticket and I can invite Clara to the prom with me!"
"Whoever said that I was going to give the ticket to you?" said a flabbergasted Choong Leeng. "This may be a pretty good idea... Joanne asked me to sit at her table, but I guess I can sit with the Airco people, and sneak over to Joanne's table occasionally."
"You mean Joanne invited you too? Joanne invited me as well. Geezus... she asked me to be her date!" replied Benedict.
"So basically Benedict wants Choong Leeng's ticket because he wants to sit with Clara at the Airco table... and Choong Leeng wants a ticket at Joanne's table because they are friends, a ticket that Joanne is willing to pay on behalf of Benedict... does anyone see the obvious solution to this whole situation?" Seamus sounded extremely exasperated.
"What's it?" said Choong Leeng and Benedict in unison.
"Well, Choong Leeng, you give your ticket to Benedict. Now he has a ticket to invite Clara. Then Benedict - you tell Joanne you're going to the prom with her -- and she'll give you a ticket. And you give this ticket to Choong Leeng. Now she has a ticket to sit at Joanne's table. Perfect!"
Benedict and Choong Leeng simultaneously weighed the pros and cons in their minds. Neurons listing out the advantages and disadvantages of Seamus's devious plan, working at superspeed. Benedict knew that he would be seriously wounding Joanne by doing this, but he HAD to go to the prom with Clara... and he was broke. What with all his CD buying sprees and the cost of living in KL. Plus, it would be revenge for all her dumb stalking. However, that meant he would have to keep up a pretense of niceness towards Joanne until Moonway Ball. And when she found out... she would be SO pissed at him that she would stop stalking him! It was a fool-proof plan!
As for Choong Leeng, she realised that Joanne would want to kill her when she found out that the person sitting next to her at the prom wasn't her supposed date, but her. However, she knew that Joanne would most likely pin the blame on Benedict, and not her. She could just use her special power - her blur queen look - and that would erase all blame against her. And she would much rather sit at Joanne's table, with all the other science stream girls than to sit next to Benedict at the Airco table. Helping Benedict this way would also mean that he owed her one - and he'll let her use his computer more often! It was a fool-proof plan!
Benedict and Choong Leeng shook hands on the deal, and that night, Benedict sms-ed Joanne to tell her that he was going to the prom after all.
"Really?!? Oh my God, you REALLY are going to the prom!?!?" asked Joanne.
"Yes, I will be there," he answered, which was the truth.
"I'm so happy! I'll pass you my ticket when I see you tomorrow!" Joanne replied.
"Sure. See you there."
Benedict was pleased. He managed to answer all her enthusiastic statements without lying. Of course he was going to the prom. Of course he would see her there. But he never confirmed that he would be going there with her, or sitting with her. The second person that he called was Clara...
Does Clara end up going to the prom with Benedict? Is it really a fool-proof plan? Will we see repercussions of Seamus's past in future episodes of Forbidden Blue Durian? I guess we'll just have to find out!