The Professional

Chapter two

Song yi's pov

Chong song yi, beautiful, rich, popular, I'm an actress, and not just any kind of actress, mine is a home name, unique, of course I have my rivals, but they don't matter, I can hold them off even on a bad day.

My mum died when I was 6, she had prostate cancer, I didn't even know what that meant then, all I knew was one day mum fainted and dad took her to the hospital, when they came back, mum was in a wheelchair, dad said she needed it so she wouldn't stress herself walking around all the time, he lied. Weeks later mum stopped going to work, her hair started to fall off, she stopped going out, and her body looked thinner and paler every day, I didn't know what was possibly happening, all dad said was that if she rested a little bit more she'd be fine, he lied, again .

My dad was good at that, anyway, mum didn't get better, her condition worsened, I watched her grow weaker every day, dad could'nt do anything, mum was slowly dying.

I had crept into her room one evening when I hadn't been able to sleep, the lights were off, and only a tiny light shown on her bedside table, I had hated the dark when I was a little girl, okay I still hate it, but it was worse off then, I wanted to switch the lights on, but mum was sleeping so soundly I was afraid it might wake her up, so I tiptoed to her bedside as quietly as I could.

She looked so thin, so pale, so weak, a shawl was wrapped around her head that completely concealed her blond hair that I loved so much, I hated seeing mum like this, it scared me, I wanted her to get better, I wanted things to go back to the way they once were, I wanted to braid her hair again, I wanted her to pick me up and spin me around like she always did, I wanted my mum back.

I studied her for a while, she was sound asleep, her body was almost completely submerged under the duvet, except for one of her foot that stuck out from under it, I pulled the duvet over her open foot as carefully as I could, but I probably wasn't all that careful, because she woke up the next second.

" Chong Song Yi ? " she called, her voice was rough and shaky, I wanted to believe it was only because she just woke up, but I knew all too well that that wasn't the only reason.

She looked surprised to find me standing beside her at this hour, and tried to lean to check if anyone else was with me.

" Why aren't you sleeping sweetie ? where is Papa ? " she asked worriedly.

I didn't answer, instead I looked down at her fingers, they were pale, just like the rest of her body, they were lean and wrinkled, I grabbed the five of them with both my hands and petted them, before I finally looked up at her again.

" What's wrong with you mummy ? " I asked.

I knew I was too young to understand what the grown-ups talked about was happening to my mum, but at least I knew mum wasn't feeling well, I fell sick sometimes, when I did, mum had the doctor give me a needle, then she made me waffles, and I got better, my hair didn't fall off, neither did I have to use a wheelchair because of it.

" Oh sweetie " my mum exclaimed softly, then she reached for the light switch and turned it on. I felt a lot better after the lights were on.

" Come honey, come lie with me " mum said, adjusting on the bed, she lifted the duvet so I could crawl under, and once I did she dropped it over me as well, " that's it, are you better now sweetie ? " she asked with a warm smile once I had snuggled against her under the duvet.

" I am mummy, " I answered honestly, " but I know you're not, " I added almost immediately, mum grew quiet immedately I said this, when I looked up at her she wasn't smiling anymore, instead she had that look on her face as if I had said something so surprising.

" Mummy ? why are you sick ? " I asked, looking up at her, she didn't answer immmediately, but first pulled me closer and pressed her lips on my forehead, then she smiled at me, and started talking.

" Well you see Chong Song Yi, just like children get sick sometimes, us grown-ups get sick too, " she said trying to sound casual about it, " sometimes it's not that serious, and when we go to the doctor... "

" He gives you a needle ? " I interrupted.

She smiled and said " yes dear, but then sometimes when we're very sick, the doctor finds it difficult to take the pain away, " she said.

" Not even with his needle ? " I asked, confused for a moment.

I had this assumption about the doctor's needle, as though it were some sort of cure for every illness, I know it was a completely unrealistic notion, but then again I was only six.

Mum drew her hand from under my head and laid on her side, so that we were facing each other, she brushed her hand down my long ebony coloured hair, before she continued talking.

" Well Chong Song Yi, there are some things that even the doctor's needle can't cure " she said, looking into my eyes.

" So who can ? " I asked.

She sighed and put my fingers in between hers, then she continued.

" Well in that case, we just have to hope and pray a miracle happens sweetie " she said and starred into my eyes again.

" Is that what you're waiting for mummy ? a miracle. " I asked, she nodded playfully, pressing her lips together in a funny way.

" Hmmm, " I exclaimed and looked down at her chest, then I bobbed my head up again as fast as I had brought it down like someone who heard something too unbelievable to be true.

" I have an idea, " I said excitedly, and mum looked at me, itching to hear what I had to say.

" What's that sweetie ? " she asked.

" I know, I'll become a doctor when I grow up, " I said with so much enthusiasm, " then I can make you feel better, " I finally said, revealing my ingenious plan, mom looked shocked at first, then she smiled and kissed my head again, right before she pulled me closer to herself.

" I would like that sweetie, I would like that very much " she said and kissed my head again .

Mom always took care of me whenver I fell sick, now she was sick too, and it was my turn to take care of her.

I only slept in mum's room a few more times after that, mum's condition became worse, she became slimmer and bed ridden, a week later the inevitable happened, mum died, the doctor said she died in her sleep, there was no coming back from that, mum was gone, she was never coming back.

" It has been twenty years since I lost my mum, I often go to the cemetery from time to time though, I don't know if she can hear me or see me like I want to believe, but I visit her as many times as I can, I want her to know I'm a grown woman now, I have everything going well for me, a career I am passionate about, and a bunch of fans who were crazy about me. "

" And what about your promise to your mum that you would become a doctor " the masculine voice of the reporter asked.

I smiled lightly at the question, before I drew the mike close enough to give an answer.

" I know I told mum I would become a doctor someday, but that was only because I thought I could help her, plus it was childish talk, that dream died with her twenty years ago, although I have had the opportunity to play the roll of a doctor in most movies, I always turned them down, something about that terrifies me, I'm scared that if I do it, the memory of my sick mother would be fresh again, and I don't want that, so I turn them down. " I answered.

The reporter stared at me for a while, no doubt he was thinking about just how bold and beautiful I looked, the the way I sat on the oxblood leather sofa, with my leg crossed over the other.

My long ebony hair fell elegantly down my shoulders, and a few strands fell over my eyes which I tucked behind my ear the next minute, right before the reporter continued with his questions.

" Ok, so we all know mother's day is just around the corner, how does that make you feel ? Knowing you can't celebrate mother's day with your mother ? " the reporter asked.

Did he just ask me that ? talk about insensitive, naturally I would have exploded at his careless questions, but I didn't feel like it, I sensed the rest of the crew and even the reporter himself grow sober after he had asked the question.

He pulled the mike away from his lips nervously and whispered an apology to me, having studied my reaction to his question, he knew I was upset, and suggested I ignore the question, but that wasn't necessary, I smiled at him, and tried to answer in the best way possible.

" I believe mother's day is truly a remarkable day to celebrate, they're wonderful people, mothers, and they deserve it, however I won't try to deny the fact that not being able to celebrate mother's day with my mother saddens me, but that doesn't stop me from celebrating it, in a way I can still celebrate my mum, because she was a remarkable person, in the end it's the thought that counts, and nothing else. " I finally said, and smiled back at the reporter.

He looked a little bit surprised and relieved at the same time, but I'm sure I answered his question. He adjusted his glasses and looked down at his papers then he continued.

" Well miss Song Yi, thank you so much for those beautiful words, I'm sure our mother's loved it, however one more question, any idea what kind of a movie you'll be stirring in next ? we know you've appeared in quite a lot of different genres over the years, from romance to fantasy to action to comedy, so I'm sure your fans, me included " the reporter added, which made Song Yi laugh out loud " as well as your other fans out there must be dying to find out what and when your next appearance will be " the reporter asked.

I pulled the mike close enough to my lips and said " I do have something I'm working on, but it's a surprise package, so I can't tell you about it just yet " I said before cracking into a cheeky laughter.

" Well then if you say so miss Song Yi, us fans have no option but to take your word for it, we know you always deliver, thank you for joining us, have a wonderful time, and a swell week ahead " the reporter said with a smile.

" You too " I returned his gesture.

As soon as the interview was over, My personal assistant Bai Si Ming, a tall, slim, pretty young lady with brown hair neatly packed into a bun, and corporately dressed in a denim jacket, a penciled skirt, and heels, approached me, along with a group of three others, a makeup artist, a masseuse and an errand boy, just what I needed.

While the masseuse went straight to work on my shoulders, and the make up artist brushed off sweat and smoothed the powder on my face, Si Ming outlined the remaining of my appointments, there was a meeting with one new movie director, then an interview in less than an hour, a visit to the motherless babies home, and finally an appointment for a fashion ad.

Si Ming was an interesting young lady, she has been working with me for a while now, she was about the same age as I was, but Si Ming had a high level of maturity, she took her job very seriously and hardly ever made mistakes, she was one of the few people I could trust.

" What's in the bag ", I asked, having noticed the errand boy handling one, right before the masseuse's gentle grip on my shoulders pulled me away to a world of satisfaction, that I closed my eyes in minutes.

" It's lunch "Si Ming answered, " your favorite, Chicken and soup "

With that a smile curved on my face, this girl really did know me to the latter, I stretched my hand out immediately and shot my eyes open.

" Hand it here " I said, and Si Ming grabbed it from the errand boy and handed it to me.

I took a peak into the bag, everything was just how I liked it, the aroma was impeccable, and I couldn't wait to dig in.

I grabbed the spoon and sat up, the masseuse and the make up artist immediately shifted aside, and I passed a guilty glance at Si Ming.

" You didn't get yourself anything ? " I asked.

She smiled at me, exposing a set of significantly brilliant dentition.

" You don't have to worry miss Song Yi, I'll get something to eat when I'm hungry, for now enjoy your meal .

" Okay, suit yourself " I said then dug into the unsuspecting bowl of chicken and soup.

" Hmmm, this gets better everytime, you should try it out sometime " I said looking at Si Ming, who only nodded back at me.

Si Ming looked at me amused, probably at how much I liked the meal.

" What is it, why are you looking at me like that ? "

" Hff, I can't see why you like chicken and soup so much, I mean most people would prefer chicken and rice or even chicken and chips, but you're the only one I have seen that loves Chicken and soup this much. " she said.

" Is that so ? " I asked, though not at all surprised, I had a peculiar taste, thanks to non other than my mother, who never missed an opportunity to make me Chicken and soup whenever she could.

" I guess you're right, most people hardly eat chicken and soup, " I said putting a spoon of soup in my mouth, and stared out the window, it felt like yesterday, when Mum made me that special bowl of heart wrenching deliciousness, I thought it was weird at first, but after tasting it I couldn't help but want more, and it had been like that ever since.

A smile crept up my face at that memory and I looked up at Si Ming who stood next to me, smiling delightedly.

" Why are you smiling so much ? " I asked giving her a suspicious look, before I went back to my chicken.

" Nothing, "she answered, still with a smile. " It's just that, seeing you now, you look so different from the Chong Song Yi on television. " she said, smiling again.

I shook my head dismissively, " Anything else I need to know about ? " I asked taking a bite out of the chicken.

" Mr Dong wanted you to meet him at the amusement park later this evening. " she said.

" Tell him I'm busy today, I wouldn't make it " I said quickly, not looking away from my meal.

" Then I got a message from your father " she said.

With that, I suspended the spoon of soup I was about to put into my mouth in mid air, and my eyes looked forward.

Si Ming studied my reaction for a while,

" What does he want ? " I asked coldly, and put the spoon in my mouth.

" He wants to have a talk with you "she said.

My father and I hadn't exactly won the award for best father and daughter relationship, I hadn't seen or spoken to him in weeks, and even when we did see each other, there were hardly any sentiments attached, what could he possibly want now ? It wasn't money, he had lots of it, it wasn't attention, he didn't need it, I knew he wasn't missing me, that was far fetched, I let out a frustrated sigh, I couldn't tell what his motives were for wanting to see me, either way, the choice was up to me, to see him or not, however, the latter seemed most likely.