[pussluver]

Ep 29

11.45am

My phone rang.

I looked at Priscilla and put a finger on my lips. She understood.

Mandy: hey... Sam... have you arrived?

Me: yes. so you guys have arrived at the hotel? I'll go over now...

Albert had told me to pretend that I did not know where they were.

Mandy: oh sorry, the hotel was changed.

Me: har?! what? why?

Mandy: Daryl didn't tell me....

Me: then where is it now?

Mandy: where are you? why not I come over and meet you?

Me: Will Kristy come along?

Mandy: no...

Me: why not? the purpose is for me to speak to her here....

Mandy: if she comes with me now, then Daryl will try to tag along...

Me: hmm.. then please stay there and accompany her.

Mandy: She'll be fine with Daryl.... my boyfriend has been helping to distract her emotions.

I had not told her about what Daryl did yet.

Me: no... she's unhappy and must be feeling down... you're her friend... please stay with her....

If Mandy was hanging around, Daryl might not attempt anything with Kristy.

Mandy: er... but we need to discuss and plan how you get to meet her right?

Me: we can discuss on the phone....

Mandy: I think it's easier to meet up to talk. I am standing at the balcony now and afraid that Daryl might hear me talking to you.

Me: hais.... why not this evening when you guys are having dinner, I'll let you know when I am nearby... then you find an excuse with Kristy and I can meet you somewhere nearby for a bit and I can talk to her

Mandy: hmm... ok then.

Me: btw what's the place you are staying now?

She gave me the hotel and with that, we hung up.

I was anxious but there was nothing I could do.



4pm

Albert returned to the hotel

Albert: This is the new accomodation. I've paid for it and this is your key. I'll show you where it is.

Priscilla: then what about me?

Albert: you've paid for the room, so stay here..

Priscilla: hmphf!...

She made a face at him but he ignored her.

When we went off, he allowed Priscilla to tag along as she wanted to see our new hotel.

We took a cab back to my current accomodation and I checked out first.

With my backpack, we went to the new hotel that Albert had booked for me. It was a few streets away from where Kristy was staying.


6pm

Mandy messaged me the location to meet and I told Albert where I was going

Priscilla: I'll come along to explain

Me: no... wait... let me try to speak to her first. If she still does not believe me, I'll ask for your help....

She reluctantly agreed and I headed out alone.



6.15pm

The address was a bistro off the busy street and 10 mins car ride from Mandy's hotel.

When I arrived, Mandy sitting alone at a table with a cocktail

Me: where are they?

Mandy: have a seat and I'll tell you....

I sat opposite from where she was.

Mandy: they are still at the hotel but will be leaving soon. Kristy is still bathing and they have not planned where they wanted to go.

Me: har?! you were supposed to bring Kristy along so that I can speak to her...

Mandy: she's really angry with you.... it's not so straightforward......

Me: I know... that's why I asked you for help!...

I quickly texted Albert about the current scenario.

Mandy: even if you watsapp her, she won't reply....

Me: so where are they going? let's go and look for them now.

Mandy: even if we leave now, when we reach my hotel, they would have already left for somewhere else.
Mandy: Don't worry, Daryl will tell me where they will be and we'll head there. In the meantime, have a drink with me first.

My phone buzzed.

Albert msg: don't panic. If Daryl is going to be violent, he will be in trouble. He won't do that and if she accept him willingly, there's nothing you can do.

I shook my head.

Me: thanks but I don't need a drink.

She studied me and then sighed.

Mandy: hais... you are really dense.

Me: about what?

Mandy: you mean you didn't feel anything at all after 1 year?

Me: feel what?

Mandy: tsk...

She took a big gulp of her drink before looking at me.

Mandy: I've a crush on you and still do.




It was like a bombshell exploding in my head.

What was the chances that in one day, I had 2 girls declaring that they liked me?

I shook my head in denial.

Me: no. don't joke about this. If Kristy hear this, not only will she be angry with me, she will also be angry with you....

Mandy: I guess that you didn't realize that those stuffs that you found by your door was sent by me...

In the past year, at times, I had found food items left outside my door but I had never try to find out who gave them to me since there was no notes left behind and I had no way to find out.

Me: but.... you're with Daryl....

Mandy: no... he isn't even my boyfriend....

Me: what do you mean? how can this be?

Mandy: After Kristy had broken off with Tom, she got attached to you almost immediately. Daryl didn't even have time to approach her.
Mandy: So he asked me if I could help him because he needed an opening to get closer to Kristy, just like how you did a year back...
Mandy: and he felt that this way, he will have the first mover advantage once she broke off with you.....

I could not believe what I was hearing.

Mandy: He didn't ask me to help him with anything except pretending to be his girlfriend....

Me: no, he did ask you to show him her tits....

She shook her head.

Mandy: no. I did it on my own as I wanted to humiliate her in front of you...




I wanted to scold her but kept my tongue in check.

Based on what she was saying, somehow things started to fall into place.

Me: So at his party, you are the one who got her drunk right?..

Mandy: no... I left her with Winnie.... I did not know what happened after that... I was speaking to Priyish and Greddy until you found me.... you can ask them....

They were her coursemates and she did not look like she was lying.

Me: so you planned with Daryl to give me the wrong address of your hotel?

Mandy: no. the initial location was supposed to be the place. Somehow, he changed it.....

She showed me the message from Daryl.

Me: he asked you to get Kristy here?

Mandy: yes... he wanted to spend some time Kristy and got me to ask her but at the same time, I thought that it might also be a good chance for me to speak to you alone. So I asked you here as well....

I went on to ask her about their activies today. Apparently they were visiting quite a few places for the whole day.

Mandy: Sam, she won't accept you again.... why not give me a chance?....






I was about to answer her when suddenly someone spoke behind me.

Priscilla: hey Sam!.... and you're from our university right?....

I turned to look and she was standing there with Albert. They did not tell me anything but from Priscilla's question, I knew I had to play along.

Me: Oh Priscilla.... what a coincidence... why are you here?

Priscilla: we are here for a short trip.

My phone buzzed.




Albert was looking at my phone and I knew he wanted me to read the message.

Leng msg: Introduce them to the girl and then say you are going to the toilet. Albert will handle the girl. you hurry to this address.

Me: oh, Priscilla, this is Mandy.... and Mandy, this is.... er

I looked at Priscilla and she introduced Albert to us

Me: if you are not going anywhere, why not join us?

Mandy: sam... we haven't finish with our discussion.

Me: we are waiting for Daryl's message to tell us where he is, right?

She nodded and I turned to priscilla.

Me: if you have nothing else, why not you all sit with us for a while?

They took a seat and I got up.

Me: order your drinks first... I need to use the toilet and will be back shortly.

Priscilla: sure....

She called the waiteress over.

With that, I left the group.






I flanked around the back of the shop and walked quickly until I reached a junction.

There were an array of taxi there and I got into one and headed to the location.

In the cab, I called Leng.

Me: how do you know where they were?

Leng: Albert told me to head down to their hotel. When I reach there, I saw them getting into a taxi and followed them.
Leng: They have just settle down in a restaurant and I'm watching them from the outside.

Me: ok.... I'm already on my way....

From the time I texted Albert to the time when Leng texted me was about 20 mins.

Apparently Daryl did not tell Mandy that they were leaving the hotel. I figured that he did not wanted her to be around.