ULAM. -- The Escaped Version

We will all die anyway. Why wait a few more years? Why not go out in a blazing glory? A famous rock star once said, "It is better to burn out than to fade away."

"Tyzen..."
"Huh?"
"Why Ulam is called Ulam?"

Tyzen sat up and looked at Sara, gave her a light kiss on her lips. Sara looks so beautiful under the starry night.

Tyzen hold Sara closer to him, "Sara my love.. 'Ulam' means 'far away' in our ancient language..."

"Far away?"
"..yes.. far away... like the ancient time was far away from the present; like the present is far away from the future..."

*********************************************************

"THAT'S really FAAAR AWAY~~ Sara, " Marz started to rumble, waking Sara up from all her memories with Tyzen, "are we there yet?"

"..erm... almost.." Sara wasn't paying attention. She started to bring Duncan and Marz went around the bushes 1 hour before, when she started to feel hesitate about her plan with Lang.

"Here's the plan -- I know you want to be with Tyzen; and that's bring both of us to have a same purpose -- so you get Duncan to ULAM, and I'll bring Suki there. Duncan is the offering to reach the purpose, but he needs to agree to sacrifice 'willingly', at least we have to make him to, that's why we need Suki as a bait. How's that?" Lang approached Sara the night when she called Tyzen out using Brutus' plates.

Calling out Tyzen wasn't a good idea at all. Sara thought she's got Tyzen over but she's not. She was totally defeated by Tyzen's reappearance in front of her, and her weakness was witnessed by Lang, a man who always knows the perfect timing to use someone's weak points as an opportunity.

Today is the day -- the 16th day of summer in Ulam, the day when the full moon is the fullest, the day when Lang will receive his immortality, the day Sara will be with her Tyzen, forever and ever -- but Sara wasn't so sure about that, but she knew Tyzen will suport her decision.

-- In fact, this is what Tyzen wanted, this is why Tyzen released Lang from the Forest of Sin. "Because I love you Sara, and I miss you so much, and Lang is the only way could help me to have you -- we'll be in Ulam, we'll not separate from each other, in Ulam.." This was what came out from Tyzen's mouth that night, the night that Sara for the first time saw Tyzen in tears, the night that Sara realized both of them are so much inseparable...

Sara stopped. The hidden path lay on their left was the one would lead them to the sacred place. Sara could choose to keep on deviating from the path as what she did for the past 1 hour. Her hand inside her pocket reached the Brutus' plates. She had made up her mind.

"Turn left. We almost there." She instructed.

************************************************************

"Hey.. you are so beautiful.. It's just too bad you're the chosen one..." Almost whispered, Lang smiled at his sleeping beauty in his arm. Suki fell asleep soundly after the long deep kiss with Lang. Obviously the poison on his lips was effective.

Not bad. Lang tasted his own lips. The poison has a flavor that couldn't be defined. He found this poison in The Forest of Sin. He was caged there by the Ulam locals after he came down from the mountain, because they believed the new Langkasuka could only be officialized with the declaration of the old one. Without that, The Forest of Sin would be the place for the potential new Langkasuka, to spend his remaining time, until his destiny released him.

The local believes, The Forest of Sin is the place of condemnation. All bad intentions will be revealed and will be punished -- regardless of whether the bad things have been done, or not.

Lang just shouldn't have showed off his new power to the locals. He spent his most humiliated days in the Forest of Sin, and he cursed so much and swore to destroy the Forest of Sin, and the whole Ulam, one day, when he became the Langkasuka.

Lang lifted Suki up, and started to move toward the sacred place. The full moon was rising from the horizon.

**********************************************************

"But I still don't understand, Dunk," trying hardly to make way out of the think bushes, Marz raised his question, "..you said the reign of a Langkasuka is.. erm.. what.. 5 generations? Then that's not immortality, right?"

"...ye--ah.. in a way.. I don't know... but nobody really wants to be immortal, right? Try imagine if you are immortal but not your loved ones. How torturing it could be to see them dying one after one, leaving you day after day...." Duncan tried to not sound sentimental, "..it's gonna be lonely, man.."

"... you're right bro... what's the whole world mean to you if you don't have that someone you love?" Marz clearly fell into his blues to think of his own loneliness.

Sara was listening to their conversation, quietly, until the last sentence came out from Marz, she was stunned.

What's the whole world mean to you if you don't have that someone you love?
She started to see a point that she'd never thought of before... The face of Tyzen started to flash in her mind.. Her heart started to pump vigorously, she felt harder to breath.. All what she heard from Tyzen before, bore another meaning now--

-- "Because I love you Sara, and I miss you so much, and Lang is the only way could help me to have you -- we'll be in Ulam, we'll not separate from each other, in Ulam.." -- "Ulam' means 'far away' in our ancient language.. far away... like the ancient time was far away from the present; like the present is far away from the future..."

...................

Now she understood. Both her legs became weak, she fell on her knee... "no way.." she murmured..

All these while, she thought she's helping Tyzen to be mortal, so that they can finally be together, like a normal human..; All these while, Lang thought he's on his way to be immortal... All these while, Sara and Lang thought they were executing a plan that planned by Lang....

..It was all wrong..

It was Tyzen's plan, all these while..

The full moon rose. Sara, Duncan and Marz could see the silhouette of the sacred place, ahead of them, in the deep deep jungle..

Truly, her reputation doesn’t precede her. Suki smiled at the clear blue sky, the crystal-like water and the warm breeze that slapped her face gently. Between her fingers were another set of whom she Simply feel in love with, Lang’s.

Both of them arrived at Ulam exactly the day after they crazily jump into something that both of them didn’t expect. Well, atleast, maybe not for Suki.

“Hey what are you smiling about? What do you think of this place?” Lang asked Suki as he noticed her smile was even rosier than usual.

“Hmmmm, sigh. Simply amazing.” You Are simply amazing. Added Suki in silent.

“Come, let’s have a quick change, I wanna show you something.” Winking, Lang grabbed Suki’s hand and make way into a resort.

Oh my…


**************************************


“You know what? Thank God, this place is Always worth the journey. Always worth it even with the worst flight ever!!” Said Marz sarcastically, rolling his eyes to Duncan.

“Hey it’s last minute, and that’s all we have.” Explained Duncan while helping Sara with her luggage.

“Let’s go, let’s just check in somewhere and… Sara, you can help to lead us to the sacred place? Sara?”
“Uh oh, okay..”
“Hey you ok? You seem quiet… If it’s about…”
“You bet it’s about the flight! I even smell like sardines now…” Marz cut in.
“Cut it off guys. It’s getting late, come on.” Sara broke the argument, hoping it will give her some peace of mind.

The one thing she’s desperately need now.


********************


Am I doing the right thing? Won’t it be too selfish? I do want to be with him. But does someone really need to die? Duncan is my best friend…

“Sara! Are you done? I need to use the bathroom now.” Marz banged on the bathroom door.
“Yea, just a minute!” Startled, Sara quickly finished her shower.

Is Lang being serious?


*********************


“Alright, here we are! Now, look at these...” Lang pointed to Suki a wall of stones of different colors.

No way Sara’s going to chicken out of the plan. He was lost in his thoughts looking at Suki wondering around the place, amazed by the colourful stones, not knowing what was really happening.

She loves Tyzen, she wants him to be mortal. And I need Duncan’s blood, well to be immortal. Hahaha how ironic!

“Hey, you said something?” asked Suki as she thought she heard laughter.
“Ah no, just some wishful thinking I have on you.” Lang smiled.

You Are to make my wish come true. Let’s pray that Duncan would buy this.


*****************************


“Sara, are you sure this is ONLY the second time you went here? You seemed to know this place pretty well” Duncan was impressed with Sara memory.

“Seems like someone has been making out more frequent than we thought.” Teased Marz while three of them making their way in the forest to the sacred place. But Sara did not respond to the joke; her mind was occupied with the thoughts of her own.

What’s wrong with Sara? And why do I feel everything is too easy… TOO easy for my liking... Thought Duncan, sensing something fishy is going on.

Marz, being the level headed person he was, said “No worries, I got contacts in the immigration, so we can settle our visas ASAP. The only problem now is securing tickets to Ulam. As you guys know, now is the peak season of Ulam. Hopefully there’ll be empty seats for today’s flight there. Dunk, you better bring Sara home to pack. I don’t think she can fly to Ulam with just what she’s wearing now. After all, there’s someone in Ulam that she wants to dress up for…”

Duncan only shook his head in disbelieve. He couldn’t believe that in emergency times like this Sara could still think about clothes, shoes and accessories. “Women...” he mumbled under his breath, before he realized something.

“Wait, are you telling me that I have to drive Sara home to pack and drive AGAIN to here to take the flight to Ulam? Are you crazy?! We don’t have the time! If Lang and Suki had eloped this morning from New York, that means they are reaching Ulam now! Sara, just wear whatever you have. It’s not like you don’t have extra clothes at his house, right?”

“And another thing, what this shit about visas and all? We can just visit Ulam! It’s not under any country’s law; we’re not even bound to have legal identification papers there! So just buy the damn tickets, okay?!”

“We met in a dream. Somehow I stumbled into his dream when we were in Ulam. In his dreams, I always saw him with families, and friends. He’s always laughing. And then, suddenly he was left all alone. Always like that, the dream will start happy and ended sadly. I was like looking through a glass, until one day, I had the courage to break it. That’s how I knew Tyzen. Through a dream...” Sara smiled, remembering the first time she met him.

“A dream? Are you telling me that you fell in love with the guy that you met in your dreams?” Marz shook his head in disbelieve.

“I know it’s not the usual way, but all my dreams of him are so vivid, it’s hard to believe that it’s not real. Until the day when the first thing I saw when I opened my eyes was his face. Then the dreams weren’t as real as they were before.”

“Guys, Lang had already flown Suki to Ulam. We had to hurry! Enough reminiscing already Sara!” said Duncan after he hung up.

“Oh no! Tickets, we have to book flight tickets now! And packing and immigrations and visas…oh! Will we be able to catch him in time?” Sara had started panicking...

N0 1: Get a hot chick for the altar of sacrifice.

Check.

No 2: Obtain the highest order of existence from the high priestess of ULAM.

On the way.

................................................................................

So Lang found himself in bed with Suki. Mission accomplished. Now all he had to do was convinced the obviously smitten Suki to follow him to a romantic getaway on a magical island filled with amazing adventures waiting to be discovered.

That was easy. All he had to say was, "Baby, I own a mansion on that island, the biggest one so far, built on top of a scenic hill overlooking the ocean. We'll take my private plane and the trip is less than a few snuggles away."

Suki, teary eyed (finally all these years of starving myself to death to attract wealthy gazzilionaires paid off) leaped into Lang' s waiting arms and smooches him into a close coma.

Lang: Whoa there princess. All in good times.

Suki: Of course my love. I'm yours like that Mraz song no?

Lang: You bet!

........................................................................

Duncan, Sara and Marz (no, not Jason Mraz, Mars Bar, MarZ) rushed out to the airport. They already confirmed Suki's whereabouts by calling her mother aka talent modelling agent who happens to be at the bar where Lang picked Suki up, (Lang almost took the mother home by mistake, at 40, she had Suki when she was barely 16 years old, Suki's mom was still a knock out classic beauty).

Suki's Mom: Duncan? I remember you! You broke Suki's heart a year ago. Suki still talks about you once in a while. How you've been?

Duncan: Baaaa (feeling sheepish, he did broke Suki's heart, and sending her for a job in New York was beyond cold) Mommy, I need to talk to Suki. Is she with you?

Duncan always call all his exes mothers Mommy. He thinks its cute. The mothers feel flattered.

Suki's Mom: But darling, I thought you knew. Lang used your name when he came up to us last night. I was out partying with the girls, we just had a show you see, Suki needed her tequila shots, and this amazing hunk came up to us and said your name. He took Suki's home.

Duncan: So Suki's still in New York? Whose home Mommy? Suki's apartment? Le Hotel?

Suki's Mom: Well. Suki left me a message on my cell this morning. Apparently she has eloped!

Duncan: The f!@#$%?

Suki's Mom: Now young man, there's no need to use such language with me. Suki said Lang is bringing her to a mystical island called...for the life of me I can't remember the name. Starts with a "U" I think.

Duncan: Ulam???

Was amazing.

The way he held me like a lover, our body connected with no room for apart. The flow, the rhythm... it was perfect. It’s been awhile since I felt this way; this sense of belonging. Not since...

I dunno how I got here, in this bed, in the first place. Must be those piercing hypnotizing eyes.

And now I’m smiling to myself, looking all silly. Dammit!

Look at him; lovely messy hair, those yummy kissable lips and those eyes. How can I say no to this delicate face?

“Hmmm...”

Oh... please don’t wake up just yet... please... I still wanna watch you.

Suki went lost in her thoughts. Staring at the stranger she only met last night. The one that made her heart flutter again. The one that made her feel, almost alive again.

“Hmmm.. hey. Good morning Lover.” Lang smiled.

“Hey yourself.” Suki lips reached out to meet the stranger’s lips.

“Breakfast?”

The vertical cliff and the rocky path of the mountain made Lang realized that, climbing up such a mountain was not any easier than climbing up Mt. K2, but came to Lang's surprise, he handled it easily, way, way too easily as if he was taking a stroll in his garden.

It was the energy from the mountain, Lang understood. He felt the energy boosting inside him, as well as 'the calling', flashing inside him.

'The calling', that came from the peak of the mountain.

Lang didn't take long to reach that, and he didn't need to wait long as well, to reveal where 'the calling' from.

It was from a man. A man with diamond-shaped face, wide shoulder. He seemed strong, but lonely.

He was Tyzen The Langkasuka.

"Who are you? How did you get here?" Tyzen didn't expect any visitor. This was a secret place that only he and Sara knew, a secret garden that kept his love to Sara, that hold his promises to Sara...

"I.....I......" Likewise, Lang was shocked to see Tyzen.. "I... I heard you...."

".. you heard me? How?"
"I don't know.... it was.... a lonely feeling... like .. longing..." Lang recalled 'the calling' he received..
...Longing.. how true... Tyzen sighed, he looked far, hoping to see Sara in his sight..

"Oh.. erm.. I'm leaving anyway..." Lang scratched his head and smiled, "..sorry to disturb.... I'm here for my field study.... oh by the way, my name is Lang, Langkasuka.."

Langkasuka? Tyzen frowned, "wait," he turned to Lang, "did you just say Langkasuka? You are a Langkasuka?"

"I'm 'a' Langkasuka? Erm.. I am Langkasuka.. I mean, that's my name.." Lang started to get confused.
"Langkasuka is your name?" Tyzen, too, was confused, ".. How come?"
"How come how?" asked Lang, trying to clarify what's really Tyzen's question.
".. 'Langkasuka' in Ulam, is a title... never a name.."
"Hmm... OK.." Lang didn't find any interesting point to continue the discussion, ".. I need to go.."
"Wait!" Tyzen stopped Lang, paused, and said something that was really out of any sense for Lang.

Something that changed their destinies.

"You are born with the title of The Great Messenger of Ulam, and I think you should hold the destiny of The Great Messenger..." Tyzen said it word by word, but Lang could feel his relief, and he wondered why..

Tyzen sighed, proceeded, "..being The Great Messenger of Ulam you are soon to hold the whole world.. soon enough, just wait for the message..." Lang frown, Tyzen proceeded after a long deep breath, almost chanting:

So everyone been giving him so much heat lately. All he ever wanted to do was make the world a better place. It would be easier for Earth to accept one leader to bring together humanity under one ideology and school of thought.

It's simple.

Respect nature.

The idea behind this is an incident that happened during one of his yearly trips to the Island of Ulam.

............................................................................................

Langkasuka, Lang for short among close friends, has a hobby. He likes to collect stones of different colors and shapes. This obsession has brought him into Ulam, noted to be having the best collection of natural mineral formation known to mankind.

The local folks weren't exaggerating when they boast to him the majestic mountains containing layers of semi precious stones intertwined with bleak granite boulders. Lang looked up close as he climbed his way on to the top of the highest peak. The energy he could generate from these mountains...

“I called him out, Dunk! Accidentally!” Sara sobbed.

“Called who out?”

“Tyzen, I called Tyzen out! Then somehow I was drawn into the spirit world…and saw him… I saw Lang…”

She continued to cry. Big tears fell down her eyes and dampened Duncan’s black t-shirt. It broke Duncan’s heart to see her that way, but what she said just now barely making any sense to him.

Tyzen? Who the hell is Tyzen? And what Lang had to do with Tyzen? Damn, this is getting too complicated… first it was Marz and Lang. Now Tyzen and Lang, then next who? Jimmy Kimmel and Lang? Oh, God forbid!

Marz!

The realization hit Duncan like a blow. He had to find Marz, fast. If Lang is still the same person he knew, then his modus operandi should be the same. Which means, big trouble for Marz. Really big trouble.

"Sara, Sara, we had to get to Marz, now. Can you walk?"

She nodded. Duncan helped her to her feet, and together they walked towards Dunk’s car. Brutus was left whining, so Sara mouthed her sorry at the dog. After they were inside the car, with all the sit belt properly strapped over their body, Duncan started the engine and rushed through the night…

Sara winced as she tried to fight the light that was blinding her. Slowly, she opened her eyes. In front of her stood Lang who was looking straight into her eyes. The ice-cold blue eyes of him pierced right through her, right into her mind as if he was reading her, like a book.

“You know I got something you want.” Said Lang with his eyes gawking at her, steel cold.

“Lang? I don’t understand...” Sara asked Lang, looking for clues.

Only at this time, Sara felt that the stare was not for her. The gaze was for someone or even something beyond her spot. Like a tiger hunting for its prey from afar.

“You know you want to be with her... forever.”

“Her? What are you...”

“YES! I want to be with her! But you can’t ever fool me Lang! After what you did... I will never trust you!!”

Sara spun around to find Tyzen at the other end. Like trapped in a different time zone, both of them couldn’t see her as much as she could only listen and watch them.

“Ohohoho... I don’t think you have a choice. Well, you MIGHT have, but you know I got the best deal. FREE ME TYZEN.” Lang continued.

“Why should I Lang? Do you actually think I am that crazy?”

“Crazy enough. Because I know... I know how to make you mortal.”

“Oh my god... NOOOOOOOO!!!” Screamed Sara in disbelief.

“Sara!! Sara! SARA!!!” Sara heard her name was being called from far.

Suddenly, it all went dark and she could feel her body was shaken. It was Duncan, trying to wake her up.

“Dunk!” Sara came back to her senses, hugging Duncan in despair, crying her heart out.

“What happened? You were lying on the floor, then screaming and now crying... hushhh. It’s ok now. Hush...”

“I call him... I call him out Dunk!” said Sara trying to catch her breath.

“Huh?” Duncan stared at her.

Duncan took the key and started the car engine. Sara needs to be confronted. She needs to know that I was not joking about Lang. She should have known better, she was there when everything happened! Lang almost ruined our lives.

The distance from his place to Sara's is only a fifteen minutes drive. But tonight, however, it seemed like one of the longest drives he ever had to make. While driving, Duncan tried to reach Marz again but failed.

One his final attempt, Marz picked it up.

"What the hell happened to your phone, man! I've been trying to reach you!" Duncan yelled furiously.
"Whoa, easy! I had just turned it on. It's only 5 in the morning, dude. Chill." Marz responded. He sipped his drink.
"Why did you suddenly logged out? Was that Lang? Was that him online, using your computer? What is he doing at your place?" Duncan asked.
"He wanted to use the PC, man. What's with your tone? Is anything wrong?" Marz asked back.
"Everything! Everything about him is wrong. Look, Marz. You need to get out of there now. I'm on my way to Sara's. Let's meet up somewhere..."

Silent.

"Marz? Hello, you're there?" The line was dead. "F*ck!"

When he reached Sara's front gate, he saw her body laying motionless on the floor. Duncan ran towards towards her while Brutus was looking at his owner helplessly, licking her face so she would get up.

*****************

"Stupid phone..." Marz murmured. The battery was dead again. It had been giving him the same problem in the past where the battery would be dead even after being fully charged. Time to get a new one.

He wondered why Duncan sounded so serious about Lang. Why do I need to get out of here? He looked at Lang who was still in front of the computer.

"How's the drink, Marz?" Lang turned to ask.
"Er... good. Is this yours? I just took it..."
"No, no. It's for you." Lang replied.

Marz continued sipping his drink before collapsing. He lied on the kitchen floor, unconscious.

Something not quite right...

Thought Sara to herself while approaching Brutus. Brutus' double dog tags were hitting each other as Brutus was hopping and barking to see Sara came to him with his feast bowl.

Should I or should I not.... contact him...?

Sara pushed the bowl towards Brutus. Her eye was still locking at Brutus' dog tags. The dog tags were two steel plates with the word 'BRUTUS' carved on one and the word 'ULAM' carved on another.

Brutus was feasting on his early breakfast. Sara reached the tags and felt the carvings. Brutus -- Ulam...

"It means 'Love, Ulam' .. .. it's like at the end of every --- "
"-- love letter..." Sara continued his sentence, looking up to his gentle eye. He sealed her lips with a deep kiss. She melted, heartbroken, as that was the last kiss they had, before dawn.

"WOAWF!!" A loud bark. Brutus woke her up from all the memories she had during her stay in Ulam. Her hand was still holding the plates he gave, now the dog plates of Brutus.

She looked at Brutus, made up her mind, "Let's call him up...". Brutus nodded as if he understood and agreed to her decision.

She knew what to do with the plates. "Just a tiny scratch on each other.." Sara repeated what he used to teach her in Ulam, put both plates together and pushed and sheared against each other..

"~~Scratch!" It's the only sound they heard before the two tags automatically dropped off from Brutus' necklace and started to spin and shine. Brutus was freaked out and hided into Sara's arm..

The lights of 7 colours emitted from the tags started to form a figure -- a human figure. Sara could feel her heart beating. The figure was now clearer and clearer, the diamond-shaped face, the gentle eye, the wide shoulder, the strong arms.... Sara was in tears but she knew that she needed to stay strong, at least pretended to.

"Sara.... my love.."

There's already a real human in front of her. "..Finaly you call me..." his deep voice was so sad, but now full of released, "... do you know how much I miss you?"

"No! Stop! please.." Sara stopped him from crumbling her last defending fortress, although she's getting weaker and weaker now..

"I just want to clarify 1 thing, then you please leave..." Sara took a deep breath and recomposed her emotion.

"Sara my love..."
"Don't! Please... please... Just do me a favor, don't ruin my life..."
" *sigh*.. Ok..."
"... Why is Lang here? He's supposed to be caged in the Forest of Sin -- Did you release him?"

He looked at Sara. Sara was still beautiful as before, and she got a little bit plumper now. She's the woman that he loves, with all-hearted..

"Yes I did."
"..but.. Why? Why Tyzen, why?"

Tyzen. He smiled. A name that only would be called by his mother, and Sara. How many years already since the last time he heard people calling this name? He just couldn't recall. He only remembered how disgusted he felt everytime people call him The Great Langkasuka. He hates the word 'The Great', he hates the calling 'Langkasuka', as he hates his 'destiny' to be the next world conquerer.

"I don't care about world domination, I only care the star you want me to bring down to you.." once under the starry night, Sara was in his arm and he could feel the only world for him was right at that time, under that starry night..

Tyzen looked back to Sara, "because..."

The idea is simple. Grab the girl. Present her to the altar of sacrifice in Ulam. Then world domination is one step away.

Lang didn't expect the locals of Ulam, (Ulamites? Ulamers?) to be so bloody picky. Specifics is their middle name it seems. Must be a girl with a name beginning with an S. Must be tall, regal model like.

Thank God Sara's short and slightly plump. Never call a girl fat if you still have aspirations to live your life till old age.

Now where was he, the Great Langkasuka, world dictator wannabe, suppose to find a hot tall model like girl with a name that starts with an S? Hey Duncan has an ex named Suki doesn't he? She's tall enough. Half Japanese to boot.

"Hey Marz, you still have a copy of Duncan's black book?"

"Suki moved to New York dude. Ford Model Management signed her up. It's all Duncan's idea. Rather than dump the girl he got her a job overseas.''

"Okay. Now what?"

“Oy Lang! What was that for? I was chatting, dammit!” Marz snatched back the keyboard that Lang had taken forcefully from him.

“Just a sec. I want to talk to Duncan”

“Hn. Okay, but don’t freak him out or anything. He’s already shocked over the fact that I knew you. God, why he always had to be so dense?”

Grinning, Lang shook his head and turned his attention to the monitor and started typing. Marz sighed and walked towards the kitchen. He knew that despite what he said just now, Lang would try to terrorize their friend. The fridge was opened and he picked up a tin of Coke. I don’t remember buying this, but if it has no name, then it’s mine. Hehe.

His mind started to wander with every sip of drink he took. Back to one month ago, back to his trip to Ulam with Lang. Back to that place….

Crack!

“There goes my good t-shirt, dammit!”

He accidentally crushed the Coke tin, and the content was splattered all over his shirt. Cursing he took it off and went off to search for a new one.

And he finally made up his mind.

For us to reach that person, Duncan is the easiest way. We would never want to hurt him, but this; this is for his own good.

From the back, he heard Lang guffawing at the screen.

Sara was stoned. This is too much to handle... especially at 4 o'clock in the morning!

“You know what, I think u had too much mojito last night that u fricking hearin... listening... or whatever... things”

“Are you serious? I can even send you the chat log if you like, check your email now”

“No no, not now. I need... I need to... feed... the dog. See, you hear that barking? Brutus is gonna eat me if I didn’t prepare his treats”

“But... what? What barking..?? Sara!”

“Got to go!”

Bip!

“Dammit!”



How could Lang be so stupid and being too upfront about the news that he “survived”??



Thought Sara to herself.

Dun_cAn: BUZZ!!
Dun_cAn: Wazup?
M4r2: yo?
Dun_cAn: Where the hell hv u been? Flying back to Mars or wat?
M4r2: LOL. Been away bro..
Dun_cAn: ..for 1 bloody month? WOW!!
M4r2: ;P
M4r2: ..and i still dun think tat s enough.
Dun_cAn: yeah right~ holiday is always not enough, DUH!
M4r2: ;P
Dun_cAn: ..so where is it?
M4r2: ulam.
Dun_cAn: Serious shit?!?! u went there?
M4r2: U know tat place?
Dun_cAn: of course I do! And I had good time over there..Gosh I'd never had any idea that there's such a hidden place like Ulam on this planet...
M4r2: same here Dunk! if not Lang who brought me there..
Dun_cAn: LANG??!! kidding me bro? Lang?
M4r2: Yup, Lang. u know him? Cool guy huh?
Dun_cAn: He's a jerk!
M4r2: ?
Dun_cAn: That Lang - -he's a total JERK!! He doesn't belong to there!
M4r2: I dun get u, Dunk..
Dun_cAn: How did u know him? Marz u just gotta be careful with this guy..
Dun_cAn: Marz... u there?
Dun_cAn: BUZZ!!
Dun_cAn: BUZZ!!
Dun_cAn: BUZZ!!

M4r2 has signed out. (01/90/2008 03:56)
M4r2 has singed in back. (01/09/2009 03:57)

M4r2:
Dun_cAn:Marz....?

M4r2 has signed out. (01/90/2008 04:16)
M4r2 has singed in back. (01/09/2009 04:27)

Dun_cAn: Hey buddy what's wrong wit ur line?
M4r2: Hey Duncan..
M4r2: long time no see... How r u doing?
Dun_cAn: ?
M4r2: guees who I am?
M4r2: I'm your old friend, pal..
M4r2: I am... Lang.

Rene looked out the window. It’s raining. And whenever it rains, it will bring Rene back to the incident.

It has been 2 years since the incident but everything seems to be fresh in her mind like it was just yesterday.

“Well, I followed you back to know where you live and met your housemate Ruby. And… you can’t blame me; I like your smile…”

Those were the exact words coming from Rain, the exact words coming from Keywell, an alien.

Aliens…

Rene still couldn’t accept their existence although she had made eye contact, spoke, held hands, hugged… kissed… one. It was all still seems to be not real and just a dream.

Ruby had moved to another state, “following the better prospect of future” she said. But Rene believed that Ruby had fell in love and was only following the love. Thinking back, she has lost contact with Ruby, it has been more than a year since her last call with Ruby. And Ruby seemed to have changed her number.

Well, she’d call me when she feels like to. She’s busy with her kids for all I know. Smiling Rene tried to be positive.

The launderette had since been placed with a coffee shop. Once in a while, Rene took her time to walk passed the coffee shop. She couldn’t went inside although how much she wanted to. It’s a taboo for her to feel what she had felt that night.

Rene didn’t go to the police to report what happened. Not that anyone would believe her if she tell the truth anyway. So she let it be a secret. She let it be her very own experience.

The night that Rain went away, she remembered to be wearing a little white dress. She remembered how Rain looked rather… cute; cuter than usual. She remembered holding to his warm hands. She remembered how she tried to hold her tears.

“Why can’t you stay?”
“Cause, it’s better this way”
“I’ll never forget you”
“I’ll make sure you wouldn’t”
“Lovely”
“I’ll send you email”
“Very funny”
“Just look at the stars and if you find one that flickers, that’s me winking at you”
“Will always do”

“Ehhhemm! Miss Flack, can I have your attention from the outer space back here in the class?” the class broke into a laughter. Prof Langdon stared at her with a warning smile.

“Yes, absolutely sir” Rene apologized, embarrassed.

Across the lecture hall, Rene noticed that Brandon winked at her. Blushed, she looked away trying to focus back at her...

meteorology class.

Ruby just needed to carry Rene out of the launderette as Rain was in a crucial 'low-bat' condition.

The sky was clear outside, Rain noticed that, hence looked at Ruby.

"I know, Keywell. Yeah, everything is fine now... I mean, it's at least under control..." while explaining the clear blue sky to Rain, Ruby passed him the electro-static headset -- a device they use to recharge themselves under emergency condition, "Ulam has taken over the control tower, New Ulam had internal conflict and war happened among themselves..."

"So everything is back to normal now, I suppose?" Rain looked straight to Rene, hoping for the answer he wanted to hear from Ruby.

Silent ensued.

"Keywell...." Ruby seemed having difficulties to composing her answer. "It's about Rene. She knows too much now .... I mean..." Ruby looked back to Rain, sending her final sentence through her sad blue eye...

"No way! We cannot do that to her! She's innocent!"
"..but.. Keywell.. this is the only way to put everything back on track... it's.. shit I hate to say this.. it's expected...." Ruby shouted back to Rain, reminding him their bigger mission on his planet.

"..but..but... Argh!" Rain helplessly fell on his knee. Rene slept quietly beside him. Sun light piercing through the cloudy sky, Rain could see the first sun shine pouring on Rene's face. Her eyelashes shivered due to the breeze, everything was so peaceful and calm, but not inside Rain's mind.

Can she handle that? Rain was not sure. Ruby was right, it's an expected move for Ulam to do this at outsiders who know anything about Ulam.. but... Rene is only 19..

"So how are you going to tell her?" asked Rain.
"No.. the question should be, how are YOU going to tell her.. Keywell, I shouldn't reveal myslef in front of her, remember? I need to get lost before Rene awakes.." Ruby tried to clear up the situation. She is another Ulam messenger who was sent to the Earth earlier than Rain, and three of them were linked together by fate. But Ruby shouldn't reveal any further about Ulam to Rene.

"Argh.... Rain ..... argh..." Rene started to move her body while trying to grab anything she could remember about what had happened. Seeing that, Ruby showed Rain a signal and quickly ran away from both Rene and Rain.

"Rain... what happened?" Rene grabbed Rain's arm once she recovered, "Mrs Hagger! Mrs Hagger was holding you! Rain are you ok?"

"Cool cool, Rene.. everything is fine now.."
"..but.. but... argh my head is killing me!" Rene tapped her back head, trying to recall something else. "I... I thought I heard Ruby's voice.."

"No... she wasn't here.." Rain never expected Rene would have heard Ruby. He tried to cover while thinking about how to tell Rene about their next plan.

"Who wasn't here, Rain?"
"Ruby of course, Ruby your housemate. She wan't here, I mean maybe it was only Mrs Hagger... .and hey look Rene, you can talk now! Everything is fine now! Haha.." Rain started to mumble.

Silent ensued. Rain realized that he might have talked too much, and he also realized, that Rene is brilliant enough to pick out his mouth-faulting.

And she did.
"How the hell do you know Ruby in the first place, Rain?" She asked.

Run.

As much as Rene wanted to shout, she thought about it calmly, knowing that she need not to say it out loud. Quickly, Rain dragged Rene to the back room.

PLUNG!

The lights went out. Rain thought it would be safer this way.

“HAHAHHA Do you actually think you can run away with little Ms Rene??” Mrs Hagger's evil voice seems to echo in the launderette.

I know the way out. Quietly, Rene led Rain to the back door.

“There’s nothing you can do Keywell. So you tried to inform the Ulam about the New Ulam project?” Mrs Hagger reckoned, almost screaming her lungs out.

“You wont succeed” She added.

Through the darkness Rene and Rain was being careful not to knock on anything. They moved slowly and quietly. At the same time, they could listen to Mrs Hagger’s confident pace.

“Fuck. She must have locked the whole shop”, Said Rain trying to be calm.

Hey are you alright? Rene thought Rain’s voice was faint and it was as if he’s talking so far away from her. She looked around the dark shop with all her might and struggling to feel the floor to find something that could be use to open the door.

Oh shit. Can’t YOU use your psychic power or something? Rene desperately needed help and Rain was the only hope she got.

Ah, of course. Rene took the hairpin off her hair and started to work on the door knob.

“Tsk, tsk, tsk. Where are youuuuuuu, you two cute little mice?” Mrs Hagger voice was getting creepier and closer. Rene could have sworn for once she felt that Mrs Hagger was actually besides her.

CLICK!

The door snapped open.

ALRIGHT! Rene thought in relief with a hint of hope mixed with fear. But when Rene turned to grab Rain’s hand,

Rain was not there.

No way. Looking up Rene saw Mrs Hagger held the weakening Rain in her arm. All of a sudden she thought that she didn’t recognize Mrs Hagger at all.

She looked almost evil.

“Hmmm... run… mmm… Rene…” Rene could see how Rain was struggling, panting.

How could I??? LET HIM GO!!! Thinking that Mrs Hagger could read her mind like Rain, she insisted.

“It won’t… work… hmm… just… go.” Rain sounded weaker than earlier.

“Ah I see, telepathic. How cute. Yes RUN RENE. Let’s see if she can…” Mrs Hagger grinned.

Rene tried to move her legs, but it was as if they were cemented into the floor. And suddenly she felt a strong sting in her brain.

AAAAAaaargh. Rene thought that her brain is going to burst! Mrs Hagger was trying to penetrate to her mind.

“STOP! Stop. She.. has.. nothing to do… with this. JUST TAKE ME!” Rain trying to sound as strong as he could.

“Ah I see. Trying to be a hero Keywell? Let’s see if you can do anything about… AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAArrghhh!!”

A strong bright light suddenly approaching and went straight to Mrs Hagger’s head. Rain was released, Rene fell on the floor, fainted.

“oh my God! I notice that something is wrong… and I tried to… are you guys OK???”

“Yeah… Mrs Hagger I mean Hagnex170… use the anti-static fiber to neutralize all my power. I can’t hardly… breathe now”

“Let’s get out of here to somewhere safe first”

“Hey… thanks… Ruby”

"I understand how you feel.." Rain took a deep breath, then a long sigh.. A thunderclap from far was heard, but sounded like somebody's moaning, "I know it's hard to convince you," Rain continued, ".. I know it's hard to convince you with all these .... erm... "

Crap.

"Yeah.. crap.. if you think so..." Rain sighed again, "..buy let me tell you what really happened.. ok?"

Rene adjusted her sitting position, crossed her leg and fold her arms in front of her chest -- an obvious defensive gesture that says "try me".

"It was my fault. I missed my schedule and when I needed to call them, my rain coats were with you.."

What a mouthful... Rene just couldn't hold her patience anymore. I even do not understand the very 1st sentence of your explanation, how am I going to be convinced?

Sighs. Long sighs, from both Rain and Rene. Rain's was filled with helplessness, Rene's was filled with sarcasm.

"OK.. the raincoats, let me explain the rain coats first. " Rain tried to compose his explanation into a very simplified version, "...it's our shield, I need to put them on every time I call ULAM, but not you human beings..."

Try harder Rain... if those rain coats are so important, why bother sending them to clean up here?

"Because they need to be electro-statically charged. Tumble drying them in your spin machine is the only way we found in this area to load electro-static charges...."

Rene did not have any comment. Rain's right about tumble dry and electro-static charges. She knew very well how those laundry made her hair stands when taking out from spin machine. But, so?

"So that we have enough electro static charges to send our message to ULAM -- the electro static charges are our power source, it is what we rely on to survive living on this planet. Especially when New ULAM is coming, we need more charges to standby fighting against them..."

Haha, now you sound like Star-Wars, mister. Rene still insisted that these were nothing to o with her.

"... And now they are coming, look at the horrible storm outside! It has been raining non-stop since.... wait a moment." Rain suddenly realized something. "Since when the rain stopped?" Rain looked straight to Rene, while reaching his messenger bag and ferreting in in.

It's a rain coat.

Rene was shocked she saw a Rain took out a rain coat and flipping it, checking something on the raincoat, and then his face turned pale, and fell down sitting on the floor out of a sudden.

Rene looked at Rain. A thunderclap from far, again, which sounded like moaning. What happened Rain?

"The coats.. the coats are not charged... they were not, they've never been charged..." Rain mumbled, "DID you handle my laundry all this while?" He starred straight to Rene, eye was about to pop out.

I did. I put them in the washing machine, but I don't handle spin machine...

"Then who does?"
Mrs. Hagger..
"Mrs. Hagger?" Rain paused for less than 1 seconds before he suddenly got to Rene and hold her shoulder, "Rene, I need you to tell me this, how well do you know Mrs Hagger?" Almost whispering, but Rene could feel Rain's shivering.

Rene was frightened. Not... not that well... I started to work here when Mrs Hagger first opened up this launderette.. it was about 2 months ago.... I ... I...

"Oh my God!..... Rene," Rain hold Rene's hand,"..run.."

"I guess my strategy just worked to open up the ONLY launderette in this little town for you, don't you think so, Rain?" Rene and Rain grasped while turning toward the silhouette at the entrance of the launderette.

".... Or shall I call you Keywell970?" When a lighting flashed on the silhouette, the saw the lady.

It was Mrs Hagger.

"Hey!! Hey!! Rene!! RENE!!"

Rene woke up with a grasp. Panting. Cold sweat running down her face.

What the hell happened?

“What is going on? You were found lying on the street!”

Is this a hospital?

“You seemed to be struggling just now; I had to wake you up. Are okay? Here, drink some water”

It’s ALL a fucking dream?? But it seems to be so fucking real! Thought Rene. She angrily took the cup from Ruby’s hand.

“You said something about ULAM…”

ULAM.. shit. As if the word brought all her senses back to her, Rene gets out of the sick bed and looking for her handphone.

Where is it dammit??

“Hey where are you going? You supposed to be warded… atleast until… Rene, listen to me!” begged Ruby but Rene is already out of the room.

I’m gonna get that son of a bitch. Rene was walking fast; almost running to… she didn’t know where.

But it COULD be real. I mean, alien always have this telepathic way of communicating. IF he is one, he surely can penetrate into my dream. And without a doubt he surely can know that I WAS at the 76 street. ANNNDDD now there’s there no mistake of how he got my number!

Rene kept on walking. She’s too busy in her thoughts that she didn’t realize where her feet took her. Not that she care.

But it doesn’t make any sense at all. What is Rain trying to tell me! New Ulam, weather delivery, strange lab with huge window and now aliens?? HAHAHAHAHA comon!!! As she laughed by herself, Rene noticed few heads turned to her.

WHAT? What are you looking at? Do I look crazy to you?! Mind your own shit!

Honk! HONNKK!! SCREEEECHHHH!!!

A car missed Rene by an inch. Only then, Rene realized that her feet brought her to the launderette.

Fuck you, drunkard. Rene couldn’t seem to calm herself. She’s so angry, tired, confused and blank with no idea of what was going on. Everything seems to be a little too much for her to digest at one time.

And of all places… why do I go here in the first place? Although her heart and mind didn’t agree with her actions, she still pushed the launderette door to come in.

Kling, kling!

Hmm? Eh? Where is Mrs Hagger. She should be here. It’s only 8:30pm. And why issit darn quiet in here? Rene wondered around the launderette trying to find her employer, trying to find if everything is fine. Rene found it weird that Mrs Hagger left the place unattended.

Suddenly the lights went off.

Oh crap! What now?! Finding her way out of the launderette, she bumped herself on the counter and fell over a chair.

“Who’s there?!” a voice from the back room shouted.

Unable to get up quickly, she was caught. Then the light went back on.

“Oh it was you.” Rain appeared from the back.

At this point of time, Rene couldn’t believe her eyes. She lost of words to say.

Now what?? He MADE me come here? With is freaky alien superpower?? Rene whispered to herself.

Hey we really need to talk. Rene was not sure if that tone is serious enough to make Rain realized how bad the situation Rain had put her in.

“Come let me help you up.” Rain helped Rene to the waiting seats beside the coffee maker.

Oh, there you go, trying pretending to give me sweets before the poison. And where is Mrs Hagger? Is she really okay?? Darn I feel dizzy. With a thank you nod, Rene tucked her hair behind her ears as Rain passed her a fresh brewed coffee with aspirin.

“Mrs Hagger was out. She was pissed off before she got out - getting a pizza. And she asked me before she left to fix the light bulb.” Rain explained.

The launderette appears to be quieter than usual. The two of them sat opposite to each other. Awkwardness seems like a heavy fume filling the air. Only the smell of brewed Brazilian coffee able to ease the atmosphere.

Wait. HOW did he know I’d do with a couple of aspirin for my headache?? Rene puzzled.

No way.

“Everything is possible nowadays.” Rain’s tone was soft, trying to calm Rene for her astonishment.

“Aak… hmm… aa” Rene cleared her throat trying to say something. Grasping in disbelief!

“Hey it’s okay. You don’t have to say anything. You need to rest.” comfort Rain.

“Ehheemm… aakk erm ai…” Rene tried again. But this time, she knew it.

She lost her voice.

You’ve gotta be kidding me!!! You took away my voice?!! Rene stood up. Pushing away the cup of coffee Rain made her.

“Listen, I need to know if you won’t tell it to anyone. I mean ANYONE. Did you get me?? I will surely return it to you when I know, I can really trust you.” Rain hold both of Rene arms, trying to both calming her and to ensure that Rene understood everything that he said.

Is THIS guy... thing.. or whatever THINKS that he CANNOT trust me?? I'm THE ONE who can NEVER trust him!! Rene was thinking to herself knowing that it'd still be known to Rain, no matter how.

Feeling helpless, Rene just stared at Rain cluelessly.

Ulam? Whatever.

Rene switched back to calling mode in her phone while keeping her pace constant enough to not cause her fatigued. The rain outside was still going on, never showed any slight signs of stopping. 88-555-2-6, Rene redialed the number.

Rene was in the midst of sorting out all the chaos in her mind when the number got connected, as usual.

"Location marked. Status confirmed. You're already there. 3 days earlier? Good."Hung up.

That's it?

The call did not help at all in solving all these mysteries, obviously. Rene sighed, out of her exhaustion of trying to see through all these. She felt like she was now a mouse that was chased after by something she had no idea at all, a mouse that was running for almost no reason.

She started to slow down her pace, turned to the building that she had run out from. Fuck you. She cursed, and then shouted the same word loudly, again and again. "I don't know WHAT are you, I don't know WHAT are all these about, but you know what? I DON'T CARE!!" followed by another 3 times of cursing which started with F.

"Rene...?"
Rain?
Rene turned around and she saw Rain, the god-damn pale pig that she would first beat him up before asking him to reveal all about this god-damn stupid game.

"Why are you here? Oh my God you shouldn't be here! Oh no... Didn't you read my message in the launderette?"Rain seemed clueless about her appearance, which really pissed Rene off.

"YOU!" Rene started to move forward to Rain. She would definitely crumple him up once she reached him, "Tell me all about this SHIT before I kill you!"

"Hold... hold! Rene, I told you not to listen to them.. I....I'm sorry to get you involved... Rene.. cool! cool! Calm down!.. I..I...LOOK! I can't call you... that's why I had to leave you the notes.... I really wished I could explain it thoroughly to you... but not on paper... Rene! Calm down! Calm down!" Rain was stepping back while trying to calm Rene down, by the end or his explanation, he saw Rene slowed down and eventually frozen at the point she stood.

A thunderclap roared. The storm seemed getting stronger. Both Rain and Rene were now soaked wet, in the middle of the abandoned 76th Street.

The sudden change of Rene made Rain wondered. He stepped forward, closer to Rene.

"Rene?" almost whispered, "...you OK?"

Rene looked at Rain and mumbled, "... so you're saying you can't call me? so you're saying.... I shouldn't get ANY calls from you?"

Rain nodded. "Well if I don't call you, why will you get my call at the first place?" Rain tried to make the statement clear as everything was in his control, until he figured out what JUST happened to Rene...

"Wait.. Rene," Rain looked back to Rene cautiously, hoping what's in his mind was not real, "did you......."

Rene nodded. Rain's face turned pale. Shit.

"I thought that was you!" Rene tried to explain, realizing she had done one big mistake, which she didn't know what kind of consequences would ensue.

"What did he say?"
"He made me dialed the number again... and I just did..."

A flash of lightning, flashing on Rain's pale face. That made him looked like a white creatures with human figure, not a human being.

".. and then the one answering the call said something about confirming location and status... Rain, what is this? Tell me! Rain!"

Rain took a deep breath when another thunderclap sounded. He could feel his fright, smearing upward from the ground he stood on.

"They are coming."
"Who?"
"They invaded the system, and claimed themselves as New Ulam.."
"Huh?"
"Ulam is a system managing weather in each planet of the universe. I was sent to Earth as messenger.."
"........."
"I didn't realized the invasion when I asked you to call the number -- the number is a signal sent to the center, it's our way of reporting.."
".... and what happened?"
"When you called, you've just revealed ourselves to them.."
"Ourselves?"
"Yeah, planet Earth."

Silent ensued. Rene wished she could accept Rain's explanation, but it seemed so illogic. On the other hand she felt Rain's seriousness was really ... impressive....

"So is this going to be the end of the world?" Rene tried to posed a tone that didn't sound insulting.
Carefully, after a few seconds of pondering, Rain opened his mouth,

"..maybe.."

"MUAHAHAHAHAHaHahahahhahahahaahhaha!!!!!!!!!!!!!!" Rene just couldn't hold anymore, she burst into HUGE laugh.

“Meet us at 76 street West End Avenue, three days from today at 11pm. Sharp.”

The unknown lady voice of the unknown number seems to haunt Rene as she continues wondering what the connection between the odd number and weather is.

The voice sounded familiar, but… She is on her way to 76 Street. Thinking that she still has 3 days before the meeting, she’d check out the “delivery” place first.

The streets are getting darker and quieter as she goes on. She seems to be walking away from the crowd, away from the noisy background. Taking off her iPod she needs to listen to her surrounding…

for caution.

What is this place?

“Is someone ther?” Her reluctant voice echoed within the empty street. For once she felt like someone is following her, watching her.

I swear to God, I heard someone. Okay this might not be the smartest move. Thought Rene, but still she went on the dark street trying to figure out what kinda place it is.

Rene went into an aged building which stood proudly opposite her. The place is evidently abandon with rats wondering every here and there.

Eeuww. This does look like an old research center or lab or something.

THUD!!

“Who’s there??!” grasped Rene.

What the hell is wrong with me getting all jumpy like this! It’s prolly just rats. Note Rene to herself, hoping to calm her senses. She went upstairs of the building and found herself stood in amazed in fronna huge window looking out to the city.

Wow.

Tijb, tijb, tijb.

Isn’t that the sounds of footsteps? Rene heard something, but she wouldn’t dare to look back.

Tijb, tijb, tijb, TIJB.

Wet footsteps? The sound gets closer and closer. And Rene can’t move. Seems that all her legs muscle just die. She felt like her feet were glued to the floor. Or it’s more like she wouldn’t dare to move a muscle.

Tijb, tijb, tijb, TIJB, TIJB. The sound gets louder and louder.

Then, dead silence. The sound seems to stop on its own.

OKAY think. Think! Oh… the reflection! Rene tried to catch a figure from whatever that making such noise behind her from the reflection of the old window. And from there she saw…

Rene let out a lil squeal as her handphone rings.

“Hello”
“Hello” Rain answered.

Rene glanced again at the window to check if the figure is still there…

but it’s gone. Dammit.

“Hello, helloooo, I can’t hear you, speak up!” Rene went closer to the window, trying to get a better reception for the conversation.

“Hellooo did you get my message?” Rain asked.
“Are you ther? Yes, I did get your message. Hey what’s going on? Hello??”
“Hey you are breaking up. Your voice is not clear. Hello?? Where are you??”
“Yes, yes, I can hear you now. What’s up?!”
“Listen I need you to call the number again. Can you hear me?”
“Yes I can. But didn’t you say to forget about it?”
“I know but something came up, and I need your help again. The number is 8855526.”
“Come again, you’re breaking up too!”
“JUST CALL 8855526. CATCH YOU LATER.”
“But…”

Rain hung up.

CRASSHH!!

Something’s broken. By this time, Rene thought it’s only wise to leave the place. She quickly went downstairs and out of the building. She’s running to get out of the street and at the same time, trying to dial the odd number again.

Dammit, why doesn’t this number connect?? Is Rain making fun of me??

Rene stopped for a breather when she reached the crowded street again. She checked out her handphone to see if she dialed the correct number.

Oh my God.

No wonder the number didn’t get connected. Instead of dialing it, Rene was mistaken to type the number for texting.

88-555-2-6 spelled ULAM.

So no, Rain is not making a fool out of her.

"Oh my God... " Mrs Hagger was shocked when soaked Rene hit the door.. "I thought it's another laundry who needs to be urgently sent in to a spin-dryer.."

"Yeah, tumble me dry please.." Rene's mind was on the '76 Street West End Avenue' while she responded to her boss. 76 Street? What will happen over there? And who the hell is the lady's voice from the unknown number? ..And Rain...

Oh, Rain.
"Oh, Rene." Mrs Hagger suddenly chipped into her wondering process, "there was a customer looking for you just now.. erm.. pale, skinny, pretty much a malnutrition type.."

"So he took his laundry?" "Yeah, and he left you a note as well -- over there," Mrs Hagger pointed to a note stuck on washing machine number 2 by a magnet. Rene put down her stuff and reached the note.