Fireflies, White Shirt & Other Stories

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I stood behind the door of the unit, which was in total darkness save for a little street lighting coming through from the far end window, and a small strip of light (from the lift corridor) between the door and floor. A minute later, I heard the lift door open and KK came into the unit.

She hugged me tightly, and although I could not see her face, I sensed she was very relieved. You should have switched on the lights, she said, as she did so. Well, I didn’t know where the light switch was before…. KK double-locked the door and held my hand as we walked into the unit.

I surveyed the place quickly. An old, dis-used office unit of about 500-600 square feet. The sole “bedroom” was likely an enclosed office that housed the previous tenant’s boss/manager. The common area led to a make-shift bathroom that had a washing machine. The place was old but otherwise the lights and air-conditioning worked well, it did not have a bad odour and was visually clean.

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I was afraid you wouldn’t come, she said. Because other customers had declined coming after getting the address; two came and left after seeing the building from downstairs, she explained. Depending on one’s view, it could be a dodgy place that may present risks, or in my mitigated view, an unusual place that adds to life experience.

After showing me the bathroom, KK led me to the room. There was a queen bed, a side table with a LED desk lamp, and a clothes-drying rack with towels. A dehumidifier sat next to the clothes rack, and she had a single, medium sized luggage. My heart ached for KK. She moved to this spartan place a few days ago after neighbors at her previous pad complained about frequent visits by male strangers.

I stripped naked in the room and took the towel KK provided and went for a quick shower, wearing her tiny rubber slippers. Returning to the room, KK had stripped too, but had a towel around her body. Are you rushing for time later, she asked. No, I said. Can I have a shower first? she continued. I nodded and she walked to me… tip-toed and planted a small kiss on my cheek, retrieved her slippers and headed to shower. I looked at her as she walked out of the room, towel off, showing her snow-white complexion and an alluring pair of buttocks as her back faced me…