Sick

Everything that happened afterwards was a blur for Trinity. She went through the motion of sending them off while her heart and mind stayed distracted.

A heavy and large hand landed on her head. “I’ll come by again. I really enjoyed talking with you today.”

Trinity stared at Oscar blankly and blinked several times before she found her tongue again. “Anytime. Anytime.”

Oscar smiled brightly and headed off.

After the door closed, Trinity immediately asked what had been bugging her all the while. “Is your mother always like that? And your brother?”

“Yes and depends.” Damien reverted back to his cold self. He headed to his room but felt his arm swing back. He stopped in his tracks and looked at his wrist where his cuff was being held on to. His eyes travelled up the hand and arm to Trinity’s face. She had a deep frown and she was looking at the floor with a slight pout. It made him raise an eyebrow.

“You… Are you… Okay..?” She finally looked up at him from beneath her lashes.

He scoffed. “Are you mocking me? Of course I’m fine. It’s been years.” He turned to face her properly and his lips curled into a cruel sneer. “Looking like that… Are you trying to seduce me now?”

He took a step closer to her, but she took one back. “What? Feeling so sorry for me that you’re willing to cheer this monster up with your body?”

Trinity took a sharp intake of breath and slapped him hard. She gasped as soon as she did it. “I’m sorry. I’m sorry. But how can you say that?! I don’t care if you shout or hit me but not like this! It’s hella creepy!”

“... Then leave. Leave me alone. Don’t bite off more than you can chew.” He growled while he glared at her from the corner of his eyes.

Trinity pursed her lips tightly and turned to leave. However, she took no more than two steps away from him before turning to check on him again.

He shook his head. “You’re really asking for it.” He raised his hand and Trinity shut her eyes in reflex.

“Blithering idiot!” She felt his hot breath on her face but nothing happened after that. Hearing the sound of footsteps getting further away, her eyes flew open to see Damien disappearing down a corridor.

She brought shaky hands to her chest and stood there like that for a good long while.

Something heavy landed on her shoulder. “Trinity?”

Trinity jumped at Phil’s gentle voice. She spun around and took two steps away from him.

“Sorry, I didn’t mean to spook you.”

She shook her head. “It’s okay. It’s not you.”

“... Trinity? Why would you let him hit you?”

Trinity fell silent for a long while. Phil did not push. She noticed it and appreciated it. “They need an outlet. They’ll feel better after.” She whispered as softly as she did before she got distracted with dinner.

“They…?” Phil probed.

However, Trinity shook her head. “It’s nothing. I’ll wash up and turn in for the night. Goodnight, Phil. Thanks for everything today.” She flashed him a smile then briskly walked off.

Phil only moved after he heard the echo of a door closing. He entered the room beyond Trinity’s room. The dark room with dark-coloured furnishings only had candles lit up for light. It surrounded a tattered poster of a beautiful face melting away to reveal its skull underneath. Damien was throwing darts after darts at it.

Without waiting to be prompted, Phil relayed everything that he learnt from Trinity, which was not much. He patiently waited for Damien’s response. However, Damien simply continued with his activity. After the candles burnt halfway down, Damien finally spoke, “Dig into her and her family’s history.”

“Got it!” Phil left the room without making so much as a sound.

Damien fiddled with the dart in his hand. “Because they’re family, huh… Screw that.” He said as he threw that dart.

While Damien threw darts in his room, Trinity was bathing in hot water. She stood under it but felt that it would take a long while before she felt normal again. The thought of wasting water bothered her. She looked at the bath tub situated nicely beside the shower area. She turned off the shower and stepped into the bathtub to indulge herself just a little.

Hot water slowly rose to her shoulders. Steam wafted up. The slight prickling sensation on her skin told her that she had made it a little too hot. However, she did nothing to change it. She simply hugged her legs and rested her chin on her knees. Her long hair floated around her in a mess. Her mind was a complete blank. She did not want to think.

Time ticked by. The water grew colder. Her fingertips had long wrinkled. She finally started to doze off. So, she got out. Her body still felt a little toasty and her skin was slightly red. She carelessly dried herself up and headed to her black luggage in her walk in wardrobe.

Looking at the luggage brought back happier memories from when she was younger. When her father was healthy and working to support the family. When they had enough money to go on simple but fun-filled holidays. She thought that if she worked hard enough, she could bring those days back.

Trinity clenched her teeth and looked around her. The clothes surrounding her was only a painful reminder of the current state of affairs. Besides the money, everything else was from what she dreamt of. She turned away in distaste and stubborn anger.

She locked the door then plopped down on the bed. The way she sunk in the bed offered her some comfort. It was warm and cosy. Like she was held in someone's safe and warm embrace.

She closed her eyes and revelled in the feeling. Before she knew it, she fell deep asleep.

"Trinity?! Trinity?! Open up, please! You're in there, right?!" Phil called loudly while he repeatedly knocked on the door. It created a lot of noise and finally drew Damien to the scene.

"What's all the fuss?" He said with a deep frown while tying his necktie.

"Mr Wu! Good morning!" He bowed. "Trinity is not responding. The door is locked. Should I break the door down?"

Damien glared at the door for a few seconds. He walked to it, raised his leg, and ruthlessly kicked the door handle. Three kicks sent the doorknob flying along with some wood splinters. He kicked the door in, further damaging the frame and door.

"Trini-! Oh." Phil had rushed in behind Damien. However, he spun on his heels to face away when he saw Trinity in an undressed state on the bed. Damien, however, approached the bed like there was nothing odd. He grabbed her shoulder, intending to shake her awake. Instead, his eyes grew a little wider and his frown disappeared. His hand flew to her neck then forehead. He looked at the wide open glass doors to the balcony then at the towel still under her head then her pale lips.

"Phil, get the doctor now."

Phil rushed off without another glance or word. Damien using the word "now" already told him that it was urgent. Meanwhile, Damien took a hand towel from the bathroom and ran it under cold water.

While Damien placed the towel on Trinity's forehead, Phil returned with ice water. Damien nodded to show his approval and Phil beamed like he was a dog given his favourite bone.

"Dress her up properly." Damien ordered as he stood up.

"Ah?" Phil's smile froze.

"Make sure the doctor does his job properly."

Phil looked at Trinity but quickly walked away. "You don't need me at work today?" Phil asked while following Damien to the broken door.

"No. It's just a negotiation with close contacts. Take care of things at home."

Phil nodded but looked like a puppy being abandoned.

"It won't take long." Damien left Phil with that. Phil blinked. Damien had misunderstood what he was uncomfortable with but that news perked him up nonetheless. He happily bounded back to Trinity's side.

Trinity woke up but felt so groggy that she could not properly open her eyes. When she moved, the bedsheet and clothes rubbed against her skin like sandpaper. She stubbornly pushed herself up and felt her body and joints ache. /God.../

She dragged her feet across the bed to the edge. She pushed herself off the bed with much effort then shuffled a few steps forward, only to be guided back to her bed.

"Panadol…" She weakly said as she tried to brush off the hands on her shoulders.

"You've already taken some."

"I did…?" She asked as she obediently tucked herself back into bed. She groaned in discomfort while settling into a comfortable position.

"Daddy…?" She whispered.

When she did not get a reply, she called again and tried to open her eyes. "Daddy?"

"Rest." A hand covered her eyes and held her head down, preventing her from getting up again. "What is it?"

"You don't sound happy… Is no one helping you again…? I can still do some things…"

When there was no reply, she guessed again. "If you're busy, you can go… I can take care of myself…"

The hand covering her eyes lifted off. She bit her lower lip, turned to lay on her side and curled into a ball. Tears silently fell.

Damien stared at her with his hands in his pockets. Just as he wondered how long she was going to cry for, her breathing became deep and steady again. The only evidence of her crying was the tiny puddle on her head pillow.

Phil walked past Trinity's room then retraced his steps and entered her room. "Lunch is ready." He whispered.

Damien, however, continued to stand there, staring at Trinity. He had arrived home before noon and finished settling some final documents some time before lunch would be ready. Since he had some spare time, he decided to drop by Trinity's room.

The ruined door and doorknob were already cleared. New ones would only be installed later in the afternoon. What he saw through the open doorway was Trinity fumbling her way off the bed.

Having experienced proof of her lack of consciousness, he wondered where she would have ended up in this huge mansion, had he not stopped her.

He also wondered about her strange reaction at the end. Why did she cry after she sent her father away? Did she want him to stay? Why would she want that? Anyway, if she wanted him to stay, why did she send him away then?

Finding her actions mind boggling, he concluded that she was simply weird. With that, he finally left the room with Phil.