Pei Li was getting comfortable with her laid-back routine lately with Wayne, and she wondered was it this that Penny had wanted her to experience. She wondered if Penny had also experienced intimacy with Wayne.
If she didn't, Pei Li felt sad because, after all, Penny had always been by her side and had been protecting her since Pei Ni left. She did deserve that much happiness for once.
However, if she already did, Pei Li wasn't sure what to feel about it. It was complicated because, after all, to Wayne, it was still her.
The same person. The same body. But her mind or rather conscience was splitted.
To her, it was Wayne all along. She didn't have a chance to see how he ever interacted with Penny. All she knew was that they were both very protective of her. It did feel like she was sharing him with Penny, but Penny was also her.
In the midst of her confusion, her mind wandered back to TP's recent encounter, which she had been trying to distract herself from thinking too much about what he said about touching her before. She tried to break it down in her mind on the touching part.
Was it just touching her hand or face, which was fine, but what if it meant sexually touching her, especially when she was blacked out back then, or when there were parts of her memories she didn't have, but Penny did?
If so, why didn't Penny ever tell her? Besides, who knew if TP was telling the truth or if it might be a trap?
Penny… Could you tell me when we were young, were you touched in any way inappropriately by anyone before? Pei Li wondered in her heart as she stared out the window by her seat, at a darkening twilight in the evening while sipping her can of tea, resting from a busy day.
There were no answers. Pei Li sighed and smiled wondering if Penny really had let go.
Penny… Maybe, these answers remaining unknown would be best. That way, I could live happily with Wayne while you rest forever… Pei Li smiled even wider, listening to the rustle of dried leaves outside the building being blown by a breezy evening.
Feeling a little better, she sighed and closed her eyes but little did she expect herself to fall asleep there while waiting for Wayne to get ready to leave for the day.
Violet, who was about to leave with Sebastian, spotted Pei Li asleep. She went over to gently wake her up but to no avail. Violet felt it was unusual as she continued to shake her gently.
"Something's wrong… Where's Wayne?" Violet alerted Sebastian who instantly texted Wayne.
"Pei Li… Are you alright?" Violet questioned as she pinched Pei Li's right arm, which made her stir a little.
"Pei Li? There you are… Are you that tired? You should rest early today…" Violet said worriedly while fussing over her sweater.
The pair of eyes staring back at Violet weren't Pei Li's but Penny's this time as she wondered what she was doing back in the body.
She tried to recall Pei Li's question earlier. She remembered it was something to do with TP touching her.
Oh no! TP must have said something! Penny yelled in her mind worriedly as her tears welled.
"What's wrong, Pei Li? Did you wake from a nightmare?" Violet questioned as she helped to wipe away her tears, while Sebastian knew something was not right with Pei Li.
Penny hugged her and cried. She knew Pei Li was right. They both wanted to protect Wayne, but they both are weak when it's only them. They both needed someone else to confide in. Back then was a struggle for Penny. She was forced to be the strong one, but even in times like this, she appreciated another close ally for comfort other than Wayne himself.
Wayne, who read the text, rushed over to them but could only share a worried look with Violet and Sebastian.
"It's alright… Everything will be fine. I am here. We are all here." Violet tried comforting her.
Penny didn't realise Wayne and Sebastian were behind them when she finally told Violet that she was Penny.
Violet didn't realise it till she said so. "Penny? What's wrong? Why are you crying? Did you miss me?" Violet tried to crack a joke as Wayne watched them worriedly.
He knew he had to be patient while Violet tried to get Penny to speak.
Penny managed to smile a little. "I'm glad to see you the moment I wake… I…" Penny sighed heavily as Violet smiled and gently patted her back.
"Slowly… Now, tell me what happened?" Violet tried to coax.
"Recently was there someone called TP coming by harassing Pei Li?" Penny's question came as a shock to Wayne, who gasped, but it was no surprise to Violet.
Penny turned around to find Wayne and Sebastian standing close by when she heard Wayne's gasp, but she quickly turned her attention back to the answer Violet was supposed to give.
"Yes, then? You knew, didn't you?" Penny pestered as Violet nodded.
"Violet, did you tell her anything else? About her being touched or violated by the…?" Penny's voice turned serious as Violet shook her head.
"Who is TP? What do you mean violated?" Wayne pestered on the matter, but Penny moved on to her next question with Violet, ignoring Wayne first.
"Then, could you tell me the reason she is so afraid that she tried to deny she needed me?" Penny questioned Violet, who was frowning while meeting her desperate gaze.
"Penny, TP's encounter had occurred multiple times. She only told me a few days ago when I nearly caught sight of him, but he escaped too fast for me to identify. This time, he brought her snacks, but I told her not to eat them. Instead, she disposed of them when we returned to the studio. That was it. As for the rest, I have no idea. There might be many factors that contributed to her fear. She told me about TP hinting to her about touching her and threatening to harm Wayne. I could guess that you knew what TP did, but I had never disclosed to her any of the details." Violet explained as Penny closed her eyes and nodded. She finally had the whole picture of the situation.
"She had told me about TP before in the notebook. I have my suspicions about one of the brothers, but I couldn't confirm anything. I have encountered him and knew he was of ill intention." Penny spilled the truth, which shocked Wayne very much as he sat next to Penny and held her by her shoulders.
"Just when do you think all of you are going to hide all of these from me when it clearly involved me?" Wayne vented, which made Penny tear up even more, revealing the next painful truth.
"Pei Li wants me to leave… I knew someday this relationship would not last. I just … I just didn't expect it to be during the crucial period. It's fine for me to leave and let Pei Li finally live happily with you, but not when someone we don't know is threatening us. There's a possibility this person had touched me before." Penny admitted as she leaned on Wayne's left shoulder, suppressing her sobs.
Wayne was very sad and upset as he seemed to be in the dark all this time. He enveloped Penny in a hug, feeling the tremors of her fear as she continued to suppress her sobs.
"It's fine. I'm here." He comforted sternly.
"You have us too…" Violet said as she gently rubbed Penny's back. Penny turned around to hug Violet, too.
"Thank you. Thank you for always being by Pei Li's side. Keeping an eye on everything for us. We truly are grateful to have a friend like you." Penny said with a warm smile.
Violet nodded with her eyes reddening. At the back of her mind, she wanted to tell Penny about her impending departure, but she couldn't with Sebastian standing by her side. As they all bid farewell for the night, since there would be a lot for Wayne and Penny to discuss at home, Violet quickly sent Penny a text to inform her of here being away and the details discreetly to which Penny promised to keep a secret too.
Violet had never expected Pei Li to leave her first. It felt a little bittersweet that she didn't even bid her farewell. Fortunately, she was going to come back next week for the final part of filming briefly. Hopefully, she gets to see Pei Li soon.
"Let them be. You have been so tired. Look at these eye bags. Burning midnight oil for the weekend exams, aren't you?" Sebastian, who had noticed Violet deep in her thoughts, pulled her to leave with him.
"Let me go…" Violet said, but he ignored her as he held onto her right arm tightly while she squinted at him.
"When are you leaving?" His question made her terrified for a second, thinking he must have known of her hidden plans, only to slowly rationalise that he meant for the exam.
"The day after tomorrow." Her answer made him sad, but he forced a smile, knowing she would still be back over the weekend.
As they quietly got into the car, she thought he was upset, only for him to sit closer to her before discreetly locking fingers with her right hand. She shot him a glare but he shifted to sit closer to her.
Before he could retaliate, he gave her his mobile, and it showed his schedule. She squinted her eyes at him, knowing he purposely disguised their contact with a discussion on his schedule on her tablet, which was unnecessary, but she played along till they got home. She knew it was his little way to comfort not just her but also himself.