Love Began with the First Meeting

Having finished his dressing-down, Brian turned and walked away, back to the woman at the counter. The radiance of his face reappeared as soon as he turned his back to Molly.

Molly bit her lower lip, ignoring the curious gazes from the few customers in the shop. Some might have been careful enough to notice that the coat draped on Molly's shoulders had an uncanny likeness to Brian's trousers and that he wasn't wearing any coat.

When she realized that Brian's dressing-down was now the subject of some of the whispers reaching her ears, Molly was on the verge of tears. The curious gazes seemed to pierce her from many directions, making her feel thoroughly humiliated.

As she emerged from the ladies' room, Shirley cautiously looked around the shop, checking to ensure there wasn't a trace of Brian's presence hanging around. Even after she had settled back to her place at the table, she kept casting anxious glances here and there. The miserable look on Molly's face and curious gazes from the other tables made her worried. "Little Molly, what happened?" she asked with lots of concern.

Molly swallowed hard and struggled to hold back her tears. Through a forced smile, she shook her head and excused herself, "Aunt Shirley, I'm sorry. It's already late. I should get going now."

"May I escort you back?" Shirley said, sensing Molly was obviously distressed. She wanted to ask about it, but felt it might be inappropriate.

"No, thanks. I can go back myself, " Molly politely declined, shaking her head.

Shirley frowned.

"I won't like to inconvenience you, " Molly continued. She lowered her eyes and pursed her lips, not knowing how to frame her next words. "Aunt Shirley...I'm sorry to ask..." she began, but broke midway for a brief moment, before picking up her line. "Could you please lend me some money? I have no money to take a taxi now. Because... earlier in the South Street Alley, my money was stolen."

Those words moved Shirley, like she was looking at her young self. At Molly's age, she also was disenfranchised, living in an inferior way like Molly did now. Obviously, Molly was also shouldering some responsibilities, despite her physical frailties and financial instability.

"I...I'll pay you back two days later when we meet again..." The embarrassment of borrowing money, without knowing how she'd repay the loan made Molly flush. She bit her lower lip and struggled to restrain her tears, although a snuffle or two came through. Undoubtedly, this one month would be her darkest and most humiliating time of her life.

home since you don't want me to. But, please call me as soon as you

much!" Molly said, taking

head. As she watched Molly walk

*

that girl in the dessert shop?" Sitting in the car, Wing asked in

insignificant, " Brian replied,

at him, Wing snorted, "Insignificant? Are you sure? Then why are

not!" Brian denied and threw

laughed and raised her hand to pinch his handsome face. "You're

Brian snorted.

more. Under Richie's teaching, everyone in the Long Family had to deal with their own

in her eyes. She wondered how long she still had

Brian's deep and low voice interrupted her. "Hasn't

of you around me. I am happy. I don't have

he still complained, "Why

" Wing shrugged before continuing. "And he knows that you are in the city, too. You

camp. Ever since, her family looked into every single detail of her safety. They couldn't afford another slip-up again. She knew their worries and she would just take the yoke on her as something

pinched her light-complexioned cheek and assured, "If anyone makes an attempt on your life, he'll have

and rolled her eyes. There was no point in trying to correct Brian, because she knew him well. It was a waste of time and energy