"Dr. Wei." His voice is soft as he greets me in his baritone voice.
"Mr. Lan." Giving him my dimple smile I enquire, "To what do I owe this pleasure of meeting you again?"
With an impassive face his eyes peer into my soul, "I am waiting for you."
"...
"Are you still waiting?" My brother enquires as I look out from the window of the restaurant at the darkening sky. Sighing into the phone I nod, "No just about to leave."
"Sorry Wangji-"
"Don't worry. It's good that he didn't turn up. Better not to meet than getting your hopes up high. Anyway, I wasn't even ready to meet him in the first place. It was at your insistence that I agreed."
"I'll send a car for you immediately." I could feel his anxiousness.
"It's alright. I'll catch a cab and go home directly. Meet you tomorrow." Cancelling the call I pick up the glass of water and quench my thirst if not the pain in my heart. Leaving the restaurant I observe light drizzles tapping my skin. Better to reach home early or else first rain of the season can be pretty gruesome. Signalling for a cab I give him my address and fish out my phone when it starts ringing. Could it be him apologizing for his lateness? Sighing at the name flashing back I answer the call. It wasn't him.
"Gavin?"
"Boss, our Russian clients have agreed for a meeting with us. What time should we schedule it?" Taking a look at my watch I notice it was quite late into the evening. By now the rains were coming down much harder than the light drizzles from before.
"Gavin, I'd be reaching home in another half an hour. How about we schedule a meeting around 20:30?"
"Sure Boss. I'll let them know."
Moment of silence is broken when surprisingly the driver speaks his heart out, "I wonder if my daughter is well and safe." Meeting my eyes through the rearview mirror his crinkles, "She's in school and has to travel for an hour to and fro. I wonder if my kid has taken her umbrella?"
But before I could speak we hear a blaring horn of an oncoming truck skidding and crossing the divider and the next second it collides with a car in front of us. Unable to control his speed, our cab crashes against the car and the last thing I remember is his daughter waiting for him in cold rains.
I know the feeling of when cold seeps into your soul and there is no one waiting for you to open the door.
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"Sir." I look up as the paramedic checks my vitals, "Are you alright?"
Trailing my eyes back to the cab driver I ask, "How is he?"
"He's in shock. We are transporting him to Yunmeng Memorial Hospital. Sir, are you alright?"
I nod. "I'd like to accompany him."
"Sir, are you sure? You need medical attention too." Eyeing my dislocated shoulder I nod, "I'll check myself there." Taping my forehead with a gauze, the paramedic smiles and I look around the area of accident. The truck had smashed two cars. Ours was right behind. Three cars collided with eachother due to the impact. Some had minor bruises. Some had major.
