MyStandIN: Back to Joe (alternate ending)

14- A clean slate

Both alone... or almost. Mum was noisily rummaging through her room. We were carefully avoiding getting too close. Ming was doing the dishes. I was wiping up, putting away cooking utensils in the cupboards.

- About last night... and earlier..., I broke the silence.

Ming did not look back. Was he ignoring me? I went back to my drawers. Our host turned off the tap, laid his hands on the edge of the sink.

- Should we... go out?

- Well the whole week, I was...

Ming took a deep breath before continuing.

- No, I meant you and I...

My eyes were widened in incomprehension.

- Both of us... alone..., he added.

- Like... in a date ?

With a sudden movement, Ming took the towel from my hands to wipe his.

- Don't know... it depends... if you are... single...

- Do you think I have lots of time for romance... with the crazy shooting schedules I have?

A broad smile appeared on his face. To hide it, he turned his back on me. Going over to the dining table, where he put the plates on top of another, before taking them to the kitchen.

- A lot of people must be working their charms on you... you're involved in countless projects with Tong... Although you're more out there than him...

Before I had time to reply, our guest was back at the dining table, this time gathering glasses. This back-and-forth made me nervous.

- I'd like some projects of my own... get out of the shadows...

Picking up a new tea towel, I looked around the flat.

- Moving out of here.. a bigger condo...

Everything here reminded me of Tong as soon as I passed the buiding's landing, even though we were no longer lovers. I was longing for a new start, not having to remember what had caused Ming's accident... The guilt...

- For the contracts, there's not much I can do... but for the apartment I have a few ideas... That rascal must be charging you a lot for that space. It would be the least I could do, I'm spending so much time here...

- It's your home too.

Ming stopped tidying up, facing me.

- It feels so warm... because of you... You take such good care of us...

Worrying about others, their wellbeing... It was something I had always done for the people around me, not having a family of my own. I was surprised it was something that meant so much for the new Ming. 

- The two of us were almost always on our own..., he confessed.

After those words, our guest stopped tidying up, took my hands in his.

- You're a fresh breath of air in our lives. We really needed this.

His gaze was lost in mine. My heart was beating faster.

- Joe! Joe!

A shrill voice was calling. 

 - Where did I... Nevermind... I found it!

- All good Ma!

- Some things... never change!

Ming's comments never failed to make me laugh. Still he was frowning again.

- Is it okay for you... to be seen in public... with another man?

- In my line of work..., I tried to reassure him.

- You know what I mean...

- It's not something I'm trying to hide...

- That's not what I mean but... rumors travel fast in the industry..., he noticed

- I'm just a stand-in... my heart stories aren't interesting for so many folks...

His face brightened.

- What about... those women around you?

- Here... I don't see any...

- On social media...

I could hardly hide a mocking smile.

- Each one... more beautiful than the next. I thought some of them and you...

- I see... I have a new stalker.

- I... I was just scrolling through Tong's profile, saw you tagged in some photos and voilà...

- There are people I need to be seen with, to increase my popularity... Lots of them happen to be actresses, models or singers.

- It's only human to be attracted to them... They're beautiful...

- And... what about you? I thought a lot of people would make passes at you... in this new environment. After all, you've got a pretty comfortable situation now.

- I'm spending most of my free time with Mum... and you...

- And that man of your dreams... the one who saves you every night. I'd thought you'd go looking for him !, I remarked.

- I can smell a bit of jealousy in the air !, as he was sniffing around.

- 1m80, slim, cats' eyes...

- You've just described half of Thailand..., he noticed.

- Muscular, nice full lips... what else?

- It was just a dream.

Ming came close, ran his hand through my hair.

- Here, with me, I have someone very... very real...

His lips were slowly moving close to mine, I could not escape.

- At last... I found everything!

Mum's voice snapped us out of our reverie. I freed myself from Ming's magnetism, heading for the dining room table, when the dame of the house appeared in front of me.

- Joe, you still haven't finished putting away the leftovers?

She was restlessly looking for something in her bag.

- Ugh! What am I to do with that boy?!

Victorious, she grabbed the house keys with a smirk.

- Found them at last! You're lucky Ming is such a skilled host.

Glancing at her watch, she waved briefly.

- Bye boys ! No mischief while I'm gone !, as she was rushing to the door.

The door slammed. We looked at each other clueless, not knowing whether she'd be back soon or not. After a good minute, the coast seemed clear.

- We'd better go out. We're not really... safe... here...