The dark

After 8 days in Hong Kong by now, the photographer Ho sent me an e-mail telling that our model canceled the shoot planned for next Saturday. Her mother was ill, she said. This was the only photographer (out of approximately 15 photographers I contacted) who came up with a concrete shoot date. No other shoots in the pipeline for the time being.

I went out for a walk. It was dark outside.

On the street in a front of my hotel, there were many African & Indian guys, selling just about anything, from a fake Rolex, all the way to drugs… and a couple of women as well. All the women were prostitutes. It was a dangerous place to be, for those who’d show any sign of fear.

The girl called Tara* approached me, as soon as I came outside and she took me under my arm. She was young and good looking African woman.

Her: Let’s have a drink somewhere, it’s my birthday today! * smile *
Me: Then you’re most likely paying the drinks.
Her: You’re funny, I like it. * laughing *
Me: Let me guess, you’re celebrating you’re birthday at least once a day, right?!
Her: Oooooh, now you’re not so funny anymore. That’s why YOU are going to pay our drinks.
Her: Over there. * she pulled my arm, dragging me to the other side of the street.. at the corner we went to the right *
Me: Hmmmmm… Somehow I knew you would kick me under my belly.
Her: Don’t worry handsome, I won’t hurt you… well, maybe a little. But you’ll survive that.
Me: Is it in your nature to be that aggressive?
Her: And you’re probably a tough guy, huh?
Me: No, not that tough. Just grew up and became an adult a couple of years ago. So, I’m brand new in this mature world.
Her: Alright, you’re not stupid… relax. We’ll only have a drink together, nothing else. I promise. You can afford a couple of drinks, can’t you?!
Me: Well, now that you already invited yourself, you didn’t leave me too much choice.. did you?
Her: Oooooooh, you’re so funny.

At the end of the street she dragged me into a night shop.

Me: I thought we were going to a pub… hmmm, never mind, I have to buy cigarettes anyway.

Without replying she started pulling a beer out of the shop’s fridge.

Me: Nooooooo, not Heineken!
Her: Noooo?
Me: Hell NO!

Her: How about these * holding Karlsberg in her hands *
Me: You can take them for yourself if you wish. I didn’t come all the way to Hong Kong to drink European beer!
Her: Which ones would you like then?
Me: Chinese.
Her: Fine. Chinese shall it be…. let’s now go back to hotel. Or…. maybe we could walk for a while, if you prefer that?
Me: Let’s have a walk.

Panthers nest

At the first corner she took a seat at the stairs. There were like 15-20 African guys hanging there.

Me: Hmmm… that was a short walk. * while taking a seat next to her… I took the cigarettes out of my pocket *

She didn’t reply but pulled two beers open for us. Meanwhile I was scanning my surrounding, seeking for a panther, groups leader. But there was no leader there, at least no leader of a whole group. The big group was split in smaller groups with 4 or 5 guys per group. With probably a couple of minor panthers around… The guys were having some beer too, smoking and having fun with the only Chinese security guy around. He would go around and shake everybody’s hand but ours. I guess we were of no importance for his status within these groups.

Black panther.

At sudden the voices became louder within one of the groups and in less then a few seconds, the guys started to fight. Tara pushed quickly her ladies bag into my hands, jumped on her feet and run to that group. Many other guys surrounded the group as well. Nobody intervened. They were all just watching.

5 minutes later, she came back and took a seat next to me again.

Me: Here, you forgot your ladies bag.

She gave me an elbow punch in my stomach.

Me: Auuuuuh……. You said you wouldn’t hurt me!
Her: I said ‘maybe a little’, smart a$$.
Me: Well, you clearly enjoyed the fight, no doubt about that.
Her: I didn’t. I have a headache. Let’s go. * she took my hand and pulled me up. *
Me: Maybe you should go to sleep and get some rest?!
Her: Maybe I should.

The dark, Tara in my hotel room.

Dark again

Once in elevator I pushed 16th floor button.

Me: Which floor are you getting out?
Her: 13th.

But she didn’t press any button at all and went with me to a 16th floor. She got out and waited until I’d open the door of my hotel room, and as soon as I did that, she went as first inside. Within less then 10 seconds she took all her clothes off and fell like a block into my bed. She pulled the thin blanket over her naked body and turned her body half aside.

A couple of minutes later she slept like a bear.
I was astonished.

While I sat at the edge of my bed and had a cigarette, I turned off the lights and took my laptop on my knees. I was replying an e-mail to Pamela* in the dark. After about 11 years or so, out of sight, she searched my name on Google and sent me an e-mail after she found me… I used to be her friend and her lover back then.

Her: * one hour later * mmmmhm… hhhhmmm…. turn off your laptop and get over here.
Me: I’m busy, you go ahead, have some sleep.
Her: * putting her hand between my legs and seeking my trousers buttons. * Take your clothes off and get over here tough guy. * she lowered her hand deeper under my pants *
Me: You don’t have to do that. You’re tired and have a headache. It’s OK if you stay in my room. Go and get some sleep.
Her: So, you don’t want to fu*ck me?
Me: No.
Her: Did you fu*k someone else today?
Me: No.
Her: Then why don’t you want to fu*k me… what’s wrong with you?
Me: Nothing is wrong with me. Go sleep now. *I stroked her hair with my hand for a while *

She finally turned on her stomach and put the pillow over her head.
Half hour later she went sighing and turning around in my bed again.

I put my laptop aside and laid next to her. I put my arms around her and felt her breathing. Her breathing was light and way to fast. She kept turning around and around all the time.

Me: Why can’t you just relax and sleep. Why are you that restless?
Her: Why don’t you take your pants off so I can tell you?
Me: Would you also want to tell it to me if I was not walking, white ATM machine?
Her: I don’t like black guys. I prefer white guy indeed. * pulling her hand in my pants again *
Me: I’ve heard that before.
Her: I can give you a good f*ck, so take off your pants and f*ck me babe.
Me: You don’t have to do that.
Her: Why not?
Me: Because I’m gonna give you some money in the morning anyway.

* Silence *

Her: When are you leaving Hong Kong?
Me: On Jun 27.
Her: I’m gonna miss you.
Me: Yeah, right….. I’ll send you a postcard when I’m among the clouds.
Her: You know, I was trying to phone my son in Africa, but couldn’t reach him for a couple of weeks.
Me: You have a son?
Her: Yes, he’s six years old.

* she rests her head on my shoulder *

Her: Are you ever gonna come back to Hong Kong?
Me: I don’t know. Why?
Her: Because I like you.
Me: If I ever come back, then you’ll have to pay ME if you’d want to see me again. And I won’t be cheap.
Her: How much?
Me: 1000 HK dollars an hour, probably more. You can never pay that.
Her: I’ll give you 500 then.
Me: I won’t even consider it under 800.
Her: You’re mean and heartless. Good night.

She turned on her side and went a sleep. She wasn’t restless anymore and wouldn’t wake up again, until the morning.

Tara was very professional in her work, just as I was in mine.
It was dark again.

———-

* Pamela and Tara are fictive names. Their characters are real.