Date: Mon, 14 Jan 2002 09:01:38 +0100
From: "solark36@yahoo.co.uk" <solark36@yahoo.co.uk>
Subject: 15 Hartford: London Romance 1

Disclaimer: This story is entirely fictional and not intended for minors or
those judged unable by law to read this material.  Any resemblance to
actual people is purely coincidental.

The author reserves all rights to this work.

Pre-story note: I've had mail asking me to write about Will.  I am going to
write a 'spin-off' from <15 Hartford>.  I hope it lives up to expectation.
This story is primarily a romantic story and so please don't expect
gratituous and graphic sexual acts in every paragraph.  If you're expecting
a 'bang, wham and go' story, I'm afraid I'll disappoint you.  With respect
to a continuation of Martin and Michael's lives, it remains to be seen. :-)
solark36@yahoo.co.uk


LONDON ROMANCE


CHAPTER ONE

PHILIP: JOURNEY'S BEGINNING

I felt a sharp tap on my shoulder.  I looked up, it was the captain.

"Philip!  Table 9 needs something!  It's your table, isn't it?"

"Yes, Jack," I replied meekly.

"What's with you today?  You seem to be far away.  Are you ok?"

"I'm ok.  Just too many things on my mind."

"Think about them later!  We've got customers waiting!"

"Yes, Jack."

I moved to the table in question.  It was a nice old couple.

"Sorry, sir, for the delay.  We're quite full today," I explained politely.

"I can see that," the lady said rather gruffly.

"Don't mind her," the gentleman said.  "There seems to be a shortage of
waiters today."

"Three called in sick," I replied.  "The weather's not too good these few
weeks," I added.  "Would you like to order now?" I asked.

"Actually, we haven't been given the menu."

"Oh!  I'm sorry."  I moved off to get the menus and was called by another
table.

"Sorry, sir, if you'd wait a moment, I'll tend to you presently," I said to
the other customer.  He muttered something under his breath, but I did not
pay attention.  Some customers can be really unpleasant.

I came back to Table 9 with the menus and took the old couple's order.
"Would you like me to get you some starters as you read the menu.  Our
steamed omlette with gingko nuts is a favourite here.  They're just two
dollars each.  It'll give you something to keep the hunger at bay as you
wait for the other dishes."

"That sounds good," said the lady.

"Alright then," agreed the gentleman.

I signalled for another waiter to get the ready made steamed omlettes over.
He gave me the thumbs up and I went to the other table that called me
earlier.

"I'm sorry, sir, for keeping you waiting.  What can I do for you?"

"What kind of waiter are you, keeping all of us hungry.  I've a mind to go
somewhere else!"

I kept my cool.  "I apologise sir.  I'm now at your disposal."

"Are we going to get a discount, or do we have to speak to management!"

Jack saw me with the difficult customer.  There were eight at his table.
They looked like labourers and construction workers having the night off.
"What seems to be the problem?"

"Your waiter, here kept us waiting," the customer said.

I kept my head down but noticed that one or two of the customer's
companions were trying to calm him down.

Jack handled it professionally.  "We're very sorry.  We are short-handed
today.  What would you say if I gave you two big bottles of beer as
compensation for the wait."

The customer grinned.  "That's mighty generous of you."

"It's our obligation to compensate," Jack said.  He turned to me and winked
while speaking in a harsh tone, "I'll personally serve this table.  Go!"

I hurriedly moved to the kitchen to submit the old couple's order.  I
looked up and I saw that Table 11 needed attention.  It was quite a busy
night.

At closing time, I went to Jack and thanked him, "Thank you Jack.  I'm
sorry that I couldn't handle the customer."

"It was nothing.  This was a regular customer.  He's a trouble maker,
always looking for an excuse to get a discount or a free drink.  I didn't
notice him tonight.  Usually I'd get someone to tend to him the moment he
enters and treat him like a first-class customer.  It was unfortunate that
we didn't have enough people today."

"I guess the cost of the beers would come out of my tips?" I asked, hoping
that it would not be so.

"With our takings tonight, I don't think the boss would mind the cost of
these two bottles.  However, you'd better be prepared because he does
change his mind once in a while.  I'll speak to him."

"Thanks, Jack."

"So what was on your mind?"

I gave a puzzled look to Jack.  Then I remembered what he was referring to.
"My mother is setting me up for another match."

Jack laughed.  "She doesn't give up, does she?  How old are you now?
Thirty-five?  Can't she accept that you can make your own decision?"

"Firstly, I'm forty.  Don't look so shocked.  Secondly, she is anxious
because I'm the eldest in the family.  She can't accept that my two younger
brothers are already married and I'm not."

"What kind of woman are you looking for, then?"

"I'm still looking.  But definitely not those that my mother has chosen.
I've lost count of the number of matches she had suggested, each one worse
than the next.  The last one was supposed to be an expert cook, but I found
out that she didn't know how to substitute one meat for another!  I think
I'm a better cook than she was."

"You can still reject them, can't you?"

"My mother has given me an ultimatum.  She's going to get three prospective
daughters-in-law and I've got to make a choice.  She wants me to be married
by the end of the year."

"Can she do that?"

"Yes she can.  The only way is that I leave home and not come back."

Jack frowned.  "Isn't that extreme?"

"Being forced into marriage at this day and age is also extreme.  I've
given this a lot of thought.  I'm going to leave the country for a while
just to get out of this situation.  I guess I'll have to resign."

"You don't have to do that.  As long as I'm here, there'll be a place for
you.  Just take leave."

"I don't know how long I'll be away.  It may be a month or maybe a year."

My last statement startled Jack.  "What?"

"I'm taking out half of my savings and start out in Europe.  I'll may try
to get a job there or even in Vancouver."

"Half your savings?  Would that be enough?"

"I've got friends on the internet from all over the world!" I said proudly

"Maybe, but don't count your chickens before they're hatched."

"I know.  Anyway, I'm taking the opportunity to travel while we're still
able to go overseas.  How long this liberty is going to last?  It's
anyone's guess.  I don't want to end up regretting not travelling when I
could've."

"You're right.  I wish you good luck.  When are you planning to leave?"

"Next month.  So I'm giving my one month's notice."

-----

When I discovered the internet eight years ago, it was a perfect place for
a closet gay like me.  Suddenly, I was able to get things that I would
never have been able to do in person.  I was able to get pictures of naked
men, read erotic stories and best of all, talk to other gays without ever
worrying about being 'outed'.

The thrill of the internet lasted for just a few years.  I found the
pictures arousing but after a while, I lost interest in them.  I downloaded
and saved some good pictures and movie clips for wanking.  Those were
enough to satisfy the lust for orgasms as soon as they came up.  I did surf
to see if better pictures and clips were available, but the US started
their Adult Verification processes and Hong Kong returned to the communist
rule.  These effectively blocked out most of the good stuff.  It is
rumoured that the government patrols cyberspace.  Many people tell me that
it is impossible, and yet people have been arrested for 'possessing
undesirable material'.  Most of the people know that it does not refer to
anti-communist propaganda.

Then I discovered chat rooms.  They were a great way to make friends.  It
was true that I could assume any identity I wanted.  I entered some gay
chat rooms that way.  Quite a number of them were more 'hi there - let's
meet - let's fuck' kind of chat rooms.  I was afraid of those because of
the 'meeting' part.  I entered a few in the beginning but quickly realised
that no one was really interested in someone who did not want to meet.  I
also went into chat rooms for gays that was not of the 'hi there - let's
meet - let's fuck' variety.  I really found that I could relate with a lot
of the people there.  However, there was only so much one could share
without revealing our identities.  I yearned to meet some of them, but was
afraid of revealing who I was.

I ended up spending a lot of time in chat rooms for hobby groups.  One of
my hobbies was listening to music: classical, pop, jazz and blues.  I
learnt a lot from my friends in those rooms.  I also started getting into
fusion jazz and contemporary composers like Schoenberg.  I made many
international friends in these chat rooms.

I also had a teacher who lived in London.  She was English and was teaching
me in high school.  I made a great improvement in my English when I was
under her tutelage.  She took special concern in my English as I was a slow
student.  She could see that I was struggling to learn.  She took pity on
me and taught me after school.  After I left high school, I continued to
visit her and she welcomed me into her home as a friend.  Her contract
ended after six years and she went back to England.  I kept in contact with
her through letters and sometimes, she would correct my English.  Instead
of being angry, I understood that she was trying to help and I usually
thanked her.  Such was our relationship.  She was already married when she
came to Hong Kong to teach.  Her husband was a travelling businessman and
so I never saw him.  She only had children after going back to England.
That was eighteen years ago.

After I gave notice to Jack, I started trying to see if anyone would
accomodate me during my stay in Europe.  My teacher had already welcomed me
to stay with her, so Britain was covered.  I posted in the chat rooms that
I was going to Europe.  I only received responses after one week.  Before
the week was over, there were four people who invited me to stay in their
homes when I visited their countries.  I was very fortunate.  There was an
old man from Zurich who was enthusiastic about receiving me.  He and his
wife were staying alone and their children were working in various parts of
Europe except Switzerland.  A woman from Austria who had a large farm just
outside Vienna also welcomed me.  A girl from Rome offered to try to get me
a huge discount for a Bed and Breakfast because she knew the family who ran
it.  And lastly there was a nun living just outside Paris who would house
me in her convent when I was visiting France.

I also started to apply for visas and obtained them rather quickly.  I
bought a return ticket for Britain because my teacher mentioned that it
would be easier to get through immigration.  The ticket said I was only
staying in Britain for three weeks.  I would first go to Britain.  From
there I would go to Zurich, Vienna, Rome and Paris.  My teacher was going
to make all the travel arrangements for me.  I had mentioned my problems in
my family to my teacher, Mrs. Davis and she was very understanding.  She
said she would try to see what she could do but there were no promises.  I
hoped that my teacher would find me work in Britain.  It would help me to
get earn money to get to Vancouver.

I had to ask Jack to allow me to put my luggage in his home.  I could not
possibly pack my luggage at home.  His wife did not like the idea, but
understood my predicament.  I made sure that I kept the disruption of their
household to the minimum.  Bit by bit, I managed to smuggle the clothes I
needed out of my home.  I finished packing three days before my departure.

I also needed to write a letter to my family.  Though I was leaving them, I
was not going to leave totally without a word.  I had thought of leaving a
letter for my mother.  However, if she discovered it and reached the
airport before I had left, it would be disastrous.  I decided to write a
letter to my youngest brother who lived at the other side of the island.
If I posted it on the day of my departure, he would receive it only when I
reached England.  I could picture the scene at home.  My mother would be
cursing me but my brothers would be blaming my mother for driving me away.
The arguments that follow were predictably clear.  My mother would disown
me before the ancestral altar.  She would probably ask my late father to
disown me as well.  Then my brothers would leave in a huff.  Fortunately,
they would not leave my mother in a lurch and would probably come to visit
her more often, though none of them would ask her to move in with them.  I
sat down at my desk and started writing the letter.

When I finished writing, I looked at my room for the last time.  Why did I
get the feeling that I was not going to see this room again?  The bed that
I had slept in for so many years would probably be thrown away.  The desk
that been my study corner and, later on, the place where I wrote my letters
and read my magazines would also go.  The only thing that would probably
stay was the wardrobe that I had inherited from my grandfather.  The
posters of male and female entertainers would be the first to go even
before my brothers reached home.  My mother never liked the posters.  I
took a last look at the little Pentium computer that I had been using from
my first foray into the internet.  I was glad that I had removed every
little bit of history from my Internet browser and all the emails from the
mail client.  I had saved my bookmarks and email addresses into a little
diskette that was in my shoulder bag.  My pictures and clips are stored in
the net.  I have a simple site on the net and lots of hard disk place.  I
put a few simple pages on the net and then stored my pictures and clips in
the extra space.

I gathered my things and shouted to my mother that I was going.  Little did
she realise that I was neither going to work nor coming home that evening.
I stepped out into the busy road and made my way to the postbox.  I dropped
the letter to my brother and made my way towards Jack's apartment.

Jack had to work the night of my departure.  I arranged to pick up the
luggage before he left the house.  I was glad that his wife was in good
spirits.  She even wished me a good trip!  Perhaps it was because my stuff
would soon vacate her house.

I caught a taxi and told the driver my destination: the airport.  In the
taxi, I was still a little down.  I kept telling myself that it was for the
best.  I was running away.  Yes, that was what I was doing.  I was running
away.  I was running away from the restraints that were suffocating me.  I
was liberating myself.  Liberation should be ... well, liberating.
However, I was feeling low.  Leaving home, I suppose, no matter how
liberating it could be, was not an easy thing.  After paying the fare and
getting my luggage on a trolley, I entered the airport.  This was the first
time I had entered this new airport.  I was very early and my flight wasn't
even on the display board yet.  I moved to a corner of the departure area
where there were seats and sat down.  I was glad that I had brought a
magazine with me.  I had five hours to wait before checking in.

I finished the magazine and looked at the time.  Only thirty minutes had
passed by.  I decided to read the magazine again.  I told myself to read it
lowly, this time.  Why is it that time passes extremely slowly when you are
waiting?  I finished the magazine in about forty-five minutes.  A look at
the time told me three hours and forty-five minutes more to the opening of
the check-in counter.  I looked around and saw many businessmen carrying
their briefcases. Everything was rush, rush, rush in Hong Kong.  Now I will
be going off to somewhere else, where I don't have to rush.  I can take
things easy.  I smiled to myself.  "Liberation does come in many forms," I
thought to myself.

I was feeling a little hungry and decided to get something to eat.  I
bought a sandwich and a cup of coffee.  I took my time to eat, knowing that
I still had a lot of time on my hands.  I moved back to where I was
previously but found that it was occupied.  In fact, the airport was
getting more and more crowded.  Many families were there to see their loved
ones off.  I was one of the few that were alone.  I tried to force my tears
away, but the grief was too strong.  I wiped my tears with my handkerchief.
I was grieving for myself.  This act of defiance would make me dead to my
family and their absence at the airport contrasted the presence of loving
families that were before me.  I knew that I had made the right decision
but there was still death.  This part of my life was dead.  When I stepped
into the aeroplane, I left this part of my life behind forever.

-----

Heathrow was a big airport.  When I eventually reached the immgration, they
gave me a hard time.  I wonder if it was because I was a lone traveller.  I
got my bags and fortunately, customs did not check on me.  I had nothing to
declare and walked right through the green channel.  I got out and went
into the first taxicab that was before me.  I gave the driver my teacher's
address and off we went.

My teacher had aged gracefully.  I was told that she had just resigned from
teaching to become a normal housewife.  She had some strands of grey hair
and her face had a few more lines.  However, she was as radiant as ever.

"Philip!  It's so nice to see you again!" she exclaimed when I appeared at
her front door.  I came forward and gave her a big hug.

"It's nice to finally meet you again, Mrs. Davis."

"Oh!, Philip, I've stopped being your teacher since I left Hong Kong.
Please call me Emily."

"It's difficult but I'll try to remember.  It feels odd calling you by your
first name," I remarked.

"Please, you must already be in your late thirties and when you call me
Mrs. Davis, I feel really old."

"Alright, Emily.  Actually, I celebrated my fortieth birthday a few months
ago."

"Oh my!  You did?  Time does pass really fast.  It was almost like a year
ago that I left Hong Kong."

"It's been eighteen years, Mrs. ... uh Emily."

"That long?  Yes, of course, it's been that long.  My children are already
in their teens.  David, my oldest is seventeen.  You'll have to meet them.
They've just gone to school."  She shrugged her shoulders a little and
continued, "Where are my manners?  You're still standing at the door.  Do
you need help with your bags?"

"No, I can manage."

"Come in!  Come in!"

I entered a beautiful and cosy house.  As I entered the living room, I came
across another familiar face.  It was also aged.  It was the face of
Mr. Davis whom I have seen in pictures in Emily's house in Hong Kong.

"Good morning Mr. Davis."  I stretched out my hand to him.

"Oh, hello!  You must be Philip, you're finally here!  Nice to meet you.
Welcome!  Welcome!"  He took my hand and shook it firmly.

"I hope I have not inconvenienced you, Mr. Davis."

"No Philip, not at all ... and call me Richard."

"Thank you, Richard."

"Would you like a cup of tea?" Emily asked.

"Thank you, I'd like that very much."

We sat down and began to talk about old times.  I was later shown to my
room.  The house had six room, not including the living room, dining room
and kitchen.  It was definitely bigger than what I have seen in Hong Kong.
One was a study and another was for watching television.  The rest of the
rooms were bedrooms.  Emily's children took three and there was one guest
room.  Emily showed me my room.  She had some news for me, though none of
them were good.  She said that she had managed to find someone to hire me.
There were some technical details to work out, but she said that I should
first enjoy my vacation.

After a short rest, she brought me round some of the more historical sites
in London, like the Tower of London, Westminster Abbey, St. Paul's and
Buckingham Palace.  That took me a whole day.  When I reached back, Emily's
three children were home.  I was introduced to them.  There was David, her
eldest, who was seventeen, Gwen who was sixteen and Andrew who would be
celebrating his twelfth birthday the following month.  David was very tall.
I only came up to his shoulders.  He had a very boyish looking face and I
heard that he played cricket, which gave him very good shoulders and legs.
I was immediately attracted to David but forced myself to pay attention to
the others as well.  I must have been very quick because I did not sense
any awkwardness among her children.  In fact, I found them very friendly.
I focused my attention on Andrew who was very interested in computer games.
I played two rounds of Starcraft with him just before dinner.  David was
watching us and he was standing behind me.  I could feel his breath on me
and I was distracted.  I won the first round but lost the second round.
Andrew was not very happy when he lost, but was jubliant when he won the
second round.

I got up from my chair and turned to face David.  He accompanied me out and
said, "Thanks for letting my brother win.  I was sure you had the upper
hand, but I saw you make a few deliberate mistakes.  Thanks!"  I just
smiled.  If only David knew the real reason.

After dinner, I wanted to try out the pubs.  Richard wanted to take me, but
his gout was acting up and did not want to risk not being able to walk
home.  David offered to show me but his mother reminded him that he had to
be back to do his school work.  He had many tests and quizzes coming up.  I
suggested he show me the nearest pub and then leave me.  I was sure that my
spoken English could get me through.  It was settled.  I was given a house
key and I told Emily that I would be back by half past ten.  I had simply
wanted to sample the pub atmosphere.

David told me that nearest pub was not very exciting.  Most of them were
stuffy old Englishmen.  He said he was bringing me to a more lively pub
with a mixed crowd.  It was quite a long walk, but it was quite easy to get
there.  David showed me the various landmarks to look for during the walk.
When we reached there, he repeated instructions.  I memorised the route and
told him that there was no problem.  I was sure that I could easily ask
someone the way if I was lost.

David grinned.  "If you get lost, take a cab. It's expensive, but you're
sure to reach home."

"Thanks."

I went in and got a drink.  I was still thinking about David.  He was such
a nice person and I felt like a pervert.  How could I lust after my
friend's son?  He was still underaged!

It was quite crowded, but I managed to find a table in a corner.  I drank
slowly and observed the crowd.  I was quite surprised to see quite a number
of women there.  In Hong Kong, women who drank in bars were considered,
shall we say, less virtuous.  I saw women of all ages in the pub, there was
even a lady in her sixties with her husband drinking and talking.  It was
something new to me.

Then I noticed a man walking towards my direction.  He frowned a little
when he saw me.  I smiled at him.  He lost his frown and smiled back.  He
put his mug on the next table and came to my table.

"I normally sit here but no matter, I don't own the table."

I was taken aback momentarily but managed to say, "We could change tables,
I didn't mean ..."

"No!  Don't take it personally.  I wasn't chasing you away.  I was just
explaining my frown just now.  You don't have to get up on my account.  As
I said before, I don't own the place."

"Well, you're welcome to join me.  I'm alone and I see that you're alone as
well."  I was quite surprised that I had invited him.  I normally don't
talk to strangers but working in the restaurant may have given me an extra
ounce of courage.

"Thank you, but I think I'll sit by myself."

I was disappointed, he had rejected my offer.  I just nodded and must have
shown my disappointment on my face.  He grabbed his mug and came back to my
table.

"I hope your offer still stands."

"Yes, of course!"

"My name's Will, Will Duncan."

"I'm Philip Leung."

"You're a tourist?"

"Yes, I'm staying with some friends."

"Where are they?  Did they abandon you?"

"No," I laughed.  I just wanted to come out on my own for a while.  I
arrived this morning and spent the whole day visiting places.  I just
thought I needed to unwind for a bit."

"Well, I'm originally from Worchester.  I was transferred to London almost
eight years ago.  Where're you from?"

"I'm from Hong Kong."

"Oh!  A man from an ex-British colony.  How are things there now compared
to before 1997?'

"Things are more or less the same.  There were changes of course, but the
people just got used to the changes and life moves on."

"Do you think China will impose communism on Hong Kong?"

"It's hard to say.  There are rumors that say yes, and there are people who
say no.  Well, you're no different.  After years of being under the
Conservatives, you're now under Labour.  Things must have changed."

"Actually, like your place, things change but people get used to the
changes.  There'll always be people who are be happy and people who'd
criticise. ... Let's not talk about politics.  You've come here to unwind
and I've come here to relax.  Let's talk about other things.  How did you
like the Tower of London?"

"How did you know that I went there?"

"Just a guess.  You said you've been visiting places and the first places
many people think of going to are Buckingham Palace and the Tower of
London."

"I see," I said, nodding my head.  "I found the place interesting but I
wish I'd more time there.  My friend and I were rushing because she'd
planned that we visit the Abbey and St. Paul's next and she didn't want to
miss the bus."

"How many places did you visit?"

"Four.  Buckingham Palace was the last place."

"There you are!  Buckingham Palace and the Tower of London.  You visited
those two places.  Didn't I tell you that they were popular?"

"Yes you did."

"Tell me what you thought of your day," he asked.

I started to tell him about what I thought about the places I had been to
and the various things I saw from the bus along the way to these places.
He gave me his impressions of these places as well.  Suddenly I yawned, "It
has been a hectic day!"

"I admire your stamina.  I wouldn't be able to do all that within a day."

"Surely you're joking.  A man in his twenties shouldn't tire that easily."

"Ha! ha! ha!" Will laughed.  "Do I look like I'm in my twenties?  Maybe the
light here isn't good.  I'm already thirty-two."

"Then how old do you think I am?" I asked.

"I can't say because you're not English and I'm hopeless with Asian faces
and ages.  However, judging from the way you dress, I'd say you're in your
early thirties yourself."

It was my turn to laugh.  "My dear Will," I said in between laughs and
giggles, "I'm forty!"

"Forty?  Surely you're joking."

"Like you said, I'm not an Englishman."

"If you're forty, then I am even more impressed.  You don't look like a
forty year old man at all in English standards."

"The light is dim.  If it were brighter, you'd see the lines on my face and
the flabby tummy I have.  Young men don't have those."

"Let me see."  Will looked at my face and then our eyes made contact.  He
stared at me for what seemed a very long time.  Then, he broke the gaze and
apologised, "Sorry, I didn't mean to do that.  It was very rude of me."

I didn't have a reply.  He quickly finished his drink and said, "I need to
go back.  I need to get to work tomorrow."

"Bye!  Nice to have met you.  I had a good time talking with you."

"Nice to have met you too!  Cheerio!"

It was a strange meeting.  At the end, I was sad to see him go.  I would
have liked to know him a little better.  When our eyes connected, I sensed
a loneliness in Will.  However, I am not a psychic.  Maybe I immagined it
all.  Will was just a man I met.  Was I attracted to him?  I don't know.
He did not attract me like David did.  He was on the thin side.  He had
bags under his eyes like he was constantly tired and he walked as if he had
a heavy load on his back.  One thing I remembered not seeing: a wedding
ring.

I finshed my drink and went back to Emily's place.  I found my way back
quite easily.  It was only quarter to ten when I reached the house.
Richard was already in bed after taking some medicine for his gout.  Emily
was still awake and was surprised to see me coming back so early.

"I was getting tired.  I only had a pint, not much by English standards,
but I have never drunk more than a half-pint in Hong Kong.  The atmosphere
was nice and so was the ale."

"It's nice to hear that you've enjoyed yourself," Emily said with a smile.
"Get a good night's sleep and we'll go and get your tickets for your trip
to the other part of Europe.  If we have time, we'll go to the zoo.  If
not, we'll just go by Hyde Park for a look and then come back.  You'll have
a lot of travelling to do from day after tomorrow."

"Thanks Emily for everything."

"It was my pleasure.  I've left a towel for you in the bathroom and you'll
find a new cake of soap and a toothbrush.  Do you need anything else?"

"No.  Thanks."

-----

to be continued.