On the edge

He was crying his heart out that chill night. Ashamed to go home. Afraid of his aunt condition, even if he was money drunk, he couldn't leave his aunt there in this city which is cruel to the core. The worst part, who would protect her if he eventually agreed to be the secretary of the so called indifferent boss of LiYang's cousin. Who would be there? LiYang promised him, he assured him. Feng Wu also gave him her words. But the problem wasn't taking care but fighting for her.

Who would fight for her?

____

"What's wrong with you?" An angst man asked fleeting at the young boy of, 15years, who pushed him, gritting his teeth in anger. He couldn't stand the fact that the lady he was unfamiliar with was assaulted in front of him, sexually. He was so young, but he knew how disgusting it was to actually do that in public not to talk of in front of a young boy.

"Have some manners, will you?" The boy boldly said as if commanding armies to his feet.

"What?" The older man asked perturbed.

"Is your wife not enough? If so, go to the willing whore out there to satisfy your uncontrolled urgies old man" he said. His face passive yet arrogant like a rich heir from a very powerful elite.

The man felt the tinge in his stomach, warming him to stay clear away from the boy. But his psychopathic self, wouldn't let him do so.

So, he did what he needed to do to that arrogant young boy. Beating him to the point that his recovering body got porched with pain and dizziness. His stiched wounds, reopening and blood oozed around him, making him all round dizzy and weak.

Suddenly, the cold beating stopped as he felt someone fell on him, screaming and begging the man to let go of him. That she would comply with whatever he says, do whatever he wants just to let go of that boy who might lose his life in any minute.

Still bruised, he could faintly make out and obscure scene of two people making out.

One slightly struggling to free herself from that sex abuse, while looking at him with tears streaming none stop, off her eyes.

And the other, irritatingly on top with shrewd movement and lustful eyes, while feasting on the meat beneath him, uncaring and unfazed, with his upturned face, and his biting lips, he made out with the lady.

Before passing out again, not wanting to see more of the agony she was in and the ceaseless throbbing of his head and the sting he felt all through, darkness, overshadowed him.

He woke up later, luckily not dead. He doesn't know how long he has been asleep for but he knew it was long enough for his wounds to heal.

He sat up from what he had guessed right, to be a hospital,with his first sight, being the lady.

The first thing that occured in his mind was the rough handling of the man to the woman. Not wanting to remember further, he closed his eyes trying to lock that disdainful sight of his memory, while mouthing

"I'm sorry I should have kept quiet" he apologized, while the lady glared at him.

"I know. I would've done that in my case" she appreciated.

"Protect me when you're strong enough, not your weak self. So, let me do the protection from now Baobao"

"Is that my name?" He asked curiosity wondering who would name their child the name they give to children as pet cute name.

The woman shook her head, "since you don't remember anything about yourself. I decided. I'm sorry, it's the only cute name I could come up with"

"It's okay. It's better than nothing " he said, shaking his like as if it was the best thing to do.

The lady, was later known to be 'Jin Bongjue' he decided to shorten it to aunt Jin.

When she made sure that he was hail and hearty, he was taken care of. Baobao found out that whoring around was kinda of her job for a living. She was struggling like shit. And he has been added to her burden.

"Honestly, when I saw you out there that night, in that old woman's arms, cute and dead unconscious. I thought I've found the reason. I don't want to dirty your mind and make you regret that you were taking in by a slight whore. I'm sorry if I disgust you" she apologized.

He felt honored to be the reason. One friend of hers introduced her to the job. It was just on her second day going to the bar, when she met him.

So, Baobao shook his head, and gave her the signature pouting she couldn't help but pinch. Funny enough, he liked it.

So one day, on his way returning to school. He met a man in his mid twenties offering him a judo class for free if only he would bring him customers.

That brat!!!

Wanting to use him for business but he cared not. He was 16 as of that time. He agreed for two reasons.

1:it was damn free. And that man really kept his promise. Bringing customers wasn't hard thanks to his handsome face. He thought it would as hard as a tortoise shell, but it turned easier than anything, easier than the English alphabet.

2: So, he could help defend her Aunt. He was tired of seeing that landlord and many harassing her.

He was perfect in the field and that made him graduate with flying colors. If there are graduations in this arm to arm combat.

He helped the man's judo business and in return, the man became his personal teacher. After months of learning, he became best. Even better than the teacher who taught him.

And thanks to that, the landlord was comatosed for almost two years and a half. So was many people.

____

Remembering these, brought more tears in his eyes.

It was midnight when he got home after trying to sort out himself. What shocked him was an unconscious looking pake body, sleeping on the bare floor instead of her not so cozy bed. But at least better than a bare floor.

"Aunty Jin" he called gently tapping her.

"Ummm" the lady hummed In her sleep, slightly opening her eyes then wider.

"Baobao" she called.

"Yes, aunty I'm here. You shouldn't sleep on the floor. You'll catch a cold."

"I didn't realize. I was waiting for you." She said smiling widely glad that nothing has happened to him.

"Yes... Now let me take you to your room." She fall back lazily on the cold floor. Feet numb from not changing positions.

"Carry me. I'm lazy " was the only thing Baobao heard before the lady again, returned to her previous sleeping position.

He chuckled that that matured lady could act like a kid.

Ahhh!!!

He has remembered doing that to her countless times. Sometimes pretending to gain her sympathy and love though he has recovered quite a lot from the total stranger. But sometimes he meant them.

"Are you taking revenge?" He asked. And he could swear he saw her nodding her head at him, then, falling back in place.

Laughing slightly, he gently shoved her to his back and carried her. Laying her gently on the bed, covering her with blanket. Having cried fervently that night, his head on the bed, he held her warm hands, then falling to the dreamland deciding to forget how on the edge he was.

Days later...

Coming back from his part time,he met his aunt packing his clothes in his poorly made echolac.

"What are you doing?" He asked going next to her to lift her from the floor.

"I told you that seating on the floor, isn't good for you, why do you like doing otherwise?" He asked feeling scared that the cold might take her away from him.

"Aren't you going to Beijing today?" She asked.

He paused. "Beijing? Why should I go there?"

"But you received a letter to work for the prestigious company China has ever known.

He choked at the word.

"No I didn't. Feng Wu my best friend's cousin told me to join the company. Not that I received an acceptance letter from the company." He kindly explained.

"Baobao, do you think I'm an illiterate not to know my native language when I see them?"

Baobao blinked his eyes eyeing the woman In front of him.

"What are you saying?"

She said nothing but handed over the brown envelope. He took it, opening it to reveal a white paper.

Reading the content shocked and amused him.

It read:

"We are glad to inform you Wang Jie, that you've successfully been accepted to work in the SeanJie cooperation. Be sure to report to the office tomorrow, for briefing and orientation. Thanks "

Looking at the bottom end of the paper, was his idol's name and under it, and his evergreen signature.

"But the letter isn't for me. I don't remember applying to the hard to get in company." He said really wishing it was for him.

"What made you say so?* She asked.

He came to her. "I'm Baobao, but the letter belongs to Wang jie. I'm not Wang jie and I can't remember applying." He said showing the paper to his aunt.

She beamed with smiles. Her white set of teeth visible showing.

"Then, it's for the right owner."

"Aunt Jin..."

"Okay. I cooked something behind your back..." She confessed.

"Feng Wu came to me telling me her predicament, not to mention the CEO you're to work for, is your role model. You've aspired to be like him. You talked countlessly praising him for every business awards he gets and many of them. You've also followed him up, so I decided to help when she came and told me about it and that you rejected because of me."

"Aunt Jin."

"I know you're worried about me but don't worry, I'm okay. I've always been. Don't use because of me and let your dream of aspiring greater lengths go to the drain. Do you hear me?"

She couldn't stand how he had lost many opportunities for her. So long as it was far from his city, far from his aunt Jin, he would reject without thinking twice. And that was making her heart itch. And when Feng Wu came and told her of the job in Beijing, she couldn't help but do it anyways, seeing him losing everything because of her.

"But I'm not Wang Jie." He tried to make her see reasons.

"You are."

"What?"

"Actually, there's something I forgot to tell you." She looked at him before continuing... "The old woman who I brought you out from, called you Wang Jie. She told me... 'please take care of Wang jie. Save him please." Standing up ignoring how dazed he was, to the drawer and brought out a a golden green locket from a box. Going next to him, "And this was around you all the time. You were tightly holding it. I think it's from your family or something. But instead it was a picture of two people I couldn't recognize." She said placing it on his palm.

He opened it and those were young photos of two people he couldn't recognize either.

"But I've always written my name as Baobao..."

"I couldn't bare it. Since you were the type of guy that checks your results once before handling over to me, and I have known Feng Wu because her mother and I are close, but I stopped visiting her to take care of you. Feng Wu's older brother works as the director so, it was easier to change things with the help of Feng Wu. And thank God it worked." She explained

He looked at her with tears...

___

Wearing the locket aunt Jin gave him. It was she who made him wear it and never to take it off but he promised to keep it around his neck, covering it, inside his cloth forever afraid of the unknown. As he was walking with his luggage not knowing where to start. Of course the airport to get a passport. He has enough money for that. He was still thinking what he was going to do there in Beijing without his lovely aunt.

Still unblinkingly thinking, he was startled by a loud honking of a car.

"Get in." That female devil told him. Of course he did, followed her lead.

"Where were you headed?" She asked.

"To get an international passport."

"Ah, to the airport?" She asked and a slight nod was given.

"I don't think you need that for business purposes." She stated.

"Why?" He slowly asked looking at the rearview at his side.

"Before he travels with his private jet during international relating businesses. So, you don't need to worry. But just in case, I suggest you get it immediately you've reported to the office." She advised.

"Mn." He said resting his head on the window, thinking about his aunt's crying face when he was leaving.

"Don't worry about aunt Jin, I'll make sure to take care of her. I'll make sure that she moves in with us, okay?"

"Thanks" he muttered. After driving for a few minutes, to the bus station. She halted. Going through her bag she kept on the side, she brought out two things.

"Here"

"What are those?" He asked looking at her.

"I booked the ticket before meeting you. I was already at your house when aunt Jin told me that you had left. So, I knew you haven't gone far. I followed and met you."

He recognizes a bus ticket when he sees one. The other was what he was looking at.

"This, it's a key card. Like a house key to my home in Beijing."

" W-why are you giving it to me?"

"Will you sleep under the breach when you get there? My apartment isn't far from the company. It can help you too. Untill you find a place to stay, you can live there. The years expenses have been made. You can just start from next year to pay by yourself. I'm sure you've fully settled by then." She looked at him.

"Don't worry, all the feminine stuffs have been removed. It's just as good as new, like someone had never lived in them. But you have to do some cleaning though. Any girly color you detest in my apartment, feel free to repaint to any color to your liking." She said looking at him.

"Now go, the bus won't wait for you forever." She said.

For the first time, Baobao allowed physical contact. Infact, he was the one that initiated it.

"Thanks alot. Please don't forget to take care of Aunt Jin for me please. And call me when something is wrong. I'll cross the river for it."

She nodded, while holding her tears.

"I will." She assured. And Baobao left to find his bus after collecting the bus ticket and the key card, vowing to repay his debt. And he disappeared immediately inside to his seat number.

"It's for the best." Feng Wu assured herself not liking separating families from each other. She drove out almost immediately Baobao's bus left.