Obsession
by Mary Wong

It's been two years since Cassy Ko graduates from college and starts working at an insurance company. Cassy Ko finally realises what it’s like to be involved in competitions in this commercialised society, sadly she’s not the best competitor. Being an ordinary female student when she was at the university, Cassy Ko won herself numerous championships in debate competitions with her strong, eloquent speaking skills. She was able to graduate from the university with confidence. Not long after that, on the day the city was struck by a typhoon, her aggressive supervisor scolded at her over a complaint made by a client.Working in the insurance field, employees are meant to be good listeners to their clients. However, her personality is missing those traits. Different from what others think about her, Cassy Ko isn’t your typical kind of female worker like those in Hong Kong who tend to show their best working ability. After some deep thoughts, Cassy Ko decides to not waste any more time on this job that is not suitable for her. Switching tactics has been one of the skills she has mastered through debating. Cassy Ko changes her job, to one where there is no competition. It may seem that she has left the battlefield too easily, but she clearly knows that she has already won the race in life and obtained her prize.

Last month, Samuel Ho who graduated with a first­class honours degree successfully got accepted for a position in the government department. Two days ago, Cassy Ko and Simon Ho dressed up in their most luxurious clothes that they owned. They went to that classical hotel in Tsim Sha Tsui and paid a large amount of deposit in preparation for their wedding ceremony next year. Since she has already won the most important race of her life she now feels free to just relax and hopes that even in the future, her life will also remain carefree. She returns to her alma mater, to work as an executive assistant in the Human Resources department. Compared to the commercial world, everything is much more manageable here. Cassy Ko hopes that she can have adequate personal time for preparations for various things for her wedding. Such as, attending all sorts of beauty classes and weight­loss programs before the wedding to ensure every little detail is perfect and seamless. Under the blue sky and white clouds, she manages to make her life as fine as a cream cake. However, behind the happy tune, a sense of frustration often floats into her mind that makes her feel extremely burdened like being twisted into a chamber. Whenever this nauseating feeling emerges, she will just promptly remind herself of the gorgeous wedding gown to cover all the darkness and continue to live life at a simple and happy pace.

Morning

It is Cassy Ko's first day in a new office and she is so excited working in her old school. The senior Sam and Mrs. Lee are so nice and friendly to her that she thinks it should be a warm environment. There is a young clerk named Simon but Cassy Ko finds nothing in common between the workplace and this man of few words. Everything is fine here yet the coming policemen seem going to break the balance...

Afternoon

The afternoon sun shines calmly over the campus grass. How Cassy Ko wishes she could just lay around there. This used to be her favourite thing to do, but the fine clothes she is wearing remind  her that it is no longer considered proper for her. She goes over to the plants and takes a breath of fresh air. Feeling vexed, she remembers Simon’s words, and then she takes another breath of air and leaves. The lift looks normal and operates just as usual, as if nothing has happened. Deep down she really wants to know what is the current situation in the office. There seem to be some secrets, waiting for her to uncover them.

The policemen have not arrived yet. Everything is calm and still, even the air is stagnant. Everyone in the office works diligently with their heads down. At about three in the afternoon, Sam walks up to Mrs Lee with a file in his hand. With a gentle voice he asks her why she hasn’t sent this file to the General Office, but that soft whispering tone of Sam somehow leads to a series of shouts. Mrs Lee immediately turns her head and points towards Simon. With the nastiest tone she throws at him a torrent of abuse, but somehow Simon remains quiet. Cassy Ko sees what’s happening and figures she is responsible to resolve the situation. She approaches Mrs Lee from behind and taps her shoulder, “Mrs Lee, you might have made a mistake, you didn’t give us this letter and we’ve only sent three to the General Office.” As soon as Mrs Lee hears Cassy Ko’s assertive voice she turns around and looks at this new staff member, “What are you talking about? I gave you four letters just a moment ago and I’ve made myself very clear. Are you criticizing me in front of the boss? Don’t talk about something you don’t really know. It’s only your first day here. How well do you think you know our company?”

“Mrs Lee, I am sure there were three, not four,” Cassy Ko repeats in a much more assuring tone, unconsciously tapping her right foot creating a sound pattern. Cassy Ko looks at the colleagues around her for their help in clarifying the situation, yet there isn’t even a sound. Everybody keeps working and no one seems surprised at all.

Cassy Ko clearly understands the problem in the office now. It is silent, terribly silent. Sam, who was sitting in his office, now appears again with a pitiful old tone in his voice. “Why are you guys even arguing! Can someone help an old man like me? Can someone send this document to the General Office?” Sam asks. Hearing his voice, fuming Cassy and Mrs Lee feel guilty at once, as if they have thrown their ill father out.

“Simon, send the documents to the General Office now,” requests Mrs Lee, whose voice wipes out all doubts. Simon stands up in silence, picks up the documents and goes out. Sam leaves the  door slightly ajar, as though he wants to keep an eye on the situation outside.

Mrs Lee stops talking, Cassy Ko stays poised in the middle with her heart beating fast. Not sure how much time has passed, she returns to her seat. At times like these, she wishes to be seating with file boxes surrounding her, just like Simon’s work area. From her seat, she can see Ethan Pak’s seat where files are piled up and can fall at any moment, she is certainly willing to move over there.

“The police officers are here,” May the cleaning lady yells out. This could possibly be the most sincere voice by far. In the box­like office, the people within begin to look around, the ringing of a few phone extensions can be heard. Everyone works hard to maintain the quiet environment. There is a sound of heavy footsteps coming from behind the door.

Cassy Ko is the first one to stand up. She notices the two uniformed policemen standing right at the office door, with no particularly concerning expression nor any dramatic movements. If it weren’t for their uniforms, the officers would blend right in with all the other staffs. Sam slowly opens up the door of his office and comes out, “How is it going, officer? We are all very worried, we don’t know what to do now that we have lost this young Deputy Manager. Life is so unpredictable.

He was working fine in the morning on the day of his disappearance, he never returned since that afternoon. Life is just so unpredictable...” The police officers don’t seem engaged with responding  to any questions, they just want their day to be over and done with. “This is all for today’s investigation, currently we have no clues as to the whereabouts of Ethan Pak or the reason to his disappearance.

We will carry on to monitor this case, it is required that you continue to cooperate with us.” Mrs  Lee suddenly interrupts, “It’s been eighteen days.  Even if he was taking annual leave, today should be the end of his break. That being said, Sam we really need to get new staff, as no one has been taking care of his duties.”

The police officers leave after having a short talk with Sam. Mrs. Lee quickly walks into the boss’s office and closes the door. Cassy Ko feels emotional while staring into Ethan Pak’s dusty seat, thinking about where heis. His cup and daily essentials are still sitting nicely on his desk, as if proving that he was once there. Perhaps, he might be living his life somewhere else now.

This everyday setting makes it difficult for her to believe that he is no longer living in this world. There might be a chance that he will return tomorrow or even the day after, picking up his coffee mug, walking to the pantry and drinking a cup of coffee. the image of  Ethan Pak appears in Cassy Ko’s mind: dressed in his extravagant suit and carrying out his bold style.

Lost in fantasy, Cassy Ko sees a pair of eyes gazing at her from the reflection in glass windows. She immediately turns her head and meets a pair of terrified eyes. It’s like the eyes are trying to tell her a story, the story of what actually happened to Ethan Pak. Simon’s eyes are hidden behind the file boxes, but Cassy Ko can see that he is holding back his tears. Cassy Ko has a sudden urge to scream out loud and run out of this asymmetrical office environment. Thinking, can someone help this young man? Can someone help us?

Mrs Lee walks out of Sam’s office, with a bright smile on her face, as if having won a long fought war. After Mrs Lee leaves the room, Sam goes to shut the door completely, so that not a single element can escape. As if he is secretly preparing for another larger scale fight, connecting with highly ranked party members.

“Cassy, well done on the website, thank you! Feel free to help yourself to coffee or milk tea that is available in the pantry, it is on the house”. Cassy Ko hears a very friendly voice, she lifts her head to see who this nice person is, she can’t believe that it’s Mrs Lee again. She wonders if Mrs Lee is mental? Not long ago, Mrs Lee was blaming her with a very vicious expression. The current her seems to have transformed into a different person. “Simon has been working rather slow, but our whole department is very concerned about it. We hope that he is able to adapt to this. Should you have any questions, don’t hesitate to come to me with any queries”.

Mrs Lee speaks with a motherly tone while complimenting Cassy Ko. When Cassy Ko was in college she was on the debate team, and she always had to choose one side. She can’t believe that in real society, people can still waver from side to side. These people are the real champions when it comes to debates.

Evening

Cassy Ko thinks back what happened today after work and she can make little of it. The girl is waiting for her boyfriend Samuel in a coffee shop when she notices that her mobile phone is left in the office. She returns there at night and is shocked that Ethan Pak’s supplies are all quietly clean up. Cassy Ko is so sad and angry with such distorted interpersonal relationship in this workplace and decides to confront the brutal reality.