The chocolate from Qatar was bitter.

The note from the man was sweet. A quote from the Gospel of Psalms, "I shall not want..."

Angie selected a gold-wrapped nugget from the box and peeled it. Bitten in half, it revealed the secret within to be an almond. It was bitter, too.

"Go to Hong Kong at the end of the week and I'll join you." The man's voice had been velvet, lightly accented with leather. Angie felt it trail up her spine, kindling goosebumps.

When the introduction from her Aunt Hilda led to frequent long-distance calls by cellphone, Angie started wondering about the man. Aunt Hilda called him Engineer Reyes. He asked Angie to call him Bong. Angie secretly called him "the man."

"Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me..."

Angie balled up the chocolate wrapper and threw it under the table. The cat jumped on it and started playing with it. From across the room, a woman watched the excitable cat and the listless human.

"Hong Kong's just an hour's plane ride away. He's going to send you the ticket. Go."

"Why would he want us to meet in Hong Kong? We've never even spoken in person."

The woman arched an eyebrow.

"I don't want to go."

"Go."

"No."

Angie threw another balled-up wrapper at the woman. It hit her cheek and bounced to the floor, where the cat jumped on it.

"Then the next time he calls, tell him."

"I can't. He'll tell Aunt Hilda. Who will tell my mother. Who will tell my father."

"You're 23 years old."

"And you're 35."

"And he thinks he's got a chance with you."

"We're just friends."

The woman shrugged and stood up. She slapped her thigh to call the cat and left the room.

Angie picked up another piece of chocolate and re-read the note. "Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life; and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever."

Angie closed her eyes and envisioned a king on his throne, with her at his side. Her body would be heavy with gold and child.

She sighed, stood up, and followed her lover out the room.


Copyright 2011 Cristina Cheng