Beyond the Skyline

by Lise Gold

  12

  “This better be worth it,” Mel said in a coarse voice. She rubbed the sleepy expression from her face and took a sip of the black coffee she had taken from the breakfast buffet. It was seven in the morning. “If I weren't so excited about playing the tourist, I would have stayed in bed.” They were making their way through the tube station during the early rush hour. It was a task that seemed impossible to complete without getting their eyes stabbed out by one of the many parasols waving around, or without passing out from a heat stroke.

  “Don’t let go of my hand,” Sophie commanded, dragging Mel along the busy corridor leading to the platform. She told herself it was purely practical. It was crowded with people, and they would lose each other if they didn’t stick together. Even so, she was shocked by the effect that their physical contact had on her body. She led them through the crowd into the tube. People were pouring in and out at the same time. “It’s every man for himself here,” She shouted over the noise. “Don’t be afraid to push; you won’t offend anyone.” When the doors finally closed, they found themselves squashed in between students and office-goers like sardines in a tin. Sophie felt Mel’s breasts pressed against her back through the thin fabric of her t-shirt. A tingle spread through her lower belly. Damn it, she thought. Control yourself! She looked down at her hand, still holding Mel’s and wondered if she should let go or not.

  “Please don’t let go,” Mel said as if she could read her thoughts. “I don’t want you to get dragged out when the door opens at the next station. I’ll never be able to find you again.” She held on firmer to Sophie’s hand and slid her other arm around Sophie’s waist to protect her from the people trying to get in and out. The embrace came unexpected, and Sophie wasn't prepared for the sudden need she felt to turn around and press her lips against Mel’s. She closed her eyes and held her breath as the fingers tightened around her. Each time the train halted, Mel’s fingertips spread and pressed into her abdomen, preventing her from falling over. Sophie felt her heart race. She hoped Mel wouldn’t notice, being so close to her. She struggled to keep her breathing under control, wondering why the hell standing in a crowded tube with Mel was so sexy? Was that what it was? And why was Mel holding her like that? Did she enjoy it too?

  “Two more stops and it will be better,” she said, turning to Mel. “As soon as we get out of the city center, we’ll change trains and sit down.” Mel smiled, her face close to Sophie’s.

  “I don’t mind. It’s quite an experience.” She bit her bottom lip, staring at Sophie’s mouth as if lusting after it. When their eyes met, Sophie didn’t look away. Mel held her gaze too, challenging her, daring her to give in to whatever it was that was happening between them. The train came to an abrupt stop, and more people tried to squeeze their way into the carriage. Sophie gave up her inner battle. She leaned back against Mel to give herself some more space and tried to relax, but the warm breath on her neck made her shiver with excitement. All she could think about was the mouth that was only inches from her skin. Mel tightened her grip on both her hand and her waist, and it felt amazing. They didn’t speak, and when, two minutes later, the majority of the people finally got off, Sophie felt reluctant to move. Eventually, she released herself from Mel’s grip and sat down in one of the seats at the back of the carriage. Her legs were trembling, and her hands were shaking from the closeness that had awoken a desire in her she didn’t know she had. Mel followed and took the seat next to her. She sat back but leaned towards her and hooked her arm through Sophie’s as if she missed the contact too. Without saying much, they continued the journey with only the odd remark or giggle when passing something peculiar. Mel stroked Sophie’s palm with her fingertip, and playfully traced the veins on her wrist. It felt thrilling, electrifying and sensationally good. How could Mel touch her so casually? As if it was nothing, when it was all Sophie had been able to think about for the past couple of days. She could feel Mel’s eyes on her when she gazed out of the window but didn’t dare to turn her head. Something had changed the energy between them in those five crowded minutes between TST and Austin station and they both knew it. At the Nam Cheong stopover, Sophie reached out for Mel's hand again, even though it wasn’t as busy there. Her body reacted like it had become addicted to her touch, craving her and claiming a little bit more each time an opportunity presented itself. A silent gasp escaped her mouth when Mel changed her grip and entwined their fingers on the steep escalators.

  They squinted as they came out, adjusting to the bright light that welcomed them on Lantau Island.

  “Okay, so now what?” Mel laughed, taking in the rather uninspiring looking square, surrounded by parking lots and an outlet shopping mall.

  “Don’t worry; it gets better. Are you scared of heights?” Mel shook her head.

  “I don’t think so, but I’ve never tested it either.” Sophie grinned.

  “Great. Let’s get another coffee and take a cable car.”

  Half an hour later they were looking down at the mouth of the Pearl River and the lush mountains underneath their feet. The glass bottom in the cable car was slightly uncomfortable at first, but as soon as they got used to the height, they relaxed and moved from the bench on to the floor, silently sliding over the island’s tropical forests, villages, and temples. The Giant Buddha towered prominently above the mountains as if reigning over the island.

  “This is incredible,” Mel sighed. “I can’t believe I was thinking of staying in bed this morning; it’s so worth it.” She smiled at Sophie and leaned back against the glass wall. “I haven’t seen much of the world, you know. When I was younger, we couldn’t afford to go on holiday, and when I went to University, I worked day and night to pay my way through that. My job has always been the only way for me to see the world, and I love traveling. I don’t care if I have to work hard, as long as I get a little bit of time in between to explore the culture and the food and soak it all up. It’s still special to me.”

  “But you could start traveling now, right?” Sophie suggested.

  “I know. And I will. But even though I’ve had a decent job for the past couple of years, I haven’t had anyone to travel with. My friends are always broke, and my mother isn’t that mobile at the moment. She has a bad back, a slipped disk. I could go on my own, but I guess I’m too scared.” She shrugged. “I know that sounds silly, but I’m quite timid on my own. I’d probably lock myself up in my hotel room.” She laughed. “Don’t you find it daunting to be on your own?” Sophie shook her head.

  “No, not at all. I have to admit; I was nervous when I went on holiday by myself for the first time. But after two days, I got used to it and gave in to the solitude. Just relaxing with my books and doing absolutely nothing for two weeks... I love it. The downside is that I don’t do much exploring when I'm alone. I tend to stay in the resort, apart from the occasional shopping trip to a market or maybe a restaurant visit. That’s okay though. I see it as two weeks of ultimate relaxation and recharging, which is exactly what I need after a busy season. I’m really looking forward to going next week. Me, my books and a bikini. Chilling on the beach and swimming in the sea.” Mel sighed.

  “Wow, that sounds amazing. I’m jealous.” She laughed. “If I hadn’t just started this job, I’d beg you to take me with you.” Sophie nudged her.

  “Well, maybe you should come along next time. That is if we haven’t killed each other by then.”

  The cable car stopped at Ngong Ping Village, and they followed the signs to the Po Lim Monastery. The village was quiet, but the restaurants were already open for breakfast. White buildings, built in traditional Chinese style, dominated the main street on either side. They carried rows of red lanterns that were hanging down from the gabled roofs. The tiny red and yellow temples in between drew people inside with the aroma of incense.

  “I love it,” Mel said, squeezing Sophie’s arm while she looked around. “It’s like entering another world here.” Sophie smiled at Mel’s face that lit up when they approached
the Po Lin Monastery. When Mel looked up, her lips parted at the sight of the enormous Buddha, towering thirty-four meters above them. It was impressive, standing underneath it, looking up at the glorious bronze statue that shimmered in the morning sun.

  “Wow,” she said. “Just wow.” Sophie grinned.

  “I’m so glad you like it. It’s worth getting up early for, right? It gets really busy here during the day with both tourists and locals who come to pray and worship.” As they came closer to the temple, the air became thick with the sweet smell of the incense offerings. They passed a vegetarian restaurant adjacent to the monastery where the staff was busy setting up the tables for the day. The monks in the al fresco kitchen were preparing food, with steaming pans and woks, spreading a welcoming scent throughout the premises. Mel and Sophie walked around a group of cows that were blocking the main path, not remotely bothered by the passersby, and headed down to a small temple, surrounded by citrus trees, orchids, and bougainvillea. They walked through the main courtyard, facing the temple gateway. The rectangular open space was full of statues, surrounded by flowers and offerings. Sophie nodded towards the statues.

  “From what I’ve been told, these deities protect the entrance of the Monastery.”

  “I regret not doing any research before I came here,” Mel said. “I love knowing facts about places I visit.” She looked at Sophie. “So what else do you know, Tour Guide?” Sophie shook her head.

  “Not much, I’m afraid. But I do know that the characters on the main roof over there mean precious lotus. The lotus is a sign of purity in Buddhism. If you look up at the Giant Buddha,” she continued, pointing upwards, “you can see that he sits on a throne of lotus too, holding his hand up in a blessing. This place started out as a small monastery, founded by three monks. Then it grew to be a key place of pilgrimage to worship Buddha.” She shrugged. “I’m sorry I can’t tell you more, as much as I’d like to impress you with my knowledge.” Mel winked at her and nudged her playfully.

  “You don’t need to impress me, Sophie. You’ve already done that over and over again.”

  They entered the monastery. Mel hooked her arm into Sophie’s as they walked into the great hall and looked up at the high ceilings, lavishly decorated with paintings and lanterns in bright blue, gold, yellow and red. Sophie placed a finger on her lips when a group of monks walked in. They wore brown and yellow robes and silently followed each other through the door, young and old, their heads bowed.

  “We have to be quiet now,” she whispered. “I think they’re about to do a ceremony.” They directed their attention to the monks, who started chanting in a low hum. Then it became louder as they sat down. It seemed effortless, the way they hummed in a trance-like state, completely attuned to one another, seemingly oblivious to their audience. Mel appeared to be captivated by the display. She looked beautiful and humbled, the way she cocked her head each time the humming became louder. Sophie had to remind herself not to stare at her while they stood there side by side, watching the ceremony until the chanting subsided.

  The sun was high when they finally reached the top of the stairs leading to the Giant Buddha. Out of breath, Mel dropped down on one of the steps, looking out over the village and the monastery.

  “It’s beautiful,” she said. “Come and sit here. Let’s chill out for a bit.” She pointed at the step below her, between her legs. Sophie sat down and immediately felt the rush of being close to her again. It felt wrong but also so good at the same time. What was this weird intimate friendship that was blossoming between them? They connected on a level she didn’t think was possible for two people who had only just met. She leaned back, rested her elbows on Mel’s knees and looked out into the same direction. The hills seemed to go on forever, only broken here and there by the roofs of temples, peeking out above the trees. She sighed.

  “I haven’t been here in seven years. I’m glad we went.” Mel wrapped her arms around Sophie’s neck and rested her chin on her head.

  “Thank you. Again,” she whispered. Sophie held her breath. She was scared to move or to say anything that would break the spell of that very moment in which everything seemed perfect. So she just sat there in silence until it was time to head back to the office and the chaos of production issues that awaited them.

  “Have you had many girlfriends?” Sophie asked on their way down. Mel laughed.

  “Define many.”

  “I don’t know.” Sophie shrugged. “Just tell me about them, I’m curious.” Mel took her arm and hooked her own in, pulling Sophie closer. It was a simple thing that a lot of her friends did all the time, but with Mel it sent her body into overdrive, elevating her senses to a point where she had to concentrate on the simplest of actions like breathing and walking. She could feel Mel’s hair tickling her neck and shoulders and shivered as she took in her scent. It was a dark, musky perfume that smelled just as divine as she was.

  “Well, let’s see,” Mel said, digging through her past. “I met my first love when I was thirteen. Her name was Nita, and she was in my class at school. She was a bit of a tomboy, but I guess we didn’t know that word back then. I was fascinated by her, and when she first kissed me, I knew why. We were inseparable while it lasted, which wasn’t very long. After a couple of months, she moved to the US with her parents, and I was heartbroken.” She laughed, thinking about it. “Then there was no one for a couple of years because I was convinced she was the only one for me. I kept on writing her letters, but her parents had found a couple of them in her bedroom and called my parents, asking them to stop me from contacting her. My parents were shocked. They always thought we were just pen pals. My father found it hard to accept at first. He was a lot older, after all, and couldn’t really grasp the concept of me being with a girl. But as the years progressed, he got used to the idea and eventually gave up fighting it. My mother didn’t even flinch. She said I could be whoever I wanted to be and date whomever I wanted to date. It sounds weird, but she probably thought it was a blessing, preventing me from getting pregnant at a young age.” She laughed. “But now, her liberal ideas are kind of backfiring. She insists I find a girlfriend, get married and have lots of babies so she can have grandchildren. She never gets that pushy with my brothers, even though they’re both in a steady relationship.”

  “Wow, that’s so sweet,” Sophie said. “My parents would go crazy if I ever came home with a woman. It wouldn’t exactly fit into their perfect little world.” Mel glanced at her, arching an eyebrow.

  “That bad, huh?”

  “Yeah,” Sophie sighed. “As I told you, they have a clear idea of what their children should do for a living and who they should end up marrying. Social status, occupation, career prospects, age, capital... I’m not even going to bore you with it right now because it’s too ridiculous for words.” She laughed. “Anyway, so what happened next, after your pen pal Nita?”

  Mel narrowed her eyes, trying to remember the girls she had dated in her teenage years.

  “After that, there were a whole string of girls. I can’t remember all of their names. Sabine, Alex, Rachel, Miranda… I serial dated from my fifteenth until I was about twenty-five.” She winked. “Most of them were straight girls. I had a lot of one-night stands too, as soon as I got my own place. That was fun in the first couple of months, as you can probably imagine.”

  “Then I dated Becks for a year. She’s the one I just broke up with.” She smiled bitterly. “It’s not like I’ve always been in relationships. I’ve been single a lot too, especially when I got into the whole one-night stand phase. But I don’t want that anymore. It just seems so empty now. Maybe I’ve grown up, who knows?”

  “That’s impressive,” Sophie said. “I wish I could tell you I’ve had the same adventurous past but unfortunately my love life has been quite boring.” She paused. “No, let me rephrase that. Really boring. I’ve dated but only been in two long-term relationships, and by that, I mean that they lasted a year. That’s not even very long. I just get bored of the
m. I don’t want it to get too serious either because I know it won’t last forever and that will only make it harder down the line. It’s just not for me.” Mel shot her a questioning look.

  “How do you know it won’t last forever? Because you don’t want it to?” Sophie thought about that before she answered, weighing her words carefully.

  “Maybe. If I stay with them, I have to take them home at some point, and that’s when they’ll get sucked up in family gatherings, Christmas celebrations, birthdays, drama and of course my mother bugging me about marriage and children. I’ve never liked someone enough to deal with the seriousness of it all.” Mel nodded.

  “Okay, I get that. So have you ever slept with a girl?” Sophie was startled by the question but tried to hide her shock. “I’m sorry,” Mel apologized. “I suppose you haven’t. But it’s not a crazy question. A lot of straight girls experiment at some point.” She smiled suggestively. “Maybe you don’t know what you’re missing? You certainly sound like you could do with a bit of adventure.” Sophie was lost for words, and that didn’t happen to her very often.

  “Eh…no, I haven’t,” she stammered. “It never even crossed my mind.” She thought about Cat, contemplating whether to tell Mel or not. She had never told anyone about that. Mel regarded her in silence, waiting for her to speak. Sophie took a deep breath, and suddenly, the words came out as if she had no control over what she decided to share.

  “I was in love with my best friend when I was fifteen,” she said. “Catherine. Cat. That’s what I call her. We’re still friends now, but she doesn’t know about my crush. Nobody knows, apart from you, now. It passed after a couple of years, and I haven’t felt anything like it since.” Mel frowned.