See No Evil

"Sir! Sir, what happened here? Young master, wake up! Are you okay?"

I woke up to the maid's voice and Poepoe barking. For a moment I didn't know where I was. I was lying on the floor outside my bedroom, covered in blood, and I smelled rotten. I had messed up again. I had passed out and slept far too long.

"Oh my God," the maid said. "There's blood everywhere."

I looked around for the pot. It was in the corner by the door. Had she seen it already? I hoped not. I glanced at her sideways. She looked worried, but not shocked, not scared. I got up and kicked the pot hard, sending it skidding across the floor into my bedroom.

She screamed. "Ah! What is it, sir? Why did you do that? Do you need me to call the police? Should I call your mother, sir? Just wait, Aunty will be here in a few hours, I'll call her—"

"Wait, wait. There's no need. I'm not hurt. This is wine. I'm fine."

"Are you sure, sir? It doesn't look like wine. It smells really bad."

I was sure she had never seen good wine in her life. She was from the countryside. But I could tell the smell and the blood felt wrong to her.

"Sir, it looks like blood to me. There's blood in the dining room too. Did someone attack you? I thought you came back with your father last night."

"Calm down. I'm fine. Just go and clean the dining room."

"Should I call Aunty, sir?"

"It's fine. You do your job. I'll call her myself."

Her face was worried, and suspicious. I would have to take care of her before she talked. But not now. My sister would be home from her friend's house soon.

"Hey. Clean the dining room fast. I'll come and help you."

"It's okay, sir, I can clean it myself. There's no need. It smells really bad. I'll be quick."

I wrapped the pot in three plastic bags and shut it in my wardrobe. Then I cleaned myself up as fast as I could and ran downstairs, locking the wine room door on the way. I would deal with that room myself, later.

"I'm coming."

"Sir, it's okay—"

"No, no. Let's make it quick."

I swept up the broken glass and wiped the floor, and while I worked, I watched her. She cleaned like a teacher giving me a lesson. I might need it next time.

"How did you get that stain off the floor so fast?"

"Oh, sir, I mix a cleaning solution with cool water, the one Aunty told me to use. And I always wear gloves. I spray the floor, scrub it and sanitize it, sir." Her voice was shaking as she spoke.

I picked up the bottle she meant and read the label. Hydrogen peroxide.

"Sir, why is there a rope on the dining table?"

"Maybe it's my father's. He must have forgotten it."

She didn't dare ask anything else. She just wanted to finish her work. I watched her from behind as she scrubbed. Such a beautiful woman. It excited me a little.

Then I heard my sister come home. I knew it was her from the footsteps. She always stomps on the floor as hard as she can.

"Hey, brother! What are you doing in the dining room?"

"Just cleaning."

"Huh? Cleaning what?"

"I spilled some expensive wine. I was trying to open a bottle and broke a few."

"Oh, hahaha! You're dead when Dad gets home. Hahaha! Good luck!"

"Very funny. Get out of here. We're cleaning."

The maid kept working, and she listened to every word.

Poepoe tilted her head and looked at me, and tried to come to me. I pushed her away.

"Hey. Go to the living room. We're cleaning."

"Sir, I'm almost finished."

"Oh, yeah. Thank you for today. I'll take you somewhere and buy you whatever you want."

"Oh no, sir, there's no need. I have to go and clean the front garden, sir. Excuse me."

She rushed past me. I knew she knew something was off.

I went to the front door and stood there as a car came through the gate. My father. He was home.

I watched the car roll slowly into the garage, then went back inside, sat on the sofa and scrolled through social media. Then I saw the news.

"A young man named KoKoMg, who worked as a bartender in downtown Yangon, has been reported missing. Authorities are searching the area—"

This time, I thought, I'm done for.

"Wathone," my father said, coming in. "What are you doing down here? You're never downstairs."

Poepoe ran to him, jumping and wagging, greeting him.

"I have to tell you something."

"What, son?"

"I broke your wine. I was trying to open a bottle."

"What? Where?"

"I don't know. Just three bottles."

"What? How is it three bottles?"

"Sorry, Dad."

"Never mind. I can buy them again. I'll order more." He looked around. "Where's your sister?"

"She's upstairs."

"Okay." He called out toward the kitchen. "Hey, girl! Make me some food." Then he went into his room.

I read the news again. They were saying he was missing. So they didn't know. Not yet. I checked the comments. It was the same as before: people blaming KoMg, and arguing with each other.

"Wathone!" my father shouted from his room. "Come and eat, if you haven't eaten yet!"

"Okay, Dad!" I shouted back.

I went back into the dining room. It smelled damp, like sanitizer and a wet floor.

"Oh," my father said, sitting down. "What's this bad smell? Is that the wine?"

He was right, in a way. It was the wine, mixed with blood and KoMg's cologne.

"Come on, Wathone. Eat. Girl, take care of my son."

"Yes, sir."

She put the food down in front of me, and I started eating. I was starving. I hadn't even noticed, with all those thoughts and plans in my head.

Poepoe wandered back into the dining room and went to my father to play.

"What? Why does your mouth smell so bad, Poepoe?" My father pushed her face away. "Girl! Come and take my dog for a bath."

"Dad," I said. "That maid is very good at her job."

"Ha. Really?"

"She said she wants to go back to her hometown for a while. I think you should give her a break."

"You think I should?"

"Yes. She's been doing very well."

"Fine. I'll talk to Aunty. She can cover her schedule." He looked up as the door opened. "Ahh, Aunty! We were just talking about you."

"Oh, haha, what is it, sir?"

"My son thinks the girl should take a break and go back to her hometown."

"Sir, it's far, and—"

"It's alright. I'll pay for it."

"That would be wonderful, sir. And what about me? You forgot this old woman, huh?"

"Hahaha, not at all. You'll get a bonus next month."

"Hahaha. Young master, how is the food?"

"It's okay, Aunty. I'll drive her to her hometown myself."

"Huh?" My father stopped chewing and stared at me. "Wathone, what?"

"I want to take her there, Dad. I want to visit that place too."

"Wathone, are you sure? Okay. I'll arrange a driver and a guard for you."

"Father, there's no need. I can do it myself."

"What? No way, son."

"Father, please. Just this once, let me do something myself."

He smiled, like he had noticed something. "What? You like that girl? Haha."

"What? No, Dad. She's just a friend."

"Okay, okay. I see now. Haha. Take my Jeep. It's good for the countryside and the bad village roads."

"Okay, Dad. Thank you."

I got up and walked back to the living room, and listened to what my father and Aunty said in the dining room.

"Sir, your son is the real deal, haha."

"Yeah. He's grown up well. Is the girl's place far?"

"Yes, sir. Two days' drive to her town."

"How did you find her?"

"She applied for the job from just down the street, sir. She rents an apartment there."

"I see. So she came here to work?"

"Yes, sir. A good kid."

I went back to the sofa and thought about the trip.

"Wathone," Aunty said, coming out. "Thank you for doing this. You're a good young man."

"Okay, Aunty."

The maid came into the living room with Poepoe, who was clean and fluffy now.

"Hey, girl, I have good news for you!" Aunty said.

"Yes, Aunty? What is it?"

"Wathone is going to take you back to your town!"

"What? No, no, no. Aunty, it's okay. I don't want to."

"It's fine. Wathone's father is giving you a break. He's even paying for it. You should go."

"Aunty, no, no. I don't want to."

"But you told the young master you wanted to go back home!"

"I never said that, Aunty. I never—"

Aunty rolled her eyes. She thought the girl was just talking nonsense because she didn't want to go. The maid looked at me, confused. Then she looked away, fast.

I watched them argue. What an awkward situation.

"Girl, have some manners! People want to do something nice for you. Don't be like this. Don't you know it's rude?"

"Aunty, please. I want to tell you something—"

That caught my attention. I tapped the tip of my nose.

"Aunty, let me talk to her." I turned to the maid. "Hey. It's okay. I don't bite. We'll go in my father's car. Don't worry."

"Ohh, this girl," Aunty sighed. "I wish I were in your place."

"Wathone, I don't think it's appropriate for just the two of us to go. Please, Wathone. Next time. Listen to me."

"I insist. I want to show you around."

"Please, Wathone. I'm scared."

"Girl, you're so rude!" Aunty said. "Wathone, it's fine. Take her."

"Okay, Aunty. I'll get the food and the car ready."

The maid looked speechless. She scratched her head, and she looked like she wanted to cry.

"Get ready for tomorrow," I told her. "Call your parents and tell them you're coming home."

"My father doesn't use a phone, sir. They're old."

"Oh, yeah. Okay. I'll go and get some food for us. Tomorrow morning, it's you and me. A trip."

She didn't answer.

I went out to check the Jeep's fuel and tires. My phone rang.

"Son, where are you?"

"I'm home, Mom. When are you coming back?"

"I'm coming back next week. Did you forget? Hey, you have the ceremony. Buy some traditional shirts."

"Okay, Mom."

"Okay, bye!"

I checked the date. It was already Friday.

My phone rang again.

"Yoooo, my man! How was last night? Did you do it?"

"Yeah. I did it. Best night I've ever had. He was—"

"He?"

"She. I meant she."

"Okay, bro. So when are we meeting again?"

"I'll think about it. Next week I'm kind of busy."

"What about today, if you're free?"

"Yeah, sure."

"Okay, man! Same bar!"

"Alright."

I hung up. The sun was so hot it burned my skin. The car seemed fine. I went back inside, but I heard Aunty and the maid talking, so I stopped and listened before I went in.

"Hey, girl, stop it! What are you saying?"

"Aunty, I'm serious. Something happened last night. There was blood on the floor, upstairs and in the dining room. And a rope on the table. I'm scared to go with him."

"Hey, don't be rude. If you don't want to work, tell me. I know the young master much better than you do. If his father hears about this, you're going to have a problem for sure."

She pinched the maid's arm, hard, twisting the skin until the girl winced, and I walked in. I had to. I needed to break up the argument.

"Oh, young master! How are you? Do you need me to help you pack?"

"Yes, Aunty. Just pack food and medicine for me."

"Okay, young master. Should I go into your room?"

"No, Aunty. Just pack something from the wardrobe room. I don't want to wear old shirts."

"Excuse me," the maid said, and walked off to the dining room.

While Aunty packed my things, I decided to go to the bar and cool off from all of this.

I took my car. On the way, I stopped at a shop by the road and bought snacks and water and drinks. Then I went to the mall and bought a shovel, a blowtorch, some food, a cooking pot, a new phone, hydrogen peroxide and gloves.

"Cash or card, sir?" the cashier asked.

"Cash." I reached into my pockets. No cash. "Wait a moment."

"Sir, you can pay by card here."

"No. I want to pay cash."

She gave me a strange look. I walked to the ATM, waited in line for twenty minutes, and came back with a big stack of notes. The cashier looked stressed and annoyed. She didn't want to count it all.

"Keep the change."

"Ah, sir, that's a lot of money. Are you sure?"

"Bye."

I put everything in the car and drove to the bar. On the way, the rain started, heavy, the way it always seems to now. I drove all the way to the bar anyway and parked nearby.

"Sir, you can't park there," the manager said.

"I'll pay the fee for every hour."

He nodded. "Okay, sir. Where would you like to sit?"

"My friend has a reservation. Thura."

"Oh, he's waiting for you, sir. Follow me."

He took me up to the rooftop. On the way, we passed the bar where I had first seen KoMg. A girl who used to work beside him was behind it tonight, red-eyed, staring at her phone. She didn't look up. I didn't slow down.

"Hey! My man!" Thura shouted. "I gave you a girl, but you ate a better one yourself, huh? Hahaha! How was that girl you went with?"

"Very nice. I explored her all night. It was intense. I've never felt so satisfied."

"Damn, bro!" He laughed, then lowered his voice. "Man, a guy went missing from the bar downstairs last night. You stayed late. Did you see him?"

"Nope. I couldn't even lift my head. I drank too much."

"Yeah, I can't blame you."

"That guy's stupid," Naing Oo said. "Why would he go with a stranger without knowing him? Hahaha."

"I bet he's in Shan State now," Kyaw Paing said. "Sold to the scam centers."

"Yeah, I think so too," I said. "Once you go there, nobody can get you out."

"I heard they lure people in with high-paying jobs and opportunities," Naing Oo said. "There are Russian girls, Malaysian girls, all kinds of people, getting beaten and abused every day, man. It's bad. They don't even pay them."

"Wow. Really? That's an interesting idea."

"Dude, what do you mean?" Kyaw Paing laughed. "It's not a good idea. It's bad."

"I mean I'm interested in that kind of crime," I said. "Anyway. I've got a better idea. Tomorrow."

To be continued...