Street Fighter: Dream Never Ends

by Talyn Rahman-Figueroa

  The premiere opening of The Kiss from Midas was a wondrous success. After all the media hype it received, long before its release, thousands upon thousands of people had come to watch the film. Bright camera flashes bounced off the tinted window as the dark limousine, filled with VIPs, drove away from the adorning crowd. On the outside, the cinema complex was a brief and vivid reminder of 1950’s America. The converted L.A. Rialto had always been popular, but the buzzing hive of this film’s debut had created an unusually deafening din.

  It was quite an experience for the fans, and a relief for the movie crew. Rob de Chow and a special good-looking someone trailed away in the next car. His colleagues were convinced that his new ‘girlfriend’ was no one but a hired escort. She was far too attractive for a fat, balding man like him, yet in the August smog of Los Angeles, any desperate woman would climb into Rob’s car in exchange for a promise to become an extra in his next film.

  Hand in hand, Fei and Tawnya waved to their fans for a final time before reaching the getaway vehicle in a leisurely pace. Tawnya stopped short at the backdoor of the sparkling limousine. It was too much of an effort to suppress her smile. She felt both elation and apprehension having made it to the screening without slipping up. Tomorrow, the whole world would know her name; the thought filled her with a grand pleasure. She scanned the crowd, a blur of faces sharing the same ecstatic smile as her own, flashing their digital cameras until their fingers ached with the repetitive motion.

  Fei’s perfected smile complimented hers. The bulbous flashing lights mirrored against the brown tinted aviator shades that clashed awkwardly with his white suit and red shirt ensemble.

  “What an amazing turnout, Tawn. I’ve never seen so many people at an opening of a movie, never before in my life,” Fei said loudly, acting as if this was his first film. “You know who these people are here to see, right?” He shrugged nonchalantly, his hand gesturing casually toward her. “I’m taking this gorgeous brunette home with me,” he yelled into the crowd, and then he lifted Tawnya in a mighty hug.

  Tawnya blushed, drawing her lips close to his in an excited show of emotion, then she felt herself steadied back onto the ground in her five-inch heels that made her half a head taller than her co-star. Fei’s hands clasped over hers, his thumb circling the inside of her palm. Their eyes met briefly. Behind the shades, his small dark eyes were warm and complacent making her heart pulse, but she knew not to give in to her true feelings. She had to be strong and resist his boyish grin.

  “I think you’re amazing,” Tawnya said, placing her hand on his chest to mark a gentle kiss on his cheek. Then she wiped off the red lipstick residue.

  Fei smoothed her fringe of hair away to glance at her perfectly symmetric face. The emerald green Vivienne Westwood dress hugged at the waist and draped loosely over her chest complimenting her long, slim body.

  “Think that’s enough. Get in,” he whispered into her ear, as he tugged her away from the demanding paparazzi.

  Tawnya did as she was told. She settled herself into the shapely leather seat. She gaped in astonishment as Fei clapped his hand behind her neck, and pressed his lips hard against hers. The reporters responded in a frenzy that revved up the crowd even more. Now her heart was aching with a rush of emotion that she futilely tried to block. The taste of his kiss lingered in her mouth.

  “Shut the door, quick,” he demanded, before escaping to the other side.

  Tawnya’s hand shook, her eyes wide, taking a few seconds to pull herself out of her thoughts.

  “TAWNYA!” Fei said, alarmed that she hadn’t obeyed him.

  With that, he climbed into the limousine and slammed the door shut. Deciding quickly, he instructed his driver to head to his condo, not bothering to consult Tawnya first. He needed some privacy to sweeten her up, and what better place than the trimmings of his luxurious bachelor pad.

  Pursing her lips, Tawnya took in the rolling blur of palm trees and glass complexes receding in a hazy distance. Her hands twitched on her lap, and she kicked away the long dress that was caught under her feet. She closed her eyes in a desperate attempt to calm her nerves. Fei was eerily quiet compared to the fake chitchatting he had created while the cameras had stared. The billboard with the two stars disappeared as the car turned into a side street far from the large cinema.

  She heard a cork pop, followed by a hiss of air escaping. Fei poured champagne into two glasses, and put one in Tawnya’s hand.

  “Thanks,” she mumbled, watching Fei from the corner of her eye. He sipped only a little. He hated alcohol but needed something to take the edge off. So did she, and she couldn’t care less whether she enjoyed the taste.

  “I thought this day would never come,” Fei said, his voice serious. He looked out of the tinted window, unable to face her just yet. He still had her lipstick smeared on his lips from the kiss he had forced for the crowd. He ignored its chemical taste.

  “It’s only going to get harder, Tawn. Somehow, we have to keep this up.”

  He sighed, resting the glass feebly against his cheek. The cold liquid helped to cool him briefly. Then he flinched, feeling Tawnya’s hand rest on his thigh. She didn’t like the way he looked at her. The warmth in his eyes had been replaced by ice.

  “No need to get all sentimental,” he said in a flat voice. “You can relax now.”

  “I am relaxed,” Tawnya said, cocking her head to one side. Her fringe flopped over her eye. “You’re the one that needs to loosen up. Your shoulders feel really stiff.”

  Fei licked his lips, trying to wash off the lipstick with his tongue. She could feel Fei’s fury even before he spoke.

  ”Don’t get too attached, Tawnya.”

  “But sometimes, it just feels like...like what we have is so much more,” she tried to argue. “I feel as if you--”

  “Must I remind you this is business only?” Fei snapped, averting his eyes from hers.

  Tawnya retreated, pulling her hand back into her lap like a scared animal. Head bent forward, Fei touched his eyes with a deep sigh, instantly regretting his previous comment. This day was harder than he had originally anticipated, and what he was planning next made him feel sick to his stomach.

  “I know this must be difficult,” he said with sympathy, “but I hired you because you’re a professional and I need you to keep that professionalism up at all times.” He then wondered whether if this was quite as true as he had just made it sound.

  Tawnya fumbled a smile and nodded. She had learned all about Fei’s story; how he loathed his career, and was unable to enjoy life neither as a serious martial artist nor as a successful actor. As a street fighter, touring country to country no longer exhilarated him. He had little patience to dedicate time to training, and fighting hapless strangers gave him little stimulation. Tawnya knew it was none of her business to ask why he wanted to fake a romantic interest instead of pursuing one for real, but it didn’t stop her from speculating.

  “Got anymore bubbles?” she said in an effort to break the silence.

  His head snapped up. His face suddenly brightened. “Plenty,” he said in a voice that barely belonged to him.

  His mood startled her. Then she figured it was better to get drunk than deal with Fei’s confusing moods. Soon, the alcohol would produce a feeling of relaxation and giddiness that she would more than welcome. He was the reason she started to drink, anyway.

  Flustered, Fei removed the handset from its holder and rapidly punched a series of numbers.

  “Who’re you calling?” Tawnya giggled, feeling herself tipsy already. She reached out for him with her fingertips, touching the end of his matted hair.

  “Just business,” Fei snapped, brushing her off. His eyebrows were knitted so deeply that his eyes were hidden.

  “Yes, it’s me,” he said, asserting his authority over the phone. “I want you to do it, tonight...We had an agreement, unless you want me to go back on my words.”

  Tawnya tried to eavesdrop, but the alcohol blurred her alertn
ess.

  “This isn’t a request. I don’t care what you write, or who you go to, it needs to go out tonight...What?” Fei looked angry. “Don’t you dare play dumb with me.”

  Cautiously, he peered over his shoulder at her, then cupped his hand over the mouthpiece in order to muffle his voice.

  “Do you want to be kicked out? Because that can be easily arranged...Well, make sure it’s released tomorrow. I’ll be waiting.”

  He slammed the handset down, sinking back into the seat with a deep sigh. He could feel a headache coming with the pressure of the day catching up to him. Tawnya hummed a tune he was unfamiliar with. He wished she could be quiet or become invisible, anything to make him forget about his own quest.

  He lopped his head to one side, the lines on his forehead dragging down with the frown on his face. Fei gulped, feeling an uncomfortable pang in his heart. Tawnya was a beauty. Her mixed Indonesian and Dutch blood made her exquisitely striking. He loved the touch of her skin whenever he placed his hands on her shoulders. Her hair had scents of fruit, each smell different on any given day. The deep look of her hazel eyes was genuine, evoking an emotion in him. It was easy for any man to fall for her, even him, but Tawnya had a purpose to fulfill. And loving Tawnya wasn’t an option.

  While it was effortless to pick Tawnya as his partner, her weak family ties made her the perfect candidate to mold her into his plan. He wished this could all be over soon without the need to double-cross her, but his people and his livelihood were at stake. The world was convinced that they were in a relationship, but now he had to take things a step further.

  It was either them or her, and to his dismay, it had to be her.

  *****

  Chapter 11:

  LA EXPRESS