[ilikeoldchangke]

It took a while for the realisation that the results were a draw to sink in.

What started as a initial confusion soon evolved into panic. The chattering started, the volume of the voices got louder and eventually people were standing and gesturing.



Terry demanded a recount, accusing Tracy of making a mistake.

I almost rolled my eyes at him if not for the grave atmosphere in the room. There’s only 8 votes, how many times you need to count that ?




Tracy held up the tokens in both hands, flashing them to the floor and declared the vote a tie. Uncle Po stepped forward and verified the vote before nodding as well.


The voices from the floor got louder and louder.


Terry was literally shouting while Ben asked him to shut up.




Ah Keong was in a daze, he blinked a few times, looking at Roland, Lucy, Terry and King, and even as he looked at them, he seemed confused and lost at the same time.

Only Fungye grinned and laughed , so did his followers that sat at the same table as him.




Uncle Po : 4 Votes for Ah Keong….. 4 votes for Andy ….


That was all he managed to say when the room erupted into chaos. Ah Keong’s men who were peering through every available crevices and windows tried to push their way into the main hall.



It’s like a switch had been activated, all of the guest’s followers stood up at the same time. With Tracy’s men taking the lead, they formed a impenetrable human wall along the invisible boundary.


It happened so fast I had no time to react.

They just shoved and pushed everyone out of the main hall.




Uncle Po : Only the guest and elders shall remain in the room….


He came down from the stage, and walked behind the men that was chasing everyone out of the room.

I was in a blur as well.



I’m not even sure what to do.


With so many bodies shoving and pushing around, I did what I could to protect Kate, shielding her from the mass of bodies.


Once we were out of the room, I quickly pulled Kate aside towards the edge of the action, closer to where the food and refreshments were.

Jake : Kate… Kate… I need to tell you something….. it’s urgent…


I whispered harshly as I dragged Kate a distance away from everyone onto the grass patch at the side of the house.


Jake : I have the 9th vote…


Kate : WHAT !!!

Jake : I have the 9th vote !!!....


Kate’s eyes widened in shock as she looked behind her shoulder and to our immediate surrounding.


Then she started hitting me seriously with a frown on her face.


Kate : You fucking idoit !!!


She landed several punches on my arm and shoulder, hammering as she cursed at me.

I told her I found it on that day at Bukit Chandu by accident.



Jake : It just landed on my feet…. In front of me… i…. I also don’t know what to do !!..

Kate patted her own chest and tried to calm herself down as she glared at me.



Jake : Look… we can fix this…. Let’s go in… I’ll vote for Andy…. We’ll win… !

Kate screamed and grabbed a tuff of my hair, shaking as I yelped in pain.


Jake ; Ahhhhh…


Kate : I want to strangle you so bad !!!



Kate took a deep breath and exhaled slowly as she paced around the grass patch.



Jake : Quick… tell Gabriel… call him… we need to get inside there now… !

Kate : Don’t be stupid Jake.. !!... the vote works only if you bring it up before the vote !!!! NOT AFTER !!!

Jake : Why not ??



Kate : Have you voted before ??? You dimwit…. You ever saw people waving their vote to tell their MP they haven voted yet after the election is over ?!!!

Jake : Oh… that’s true…


Kate sighed and buried her face in her palms.


Jake : Then what do I do now ???


Kate looked around and lowered her volume before warning me.


Kate : You keep your bloody mouth shut…. You tell no one about the 9th vote you hear me !!!...


She grabbed my shoulders and shook them.


Kate : You understand me Jake ?

I nodded my head.



Kate : Tell no one and keep it safe…. No one must know you have it….not even any of the elders…



Jake : Why ??


Kate : We can still use it…. At the inauguration…. …If Fungye decides to muscle in….as a matter of formality, he needs to throw a banquet…. Introduce himself to the organisation formally….



Jake : I can use the vote then ???


Before Kate could answer me, we saw Uncle Po come out from the back door, he was walking down the side where Kate and I were standing. We were the closest to him and he approached us right away.



Uncle Po : Hey you… bring some drinks… and food in…


Jake : Ok… ok… right away…



Kate and I sprang into action and she went to my parents and grabbed 2 trays of fried wantons, stacking them on top of another while I grabbed 2 cartons of drinks from the table.


Uncle Po gestured to us and we followed him to the back.


As we were nearing the back entrance, some of Ah Keong’s men spotted us and they shouted that the door at the back is opened.

Uncle Po : Quick … come in !


Kate and I rushed into the back of the house and Uncle Po barely shut and bolted the door before a few of Ah Keong’s men arrived and started hammering on it. They shouted to be let in but were ignored by Uncle Po.

2 of Tracy’s men arrived and they stood guard at the door we just entered.



Uncle Po : Follow me…

We fell in step and entered the hall once more. Uncle Po directed us to distribute the drinks and leave the food on the tables. It doesn’t look like another was in the mood to eat anything.



I saw Gabriel trying to reason with Tracy as I set down the drinks.


Gabriel : Tracy !.... look… this cannot be right…



Tracy remained expressionless and she held up her palm at Gabriel with her wrist still resting on the table.



Tracy : Gabriel….. we’re here as neutrals….our role is to validate and enforce the decision of the elders….. the same reason and role that you undertake during our own elections….

Tracy took a drink and opened it , taking a sip before she went on.



Tracy : We have 80 branches , all over the world… if rules are not enforced…. And people object to the results of elections just because it does not align with their choices and beliefs, we would have collapsed a long time ago…… I believe the same applies for you as well…



Gabriel : Tracy…. But…

Tracy turned away from Gabriel, her body language is clear. There is to be no more debate on this matter.


Suddenly Gabriel stood up and announced he would void his own vote.


Gabriel : I concede my vote…. Ah Keong wins…


Ah Keong was still in a world of his own and he looked shocked and puzzled at Gabriel .



Andy immediately followed suit and announced his withdrawal from the contest as well.