THE story ends at last.

First an apology to those whom I have offended by my daring attempt to portray a little love-making in this otherwise clean room. If I had somehow defiled this room, I say sorry.

Looking at the whole story as I whole, I cannot delete those two love-making scenes without 'spoiling' the story. Let me explain. The first love-making was necessary, it brings home the danger of jumping too fast into bed. I did not think I portrayed 'sex as number one' but rather I tried to make it look dangerous. Look at Su Yin, she suffered the consequences of being too hasty. Dan and Su Yin moved too fast, perhaps, but that was delibrate and unavoidable. I did not want to bore readers with too much details about courtship. If I was writing a full novel then that might be a different story altogether. But as it was, I was writing a short story and somehow it had to move fast (I do not know how to make it otherwise).

If you look at the 3 books you would have realised Su Yin's academic achievement mirrored her love life. First complete failure then back to normal then to success. But if the so good AL failed how could I possibly make King a success with Yin? Remember, Su Yin was always haunted by her past, for anyone to win her real heart, he must be capable of overcoming her past and accepting her as what she was. The last love making scene was a real test for King, he passed admirably and as such is a man worthy of Su Yin's love. Notice too that Su Yin and King moved fast too and that again was inevitable. She was graduating soon and I did not want to drag her story right into society, the effect of using her academic achievement to mirror her love life would be gone.

I am not here to preach. I do not want to tell people how fast they should go for a relationship. It is entirely a personal decision. If I had in anyway protrayed love and sex as fast and easy, then I apologise. This is not my intention. The limits of a short story do not allow me much room.

Lastly, I thank all of you for your support and indulgence. Perhaps another day when the mood is right, another story will appear in this room. For now, I have to rest.