the room. Next to his bed was an upturned nightstand. A lit lamp lay askew on the floor. That must have been the loud noise. “Mr. Phong? It’s me, Bezu. Can I please come in?”
No answer.
“Mr. Phong?” Entering his room, I switched on the overhead light. The incense burner on the dresser emitted a smell of sandalwood and eucalyptus.
“Mr. Phong?” Setting down the plate on the dresser, I righted the nightstand and placed the lamp upright. “Is everything okay in here?”
The bathroom door, which connected to the room, flew open. Mr. Phong ran out holding his throat. He pointed at his mouth. His face was crimson as he erratically staggered, his arms flailing, knocking over a laptop and a pile of things books from the bed, which landed with a loud clatter on the hardwood floor.
He grabbed his iPod. He yanked the earphone jack from it. The music blared: “This is how I roll, come on, ladies, it's time to go. We headed to the bar, baby, don't be nervous. No shoes, no shirt, and I still get serviced. Girl, look at that body….” Which sounded like “Sexy and I Know It” by LMFAO.
The color began to drain from his face.
“Mr. Phong, what’s going on?”
He clutched his throat, eyes wide.
He’s choking. My heart beat quickly and caught in my chest as I said, “I’m going to do the Heimlich to dislodge whatever you have in your throat.” Poor guy. It was probably the muffins he’d eaten.
He kept his hands on his neck and shook his head; his eyes watered.
I grabbed him from behind, my chest to his back, circling my arms around the front of him. Holding my own hands in a fist, I quickly thrust inward and upward under his ribcage, my action lifting him slightly off the ground with each thrust.
Mr. Phong thrashed and twisted.
“I’m not trying to hurt you.” Panic filled every pore in my body. I had to save Mr. Phong. But what if I couldn’t? I held him tight.
Frank and Lily stormed into the room. Frank said, “What are you doing? All the noise woke us up.”
“Frank, I think they’re having sex.” Lily squinted her eyes. “Maybe we should leave them alone.”
As I thrust my fist under Mr. Phong’s ribcage, I panted, “I am not having sex. I’m trying to save him.”
“They would be naked if it was a booty call, and clearly they have their clothes on,” Frank said to Lily.
Lily waved her hands. “Well, I’ve seen all sorts of stuff, and that could’ve been sex.”
“A little help here?” I said to Lily and Frank.
Xavier and Cat entered the room.
“Bezu, what are you doing to him?” Cat asked, her hair matted to her head.
“Well, they are not having sex,” Lily said to Cat.
Xavier narrowed his eyes. “He’s turning gray.”
As I gave another thrust, Mr. Phong grew limp in my arms.
“Call an ambulance,” I shouted to the group.
Perspiration beaded on my forehead, my nightgown stuck to my pounding chest. I gently laid Mr. Phong on the ground. Opening his mouth, I tried to scoop my finger in to see if there was something stuck. His tongue and lips were swollen, not allowing me entry. Maybe I could get some air into his lungs. I pinched his nose and tilted back his head.
“I would not touch his mouth if I were you.” Xavier knelt next to me. Close enough that I smelled his minty breath.
“I have to perform mouth-to-mouth.” My voice quivered.
“No one should. Look here.” Xavier pointed around Mr. Phong’s mouth. “This looks like an allergic reaction. Look at all this swelling around here. Perhaps a toxin. I don’t think mouth-to-mouth resuscitation will help.”
“We can still try something; we have to.” I put my left hand on top of my right, palms both downward. I straightened my arms and began to push up and down on Mr. Phong’s breastbone.
Xavier held Mr. Phong’s wrist. “I’m not getting a pulse.” He then took out his cell phone and held the glass screen side under Mr. Phong’s nose. A few seconds later, he looked at the phone. “He’s
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