Just an Ordinary Day
Hong Kong was going home after work one typical night, feeling slightly lonely. Drabble. Family fic.
Disclaimer: I DO NOT OWN A THING.
Enjoy~!
There he was again, wandering along his beloved harbour, trying to find a piece of tranquillity after a day's hard work. The lights shining on the water surface complimented the scene.
What should I get for dinner tonight?
He doesn't mind his very own type of fast food restaurants. The meals they sell are filling enough, despite the common slight sliminess of sauces and sometimes-overcooked meat. He was bored of constantly purchasing fast food for dinner though. Yet if he went to a proper restaurant, it would take too long; and the last thing he wanted to do was to give up his scarce work time at night. He still had several proposals yet to be checked over and stacks of financial statements to read through, all sitting in the black briefcase he held.
Ugh, fine. I guess one of those takeaway dishes would do.
He walked to the closest fast food store, noticing a jumbo queue of people who dressed in resemblance to his formal work attire looking as worn-out and hungry as he was after a typical working day in Hong Kong. His brows furrowed a little at the sight of his city.
They may have to go OT* like I do as well, He mused.
He waited patiently at the end of the line. Menu boards were set up right next to the queue for convenience. However, he didn't need to read them; he just wanted something quick.
When it was finally his turn to order, he bought himself a set dinner with rice, winter melon soup, and one of his favourite dishes- pork mince and eggplant stir-fry. He felt contented that they were not sold out yet. On his way out, he didn't forget to get himself a box of lemon tea from the vending machine standing at the door.
As he finally got home, he sighed unconsciously before stepping in.
He put himself under too much stress, he knew that. Yet he somehow finds the stress and all the work he does fulfilling. Guess that was just the way he had been raised.
How he had been raised…
That linked his thoughts to a certain gentleman who had taken care of him for their century together.
He shook his head a little at the thought, and blasted his radio with the week's latest Canto Pop releases- one of the things from his house that really made him love being who he is.
Why was he thinking of him again anyway? He's left. He didn't need any more reminder of that fact than the mere absence of everything he once owned in his house- the soft reading light that would be on at this time had he been here, the smell of English tea (that smells so different from the ones he know; the ones Yao had made him and he continued to make for himself), and the weird looking – let alone the taste- scones on the kitchen counter.
Maybe he just felt a tad bit lonely. But, he sees his brothers and sisters from time to time, and he's a grown-up - he should not be seeking that much attention from his family. He's learnt to be independent and diligent. How he kept himself busy all the time had unwittingly kept him away from the ones who love him. He simply did not notice.
Humming to Eason Chan's new song, he walked to the kitchen counter with light footsteps, expecting to find a pile of yesterday's unwashed dishes and yet-to-be discarded takeaway boxes.
Then he saw an almost jaw-dropping sight.
His kitchen, along with his dining room and living room, had been cleaned, tidied and everything was arranged in such an orderly fashion that even someone as organised as him found amazing.
Vexingly stunned and puzzled, he thought hard, biting his lower lip a tiny bit, at the person and the reason why his house had been looked after for him. His stomach protested with a growl, signalling how starved he was. Coming to no conclusion, he made his way to the microwave with the takeaway food and decided to sort out everything later.
Then he stopped and glared at the microwave.
There on the machine, sat a note that would answer all of his wonderings.
Gang zai,
Sik jor faan mei? Ha! How's brother's Cantonese?
Anyway, I wanted to let you know I came over this afternoon, just to check on you!
You know, I've been worried about you. Your work is as accurate and well done as always, but I'm concerned about your daily routine. And today, I saw all those takeaway boxes! Aiya, Gang Zai, stop eating those all the time! They're not healthy! At all! No wonder you're so skinny! Tell me, is this what you've been eating all along? Did you have to buy food at those places all the time 'coz you couldn't stand his cooking? Even if you did then, don't keep up your habit! Promise da ge, okay? I know you're busy…but try to make dinner for yourself, or hire someone to, or ask us for help! Wan-wan needs some pastime anyway!
I made you dumplings, buns, and fried noodles. I didn't know what time you're coming home, so I just left them in the fridge. Sorry I couldn't wait till you're back, I need to attend a meeting with Kiku about my mass production plans this evening. Call me tomorrow, all right? Make sure you take better care of yourself from now on!
Gwai la! Dai lo gwa jue nei! Dak han yum cha!
Word couldn't express how touched Hong Kong felt after reading the note.
So he wasn't as lonesome as he thought, after all.
He quickly reheated the noodles- he loves Yao's stir-fry noodles. It is such a blessing he has a wonderful cook for a brother. So caring as well, needless to say.
I suppose I should let my hair down at times. If I miss someone, or want to see someone, I really should let them know. Just like how brother shows his love to all of us all the time by his random visits, weekly phone calls, and instant messaging whenever they're online.
Yao, Kiku, Wan Wan and Singapore even had games of mahjong online not so long ago, which Hong Kong failed to join as he was catching up on his sleep after a week of all-nighters. It all suddenly become such a pity to him.
Now that he thought about it, he actually longed for some quality bonding time with his family and friends. Why should he be so caught up in daily work schedules anyway? Some fun and rest was unquestioningly needed.
Should start with a phone call tonight. Who do I want to call…?
"T'Ding,"the microwave announced the end of its work as Hong Kong thought of someone he wanted to speak with.
Numbers dialed. He smiled with innocent childishness.
He expected to interrupt with someone's peaceful afternoon tea.
Only not with firecrackers this time.
Translations and notes:
* to 'go OT'- A Hong Kong slang-ish term referring to working overtime
Gang zai [Mandarin]- Little Hong Kong
Sik jor faan mei [Cantonese]- Have you eaten yet? (Literally- Have you eaten rice yet?)
da ge [Mandarin]- big brother
Gwai la! Dai lo gwa jue nei! Dak han yum cha! [Cantonese]- Be good! Big brother misses you! Let's go yum cha whenever you're free!
A/N: My recent trip to Hong Kong had really spiked my drabbly-ness...Sorry about the randomness! Hope you liked it! Please let me know what you think :D Thanks! Haha I uploaded this at school! xDDD
