Chapter 9

Meet Your Roommate (Lei & Shan Cai's View)

Music: Sara (Chinese) –보아

*Lei*

I sat in Shan Cai's shop until her shift was over. We talked about what we wanted to be when we were little. I told her I wanted to be like my mother, wise and kind. Shan Cai told me that she once wanted to be a school teacher, but began to change her mind throughout the years. We talked a lot, and learned about each other in a matter of hours.

After Shan Cai's shift, we noticed that it was near six 'o' clock in the evening. "Are you hungry?" asked her. She nodded her. I took her to dinner at a little restaurant near her shop. While she was looking at the menu, her eyes widened. "Gan ma?" I asked her.

"Um… maybe… we shouldn't eat here…?" she asked nervously. Taking my own menu, I saw why she was nervous. The prices. Knowing she couldn't afford this dinner. I told her I'd pay. "How am I going to pay you back?" she asked as soon as I told her I'd pay.

"Don't worry about it."

"But…" she began to protest/

"Don't worry about it." The waiter came and took our orders. Shortly after, our orders came in. We ate quietly together for about thirty minutes. As much as I love silence, I couldn't stand much more of it. "Shan Cai, you should learn to talk more… Did you used to talk a lot before?" I asked curiously.

"I did… I used to talk all the time… but I don't see any reason to, now…" It was nearing eight 'o' clock, and I figured I should bring Shan Cai home. She must be tired from her long day at work.

"I'll take you home. Come." I paid for our dinner and we left within minutes.

*Shan Cai*

After our dinner, Hua Zhe Lei walked me home to my small apartment. Once we reached there, I kindly invited him in for a soda.

We stepped in, and he looked around the apartment while I grabbed two Pepsi's. "You have a nice apartment. You sure you're not lonely here?"

I'll admit I do get lonely, but I am used to it. "I sometimes am…"

"Maybe I can find you a roommate?" He told me. A roommate wouldn't be so bad…

"Okay." His cell phone rang softly from his pocket. He answered it with an expressionless tone.

"Wei? Xiao You? Hi!" a pause, "sure, I'll pick you up in a few minutes… oh, you need a place to stay?" he glanced at me, and something told me, Hua Zhe Lei had found me a roommate. He shortly hung up and looked at me. "Shan Cai, let's go to the airport, I want you to meet your new roommate."

Twenty minutes later, Hua Zhe Lei and I were in the airport waiting for my new roommate. Hua Zhe Lei was scanning the airport, looking for my roommate. "Lei!" a female voice rang in my ears. I turned around and saw a woman about my age and height speeding over towards Hua Zhe Lei. They fiercely hugged each other, like two lovers separated for years. They parted and Hua Zhe Lei turned to me. "Shan Cai, this is Xiao You, my cousin. She will be your new roommate for a while." Xiao You turned to me and lifted her hand out to me. I took it, and we shook hands.

"Very nice to meet you, Shan Cai."

"Nice to meet you too, Xiao You." Hua Zhe Lei looked at both of us and knew he had made the right choice.

"Well, shall we leave now?" Hua Zhe Lei led us out of the airport and into his Mercedes. It was about nine-thirty by the time Hua Zhe Lei brought Xiao You and me to my, er, our, apartment…

Leading Xiao You inside, I led her to her room, which used to be my parents room. Xiao You's room was a lot larger than my small one.

"This is really nice. Are you sure I can stay? I don't want to be a burden." Xiao You asked. I opened my mouth to begin protecting, but Hua Zhe Lei beat me to it.

"She insists. It's not safe for a girl to live alone."

*Lei*

Xiao You and Shan Cai have become good friends ever since Xiao you moved in. It felt good to see Shan Cai happier. During the day, Xiao You would leave for classes at a different school; while Shan Cai would work.

One Wednesday afternoon, Xiao You invited me out to have coffee. Xiao You was confused about my relationship with Shan Cai. "I'm only her friend. I promised her that I'd never break her heart." I began telling Xiao You about my past, and Shan Cai's, and how much pain we both shared. "Jing is coming home next year. I'm still waiting for her to return from her studies. Xiao You, I promise you, I will always keep my heart with Jing. Jing is the one for me."

"I trust your words Lei. You've always had a compassionate heart. Never once have you broken the heart of someone so dearly to you."