Katie was running late the next morning. She had slept through the alarm and was now going through her bag while walking towards the main street to catch a bus. She had to make sure she had her application to perform at an upcoming event - it was due today. She almost collided with the blue car that pulled up and screeched to a halt in front of her.
"Hey, what the-" she started to yell then recognised the car. "Daoming Si?" She already sounded much better than the day before.
"Get in," he said. "I'll take you to campus."
Katie tossed up her options. She could either take the bus and risk being late or get into the car and owe him one more. She hesitated. The list of things he had already done for her in the past two days alone was plenty.
"I said get in," he barked. "Don't make me say it three times. Let's go, slowpoke."
Pushy, she thought as she reached for the door. One more to the list isn't going to make much of a difference now. Damn it. "Good morning to you too, cranky pants," Katie said when she entered the car. She didn't hide her sarcasm.
He pulled out of the stop and headed towards Ming De. As if totally ignoring what she just said, he asked, "What are you doing for semester break?"
Katie chose to ignore the fact that he ignored what she'd said just then. "I haven't thought about it," she replied. "Why are you asking?" She found her application slightly crumpled but it would do. She shoved it between a textbook to keep it as crease-free as possible from here on.
"The boys and Shancai are going to my family's cabin in Canada to ski," he said, looking straight ahead. Surprisingly, he was driving on the speed limit. "It's winter with snow there now. You should come."
"I don't think I can, or should for that matter," Katie replied. "I have an upcoming event that I've to perform at. I haven't been able to practise lately. I could use the time to catch up."
"So you're saying that you would rather not go to CANADA," he said with a splash of annoyance in his tone. "Because you have dance practice." He scoffed. "Dancing can't be that hard."
Katie felt insulted. "It is if you're not very good at it," she said sharply. "In fact, I've made up my mind. I'm not going." Just then, he pulled up on campus and she quickly made her exit. She didn't let him protest. "Thanks for the ride."
From a distance, she heard him yell something from his car but she ignored it. The nerve of him to assume he knew what dancing was, she thought in irritation. If dancing was just dancing, then there wouldn't be special schools dedicated to teaching dancing. If dance was just a hobby no one took seriously, then why on earth would there be competitions of the highest honours? PFFFT. Dancing can't be that hard. Daoming Si, I want to kill you sometimes.
"Katie!" she heard her name. It was Shancai jogging up to her. Katie felt like she hadn't seen Shancai in a really long time. Perhaps since the Bridge game but that was only a week, two weeks tops, ago but it felt like a really long time. Shancai was adorable, as usual, in her cartoon print sweater, jeans, sneakers and backpack.
"Hey," Katie said and smiled sincerely. "How are you doing?" She gave Shancai a hug. Maybe she needed the hug more than Shancai did.
"I'm alright," Shancai replied, catching her breath. "Did Daoming Si just pick you up from home to take you here?"
The mention of his name annoyed her a little. She was still furious. "He did," she said. "That weirdo nearly knocked me down then invited me to Canada with you guys on a ski trip. When I said I couldn't, he misbehaved."
Shancai's face fell. "What do you mean misbehave?" she asked worriedly. "Did he hurt you? That Daoming Si has no idea how seriously wrong his approach can be."
"I'm fine. I mean, he started insulting me." They started walking together.
"I see. So why aren't you coming to Canada then?"
"One, I really have to practise for an upcoming event. Two, I can't afford to go to Canada. It's way out of my personal budget."
"But you know Daoming Si will pay for you, right?"
"Why would he?"
"Because he likes you."
Katie froze in her steps and a cold feeling came over her. "What did you say?" she asked slowly, taking a deep breath.
"He likes you." Shancai grinned from ear to ear. "So he is officially now and forever more YOUR problem now."
"No, no, no, no, no," Katie stammered. "That's not the truth. You're joking."
"Nope," Shancai was still abnormally happy about all of this. "He admitted it last night. The boys got it out of him eventually. He is on to you, Katie Wu." She pointed at Katie purposefully with her index finger, smiled slyly and started backing away in another direction. "We will see you in Canada."
Katie shouted back at her. "No, you won't!"
Katie was very distracted during dance practice on Thursday. In fact, her mind had been a mush since Shancai broke the news to her. She didn't believe it at first but then the truth slowly dawned on her over time. During lunch on Monday, Daoming Si was waiting outside her lecture room to escort her to the cafeteria where he had ordered a selection of food for her to pick then had the rest discarded. Then, he took her home after class. Even though he didn't pick her up to take her to campus on Tuesday, he turned up at the entrance to her first lecture with some bagels for breakfast. Everyone stared. Everyone. It was awkward and embarrassing. Yesterday, he picked her up again before class and took her home after class.
This morning, Katie had left home earlier than usual to avoid his pick up and have been hiding in dance practices. She had received many text messages and a call during lunch but she refused to reply or answer any of them. By then, it was all over social media: Daoming Si's new target acquired: dance exchange student, Katie Wu. She could hear everyone whispering about her and feel their eyes on her as she walked by.
To be fair to Daoming Si though, he never once made a move on her or told her outright about his feelings. Shancai could still be wrong. The chances were fairly slim to none at this point. Who was she kidding?
She was obviously not paying attention to her routine because she suddenly felt a sharp pain searing up her leg and she crumbled to the ground. She held her right ankle, compressing it as hard as she could while fighting back the tears. It hurt so much she could feel her entire body and face burning. There was no one else around. She had booked out the studio for herself for 3 hours. It wouldn't be for another hour before the next person, if there was one, arrived.
Someone was suddenly next to her. "Hey, you okay?" Daoming Si asked. She looked up at his porcelain face expecting him to be furious for avoiding him all day but instead he was concerned and had gentle eyes. He saw her holding her ankle and must have guessed what happened. "Do you have a scarf?"
Katie nodded and pointed at her gym bag on the other side of the room. He walked over in 5 strides and was back in 3. His legs would be amazing for dancing if he took it seriously. "Here, let me," he said and planted himself next to her ankle. "Take away your hands. I'm going to wrap it up with your scarf temporarily." And he did so expertly. Katie was so impressed, she had stopped crying. "Now, we need to take you to a doctor."
"No, I'm fine," Katie croaked and cleared her throat. "I'll just rest it."
"Rest this?" he asked in disbelief. "You can't rest this. It needs to be seen. What if you've fractured the joint instead of just spraining it? Not negotiable." He started to scoop her up but she wriggled out of his grasp.
"Is it always like that with you?" she growled. "Everything is not negotiable. Have you thought about my feelings? Or my dignity for that matter?"
"What's your dignity have to do with this?" Daoming Si looked confused and annoyed. Katie knew he was just trying to help but he sure had a darn insufferable way of helping.
"Everything," Katie replied in exasperation. "Everything." Why was she so upset? She didn't know and now wasn't the time to analyse that. "I will do whatever I want. And I want to go home, not the doctor's."
Daoming Si groaned loudly for anyone within a 50-metre radius to hear. The room echoed. She could tell he was just as frustrated as she was. "Fine, fine," he finally said and raised his hands in defeat. "I'll take you home." He went to get her things. "But you're seeing the doctor tomorrow if you still can't bear on weight on that leg. This time, not negotiable."
She cocked her head. "Fair deal." When he returned, he tried to scoop her up again. "Wait, what are you doing?" she shrieked.
"Woman!" he shouted at her. "What does it look like I'm doing? I'm helping!" He was at the end of his tether. "You're not walking."
"Yes I am," Katie retorted defiantly. "Watch me." She got up and started hobbling. She winced whenever she placed even a little weight on her right foot but she was turned away from Daoming Si so he couldn't see that she was regretting being stubborn as a mule. She would not let him have the satisfaction of seeing that he was right today. Not today.
A few moments later, he was at her side, took her left arm and threw it over his shoulder. "Fine, you win." He slipped his right arm around her and supported her by her waist, pulling her close to him as she continued to hobble. Her heart pounded so hard against her chest that she could almost hear it in her ear drums and had to force herself to take slow, deep breaths to maintain emotional control. She could smell his cologne being that close to him now. It was a nice scent.
It was already late in the afternoon and the campus was mostly quiet. Katie was grateful for that. She couldn't bear looking at the faces of the people who would likely agree with the social media post once they see Daoming Si and her walking the campus together. It wouldn't matter for one bit that she was obviously injured. It would be the talk of Ming De.
He sat her down at the edge of a planter next to the main driveway of the campus and she waited while he went to get his car. He helped her into his car and sped towards her home. When they arrived, he didn't give her a chance to protest when he resorted back to scooping her up from the passenger's seat.
"For Christ's sake, Daoming Si," Katie groaned furiously. This boy is unbelievable! "When will you learn to respect other people's wishes?" He held her steadfast even though she tried to squirm out of it.
"When said people know what's actually good for them," he replied. "And stop squirming when they can't even walk. I saw you. You were crying the whole time we walked from the studio to the car. I'm not having any of that anymore. You can forget it." She stopped squirming and he smirked. He didn't say anything more. He just started walking towards the flat.
Katie quietly watched as he made his way to the correct door. It's like he's been here before, she thought. How does he know how where I live? He set her down so she was balancing on one good foot while tiptoeing with the other. She found her keys in her bag that he was holding for her and let them in to her aunt and uncle's flat. The middle-aged couple were in the midst of preparing dinner when they turned to greet her but were surprised by Daoming Si's presence too.
"Katie, is he your friend?" Uncle Pin asked. He was a dear old man. Both him and Aunt Mei were.
"Um, yes," Katie replied unsurely. She didn't plan for this acquaintance. "This is Daoming Si, a friend and student from Ming De."
Daoming Si suddenly morphed into a gentleman. He bowed. "Hello, Katie's parents, how do you do?" he said.
"Oh, we're not his parents," Aunt Mei replied, laughing shyly. "We wished we had a daughter like her. She's our niece."
Daoming Si looked embarrassed and turned to Katie questioningly.
"I'll explain later," she said softly in a very low voice she could barely heard herself but he must have because he nodded quickly. "But you should go now. Thanks for the help and ride." She started to shuffle him towards the door.
"Katie, he should stay," Aunt Mei insisted. "Dinner is almost ready. Daoming Si, you're welcomed to join us if you like."
Katie glared at Daoming Si, willing him not to oblige but that just seemed to entertain him instead. "Sure, I'll be glad to," he said to Aunt Mei then looked back at her and winked cheekily.
This isn't funny, Daoming Si! Her head screamed. Go away! But it was too late. He was already perched in a seat around the dining table with his chopsticks and rice bowl ready to tuck in. Groaning on the inside, she hobbled over to the table. Both her aunt and uncle saw it and they were worried.
"Katie, what happened to your leg?" Aunt Mei practically screeched in horror.
"She broke her ankle while dancing today," Daoming Si happily chimed. "That's why I had to take her home. She can barely walk."
"No one asked for your opinion, Daoming Si," Katie snapped. "Aunt Mei, I'm fine. I didn't break it. I've just sprained it."
"But you could have broken it," Uncle Pin replied meaningfully. He was a wise man. "Have you seen the doctor or taken any X-rays yet?" She shook her head reluctantly. "Then you don't know if you've just sprained or broken it. You should do that tomorrow."
Daoming Si obviously couldn't contain his happiness that someone else agreed with him through and through. "That's what I said!" he burst out. "But she wouldn't listen to me today. She's been crying the whole way home so I'm going to take her to see a doctor tomorrow."
Uncle Pin nodded in agreement. "Yes, Daoming Si," he said. "Thank you for that. Katie is lucky to have a caring friend like you."
Katie gave up. She quietly ate her food while Uncle Pin and Daoming Si conversed with Aunt Mei chipping in every now and then. The three of them were having a great time until dinner was over. Daoming Si couldn't stop complimenting Aunt Mei's cooking. Katie was ready to gag at his curry favour. Uncle Pin and Aunt Mei finally declared that they had to go meet some friends tonight so they left but not without expressing never-ending approval of Daoming Si.
"Okay, okay, that's enough," Katie shoved them out the door. "His head can't get any larger. Please, just go." They finally left and she heaved a sigh of relief. When she turned around, Daoming Si stood a little too close to her. She had to press herself against the door to add some distance. "What do you want and why are you staring at me like that?"
"Now that we're alone …" he moved in closer until she could literally feel his breath on her face as she turned away with eyes wide open. "… you can explain what you said you would just now." He didn't move away. Instead, he just smiled teasingly as she could see from the corner of her eye.
"Can you back off?" she asked. "My ankle hurts. I need to sit down."
Daoming Si rolled his eyes and backed off a couple of steps, still smiling. He's getting a kick out of teasing me when I'm incapacitated, she thought. The weasel. She hobbled a few steps to the tiny living room where the couch was and sat down. Her ankle was throbbing but she refused to say anything.
"As you can tell," Katie began. "Aunt Mei and Uncle Pin are not my parents. Aunt Mei's is my mother's older sister. They don't have children so when I asked if I could stay with them this year, they were more than happy to have me. They would have made good parents. Unlike my parents who are not around a lot, Aunt Mei and Uncle Pin like to be around when I'm home."
Daoming Si nodded thoughtfully. "I see," he said. "They are nice. I like them." Katie smiled at him. He could be somewhat adorable when he wasn't being a brat. "Do you think they like me?"
"Sure," she replied. "It looked like they did. Why?"
"Do you think they'd let me come over more often?" he wondered aloud.
"What ever for?" she eyed him pointedly. He was up to something.
"To see you," he said bluntly. "And to have more of Aunt Mei's cooking. That was delicious!"
Katie couldn't help but smile at his childishness. Most days, Daoming Si was an insufferable bully but he seemed to always make up for it with his straightforwardness. There was no need to make guesses around him. He was what he was. He might not be everyone's cup of tea though. But he was good on the inside, unlike a certain Shen Yihao. That creep made Daoming Si look like an angel in comparison.
"I'll let Aunt Mei know when she gets back," she said and glanced at the clock on the wall. "It's late. You should go." She started to get up to show him the door. He pushed her back down onto the couch firmly.
"Forget it, Katie Wu," he said. "I'll let myself out. But I want to be clear about something." He bent over for he was way too tall for her when she was sitting down and met her at eye level. "I'm picking you up tomorrow and we're going to the doctor's." She opened her mouth to protest. "Don't. I've been watching you all night writhing in pain internally. It's fine if you don't want to show me that you're in pain but I know you are and you're too stubborn to give in to go to the hospital tonight so, first thing in the morning, I'll be here to pick your ass up."
Katie was speechless. She watched open-mouthed as he let himself out. Smart ass, she thought.