The Sequel

The Sequel

Author: Anne O. Nimus

***Chapter 3***

"True Feelings"

Author's Note: Okay, so here I am again, complaining about my titles. Gomen nasai! I just can't help it but they really suck!! Okay, all disclaimers apply. Oh ya, I forgot to tell you that in the other upcoming chapters, the idea is not mine. It really happened. I'll tell you as I continue the story.

The sun shined brightly the next day on Hitomi's innocent-looking face. She didn't get enough sleep last night. She yawns sleepily and starts her daily morning routines. After an hour, she walks towards the door. It opens and Hitomi, shocked, screams.

"Ahh! Oh, it's only you. Sorry, I kind of lack some sleep."

"I didn't mean to shock you Hitomi. I thought that you were still asleep so I opened the door so I can place your breakfast on the table." Hwang Ho says smiling gently.

"Oh, that's so nice of you." Hitomi says as she leads Hwang Ho inside.

"Well, it is my work. How's your second day at China?" Hwang Ho says as he puts the meal down.

"Just fine, thank you." Hitomi says as she takes a seat. "Why don't you have breakfast with me?"

"Uhh, were-"

"C'mon, it's an order. Help me finish my breakfast!" Hitomi says jokingly.

"Well…"

"Take a seat Hwang Ho. It's lonely to eat alone so you might as well join me!"

"Oh, all right Hitomi." Hwang Ho takes a seat and joins Hitomi.

"So, do you have a girlfriend Hwang Ho?" Hitomi says as she takes a bite.

"Uhh, no Hitomi. Why?"

"Nothing, I was just curious. I just thought that with that kind of face and personality, you might have a girlfriend."

"Really? Do you have a boyfriend Hitomi?" Hwang Ho asks turning the tables (not literally okay?).

"Me? I… well uhm… kind of. I think? I… Can we talk about another thing?" Hitomi says hesitating for Van didn't even ask her to be his girlfriend as she remembers.

"You haven't answered my question yet. Are you still available? Single?" Hwang Ho teases.

"I know but could we skip it? Really, I mean it."

"C'mon Hitomi. Is someone courting you? I think so."

"Well, there are I think. I'm not sure. I don't know."

"Anyway, I think your stressed out. You might want to calm yourself down by going around the city later. I'll escort you."

"Gee, thanks Hwang Ho. That's really sweet of you!"

*** *** *** *** *** *** ***

Walking around Beijing…

"It seems like the number of people grow by the second! China's population must really be big! And I mean big large!" Hitomi says looking around her as she becomes one with the crowd.

"Well, I have no comments. I'm out of ideas!" Hwang Ho says.

"Do you think I would be able to see your ever famous Great Wall? I'd love to see and climb it!"

"Well, we'll see. Did I tell you that I went there when I was 5?"

"Really? Tell me about it!"

"Let's see… From 20-49 feet high, you could see immeasurable landscapes. It was a very alluring sight to see. Ahh, I could still feel that breeze! It felt so good."

"It must be. How long is it?"

"It's snakes across 1,500 miles of China's landscape."

"Wasn't it built to protect your people from invaders?"

"Yes it was. But it wasn't the only barrier we had to protect our country. We have the Gobi Desert located in the Northwest, which protects us from the Mongols, the Takla Makan also in the Northwest, the plateau of Tibet, and the waters of the Pacific Ocean in the east. Those barriers helped make it hard to conquer this country."

"You must feel really lucky to have such barriers. You're lucky to have those great barriers." Hitomi says amazed at Hwang Ho's knowledge.

"Well, it is pretty cool having those barriers around."

"Hwang Ho, is the Silk Road still being used?"

"Well, I'm not so sure Hitomi."

"Tell about the Silk Road please."

"Uhh, it's also called the Silk Route. It was named after the silk that Chinese merchants carried to Imperial Rome. It stretches from Changan, which is known as Xi'an today, across the north of China plain through Xinjiang towards the Pamirs, and the Karakorum Range to Samarqand and Bactria to Damascus, Edessa and then goes to the Mediterranean ports of Alexandria and Antioch. It's 4,000 miles long. "

"Woah, you must be a walking Chinese encyclopedia of some sort! You practically memorized all those stuff!" Hitomi says surprised and shocked at her friend's intelligence.

"No, not really Hitomi." Hwang Ho says being modest and feeling flattered. "I remember listing History as my favorite subject in elementary school. So I read in advance and memorized all these details by heart. I never knew it would do me good."

"You got high in History? Got accelerated to the next level?"

"No, I became a tour guide!"

"A tour guide?"

"Yes. I had to work because my parents can't support us. And since I'm the eldest, I searched for a job, and became a tour guide for a small museum."

"Really? Wow, talk about experience!"

"Yup, it's some kind of experience."

~ ~~ ~~~ ~~

Back at the hotel, the two friends go their separate ways. Hwang Ho does his chores, while Hitomi does… Uhhh… Hitomi bums around… again.

"Isn't there anything I can do on this vacation?!" Hitomi was hysterical. "My mom's with my brother baby-sitting, I've seen almost all of Beijing, and more importantly I can't help Van!? What is coming to this world???!!!"

"Hitomi? Are you all right? Are you in your right senses?" Hwang Ho says as he walks in with some refreshments in his hands.

"Hardly Hwang Ho! I can't stop being bored! I'll do anything to be able to do something!"

"Well, we do need some help in the kitchen, maybe you might want the position?" Hwang Ho says putting down the drinks.

"What will I do? Cook? Wash dishes? Mop floors?" Hitomi says calming down for the thought of being able to do something made her happy.

"Wash dishes and clean the tables, not to mention, cleaning the sink."

"Sure, I'll do it. Do I get paid? Not that I'm interested in money, just wondering." Hitomi says with a smile on her face as she takes a sip from her cold glass.

"Of course you do. I just don't know how much. Are you sure you want to do this? You'll get awfully tired. And to think you're a tourist."

"Well, it's better than not doing anything at all in more than half of the day."

"Oh okay, but don't you have to inform your mother about this first?"

"Oh yeah. Well, she won't allow me, that's for sure."

"But in case she did, would you push through the thought?"

"No doubt about it."

"Well, do you know how to speak Mandarin?"

"I… Oh I forgot! All that I studied for that exam was useless! Now, all I can remember is 'Nihao lai la'." Hitomi says frowning.

"Oh Hitomi don't despair. You'll remember how to speak Chinese in a couple more days." Hwang Ho says encouraging Hitomi for seeing like that made him feel… hurt.

"Thanks Hwang Ho. That's really nice of you." Hitomi says shyly.

"That's nothing Hitomi. What are friends for?" With that, Hwang Ho leaves the room. He stands outside the door and pondered about what he just said.

"What are friends for? Oh, I don't know what's happening to me right now. There's something so wrong. No, it can't be. She's the future queen of Fanelia! I'm nobody! I'm going crazy!"

Inside Hitomi answers Hwang Ho's question. "Friends are for company. They help you when you need help and you help them when they need help. But if I'm a friend of Van's, why can't I help him?"

(End of Chapter 3)