Chapter 13: Pretty Girls, Handsome Guys, and Indigestion
~NeRd~
Mei Zuo twirled a flower between his fingers, pondering how he should act, what he should say. It had all seemed so much easier before. He had set his mind on confessing to Jing, but at the sight of her he lost all composure and words like that were impossible to voice. Tossing the flower stem, Mei Zuo sighed and stood up to brush rose petals off his suit. He ran a hand through his long hair carelessly and left for dinner. In her own room, Jing was deciding on a necklace for the night when Mei Zuo arrived to escort her to dinner. She pulled a simple topaz necklace from its box and started to clasp it when Mei Zuo reached for it. Taking it from her hands, he circled behind her to put it on for her. Jing gathered her flowing curls in one hand, and Mei Zuo closed the clasp with expertise. Leaning close to her smooth skin, he could breathe in her delicate perfume.
"You do that so effortlessly. Have you had much practice?" Jing joked.
"I have a few tricks up my sleeve. A man's got to have some skills right?" Mei Zuo teased. He was mesmerized by the sight of her. She literally dazzled in the long cream-colored dress, and he marveled at the translucent skin of her bare shoulders. In a gentlemanly fashion, he offered his arm, and she smiled as she took it.
"You look charming tonight" Jing offered.
"And you look breathtaking every night."
~*~
"A toast! To a damn good-lookin group of best friends! Here's to fond memories, laughter, and the thrills to come!"
"I'll toast to that!" "Party tonite!! Whoo!" Champagne flowed, glasses clinked, and the group sat down to a scrumptious feast.
"Things are going well I think," Mei Zuo whispered to Ximen.
"Yeah if you forget about the fuss that Ching He bozo made about not being able to sit next to San Chai! Who the heck is he anyway?" Ximen hissed back to Mei Zuo.
"Never mind that. We still managed to get Ah Si the seat next to San Chai. Let's hope they can warm up to each other at dinner. I've drilled it into his head that unless he learns to control his temper and behave civilly there's not a shot in hell San Chai will like him back. It seems he did a good job last Friday though. The fact that she's not mad at him must mean it went well."
"Eat up. Try some of this. This is good too." San Chai stared at her plate in horror as Dao Ming Si piled food in heaps. It wasn't so much the inordinate amount of food that appalled her. Dao Ming Si was again strangely polite tonight--no, he was being too...nice. The gentle tones in his voice was sending chills up her spine.
"Um, thanks. That's more than enough though. You should dig in too." San Chai willed herself to smile at him. She glanced around the table as she cut her food into smaller pieces. Ximen was occupied with serving Xiao Yo much like Dao Ming Si had just finished doing. Even Mei Zuo was refilling Jing's glass with champagne. Ching He had food in both hands and was busy ravaging his plate. Finally San Chai's eyes lingered on Lei. Sitting on her right, Lei silently brought the fork to his mouth and stared out ahead of him, aloof from his surroundings. She followed his line of vision to figure out what was keeping his interest but realized he was just being spacey again and gave up. Jing wasn't staring blankly however. Her eyes were keenly focused on Lei, and San Chai suddenly turned to Dao Ming Si.
"How did you all get to be friends with Jing? She doesn't seem like the type of playmate four young boys would choose," she inquired.
"Well, Jing's family is good friends with Lei's, and so we met her through him. The two of them are pretty close. So in a way Jing's a lot like you." he replied in a bored voice.
"I see. I didn't know that. The rest of you mention her more than Lei ever does," San Chai said more to herself than Dao Ming Si.
[I wonder why he never mentioned her to me. Is there anything between them?]
Dao Ming Si watched the way San Chai's eyebrows scrunched together as she thought about Lei. He wondered if he could ever be that close to her, and he was growing irritated and impatient. She barely spoke to him through dinner, and he was at a loss for ideas on how to get her attention. After a short pause in the conversation, Dao Ming Si worked up enough courage to speak up. "I think we should try. I've been trying to think about why you might reject our engagement, and it doesn't make any sense to me. I can offer you everything."
San Chai was taken aback for a moment, but retorted "I don't need anything. Why does it always have to be about what you can give me? Marriage is for life, and you and I have no feelings for each other. Most of the time we can't even keep from shouting at each other." She spoke calmly in a steady pace as if she were reasoning this out to him. In truth, she really didn't see how they could go beyond the petty bickering.
Dao Ming Si's hand gripped the napkin in his lap as he spoke in a restrained tone," Who said there are no feelings? We only shout at each other because...because you're so difficult!"
San Chai gulped down her instinctive response to insult him and said instead "You proved my point. It's always a back and forth blame session with us. I...I reallydon'tlikeyouasanythingotherthanafriend and I know you feel the same. It seems pretty pointless to me," she blurted out almost incoherently. She didn't want to hurt him, being particularly sensitive about all of her friends, but it wouldn't be right to give him false hope.
At this, Dao Ming Si stood up from the table so quickly his chair fell over. He pulled San Chai from her seat and dragged her outside in a fit of anger. Everyone quieted and watched San Chai struggle to free herself from his grip on her wrist. Immediately, Lei stood up to follow, but Jing suggested the couple be left alone for a few minutes. They all sat in tense silence while waiting for them to return.
Dao Ming Si roughly swung San Chai into the hallway, making her back into a wall.
"Geez. Could you be any more violent? Let go of my wrist," San Chai growled impatiently. Dao Ming Si leaned into the wall so that she was trapped between his monstrous arms. Refusing to be intimidated she stared back at him, challenging him to speak.
Dao Ming Si's expression was intense, but his features softened as he murmured, "Look San Chai. I want to...I think we should. I like you. I've liked you since the day you showed up in our lives. You drive me crazy with your temper, your bossiness, your stupid insistence on being nice to everyone. But I like you. I've wanted to tell you for the longest time." San Chai felt her legs give way as she slumped down towards the floor. Dao Ming Si reacted quickly and lifted her back to her feet.
"Well aren't you going to say something? It wasn't easy for me to tell you that, you could at least reply." San Chai tilted her head upwards to face him but was at a loss for words. The earnest expression on his face, the weight of his confession was too much for her to take in. She couldn't discern the emotions swirling around in her brain and heart. She never expected him to genuinely like her, and yet here he was, waiting for an answer to his profession. She found the situation too ironic and began to chuckle.
"I'm being sincere. All I'm asking for is a chance. Can't we just try?" Ah-Si tried to assure her.
Deciding she couldn't respond to him, she pushed him away, exclaimed "I'm sorry! I need some time." and headed for her room.
~*~
"Ah Si, where's San Chai?"
"Did you guys get in another fight?"
"Time is ticking! Don't be so explosive with her!" As Ah Si slouched in his chair the group hurled questions at him.
He sighed and replied shortly, "She's in her room. Don't be so quick to blame me. I didn't do anything wrong. You know what, I'm not hungry anymore." With that he rose to exit the room.
"Ah Si where are you going? Ah Si?!" Dao Ming Si kept walking and merely waved his hand spiritlessly at them.
"Dao Ming Si! You big bully! If you hurt my San Chai I'll get you!!" Ching He waved a drumstick at Dao Ming Si's retreating back.
"Bao fa fu de er zhe (son of new money) shut up! Ximen what do you want to do?" Mei Zuo asked urgently. Ximen turned to his date and asked "Xiao Yo will you go check on her? I doubt she'll want to speak to any of us. I'll meet you back here in about 20 minutes okay? Come on guys let's go see about Ah-Si."
F3 found their leader at the bar treating himself to a banquet of vodka. They sat down next to him, pulled glasses of their own and drank with him in silence. Finally, Ah-Si said, "Just go."
"Ah-Si tell us what happened. Let us help you," Mei Zuo clapped a hand to his shoulder.
"Alotta of good your help has been. I've tried so hard and done all you told me. She still hates me."
"What happened during dinner?"
"I told her. I told her I liked her, and she laughed at me then walked off like I was sprouting a third eye or something."
~NeRd~
Mei Zuo twirled a flower between his fingers, pondering how he should act, what he should say. It had all seemed so much easier before. He had set his mind on confessing to Jing, but at the sight of her he lost all composure and words like that were impossible to voice. Tossing the flower stem, Mei Zuo sighed and stood up to brush rose petals off his suit. He ran a hand through his long hair carelessly and left for dinner. In her own room, Jing was deciding on a necklace for the night when Mei Zuo arrived to escort her to dinner. She pulled a simple topaz necklace from its box and started to clasp it when Mei Zuo reached for it. Taking it from her hands, he circled behind her to put it on for her. Jing gathered her flowing curls in one hand, and Mei Zuo closed the clasp with expertise. Leaning close to her smooth skin, he could breathe in her delicate perfume.
"You do that so effortlessly. Have you had much practice?" Jing joked.
"I have a few tricks up my sleeve. A man's got to have some skills right?" Mei Zuo teased. He was mesmerized by the sight of her. She literally dazzled in the long cream-colored dress, and he marveled at the translucent skin of her bare shoulders. In a gentlemanly fashion, he offered his arm, and she smiled as she took it.
"You look charming tonight" Jing offered.
"And you look breathtaking every night."
~*~
"A toast! To a damn good-lookin group of best friends! Here's to fond memories, laughter, and the thrills to come!"
"I'll toast to that!" "Party tonite!! Whoo!" Champagne flowed, glasses clinked, and the group sat down to a scrumptious feast.
"Things are going well I think," Mei Zuo whispered to Ximen.
"Yeah if you forget about the fuss that Ching He bozo made about not being able to sit next to San Chai! Who the heck is he anyway?" Ximen hissed back to Mei Zuo.
"Never mind that. We still managed to get Ah Si the seat next to San Chai. Let's hope they can warm up to each other at dinner. I've drilled it into his head that unless he learns to control his temper and behave civilly there's not a shot in hell San Chai will like him back. It seems he did a good job last Friday though. The fact that she's not mad at him must mean it went well."
"Eat up. Try some of this. This is good too." San Chai stared at her plate in horror as Dao Ming Si piled food in heaps. It wasn't so much the inordinate amount of food that appalled her. Dao Ming Si was again strangely polite tonight--no, he was being too...nice. The gentle tones in his voice was sending chills up her spine.
"Um, thanks. That's more than enough though. You should dig in too." San Chai willed herself to smile at him. She glanced around the table as she cut her food into smaller pieces. Ximen was occupied with serving Xiao Yo much like Dao Ming Si had just finished doing. Even Mei Zuo was refilling Jing's glass with champagne. Ching He had food in both hands and was busy ravaging his plate. Finally San Chai's eyes lingered on Lei. Sitting on her right, Lei silently brought the fork to his mouth and stared out ahead of him, aloof from his surroundings. She followed his line of vision to figure out what was keeping his interest but realized he was just being spacey again and gave up. Jing wasn't staring blankly however. Her eyes were keenly focused on Lei, and San Chai suddenly turned to Dao Ming Si.
"How did you all get to be friends with Jing? She doesn't seem like the type of playmate four young boys would choose," she inquired.
"Well, Jing's family is good friends with Lei's, and so we met her through him. The two of them are pretty close. So in a way Jing's a lot like you." he replied in a bored voice.
"I see. I didn't know that. The rest of you mention her more than Lei ever does," San Chai said more to herself than Dao Ming Si.
[I wonder why he never mentioned her to me. Is there anything between them?]
Dao Ming Si watched the way San Chai's eyebrows scrunched together as she thought about Lei. He wondered if he could ever be that close to her, and he was growing irritated and impatient. She barely spoke to him through dinner, and he was at a loss for ideas on how to get her attention. After a short pause in the conversation, Dao Ming Si worked up enough courage to speak up. "I think we should try. I've been trying to think about why you might reject our engagement, and it doesn't make any sense to me. I can offer you everything."
San Chai was taken aback for a moment, but retorted "I don't need anything. Why does it always have to be about what you can give me? Marriage is for life, and you and I have no feelings for each other. Most of the time we can't even keep from shouting at each other." She spoke calmly in a steady pace as if she were reasoning this out to him. In truth, she really didn't see how they could go beyond the petty bickering.
Dao Ming Si's hand gripped the napkin in his lap as he spoke in a restrained tone," Who said there are no feelings? We only shout at each other because...because you're so difficult!"
San Chai gulped down her instinctive response to insult him and said instead "You proved my point. It's always a back and forth blame session with us. I...I reallydon'tlikeyouasanythingotherthanafriend and I know you feel the same. It seems pretty pointless to me," she blurted out almost incoherently. She didn't want to hurt him, being particularly sensitive about all of her friends, but it wouldn't be right to give him false hope.
At this, Dao Ming Si stood up from the table so quickly his chair fell over. He pulled San Chai from her seat and dragged her outside in a fit of anger. Everyone quieted and watched San Chai struggle to free herself from his grip on her wrist. Immediately, Lei stood up to follow, but Jing suggested the couple be left alone for a few minutes. They all sat in tense silence while waiting for them to return.
Dao Ming Si roughly swung San Chai into the hallway, making her back into a wall.
"Geez. Could you be any more violent? Let go of my wrist," San Chai growled impatiently. Dao Ming Si leaned into the wall so that she was trapped between his monstrous arms. Refusing to be intimidated she stared back at him, challenging him to speak.
Dao Ming Si's expression was intense, but his features softened as he murmured, "Look San Chai. I want to...I think we should. I like you. I've liked you since the day you showed up in our lives. You drive me crazy with your temper, your bossiness, your stupid insistence on being nice to everyone. But I like you. I've wanted to tell you for the longest time." San Chai felt her legs give way as she slumped down towards the floor. Dao Ming Si reacted quickly and lifted her back to her feet.
"Well aren't you going to say something? It wasn't easy for me to tell you that, you could at least reply." San Chai tilted her head upwards to face him but was at a loss for words. The earnest expression on his face, the weight of his confession was too much for her to take in. She couldn't discern the emotions swirling around in her brain and heart. She never expected him to genuinely like her, and yet here he was, waiting for an answer to his profession. She found the situation too ironic and began to chuckle.
"I'm being sincere. All I'm asking for is a chance. Can't we just try?" Ah-Si tried to assure her.
Deciding she couldn't respond to him, she pushed him away, exclaimed "I'm sorry! I need some time." and headed for her room.
~*~
"Ah Si, where's San Chai?"
"Did you guys get in another fight?"
"Time is ticking! Don't be so explosive with her!" As Ah Si slouched in his chair the group hurled questions at him.
He sighed and replied shortly, "She's in her room. Don't be so quick to blame me. I didn't do anything wrong. You know what, I'm not hungry anymore." With that he rose to exit the room.
"Ah Si where are you going? Ah Si?!" Dao Ming Si kept walking and merely waved his hand spiritlessly at them.
"Dao Ming Si! You big bully! If you hurt my San Chai I'll get you!!" Ching He waved a drumstick at Dao Ming Si's retreating back.
"Bao fa fu de er zhe (son of new money) shut up! Ximen what do you want to do?" Mei Zuo asked urgently. Ximen turned to his date and asked "Xiao Yo will you go check on her? I doubt she'll want to speak to any of us. I'll meet you back here in about 20 minutes okay? Come on guys let's go see about Ah-Si."
F3 found their leader at the bar treating himself to a banquet of vodka. They sat down next to him, pulled glasses of their own and drank with him in silence. Finally, Ah-Si said, "Just go."
"Ah-Si tell us what happened. Let us help you," Mei Zuo clapped a hand to his shoulder.
"Alotta of good your help has been. I've tried so hard and done all you told me. She still hates me."
"What happened during dinner?"
"I told her. I told her I liked her, and she laughed at me then walked off like I was sprouting a third eye or something."
