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Chapter 21:
[I just HAD to cater to the requests…so here goes. ^_^]
Lei stretched his arms and legs out on the plushy sofa bed, feeling refreshed after a full 15 hours of sleep. It was a lazy Saturday, and his San Chai had left for work sometime in the morning. The stubborn girl that she was, refused to stop working part time at the bakery. Lei crashed at her loft more frequently, and as he rose now to scrounge for food, he thought about the first time he had slept over here.
::not that long ago::
"Hehe, that was such a funny movie. What should we do now?" San Chai asked the boy holding her hand.
Lei shrugged, merely enjoying her presence as they walked back to the apartment. They passed a small convenience store, and San Chai paused.
"I'm going to run in and grab a few things. Do you want anything?" she asked. He shook his head, and San Chai dashed into the store. Preferring to stay outside, Lei surveyed the busy street. He spotted a small flower stand across the way and went over to pick out a bouquet.
"Lei?" San Chai exited the shop and looked around for the familiar lanky figure. He stealthily moved up behind her, taking the bags and placing a bouquet of spring blooms in her hands. She flushed pink like the tulips she was holding and smiled a sweet thank you to him. Flowers were her favorite, and since they started dating, Lei had a fresh bunch sent to her apartment every other day. HUA Zhe Lei lived up to his name. Now only a block from home, the couple was caught in a sudden downpour, drenching through every piece of clothing.
Having finally scurried upstairs, San Chai immediately made a hot pot of tea and forced Lei to change into the biggest shirt that she could find. She was relieved to discover that she had stashed a pair of scrub pants that were way too big in her closet because simply remembering the few seconds she had seen Lei in his boxers made her blush beet red. Donning one of the many pajama sets Lei had bought for her when she first moved in, she left her bedroom with a towel for her boyfriend. San Chai sat across from him, watching him dry his hair as she brushed the knots out of her own. Abruptly Lei got up and plopped down on the sofa next to her. He snaked his arms around her waist and slid her into his lap. San Chai squeaked a tiny gasp, puzzled by what Lei was doing. He took the brush from her hands and slowly began to comb through her long hair. San Chai relaxed as his tender hands fingered her damp locks. Soon he set the brush aside and pulled her back tightly to his chest, planting a soft kiss on the top of her head. San Chai folded her small hands in her lap, and Lei cupped his own over them. She shut her beautiful eyes, thanking the heavens, the earth, and every other entity for the incredible good fortune that brought Lei into her life. She could feel his light breath tickling at her neck and leaned back, enjoying the warmth. When she twisted slightly to see his face, Lei had already fallen asleep, his arms still wrapped tightly around her. Sweet as it was, she couldn't have him sleep in this position all night. As she tried to ease her way out of his embrace, he stirred and opened his eyes. The sleepy eyes that watched her and the slight smile on his lips made San Chai's heart flutter. She had been unsuccessful in escaping his grasp and had now woken the sleeping boy.
"Mmm. I should go," Lei said groggily. He pondered whether to call for a ride or just to take a cab home.
San Chai's mind proposed the option of having him stay, but her prudish sense of propriety kept kicking the choice down. The mental battle raged in her mind, and she unknowingly said, "…stay the night."
Lei's eyes widened, and he felt he must be drowsier than usual to be hearing things. San Chai seemed to have awoken from her thoughts, realizing what she had uttered and seeing the look of bewilderment on Lei's face. She started to babble in embarrassment, "I um..well you, I didn't mean, but you…"
"San Chai, it's okay. I'm just going to take a cab."
"NO. I mean, well. Do you…want to…stay?" She finally managed to murmur.
"Are you sure?" Lei asked for confirmation. She nodded, her eyeing darting to the floor as a sudden wave of shyness swept over her. Before long, Lei had take a sort of permanent residence on her sofa bed several nights out of the week. San Chai was prim as ever, and thus the arrangement for separate beds, but the idea that she wanted him in her apartment, wanted him to stay over, made Lei glow in delight.
::back to the present::
Shuffling into the kitchen, Lei found a small covered tray with a bright post-it attached.
"Would've made you breakfast, but you always sleep till noon. Have a good lunch instead, and I'll see you soon.
XOXO."
As Lei seated himself to a lovingly prepared meal, he read the post-it note over and over. She probably had no idea that it rhymed. Her consideration, devotion, sweetness…how would he ever survive without it? Luckily, she only worked half the day on Saturday, so he would be seeing her shortly. An hour later, Lei was showered, changed, and began rummaging through San Chai's closet. With a bag slung over his shoulder, he ambled around the sun-splotched grasses of his private park. He and San Chai shared some priceless moments in this very playground, and all these years later, Lei felt gratified to know they would make many more such memories.
~
"Fishy fishy. Psst. Fishy." Lei whispered in his low voice. He had arrived at Divine Desserts to pick up San Chai, but she was in one of the back rooms. In a flash of resourcefulness, he located the small brass bell and punched it. San Chai whizzed out to the counter, but her serious "work face" melted at the sight of him.
"Madam, I've come to escort you to your next engagement. Perhaps a change of attire would be suitable?" Lei mimicked a butler's accented speech and handed her the travel tote he had filled earlier. He situated himself at a table to wait when his cell phone rang.
"Yo."
"Yo." Dao Ming Si and Lei greeted each other in their typical way.
There was a peculiar pause on the line, and Lei heard Ah-Si exhale a deep sigh.
"Problems. The queen called yesterday, wanted to know how my fiancée was. I told her that I didn't think it was going to work out. She didn't ask much, but she's pissed. I told her little as possible, but from that woman, silence is deadly. I just wanted to let you know." Ah-Si breathed another sigh.
"Where is she?" Lei asked.
"New York. Won't be back for another month at least. We've got some time." Ah-Si offered.
"Thanks. You good?"
"Yup. You?"
"Yeah. Later." Lei snapped his cell phone shut and buried his face into his hands. He looked up at the soft clatter of high heeled shoes to be greeted by San Chai's luminous smile. He had selected a faint pink sun dress for her, and she was beautiful as ever. Lei rose and gently kissed her forehead, a smile curling into shape. She smoothed the collar of his white shirt, thrown over a loose pair of khakis. So comfortable with each other, they had some tendencies of a married couple. Most dangerously, everyone had forgotten that she was still technically engaged…to someone else.
~
Seated for dinner later that night, after a pleasant afternoon at an outdoor concert, Lei was swishing his wine around in a glass. Raising it up, he peered into the dark burgundy liquid pensively. When he moved to bring the glass to his lips, his eyes shifted across the room. Was that…Mei Zuo?
"I'm starved. Let's order." San Chai's voice cut in.
"San Chai, look over there, doesn't that look like Mei Zuo?" he pointed in the direction.
"Yeah, so? Let's go say hi."
"No. Can you see who he's sitting with?"
"Not from here. What's going on? What's the big deal?" San Chai thought Lei was behaving strangely again. He had already started dialing a familiar number, waiting for his friend to pick up.
"Yo, Lei."
"Busy?" Lei stated more than asked. This was the most intriguing discovery, and Lei considered how much fun the situation could be. After all, Lei's subtly playful, prankster side had been cultured by years of friendship with the very boy he was on the phone with.
"Yeah, what's up?"
"VS tonight? Date?" Lei continued.
"Nah, I think I'm going to rain check. New girl."
"Right. Later." Lei couldn't ask about the girl because it would be out of character for him, but it was truly amusing that Mei Zuo's latest girlfriend was none other than Xiao Zi. He would just wait for Mei Zuo to tell F3 himself.
[sorry for the exceptionally slow update, but i sincerely hope you enjoy it. check back with it soon, and drop me a review k?]
Chapter 21:
[I just HAD to cater to the requests…so here goes. ^_^]
Lei stretched his arms and legs out on the plushy sofa bed, feeling refreshed after a full 15 hours of sleep. It was a lazy Saturday, and his San Chai had left for work sometime in the morning. The stubborn girl that she was, refused to stop working part time at the bakery. Lei crashed at her loft more frequently, and as he rose now to scrounge for food, he thought about the first time he had slept over here.
::not that long ago::
"Hehe, that was such a funny movie. What should we do now?" San Chai asked the boy holding her hand.
Lei shrugged, merely enjoying her presence as they walked back to the apartment. They passed a small convenience store, and San Chai paused.
"I'm going to run in and grab a few things. Do you want anything?" she asked. He shook his head, and San Chai dashed into the store. Preferring to stay outside, Lei surveyed the busy street. He spotted a small flower stand across the way and went over to pick out a bouquet.
"Lei?" San Chai exited the shop and looked around for the familiar lanky figure. He stealthily moved up behind her, taking the bags and placing a bouquet of spring blooms in her hands. She flushed pink like the tulips she was holding and smiled a sweet thank you to him. Flowers were her favorite, and since they started dating, Lei had a fresh bunch sent to her apartment every other day. HUA Zhe Lei lived up to his name. Now only a block from home, the couple was caught in a sudden downpour, drenching through every piece of clothing.
Having finally scurried upstairs, San Chai immediately made a hot pot of tea and forced Lei to change into the biggest shirt that she could find. She was relieved to discover that she had stashed a pair of scrub pants that were way too big in her closet because simply remembering the few seconds she had seen Lei in his boxers made her blush beet red. Donning one of the many pajama sets Lei had bought for her when she first moved in, she left her bedroom with a towel for her boyfriend. San Chai sat across from him, watching him dry his hair as she brushed the knots out of her own. Abruptly Lei got up and plopped down on the sofa next to her. He snaked his arms around her waist and slid her into his lap. San Chai squeaked a tiny gasp, puzzled by what Lei was doing. He took the brush from her hands and slowly began to comb through her long hair. San Chai relaxed as his tender hands fingered her damp locks. Soon he set the brush aside and pulled her back tightly to his chest, planting a soft kiss on the top of her head. San Chai folded her small hands in her lap, and Lei cupped his own over them. She shut her beautiful eyes, thanking the heavens, the earth, and every other entity for the incredible good fortune that brought Lei into her life. She could feel his light breath tickling at her neck and leaned back, enjoying the warmth. When she twisted slightly to see his face, Lei had already fallen asleep, his arms still wrapped tightly around her. Sweet as it was, she couldn't have him sleep in this position all night. As she tried to ease her way out of his embrace, he stirred and opened his eyes. The sleepy eyes that watched her and the slight smile on his lips made San Chai's heart flutter. She had been unsuccessful in escaping his grasp and had now woken the sleeping boy.
"Mmm. I should go," Lei said groggily. He pondered whether to call for a ride or just to take a cab home.
San Chai's mind proposed the option of having him stay, but her prudish sense of propriety kept kicking the choice down. The mental battle raged in her mind, and she unknowingly said, "…stay the night."
Lei's eyes widened, and he felt he must be drowsier than usual to be hearing things. San Chai seemed to have awoken from her thoughts, realizing what she had uttered and seeing the look of bewilderment on Lei's face. She started to babble in embarrassment, "I um..well you, I didn't mean, but you…"
"San Chai, it's okay. I'm just going to take a cab."
"NO. I mean, well. Do you…want to…stay?" She finally managed to murmur.
"Are you sure?" Lei asked for confirmation. She nodded, her eyeing darting to the floor as a sudden wave of shyness swept over her. Before long, Lei had take a sort of permanent residence on her sofa bed several nights out of the week. San Chai was prim as ever, and thus the arrangement for separate beds, but the idea that she wanted him in her apartment, wanted him to stay over, made Lei glow in delight.
::back to the present::
Shuffling into the kitchen, Lei found a small covered tray with a bright post-it attached.
"Would've made you breakfast, but you always sleep till noon. Have a good lunch instead, and I'll see you soon.
XOXO."
As Lei seated himself to a lovingly prepared meal, he read the post-it note over and over. She probably had no idea that it rhymed. Her consideration, devotion, sweetness…how would he ever survive without it? Luckily, she only worked half the day on Saturday, so he would be seeing her shortly. An hour later, Lei was showered, changed, and began rummaging through San Chai's closet. With a bag slung over his shoulder, he ambled around the sun-splotched grasses of his private park. He and San Chai shared some priceless moments in this very playground, and all these years later, Lei felt gratified to know they would make many more such memories.
~
"Fishy fishy. Psst. Fishy." Lei whispered in his low voice. He had arrived at Divine Desserts to pick up San Chai, but she was in one of the back rooms. In a flash of resourcefulness, he located the small brass bell and punched it. San Chai whizzed out to the counter, but her serious "work face" melted at the sight of him.
"Madam, I've come to escort you to your next engagement. Perhaps a change of attire would be suitable?" Lei mimicked a butler's accented speech and handed her the travel tote he had filled earlier. He situated himself at a table to wait when his cell phone rang.
"Yo."
"Yo." Dao Ming Si and Lei greeted each other in their typical way.
There was a peculiar pause on the line, and Lei heard Ah-Si exhale a deep sigh.
"Problems. The queen called yesterday, wanted to know how my fiancée was. I told her that I didn't think it was going to work out. She didn't ask much, but she's pissed. I told her little as possible, but from that woman, silence is deadly. I just wanted to let you know." Ah-Si breathed another sigh.
"Where is she?" Lei asked.
"New York. Won't be back for another month at least. We've got some time." Ah-Si offered.
"Thanks. You good?"
"Yup. You?"
"Yeah. Later." Lei snapped his cell phone shut and buried his face into his hands. He looked up at the soft clatter of high heeled shoes to be greeted by San Chai's luminous smile. He had selected a faint pink sun dress for her, and she was beautiful as ever. Lei rose and gently kissed her forehead, a smile curling into shape. She smoothed the collar of his white shirt, thrown over a loose pair of khakis. So comfortable with each other, they had some tendencies of a married couple. Most dangerously, everyone had forgotten that she was still technically engaged…to someone else.
~
Seated for dinner later that night, after a pleasant afternoon at an outdoor concert, Lei was swishing his wine around in a glass. Raising it up, he peered into the dark burgundy liquid pensively. When he moved to bring the glass to his lips, his eyes shifted across the room. Was that…Mei Zuo?
"I'm starved. Let's order." San Chai's voice cut in.
"San Chai, look over there, doesn't that look like Mei Zuo?" he pointed in the direction.
"Yeah, so? Let's go say hi."
"No. Can you see who he's sitting with?"
"Not from here. What's going on? What's the big deal?" San Chai thought Lei was behaving strangely again. He had already started dialing a familiar number, waiting for his friend to pick up.
"Yo, Lei."
"Busy?" Lei stated more than asked. This was the most intriguing discovery, and Lei considered how much fun the situation could be. After all, Lei's subtly playful, prankster side had been cultured by years of friendship with the very boy he was on the phone with.
"Yeah, what's up?"
"VS tonight? Date?" Lei continued.
"Nah, I think I'm going to rain check. New girl."
"Right. Later." Lei couldn't ask about the girl because it would be out of character for him, but it was truly amusing that Mei Zuo's latest girlfriend was none other than Xiao Zi. He would just wait for Mei Zuo to tell F3 himself.
[sorry for the exceptionally slow update, but i sincerely hope you enjoy it. check back with it soon, and drop me a review k?]
