Dao Ming Si, San Cai and Xi Men rode in Hua Ze Lei's car.
Mimi was in Qing He's car.
They arrived to Ying De around 9:45.
It was a quiet cool, clear evening with a light breeze.
Dao Ming Si had called security earlier to tell them he would be in the tennis court so as not to be disturbed.
He hated to use his family's influence now but he did it this time to ensure privacy.
They
parked in the lot next to the courts In the back of Ying De are the outdoor
events arenas, closest to the school are the tennis courts.
There is a tiny outdoor tennis stadium for tournament events surrounded by
smaller courts for the students.
Their destination is the tennis stadium, where they will meet T3M.
They glanced around. There were no other cars.
Apparently T3M hasn't arrived yet.
Hua Ze Lei opens the trunk and Dao Ming Si and Xi Men grab their gym bags and started towards the tennis stadium.
Qing He noticing their bags asks, "What's in the bags?"
Xi Men looked at Qing He in amazement,
"What do you think? Do you think we're going to some ballroom event or something? Didn't you bring your choice of weapons?"
Qing He gasps and stops dead in his tracks, his face pale and his jaws working soundlessly.
Xi Men snickered then held up his bag,
"Look, I might have and extra knife but if you're fighting Mok Po Le I recommend something heavier. Maybe Ah Si might have an extra crowbar or Ah Lei might have a chainsaw in his trunk!"
Qing He whimpered, Mimi and San Cai staring aghast at Xi Men.
Dao Ming Si who started walking stopped in his tracks. He rolled his eyes then said,
"Xi Men, why you have to have to go scare the kid like that for! Qing He, we don't use crude things like knives and clubs!"
Relief
appeared in Qing He's eyes.
"We use guns!" Then Dao Ming Si made like he whipped out a pistol from his hip
and pointed his hand shaped like a gun at Qing He and was going: Pow! Pow! Pow!
Qing He's legs turned to jelly. Fortunately San Cai and Mimi were besides him
to catch him.
Xi Men and Dao Ming Si started laughing hysterically. Hua Ze Lei was smiling in amusement and shaking his head.
"Dao Ming Si!" San Cai stamped her foot in anger.
Mimi
was fluttering a handkerchief over Qing He's face and kept calling his name,
"Qing He Senior! Qing He Senior!"
Dao Ming Si held up his hands to placate San Cai saying,
"Okay, okay. Bad joke! I'm sorry. Look." He opens up his bag and tilts it so they can see.
He had some padded fingerless sparring gloves and shin guards and foot-pads in them.
"See?
Only martial arts contact gear." San Cai was still glaring at Dao Ming Si and
Xi Men.
"Come on let's get to the stadium I'll explain why we're carrying this stuff."
Xi Men walks over to Qing He and pats his back still chuckling.
Qing He still trembling muttered, "If you wanted to kill me you should've just
let me fight!"
When they get to the stadium the main floodlights were out but the courtside lights are on so there was enough light to see by.
F3 was already in loose clothing but took off their jackets to loosen and warm up.
Dao Ming Si was talking throughout his warm up.
"You see, this is a formal challenge with a place and time. We're not like some commoners that would fight dirty street fighting. We will fight" and seeing San Cai still glaring at him quickly added "if we need to, like gentlemen, sportsmanlike, befitting people of our status. Hence, the gloves."
"Well,
you ARE a commoner now! Mr. Dao Ming Si!" reminded San Cai.
Dao Ming Si cleared his throat and glanced away.
Xi Men also adds,
"That's true, but if it was just a brawl or a street fight, it's anything goes!"
Dao Ming Si nods in agreement. Then he stiffens.
Xi Men noticing his look follows the direction of his gaze.
Another car was pulling into the lot.
Three
figures are seen coming out. Once they spotted F3 they headed their direction.
Wong Tin Ma and his crew strode into the stadium after a brief glance at F3
they went to the benches opposite them, took off their jackets and was also
loosening up.
After a few minutes they started towards the center of the court.
To San Cai, Qing He and Mimi they look like some mythical giants coming out of the mists of legend growing larger with each step.
Dao Ming Si glanced over to Xi Men who nods then over to Hua Ze Lei then finally on Qing He.
The appointed time is here!
F3 strode out to meet T3M.
Qing He was rooted to the spot.
He was visibly trembling, his face pale and waxy looking.
Qing He looks miserably to Mimi then to San Cai, looking like he's ready to cry.
San Cai felt immediate pity for Qing He because she knew that Qing He is not a fighter, he doesn't have a violent bone in his body.
She
immediately became protective of him. She started towards Qing He but stopped
when Mimi stood in front of Qing He.
"Qing He look at me!" said Mimi in a firm voice. Qing He surprised looked into
Mimi's eyes.
"Somewhere
within you is the person that stood up for a sad and lonely girl one
registration day!
Somewhere within you is the person that defended a confused girl's honor in a
club!
Somewhere within you is the person who thought of the most thoughtful
Valentine's Day gift ever for a best friend!
Somewhere within you is the person who would never, ever let a friend down!
But whether you let him out or not it doesn't matter because he-is-you! And I
love you!"
And
with that, Mimi kissed Qing He.
Tears were running down San Cai's face.
F3 who stopped to watch what was happening behind them were stunned.
Mimi broke the kiss. Qing He looked into Mimi's eyes and broke into a smile like the sun breaking through the clouds.
Then he gives a roar and throws off his jacket and stomped out to meet F3 who stares at him in amazement.
Mimi was jumping up and down yelling, "Qing He Senior Jia You! Qing He Senior Jia You!"
When he reaches F3 he eyes the three of them then said, "Let's go kick some butt!"
No hint of doubt whatsoever in his eyes.
They nod and clap him on the back then side-by-side they went to face T3M.
To be continued…
