Chapter 3: The Bet
"Ma, I'm home."
She puts her bag in her bedroom before heading straight to the kitchen to greet her mother.
"Aa. Shan Chai, you're back. Come and eat your lunch. Don't you have to work today?" ushered her mother to the dining table. She gave her mother a peck on the cheek.
"I have to work the night shift this whole week." Her mother just sat in front of her, watching her eat and looking at her intensely. She had a feeling that her mother has something in her mind.
"Shan Chai, how was school today? I heard there's a new kid enrolled in your school. A new rich, very wealthy student. After so long, you didn't even bother to tell me about it. Have you introduced yourself to him?" asked her mom full of hope.
"No, I have not. I don't tend to either. Oh, look how the time flies. I'm finished. Got to go and freshen up before going to work." She hurriedly cleaned up her dishes and went straight to the bedroom.
'How did she know all of this stuff? I hate it when dad and mom keep on pestering me to find a rich, wealthy boyfriend. Life is not about getting easy money, hard work that counts!' she grumbles to herself in front of the mirror.
~~
He was thinking about the rooftop girl, when he heard Ah Si called out his name. "Lei, what are you doing playing with the glass. The high-pitched sound is no longer tolerable. Cut it out! Why are you so quiet today, ha? Thinking about your girlfriend? Hahahahaha.can't believe that Lei already has one!" He looked up to Ah Si. "I don't." Ah Si was about to say something else when suddenly Mei Zhuo stood up. "Jing, over here!" The others turned to look at the direction Mei Zhuo spoke out to, except for him.
"Hi guys. Sorry, I'm late. The photo session ended up late." He looked up to see Jing, smiling and looking stunningly beautiful as always. Mei Zhuo ushered a seat beside him.
From where he was sitting, it looked like he has been singled out. Ah Si sat beside Xi Men and Mei Zhuo together with Jing. He picked up his glass and drank up the balance.
"Ah Si, I have something to tell you. This is really an old story but, ever since you got here 2 weeks ago, I've been keeping it a secret from you," said Mei Zhuo seriously. Ah Si looked surprised. Turning around, he looked at the other faces for answers. Still holding on to his glass, Lei refilled it and sat back. He knows what the announcement will be.
"Well?" asked Ah Si, impatiently. After exchanged glances with Jing, Mei Zhuo looked straight to Ah Si.
"Jing and I have already gone steady."
Ah Si's eyes widen when he heard the news. "Since when? You two known about this and still kept silent about it?"
Xi Men just giggled softly. Even he found the situation to be a bit humorous especially the look on Ah Si's face. To his surprised, he no longer feels the pain in his heart when he saw Mei Zhuo being together with Jing. He thought the pain would never cease away. The only feeling his having right now was the feeling of loneliness and longing. At that very moment, the image of the rooftop girl came to his mind. He wondered why.
"So, Ah Si how was your life at New York? Have you ehm, ehm?" questioned Xi Men after they left VS, and went to another club. Mei Zhuo has already sent Jing home so that he could be together with F3.
"Have I what? What are you trying to ask?" replied Ah Si, acted as if he has no idea what Xi Men was talking about.
Grabbing a hold of Ah Si on the shoulder, Xi Men laughed. "Come on Ah Si, you know what Xi Men means," Mei Zhuo intervened. Lei stayed silent at the back of the group. He watched his three best friends closely, smiling slightly at their childish conversation.
"I have no idea what you are indicating," said Ah Si.
"Oh! This guy is being so difficult. I have to be direct then. Have you made out with a girl yet? You are the slowest and innocent in F4, except for you Lei. I don't even think you care about girls."
Lei looked at Xi Men, "Hey, leave me out of it!"
Holding up his hands, Xi Men playfully surrender, laughing at all time. Mei Zhuo nudged Ah Si's side.
"Well, have you?"
He could see Ah Si's face blushed. Even Mei Zhuo and Xi Men couldn't help laughing at Ah Si's red face.
"Looking by your face, we already know the answer. You've never had a girlfriend too, I presume," indicate Xi Men.
Trying to fight for his ego, Ah Si snapped, "I can have a girlfriend! I can pick any girl to be my girlfriend just like that. It's just that, I haven't found the right one yet. I'm not like you two, playing around with girls even when you already have a girlfriend. I'm not that cheap!"
Mei Zhuo and Xi Men kept on laughing at Ah Si's remarks. They know that Ah Si was trying to cover up his bashfulness. "Okay now. You said you can pick any girl to be your girlfriend, right?" looking and smiling mischievously at Mei Zhuo, Xi Men continued, "I want to make a bet that the truth is, you can't." Mei Zhuo nodded, understanding the direction of Xi Men's game. "Yeah, I think you're right Xi Men. Ah Si is just boasting like always."
Knowing Ah Si, Lei knew he is going to explode and without thinking, except the challenge. He guessed right when Ah Si stopped walking and went ballistic.
"YES I CAN! I'll prove it to you."
Xi Men winked at Mei Zhuo. They've won. "Okay then, it's a bet. For 1000 dollars, you must show us your girlfriend. Wait, to make it more exciting, we will choose the girl for you and gives you 3 month to make her yours. You cannot bribe her or even tell her about the bet and she must willingly WANT to be your girlfriend. How's that?" stated Xi Men, supported by Mei Zhuo.
Lei shook his head and smiled. 'This is going to be interesting,' he thought. Without giving it another thought, Ah Si agreed.
"Lei, what do you think? Will Ah Si succeed?" asked Mei Zhuo. He smiled and showed his thumb down. "See Ah Si. Even Lei didn't think you'd succeed." Ah Si glared at him. "Why does someone who doesn't have interest in girls would criticize me?" Lei grinned.
~~
She was late for class, and sprinting all the way from the motorcycle parking lot to her class still did not help her made it in time. All of a sudden, she was knocked down and landed on her bottom. Someone has bumped into her and that person just walked away without helping her up.
"You jerk! What type of a man are you? Bumped into somebody and still walk away. Not even, apologize. No manners at all!" she yelled.
She stood up and gathered back her books. She looked up when she saw someone standing in front of her.
"What did you called me? Don't you know who I am?" asked the person.
She's furious now. "I called you a jerk because you're a jerk! Even if I am wrong for running in the hallway, but you bumped into ME! You should've apologized or helped me up," scolded her.
The man in front of him was about 6 feet tall and looked mad.
"Ah Si, what's wrong?" She saw his friends approaching them.
"This stupid girl called me a jerk! I, Dao Ming Si, a jerk!?" She looked at the faces around her. People have started to gather around them, witnessing the quarrel. At that moment, a familiar face appeared behind one of the 'jerk's' friends.
"I think you better go," said the person.
"Lei! Why are you letting her go?" scolded the jerk called Ah Si. She felt so mad at this Ah Si and ashamed at Lei for her behavior. Staring straight into Ah Si's eyes, she kicked his leg and ran off.
"Oww!! You stupid girl! Come back here!!" She heard his cries from afar and since she was already late, she headed straight to the rooftop.
~~
Opening the door, she slumped on the floor, panting for air. "Can't believe I did that. That stupid jerk! What's his name again? Ah Si? Ugly name. No manners at all! Argghhhh!!! I am so mad!" she yelled. She looked at her watch. '45 minutes to go till the next class,' she told herself.
She recalled back the incident especially the part where she saw the familiar person. "So, his name is Lei. He looked different from the one I knew. He looked ignorant, even the voice is cold too. Is he a friend of that madman?" she asked out loud.
"I am his friend."
She jumped up at the sound of the voice. "Don't scare me like that! Stop appearing like a ghost, soundless and unexpectedly," she scolded Lei.
Lei smirked. "You're really cute when you're mad." That simple sentence shut her up. She knows that she is blushing, but she tried to ignore it.
"So, you're that foolish boy's friend. Why didn't you tell him to apologize to me? You should've helped me out. The 'you' now and the 'you' back then were so much different. Are you sure you are the same person?"
Still smiling, he took her by the hand and drags her toward the railing. "Let's sit." His gesture startled her. Her heart beats faster than ever before. Looking at the hand that still held hers; she tried to free her hand from them. But the hand tightens its grip. He helped her up the railing before sitting down on it himself. All the time, he still held tight her hand.
She looked at him, unable to believe what was happening. She was happy but at the same time surprised. 'Why is he holding my hand? Why is he so much different from just now? How exactly is this Lei?' The same questions repeatedly going through her mind.
~~
He knew where to find her. He couldn't believe his eyes when he saw her quarreled with Ah Si. No one has ever been brave or stupid enough to stand up to Ah Si. But she did it. Not only did she scold him, she even kicked him.
It was so hilarious. He has to control himself not to laugh at the situation. He was amused with the girl's attitude. 'She was not so fragile after all,' he thought. So, instead of staying with Ah Si, he went to the rooftop to see the girl.
He watched her grumble and yell by her own. Smiling to himself, he found her to be quite cute. She seems to be unaware of his presence because she was asking herself whether he was a friend of Ah Si. "I am his friend."
She jumped in astonishment. He had to hold back his laughter when she scolded him for being discreet. "You're really cute when you're mad," he said aloud, without planning to do so. Just then, she blushed.
'She looks even cuter when blushing.' He ignored her questions and took her hand, lead her to the railing. "Let's sit." She tried to free her hand from his but he tightened it. Helping her up the railing, he can't stop looking at her.
Holding her and having her by his side, he felt really happy. He didn't know why he acted this way. Showing out his feelings and affections has always been a set back but today, out in the blue it came to him effortlessly.
"Tit, tit.Tit, tit."
Still holding onto her hand, he took out his mobile phone and read the message. 'F3 is waiting for me.' He looked over to her.
"What is your name? You've known mine."
She flinched and turned to face him. "I...I'm Shan Chai." He held up her hand and kissed it. "Goodbye Shan Chai. I have to go. Till we meet again," he bid goodbye and left.
~~
In front of the college main entrance he saw Xi Men and Mei Zhuo leaning by Mei Zhuo's silver BMW, watching Ah Si walking back and forth in front of them.
"I am going to get that girl! How dare she humiliate me and called me a 'jerk'. Xi Men, Mei Zhuo find out who was that girl and what are the classes that she took. I am going to make her pay. Where is Lei? Running off like that after letting that girl go unpunished is so typical of him," grumbled Ah Si.
"I'm here. What's wrong?"
Ah Si looked up towards Lei direction. His face was still furious. Mei Zhuo and Xi Men turned to face Lei as well. Their expression tells him that he's going to be in trouble.
"Where have you been? Did you know that retard girl? Why did you let her go? I was going to punish her for calling me names and humiliating me in front of the other students. You better tell me who she is, Lei," pressed Ah Si. "I don't know her. I just don't want you to make a fool of yourself for bullying a girl," explained Lei, uninterested.
"See, I told you Lei wouldn't have known the girl. Stop being a baby and let's go," said Mei Zhuo.
"Hey! I just have the most spectacular idea. Since you wanted to know about the girl, we're going to pick her as the bait. Isn't that right, Mei Zhuo?" asked Xi Men, winking at Mei Zhuo.
Understanding the meaning, Mei Zhuo added, "Yeah! That girl would be your future girlfriend. Or you want to back out?" Ah Si stared at Xi Men and Mei Zhuo as if the stare could kill.
Hearing to the idea has made Lei uncomfortable. He didn't want her to be a part of the stupid bet. The girl was his. He was not sure why he thought she was his but one thing for sure, he certainly cares a whole lot for the girl.
Since he had confessed of not knowing the girl, he can't object to it without making them suspicious of him. He has to think of something, and fast.
"The girl is not suitable for Ah Si. She's not pretty enough," he protests.
F3 turned towards him. Their faces were full of questions.
"I just thought that maybe it would be unfair for Ah Si to have such an ugly and unmannered girlfriend even for a bet. He's Dao Ming Si," he explained, trying to make it as apparent as possible. "That's the beauty of it. Because of her unmannerly attitude and the not so beautiful feature, but I do think she is quite cute, she would be the best person for Ah Si to show his capability and charm. Don't you agree Ah Si?" suggested Xi Men in an annoying tone.
"I don't like her, but this is a good idea for revenge. Emmm.if I would succeed, the two of you must acknowledge me as your love sifu. You too Lei. Okay?" agreed Ah Si, pointing at the three of them. Xi Men and Mei Zhuo laughed at Ah Si's statement, but they nodded in agreement.
Lei didn't like it, not even a bit, but for the mean time he has to keep his mouth shut and thinks of some other solutions of preventing this from happening. He didn't want his Shan Chai to be hurt but he has a feeling that she will be able to repel.
She puts her bag in her bedroom before heading straight to the kitchen to greet her mother.
"Aa. Shan Chai, you're back. Come and eat your lunch. Don't you have to work today?" ushered her mother to the dining table. She gave her mother a peck on the cheek.
"I have to work the night shift this whole week." Her mother just sat in front of her, watching her eat and looking at her intensely. She had a feeling that her mother has something in her mind.
"Shan Chai, how was school today? I heard there's a new kid enrolled in your school. A new rich, very wealthy student. After so long, you didn't even bother to tell me about it. Have you introduced yourself to him?" asked her mom full of hope.
"No, I have not. I don't tend to either. Oh, look how the time flies. I'm finished. Got to go and freshen up before going to work." She hurriedly cleaned up her dishes and went straight to the bedroom.
'How did she know all of this stuff? I hate it when dad and mom keep on pestering me to find a rich, wealthy boyfriend. Life is not about getting easy money, hard work that counts!' she grumbles to herself in front of the mirror.
~~
He was thinking about the rooftop girl, when he heard Ah Si called out his name. "Lei, what are you doing playing with the glass. The high-pitched sound is no longer tolerable. Cut it out! Why are you so quiet today, ha? Thinking about your girlfriend? Hahahahaha.can't believe that Lei already has one!" He looked up to Ah Si. "I don't." Ah Si was about to say something else when suddenly Mei Zhuo stood up. "Jing, over here!" The others turned to look at the direction Mei Zhuo spoke out to, except for him.
"Hi guys. Sorry, I'm late. The photo session ended up late." He looked up to see Jing, smiling and looking stunningly beautiful as always. Mei Zhuo ushered a seat beside him.
From where he was sitting, it looked like he has been singled out. Ah Si sat beside Xi Men and Mei Zhuo together with Jing. He picked up his glass and drank up the balance.
"Ah Si, I have something to tell you. This is really an old story but, ever since you got here 2 weeks ago, I've been keeping it a secret from you," said Mei Zhuo seriously. Ah Si looked surprised. Turning around, he looked at the other faces for answers. Still holding on to his glass, Lei refilled it and sat back. He knows what the announcement will be.
"Well?" asked Ah Si, impatiently. After exchanged glances with Jing, Mei Zhuo looked straight to Ah Si.
"Jing and I have already gone steady."
Ah Si's eyes widen when he heard the news. "Since when? You two known about this and still kept silent about it?"
Xi Men just giggled softly. Even he found the situation to be a bit humorous especially the look on Ah Si's face. To his surprised, he no longer feels the pain in his heart when he saw Mei Zhuo being together with Jing. He thought the pain would never cease away. The only feeling his having right now was the feeling of loneliness and longing. At that very moment, the image of the rooftop girl came to his mind. He wondered why.
"So, Ah Si how was your life at New York? Have you ehm, ehm?" questioned Xi Men after they left VS, and went to another club. Mei Zhuo has already sent Jing home so that he could be together with F3.
"Have I what? What are you trying to ask?" replied Ah Si, acted as if he has no idea what Xi Men was talking about.
Grabbing a hold of Ah Si on the shoulder, Xi Men laughed. "Come on Ah Si, you know what Xi Men means," Mei Zhuo intervened. Lei stayed silent at the back of the group. He watched his three best friends closely, smiling slightly at their childish conversation.
"I have no idea what you are indicating," said Ah Si.
"Oh! This guy is being so difficult. I have to be direct then. Have you made out with a girl yet? You are the slowest and innocent in F4, except for you Lei. I don't even think you care about girls."
Lei looked at Xi Men, "Hey, leave me out of it!"
Holding up his hands, Xi Men playfully surrender, laughing at all time. Mei Zhuo nudged Ah Si's side.
"Well, have you?"
He could see Ah Si's face blushed. Even Mei Zhuo and Xi Men couldn't help laughing at Ah Si's red face.
"Looking by your face, we already know the answer. You've never had a girlfriend too, I presume," indicate Xi Men.
Trying to fight for his ego, Ah Si snapped, "I can have a girlfriend! I can pick any girl to be my girlfriend just like that. It's just that, I haven't found the right one yet. I'm not like you two, playing around with girls even when you already have a girlfriend. I'm not that cheap!"
Mei Zhuo and Xi Men kept on laughing at Ah Si's remarks. They know that Ah Si was trying to cover up his bashfulness. "Okay now. You said you can pick any girl to be your girlfriend, right?" looking and smiling mischievously at Mei Zhuo, Xi Men continued, "I want to make a bet that the truth is, you can't." Mei Zhuo nodded, understanding the direction of Xi Men's game. "Yeah, I think you're right Xi Men. Ah Si is just boasting like always."
Knowing Ah Si, Lei knew he is going to explode and without thinking, except the challenge. He guessed right when Ah Si stopped walking and went ballistic.
"YES I CAN! I'll prove it to you."
Xi Men winked at Mei Zhuo. They've won. "Okay then, it's a bet. For 1000 dollars, you must show us your girlfriend. Wait, to make it more exciting, we will choose the girl for you and gives you 3 month to make her yours. You cannot bribe her or even tell her about the bet and she must willingly WANT to be your girlfriend. How's that?" stated Xi Men, supported by Mei Zhuo.
Lei shook his head and smiled. 'This is going to be interesting,' he thought. Without giving it another thought, Ah Si agreed.
"Lei, what do you think? Will Ah Si succeed?" asked Mei Zhuo. He smiled and showed his thumb down. "See Ah Si. Even Lei didn't think you'd succeed." Ah Si glared at him. "Why does someone who doesn't have interest in girls would criticize me?" Lei grinned.
~~
She was late for class, and sprinting all the way from the motorcycle parking lot to her class still did not help her made it in time. All of a sudden, she was knocked down and landed on her bottom. Someone has bumped into her and that person just walked away without helping her up.
"You jerk! What type of a man are you? Bumped into somebody and still walk away. Not even, apologize. No manners at all!" she yelled.
She stood up and gathered back her books. She looked up when she saw someone standing in front of her.
"What did you called me? Don't you know who I am?" asked the person.
She's furious now. "I called you a jerk because you're a jerk! Even if I am wrong for running in the hallway, but you bumped into ME! You should've apologized or helped me up," scolded her.
The man in front of him was about 6 feet tall and looked mad.
"Ah Si, what's wrong?" She saw his friends approaching them.
"This stupid girl called me a jerk! I, Dao Ming Si, a jerk!?" She looked at the faces around her. People have started to gather around them, witnessing the quarrel. At that moment, a familiar face appeared behind one of the 'jerk's' friends.
"I think you better go," said the person.
"Lei! Why are you letting her go?" scolded the jerk called Ah Si. She felt so mad at this Ah Si and ashamed at Lei for her behavior. Staring straight into Ah Si's eyes, she kicked his leg and ran off.
"Oww!! You stupid girl! Come back here!!" She heard his cries from afar and since she was already late, she headed straight to the rooftop.
~~
Opening the door, she slumped on the floor, panting for air. "Can't believe I did that. That stupid jerk! What's his name again? Ah Si? Ugly name. No manners at all! Argghhhh!!! I am so mad!" she yelled. She looked at her watch. '45 minutes to go till the next class,' she told herself.
She recalled back the incident especially the part where she saw the familiar person. "So, his name is Lei. He looked different from the one I knew. He looked ignorant, even the voice is cold too. Is he a friend of that madman?" she asked out loud.
"I am his friend."
She jumped up at the sound of the voice. "Don't scare me like that! Stop appearing like a ghost, soundless and unexpectedly," she scolded Lei.
Lei smirked. "You're really cute when you're mad." That simple sentence shut her up. She knows that she is blushing, but she tried to ignore it.
"So, you're that foolish boy's friend. Why didn't you tell him to apologize to me? You should've helped me out. The 'you' now and the 'you' back then were so much different. Are you sure you are the same person?"
Still smiling, he took her by the hand and drags her toward the railing. "Let's sit." His gesture startled her. Her heart beats faster than ever before. Looking at the hand that still held hers; she tried to free her hand from them. But the hand tightens its grip. He helped her up the railing before sitting down on it himself. All the time, he still held tight her hand.
She looked at him, unable to believe what was happening. She was happy but at the same time surprised. 'Why is he holding my hand? Why is he so much different from just now? How exactly is this Lei?' The same questions repeatedly going through her mind.
~~
He knew where to find her. He couldn't believe his eyes when he saw her quarreled with Ah Si. No one has ever been brave or stupid enough to stand up to Ah Si. But she did it. Not only did she scold him, she even kicked him.
It was so hilarious. He has to control himself not to laugh at the situation. He was amused with the girl's attitude. 'She was not so fragile after all,' he thought. So, instead of staying with Ah Si, he went to the rooftop to see the girl.
He watched her grumble and yell by her own. Smiling to himself, he found her to be quite cute. She seems to be unaware of his presence because she was asking herself whether he was a friend of Ah Si. "I am his friend."
She jumped in astonishment. He had to hold back his laughter when she scolded him for being discreet. "You're really cute when you're mad," he said aloud, without planning to do so. Just then, she blushed.
'She looks even cuter when blushing.' He ignored her questions and took her hand, lead her to the railing. "Let's sit." She tried to free her hand from his but he tightened it. Helping her up the railing, he can't stop looking at her.
Holding her and having her by his side, he felt really happy. He didn't know why he acted this way. Showing out his feelings and affections has always been a set back but today, out in the blue it came to him effortlessly.
"Tit, tit.Tit, tit."
Still holding onto her hand, he took out his mobile phone and read the message. 'F3 is waiting for me.' He looked over to her.
"What is your name? You've known mine."
She flinched and turned to face him. "I...I'm Shan Chai." He held up her hand and kissed it. "Goodbye Shan Chai. I have to go. Till we meet again," he bid goodbye and left.
~~
In front of the college main entrance he saw Xi Men and Mei Zhuo leaning by Mei Zhuo's silver BMW, watching Ah Si walking back and forth in front of them.
"I am going to get that girl! How dare she humiliate me and called me a 'jerk'. Xi Men, Mei Zhuo find out who was that girl and what are the classes that she took. I am going to make her pay. Where is Lei? Running off like that after letting that girl go unpunished is so typical of him," grumbled Ah Si.
"I'm here. What's wrong?"
Ah Si looked up towards Lei direction. His face was still furious. Mei Zhuo and Xi Men turned to face Lei as well. Their expression tells him that he's going to be in trouble.
"Where have you been? Did you know that retard girl? Why did you let her go? I was going to punish her for calling me names and humiliating me in front of the other students. You better tell me who she is, Lei," pressed Ah Si. "I don't know her. I just don't want you to make a fool of yourself for bullying a girl," explained Lei, uninterested.
"See, I told you Lei wouldn't have known the girl. Stop being a baby and let's go," said Mei Zhuo.
"Hey! I just have the most spectacular idea. Since you wanted to know about the girl, we're going to pick her as the bait. Isn't that right, Mei Zhuo?" asked Xi Men, winking at Mei Zhuo.
Understanding the meaning, Mei Zhuo added, "Yeah! That girl would be your future girlfriend. Or you want to back out?" Ah Si stared at Xi Men and Mei Zhuo as if the stare could kill.
Hearing to the idea has made Lei uncomfortable. He didn't want her to be a part of the stupid bet. The girl was his. He was not sure why he thought she was his but one thing for sure, he certainly cares a whole lot for the girl.
Since he had confessed of not knowing the girl, he can't object to it without making them suspicious of him. He has to think of something, and fast.
"The girl is not suitable for Ah Si. She's not pretty enough," he protests.
F3 turned towards him. Their faces were full of questions.
"I just thought that maybe it would be unfair for Ah Si to have such an ugly and unmannered girlfriend even for a bet. He's Dao Ming Si," he explained, trying to make it as apparent as possible. "That's the beauty of it. Because of her unmannerly attitude and the not so beautiful feature, but I do think she is quite cute, she would be the best person for Ah Si to show his capability and charm. Don't you agree Ah Si?" suggested Xi Men in an annoying tone.
"I don't like her, but this is a good idea for revenge. Emmm.if I would succeed, the two of you must acknowledge me as your love sifu. You too Lei. Okay?" agreed Ah Si, pointing at the three of them. Xi Men and Mei Zhuo laughed at Ah Si's statement, but they nodded in agreement.
Lei didn't like it, not even a bit, but for the mean time he has to keep his mouth shut and thinks of some other solutions of preventing this from happening. He didn't want his Shan Chai to be hurt but he has a feeling that she will be able to repel.