Chapter 11: Kindness Within
A butler opened the door and showed them to the recreational room.
'I thought Lei's house is big and grand, but Mei Zhuo's were even more! Are they all live in such big house? Emm. Dao Ming Si was the richest among the four and his family was the richest in whole of Taiwan. No wonder his house was far more the biggest, impressive and magnificent of all. But I'm confused. why must they have a big house with lots of room and space if they aren't going to use them all? What a waste of money and wealth! Rich people..'
Following Dao Ming Si's steps, she found herself in a big room that contains a large television with big stereos at all corners of the room, black leather sofas, two billiard tables, a bar, a whole rack full of CD's and DVD's, and four box of Daytona machine game. She can't help feeling awed of the room. She never imagined anyone could own a machine game like that before.
Jing, Mei Zhuo and Xi Men were already waiting for them. Jing were watching a show on the big screen TV and the boys were playing billiard. Knowing that they were already there, Jing looked up from behind the sofa, waved at her and stopped mid-air.
"It took Ah Si to drive an hour from Shan Chai's house to the college but, Shan Chai took an hour and a half to reach my house from college which is only about 25 kilometers away. She broke your record man!" teased Mei Zhuo without taking his eyes off from the billiard table.
She tried to make a 'NO' signal from Ah Si's back but since he or Xi Men didn't even looked at the two of them, they didn't noticed it.
'Oh boy. he is sooo. in trouble,' she said to herself.
Finally, Xi Men looked up and his face was shocked! He tapped on Mei Zhuo's shoulder indicating that he should stop and looked too.
"What the hell happened to you?!" exclaimed Mei Zhuo in shocked when he make a glanced towards Ah Si.
What they saw was that, Ah Si was in sweat, tired, his hand had grease on them and he was not looking very happy about it.
"You want to know what happened to ME? You want to know why the hell it took one and a half hour to be here?" he questioned back, anger in his tone.
Grabbing Shan Chai's arm, he exploded, "SHE was the reason!! I have to sit at the back of a tiny scooter looking like an idiot, not wearing a helmet because there was only ONE, which was then caused me to be questioned by a police traffic who did not believe I was the heir of Dao Ming until I had to take out my ID and showed it to him, then, led him to make fun of the picture, oh. and that is not the end of it! At the entrance of your house, HER SCOOTER had a flat tire! I have to push the stupid bike all the way here! And guess what!! The scooter is not that tiny after all when you pushed it up a hill! So, now you know! Are you happy?!"
"It was not my fault!! How'd I know that the tire was going to be flat? Furthermore, there are two helmets! Who asked you not wanting to wear it?" she defended herself, breaking free from Ah Si's grip.
"THAT is not a helmet! That is a turtle shell!! I will not let it ruined my perfect hair!"
"Well, that perfect HAIR of yours was the reason the policeman laughed at you! Why did none of you tell me that his hair was like a pineapple before? It was so funny!" she laughed followed by the others.
That made Ah Si more furious and stormed out of the room. Mei Zhuo wanted to follow him but Jing told him not to. Let him cool down by himself, she said. Mei Zhuo then asked his butler to call someone to fix Shan Chai's flat tire. They had a few more laugh after that when they asked Shan Chai how it all really happened. Mei Zhuo even showed her all the pictures he had of Ah Si and the others when they were young, and talked about their memories together.
'Wow, they are pretty close together ever since childhood. Emm. Lei were the quietest, mysterious and shy of all? He never looked shy in front of me before. Mysterious. that's him alright. I never could understand him. What ever he was thinking, I can never really tell.'
~~~*~~~*~~~
"Mrs. Lee, could I have the night shifts starting next month? I'm willing to do overtime too if you want me to," asked Shan Chai to her supervisor the first chance she have during work.
"Why? Are you in need of money, Shan Chai? I could give you a month advance first."
"No, it's not about the money. Well, I'm staying alone now, and I have more time to spare. It's okay if I can't get the night shift all day of the week but I'm hoping if you could set me up for more than my current night shift."
"Okay, I'll see what I can do. But for now, I think you had better get back to work. You have a customer waiting."
"Thank you Mrs. Lee."
She quickly went back behind the cashier and entertained the customer. Xiao You gave her a curious look while cleaning up the tables and dishes.
"So, is there anything you want to tell me? Why do you go to see Mrs. Lee?" asked Xiao You when the shop have no more customers and about to close.
"I asked if she could give me more night shifts and to cast me more overtime."
"And why is that? Do you have problems with your parents? Are you trying to avoid seeing them at home? I think, it is best if you talk to them about what is bothering you rather than running away from them," advised Xiao You, with a concerned look on her face.
Shan Chai shook her head and smiled.
"It has something to do with my parents, but not as what you're thinking. My parents had just move out from the house. My dad got a new post at a new store outside Taipei. I'm being left alone to stay here because of Ying De. I don't want to, but they insisted that I finished my degree first. So, that is why I'm asking for the night shift. I don't want to have loneliness night alone at home. After the night shift, all I have to do is just go straight home to bed. That way, I don't have to think about how I miss them," explicated Shan Chai, tears forming in her eyes.
"I'm so sorry to hear that, Shan Chai. Don't worry, you can always come over to my place. I wished I could stay with you but I don't think my mom would approve. However, I think I can manage to have nights over at your house on weekends or holidays, now and then that is. And I'll keep you company when we have the shifts together. Is that okay?"
Xiao You took a tissue and wiped her friend's tears. Smiling, she hugged her and comforted her.
"Ehemm.."
Hearing that, the both of them let go and turned their sight to where the sound came from. To Shan Chai's surprised, it came from two familiar person, Dao Ming Si and Xi Men.
"What are you two doing here?" Shan Chai asked.
"Well, you see, there is this guy I know that is worried about your safety and he dragged me along to accompany you back home. This guy, oww."
Xi Men stopped and giggled while rubbing his side where Ah Si has given him quite a nudged with his elbow. Even Xiao You and she found it funny to see the redness of Ah Si's face with what Xi Men had said.
"It's nothing like that! Who'd worry about you? Even the bad guys won't stand a chance to do anything to you with the fierceness and harshness you possessed."
"What did you say? Do you want a piece of me?" snapped Shan Chai instantly, showing her fist at Ah Si's face.
"I'm someone with si..sense. Never will I hit a woman, no matter how tempting it would be!" Ah Si yelled back.
Xi Men and Xiao You ganged up to stop the quarrel that had started to trigger.
"Cool down man," Xi Men said to Ah Si.
"He doesn't mean what he said. Rilex, Shan Chai. We don't want Mrs. Lee to hit the sky knowing about this, do we?" calmed Xiao You.
Seeing that the two has finally stopped their little conflict, Xi Men held out his hand towards Xiao You.
"I don't believe we have been properly introduced. Hi, my name is Xi Men. This is my friend, Ah Si."
"It's Dao Ming Si," cut in Ah Si, nodding at Xiao You.
"We always call him Ah Si. And, what would be the name of this lovely, cute girl?"
"I'm Xiao You. Shan Chai's ex-high school classmate. She's my best friend," answered Xiao You with a smile, taking Xi Men's held up hand.
To her surprise and Shan Chai's as well, Xi Men took it and kissed the back of her hand.
"Nice to meet you, Miss Xiao You," Xi Men said, giving Xiao You an intense look and his sweetest smile.
"Okay now, let go of her hand, Xi Men. That is enough." exclaimed Shan Chai, trying to break free the handshake between Xi Men and Xiao You.
"Ohh.. Shan Chai. You are such a spoiler," mumbled Xi Men, letting go of Xiao You's hand.
"I don't care! What is it that you are here for? Now, if you are not going to buy anything, you can as well stay outside," asked Shan Chai sternly.
"I've told you. Someone is worried."
"I'm worried about your safety and I am here to escort you back home. Xi Men is here by himself," Ah Si butted in Xi Men's answer.
"I'm what?" asked Xi Men with a surprised look on his face but sighed after that. "Xiao You, do you mind giving me a lift? Someone has just kicked me out of my ride home."
Giggling, Xiao You agreed, "Let's go. We're closing anyway. Bye, Shan Chai. See you tomorrow."
"Xiao You! You can't leave me. Who'll help me close up?" asked Shan Chai frantically.
Taking off her uniform and grabbed her things, Xiao You just pointed her finger at Ah Si and went out the door with Xi Men following behind her, smiling teasingly. There were silence for a while before Shan Chai uttered out, "Ah Si, could you help me put up the chairs on the tables while I close up the cashier?"
Without any resistance, Ah Si nodded his head and immediately, he did what Shan Chai asked him to.
'That was a shocked! Never thought he would do it without any protest coming out from him. Well, he sure can be kind and charming when he wanted to. As for you, Xiao You. you and Xi Men are going to be really sorry to pull that stunt on me.'
10 minutes later, Shan Chai left the shop with her scooter followed closely behind by her escort in a black BMW, Ah Si. Reaching home, Shan Chai opened the gate and parked her scooter inside before going back outside to thank Ah Si.
Seeing Ah Si leaning at the passenger's door, Shan Chai went over and stood in front of him.
"Ah Si, thank you. You really don't have to do this, but thank you anyway."
"It's okay. You are my friend. It's my responsibility to make sure you're safe especially in the condition that you're alone at Taipei. If it were Jing, I'd still do the same. Go in. I'm not leaving until I am sure you're safe inside your house. Good night, Shan Chai. Sweet dreams," said Ah Si caringly.
'Who knew Dao Ming Si was actually caring beneath all those arrogant and abrasiveness. Like they say, never judge a book by its cover. I'm sorry for judging you first without giving you and me the chance to get to know you,' apologized her secretly to Ah Si in her heart.
Smiling, Shan Chai went back inside and gave a wave to Ah Si before entering her house. Upon the light in the house had been switched on, thus Ah Si went back in his car and drove off.
A butler opened the door and showed them to the recreational room.
'I thought Lei's house is big and grand, but Mei Zhuo's were even more! Are they all live in such big house? Emm. Dao Ming Si was the richest among the four and his family was the richest in whole of Taiwan. No wonder his house was far more the biggest, impressive and magnificent of all. But I'm confused. why must they have a big house with lots of room and space if they aren't going to use them all? What a waste of money and wealth! Rich people..'
Following Dao Ming Si's steps, she found herself in a big room that contains a large television with big stereos at all corners of the room, black leather sofas, two billiard tables, a bar, a whole rack full of CD's and DVD's, and four box of Daytona machine game. She can't help feeling awed of the room. She never imagined anyone could own a machine game like that before.
Jing, Mei Zhuo and Xi Men were already waiting for them. Jing were watching a show on the big screen TV and the boys were playing billiard. Knowing that they were already there, Jing looked up from behind the sofa, waved at her and stopped mid-air.
"It took Ah Si to drive an hour from Shan Chai's house to the college but, Shan Chai took an hour and a half to reach my house from college which is only about 25 kilometers away. She broke your record man!" teased Mei Zhuo without taking his eyes off from the billiard table.
She tried to make a 'NO' signal from Ah Si's back but since he or Xi Men didn't even looked at the two of them, they didn't noticed it.
'Oh boy. he is sooo. in trouble,' she said to herself.
Finally, Xi Men looked up and his face was shocked! He tapped on Mei Zhuo's shoulder indicating that he should stop and looked too.
"What the hell happened to you?!" exclaimed Mei Zhuo in shocked when he make a glanced towards Ah Si.
What they saw was that, Ah Si was in sweat, tired, his hand had grease on them and he was not looking very happy about it.
"You want to know what happened to ME? You want to know why the hell it took one and a half hour to be here?" he questioned back, anger in his tone.
Grabbing Shan Chai's arm, he exploded, "SHE was the reason!! I have to sit at the back of a tiny scooter looking like an idiot, not wearing a helmet because there was only ONE, which was then caused me to be questioned by a police traffic who did not believe I was the heir of Dao Ming until I had to take out my ID and showed it to him, then, led him to make fun of the picture, oh. and that is not the end of it! At the entrance of your house, HER SCOOTER had a flat tire! I have to push the stupid bike all the way here! And guess what!! The scooter is not that tiny after all when you pushed it up a hill! So, now you know! Are you happy?!"
"It was not my fault!! How'd I know that the tire was going to be flat? Furthermore, there are two helmets! Who asked you not wanting to wear it?" she defended herself, breaking free from Ah Si's grip.
"THAT is not a helmet! That is a turtle shell!! I will not let it ruined my perfect hair!"
"Well, that perfect HAIR of yours was the reason the policeman laughed at you! Why did none of you tell me that his hair was like a pineapple before? It was so funny!" she laughed followed by the others.
That made Ah Si more furious and stormed out of the room. Mei Zhuo wanted to follow him but Jing told him not to. Let him cool down by himself, she said. Mei Zhuo then asked his butler to call someone to fix Shan Chai's flat tire. They had a few more laugh after that when they asked Shan Chai how it all really happened. Mei Zhuo even showed her all the pictures he had of Ah Si and the others when they were young, and talked about their memories together.
'Wow, they are pretty close together ever since childhood. Emm. Lei were the quietest, mysterious and shy of all? He never looked shy in front of me before. Mysterious. that's him alright. I never could understand him. What ever he was thinking, I can never really tell.'
~~~*~~~*~~~
"Mrs. Lee, could I have the night shifts starting next month? I'm willing to do overtime too if you want me to," asked Shan Chai to her supervisor the first chance she have during work.
"Why? Are you in need of money, Shan Chai? I could give you a month advance first."
"No, it's not about the money. Well, I'm staying alone now, and I have more time to spare. It's okay if I can't get the night shift all day of the week but I'm hoping if you could set me up for more than my current night shift."
"Okay, I'll see what I can do. But for now, I think you had better get back to work. You have a customer waiting."
"Thank you Mrs. Lee."
She quickly went back behind the cashier and entertained the customer. Xiao You gave her a curious look while cleaning up the tables and dishes.
"So, is there anything you want to tell me? Why do you go to see Mrs. Lee?" asked Xiao You when the shop have no more customers and about to close.
"I asked if she could give me more night shifts and to cast me more overtime."
"And why is that? Do you have problems with your parents? Are you trying to avoid seeing them at home? I think, it is best if you talk to them about what is bothering you rather than running away from them," advised Xiao You, with a concerned look on her face.
Shan Chai shook her head and smiled.
"It has something to do with my parents, but not as what you're thinking. My parents had just move out from the house. My dad got a new post at a new store outside Taipei. I'm being left alone to stay here because of Ying De. I don't want to, but they insisted that I finished my degree first. So, that is why I'm asking for the night shift. I don't want to have loneliness night alone at home. After the night shift, all I have to do is just go straight home to bed. That way, I don't have to think about how I miss them," explicated Shan Chai, tears forming in her eyes.
"I'm so sorry to hear that, Shan Chai. Don't worry, you can always come over to my place. I wished I could stay with you but I don't think my mom would approve. However, I think I can manage to have nights over at your house on weekends or holidays, now and then that is. And I'll keep you company when we have the shifts together. Is that okay?"
Xiao You took a tissue and wiped her friend's tears. Smiling, she hugged her and comforted her.
"Ehemm.."
Hearing that, the both of them let go and turned their sight to where the sound came from. To Shan Chai's surprised, it came from two familiar person, Dao Ming Si and Xi Men.
"What are you two doing here?" Shan Chai asked.
"Well, you see, there is this guy I know that is worried about your safety and he dragged me along to accompany you back home. This guy, oww."
Xi Men stopped and giggled while rubbing his side where Ah Si has given him quite a nudged with his elbow. Even Xiao You and she found it funny to see the redness of Ah Si's face with what Xi Men had said.
"It's nothing like that! Who'd worry about you? Even the bad guys won't stand a chance to do anything to you with the fierceness and harshness you possessed."
"What did you say? Do you want a piece of me?" snapped Shan Chai instantly, showing her fist at Ah Si's face.
"I'm someone with si..sense. Never will I hit a woman, no matter how tempting it would be!" Ah Si yelled back.
Xi Men and Xiao You ganged up to stop the quarrel that had started to trigger.
"Cool down man," Xi Men said to Ah Si.
"He doesn't mean what he said. Rilex, Shan Chai. We don't want Mrs. Lee to hit the sky knowing about this, do we?" calmed Xiao You.
Seeing that the two has finally stopped their little conflict, Xi Men held out his hand towards Xiao You.
"I don't believe we have been properly introduced. Hi, my name is Xi Men. This is my friend, Ah Si."
"It's Dao Ming Si," cut in Ah Si, nodding at Xiao You.
"We always call him Ah Si. And, what would be the name of this lovely, cute girl?"
"I'm Xiao You. Shan Chai's ex-high school classmate. She's my best friend," answered Xiao You with a smile, taking Xi Men's held up hand.
To her surprise and Shan Chai's as well, Xi Men took it and kissed the back of her hand.
"Nice to meet you, Miss Xiao You," Xi Men said, giving Xiao You an intense look and his sweetest smile.
"Okay now, let go of her hand, Xi Men. That is enough." exclaimed Shan Chai, trying to break free the handshake between Xi Men and Xiao You.
"Ohh.. Shan Chai. You are such a spoiler," mumbled Xi Men, letting go of Xiao You's hand.
"I don't care! What is it that you are here for? Now, if you are not going to buy anything, you can as well stay outside," asked Shan Chai sternly.
"I've told you. Someone is worried."
"I'm worried about your safety and I am here to escort you back home. Xi Men is here by himself," Ah Si butted in Xi Men's answer.
"I'm what?" asked Xi Men with a surprised look on his face but sighed after that. "Xiao You, do you mind giving me a lift? Someone has just kicked me out of my ride home."
Giggling, Xiao You agreed, "Let's go. We're closing anyway. Bye, Shan Chai. See you tomorrow."
"Xiao You! You can't leave me. Who'll help me close up?" asked Shan Chai frantically.
Taking off her uniform and grabbed her things, Xiao You just pointed her finger at Ah Si and went out the door with Xi Men following behind her, smiling teasingly. There were silence for a while before Shan Chai uttered out, "Ah Si, could you help me put up the chairs on the tables while I close up the cashier?"
Without any resistance, Ah Si nodded his head and immediately, he did what Shan Chai asked him to.
'That was a shocked! Never thought he would do it without any protest coming out from him. Well, he sure can be kind and charming when he wanted to. As for you, Xiao You. you and Xi Men are going to be really sorry to pull that stunt on me.'
10 minutes later, Shan Chai left the shop with her scooter followed closely behind by her escort in a black BMW, Ah Si. Reaching home, Shan Chai opened the gate and parked her scooter inside before going back outside to thank Ah Si.
Seeing Ah Si leaning at the passenger's door, Shan Chai went over and stood in front of him.
"Ah Si, thank you. You really don't have to do this, but thank you anyway."
"It's okay. You are my friend. It's my responsibility to make sure you're safe especially in the condition that you're alone at Taipei. If it were Jing, I'd still do the same. Go in. I'm not leaving until I am sure you're safe inside your house. Good night, Shan Chai. Sweet dreams," said Ah Si caringly.
'Who knew Dao Ming Si was actually caring beneath all those arrogant and abrasiveness. Like they say, never judge a book by its cover. I'm sorry for judging you first without giving you and me the chance to get to know you,' apologized her secretly to Ah Si in her heart.
Smiling, Shan Chai went back inside and gave a wave to Ah Si before entering her house. Upon the light in the house had been switched on, thus Ah Si went back in his car and drove off.