Chapter six: Car trouble
-Hey, Mi!
-Hi, sweetie!
-How's Taiwan? Did you get settled in? How's the apartment? Did you meet any interesting ...
-Sweetie! One question at the time. Well Taiwan is super grate, they have mega parties over here, the apartment is very nice, I painted it in light pink and I met a cute guy named Josh.
-Woo, tell me more about him.
-First I want to know how things going with cutie red.
-Um, everything is back to normal.
-Hey, fluffy, were the hell did you put my car keys? Miharu herd the red head shouting.
-They're in the living room. Where were we? Oh yah, and...
-They're not here.
-Find them your self. I'm talking over here! Now, who's this Josh?
-A cute guy from work.
-Details! Details!
-He's 20, brown hair, green eyes, and a nice body. Geography teacher.
-Yo, Xiao, I'm off. See you later.
-Yah, Bye! It was nice talking to you Mi; I can't wait to see you again.
-Me too, sweetie. Call you tomorrow. Bye!
-Bye, Mi!
Xiao sat the phone in its place and went to the kitchen to eat something before leaving to school. "Grate! Thanks for eating all the pancakes, Hwoarang. Sometimes I wonder how the guy can eat 11 pancakes at one meal. That's it, tomorrow his cooking."
She grabbed a sandwich and left for school. Miharu had left a week ago and Xiao was already missing her. She and Christie had become closer since Miharu had left. They went shopping together and chatted sometimes, but not that much. Her friend was very busy with administrating the building and taking care of Holly. Xiao enjoyed spending time with the Brazilian girl but it wasn't the same as with Miharu.
She sat at her usual place in classroom waiting for Miss Williams to come. The classroom door opened and Miss Williams came in with a smile on her face. She sat in her chair and took from her purse a stack of papers:
-Well, this are you're final grades for this semester. You all did a excellent job and I would want to congratulate all of you. I have set off interviews for those who did the best on they're exams and at the end of this class you may come and ask for information. Now, let's finish yesterday's lecture.
The class went on with nothing unusual happening and at the end Xiao went to talk with Anna. The Irish woman was a very friendly person, and even thou Xiao was a bit shy, she always could talk with her easily:
-Umm, Miss Anna, am I...
-Xiao, darling, you must be joking, my sister all ready thinks you're the best and now she's trying to hire you at her firm.
-Thank you, I...
-No need for thanks, just go home and have a nice vacation. See you next semester.
Xiao ran down the street with a smile on her face. She had two wonderful weeks of slaking, relaxing and fun awaiting her at home. She felt to free and active to take a cab so she walked home. She reached the building and first went to Christie to give her the good news. Xiao went straight threw the office door and landed on a chair in front of her friend's desk. Christie welcomed her with a smile on her face:
-Why's my girl so happy today?
-Because she has two hole weeks of relaxing ahead of her! She laughed. Holly came to her, begging to be hugged and lifted up. Xiao took her up and rotated around the office with her kissing her on the cheek.
-Grate, coz I have two tickets for the Janet Jackson concert tonight. Christie pulled out two tickets from her desk drawer.
-Man, I just love Janet! I'm game. Where's the concert?
-That's the problem. It's out of town. About a ten mille drive from Tokyo.
-How are we gonna get there? Xiao thought walking around the office.
-Can you calm down? You're making me dizzy. Let's go somewhere and think this out.
Christie took her purse and Holly and left the office. Xiao fallowed her to a near by café where they ordered some soda and thought about what to do. Xiao stared into her drink playing with a strand of her hair while Christie held little Holly on her lap looking out the window:
-Do you know anyone who could lend us they're car?
-Man, I'm stupid! Xiao snapped out. My roommate has a car.
-Hwoarang?
-Yah, who do you think?!
-Ok, ok! But would he lend it to us? Christie looked at Xiao with a smirk on her face.
-Yah, sure! He wouldn't disappoint his dear old roommate!
-So, I'll meet you at five in front?
-Yah, I'll be there! Xiao got up and left. Thanks, for the drink! Bye.
-No. Hwoarang closed his eyes folding his arms under his head.
-Come on!
-No, Xiao. He yawned. It's not even mine.
-Please, Hwoarang! She begged. Just for one night!
-No. N.O. No.
-Want me to beg on my hands and knees? She made an irritated face.
-That wouldn't be bad. He stood on one elbow. But I still can't give you the car.
-I'll be extra careful. Come on! It's just out of town.
-The answer is still no, Xiao. He leaned back down.
-Ok! But I'm not cooking for two months. She walked towards her bedroom." Three. Two, one..."
-Ok. Wait a minute! He stood up. Two months?! That's blackmail! You know I suck at cooking.
-Xiao got the effect she desired. She smiled and turned around, with a slightly upset face:
-Well, I don't feel like cooking anymore, but I'm sure if you try you can get better.
-Ok! I give up! You can take the car! But if there's one scratch on it...
-Yes! Xiao jumped happily. She took the car keys before Hwoarang could change his mind. She turned to him and kissed him on the cheek. Nice doing busyness with you! She laughed running to her room.
-You're welcomed! He shouted annoyed.
Xiao got dressed in pair of black low waste jeans and a cream top with straps. She redid her makeup then ran down stairs to get the car. "Woo, nice car!" she thought opening the black Mercedes Benz front door. She put the car in reverse and slowly backed out of the parking lot. She then waited in front of the building for Christie to come. The car was recently washed and vacuumed. The air freshener maid the interior smell like lemons. Christie came out and waved to her friend. Xiao waved back opening the door for her. The tall black woman got in, next to Xiao and buckled her seatbelt:
-Nice car! How did you convince him to give it to us?
-Umm, I said I wouldn't cook for two months. She smiled.
-You're good! Christie laughed. When I need the car I tell Eddy that I'm sick of changing diapers by myself. He gates so freaked out he'll even give his credit cards. The girls both laughed.
-So let's go! Xiao turned the steering wheel.
Twenty minutes later they already had taken they're seats and were waiting for the concert to start. The light's faded and the spotlights were turned on. Red and black smoke was everywhere and Janet appeared on stage dressed like a teenager. Everybody got out of they're seats including Xiao and Christie who started dancing on Janet's "All Nite (don't Stop)".
When the concert was over they snuck back stage and managed to get autographs from they're favorite singer. They talked with Janet for a few minutes then left. Five minutes later they were heading back home:
-That was one incredible concert!
-You're right! And we even got autographs!
-Xiao, watch out! Christie pointed to a guy on a bicycle in front of them. Xiao turned the car out of the way, but the guy still hit the car.
Xiao got out inspecting the damage. She took her head into her hands and started banging it against the car door. Christie got out and went to her:
-At least no one was heart.
-I'm dead! I'm a dead woman! She cried out.
-What? What's wrong? Did he hit us?
-Look for your self! Xiao turned to the guy on the bicycle who was getting away. Hey, you! Come back! Come back, you mother fucker!
Christie looked at the car. "Oh, my god!" she thought. The car was scratched all the way from the front to the back.She turned with a worried face to Xiao. They looked at each over then at the car again:
-Maybe, he won't notice it.
-I don't think so Christie! Let's go home and face the music.
-Hope it's a nice tune. They got in the car leaving for home.
They parked the car and went home. Christie left Xiao to face the music alone and went to her own apartment to check up on Holly. Xiao sighted and started walking up the stairs. "What am I going to do? He'll kill me when he sees the car. What will I say to him?" she reached her apartments' door and opened it slowly hoping that the Korean isn't home. Xiao walked in closing the door gently:
-So, how was the concert? He stood at her back. She turned around and froze. So, how was it?
Tears were welding up in her eyes. She finally broke in to tears, crying and hiccupping. She fell on the flour holding her face with her hands.
-What's wrong, Xiao? He asked puzzled. She cried even harder.She sat on the flour crying like a little kid, holding her knees to her chest.
-What happened?
-Nothing. She shook her head crying.
-Come on, you wouldn't cry like that over nothing. He said softly. Tell me already.
-No, you're gonna kill me. She sobbed whipping tears from her eyes.
-No I'm not.
-Yes you will.
-No I'm not.
-Yes you will! She shouted.
-No I'm not! Now tell me already! He shouted back. She started crying even harder. She stood with her body against the ground grabbing his feet. Xiao, stand up. You're acting childish. He leaned down.
-You're gonna kill me. I know it. She sobbed.
-I am if you don't tell me already. So spit it out!
She stood up watching the flour. She whipped the tears from her eyes:
-It's about the car. I...I...I...
-You what?
-I scratched it! Please don't kill me! She thru her self at his feat grabbing his knees and crying again.
-Come on. He took her by the armpits lifting her body up. Can you stop hugging my feet? It feels weird. Go sit on the couch and I'll be back soon. He smiled softly to her. Ok? Xiao nodded.
Hwoarang left Xiao going to the parking lot. He looked at the car for a second then stood against it. "Man, she was crying like the car was on fire or something." He got in and drove to the auto shop to cover up the scratch with a coat of paint. "Lucky for me, I have this color of paint at the shop. Hope Herb won't notice it when he gets back from his vacation."
Two hours later he came back home with green paint allover his body. Xiao was sitting on the couch ripping a paper handkerchief into peaces. He flopped next to her and changed the channel on the T.V. Xiao looked at him agitated and concerned. He laughed:
-Why are you laughing?
-Because of the face you're making. Don't look like somebody just dyed. I painted the car and tomorrow it'll look brand new again. Xiao looked up with a relived face:
-Thank you, thank you, and thank you. Somebody up there likes me.
-No, somebody down here likes you. Xiao looked back at him and after a few seconds hugged her roommate crushing he's body between her thin arms.
-Thanks to you too! Thanks very much, Hwoarang for not killing me.
-Yah, you're welcomed.
"Why do I have to be such a sucker for girls, especially this one?" he thought looking down at Xiao.