[April 2008]

It's been a month after Grandma Wu's passing and the Lees still haven't completely gotten over the demise of their matriarch, although there was substantial improvement in how they've been feeling. Mei has just turned 19 last month, and she and Abby are doing well in college, and so are Priya and Miriam. Their bond still remained strong despite being hundreds and thousands of miles apart, although due to increasing schoolwork loads in the past few weeks, they haven't been really talking to each other, but they still remain in touch somehow.

Stacy Frick, who was in her room in Toronto, had a group audio call with her friends who have since then relocated permanently to Vancouver.

"So guys, don't you miss Toronto? You two stooges have left me here alone in YYZ," laughed but sniffled Stacy on the line.

"Kind of missing Toronto here, girl. Although we have the Rockies and we're much closer to Banff, nothing beats Southern Ontario and its… Everything" sighed her Afro-Canadian friend.

"I thought Toronto was already expensive till I set foot in Vancouver!" exclaimed her Asian-looking friend. "But hey, at least we got the Rockies, sick view, and the prices between both cities are somehow just a few dollars apart, I guess?"

"When are you coming here to visit?! Let's go on a road trip sometime to Banff or down south to Washington!" said her Afro-Canadian friend.

"Guys! Calm down," laughed Stacy. "In the near future, perhaps, I can pay you guys a visit. If we'd go transborder, then maybe Alaska would be a great place, too! Hyder, Alaska, anyone?"

"Or the airplane museum in Seattle? I love planes!" exclaimed her Asian-looking friend.

The trio shared a laugh and had good moments together on the line. The two girls, however, were quite homesick despite being in the same country, just in another city thousands of kilometers apart.

"Oh, by the way.. I'm schoolmates with Mei and Abby, just so you know!" announced Stacy.

The other two girls were surprised but really weren't. Surprised-ish.

"My golly…. You're with the panda girl again?! SWELL!" gasped the Asian friend.

"And the chaotic Abby? Damn, I miss her hugs… And punches!" added the Afro-Canadian friend.

"Yeah, we're future nurses. Fingers crossed, we all are gonna be successful professionals!" smiled Stacy. "However, I might also explore other opportunities outside of my field, like becoming a fashion designer or cartoonist, for example"

"Go, girl!" the two friends in Vancouver cheered over the line. The Asian friend then added "In my case, I think I'm gonna be sticking to Accounting"

"And that's what smart people do, right?!" teased the Afro-Canadian friend.

"Geez, you're smart too, don't be too pushy on yourself, babe,"

Stacy then decided to open something up about looking for friends. She's been thinking of hanging out with Mei's group after her original friends have moved to the other side of the country, 3 hours behind.

"Uhm girls…" stammered Stacy. "I've been wanting to tell you guys something."

"What's up?"

"Yeah, go on, babe, what's the news?"

Stacy then cleared her throat, "Okay, so I've been feeling lonely lately, but I've got a few acquaintances here lately from school, I just couldn't click with them due to differences in inner interests."

The girls continued to listen.

"Yeah, go on?" said the Asian friend.

"And the only ones I feel I could relate with besides you guys are Meilin Lee and her friends. Probably because we all came from Toronto Central High?"

The trio paused for a while. Then, the Afro-Canadian friend replied.

"Sick! Whatever makes you happy, babe."

"Totally! But I'm not sure if it'll be okay with Mei, Priya, Miriam, and Tyler, though."

"Yeah, I guess the best I could do is to be friendlier with them. They're a cool bunch, especially panda girl Meilin!" giggled Stacy.

"Oh, and speaking of Tyler…. I heard he's soon joining the military? And also probably he's into Mei and may be dating?"

The girls gave out a small gasp.

"O…M…G…!" gasped Stacy with her signature catchphrase, albeit a bit slower. "Please, Mei's too cute and pretty for that idiot,"

The other two girls laughed.

"He may not be the best performer academically back in High School, but who knows he'd actually change when he trains in the military?!" commented the Afro-Canadian friend.

"And honestly, they'd be a cute couple!" giggled the Asian friend. "Despite the fact tho that Mei had pounced on him out of rage way back '02, my vote would go for the two of em."

There was a short pause then the Afro-Canadian friend asked,

"What about you, Stacy? How's you and your boyfriend doing?"

Stacy paused for a while, a bit shaken by the question, then shuddered,

"Uh… We're doing fine, I guess? Emphasis on fine,"

The other two girls knew the emotion she was trying to convey.

"I see, I see…. But if he does something really, really stupid next time, we're gonna whoop his ass for you, even if it means having to come back all the way to Toronto!", told the Asian friend.

"Eheheh," stammered Stacy. "Don't worry, I can handle Henry, don't stress yourselves too much there,"

"You're our girl babe, we won't let shit happen to you, remember that!"

Stacy then added, "Oh, and speaking of "pouncing on him" back in '02", referring to Mei almost mauling Tyler to shreds when he picked on her at his party,

"Uh huhh, go on"

"Soon afterwards… It's gonna be the other way around, but with passion and down under and…. Yeah, you think about it.", said Stacy in a rather suggestive tone.

There was a brief pause then the Afro-Canadian friend soon exclaimed laughingly, realising what her friend meant.

"Stacy…. You perverted piece of shit!"

The trio continued on with their call, ended after 20 minutes, and went on with their day.

At the temple, it's a normal Saturday afternoon for the Lees. Jin had been practicing how to bake, and Mei & Ming were sweeping the courtyard. When they were done, Mei headed to her room and rested, playing songs on her stereo.

As ABBA's "Thank you for the Music" was playing, she received a text from Tyler.

"Meetup tomorrow, you down? 10 AM"

Mei gasped, though she was cool with it. Sure, she and Tyler hung out before, only with the other girls around, but this would be the first time she'd hang out with a guy, just the two of them.

Before she could get the chance to reply, Tyler suddenly gave her a call, and she picked up.

"Yo" greeted Tyler. "Figured out it's a good time to hang out tomorrow, wanna come along?"

Mei felt her heart racing. Her love interest actually invited her out. Along with this, her tail and panda ears popped.

"Mei? Meimei?"

"Cool, great, thanks!" gushed Mei. "But… Are you picking me up or we're gonna be meeting somewhere?"

."Meetup somewhere, but I can always volunteer to drop you home" winked Tyle

Mei paused for a while. Realising she's done with her stuff for school, she agreed to hanging out with Tyler although she was a bit reluctant. Probably because it's just the two of them and they're the opposite sexes?

"Sure thing, let me just check how much I have on my bank account now," replied Mei. "But we won't be out for long, right? Y'know… Ming Lee," she shuddered.

Tyler chuckled and then said, "Heh, don't worry, we won't be past 8 in the evening! Besides, it's my treat tomorrow, I guarantee you."

The two then continued talking and ended the call. Mei sat by the foot of her bed.

"Phew, but should I really be going tomorrow?! I'm quite lazy to go out, let alone do anything, but it's him and I'm…" thought Mei to herself, wiping sweat from her forehead. She then proceeded to remove the red nail polish from her fingers with acetone and cotton.

[THE FOLLOWING DAY]

It's hangout day for Mei and Tyler. She had informed her parents the night before that she'll be hanging out with Tyler, with a little hesitation from Ming, but Jin was supportive. They'd be meeting at the mall.

9:58 AM

Mei had finished dressing up after eating breakfast and showering. She was wearing her red cardigan and skirt + leggings, like the ones she used to wear 6 years prior. Surprisingly, they still do fit her well despite having grown a few inches in height. Instead of sneakers, she wore doll shoes with below-the-ankle length skin tone foot socks, which she decided to be wearing for a change.

As she proceeded to the front door, she received a text from Tyler who announced a last-minute change in plans.

"I'm picking you up, now im 3 blocks away. C ya"

She seemed surprised at the text, but went cool with it.

"Aight", texted Mei.

Proceeding to the front door, she was paused for a while by Ming, who gently but firmly held her by the forearm and then the hand.

"Look, Meimei…." said Ming, taking a deep breath. "I know Tyler's a trusted friend. He's been nice to you for ages, he's pretty giving, but-", she commented, then was shut off gently by Mei.

"But he's an ingenious jerk?"

Ming was quiet for a second and continued, "Y'know, maybe you're not wrong, but I'll give him the benefit of the doubt…."

There was a brief pause.

"...If he shows he's really deserving of my, and your dad's, trust." said Ming slightly sternly, then quickly smiled at her daughter. "But you have fun with your future 2nd Lieutenant, sweetie!". She then gave Mei a soft kiss on the cheek, by the jawbone.

Mei looked at her, slightly puzzled, but she went along with it anyway.

"I'm not even sure if he's THE ONE, mother!" she chuckled, then hand in mouth, concealed her blushy emotions.

"Your blushing says otherwise, dear."

"Whatever, mother, see ya! And bye, dad!"

Mei then ran off the house and went to the gate. In her hurry, she tripped but immediately regained footing and continued on to the gate to wait for her friend, or potential lover.

As Tyler was waiting for the traffic light to turn green, he had thoughts about his future, given that he's going to join the military soon, hoping to become an air force pilot.

"Where do I go? Do I get assigned to Alert in Nunavut? Be with Americans and Brits in scorching-hot Middle East? Get shot down and captured by bandits?"

"Or maybe I'd get assignments to those bases in Qatar? Dubai? Riyadh?"

Seconds later, it was green and eventually he pulled to the temple gate, with Mei waiting outside. Ming was watching through the monitor with 360-degree CCTV cameras, then she also went to the gate.

"Oh there you are, Tyler!" greeted Ming a bit smugly but smilingly. "Where are you two headed?"

Mei and Tyler looked at each other for a few seconds then Tyler greeted his love interest's mother.

"Hey, Mrs. Lee! Pleased to see you again, Madam. As for me and Mei, we're headed to Eaton Centre, I think?"

Ming continued to look intently.

"Or perhaps someplace else, but rest assured, maam, we're not gonna do anything stupid!", finished Tyler.

Ming still listened and looked intently, then took a deep breath.

"Okay, I see, you two have fun, okay? And please don't call me "maam", Ty", laughed Ming. "You're too formal, I guess you're preparing for your military training?", in which Tyler also laughed softly

She then switched to a slightly stern mood and gently held Tyler by the arm, but firmly.

"First things first, my Meimei must be home by 8 pm. Maximum 8:30. Beyond those times, there must be a valid reason, or I'm telling your parents and Mei's not going to see you indefinitely."

Tyler was looking at Ming a bit frightened.

"Secondly, this is a hangout, not a date. Take things slowly if you really are interested in my daughter!"

Tyler then nodded, sweating a bit in the head.

"And lastly, make sure your phones are charged properly so that you guys may always be reachable!"

Tyler nodded again in agreement.

"Yes, Mrs. Lee, you can always count on me,"

Ming then switched her mood to calm again and cooed,

"Good! Now you two have fun once again, see you!"

Mei then entered the passenger side of Tyler's Accord, fastened her seatbelt, and Tyler entered the driver's side.

"How's your day, Mei?"

"Quite good, I guess? And you?"

"Business as usual", chuckled Tyler. He then set the gear to D and drove off.

Ming, at the temple, returned home to Jin, continuing to read his newspaper from earlier in the morning. He then shifted his attention to his wife, who was positioning herself next to him.

"The two already left, sweetie," said Ming.

"Oh, that's good for em, when'll Mei be back though?"

"I told them they should be back before 8:30. Beyond that, they should state a valid reason," replied Ming firmly.

Jin then turned on the TV, inserted a DVD of a Cantonese comedy film into the player and the pair relaxed on the sofa for the day.

To be continued

A/N: The ethnicities of Stacy's two friends may (or may not) be confirmed IRL, but to me, they appear what they're described here.

Due to language and suggestive dialogue in the earlier part of this chapter, this is where Rated M begins.

That's chapter 9 for you, your review/s will be highly appreciated. Thanks!