A/N: Hello again, I'm back and to make up for the last chapter that probably sucks so much. Thanks Ryu (Guest) for your review, it does enlighten my day a little and Writer of Illusion for liking the chapter even though I still think it sucks. Anyway, this chapter is-
...
Out of Season 1:
Chap Goh Mei's
Romantic Tradition
...
Everyone knows that Chap Goh Mei started in China, right? Before you go saying that Chap Goh Mei is the 15th day of the Chinese New Year, yes it is, that is why I add 'out of season' in the title and if you ask why can't I just write it next year? My memory is not very good and I might forget about it.
Anyway, before you conclude that every tradition started in China, there is one tradition that originated from Malaysia or Malaya that time. A romantic tradition to be more specific. Throwing oranges into sea or river. How is it romantic you may ask.
Well, young single women threw mandarin oranges into river or sea with their contact information written on them, hoping for a suitable young man to pick it up and...the cupid's arrow comes after that.
It began in Penang, Malaya, one of the British most precious ports besides Singapore and Malacca. As you all know that residents living in Penang are mostly Chinese and this romantic tradition originated from them.
Young maidens threw mandarin oranges in hoping that they will find their true love and write their own fairy tale. Romantic, isn't it? Happily ever after sounds nice however, we do not focus on that.
In the present, Malaysia is telling the female nations of this tradition. Let's head there now, shall we?
"Aren't you all curious at all? Of how this tradition even start?" Malaysia asked.
"Well...you could say we're a bit curious." Hungary replied.
Malaysia grinned. "It all began at the end of the 19th century...when the economy was quite good, young maidens of higher class started throwing mandarin oranges to celebrate. Not long after that, young men would be waiting at the other side to pick up those oranges, you could say it's a way for young ladies to get a husband. Right now, to spike things up, single ladies would throw mandarin oranges and young men formed into teams to row a boat to collect mandarin oranges. The team that has the most oranges win!"
"Wow, I didn't know you had such interesting traditions!" Seychelles exclaimed.
"Can we really get the guy we like?" Belarus asked.
Malaysia merely shrugged. "Depends on your luck."
Of course, there is a back story to it that Malaysia never bothered to tell the others. No one knew besides her Asian family. It took place around the same year as those traditions began.
Apparently, Malaya as she was known that time was celebrating with the other Straits Chinese and throwing oranges originated from her not any other ladies. How so? Let's find out shall we?
Malaya bought a mandarin orange specially for this occasion. After she bought it, she went to the harbour and watch fishermen do their job. While watching them, she was lost in her own thoughts. Independence. She did thought about it but her people failed to even defeat the British.
Frustrated, she threw the mandarin orange into the sea with all she got. It took her a few seconds to realize what she had done. Oh well, it's just a mandarin orange, right? Not anything special or...
Walking past her was an old lady and her grandson, they seem to be talking about mandarin oranges. The boy barely five years asks his grandmother "Grandma, what's so special about mandarin oranges?"
"They symbolizes good luck child and are said to bring good fortune especially when you placed them in pairs at the door." the old lady explained.
"So if you threw a mandarin orange to the sea, does that mean you'll lose your fortune?" the boy asked again.
The old lady simply chuckled as she and her grandson, walked away with no Malaya in sight after they walked away from the scene.
It turns out Malaya is running to the nearest place where she can called out to fishermen to retrieve the mandarin orange for her.
"Hey! Can any of you retrieve that mandarin orange for me?" she asked, waving her arms around.
One of the fishermen, a good looking one, nodded as he rowed his boat and successfully retrieving the mandarin orange. Malaya sighed in relief, at least her fortune can still be saved. The man rowed towards her and handed her the mandarin orange.
"Here you go, Miss."
"Thank you so much there! You saved my fortune!" Malaya said, tears of happiness running down her face.
Coincidently, a group of high class single ladies walked past and noticed the commotion. While they were chatting to themselves, one of Malaya's states, Penang approaches the ladies and said in a low voice "There is a rumour that if you are single, tossing oranges to the sea or river might get you a good husband."
Without waiting for another word, these ladies scurried to the small stall the old man runs and buy some mandarin oranges. Penang lets a smirk form on her face as she walks away whistling a happy tune. At least we know how Penang gains some popularity for some of her traditions.
~Happy Tune~
At present time, France was waiting at the other side of the sea to retrive a mandarin orange from a lovely young mademoiselle so he will be able to date her. He had met her online and Malaysia has been so sweet to arrange a meeting place for the two of them.
"Remember Mr. Perancis (France), your date is SweetieGirl12, she will write it on the mandarin orange and there is also some lipstick mark there so don't miss it!" Malaysia said to France while holding a video camera.
Suddenly, he spotted it. That fated mandarin orange that belonged to SweetieGirl12 and there is a lipstick mark. France smiled in anticipation as he texted the girl that he had found it and of course the girl texted him back saying "Meet me at the other side, I'll be wearing a pink T-shirt with the picture of a strawberry on it and a pink wool cap."
France eagerly ran to the other side in a speed that he had not know that he still had. His eyes searching for the girl with a pink wool cap, Malaysia joined him in the search when she notices a pink wool cap that sticks out in the crowd.
"Mr. Perancis, there she is!" Malaysia pointed to the pink wool cap, still holding the video camera, as France beats her to the mysterious girl he met online.
"Excuse me, are you perhaps Big Brother France?" a voice asked.
France turned around, smiling, however it slips into a frown as he saw the identity of this girl he met online. He paled.
"Mr. Perancis, have you-" Malaysia paused as she notices the look on France's face. She turned to where France is facing and nearly burst out laughing at the sight of the girl or rather an old lady.
"Are you SweetieGirl12?" Malaysia asked, trying her best to hold back her laughter.
The old lady nodded. "I love hot guys like him~. And people usually avoided me because I am old and all, but you don't think I look young and attractive now, do you?"
Malaysia quickly excused herself to a corner as she burst out laughing at that. Not once in her whole life did she had such a good laugh about this! This is so going to get a good hit in Y*uT*be. But then, there is something she could do with this video...
~Hihihi~
England walks out of the meeting room, tired from all of these fruitless meetings when a certain durian loving nation stopped in front of him.
"Happy Birthday Father." Malaysia greeted with a huge smile on her face as she holds out a package in front of England.
He eyes the package suspiciously as he slowly accepted it. "What are you up to this time?"
"Nothing Father. This is my birthday present to you." Malaysia replied, smiling innocently.
"My birthday is still ages away you know." England stated.
"I know, consider this as an early birthday present." Malaysia said shoving the gift to the Englishman and ran off.
England simply watched his former colony ran off as he shrugged. She doesn't look like she's planning something. On the package was a small note, it said 'Dear Father, please watch this when you're alone. Please do not tell anyone about this especially Mr. France.'
So returning home, England played the video. At first, he did not react to anything but a certain scene cause him to laugh.
"Mr. Perancis, have you-?" a muffled laughter came from the young nation who was filming it. England couldn't help but laugh along as well. This is simply the best present he had received so far!
He had always warn him of online dating and it seems he learnt his lesson well, England mused.
So England laid back and watch the video playing Francis's date for the rest of the day.
~Tamat~
Lights
Camera
Trumpet!
The stage lit up in many different colours of lights as the room was engulfed by the cheers and claps of the audience. In a puff of smoke, the male and female personification of the nation Malaysia appeared, both are wearing a tuxedo (plus top hat) and holding a cane.
"Selamat petang~, ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls~!" Male Malaysia greeted.
"Today's topic is...drumrolls!"
*Drumrolls*
Female Malaysia jumps up, using the came to pull down a screen. On it was Malaysia's Team Spirit.
"So...you have all seen it fellows! Time for...the selection of the presenter!" Male Malaysia announced.
"But first, we need someone to do choose for us!" Female Malaysia said.
Male Malaysia gave a whistle as Belang, Malaysia's tiger came running onto the stage with Japan clinging onto its back. Male Malaysia pulls Japan by his hand as the slot machine was lowered to the stage.
"There you have it guys! Bang Jepun will do the slot machine for us!" Female Malaysia announced.
England's eyes widen as he warned the Japanese nation. "Be careful! There's a trap door once you-"
However, before England could finish, Malaysia's tiger, pounces onto the Brit, startling him much to the amusement of a few nations including China, India and Hong Kong.
"It sure likes you a lot." Hong Kong stated, watching England trying to push off the tiger off him, earning a 'bloody git' from England.
Japan cautiously approaches the slot machine and pulls down the lever with all he got. He waited for the slot to finish when suddenly a hole opens on the machine. The hand motions for Japan to come nearer. Japan did as it was told until his face was only a few inches away when the hand motioned for him to wait as it retracts back into the hole. The hand then comes out and slams a pie at his face before retracting back.
Both Malaysia grin. "Sorry Bang Jepun, it completely slipped out of my mind that this slot machine has been upgraded! Now it can throw pies at people like a clown!" Male Malaysia pointed out while grinning.
"Every segment is different so be sure to expect something different!" Female Malaysia added.
The pie slips from the Japanese man's face as a deadly aura surrounds him. Everyone in the audience paled. Singapore and Brunei were clinging onto each other. The slot machine stops spinning, revealing the results, an Eiffel Tower and London's Big Ben. The hand comes back out with a sword as Japan took the sword from the hand.
Both Male and Female Malaysia took a step back as Japan, a step forward.
"W-Well, the results are out and these are the people who'll be presenting...un-until then, we'll excuse ourselves from the show!" Male Malaysia said while stuttering as Female Malaysia presses a button on a remote.
"F-For now, bye!"
In the blink of an eye, both Malaysians flee the scene with Japan going after them with a sword. Slicing everything in his way until he can get to the two cheeky personifications. Maybe they need to keep an eye on who's upgrading the slot machine to prevent anything unnecessary being added.
Belang bites England's shirt and tossed him onto the stage while a rangatan holding the Frenchman, swings its way into the show and drops France without a second thought.
"Ow! Can't you at least drop me somewhere soft!" France yelled at the rangatan.
The rangatan simply ignore France's yelling as it throws a script to his face while Belang does the same to England. On the script says 'Read it and go along with it. One more fight and get a taste of the durians.'
England and France got up and glared at each other before starting.
"B-Bonjour monsieur and madoimoiselle, today's segment is about Malaysia's Team Spirit. Like every other nation, Malaysia's team spirit is incomparable but when push to the limits and not panicked, miracles are sure to happened!" France said.
"A cheering team for Malaysia's team are willing to do anything to cheer their team on. Like in the Thomas cup recently, Malaysians borrowed drums and other stuff to cheer for their team. From borrowed drums to dancing and singing, they cheer their team on with whatever they got." England continued.
"Reminds me of Angleterre when he cheers his football team!" France said.
"It is the team spirit that unites the people of Malaysia not caring what race or religion they are. That is why Malaysia's team spirit is incomparable."
"No, that is why Malaysia's team spirit rocks!" Female Malaysia said , popping out of the floor startling both England and France.
"What are you doing here? Isn't Japan going after you guys?" England asked.
Female Malaysia turned to England and smiled goofily. "Hehe, Bang Jepun lost me ages ago when my male counterpart distracts him. And the show can't end without me, right?"
"That's all for now folks! Tune it next-!" Before Female Malaysia could finish, a pie was thrown at her face.
~Pie in the face~
A/N: Terribly sorry for the delay! Beisde's writer's block, I did went out with my mom for the whole day and I'm too exhausted to even continue thanks to the lack of sleep I get from the excitement of the Thomas Cup Finals the night before. This chapter must have sucked as well...so I am not sure what I'm going to write for the next chapter but stay tune anyway!
