Dao Ming Zhuang perched on the arm of the sofa where Dao Ming Si is seated
and laid an arm around her younger brother.
"It's nice, seeing you like this," she said.
"Like what?" A Si asked, wrenching his gaze away from Shancai and Hua Ze Lei talking at the veranda.
"Like this. Peaceful...happy..." Dao Ming Zhuang smiled, as if in remembrance. "I remember a time when you'd look like you would throw a hissy fit just by seeing Lei and Shancai together."
A Si smiled. "I'm past that already," he said.
"No." Dao Ming Zhuang ruffled her brother's hair. "You just grew up. There is no one prouder."
A Si reached for his sister's hand and held it in his. "Thanks for supporting me all this time," he said, meaning every word. "We wouldn't be here without you."
"Nonsense! It was all you, brother." A Si merely smiled at this, not arguing with her but not fully agreeing with her either. He knew better.
His gaze returned to the sight of his best friend and future wife speaking, and he could only smile. Remembering Lei's earlier promise that he will still protect Shancai, A Si muttered a silent thanks to his friend.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Shancai was content to just stand beside Lei, looking out at the gathering dusk, her arms leaning on the railing, her mind taking her to a time not too long ago. A chuckle issued out of her before she knew it.
"What?" Lei asked.
"Do you remember back at the rooftop in Ying De?" she asked, her smile growing wider in remembrance. "You would always make me scream when I was feeling sad or angry."
Lei smiled, his eyes taking on that faraway look. "Do you want to scream?" he asked.
Surprised, she said, "What, now?" She laughed. "Why would I? I am neither sad nor angry."
"But you're extremely happy, and that is an emotion as strong as anger or sadness," he pointed out. "Go on."
She looked around, laughing nervously. "That's silly," she said. "There are people inside, and the neighbors, the passersby...what would they say?"
"They won't care. If they complain, you can always scream at them more."
Searching his face, she could tell he wasn't kidding. Suddenly feeling exhilarated, she looked out into the darkening day and lifted her palms, cupping them around her mouth.
"MADRID! CAN YOU HEAR ME?!"
"Louder," Lei coaxed beside her and she smiled wider as she heard the others inside the house rush to see what she's doing.
"ARE YOU LISTENING?!"
Heads are now looking out of nearby houses' windows.
"I AM SOOOO HAPPY!" She wanted to laugh out loud, knowing she is not making any sense, but wanting to go on all the same. "I AM GETTING MARRIED TOMORROW! WON'T YOU CELEBRATE WITH ME!?"
Applause and cheers erupted from all around and she heard herself laugh out loud. From here and there she could hear whistles and words of congratulation.
Beside her Lei stood back, smiling at her, seemingly content. She turned her head and caught A Si looking at her from the window, his eyes smiling. She gave him a wide-toothed grin and screamed once more, louder than before.
"I LOVE YOU, DAO MING SI!!!!!"
She felt Lei's hand on her shoulder and she turned around to face him, breathing hard but her face flushed with delight.
"Thank you," she breathed. "Thank you for being always there for me when I turn around."
Lei smiled down gently at her. "Everything I promised before, about protecting you, about being there for you when you need me, they still hold. Remember that, Shancai."
She nodded, feeling tearful all of a sudden, believing him.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Dinner was a feast. Somehow they still could not believe it was Xi Men and Mei Zuo who did most of the work in the kitchen. It wasn't as good as Shage's but it was better than any one of them expected, and the thought of the two of them getting down and dirty inside a kitchen was just too much to handle.
When they were done and Shage just brought out the wine he purchased earlier, Papa leaned back on his chair, his hands caressing his belly. "I'm full," he declared with a burp.
"Oh! Oh!" Mama stared at him as though he's a different man. "How come? Is there something wrong with your stomach? Why, it used to be a bottomless pit!"
"Mama! You insult me!"
Their banter earned much laughter around the table. Shancai was content to just sit back and enjoy the friendly mood, her hand engulfed in A Si's. This is probably the best dinner she has had in a long while.
Sipping some wine her eyes moved over the table. To A Si's left, at the head of the table, is Xi Men. Lei sat on Xi Men's left and right across A Si. Beside Lei sat Dau Ming Zhuang, Jing, Shage and Xiao Qiao, near the other end of the table where Mei Zuo sat. Qing He sat beside Shancai and then her parents, who are now savoring the lustrous wine that has just been passed around.
The dearest people in her life are all here, except her best friend Xiao Yo. This cast a shadow over her happiness. She sometimes has regrets over not being the best friend that she should have been to Xiao Yo. On her happiest day, she wanted Xiao Yo to be here...
In the midst of laughter over something Qing He said, A Si noticed her sudden lapse into silence. He leaned over and whispered, "Are you alright?"
Shancai smiled up at him. "I'm fine. I just remembered Xiao Yo," she whispered back and looked pointedly at Xi Men. A Si nodded slightly, understanding what she meant.
They both returned to the ongoing conversation to find the topic has been shifted to Lei.
"Look who's finally decided to crawl back into the fold," Mei Zuo was saying, a tinge of bitterness in his voice. "You've been hard to reach lately."
"I've been busy."
"Too busy to even call your brothers and say hi?" Mei Zuo smiled wryly. "Were you too preoccupied to even give us a thought?"
"Oh!" Mama suddenly spoke up, breaking the tension, much to the quiet relief of everyone at the table. "Maybe Master Hua Ze Lei has found himself a girlfriend!"
All eyes fixed on Lei. "Lei," A Si asked. "Is that true?"
But Lei would not say anything. He merely sat there, looking at his wineglass, a mysterious smile on his face.
"Typical," Xi Men observed dryly. "Lei here is so secretive he annoys me."
From under the table A Si delivered a kick at Lei's shin, enough for the latter to lift his gaze at him. Much to his chagrin, Lei only said, "If you want a confession from me, you should hit where it counts the most."
But his ploy to change the topic didn't work. "We're serious," A Si persisted.
"So am I."
"Hua Ze Lei!" A Si exclaimed in frustration.
Silence reigned around the table as everyone seemed to hold their breath, waiting for Lei's reply.
"There is someone..." he began.
Loud cheers erupted as Shage started hitting on his glass repeatedly with a spoon. Mei Zuo literally jumped up out of his seat and is doing a small jig, much to the amusement and embarrassment of Xiao Qiao who covered her face, trying to suppress her laughter.
"...but we're still getting to know each other," Lei finished. Patiently he settled into silence as the ruckus went on, even accepting a few hard slaps on the back from Xi Men.
"Does she have a name?" Xi Men asked, but Lei merely gave him a secretive smile, and they all knew he was not going to tell them.
Across the table his eyes met Shancai's for a fleeting moment before he turned away. All she feels is excitement, for him, over the fact that he has met a girl who has actually, even remotely, interested him. Curiosity about this mysterious girl assailed her. She must be beautiful, as elegant as -
Jing!
Her head whipped around in Jing's direction, suddenly remembering the other girl. Shancai was surprised to see Jing smiling and laughing along, but her surprise faded as she recognizes something else beneath the merry exterior. Her chest constricted; Jing is hurting. She must be. Shancai remembers exactly how she felt when A Si was showering his affections to a girl other than her.
At that instant Jing looked up and caught Shancai staring at her. Giving a noncommittal smile she looked away again, confirming Shancai's fears.
The noise died down, Mei Zuo has settled back in his seat, lifting his glass at Lei. "About time, my friend," he said. "About time."
Dao Ming Zhuang slowly stood up, glass in hand. "My turn to make an announcement," she began. When everyone has settled down, she dropped the bomb. "I'm getting a divorce."
Everyone was astounded, except for A Si, who stood up and lifted his glass at his sister.
"Dao Ming Si!" Shancai could not believe he's actually supporting this!
To her dismay, Lei also stood up, so did Xi Men and Mei Zuo. Dao Ming Zhuang smiled. "Thank you," she said and turned to look at Shancai.
"I'm confused," Qing He said. "A marriage is about to end and you guys are celebrating?"
"My arranged marriage was a mistake from the beginning," Dao Ming Zhuang went on to explain. "Getting this divorce is probably the best decision I've ever made in my life."
Like a puzzle, the pieces seemed to fall into place, and Shancai finally understood. Sis will soon be free.
"Does Mama know?" A Si asked.
Dao Ming Zhuang lifted her shoulders. "I haven't told her yet, but I doubt she'll care much. The marriage has served its purpose to her. She has no use of it anymore. But if she tries to stop me, I won't let her. Anyway, I doubt she will even try. She'll be too afraid to do so."
"Afraid?" Xi Men echoed. "What do you mean? Dao Ming Feng fears no one!"
A mysterious smile was all Dao Ming Zhuang gave. She turned back to the others. "Meanwhile, let us celebrate because tomorrow," she glanced at A Si and Shancai, "will be a new day."
Yes, Shancai thought, returning A Si's tender look with all the love in her heart. Tomorrow is a new day. A better day.
"It's nice, seeing you like this," she said.
"Like what?" A Si asked, wrenching his gaze away from Shancai and Hua Ze Lei talking at the veranda.
"Like this. Peaceful...happy..." Dao Ming Zhuang smiled, as if in remembrance. "I remember a time when you'd look like you would throw a hissy fit just by seeing Lei and Shancai together."
A Si smiled. "I'm past that already," he said.
"No." Dao Ming Zhuang ruffled her brother's hair. "You just grew up. There is no one prouder."
A Si reached for his sister's hand and held it in his. "Thanks for supporting me all this time," he said, meaning every word. "We wouldn't be here without you."
"Nonsense! It was all you, brother." A Si merely smiled at this, not arguing with her but not fully agreeing with her either. He knew better.
His gaze returned to the sight of his best friend and future wife speaking, and he could only smile. Remembering Lei's earlier promise that he will still protect Shancai, A Si muttered a silent thanks to his friend.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Shancai was content to just stand beside Lei, looking out at the gathering dusk, her arms leaning on the railing, her mind taking her to a time not too long ago. A chuckle issued out of her before she knew it.
"What?" Lei asked.
"Do you remember back at the rooftop in Ying De?" she asked, her smile growing wider in remembrance. "You would always make me scream when I was feeling sad or angry."
Lei smiled, his eyes taking on that faraway look. "Do you want to scream?" he asked.
Surprised, she said, "What, now?" She laughed. "Why would I? I am neither sad nor angry."
"But you're extremely happy, and that is an emotion as strong as anger or sadness," he pointed out. "Go on."
She looked around, laughing nervously. "That's silly," she said. "There are people inside, and the neighbors, the passersby...what would they say?"
"They won't care. If they complain, you can always scream at them more."
Searching his face, she could tell he wasn't kidding. Suddenly feeling exhilarated, she looked out into the darkening day and lifted her palms, cupping them around her mouth.
"MADRID! CAN YOU HEAR ME?!"
"Louder," Lei coaxed beside her and she smiled wider as she heard the others inside the house rush to see what she's doing.
"ARE YOU LISTENING?!"
Heads are now looking out of nearby houses' windows.
"I AM SOOOO HAPPY!" She wanted to laugh out loud, knowing she is not making any sense, but wanting to go on all the same. "I AM GETTING MARRIED TOMORROW! WON'T YOU CELEBRATE WITH ME!?"
Applause and cheers erupted from all around and she heard herself laugh out loud. From here and there she could hear whistles and words of congratulation.
Beside her Lei stood back, smiling at her, seemingly content. She turned her head and caught A Si looking at her from the window, his eyes smiling. She gave him a wide-toothed grin and screamed once more, louder than before.
"I LOVE YOU, DAO MING SI!!!!!"
She felt Lei's hand on her shoulder and she turned around to face him, breathing hard but her face flushed with delight.
"Thank you," she breathed. "Thank you for being always there for me when I turn around."
Lei smiled down gently at her. "Everything I promised before, about protecting you, about being there for you when you need me, they still hold. Remember that, Shancai."
She nodded, feeling tearful all of a sudden, believing him.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Dinner was a feast. Somehow they still could not believe it was Xi Men and Mei Zuo who did most of the work in the kitchen. It wasn't as good as Shage's but it was better than any one of them expected, and the thought of the two of them getting down and dirty inside a kitchen was just too much to handle.
When they were done and Shage just brought out the wine he purchased earlier, Papa leaned back on his chair, his hands caressing his belly. "I'm full," he declared with a burp.
"Oh! Oh!" Mama stared at him as though he's a different man. "How come? Is there something wrong with your stomach? Why, it used to be a bottomless pit!"
"Mama! You insult me!"
Their banter earned much laughter around the table. Shancai was content to just sit back and enjoy the friendly mood, her hand engulfed in A Si's. This is probably the best dinner she has had in a long while.
Sipping some wine her eyes moved over the table. To A Si's left, at the head of the table, is Xi Men. Lei sat on Xi Men's left and right across A Si. Beside Lei sat Dau Ming Zhuang, Jing, Shage and Xiao Qiao, near the other end of the table where Mei Zuo sat. Qing He sat beside Shancai and then her parents, who are now savoring the lustrous wine that has just been passed around.
The dearest people in her life are all here, except her best friend Xiao Yo. This cast a shadow over her happiness. She sometimes has regrets over not being the best friend that she should have been to Xiao Yo. On her happiest day, she wanted Xiao Yo to be here...
In the midst of laughter over something Qing He said, A Si noticed her sudden lapse into silence. He leaned over and whispered, "Are you alright?"
Shancai smiled up at him. "I'm fine. I just remembered Xiao Yo," she whispered back and looked pointedly at Xi Men. A Si nodded slightly, understanding what she meant.
They both returned to the ongoing conversation to find the topic has been shifted to Lei.
"Look who's finally decided to crawl back into the fold," Mei Zuo was saying, a tinge of bitterness in his voice. "You've been hard to reach lately."
"I've been busy."
"Too busy to even call your brothers and say hi?" Mei Zuo smiled wryly. "Were you too preoccupied to even give us a thought?"
"Oh!" Mama suddenly spoke up, breaking the tension, much to the quiet relief of everyone at the table. "Maybe Master Hua Ze Lei has found himself a girlfriend!"
All eyes fixed on Lei. "Lei," A Si asked. "Is that true?"
But Lei would not say anything. He merely sat there, looking at his wineglass, a mysterious smile on his face.
"Typical," Xi Men observed dryly. "Lei here is so secretive he annoys me."
From under the table A Si delivered a kick at Lei's shin, enough for the latter to lift his gaze at him. Much to his chagrin, Lei only said, "If you want a confession from me, you should hit where it counts the most."
But his ploy to change the topic didn't work. "We're serious," A Si persisted.
"So am I."
"Hua Ze Lei!" A Si exclaimed in frustration.
Silence reigned around the table as everyone seemed to hold their breath, waiting for Lei's reply.
"There is someone..." he began.
Loud cheers erupted as Shage started hitting on his glass repeatedly with a spoon. Mei Zuo literally jumped up out of his seat and is doing a small jig, much to the amusement and embarrassment of Xiao Qiao who covered her face, trying to suppress her laughter.
"...but we're still getting to know each other," Lei finished. Patiently he settled into silence as the ruckus went on, even accepting a few hard slaps on the back from Xi Men.
"Does she have a name?" Xi Men asked, but Lei merely gave him a secretive smile, and they all knew he was not going to tell them.
Across the table his eyes met Shancai's for a fleeting moment before he turned away. All she feels is excitement, for him, over the fact that he has met a girl who has actually, even remotely, interested him. Curiosity about this mysterious girl assailed her. She must be beautiful, as elegant as -
Jing!
Her head whipped around in Jing's direction, suddenly remembering the other girl. Shancai was surprised to see Jing smiling and laughing along, but her surprise faded as she recognizes something else beneath the merry exterior. Her chest constricted; Jing is hurting. She must be. Shancai remembers exactly how she felt when A Si was showering his affections to a girl other than her.
At that instant Jing looked up and caught Shancai staring at her. Giving a noncommittal smile she looked away again, confirming Shancai's fears.
The noise died down, Mei Zuo has settled back in his seat, lifting his glass at Lei. "About time, my friend," he said. "About time."
Dao Ming Zhuang slowly stood up, glass in hand. "My turn to make an announcement," she began. When everyone has settled down, she dropped the bomb. "I'm getting a divorce."
Everyone was astounded, except for A Si, who stood up and lifted his glass at his sister.
"Dao Ming Si!" Shancai could not believe he's actually supporting this!
To her dismay, Lei also stood up, so did Xi Men and Mei Zuo. Dao Ming Zhuang smiled. "Thank you," she said and turned to look at Shancai.
"I'm confused," Qing He said. "A marriage is about to end and you guys are celebrating?"
"My arranged marriage was a mistake from the beginning," Dao Ming Zhuang went on to explain. "Getting this divorce is probably the best decision I've ever made in my life."
Like a puzzle, the pieces seemed to fall into place, and Shancai finally understood. Sis will soon be free.
"Does Mama know?" A Si asked.
Dao Ming Zhuang lifted her shoulders. "I haven't told her yet, but I doubt she'll care much. The marriage has served its purpose to her. She has no use of it anymore. But if she tries to stop me, I won't let her. Anyway, I doubt she will even try. She'll be too afraid to do so."
"Afraid?" Xi Men echoed. "What do you mean? Dao Ming Feng fears no one!"
A mysterious smile was all Dao Ming Zhuang gave. She turned back to the others. "Meanwhile, let us celebrate because tomorrow," she glanced at A Si and Shancai, "will be a new day."
Yes, Shancai thought, returning A Si's tender look with all the love in her heart. Tomorrow is a new day. A better day.