RESPITE
Shancai snuggled closer in the crook of A Si's arm as they lay on the bed, content to merely hold each other. Outside the day has begun; the New York traffic is bustling and the city sounds could be heard. But neither of them wanted to join the frenzy of city life just yet.
"What do you think?" Dao Ming Si asked as Shancai's silence dragged too long.
She sighed, deciding to be completely honest with him and express her real thoughts.
"You're right. It sounds too good to be true."
"I hear a 'but' coming..." he said.
She went on. "But what if it's true? And what if it's as you said it is: a ploy to get you back?"
"You're asking me the very same questions I asked you," he reminded her, slightly miffed and at the same time amused because she's not helping.
She laughed softly, then became serious again. "It hardly matters what I think," she said, "I was not there when you and your Papa talked. Do you think he is lying?"
A Si paused, trying hard to remember the events of the past day. Then he shook his head.
"I saw the documents and they are real. Besides, I do not know very much about my father but there is one thing I am sure of about him. He has one trait that has made him the powerful man that he is, in business and out of it."
"What?" she asked, wondering what the trait was.
"He never lies." He breathed, as though confused about his own father as well. "That's what makes him different from other businessmen. He does not lie to get his way. He manipulates, yes, but not lie. In fact he will be the first to tell someone the truth, not caring what it would make the other feel."
Shancai agreed silently, the events of that night coming back to her when Dao Ming Cheng said those words to her.
The truth?
He said she doesn't deserve Dao Ming Si's ring. Was that the truth, too?
Shaking herself from her reverie, she lifted her head to him and accepted the kiss he planted on her forehead.
"So what are you going to do?"
"You tell me," he said. "Should I take it?"
"Do you want to?"
His eyes were pools of confusion and he shook his head in frustration. "I don't know."
She reached for his hand and squeezed it. "If you want my opinion - "
"I do," he said firmly.
"- take it."
Their eyes met, and she continued. "No matter how hard you try to run from it, how ever often you turn your back, you are still Dao Ming Si. You're still the only son of Dao Ming Cheng and Dao Ming Feng. It's your destiny."
"YOU'RE my destiny."
She smiled, feeling warm all over by the conviction in his voice. "And you have me. For always. But this," she reached up and stroked his cheek, "is another thing entirely. You have proven to me repeatedly how much you loved me and how you were willing to fight for me. Fight this one, and I promise to fight with you."
He gazed deep into her eyes for a very long time, and when he spoke, it was with an intensity that stemmed from his heart.
"If I remember how many times I almost lost you...I feel like screaming until I run out of breath."
"You will never lose me," she promised, shaking away the image of Dao Ming Cheng as it repeatedly tried to insert itself into her mind.
He tightened his arm around her, and said, "What do you think about us staying in New York for the next couple of weeks...probably even visit other places, then go back to Taipei in time for Mei Zuo and Xiao Qiao's engagement?"
Shancai smiled. "What about Xi Men's parents' party?" she asked.
"Xi Men will understand," he said. "Let's just tell him this is an extended honeymoon." He paused. "Wait a minute...this IS our honeymoon!"
With that he gathered her close and gave her a kiss that took her breath away.
New York, New York.
They spent the entire week just going around the city, attending the Broadway run of Cats and Fiddle on the Roof. Once they even attended a couple of Off-Broadway plays and even one of those films shown in a drive-thru. They visited the parks and zoos and she was reminded of the first time Dao Ming Si went to a zoo with her.
That ended in an argument, one that Shancai now thought was petty.
He was just like a kid, simply letting himself go and having fun. Shancai adored him especially when he ate some cotton candy he bought at the amusement park and looked like he absolutely enjoyed it.
Like a couple of children they went on a tour of New York, acting like kids and lovestruck lovers at the same time. They were oblivious to the amused and even envious glances thrown their way by the other people who witness their display of affection. And even if they were conscious of such, they did not care too much. Or at all.
Shancai tugged at Dao Ming Si's arm when she spotted the rollercoaster. "Come on!" she urged him.
But he would not budge as he stared dreadfully at the large contraption, hearing the blood-curdling screams from the people riding on it.
"Are you serious?" he said. "If I go there, I am going to be really sick!"
"You are no fun!" she said, stamping her foot and pouting at him, knowing he will cave in eventually.
A Si gave Shancai a dirty look, and said, "Alright!" He lifted a finger at her. "But if I throw up, you are going to clean up after me!"
Shancai could only laugh as she let him pull her after him towards the rollercoaster.
She almost regretted her insistence to ride it, as she discovered later when she heard herself screaming in fear. Beside her, Dao Ming Si was also screaming, but more in amusement than in fear.
Contrary to what A Si thought a while back, it was Shancai who rushed to the nearest rest room the minute they stepped off the ride. With laughter on his face, A Si followed her into the restroom, pointedly ignoring the stares of the other ladies who happened to be inside.
A blond middle-aged mother of a young teenager looked at him with an accusing look. "Hey, mister! You're not supposed to be in here!"
Dao Ming Si lifted a brow at her. "Says who? I don't see a sign saying men are not allowed."
"Hah!" the mother exclaimed in disbelief. "You are - "
A Si waved her away. "Leave me alone, will you?" he said and walked over to the sink where Shancai was bent over, throwing up. Soothing, he ran his hand up and down her back, although he was also laughing slightly.
"See?" he chided. "You are so stubborn, you brought this upon yourself!" Then he chuckled lightly.
At the doorway, the mother who reproved A Si a while back stared at them with something akin to envy in her eyes as she watched the loving scene unfold before her.
A little while later they left the rest room and were strolling under the shade of the oak trees lining up a block of the park, their hands linked.
Suddenly, Dao Ming Si saw something and turned to her with childlike excitement.
"Come on," he said with eagerness and pulled her after him.
Shancai found herself grinning widely as she saw what Dao Ming Si spotted. Stopping in front of a small kiosk, she saw the balloons being sold and watched as her husband spoke to the salesman, buying the whole lot.
When he turned back at her, a dozen or so balloons of different colors in his hand, he was surprised at the pensive almost sad expression on her face.
"What's the matter?" he asked, worried all of a sudden.
"Do you remember...back in Barcelona...the day before your accident."
Realization dawned on him and he turned his gaze away, obviously not too pleased.
"That day was very much like today," she went on, unaware of his reaction, her eyes staring at nothing as she remembered. "We were very happy..."
"Shancai - "
She did not seem to hear her. "The next morning when I woke up, you weren't there."
"Is that what you're afraid of?" he asked. "Waking up without me beside you?"
"I'm afraid of..." she paused, not knowing what to say. She looked up into his eyes. "I'm afraid of losing you and looking for you, and when I find you...you would not recognize me."
Dao Ming Si's gaze was intense and Shancai almost felt like she was burning under his scrutiny. His voice came out as a rasp when he spoke.
"I may not recognize you...but for sure I will still love you."
He walked towards her and handed her the strings holding the balloons together. "My happiness is in your hands alone."
Another scene from that fateful day in the past came back to Shancai that she grabbed the string with both hands.
This time the balloons did not drift up into the sky, their strings held tightly in the palm of her hands. When Shancai lifted her gaze, Dao Ming Si was looking at her with such tenderness she wanted to cry.
Yet she smiled, knowing tears would not do her any good anymore. Not when she's with him.
With her free hand she accepted his outstretched palm and resumed walking, the balloons still in her hands.
The young couple was too content and too preoccupied with one another that they were completely oblivious to the pairs of eyes that followed them everywhere, watching their every move.
Dao Ming Feng's heels clicked on the marble floor of the foyer of Dao Ming Oilers, openly ignoring everyone she meets. Hers was a commanding presence, as evidenced by the three uniformed men following her, bodyguards obviously.
She strode straight towards the lift and gave a cold look when one of the buildings security blocked her path.
"Excuse me, madam," the security said formally. "You cannot go straight up without having to go through security first. And you also have to check with the receptionist."
Her imperious gaze did not seem to have its desired effect on the black American.
"I am Dao Ming Feng," she declared. "My husband will see me...with or without an appointment."
The guard stood his ground. "I'm afraid that's not possible, madam. It's Mr. Dao Ming's strict orders that everyone go through the standard procedure. It's protocol."
Gritting her teeth, Dao Ming Feng's eyes shot daggers at the impervious guard. Her head high, she changed course and went to the receptionist desk where the American lady assigned looked up and spoke politely.
"Do you have an appointment, ma'am?"
Controlling her temper, Dao Ming Feng went through the standard procedures with stoic silence.
'Dao Ming Cheng', she thought silently. 'You are loving this, I know it.'
Surreptitiously she glanced around at the security cameras, knowing he's watching somewhere.
A few minutes later she and her entourage arrived at the fourteenth floor and she walked straight into Dao Ming Cheng's office, not bothering to knock.
"I hope you're happy," she said, seeing him seated comfortably on his chair, paper in hand.
Obviously not surprised at her appearance in his office, he merely raised a brow and said, "About what?"
She went straight to the point. "Your people injured two of my men at the amusement park yesterday."
Dao Ming Cheng's face smoothed. "Oh, that," he said. "They needed to be taught a lesson."
"Lesson!" Dao Ming Feng sputtered.
"I specifically recall asking telling you to back off on this one, A Feng. But you did not listen. Hence, the small instruction my people provided for your men."
"Why don't you just tell me exactly what's on your mind about your son and that...that weed!"
He did not answer her question. Instead he said, "I asked you once to back off, and you know I never ask twice."
"You expect me to just let this go?"
Dao Ming Cheng shrugged, a small smile forming on his lips.
"No. But I expect you to be more intelligent about this. If you seek to do battle with me, rest assured you will have war in your hands. Can you handle that?"
She breathed deeply. "All right. I will leave them alone. But this is not over, Cheng!"
When she was already by the door, Dao Ming Cheng said, "It has been over since that day your son left that mansion you call home in Taipei."
Dao Ming Feng seemed to think on this then let herself out of his office.
"Let's see." Dao Ming Si jumped onto the bed, making Shancai bounce once or twice with the impact. He spread the large map of the United States on the bed before them. "We have three weeks to spare. What do you think of a cross-country drive?"
Shancai looked doubtful. "Won't that be dangerous?" she asked. "What if we get lost?"
"That's what maps are here for!" he exclaimed. "Come on, we can go to New Jersey. Or anywhere we want to go to!"
Suddenly the prospect of seeing new places began to appeal to her and her eyes sparkled. "Three weeks?"
Dao Ming Si nodded. "Three weeks of freedom," he said, obviously trying to coax her into agreement.
Three weeks of freedom. Then they go back to Taipei, to the real world...where they now have to deal with other people other than each other.
She nodded and leaned forward to plant a kiss on his lips. When she pulled away, he was smiling, already knowing her decision.