Hello few but dedicated readers! It seems to be my habit to write several stories at once. So be it. Have fun, and let me know you're there.
With an irritated scoff, Asi grabbed the phone from the annoying girl. What was her name? Xinhan? Xinhe? Whatever. He ground his teeth as he watched Shancai play with Lei's hair. How could she? She had kissed him, and although the position was awkward, he reveled in the feel of her body on his. Now she was flirting with Lei. Tease. Rage built quickly until he smashed the phone on the ground and stalked off to see the truth for himself.
"Shancai, you tricked me!"
Shancai looked up to see Dao Ming Si's striding towards her with clenched fists. His angry face loomed over hers as he crowded her against the wall, and she hugged her books to her chest.
"I don't understand," she said, looking up into his wild eyes. "Tell me what's wrong."
"How can you be so mean!" He shouted.
Panic rose in her throat, and her face drained of color. "Tell me what's wrong. Talk to me."
Asi looked down at Shancai, ready to make her answer for her offense, but he was taken aback by the sudden change in her demeanor. Instead of facing him down as he expected, she turned chalk white and stood blinking like one facing a strong wind. Sweat beaded on her upper lip, and her breath came in short gasps.
Asi, like every one of his generation, had seen years of cautionary videos on drugs, alcohol, and relationship abuse during school assemblies. A memorable one was called "Faces of Violence," and it showed the expressions of women who had been abused along with the warning signs written in red. "Faces of Violence," and he was seeing one now. Shame filled him, and he stepped back with his hands raised.
"I'm sorry, Shancai. I'm sorry."
Giving her a wide berth, he waited for her to make the next move. If she bolted, he would not follow. Instead, she edged onto the steps, climbed to the top, and sat down. Keeping wary eyes on him, she felt for her phone and set it to speed dial an emergency number. Slowly, she placed her phone beside her, wrapped her arms around her knees, and rocked back and forth. Asi closed his eyes in humiliation. Anger extinguished, he walked over with his hands up and sat on the bottom step, uncertain what to do next.
"Dao Ming Si," she said quietly. "Somehow I've made you angry again, but I don't know what I did. If you tell me without getting angry and stay where you are, I will listen. If you come any closer, I will call for help." She waved her phone. "It's set for the very big brother of a friend, and he's not far."
"I won't hurt you," he said. He felt horrible. After watching the video, he felt so justified in his feelings, but now he only felt like a fool in front of the girl he liked very, very much. "I saw a video of you and Lei together."
"Me and Hua Ze Lei?" Shancai asked shocked. "When? Where?"
"Here an hour or so ago."
"What did the video show?"
"It showed you playing with his hair."
"Playing with his hair? I never played with his hair." Shancai pointed to the chalk drawing of Jing behind her. "See. It's Jing. He got chalk in his hair, and I offered to brush it off when he couldn't get it all. Someone took a video of that? Why?"
"You like him," Asi said with an edge. "You kissed me, and you flirted with him." Shancai rolled her eyes and turned to face him.
"I didn't kiss you, Dao Ming Si, and I didn't flirt. For your information, I was pushed into you that night. Unfortunately, I landed badly, and our mouths banged together. That was not a kiss, and so what about Lei? Why would that make you …? Oh, I see. It looks bad for your reputation. OK. I'll explain on WeChat that it was an accident, and you'll be safe."
"No! That's not what made me angry. You like Lei. You two meet up here."
"Like Lei? No. I feel like I've met him somewhere but, no, not in the way you're implying. But why do you care? You don't like me."
"That's not true!" he said hotly. "That's not true at all!"
"I don't believe you," she said, her expression cold.
"I like you, Shancai," he confessed. "I really like you. When I saw that video, I got jealous. I'm jealous. That's why I got angry." He hung his head, and she frowned.
"I don't know what to do with that information. I don't like you. You haven't given me any reason to like you. From the very start, you've been arrogant, selfish, and condescending. I don't care how much money you have, what you look like, or how popular you are. I care about what's in someone's heart. All I want to have a true and deep connection with someone, and that someone isn't you."
With that, Shancai hopped nimbly off the riser and stepped carefully around Asi.
"I'm leaving," she said, "and don't try to stop me."
"Please wait," he said. "I'm sorry. I'm not who you think. I mean, I'm not all what you think. Please let me apologize."
"OK, you've apologized. Have a nice life."
"No, I mean can we start over?"
"What do you mean, and why should I do that?"
"You don't owe me anything," he said with uncharacteristic humility, "but I really like you, and I'll do anything to make it up to you." Turning away, he put his hands behind his neck and looked up to the sky, cursing himself inwardly for his stupidity. She watched with amusement.
"Don't beat yourself up over it, Dao Ming Si. Maybe you are a nice guy underneath a thick layer of entitlement, but I don't have the time to find out."
He stepped forward, and she stepped back.
"Give me one day, Shancai, please. One day to apologize and treat you the way you deserve to be treated." She hesitated, and he dropped back on the riser with his legs splayed, the picture of dejection.
Surprisingly, she felt a twinge of pity and remorse. Not that his behavior was excusable by any means, but an inkling of conscience had her admitting that her own behavior was not above reproach. She had been harsh with him. Her words meant to hurt, and they landed exactly where she wanted them to. However, she hadn't counted on his extreme response. Upset that she was even contemplating his request, she stared him until he raised his head to look at her.
"Very well, if you answer two questions, I will give you your day, but I don't think you will." She felt sure that he would refuse, and she would be off the hook.
"What are they?"
"What's the most embarrassing thing you've ever done?" she asked with a smug smile.
"I peed my bed until I was in the third grade," he answered promptly. The smug smile dropped. What an admission from the invincible Dao Ming Si! She was shocked that he answered, but she would not let it show.
"All right then. What's the worst thing that's ever happened to you?"
Asi rubbed his eyes and sighed heavily. When he spoke, his voice quivered.
"My father died of a heart attack when I was 13. We were supposed to go on vacation, but it had been postponed many times because he was always working so hard. But this time he promised, and my mother sent me to get him. I found him at his desk, his fingers still on the keyboard." He sniffled loudly.
Surprised, she moved closer.
"I'm so sorry. You must have been devastated."
He nodded, not looking at her. She took another step closer. Without even planning it, he had caught her in her own trap. She put her hands on her hips and paced in front of him while she wrestled with herself.
"Fine," she said. "What exactly did you have in mind?" His face transformed, and he hopped off the step and hurried toward her. She held out one arm, and he stopped and scuffed one toe on the ground.
"Whatever you want," he said, words coming out in a rush. "We can go, do whatever you want. Whatever." He breathed from his mouth with eager puffs. Shancai thought that he looked like an oversized puppy. Maybe the description was apt. She crossed her arms over her chest.
"OK, Dao Ming Si," she said. "I have Saturday off, but whatever we do has to be in public. No movies or dark corners." He nodded with an excited smile.
"Whatever you want."
"I like beaches and swimming, sun sets, adventure, exploring, learning new things, and trying new foods, but don't try to impress me. It's embarrassing."
He winced, realizing that his gauche attempt to win her at his house was the worst thing he could have done.
"I understand. Can I text you later with my ideas? I don't want to plan something you won't like."
Despite herself, Shancai smiled a real smile.
"I'm not heartless, Dao Ming Si. If whatever you do is sincere, I'll be OK with it."
So, a new story. I'm still working on the other one, and I hope to have a new chapter out soon, but this one was too good to resist. Hope you like it!