Life's Adventures
Tigress stared at her desk again. Glaring hard into the papers that lay across her table, she tapped her finger on the desk while holding her pen in the same hand. Her red blouse wrinkled at the sides as she leaned on her desk, staring into a paper in front of her, totally oblivious to the world.
"TIGRESS!"
"Huh!" The tiger jumped and saw Song in front of her. "Oh, Song. What's wrong?"
"Nothing other than I've been calling you for almost three minutes," Song smirked. Tigress glanced at her phone and saw the missed messages. "I decided to make sure you were alright."
"Why?" Tigress asked with shrunken eyes.
"Lunch break?"
"That was today?! Oh, I'm so sorry, Song. I completely forgot," Tigress groaned, looking at the calendar. It was Tuesday. And she did tell Song that it would be Tuesday. Tigress saw the snow leopard place a hand on her hip and raise an eyebrow. "What?"
"What did you have for lunch on Monday?"
"Double expresso and a Penni sandwich."
"What was the combination on your locker in high school?"
"2848. What are you trying to point out?"
"Tigress, you NEVER forget ANYTHING," Song replied. "So how did you manage to forget something we do every week?"
"We skip sometimes."
"Hmm," Song examined the tiger and then her desk. Papers of the subway line littered the table again with a circled spot. Mr. Ping's Noodle Shop. "You know what, I think you can make it up to me."
"How?"
"I was thinking of having some noodles. Want to go to Mr. Ping's?"
Tigress's eyes shot open. "Uhh I'm not really feeling up for walking outside. Besides, I have a lot of work and-"
Then her phone buzzed. She quickly snatched it off the desk.
Song's narrowed stare never left the tiger's face. "Alright, spill it."
"It's nothing. Really."
"Okay, then why don't you answer the phone?"
"It's... private."
"Alright then," Song said, raising her hands and backing away. "I'll leave you alone. But I want an explanation about this soon."
"I'm telling you, it's nothing," Tigress argued. The snow leopard slowly walked out of the tiger's sight. Tigress looked at the phone.
I'm on break. Are you at the place?
Tigress sighed a bit.
Trying to sneak out of work.
Why?
Don't want people following me.
Why?
Because I don't want people to get the wrong idea.
OH! Ok. Want to cancel?
No I'll be there in a minute. Have to take the jade line.
Alright see you then :)
Tigress grinned a bit at the smile emoji. She glanced down the hall and saw the elevator open. She bolted for the elevator and slid in just as it closed. The shaft flowed down to ground level where the tiger's black flats clacked across the ground and down the subway station. She fumbled her subway card through the gated entrance, raced down the stairs, and barely made it onto the Jade line subway where the train doors hissed shut. The train slowly moved to Lukeburg Street. Tigress took a breath and rested her head against the reinforced window. The noise of people talking and listening to music entered her ears, but she smiled to herself. If all went well, she could get in and out of this situation without anyone knowing, especially Song. Lukeburg station came. She walked out of the train a little slower and ascended the stairs. Po's studio was about a couple more blocks west past Mr. Ping's Noodle Shop, but the subway was very close to the restaurant.
So Tigress didn't have much time to adjust to the snow leopard she saw right in front of the shop's entrance. The tiger's eyes bulged out. "What are you doing here, Song?!"
"I told you. I wanted some noodles."
"You followed me."
"No, I figured you would go to Mr. Ping's after I left, so I left before you," Song crossed her arms, giving Tigress an even stare. "So, why the rush?"
"It's none of your business," Tigress grunted through gritted teeth.
"That's a fine thing to say to your best friend. I thought we weren't keeping secrets."
"This... this is different."
"Why?" Song asked as her hot breath chilled in the cold air.
"It just is. You wouldn't-"
"Uhhh excuse me?" said a voice behind Song. The snow leopard turned around, looked up, and locked eyes with a big panda. "Sorry, am I interrupting something?" Her eyes darted back to Tigress.
A wide grin slowly spread across Song's face.
"No! No, no, no," She quickly recovered as Tigress sighed in misery. "I'm sorry, we were just talking. Hi, I'm Song. Tigress's best friend."
Each word felt like another nail in Tigress's already full coffin. Po gingerly shook the spotted feline's hand. "It's a pleasure to meet you, Song," the panda smiled. "I'm Po."
"Yes, yes, you're the panda I saw with Mr. Prime when he came to our foyer."
"Hehe that's me," Po smiled.
"And the panda who saved Tigress."
"Well, I wouldn't say 'saved'," Po nervously chuckled. "Uh... why don't we go inside? It's pretty cold out here. You could join us if you want."
"Of course! Thank you so much! Please go in. We'll be in there shortly," Song smiled. Po's eyes shot to Tigress. He mouthed 'I'm sorry' to her. The tiger couldn't help but smile a bit, a sign of her forgiveness. As the panda entered the shop, Song made a short chuckle, looking at the ground. "I owe Mantis so much money."
"Please don't make such a big issue out of this."
"That's why you didn't want me to know?"
"You have a tendency to... go overboard," Tigress replied. "If Tai Lung is an example."
"Alright, alright," Song sighed, "Fair point. Look, I won't make a big fuss about it. You two are just getting to know each other, right?" Tigress nodded. "Alright, good." Song's giggle only made the tiger growl. "Sorry, sorry. It's just... everything makes sense now. The train station maps, the gym membership, the weird happy smiles."
"I always smile."
Song's grin dropped with the rest of her face. "Yeah, and I'm a slender pink elephant with a brown nose." Tigress rolled her eyes. "Not gonna lie, you have good taste."
"Song," Tigress grumbled in a warning tone.
"Right, right. Sorry. I'm just soooo excited."
"Why?"
"Because you finally have someone other than me to get you out of your shell."
Tigress rose an eyebrow. "Why is that so important?"
"Because other than work, you really don't know how to socialize."
"Ugh, you and Shifu worry too much about my social skills."
"Because you don't have any."
"And?"
"We don't want you to be lonely."
"I'm not lonely."
"Not anymore," Song sang in a singsong voice.
"Song," Tigress grumbled.
"Alright, alright, I'll stop," Song smiled. They entered the shop, stepping out of the blistering cold.
The shop was small. A few booths and seats with a long counter from the entrance all the way to the back for the cashiers and cooks. A white goose noisily honked at the big groaning panda as he finally got food and sat down where the two felines were. "Is everything okay?" Tigress asked.
"Yeah, yeah, everything's fine. My dad just got upset with me about wanting a discount for the three extra bowls," Po chuckled nervously. Song's smirk never left her face as she watched the panda's mannerisms. She sat next to Tigress, facing the black and white bear. Their booth had enough space for Po, but the panda kept pulling at his jacket's collar. "Man, it's hot in here."
"I'm sorry about the... extra mouth to feed," Tigress grunted, side-glaring Song. "I didn't know that-"
"It's alright," Po smiled. "Dad's just a little... stingy."
"I HEARD THAT!" Honked the white goose. Tigress and Song covered their sniggers as Po grumbled under his black jacket.
"So, Song. I'm guessing you work at the same company Tigress works at?"
"Yes, actually. Head of Cybersecurity."
"That's awesome! Wait, are you guys the reason why we have so many updates for the video uploads?"
Song tilted her head and smirked with only small amusement. "I wouldn't know, but that's an interesting assumption."
"Hehe, sorry," Po grinned hopelessly. Song side-glanced Tigress with a grin. The tiger rolled her eyes.
"So, you still haven't answered a lot of questions that we left at the mat," Tigress smirked, leaning her elbows on the table.
"Uhh, I'm pretty sure we didn't shake on that deal. Besides, I have some questions for you too."
"Losers go first."
"Last spar was a draw, remember?" Po smirked.
The tiger's smug stayed until she saw Song's lost face. "Po and I had a... sparring match."
"When?"
"A few days ago?"
"And... how long have you two been meeting each other," Song asked with a small edge in her voice.
"Oh! This is the fourth time we've met," Po answered innocently. Song's eyes widened, switching her confused look between Tigress and Po.
"And you had your... sparring match on the-"
"Third time."
Song dropped her back against the booth rest. "You two decided to duke it out a few days after meeting each other? What kind of da-"
"AHEM!" Tigress loudly coughed.
"I mean... meet-up is that?"
"I made the mistake of telling her I do martial arts."
"Oooohhh yeah, that was a big mistake," Song laughed. "How did you do?"
"It was a draw," Po smirked.
"I still say flopping me to the ground with your body isn't a win," Tigress grumbled.
"Not how I see it," Po grinned.
Tigress rolled her eyes, but her smile never left. She glanced at Song. The snow leopard smiled warmly. Tigress hadn't seen her smile like that in a while. Between all the flirts and flings, Tigress was used to the snow leopard's masking front.
This was... genuine. Pure.
"So," Song spoke up, "After you met Tigress, what do you know about her?"
"She's stubborn."
"Just because I have a... hard time admitting a draw doesn't mean I'm stubborn," Tigress slowly spoke.
Po shook his head. "And she's very competitive."
"Well, I could've told you that," Song smirked. "But what about you? All I know is that you're the panda that works out at the gym and knows Mr. Prime."
"I'm an animator at Chaotic Studios. I've been doing animation for a while, about four years," Po rattled off. "My dad runs this noodle shop."
"Wait, Mr. Ping is your dad? The goose?" Song asked.
"Yes... no... It's a long story," Po chuckled nervously. "And now you're caught up to everything that Tigress knows about me."
"Which isn't much," Song commented.
"Well, we were supposed to do lunch. Alone," Tigress grumbled. Song gave a small scoff.
"Seriously, I don't mind the extra company," Po smiled. "But you still owe me some answers."
"Like?"
"What do you want out of life?" Po asked. Song's head snapped to Tigress. The tiger twirled her chopsticks a bit in her fingers, frowning.
"It's... personal."
"Come on, it can't be-"
"It is Song," Tigress growled. Song sighed and held her hands up in defeat.
Po watched the two silently fuss, glaring at each other. "Uh, I'm sorry for asking. Didn't mean to make a big deal about it."
"It's alright," Song huffed, "Mrs. Stoic over here barely tells me anything." Tigress pursed her lip, shutting the growl in her throat.
"Hey," Po gently said, calling both of their attention. "It's okay if you don't know. Different people take different times. I didn't know I wanted to be an animator until college. Even then I wasn't convinced. Everyone in my company has been drawing for ten plus years. Yeah, I get it."
Tigress blinked a bit. Slowly, she opened her mouth to practically whisper, "I don't know."
"Don't know what?"
"I... I don't know what I want out of life."
"That's alright," Po smiled.
"Why wouldn't you think it was alright?" Song asked.
Tigress sighed, resting her head in her hand. "You and everyone at the company know that I'm a workaholic. Wouldn't it be stupid to do work without knowing what you want from life?"
"Well, honestly, I want strength training and eating to be a job," Po smiled with a dorky grin. Song and Tigress chuckled a bit. "But your job isn't your life. It's a part of it. Do you find your job enjoyable?"
"I... do."
"Then why would I of all people hold that against you," Song questioned. Tigress could hear the hurt in her voice.
The tiger sighed, "I was just... scared. I don't... reflect that much about how my life is or what I want out of it. I just try my best to do a good job and focus on work." The feline frowned, "But... when I say it out loud it... sounds too simple."
"HA!" Po groaned loudly and wearily. "What I wouldn't give for a simple life."
The striped feline smiled.
"Tigress," Song spoke up, "You and I have been friends since high school. You don't have to be a certain way with me just to keep up appearances. Why would you think that of me?" The tiger parted her lips. "Other than the... obvious reasons." Both of them knew how Song could be deceptive.
"I... I don't know," Tigress sighed.
"Insecurities can creep in no matter what you do. The best thing to do is notice them and move on," Po smiled. Tigress smiled back. "But sorry. I promise I don't usually ask big deep questions like that."
"It's okay. Well... now it is," Tigress smiled at Song who winked back. "But you owe me a personal question too."
"Uh no," Po paled.
"I want to know why you do strength training," Tigress smirked.
Po's eyes darted both to the snow leopard and the tiger. He dipped his head and sighed, "You'd... think I was being dumb."
"Hey, there's no such thing as a dumb insecurity," Song said.
"Huh, I've got to remember that," Po smiled, but it didn't last long. "I... uhh..."
"It's okay if you don't want to tell," Tigress started to back out. "I was just-
"No! No," Po objected, "I asked you a difficult question, it's... only fair that you have the answer to your question." Po took a tall posture and gave a large sigh. "I... do strength training because... of my weight."
"Oh," Song and Tigress said flatly.
Po blinked and narrowed his eyes in confusion, shock, and a little bit of irritation. "What do you mean, 'oh'?"
"Po, you're not the only panda in the world who's upset about their weight," Song replied.
"Definitely the most dedicated though," Tigress mentioned. "But that's not dumb. That's a very common insecurity."
"Yeah, but I'm a panda. I'm supposed to be big."
"That doesn't mean the insecurity magically goes away," Tigress pointed out. "You're an animal. There are some things you can change and some things you can't."
"Yeah," Po sighed, looking down at his stomach. "I know."
"Hey!" Tigress sharply spoke. "That 'weight' hurt my hand. Remember that."
"Tigress, you barely know me."
"Do I need to know you to tell you the truth?" she asked firmly.
Po sagged his shoulders, though he held a defeated lopsided smile. "No."
"Good," Tigress muttered, crossing her arms. "I won't ask why your weight became a matter of concern."
"Thank you."
"But I hope you remember what I said, Po."
"I will," the panda smiled widely.
Tigress smiled back and glanced at Song. She was staring and typing on her phone to someone, but the name of the person caught Tigress's eye.
The tiger's jaw slightly dropped. "Is something wrong Tigress?" Po asked. Song's head snapped over to the tiger, but the striped feline quickly shook her head, looking at the clock.
"I think we should get back to work," Tigress said. Song sighed and stood up with the tiger and panda. "Thanks for the talk, Po. I... really appreciated it."
"It was great talking with you," Po smiled, "Although, let's try not to get so personal next time, okay?"
"No promises," Tigress smirked. They walked out of the door into the chilly air. The two felines waved the panda goodbye and took the jade subway line to work. Song huffed and collapsed into the seat.
"That was a loaded conversation."
"No thanks to you," Tigress grumbled.
"Hey, that wasn't entirely my fault. I just never push you about the things that bother you," Song said.
"Why not?"
"Because you usually look like you're about to chop my head off," Song glared, "I'm not stupid enough to push your boundaries, Tigress. The panda just guessed what was wrong."
"Hm," Tigress's scowl didn't change. "Why are you texting Tai Lung?"
Song's eyes grew wide. "I can explain. I... want to pay him back."
The tiger's eyes sharpened as the train came to their stop. They briskly walked out of the station and back up to the building. "Pay him back how?"
"Let his pride build up until it crumbles down in front of him. Besides, I'm sure I'm doing women around the world a favor by making sure he's off the market."
"What's your real plan, Song? You usually have something else scheming in that head of yours," Tigress asked.
Song smirked and winked at the tiger. "You'll see." The elevator came to her floor. The spotted feline stepped out. "Po's a great guy, you know. I have a good feeling about this one."
"You say that about everyone."
"That... was... to get you out more," Song smiled guiltily. The tiger growled. "But who knows? Maybe he's just what you need in your life to help you figure out things."
"How?"
Song shrugged as the doors closed. "If life's an adventure, go on it with friends."
Tigress's image reflected back to her in the stainless steel doors.
Continued...