The mark

There was a letter near Gabriel's hospital bed;

"Dear Gabriel,

I'm writing this letter just to thank you.

Your suggestion proved to be crucial.

Mei Mei is fine now, she has some fever but it's ok, it's just a side effect of the medicine, just few days in bed and she'll be fine.

She no longer lost the control of her powers. When she opened her eyes she was kinda confused like she wasn't able to remember what happened in these last weeks. Believe it or not even Carter and Devon don't remember they were eaten by her and that's good for her reputation. Meanwhile I told her the whole story.

As soon you'll be ok, please come to see us at the temple of the red panda. Mei Mei wants to meet you.

Best regards.

Ming Lee."

So few days later Gabriel asked to his uncle to bring him to the temple to see Ming Lee.

"Who's Ming Lee?" Giovanni asked.

"It's a long story!" Gabriel answered.

When he reached the temple Ming was waiting for him at the entrance. Quickly Ming brought to a girl with glasses and red hair.

"You must be Gabriel Pastorelli right?" she said.

Gabriel was speechless noticing how much the girl looked like his beloved cousin Stefania.

"My mom told me a lot about you. Unlike Carter and Devon you still remember everything. I'm sorry if I caused you so much trouble!"

"Don't worry. They told me it wasn't your fault! I forgive you!"

"They said I scratched you!"

"That scratch is healed now!"

"You're Italian right?"

"Right!"

"Then we have a lot to talk about, I know an Italian guy named "Mateo"..."

"Matteo you would say!" Gabriel thought, it should be the guy in the Yang Di's arena.

"… here, follow me! I want to know you better!"

Against all odds they quickly became friends.

Gabriel was amazed when he realized that despite their differences.

"What's your favourite school subject? Mine is maths!"

"Mine's literature!"

"Wow, it's the opposite! My birthday is on May!"

"Mine too! Even my brother!"

"Brother?"

"Yes, Danny, he studies computer science!"

In the following days they started to frequent each other. Gabriel was amazed when he realized that not only in appearance but also in personality Mei Mei resembled her cousin.

In every place they went Gabriel always filmed the event with the video camera in order to have a memory of that summer that was about to end.

One day Mei Mei invited Gabriel to the temple to film an event. Pryia, Abby and Miriam where about to receive a special gift. They put their hands on a brace and they were marked with a Chinese ideogram.

"It means "Friendship"!" Mei Mei explained.

"Don't worry, I'm about to give one to you too. You were a great friend in these last days. You totally deserve that mark. Even Bruce and Antonella. By the way, have you filmed the event? Let me see!"

Gabriel did a good job to film the event.

They also spent some time to watch all the videos they did before. Mei Mei saw the videos when he arrived to Toronto with his brother.

"And this?" she said.

Mei Mei pointed a video when she broke into Giovanni's house when she was a red panda.

"My aunt Francesca filmed it! You were about to eat me but Danny rescued me, I was tied on a chair!"

"Oh that's terrible! Please do me a favour delete it. You know, tomorrow is the celebration of the appointment of the new president of the student council of my school and it would be dangerous for my reputation. Do you understand?"

"Yes I do!"

"Fine, see you tomorrow!"