Chapter 2: Dreams and Dilemmas
Lee House/Family Temple…
Shu turned the corner and found himself facing the familiar sight of the family's Chinese-themed temple. It was more than just a building; it was the heart of their family business, where they welcomed customers and shared their rich history. The temple itself was steeped in tradition, a place where they honored their ancestors, both male and female and proudly spoke of Sun Yee—their most revered ancestor. Sun Yee, the legendary guardian of the red panda, had a special place in their family lore. The twins had grown up hearing the story countless times, about how she loved the red pandas for their fiery coats and mischievous spirits.
Their mother, Ming, was the primary storyteller, often spinning the tale with flair to captivate visitors. Mei, ever the enthusiastic performer, would sometimes join in by dressing up in an adorable red panda costume made from cardboard. It had become something of a routine, and from the looks of things today, that's exactly what was happening. His mom and Mei were busy guiding visitors through the temple.
Seeing his family engrossed in their duties, Shu decided to slip by unnoticed. He quietly made his way through the temple and headed for their house, which sat just behind it. He doubted his mom would even notice his absence with all the customers around.
Once inside, Shu was greeted by the comforting smell of dinner cooking. He spotted his dad, Jin, prepping meat and chopping vegetables in the kitchen. Judging by the time, he'd made it home just in time for dinner. He quickly darted to his room to toss his backpack aside before returning to the kitchen.
"Hey, Dad," Shu said as he washed his hands and dried them with a paper towel.
"Hello, Shu," Jin responded with a smile. "How was your day?"
"Eh, the usual," Shu replied with a shrug. "School was kind of boring today, but we had our science test, and I think I did pretty well on it."
"That's good to hear," Jin said, his eyes crinkling with a warm smile. "I'm sure you did great. You always do."
"Well, only because of Stacy!" Shu chuckled, "You know her, hates to see me fail! Almost just as much as mom."
"That Stacy is a good friend," Jin remarked, nodding approvingly. "It's nice to have someone looking out for you."
"Yeah, she's great," Shu agreed, grabbing an apron and tying it around his waist. "So, what's on the menu tonight?"
"Tonight, we're making stir-fried pork belly with cabbage and some dumplings," Jin replied, his hands expertly working the knife. "You can start by washing the chilies and then cut them into bite-sized pieces." Shu nodded and got to work, the familiar routine of cooking with his father providing a comforting rhythm.
The door creaked open, and in walked Mei-Mei and Ming, both looking a little worn out after wrapping up another long day of guiding visitors through the temple.
"Oh, Shu. When did you get home?" Ming asked, her voice tinged with surprise as she slipped off her business coat.
"A while ago," Shu responded nonchalantly as if sneaking around was an everyday thing for him.
Ming smiled wearily. "I'm sorry, Shu. I didn't even notice you. You're like a shadow sometimes." She said as she sat down on the sofa to watch TV for a bit.
Shu grinned. "It's okay, Mom. I'm pretty good at sneaking around when I need to. I just came through the temple and headed around back."
He turned back to the kitchen, where he'd been focused on folding dumplings beside his dad. Holding up his latest creation, he asked, "How's this one, Dad?"
Jin leaned over, inspecting the dumpling with a critical eye before breaking into a smile. "Hmm... Perfect!"
"Yes!" Shu fist-pumped the air, grinning ear to ear, proud that he'd finally nailed the art of dumpling-making
The TV in the background suddenly caught everyone's attention.
ANNOUNCER: You've heard their hits; you've seen their moves. And now, you get to experience them live! The worldwide pop sensation 4-Town will be kicking off their North American tour! Tickets on sale now.
Mei-Mei gasped. "Oh, my gosh!"
"Who are these hip-hoppers? And why are they called '4-Town' if there are five of them?" Ming questioned about the band on TV.
Mei-Mei shrugged. "Uh… I don't know. Some of the kids at school like them."
"You mean Miriam? That girl is… odd," Ming remarked, her tone slightly disapproving.
Before continuing the conversation, Jin called out, "Dinner's ready."
As they all gathered around the table, the aroma of the delicious food filling the room, Shu felt a sense of contentment. Despite the pressures and expectations, moments like these with his family made everything worthwhile. But he also felt a little sympathy for his sister, he never understood why she hid her love for the boy band 4*TOWN. You could say it was just another thing Mei-Mei had to conceal about herself to fit their mother's expectations.
Shu himself had never concealed his musical tastes, even though some of it wasn't exactly to his mother's liking. He remembered their heated arguments over his choice of music, how Ming thought that the type of "pop" and "rock-n-roll" music he was listening to was a bad influence. Thankfully, his father had often stepped in, defending Shu's interests and helping to bridge the gap between them. Now, while Ming might still disapprove of some of his music, their relationship had reached a truce of sorts.
He did wish his sister wasn't so hard on herself, always trying to mold herself into the perfect daughter. But he knew there was no changing her mind. They may be twins, but they were complete opposites.
Shu continued to eat his dinner and tried not to think about the worries of his family.
After Dinner…
Shu made his way to his room, mentally preparing himself to tackle his homework. Unlike Mei's room, which was neatly filled with academic achievements, books, and trophies, Shu's space was a haven for his varied interests. Band posters dominated the walls such as Guns N' Roses, Pearl Jam, Coldplay, and KISS being the most prominent. He also had a collection of anime posters showcasing his favorites: Dragon Ball Z, One Piece, and Inuyasha. Hidden behind his closet door, out of sight from prying eyes, were posters of cute cat-girl anime waifus.
Shu's shelves were a treasure trove of hobbies. They were stacked with video games, anime DVDs, kung fu movies, CDs, and manga. His prized possession was his collection of Bruce Lee movie posters, hanging on the wall above his desk. which inspired his fascination with martial arts. As he sat at his desk, he glanced around the room, feeling at ease in his personal sanctuary.
With a sigh, Shu sat down and opened his textbooks. He knew the night would be long, but he was determined to get through this and finish this difficult homework. Shu decided to put on his headphones and listen to music while finishing up his homework.
2 hours later…
Shu was finishing up the last of his math homework after what felt like forever. He was fairly confident he was going to get a good grade on this. He was finishing the last problem and … he was finally done! Well, that was it for homework for the night.
"Finally, I'm done!" Shu sighed in relief, taking off his headphones, and putting his homework in his backpack. "Now to reward myself with a little gaming!"
Shu turned on his TV and began playing one of his favorite games, Star Fox 64. As he was in the middle of his game, Shu was interrupted by some shouting he heard.
"Mei-Mei, what is this?" Shu heard his mom's voice, sharp with concern, through the thin walls. Being so close to his sister's room, he could easily make out the conversation.
"It's nothing, Mom. Just a boy—"
"A Boy?!" Their mom's tone shot up, laced with worry. "Who is he? Did he do this to you?!"
"No, Mom, it's not like that!" Mei's voice was frantic, clearly trying to explain. "It's just something I made up, it's not real!"
There was a sudden tearing sound, like paper being shredded. Shu winced—whatever Mei had drawn, their mom wasn't happy about it.
"That hat... Is that the sketchy clerk from the Daisy Mart?!" Ming's voice was filled with outrage as she stomped out of Mei's room.
"Mom, NO!" Mei shouted, rushing after her.
A moment later, the front door slammed shut.
Shu sat back, listening as the house went quiet again. He shrugged. "Sounds like Mei-Mei got herself into a bit of a mess. Eh, she'll be fine." With that, he unpaused his game and returned to his virtual world, deciding it was best not to get involved in the latest family drama.
Later…
Shu had enough gaming and was ready for bed. He changed into his PJ's which were a black shirt and shaggy long blue and white pajama pants. Then heading into the bathroom to brush his teeth. After he was done, he headed back to his room ready to go to bed.
Just then, his phone buzzed with a message from Stacy: "Remember, this weekend! No excuses!"
Shu chuckled and typed back, "Promise, no excuses. See you tomorrow!"
Just as Shu was about to settle into bed, he heard muffled thumping and muttering coming from Mei's room. It sounded as though she was having a heated conversation with herself.
"How could you draw those things? Those terrible, awful, inappropriate things?!" Mei's voice carried through the thin walls, laced with frustration.
Shu frowned and shook his head. "Wow, Mom must have done something really bad to embarrass her at the store," he said quietly to himself. Pulling the covers up to his chin, he tried to shake off the unease he felt. Even though it was late, he couldn't help but worry about his sister. He knew Mei had a hard time dealing with their mom's strict expectations and wondered if tonight's incident had been especially tough on her.
Unable to sleep, Shu decided to check up on Mei-Mei.
He quietly slipped out of bed and tiptoed to her room. The door was slightly ajar, and he gently pushed it open, peering inside. Mei was sitting on her bed, her knees drawn to her chest, clutching her plush dog Wilfred in her hands.
"Mei-Mei?" Shu called softly, stepping into the room.
Mei looked up, startled. "Shu? What are you doing here?"
"I heard what happened," Shu said, closing the door behind him. "You okay?"
Mei sighed, her shoulders slumping. "Not really. Mom found some drawings I did... and she freaked out!"
Shu walked over and sat beside her on the bed. "Mom can be a bit intense sometimes. But it's okay, you were just… expressing your feelings" Shu said trying his best to comfort his sister.
Mei sighed again, hugging Wilfred tighter. "It's not just that, Shu. You don't understand what I was drawing..."
Shu tilted his head, curious. "What were you drawing, Mei-Mei? It couldn't have been that bad."
Mei hesitated, her cheeks flushing with embarrassment. "They were... fantasy-like drawings. Of me and Devon."
Shu's eyes widened, and he felt a mix of amusement and second-hand embarrassment. "Oh, yeah, that is... pretty bad," he said, cringing slightly. "But hey, it's not like you actually did anything wrong. They were just drawings."
Mei buried her face in her hands. "I know, but Mom doesn't get that. She thinks I'm being inappropriate, corrupted, or something. I just... I-I was just drawing and I let my imagination run wild and I… I c-couldn't stop."
Shu put a comforting arm around her shoulders. "I get it, Mei. Mom can be a little old-fashioned, but that doesn't mean what you're doing is wrong. You just have to find a way to help her understand."
Mei looked up at her brother, a small smile playing on her lips. "Thanks, Shu. You're always good at making me feel better."
Shu grinned. "That's what big brothers are for, right?"
"Shu, you're only older than me by 3 minutes!" Mei-Mei annoyingly pointed out.
"Still, that makes me older! Besides, I've had my fair share of arguments with Mom over my interests too. We'll get through this together."
Mei nodded, feeling a bit more at ease. "Yeah, we will. Thanks, Shu."
Shu gave her a reassuring squeeze. "Now, why don't you try to get some sleep? Things always look better in the morning."
Mei sighed but nodded, letting herself relax a bit. "Okay, I'll try. Good night, Shu."
"Good night, Mei-Mei." Shu stood up and headed to the door, giving her one last smile before Mei-Mei turned off the light.
As he closed the door behind him and headed back to his room, Shu felt some sense of peace knowing he had helped his sister a little. "Hopefully she'll be okay tomorrow?"
As Shu laid in bed, finally drifting off to sleep after a long day. He thought about how things were finally starting to go his way with his studies and personal life. However, he couldn't shake the feeling that something was about to change. Like, something big was coming and he didn't know what?
"Maybe I'm just overthinking things," Shu murmured to himself, trying to brush off the unease. He closed his eyes, focusing on the steady rhythm of his breath. As he drifted deeper into sleep, the worries and wonders of the day faded into the quiet of the night.
His dreams took him to a familiar landscape—the temple where his family often gathered. But something was off. The usually vibrant place was shrouded in an eerie, blue light cast by a huge, ominous moon hanging low in the sky. The moon's glow was cold, almost menacing, and it sent chills down Shu's spine.
As he wandered through the temple grounds, Shu noticed the statues and altars dedicated to their ancestors seemed to flicker and shift, their eyes following him with a lifeless, stony gaze. The wind picked up, whispering unintelligible secrets that made the hairs on his neck stand on end. The air grew thick with tension, making it hard for him to breathe.
Suddenly, a low growl echoed through the temple. Shu turned sharply to see a pair of glowing blue eyes piercing through the shadows. Its form was obscured by the darkness, but its presence was unmistakably threatening. Shu couldn't make out what it was, but the menacing beast was getting closer. Fear gripped Shu's heart as he stumbled backward, his pulse quickening with each step he took.
Desperate to escape, Shu bolted through the temple grounds, his footsteps echoing loudly against the stone paths. The eerie blue light from the moon above cast long, sinister shadows that seemed to stretch and reach out for him. The growls behind him grew louder, and closer, driving him faster into the depths of the temple.
As he ran, the scenery around him began to morph and twist. The vibrant colors of the temple faded into a monochrome palette of whites and grays, as if drained of life. Snow began to fall softly from the sky, settling on the ground and frosting over the ancient stone structures.
Shu's breath came out in visible puffs of steam as he sprinted through the frost-covered forest that had replaced the once-familiar temple grounds. The trees loomed overhead like ghostly sentinels, their bare branches creaking in the icy wind. He could hear the creature's heavy footfalls behind him, its growls now mixed with the sound of snapping twigs.
Then Shu was faced with a dead end and that's when the beast revealed itself. It was a massive white tiger; its fur was luminescent under the blue moonlight and was almost spirit-like. The tiger's eyes were fixed on Shu, filled with a strange, hostile intelligence that sent waves of fear crashing over him. In a quick flash, the beast lunged forward at him and roared.
"Ahh!" Shu gasped, bolting upright in bed, his heart racing as if he had just narrowly escaped the jaws of the white tiger. Sweat beaded on his forehead, his chest heaving with panicked breaths. The image of the tiger's glowing eyes and menacing roar echoed in his mind, refusing to fade even in wakefulness.
"It was just a dream," he muttered, his voice shaky with lingering fear. Shu wondered what that dream could've meant. Was it a warning? A manifestation of his fears?
"Kids, breakfast is ready!" Shu heard his mom call from the kitchen.
"Coming Mother," Shu called out. As Shu was getting out of bed, he recognized the smell coming from the kitchen.
"Mmmm… Congee, porridge," Shu muttered, "If mom's the one making it, it'll probably still taste good."
He stretched, yawned, and shuffled towards the bathroom he shared with Mei-Mei. Reaching the door, he turned the handle, only to find it locked.
"Mei-Mei, hurry up! Some of us need to get ready too, you know!" Shu called out, but there was no response. He knocked again, more insistently, and still received no answer. With a tired and annoyed sigh, he decided to use his parents' bathroom instead.
Walking down the hallway, he rubbed his eyes, still not fully awake. As he stepped into his parents' bathroom, he flipped on the light and glanced at the mirror. He froze, blinking rapidly.
"What the...?" Shu whispered, his voice trembling.
Staring back at him from the mirror was not his usual reflection, but the face of a giant bipedal white tiger. He leaned closer, his breath fogging the glass. The tiger's intense blue eyes, sharp teeth, and powerful muscles were unmistakable. He raised a hand to his face, and the tiger in the mirror did the same. His heart pounded as he flexed his fingers, now tipped with retractable claws.
Shu realized that the creature in the mirror was him!
Hope you guys Like this new chapter! Took a while to figure out the nightmare scene and I have more stories coming this month so look out! remember to leave a comment and tell me what you think.