Meiling

“Let’s just drop this conversation, it’s making me uncomfortable,” he shook his head, not wanting to think of his little sister with a child of her own. It would break her heart to hear even the tiniest of cries, and that’d make Daniel worry about her even more. He’d probably end up staying with her to help her and he would never sleep again, so not something he looked forward to. “But bulldogs get sick easily. How about a Shiba Inu? or a Chow Chow? Shar Pei? They’re medium size, great company and actually quite healthy,” Daniel shrugged, knowing perfectly well that getting his mother a dog was an excuse for them to enjoy it too. “Saturday, I promise I’ll watch it with you. It’s been a busy week, that’s all.”

“You can’t handle any conversation that involves me growing up. Daniel, I’m not 12 anymore, I grew breasts!” She laughed, Mei loved making her brother a little uncomfortable since in his head she will always be a little girl. “That sounds nice and it sounds like I’m gonna end up taking the dog to the vet myself.” She smiled imagining her mom asking her for stuff, after all they now lived in the same building. “Good! You better be there or I will fight you!”

“After all the imbeciles we’ve seen, I don’t think eating his nails is that bad”, Daniel snorted, as if he would allow his sister to date a loser like that. She needed someone refined, smart and down to earth, someone better than Daniel himself who could treat her like a princess. “I could pay for one of those imported wives from Taiwan. But like, the male version. I could get you a custom made husband. How does that sound?” And once again, he smiled that bright grin that was about to get him a slap or a kick. Daniel loved how their conversation could turn from something heavy and uncomfortable to teasing in no time. “Hmm… That’s… actually a good idea. I like it. No small dogs tough. I hate them.”

“No thank you, I don’t want to buy love. I’ll find someone hopefully if not I’ll just adopt a kid. Who says I need a man to get pregnant or be a mom?” She nodded her head before smiling. “Well mom lives in an apartment she can’t have a big dog, she barely walks around. How about a bulldog, they adjust to you so a bulldog can adjust to her lifestyle. Lazy and watching all different types of asian dramas. By the way why haven’t you join us to watch Scarlet Heart! I thought you were our drama buddy?!”

“It’s you! Miss role-model,” Robin hadn’t really thought about the teacher after their first encounter, but the woman’s positive attitude was hard to forget. “So these are your things, I have to say you have quite a challenge ahead of you. How do you even fit all these things in one place?” Robin couldn’t help but feel for the other woman hearing that she was moving so near her mother. “ Is your mother alright? Or is it one of those things where you’ll be having sunday brunch every week.”

“Well, I’m using the spare bedrooms closet as well, I think that’s enough space. Plus I’m gonna donate some things to the good will before the cold comes. It’s just clothes and they deserve some clothes during this winter.” Nodding her head she glanced at the rack. “She’s alright, she’s just old and my brother travels sometimes due to his work even thought he doesn’t live that far. We’re just a very close family, and we owe a lot to our mother. It’s the least I can do for her.”

Daniel took his sister’s hand in his, lifting it up to press his lips against it for a few seconds. His eyes met hers in a quiet ‘thank you’ before letting go of it again. He could feel his chest fill up with nostalgia and love for his sister, who always understood his needs and put him before everyone else. “I’m never going to understand her. She complains all day about how Taiwan isn’t really China and that Chinese people won’t get over our independence, something we all agree on, but at the same time, she spends all her damn time with the Chinese community searching for a good husband for you. She has great taste, can’t believe she’ll actually introduce you to those losers. She must really be desperate,” he shook his head in tired disbelief. His poor mother only wanted to experience the joys of being a grandmother and leave the world with both her children happily married. She had been so mad at Daniel for leaving Russ, and now she projected all those worries on Mei. “One of us will figure it out eventually. The times have changed, so she can either sit and wait or simply give up.”

She knew her brother very well, more than anyone could. Rolling her eyes she shrugged. “I guess it’s because when we were growing up, most of the kids that grew up with us were Chinese. Except that boy, you know the one that liked to eat his nails. Mom is just complicated, she wants me to marry out of love but like any other mom she sometimes wishes I could marry someone from Taiwan.” Nodding her head she pursed her lips for a second thinking. “Let’s get her a dog, that might get her mind away from kids? I mean a dog is like a child in a way. It be a good distraction, the poor women lives alone. I mean I love in the same building as her now but I’m barely home during the week.”

Julian flashed a smile in response to the laughter, completely unfazed by the offer. He had been in a frat house during college after all. Very little frightened him after that.“I think waxing would be best. If  was going to do this, I at least want them silky smooth.” He replied, “It’s good that you’re enthusiastic about it, at least. As a detective, you’re not so much dealing with the future, but the past. One that no one really wants you digging around in.”

“I hate waxing but there is no better feeling than touching your skin after being waxed. It’s smooth as a baby! But sometimes I wonder if it’s worth it? I’m not good with physical pain I guess.” She has never found a detective she was a bit curious about it. “I never met a detective, is it as cool as it seems on tv?”

Robin was taking a stroll among one of Brooklyn’s hippest neighborhoods when she saw what looked like a moving truck outside one of the older building. Curiosity getting the better of her she decided to peak at the boxes. Whoever the person was had a pretty good sense of style. “Hello? Anyone moving in or out?” She called out.

“Oh me? Yeah, just across the street. The place was getting a little bit to small and my mom is getting old so I should be in the same building as her to keep an eye on her.” She was a bit surprised, usually teachers didn’t have a nice sense of style. “Thank you, I never been complimented by my clothes. I feel proud now, thank you specially coming from you,”

“I might actually lose my shit if one more person questions my ability to do my job.” A deep sigh slipped from her lips as she took a seat, her cup of coffee in her hand. “I’m a lieutenant, you know? How dare they question my ability to do my job? This is what you get for working among men, I swear to god.” She was getting more and more worked up by the second, forcing herself to take a deep breath and count to ten. “Sorry, hi, I sort of just interrupted your day, but this seat wasn’t taken and I really needed to sit down, and I have no other excuse.”

She let out a chuckle, waving her hand as a signal that it was fine. “Oh it’s fine, sometimes we need to let it out. Specially when you’re hanging around a lot of testosterone. Sometimes we need a girl to talk to about stuff. Don’t worry, at times I feel like i need to talk about something important. All day I’ve heard how the tooth fairy came, how John bit Michael. Being a teacher is just hard as well but nothing as hard as yours.” Taking a sip of her tea, she smiled at the girl. “Let all your troubles on me my friend.”

“Well, I already fucked that one up by running away to fucking South America, don’t you think?” he snorted but there was something sad about the short laugh. Daniel took his sister’s hand in his, smiling at the comfort it provided. “Nothing big happened. You know the story. He wanted me to stay here in Brooklyn and I wanted to see the world. He wouldn’t be swayed so I packed my stuff and left, that’s all there is to us.” After all this time, Daniel was surprised to still be talking about Russ. It was the past, and there was nothing they could do about it. He could always find someone else, move on, or simply continue life on his own. He was happy with what he had. “We talked a bit the other way, when we ran into each other. It was awkward, to say the least, but not too bad. Anyways, let’s stop talking about this. There’s nothing more to say. So what are your plans for the rest of the day? Are we going to have lunch with mom on Saturday?” And with that, the topic was dropped and Mei knew she wouldn’t get Daniel to say another word about it. It made him uncomfortable to think of the man he could’ve been if things had gone right, but as always, the world had its own ways to fuck everything up. 

Noticing how quickly he changed the subject she decided it was enough for today, she had other chances to question him more. “Of course, you know I never make plans on Saturday. It’s all about mom that day. I just wonder what new boyfriend she got me, you know she always tells me how one of her friends sons are single and how I deserve a nice man. I think this time I might lie and say that I’m seeing someone. Most of the guys she picks don’t shower everyday.” She joked slightly remembering how in some ways her mother was traditional. “She told me that my eggs are dying and that she is dying.”

“Hey who cares what you do? As long as you’re happy and do good in this world.” Even thought now she seemed like she had a more comfortable lifestyle Mei didn’t have anything at some point. She never cared of what the person did, she cared more of who they were. “That’s a good idea, I try to avoid doctors. I’m scared of needles so it’s nice to have a friend that knows about this stuff. You better not mind me calling at 12 in the morning complaining about the most simple things. I’ll make sure to repay you in any way.” Nodding her head she chuckled. “I guess I should buy a costume to get some candy. I hope I look great in a firefighter costume.”

“I would’ve done the same, but I don’t think I have the legs for it.” It was a cheap, easy joke. An effective little ice breaker that Julian rolled out with an amused curl of his lips, the woman’s overabundance of enthusiasm almost infectious. “You must be doing something right, though. I can’t really recall most of my teachers - so I guess they weren’t nearly as inspiring or memorable as you seem to be.”

“I’m sure we can just shave them! I’m great at shaving legs! Just tell me time and day!” She looked serious for a moment trying to scare him before bursting out laughing. “I hope I’m doing good! It’s really hard being a teacher, you’re teaching the future of the world!”

Charlotte was staring blankly at her friend for a moment before fully registering what she said to her, sometimes seeing the woman so bubbly and…happy made the blonde wonder if she was hallucinating at times. Happiness wasn’t an emotion her brain was familiar with anymore, and sometimes it was just strange to see how one person could be so free from the darkness clouding over their minds. “Now, how did a boy dress up as you? Did his parents went as far as buying a wig for him?” She asked, a brow arched at the woman. “The pressure’s on you then, you gotta keep inspiring them until they leave kindergarten.”

“Yeah, I was really surprised! The dedication is real to be me!” She sigh shaking hr head. “Let’s not think about it, they might forget about me! I’m just their kindergartener teacher. I just hope they remember at least one nice thing about me.” Looking at the friend, she gave her a warm smile. “What’s new with you, felt like we haven’t talked in awhile. You need to tell me all that’s going on in your life!”

“Please don’t make me think about you having a sexual life, that’s absolutely disgusting and impossible,” he shuddered, his face filled with utter disgust. “And it’s not my fault you always end up dating assholes and people who want you only because you’re beautiful or to satisfy their weird, Asian fantasies. You deserve better than that, so the day I start trusting your taste in men will be the day you’ll be allowed to get married. Find a nice guy, one who treats you like you deserve, and I’ll stop scaring them away.” Daniel loved his sister too much to let her run away with the first man who promised her love and flowers, because he knew better. The world was cruel, and unfair, and his sister’s heart was too good and pure. He wouldn’t let anyone hurt her again. 

“Daniel, you won’t know until you try. You guys were together for so long! I thought he was your soulmate. Maybe I’m bias but I don’t see you with anyone else actually. Besides thing can be solved by talking them out right?” She looked at her brother, as her hand reached to take his and squeezing it. “Unless something big happen and you never told me.” Mei never understood their break up, every time she saw them all they radiate was love. She was a bit confused with their situation, specially because she saw Ross as a family member and there was nothing she wished more is to see his brother fully happy the way he used to be. “Have you talked to him?”

“Āiyā! Mèi Mèi!” Daniel exclaimed in pain, his hand reaching down to rub his shin as he glared at his sister. He deserved it and expected it, of course but Mei had a way to always find where to punch him for it to hurt despite years of training. He could only imagine their mother’s exasperated huff if she could only see them. “You are a great teacher though, that’s for sure. Parents love you, kids love you, and you actually enjoy your job. You know I’m proud of you,” Daniel shrugged, like his words were no big deal. Her next words earned her a loud bark of laughter, one few people got to see. “Why don’t you settle down and get your own kids? Mom’s about to kill us both for being lazy and you’re her only hope. I’m the rich son, you’re the family’s pride and joy who should have a husband and 2.5 kids.”

“Well I would have kids and gotten married by now if you didn’t scared every boy I brought home. So you either settle down or let me date with out trying to kill every man on this earth that finds me attractive! I have a.. sexual life like you so, let me live Daniel Tseng! And get married, you’re about to die in a few years. You’re almost a hundred years old!” People around them would find the bickering weird, but it was normal for them. They could go for hours if the world would let them. Poke fun of each other in a healthy way. “Come on, you almost settle down once. Your a handsome guy, any human would fall for you. Think about it, at least for me!”

It was pure coincidence to meet Carlos once again. Even thought she has always seen him around town, they didn’t talk much. But it was nice to catch up with the man that their little ones kept asking about, since they really enjoyed how he gave the lecture. She remembered it well and she couldn’t deny it made a good impression to her also. “Hey, your job is pretty hard. We’re really thankful for people like you. You guys deserve more credit than the one you get!” Placing her free hand on his shoulder, she gave him a warm smile. “Hey, but it seems like you became a person that inspired one of my munchkins, one of them wants to be just like you when he grows up. And he looked so adorable as a firefighter! I think he might dress up like one this halloween also.”

“Maybe they dressed up like you because they see you every day and know no better. Or maybe their parents made them dress like you so you would make them pass the class,” Daniel snorted, teasing her before taking a sip of his coffee, expecting the slap that was about to come upon whatever part of his body Mei could reach. He loved spending time with his sister, talking about their days and sharing even the stupidest stories. It was the only moment Daniel was just that, a brother, a family man, a friend, and not the head of a powerful company. They were still the same after all this time, inseparable and almost insufferable, but he would never change a thing about them. Mei was everything Daniel wasn’t, and he couldn’t be more thankful to be balanced by someone as amazing as his sister. “Seriously though, congratulations. Of course you inspire those kids. You help them learn and grow into whatever they want to be, and that’s the most important thing in the world.”

Her eyes squinted at her older brother, he leg naturally went to hit him under the table. “Meanie!” Even thought they were adults now, with their own place and stuff to do every time they got together they tended to act as children. Family reunions were messy, it always ended up with their mom running after them with a broom. But everything was just pure love. “Exactly! Besides I’m a great teacher! I listen to my students, I play with them, tutor them. Heck I make a picnic with them once a week! I should get teacher of the year, there’s no one as good at me.” Mei joked, as she sipped on to her hot tea before smiling at her brother. “I love kids so much, tell me you’re like almost 80. Why don’t you settle down and give me a few nieces and nephews!”