#chrischenyan

She woke up disoriented. For some reason Tingting could not recall going to bed the night before. Unlike the slow and relaxed awakening she most often had, she felt drowsy and...sad? Without thinking she was already standing and making her way to her roommate’s door. Tingting swung Chen’s bedroom door open, not a hesitation in her step. She didn’t know why, but she felt that she had to check on him. There was an overwhelming feeling of something wrong. A feeling that she had done something wrong. They’d been distant for a while know, why was it dawning on her all of a sudden?

“Chen-弟!” Tingting called out as she entered the room. She finally stopped short, aware of her strange behaviour.

Too bad he had been a friend to her the past couple of weeks. Now that the lockdown had begun, she could spring her plan into action. Not now, but soon...she could get him where she needed him. It was luck that they were both from China and were both in the compound as shapeshifters. Tingting possessed no such ability of course but he was always trying to help her return to her supposed powers. Seeing him in the hall, she stopped him, ready to try something. “Chen. I need to ask a favour of you. It’s very very important. I’ll owe you for life, really.”

She finished her poke bowl with one last chopstick full of carrot shreds. Looking up, she saw her roommate had already left the table and was getting ready to go somewhere. It was a little awkward with just the two of them. Out of the boys he certainly was the most mature of the lot but they’d never formed a one on one connection despite their years of friendship. It was a group dynamic, but with just two for so long, they found themselves quickly out of things to talk about. This led to silent dinners and days spent apart besides a morning workout. Being older than him, more experienced and, in her opinion, more able than him, he often found herself telling Chen what to do. It was not unusual for her to take the leadership role with the Furious Five but now that it was just the two of them, he unfortunately found himself faced with all of her bossiness. 

“Chen-弟.” She spoke up as she began to clear her dishes. “Tomorrow morning we have a local magazine interview where we will talk about the Jade Palace. Do not be out late.”

Although she wouldn’t admit it, she’d been missing her fellow students from back home. Being alone at Astra was so unfamiliar and strange even weeks later. Six in the morning was the usual time Tingting got up to do stretches until training until noon. Now that Chen had arrived at the compound, they could train together. It would be nice to have a worthy sparring partner again as the punching bag just wasn’t working for her. 

Even though they were rooming together, Tingting had been asleep upon his arrival the night before and up extra early today. Therefore the two had decided to meet during a morning practice. It was already twenty after six and there was no sign of her friend. She was annoyed and rather disappointed at him for being tardy. It was unlike him and she assumed he’d gotten lost. Still, it was no excuse. They had made plans and he clearly did not organize himself. She wouldn’t let it stall her though and simply moved on to balance training. It was something she needed to work on and, ironically, something Chen could’ve helped her with right now. 

As she began her focused stance, she was almost immediately interrupted. Speak of the devil. Tingting looked towards the door at a disgruntled familiar face. 

“You’re late.”