Chapter 90：Calming Down

Impatiently Xiao Ping watches a paper that slowly moves out from a printer. Once it is fully out she quickly grabs it and holds it right in front of her nose. Her face is split by a wide smile while her eyes can't be moved from the paper. Takeshi just sent her a picture when they were on the roof. With a red sun light as a background, Takeshi and she widely smiled and while touching their heads to each others, Takeshi's hand hugged her intimately.

"Whose picture is it ?" suddenly Han Han asks. Xiao Ping at once turns around and so surprised to she Han Han's face has leaned forward above her left shoulder.

Xiao Ping shakes her head. "You don't need to. Thank you," she rejects. Han Han shrugs. "Okay. Btw, A Lin hasn't come, has she ?" he asks. "No. Not yet," Xiao Ping answers while shaking her head. "Oh.. okay," Han Han responds then back to his desk.

After making sure Han Han is busy with his work, again Xiao Ping looks at the picture on her hand. It is true that her face and Takeshi's unclear there. But it's not a problem for Xiao Ping. That picture is enough to clarify the memory in her head of that moment.

"Xiao Ping," Han Han calls, once more quickly turns Xiao Ping's head around. Only this time Han Han is still on his desk, busy with a computer. His head doesn't even turn to her. Once Xiao Ping responds, Han Han stops his work.

"Hmm.. I wanna ask you something," Han Han hesitate, "but please don't get mad," he requests immediately. Xiao Ping raises her eyebrows, doesn't understand what will make her angry.

"Hmm.. are you still mad at Yu Jin-ge ?" Han Han carefully asks. For a moment, Xiao Ping deeply stares at him. "No."

Han Han's expression becomes brighter at once. "That's great! Yu Jin-ge must be thrilled to hear that," he says enthusiastically. With the same enthusiast he pushes his chair to slide toward Xiao Ping.

"You know, Yu Jin-ge was so sad when you didn't come. He didn't say a word, but he must thought that you still mad at him. Though we told him that you couldn't come because you were forbidden. Right ?" Han Han chatter without giving Xiao Ping a chance except to nod. "Btw, if you want you can call him. Well, actually you can only leave a message, then he will.. Eh.. Hello, A Lin."

The unexpected greeting that cuts Han Han's sentence definitely makes Xiao Ping search A Lin's figure. Turns out the girl is just releasing her grip from the glass door. "Hi, A Lin," Xiao Ping also greets her.

"Hi," A Lin replies. The thin smile plastered on her face camouflages the discomfort sight that slightly radiated toward Xiao Ping and Han Han. Xiao Ping doesn't realize that sight. But whether it is a coincident or not, Han Han immediately pushes his chair back to his desk while finishing his sentence, "He can use his ration to call you. Okay ?" Even though she doesn't understand what is needed to be okay, Xiao Ping still nods to agree.

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"Hello, Mom," Takeshi greets to a gentle voice across. "Were you sleeping ?" Takeshi asks answered by a No. "No, nothing. I just miss you," he says like a spoiled child. "Well, I can only go home after my trip to America. I will depart in two days. What do you want from there ?" he asks.

While finding a comfortable position on his bed, Takeshi chuckles to hear his mother's answer. "Now, for that I need to go to Taiwan instead of America, Mom. We already met one time at Taiwan. It's only for a night. She is really beautiful, Mom. Her act is also very sweet. You definitely will love her. Announced ? Tsk, it is my private live, Mom. Public doesn't need to know. Yes, I have her picture." Takeshi stares at the laptop on his lap that has Xiao Ping's face as wallpaper. "I will show you later. How are you, Mom ? What ?! How could your leg be sprained ? Moom.. why do you still do farming ? You can buy them from the market. Well, it is more satisfying to eat our own plants, but you are aging, you need to take care of your health. You had been tired enough to take care of us until we're grown up, now let us take care of you. Let Goro and I the ones who work," Takeshi speaks in tender.

His forehead is knitted when he hears his mother complains about his brother. "No, Mom. I'm sure Goro is working hard, too. He was heavily debt also because he wanted to please you. Don't worry, Mom, it has been taken care of. What ...? Hmm, yes.. I lent him money," Takeshi lies. He did paid Goro's debt but never crossed his mind to consider it as a loan.

"Have you watched my new dorama ?" Takeshi quickly changes topic. "Do you like it ? Hahaha.. well, it is a little complicated, but it has a good story. Soon my other dorama will be out, too. This one is simple. You're gonna love it. Right, one I play with Miyu. Gossip about me and Miyu ? Hahaha, that's an old one, Mom. Let it be, Mom, it's not how the fact is. Miyu and I is good friends. Beside Hiroshi, she is the only one who knows about Xiao Ping."

Suddenly a yawn slips through Takeshi's mouth before it can be held. "Right, today is a bit tiring. Okay. You have sound sleep as well, おやすみ (oyasumi-good night)," Takeshi says good bye. After cutting off the call, once again he yawns. With a teary eyes caused by the yawn, he looks at Xiao Ping's face then his finger touches his lips before moves it to the laptop monitor, right on Xiao Ping's lips. "Good night, my love."

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Xiao Ping presses her lips until her cheekbones are raised then exhales a long breath, telling her heart not to be disappointed when her last email, five minutes ago, hasn't been replied by Takeshi. He must be in the plane, or even the plane has already taken off to USA. She glances at the right bottom of her monitor. 5:55 PM.

"Oh, No !!" she screams in muffled. "What's wrong ?" Han Han asks. "I have to catch the 6 PM bus. Today is my father's birthday. My mom told me to come home before 7 PM," Xiao Ping answers, in hurry closes her browser and cleans up the desk.

"What's wrong with your bike ?" Han Han asks again. "Its tire is flat," Xiao Ping helplessly grins. "Ugh.. I hope I still manage to catch it," she mumbles then goes to say goodbye to Mr. Bai.

"Hey, Xiao Ping. Let me drive you home," Han Han offers his help once Xiao Ping comes out from Mr. Bai's office. "No, you don't need to," Xiao Ping rejects. "It's okay. You won't be able to catch the bus. Even though you catch it, you won't be able to ride it. Six o'clock bus usually very busy," Han Han says.

Xiao Ping in silent, knowing that Han Han was saying is true. "Well.. if it's not bothering you.." she then says. "For a friend, a little bother doesn't count," Han Han bluntly speaks, making Xiao Ping shyly grins. "Come on," Han Han invites her while taking his helmet from the table. "You better borrow Tian Tian's helmet," he then suggests while taking then handing another helmet ber his reach. Soon after both walks out together.

Right when the glass door behind them is closed, A Lin comes out from the toilet. She stares at their departure deeply. It is not a strange thing for her. It was Yu Jin, now is Han Han. A feeling of dislike sticks out in A Lin's heart. She tries to ignore it by moving her sight off.