Qing finally learned to refuse me from getting what I want. At least in the beginning.
You know your Baba, he may grumble about it every once in a while but he'll always give in to me to make me happy because that is Qing's priority...making me happy.
Not this time though. This time he really hold out for days to tell me why Zhu gege beat him up when he was fourteen.
So I resorted to guessing.
Me: You murdered someone and he got so mad because you put him up on burying the corpse.
Qing: I was fourteen, who would I murder?
Me: (shrugging) I don't know. Any guy who got fresh with your sister?
Qing: No. My sister murdered them herself. She was capable of protecting herself. She was a porcupine in highschool. No boys could come close and not get stabbed by her spikes.
Me: (smiling) Why does it sounds like you three had the best teenage years and you all are keeping it mum?
Qing: (chuckling) We were little shits during our teenage days. Zhu gege was not always this no nonsense guy you know. He gave Uncle and Auntie troubles before. I don't know whose soul Uncle and Auntie sacrificed to the gods to straightened Gege down but eventually, Zhu gege got serious in getting his degree and he even studied abroad.
Me: And JiJi.
Qing: JiJi was a model student but her attitude turned most people off her. She was once very entitled. Mama and Baba spoiled us and we almost turned rotten. But when she got to college, JiJi started making friends and then a couple of years after graduating, she met her husband.
Me: And you?
Qing: (eyes shifting) Well, I have Jin, Yao and ZhiMing as friends while in primary and highschool. We have other people in our group as well but the four of us have been the closest to each other. We separated when we got to different universities and colleges and then I met you.
Me: How were you in highschool? I mean, I am an ordinary kid, quite normal...
Qing: Don't. We talked about you using the word "normal" in describing yourself. You are not normal, Love. You...are Dayu.
Me: (rolling my eyes) Fine, so I had my misadventures...
Qing: Jumping on a garbage bin to hide from your friends whom were hunting you down because you failed to attend a group project meeting is not exactly misadventures. It's uhm...you...
Me: Whatever. I'm not the topic here. You are. What happened? What did you do? Did you make a girl cry? Did you shoplift? What?
Qing: Not gonna tell. No. No. And what?
Me: Ugh! Just spill it already! Come on!
Qing: No.
Me: Damn it! I hate that you won't let me see your embarassing pictures growing up. I hate that you won't tell me the reason why Zhu gege beat your ass up. I hate it. I am calling Pau...
But before I can dial Pau's number, my phone rang and Pau's name was on the screen. I answered it immediately.
Pau: (withou saying hello) Make Qing spill it all!
Me: Why? Zhu gege won't talk.
Pau: He is as talkative as a pricked clam.
Me: Yikes. Not opening his mouth then, eh?
Pau: Yes. So whatever happens, make Qing talk. I don't care how you do it, lets find that reason why Zhu ah got physical and beat Qing up. I need to know.
Me: Me too. I am dying of curiosity here. But how can we get them to talk?
Pau: Torture Qing. Threaten him. Withheld everything...
Me: Wait...wait! Why just me? What about you? Why not pester Zhu Gege until he gives in.
Pau: Ugh. I am scared of him.
Me: Wh—...you? Scared? Are you capable of that?
Pau: I know. But I am truly scared of Zhu. He said if I continue pestering him about this, he will leave me in this house with enough money so I can live for a year in comfort without him. Then he will transfer me to his father's office.
Me: Ohhh...that is a serious threat.
Pau: He meant business. Zhu ah is not kidding. He won't talk. So make Qing talk! Please...or we will expire in too much curiosity.
Me: What should I do?
Pau: Do everything. Use everything in your armory. You can do it.
Me: Okay!
Pau and I said our goodbye and I turned to Qing who blinked at me. I smiled at him and opened my mouth. But before I can start pestering him, Qing said...
Qing: If I tell you the reason why he beat me up, Zhu gege will sue me for breach of contract and my family will get hurt if they learn the truth. My parents will be angry enough to disown me.
Me: (blinking) Wait...what? There is a signed contract? You will get disown? That is such...are you exaggerating?
Qing: (shaking his head in all seriousness) Nope. They will really disown me. After every sin I did to my family that they all overlook and tolerated, this one will never be forgiven. I swear Dayu, this will break my parents' heart.
Me: (suddenly scared) That...serious? Its that grave? What you did?
Qing: (nodding) It was so grave I don't even have any rights to beg for their forgiveness. Zhu gege learned by accident and this could get him disowned too. JiJi will hate us...maybe for the next two decades...and Mama will finally have enough of me.
I studied his face. Gauging his sincerity.
Me: You are not telling me that to keep me at bay, right?
Qing: (sighing) I wish I do. But that's really it is. If this secret get spilled, I'm done Dayu. I am.
Me: Just you?
Qing: Well...Zhu gege knows. So...
Me: He too?
Qing: (nodding) But his punishment might not be disownment. I mean, surely they will not throw away both of us, who will run our company then?
Well...there's a point. Wow...
Me: (winced) Yikes.
I got my phone again to message Pau.
Me: (while typing) No can do or Qing will be erased from the family registrar. The bad news is that his parents might not talk to us again ever. The good news is that the museleom will be yours. So...? What should we do?
I sent that message and Pau called me again.
Pau: Abort the mission. I will not live in that mansion.
Me: It wasn't so bad.
Pau: Great. You live there.
Me: How is Zhu gege?
Pau: Still talking to his Baba. I think they will join forces to convince Missus Wang to have a calm talk with Madam Wang. Ugh...this is all drama.
Me: Are you complaining?
Pau: (laughing) Are you kidding me? The only complaint I have is there are no popcorn.
Me: You and JiJi are the only ones having fun with this. It was really scary, watching them have a go at each other.
I shudder just thinking about it.
Pau: I know its scary. How is Qing ge?
Me: He's unusually quiet. Probably thinking about it. Anyways, I think they will keep their secret...
Pau: And we should let them keep it in peace, really...
Me: Yeah...
Pau and I sighed together.
Me: You will try asking him again about it next week, right?
Pau: Make it next month. And when he least expect it. Probably while having sex.
Me: (chuckling) Great.
Pau and I chuckled together before we ended that conversation. I put my phone down to stare at Qing. He stared back at me. Then I smacked his head.
Qing: Aw! What the hell? Why did you do that?
Me: Okay, I already give you your punishment. Tell me, I won't be mad. I will not leave you. You won't lose me. I'll accept it. Whatever it is.
Qing hesitated. He sighed.
Qing: Do you really have to know? I mean, can't I keep some secrets from you?
Me: Is this the only secret you are keeping from me?
Qing: No. I still have several secrets you don't know.
Me: Well then...like that motorcycle you bought behind my back...that you still eventually had to tell me...spill this one to me as well. And I promise, no matter what it is, you are already forgiven. By me. I already forgave you.
Qing closed his eyes. Then he opened his eyes, stared at me, sighed again and opened his mouth to tell me.
I smacked his head several more times with a pillow while he told me what he did when he was fourteen.
Me: You son of a devil. I am disgusted by you. I hate you so much right now. Oh my god..
Qing: Sorry. You won't leave me, right?
Me: Am I leaving? I am a man of my words. (sighing) (hugging Qing and patting his back) You stupid stupid man. I hate you and fuck, you were one fucked up kid. You really fucked up. Shit.
Qing: (hugging me back as he sniffed) I hate myself too...
I hugged Qing as he sob in sorrow. I know you are all curious about it. What it is he did when he was fourteen but I cannot write it here because well...
I have to protect my man. He is mine and I have to protect him.
But I promise, he didn't murder someone. He just broke someone's heart and once he tell what he did to his parents, he will break their hearts as well.
Qing is fucked. And not by me which really piss me off. Shit!
Me: (once everything calmed down) No wonder Zhu Gege beat you up. God, you are lucky he kept you alive. I mean, how the hell has he ever forgiven you.
Qing: (sighed) I don't think he ever forgiven me for it. He just...loves me more than he hates my sins. Zhu gege loves me.
Me: True. You are so lucky he loves you. If it was me, I'll be in prison for murdering my cousin and you are waiting to be reborn.
Qing: Fuck.
Me: Yes. You are. So fucked up.
I stared at him.
Me: Have you tried finding it?
Qing: (nodding) I did. We did. But it was gone. I lost it. And then we lied to our parents when
Zhu gege and I said we had a fight because he got angry at me. The reason, we withheld.
Me: And do you plan to take it to your graves?
Qing: (sighing) I don't know. Have you seen Mama when she is mad? Imagine a hundred times that. Plus heartbroken. I mean, the way she acted when she learned about our engagement. Multiply that by a million. And we are not yet talking about Baba. Baba will bury me alive.
Me: God, I wish you are exaggerating. But no, disowning you will be such a treat.
Qing nodded to agree. I patted his shoulder to console him.
Me: You rich kids are weird. You grew up weird. You played weird games. You even keep secrets in a strange way. Damn...
Qing hugged me for a snuggle. I passed a gentle hand on his back and shoulder to comfort him. I also accepted another truth.
Me: I hope you realized you just give up every rights you have for calling me weird or strange. You are strange. I was...a klutz when growing up. Corny and tacky, sure. You were a weird kid, Qing. Weird, I swear.
Qing: I know.
Me: And you are still weird, until now. Goodness...
Qing: I know.
Me: (sighing) I love you.
Qing: Still?
Me: Yes. Still. Maybe for always.
Qing: Maybe?
Me: No. Most definitely. I'll love you always.
Qing hugged me tighter. I closed my eyes and just...pray that his secrets will remain that.
A secret to his parents.
Me: But we still have a problem.
Qing: I know. Mama and Auntie.
We both sighed. Why is this our life again?