Caught in My Own Trap Chapter 4

Just brothers and sisters

If a man and a woman been living together for too long, even a hug feels like his/her own left hand holding the right hand.

Xiao He He never expected that Zheng Xie will wake up so early this weekend. She has just got up and stumbled to wash up when Zheng Xie called to tell her that he will be waiting for her downstairs in 20 minutes time.

Zheng Xie has a strong time management sense and hates people being late. He He heard from his secretary before, once there were an executive meeting when the snow were very thick and slippery, half of the partic.i.p.ants were late. Zheng Xie insisted in not changing the meeting time resulting in the meeting being interrupted from time to time when the bunch of senior executive embarra.s.sedly walked in. As a result, as long as it is a snowing day, they will leave 30 minutes earlier from home.

Normally He He although dare to provoke him from time to time, dare not violate his command. She scrambled to get ready, and did not managed to have her breakfast. The night before, she has forgotten to prepare her clothes, only to find the dress outside her wardrobe are very colorful. Wearing only her jeans and bra, she ransacked through the wardrobe before finally found a black V-neck short sleeve cotton T-s.h.i.+rt with lapel collar and cuffs in gray plaid cotton inlay trim and the hem attached with a cat design. She totally forgotten when she has bought that and which year the style belongs to.

He He has just got herself looking presentable when Zheng Xie’s call came. She rushed down through the emergency fire door only to find Zheng Xie also dressed in jeans and a short black striped T-s.h.i.+rt. They look like a couple dressed alike. He He sat down next to him, only to think in her mind that this surfaced joke is very outdated. After all, Zheng Xie’s dressing at least is better than hers by tenfold.

Zheng Xie turn to the side slightly to see her: “Your uncombed hair are standing. And you didn’t eat.”

“Oh.” He He pulled out a small mirror and comb from her bag, found a bottle of mineral water before dipping into the water and comb her hair.

“I have told you the time I would be coming today. Because of the rain, we would leave a little earlier. You do not know how to plan your time?”

“Look, I forgot.”

“My words to you, when will you not have it left ear in and right ear out?”

Really annoying. Today is rest day and he does not have any subordinate to train, so he trained her instead. And she is very hungry.

As expected, 10 minutes into the start of the journey, it began to rain. The rain become heavier with no sign of stopping. The road is filled with water and gradually the traffic jam starts.

The place they are heading is far. Zheng Xie has always been steady in his driving. He slowed down the car, did not abide to the traffic rules several time almost causing danger. However his expression remain calm. But Xiao He He eyes grows dim from the swinging wipers and uninterrupted flow of water.

Zheng Xie parked the car and got down from the car. He He thought that he only wants to buy something, so sat in the car unmoved. Until master Zheng came over to the side of the door and open the door for her. “Get down from the car.” She got down from the car and looked up only to realize that it is one of her favorite breakfast venue. Because it is far from her place, she rarely comes. This is an honorable treatment, master Zheng as her servant.

The breakfast place offers a combination of Chinese and Western food. He He immediately points to her favorite: “A green tea cake, a tuna burger, a cup of freshly squeezed orange juice….. and add a cup of ice porridge. What do you want?”

“Biscuits, meat, soya milk, some light pickles. It is all hers. Give me a gla.s.s of water.”

With a look of embarra.s.sment, the waiter asked: “Then, do you still want the order from the lady earlier?”

“No need.” Zheng Xie replied.

Xiao He He hopes that her obedience is able to exchange a little better order: “Can I have fried fritters?”

“Biscuit and warm soya milk.”

Haiz. Zheng Xie is in a bad mood today. As it is raining, his mood is very bad and had to be caught up in such a bad day. She does not dare to provoke him. So she accepted that, after all she is not paying for it. The biscuits and soya milk here is very expensive. Moreover, she has caused the delay in the trip, she is only able to devour to express her repentance and the intended make up for the loss of time.

Her expression is not pleasant, because between sipping her water, she slightly wrinkled her eyebrows. Zheng Xie has a very fine facial features, even with a good skin that makes any woman jealous. But with his straight face, is actually very scary. Even she whom have grown up together with him, would be a little scared, one can imagine his subordinate.

Because she is distracted while eating, her eyes brow were wrinkled tightly. “Xiao He He, there is a rice grain on the edge of your mouth.”

He He extended a hand and wipe it resulting in more biscuits crumbs on her face. Zheng Xie could not help but pulled out a tissue and wipe her face across the table.

He He laughed out loud and sprayed some of the crumbs on his hands.

“Zheng Xie, your frown is identical to Uncle Zheng. When you are old, you will look like that.”

“Xiao He He, you are not allowed to speak when you eat.”

When it comes to Xiao He He, Zheng Xie is naggier than He He’s mother. This is because rarely discipline Xiao He He.

It is still heavy rain. The car has got onto the highway. Zheng Xie drives the car more carefully.

Xiao He He dare not talk. Zheng Xie like quietness hence she is embarra.s.sed to switch on the car radio. She plan to listen to her MP4. Zheng Xie although is quite similar with his dad, his father allows him to do what he has chosen. But in reality, he is very similar to Uncle Zheng, not even in looks, even style of doing things, for example is extremely bossy, like to make all kinds of rules. Really both are very similar.

On her side, looking for something, He He almost turn her bag inside out but still could not find what she want. Xiao He He felt that Zheng Xie has something to scold her but this time she was wrong. Zheng Xie not only ignored her cl.u.s.tering her things but also in a mild tone asked: “He He, is there any birthday gift that you want?”

“Hypocritical. You refused to even let me have a happy breakfast, rarely able to go to the place for a meal, you actually resorted to me having a biscuits only.”

“That’s for you own good. You just can’t stomach the truth. Chooses foreign garbage instead of Chinese food. Only put on a cynical patriotic look all day.”

Xiao He He is not able to retort back, can only sigh.

 

“Really don’t have any birthday wish?” Zheng Xie asked.

“Gold dropping from the sky, the street filled with good men, as well as powerful motherland, world peace.”

Zheng Xie gently laughed: “It is good enough to meet a good man. What do you think of s.h.i.+ Lin? He has a good impression of you. Not good enough for you?”

“Not familiar with him. Talk about it later.”

“He will only be in the country for 2 weeks. If you have a good impression on him, just don’t refuse him. s.h.i.+ Lin is a good man. No family and also engage in education. Very different from our group of people.”

“Did you change your field and open a marriage brokers? Don’t talk when driving.” Xiao He He is not in the mood to talk about it.

“He He, you have always say one thing but ended up doing the other thing since young. Everyday say want to find a good man. When really met one, becomes like this.”

Xiao He He turn around left and right, no longer bothered with him. She finally found a new target to focus on. At the back of the car, there is 2 beautifully wrapped very big box. Her hand reach out to the boxes, while checking out the packaging, turn to Zheng Xie and asked: “This is for me, right?”

Zheng Xie kept quiet means he is admitting it. He He open the 2 boxes. It is not what she expected. Inside is a limited edition Barbie. Zheng Xie really had no idea, her closet is filled with them. This time, it is a Scarlett with a Twelve Oaks barbecue Grande Punto skirt shape and the other with green curtain fabric shape.

“But only one is yours, so pick one.” Zheng Xie said while intently watching the road ahead.

“Of course, both are mine. Anyway, both were mean to be given to people. With such childish toy, those women with you, giving it to them are detrimental to your taste, Master Zheng.”

“What those women. Be careful of what you say. Do I need to please any women?” Zheng Xie is really in a bad mood today. In the past when He He mock him, he rarely argue back.

“That….thank you, ah. How do you know that I wanted Scarlett O’Hara doll?” It has exceeded He He’s expectation.

“Zhi Xian says you want this, and went to search for you. You go and thank her.”

He He knows that the mighty Zheng Xie, with the women that he is interested in, he is too lazy to please them, what more to say about wanting to find out about her preference.

Zheng Xie seems to talk more than normal today. After a moment, said: “He He, next week I want to go for a trip to City X. If you are free, go back with me. You must have not seen Aunty Lin for a long time, right?”

“It is not any holiday season, why suddenly want to go there?”

“Father Zheng called, said want to see me.”

“Did you cause any trouble and is dragging me out to help you? Also taking my mother out for a cover. My mother is also very busy. I don’t think she would have time to meet me.”

“Aunty Lin is a great woman. Whoever talk about her has high regards for her, except you.”

“How is it possible? Actually, I am afraid of seeing her. You know, my mother is a good woman. Although she has never had expectation on me as she is already generally very successful, at least I hope I could be like my dad whom is dedicated although in the ordinary post is able to be successful. However, I am just very mediocre with nothing extraordinary. She must have been very disappointed with me.”

“She is very concerned about you.”

“Of course. An hour after the daughter is born, decided to name her “Smile” which shows her deep maternal love.” He He said in a m.u.f.fle. Her name has resulted in her being ridiculed from the time she was in kindergarten till her work place today.

“She hope that you will forever be happy.”

“Yes ah, who say it is not.”

Then both of them kept quiet. Only the faint sound of the car running over the water surface and the rain on the window pattering. The silence continued for more than an hour until after they have reached their destination.

They went to the cemetery located on the mountain. The car is not able to go up the mountain, hence they can only walked up. It is raining all the time. Even with an umbrella, both of them crowded together is still inevitably be caught in the rain. Zheng Xie, is holding a large bouquet of white gardenia flowers, petals lined with green leaves in his arm. It is said that this is He He’s dad favorite flower.
It is very quiet in the mountain. Tombstones are everywhere. There is even no sound of birds and insects, just the rain and their footsteps amidst in the horizon of inky clouds. He He is afraid of such quietness, thinking over and over and decided to talk to overcome her fear. “Zheng Xie, isn’t the Gardenia Flower season already over.”

“Yes”

So how did you managed to get the fresh flowers? He He bite the corner of her lips and swallowed the thought. She held the umbrella higher while holding on to Zheng Xie’s hand pulling him closer. This way, her fear will ease.

They finally found He He father’s tomb. The tomb is very clearn. The flower placed during the “Qing Ming”, also known as Tomb-Sweeping Day has been cleared away. In front of the tomb, there is a stone bottle with a few ugly mesh flowers sticking out followed by her handwriting. There are a few DIY fabric flowers made way better than hers. Below the flowers are notes, tribute from his previous students.

The Qingming or Ching Ming Festival, also known as Tomb-Sweeping Day in English, is a traditional Chinese festival on the first day of the fifth solar term of the traditional Chinese lunisolar calendar. – Wikipedia – Qingming Festival

Lettering on the grave are still so clear after so many years of wind and rain. Xiao Lie s.h.i.+ is buried here. August 10, 1983.

This is the day that Xiao He He was born.