The Stuff of Dreams

Worth Chasing After

The table between them was quiet. Po took small bites of his food and chewed them like a sloth eating his leaves. Mei quietly ate, glancing up from her food now and then to see if Po was still breathing. Finally, she threw down the chopsticks and gave a great sigh, "Okay, what's wrong? You've been mopey for two days. You don't eat or sleep. What's going on, Po?"

Po sighed, "You remember that tiger at work?" Mei nodded. "She has a boyfriend."

"Ooooohh," Mei's face flinched as her gut clenched. Reaching across the table, she placed a hand on his shoulder. "I'm so sorry, Po."

"It's fine. It makes sense why she rejected Boqin," Po groaned, "And I can't even be upset and say she played me. I've only been working there for a week or two. There wouldn't have been enough time to say anything." Po sadly looked at the leafy food stabbed by his fork. "Was it because I thought she was the tiger in my dreams? Maybe I put her too high on a pedestal? I don't know."

"It's okay, Po. There are other fish in the sea. You'll find the tiger of your dreams," Mei said. She stood up, taking Po's unfinished plate, and went to the sink, but when she came back to Po sulking on his chair, she hugged him tightly. "I know it's hard, but I don't want you to go back to that hole you came out of. You have to take risks, Po. Nothing was awarded to people who played it safe."

"And if I fail?"

"Then learn why," Mei said, lifting his lowered head, "But don't ever think that it's because you're not good enough. You are just Po. Everything else is a part of you, but they can't fully define you, and you're not defined by your failures. You promised me that you wouldn't give up, okay? Don't give up." Po sighed again. Though the pain in his heart didn't leave, it became more manageable to bear. It's true what they said, Life doesn't get easier. You have to choose to get stronger.

"Thanks, sis," Po said with a small smile. Mei smiled back and went to the sink. "So how was it working with Mr. Tai-Lung."

"Great, actually. He's not that hard to deal with. A little stubborn with eating, but he's manageable," Mei replied.

"I guess," Po mumbled. "And his papers? Were they hard?"

"Not really. Some of the stories are awkward, but I guess that comes with writing," Mei shrugged. "His house is huge, though. He even has a home gym in the basement."

Po smirked, "So you get to have a buff guy working out in front of you as you make food? That's the dream."

"PO!" Mei shouted, splashing water his way. "It's just a temporary fix, okay? Once I find another job, I'm leaving."

"I know, I know," Po chuckled lightly. After that talk, Po's heart started to mend as the days went by, well enough that the sight of Tigress wasn't painful.

Or it would be if he could find her.

It was strange. Po could have sworn he saw flashes and glimpses of her darting into the stairway or into the elevator before he could even call to say wait. Po even stood outside the elevator for the whole lunchtime, and she still didn't show up. One day, when Po went up to the top floor to drop off some papers for Mei-Ling, Mr. Wang just came back through the glass door. "Ah! Po! It's good to see you."

"Good morning, Kai," Po briefly smiled.

"Mei-Ling, do you know where Mrs. Fang is? I haven't seen her around here."

"She just dropped off some papers and then zoomed away," Mei-Ling grumbled with a roll of her eyes. Po noticed that. Did the mountain cat and tiger not get along? "Anyway, she should be back. She said she needed to get some more papers from her office."

"Thanks," Po and Kai both said and left in opposite directions. Mei-Ling blinked several times before finally giving up trying to understand what happened. Po rushed to the door and took the stairs. Just as he was about to get to his floor, the door opened up and he crashed into the person. Papers flew everywhere. "Whoops Sorry!"

"Ugh, if it isn't one thing, it's the-" Po and the other person immediately recognized each other's voice. "Other."

"H-Hey, Tigress," Po nervously smiled. Tigress literally flashed a smile and focused on picking up the papers. "I haven't seen you in a while."

"I've been busy," She said curtly. "The quarter is coming up." Her hand darted for the last paper, but Po stopped her hand.

"Why don't I believe you?" Po asked honestly. Tigress sharply sighed and snatched the paper up.

"I have to go, Po," She said, going up the stairs.

"Why have you been avoiding me? Was it something I said or did?" Po asked.

"Oh for the love of-" Tigress massaged the bridge of her nose. "It's complicated."

"So it's my fault."

"It's not your fault, Bao-Ai!"

No air moved for a full second.

"Bao-Ai?"

"Po," She sighed a little easier, "I've been having a rough few days. I would like some space for a moment. It isn't your fault," She beat him to it. "I just need some time to think." The panda could feel every fiber of his being wanting to ease the burden on her heart, but his brain knew he couldn't.

"I-" He cleared his throat, "I know we've just met and all, but... I'll try and help you the best I can... I promise."

Tigress rolled her eyes, "Po, you're a nice guy, but-"

"This isn't me trying to be the nice guy motif," Po interrupted. "I genuinely mean that. No strings attached." The tiger looked down at him from the top landing.

"You barely know me. Why would you do something like that? Why would take on someone else's problems and run after whatever problem they have?" Tigress asked.

"Because you've been nothing but nice to me ever since we met? Because you got me a shot for this job and I owe you? Maybe because I AM a nice guy? Or maybe..." Po found himself smiling. "Because you're worth chasing after...as a friend of course." At that last bit, his smile and tone took a more joking tinge, prompting the tiger to roll her eyes though her shoulders relaxed more. "I hope you have a better rest of your day, Ms. Fang."

"Po!" She called out. "...Thank you."

Po smiled wider as he closed the door behind him. He walked back to his office and sat down just when Viper gave him another stack of papers. "Sorry to dump these on you so late in the day."

"It's okay. I could use a distraction," Po beamed. "Uh... Viper, does the name Bao-Ai mean anything to you?" The snake curled her tail under her chin and squinted her eyes at the ceiling for answers.

"Nope. I can't think of anyone that works here. I mean, Tigress's boyfriend is Bao-Ai, but that's all I can think of," Viper replied. Po widened his eyes, but he quickly shook his head before Viper could really see him. "Why do you ask?"

"No reason. I'll get to those papers," Po quickly answered. The snake quirked her head, gazing at the panda but decided to leave the matter alone.

To Be Continued