Secret Love Nest

Pretty Dayu

Qing: Just choose one, the one you like the most.

I bit my lower lip. But that is the thing, I can't seem to make up my mind.

Qing: (souding impatient) Dayu, will you be able to do this, like in this lifetime? We still have to board the plane, stop wasting time and just choose.

Me: (frustrated) But I can't choose! They all look beautiful!

Wang Zhu: (putting his arm around my shoulder) (snarling at Qing) Stop pressuring my pretty Dayu!

Qing: (throwing his cousin's arm away from me) Don't touch him! Seriously gege, you need to find your own lover so you will stop sexually harrassing mine.

Wang Zhu: What if I tell you that I am still waiting for Dayu to wake up and realize that there is a better Wang than the one he got now?

That was a cheek too much for Qing to let pass. He went straight to hit his cousin and they began a struggle that can rival a two five year old fight. But they are not cute kids, they are annoying.

I smiled apologetically at the attending personnel at the jewelry store. He is a middle aged man wearing a crisp uniform with a face that gives meaning to the word "professionalism".

Well what would you expect on a store manager who opened his shop at 2 am in the morning just to accomodate me and the two idiots fighting on my back.

Yes! The Wangs are so rich and businesses are clamoring to serve them that when Wang Zhu and Wang Qing asked a jewelry store owner to open a shop for us at 2 in the morning so I can pick a gift for my mother's birthday, we are welcomed by the manager of the store with tea and biscuits and a dozen sets of necklaces I can't seem to choose one from.

I can't help but feel like Julia Robert's character in Pretty Woman. You know, with the rich lover and all...

Store Manager: If I can be of help Sir, what kind of jewelry does your mother usually wear? Does it have precious stones at it? Pearls?

Me: (thinking) My mother likes wearing simple jewelry. But lately I saw her wearing pearl earrings...

Qing: (finished with his "fight" with his cousin) (stood at my side) The let's give her diamond earrings. If she already have pearl earrings, let's give her some variety and gift her diamonds.

The way he said it it's like he is just asking me to give my mom eggs for breakfast. So casual, like giving someone diamond earrings is something he does everyday, morning, noon and night.

Me: (unsure) Should we?

Wang Zhu: Diamonds are girls bestfriend, no matter their age.

Me: I knew that, but will it not burden my mom? We are suddenly buying her diamonds?

Qing: We are not buying her a big chunk of ice rock Dayu. Something with a simple cut and moderate size. That would be fine.

I sighed and nodded at the manager. He took away the necklaces and present a velvet boxed lined with diamond earrings nestled neatly there. Immediately, my eyes were caught by a pretty pair of earrings on the second row of the box. But when I check the price, my heart almost stopped.

Me: (whispering to Qing) It is too expensive!

Qing: (eyes sparkling) You see something you like?

Wang Zhu: Finally! Where is it?

I inwardly groaned. So stupid of me to think that these two will care about the prices of the earrings. Of course they are more excited with the thought that I finally choose a gift and we can leave now.

I reluctantly point at the pair of diamond earrings that sparkled in the lights. I don't know it's cut except it is round the size of a small pebble in white gold.

Qing: (looking at the manager) We will take it. Can you put them in a pretty red box with white bow? It will be a gift for his mother (pointing at me)

He handed a black card on the manager who nodded and take away the earrings. We all sigh in relief, finally that was done. All we need to do is...

Wang Zhu: Go to the airport, your plane is waiting there.

I nodded while wincing. I knew this routine, I experienced this everytime Qing and I will go to a vacation away from Beijing. We will need to go inside the airport secretly, heavily disguised and quietly leave riding a private plane the Wangs rented. With an amount that will surely hurt my penny pinching pride.

But I can't afford to use my principles now. This is a surprise for my mom. Actually this was a surprise for me too. I thought I won't be able to spend my mom's birthday with her because Qing and I will work that day. But two hours ago, Qing told me to pack an overnight case cause we will go to my hometown to visit my parents and to greet my mom personally.

I was so surprise I told him we have no gift for her yet. That's why we are here now.

The manager get back, with a small paper bag in hand, inside it is my mom's gift. He handed me the paper bag while he gave Qing his card.

Me: (looking at Qing suspiciously) You do remember, right? We agreed to split the amount of this gift. You will not shoulder it alone. I will pay the other half.

Qing: (exasperated) Yes, yes, I remembered. You will give me half of the amount when we get back. I get it, no need to repeat it again and again.

Wang Zhu: Stop snipping at each other or I will start hoping that Dayu will finally break up with you.

Me: (getting tired of the both of them) Qing is right. You NEED to go out and date someone. Really, date someone, anyone.

Wang Zhu just smiled. I thanked the manager and we left the store. We went straight to the airport, go through the VVIP doors and left Beijing without any fuss.

My mom was happily surprised and she liked the earrings. I wondered if I should lie to her and say that the earrings are not really expensive but I stopped myself. Women knew their jewelries, even a simple lady like my mom. She knew that we gave her something expensive and she said she will treasure it because...

My mom: I will pass it to your daughter one day Dayu. Or to your daughter in law. What do you think?

I think she will keep those earrings for a long, long time because having a daughter or daughter in law is still scaring the hell out of me.

So...yeah...there...

Qing, of course, didn't waste the opportunity to ski on the ski resort near our hometown. He enjoyed it so much I started suspecting that skiing is his main reason for wanting to visit my parents and not because of my mom's birthday.

But that is just me being ugly and paranoid. Of course Qing loves my mom. She feeds him, took his side when we argue and she stroke his ego calling Qing her "handsome boy". I try not to feel upset at that.

Well that's all...see you next time ny dear readers.