Brain Injury

Qi Xi Festival

Author's Note: This chapter doesn't take place in the actual place, just mostly Chenguang's thoughts about her experience and some flashbacks. And the picture is what Chenguang wore that night.

Keung's POV

Since tonight was the Qi Xi Festival, Master Li canceled practice. Maybe he needs it to find love too. Everyone deserves it, even him. I'm not gonna lie, I'm wishing he'd find someone for him.

I sat next to Chenguang, accompanied by Mingmei, who had earlier given her medication through the tube that was inserted in her stomach, just like they did with her tracheostomy. It makes me sad knowing that she really have to rely on literally everything. Mingmei had left us an alone time, like she does when it's only me and her. I held her hand gently and stroked my thumb against it.

I hadn't been to the Qi Xi Festival since in 4 years, our first time together. That night was the night I let her know I like her... by kissing her. For the past 2 years, I would sit down with her all day. School was canceled too. Which is completely fine with me. There's no other girl in the world I would spend quality time with other than Chenguang.

I can't even tell you how hard 2006 was for me. Qi Xi Festival 2006 was extremely difficult for me, because it was one month after she went into a coma and they've just inserted a tracheostomy in her neck and had begun her weaning process off from that breathing tube. Those 10 months were really a sensitive time for me. I constantly have nightmares of her dying. I still have them, but not as often as before. Mei Ying and I had decided to spend that festival night with Chenguang in the rehab center, when she was weaning. Her hair had grew an inch. Chenguang told me once that her hair grow really slow. We spent the whole day together. I cried sometimes that day and Mei Ying as well.

And a year later in 2007, was such a relieving year since May, because she woke up. And whenever I spend the Qi Xi Festival night with her in her room, I told her how much I love her and expressed to her how scared I was during these 10 months, though I did before then when she settled in after coming home for the first time.

Flashback (August 2005)

I met with Chenguang and I saw what she wore. I couldn't find words to tell her how beautiful she was. Her cheeks was red and that makes me satisfied. I held out my hand and she gladly took mine in hers.

We slowly walked around, our hands never leaving each other once. 7:00 came and went to the Shadow Theater. During the performance, I turned to her and quickly kissed her cheek before turning away blushing. I grinned ear to ear as she's probably heating up.

When we made it to her house, she told me she had plenty of fun. I didn't say anything as I gently took her face in my hands and placed a soft kiss to her lips. After a moment, she relaxed into me, bringing her hands up to my shoulders.

After we parted for the night, I grinned ear to ear as I reflected on what I just did.

Present

I smiled and blushed deeply as I recalled that nice memory we had. I owed it to Xing after encouraging me to muster up the courage.

Flashback (August 2005)

I was hanging out with Xing in my room when he spoke up.

"You know... the Qi Xi Festival is tomorrow. Maybe you should ask her out."

I blushed hard. "Well..."

Xing rolled his eyes, "Dude, I know it's a bit too soon, but it'll be a nice gesture. Come on, I seen the way she looks at you."

I looked at him with a non-believing expression on my face. "Really?"

"Yes, dude, don't be a wuss. Ask her!"

I shrugged with my arms out and said, "Okay."

"And... tell her that you like her," he added. I looked him up as I felt my face heats up from nervousness.

"Well, you don't have to actually say anything. You can kiss her, you know. Or whatever you wanna do. I don't know. But you can do it," he encourages me.

"...Alright," I finally said, smiling. I felt my face burn as I thought about it.

Present

"You remember me telling you that it was Xing who persuaded me to let you know that I like you?" My question was met with a blink and a flick of her tongue. She does that when she wants to smile.

"I almost forgot to tell you. When we were riding the bus to the Forbidden City, I told Xing that he need to get a date tonight. He told me that he had his eyes on her for a while but never gathered the courage to talk to her. So I did a little research, her name is Ye-Won and she came from Korea when she was 15. Which is funny because he likes Korean girls. Since she's in the process of learning our language, she had to use English when talking to us.

"So, like he encouraged me to go out with you, I did the same with him. I wonder how that guy's doing, though. He'll probably tell me by the end of the night."

Chenguang's POV

I was pretty amused that Xing finally got himself a girl. He tells me that he needs to get out there and meet some girls.

His direction of conversation turned to Master Li. Keung told me that he thinks there's another reason Master Li canceled class because he needs to find love too. However, I can't exactly jump to conclusion because I am not aware of his personal life. But I am empathetic because with his 'no mercy' attitude, something may had happened to him to make him feel like that. I was only in his dojo for over a year, my first day is the day I met Keung until the last time I was there was July 23, 2006, the night of my accident after the tournament.

I always liked Kung Fu since I was 5. My parents decided to take me to a Kung Fu tournament back in Shanghai for some reason and I became somewhat obsessed with it, so they took me to my beginner lesson soon after that and naturally, I've progressed. Prior to joining Master Li's class, Mei Ying gave me a warning that even if my opponent was down, I still had to beat them to a pulp, or I'd get slapped. My first opponent gave me a look of understanding because he is aware of the rule, but he was also surprised that a small person like me can be very fast and strong. I succeeded in trying not to get hit during my 16 and a half months of being there. Normally, we only have one day off a week, Sunday; but the tournament night was an exception.

It's gonna sound super crazy to say this, but throughout the whole thing, I miss Master Li sometimes. If I had to pick between stuck in this position for 3 years or attending the dojo and I had to go hard on my opponent, I'd gladly choose the latter. Even though I don't like the fact that I have to show no mercy to my opponent.

I also want to say that I always did have some kind of slight depression problem. Both Mingmei and Ling told me that my brain was struck in some area that would cause this problem. At nights, I would get emotional whenever it gets too much. Keung was there to console me. If he wasn't, then Mingmei and Ling would do so. I appreciate that and all, but it gets easier with him. It's kind of strange that the person who is not related with your family is more easier to go to, my friends. I get happy when Keung, Mei Ying and everyone else comes here to see me. Although I consider all of them as my close friends, I felt that Keung, Mei Ying and Xing were my closer friends.

I felt pain in my chest when Keung told me he would get depressed too, especially when I was in a coma for a real long time. I guess it contributes to my messed up element. But it does makes me feel better just with him next to me.

I was snapped out of my thoughts when I felt him wrapped his arms around me, one arm behind my wheelchair and one around my chest, careful not to hurt me. He leaned his head against me slightly and stroked my arm gently. I smiled inside. I love how he get so affectionate with me like this. I could have a bad day and he does just this, it automatically gets better.