The Route To China

Ch.2: What You Told Me

I also wore blue jeans with an oversize black shirt and silver platform sneakers. This chick has quite the style. I'm not really into baggy and high tops but it will have to do. I join Nicole and the man downstairs. They both smile at me warmly.

"Come dear, sit next to me" To my surprise Nicole was an elderly woman. She sat at the island alone while the man was by the stove. I'm not shocked that she's Chinese though.

I smile back at Nicole and find a seat in front of her. "I have something to say" I whisper so that the man doesn't hear. "There's a misunderstanding. I'm not the person who lives here. I think you two are confusing me for someone else"

She watched me carefully, making me feel uncomfortable. "Silly girl!" She hit me with her cane. "I told you not to touch the traditional drink last night!"

"B-but I-I didn't" I cried.

"The fact that you lost your memory shows that you clearly did. Dina listen, you drank something that makes you lose your memory. The effects are reversible but you must remember soon or you will never recall that missing past again" She said sternly.

"H-how am I suppose to remember anything?" I began to sob. I'm so confused and lost and Nicole is just freaking me out even more.

"Stop, if I tell you what happened, you should be able to recall." She squeezed my hands. "Jin, get us some milk please" She told the man. "Now what was the last thing you remember?" She said turning back to me.

"I was in McDonald's with my friend, Lai. We both work there and we just took some kind of test. I don't remember what kind of test it was."

"You really lost a lot of your memory. Jin get ready to make dinner, this may take a while. I know you're helping me speak english and all, but this will take too long so I'm speaking Chinese"

"No wait, I don't understand Chinese...and whose that guy? Your son?"

Jin's face drop in dissapointment but he didn't say a word, he just continued to cook. "Hahaha my son? No! You'll figure that out soon enough. And sure you'll understand, just listen. You said McDonald's right?"

***Flashback Begins***

I'm working the usual night shift with my roommate Lai. Since there's a lot less people at night, we mainly just talk and help each other with our Chinese. We're both double majors. She's in Health and I'm in education but we both tried our hand in Chinese just because. I don't plan on doing anything related to China in the future, but I've always wanted to learn a third language. Chinese was the only intensive program that they offered at URI, so I ended up taking it.

"So, how do you think you did on that test?" I asked.

"Oh you mean the test that determines whether or not I'm fluent enough to study in China? The test that's super hard to pass test? That test?"

"...yes..."

"Totally bombed it" She folded her arms. "What about you?"

"I don't even know. It'd be cool to travel during our sophomore summer, but I wouldn't mind doing it senior year. We have another shot"

"Yeah true. Let's study hard and go together"

"Of course"

Ding Ding

"Welcome to McDonald's" I immediately regain my professional composure. "Oh its you" I laugh as my second roommate Gwen enters.

"Haha I'm still a customer though. Hmm I want large fries with 12 piece nuggets"

"What are you doing up so late?" I typed in her order.

"I wanted to see you two. And did you know that their hanging up the names of everyone who passed the test in Swan Hall?"

"Yup" Lai came in holding her food in a bag. "Buy us icecream just in case?"

"I will, good luck" She paid for her food then turned to leave. "I believe in you guys though"

***Flashback interrupted***

"Omg" I began to laugh. So they sent us to China Town because we didn't pass? That's considerate."

"Quiet" The old lady hits me with her cane in the same exact spot. "Don't interrupt me"

"Okay okay, but how do you even know all this?"

"You told me in great detail"

"Sounds like me"

"Did you realize that we were conversating in Chinese this whole time?" She smiled.

The sudden realization hit me hard. Was I always this fluent? I don't think even the teacher assistant's on this level.

"Whoa"