Glimpses

The Foreigner

Thomas and Shancai stood forebodingly outside the Daoming mansion in London. Perhaps it was fate, perhaps it was coincidence, but Shancai had never been more thankful to have Thomas by her side in what was to be the most nerve-racking experience of her life. "I'll go in with you," he said and she nodded her head, grateful for his company.

They began the walk up the never-ending driveway. The long path to the front door seemed to last forever, but Thomas kept a reassuring hand on Shancai's back. As they approached the door, it opened as if on cue. Mrs Yu was waiting behind it. Without even waiting for Shancai to greet her, she pointed the way to the bedroom where Si was waiting. Without a doubt, she knew what was the purpose of Shancai's visit.

As they approached the room, they saw Si sitting facing away from the door, staring out the window. "Daoming Si," Shancai called out to him nervously. All this time, Thomas's hand had never left Shancai's back. Daoming Si turned around and looked at her. And then he saw HIM.

*Flashback*
"I was asking her for directions."
"She's my woman. Don't touch her!"
"So this pretty girl already has a boyfriend. That's too bad."

Daoming Si clenched his fists so hard until his knuckles turned white. He had calmly thought about what he had wanted to say to Shancai had he the chance to see her again. But seeing her here now, and seeing her here with HIM, it threw any of his coherent thoughts out of that very same window he was just staring out off. "Why are you here?" was all he managed to choke out at Shancai, followed by "Why are you here with HIM?? I thought you said you had nothing to do with that foreigner!"

Seeing the anger in Si's eyes, Thomas's hand moved from Shancai's back to wrap protectively around her shoulder. Just as Si had done before to him, he now stepped in front of her. "She travelled thousands of miles all alone to see you, and this is how you greet her? Shancai, let's go. He doesn't seem interested to see you or talk to you."

Shancai's tears which were earlier threatening to fall now began their descent down her face. Daoming Si looked at her, and something in him snapped. Why was he doing this to her? She had sacrificed so much just to come to him and he couldn't just let her leave like this, not with that foreigner. He pushed Thomas aside and grabbed Shancai in a hug. "Didn't I tell you that she's my woman? Stay away from her!" "Daoming Si! He's just a friend! If not for his help, I would never have been able to find you!" Shancai protested while trying to free herself from his bear-hug.

Si looked down at the tiny girl whom he loved with all his heart. "You really wanted to find me?" "Of course, idiot! I love you!" came her teary reply. Hearing that, Si took her hand and ran out of the room and out of the house, to get away from it all. His stunned mother, who was hiding in an adjoining room all this time had no time to stop them. Si didn't know where they were going but one thing he did know is that he was only going to be with her in this lifetime, despite what his mother said or did.

Back at the house, Thomas and Mrs Yu gave each other a knowing smile. "Don't worry," the elderly lady reassured him. "I've sorted everything out for them. Huaze Lei will meet them around the corner with a car to take them to the airport. He also has their necessities." Thomas thanked her and left the mansion.

Once outside, he breathed in the cool, crisp London air. He had half-hoped for a different outcome, but he knew that he would never stand a chance, so long as her heart belonged to Si. The words he had spoken before in his first encounter with Si echoed back in his head. "It really is too bad" he sighed to himself, as he walked away.