WILD THANGZ by Winston Chapman (An Essence Magazine National Best Seller)

Chapter 13

I was happy when February finally rolled-around, yet nervous. You'd think I was going to a big music label audition rather than orientation at R e f l e x .

I'd already quit my job at the gym, even though business was beginning to pick-up again. I loved my job at the gym and the people, but I was just ready for a change.

Also, it was calming to know that I was going to be able to earn more money to pay Brea back, though she never made an issue of it. But still, I just didn't like owing someone.

Trina had danced for one weekend at Slick-N-Thick, but decided that it wasn't for her and I was glad that she did. Even more so, that she'd come to that conclusion on her own.

She was still living with us and planned to earn some money working part-time at R e f l e x  as well.

Orientation was on a Tuesday morning at 10:00 AM before they officially opened at Noon. Brea went with us, even though she wasn't scheduled to work on that day.

"Hey, Hung! Hey, Sumy," Brea greeted the late-20's husband-n-wife Asian owners. "What's poppin', Brea?" Hung, the husband greeted Brea in an unexpected hip-hop style, without as much as a hint of an Asian-accent.

They both looked like they could've been mixed with some other race, though I couldn't tell what race.

He was taller than most men of Asian-descent I'd seen, about 5'10 or so and one of his hobbies clearly must've been working-out. His chest and arms were well developed and visible through the form-fitting, thin, V-neck sweater he had on over a plain black t-shirt.

Hung's wife Sumy, pronounced Soo-Me, was short and small in stature, about 5'2. She was truly beauty-pageant cute, armed with a well-balanced shape of petite curves, a glowing smile with dimpled cheeks and silky-ish black hair that'd been curled into a style.

Unlike Hung, Sumy did possess a tinge of an Asian-accent, as though she might not have been born in the United States and English was her second-language. But what made it more noticeable was her speech could be a little choppy as she often omitted key verbs or adverbs as she spoke.

To the eye, Hung and Sumy made for a very pretty couple.

Her personality was out-going too, but less than Hung who already appeared to be a bit of a hip-hop party-animal, which was surprising and not just because of his race. Sumy wasn't your stereo-typical quiet Asian female either.

It was just that judging by the elegant design of R e f l e x , which had been nicely renovated from a bank to a massage salon with its Mahogany-wood counters, over-sized aquariums filled with exotic fish, white Roman-pedestal pillars, and even its location seemed to cater more to a stoic upscale white crowd. So, it made it odd to picture that Hung and Sumy would be the owners. But I could also tell that they were serious about business and would give their breed of customer exactly the image that they wanted.

"These are my girls I was tellin' you about. This is Jazmyn and Trina," Brea introduced both of us.

"Welcome to Reflex, ladies. My name is Hung and this is my wife, Sumy," Hung charmed by stepping forward and gently shaking both of our hands, followed by his wife doing the same.

"Soo-mee, that's a pretty name. Does it mean something?" Trina inquired. "Thank you. Yes. Sumy mean flower"

"That's cool. I wish my name meant something," I commented.

"Do you want to know what my name means?" Hung said clowning around with a smile, which made Brea laugh immediately and Sumy roll her eyes at him.

It took a moment for Trina and I to get the joke as we had to recall his name first before laughing ourselves.