Wishes and Kisses || COMPLETE

Chapter 5: The Club

I needed to go and leave her in peace. I slowly got up, careful not to wake her. I tiptoed out of the room, and quietly shut the door. Time to go home. I went down the stairs and Jean’s father was sitting there at the dining table facing me, sipping on tea. 

“Can we talk, Nick?” He said.

I already knew this would be a troublesome conversation. He’d say something like ‘don’t hurt my daughter’ or ‘why were you up there so long’. I never had a long-term girlfriend before, but I’ve seen the movies. I prepared for the worst.

I went and sat across from him, making intense eye contact to show I was unafraid. “Of course. What is it, Mr. Wu?”

“It’s about Jean. What were the two of you doing up there, honestly?”

“We were just--” I was going to hold off telling the full truth, but decided ehh, fuck it. I’m not guilty. “We were simulating Jason and Jean’s relationship, me playing the role of Jean, and Jean playing the role of Jason. We didn’t do anything inappropriate. We skipped those parts. I just wanted to know more about what their relationship was like. That’s the honest truth.”

He ogled at me for a bit, and continued to sip his tea. “I like you, Nick.”

I raised my brows. “Really? I didn’t think I came across as the kind of guy that people would trust their daughters’ hearts with.”

“I’m a lie detector, Nick.” He smiled. “And I know you’re telling the truth. And I also know you’re a good man. Jean seems comfortable with you. She seems at ease. Not like that Jason guy. He was a real sleaze-ball.”

I nodded.

“Jean has always been so precious to us, and I hope you’ll always take her heart into consideration.”

“I can honestly promise you sir, that I’m doing everything I can to treat her with decency and respect.”

“But do you love her?”

I nearly choked on my own spit. “I don’t think we’re at that level,” I said. 

“Mmmm.” He eyed my necklace for a moment, then slumped in his seat.“When Jean’s mom and I were trying for a baby, we were having some difficulties. The doctor said there was less than a one percent chance of her getting pregnant. We tried everything--dozens of things. She just couldn’t get pregnant. Mrs. Wu would evenwish on the stars above for a baby. One day we made a visit to some miracle healer. We explained our problem to her, and she gave us a necklace--the one around your neck.”

I looked down onto my chest and held the gold-coin pendant in my hand. 

He continued. “The fortune teller said that if Mrs. Wu wore that necklace she would miraculously be able to birth a baby girl. She urged us that once the baby was born, we weren’t supposed to wear the necklace--only the baby could wear the necklace. One month later, Mrs. Wu was pregnant. It was a miracle. We already had a name planned out for her, but as soon as Mrs. Wu gave birth held her in her arms she involuntarily said ‘Jeanie’. She told me we couldn’t name our daughter the other name. She couldn’t describe it, but she somehow knew Jean was her true name.”

Well that explains a lot actually.

“Ah that’s enough about that,” he said. “You probably don’t believe in this supernatural stuff anyway, do you, Nick?”

“I used to think that it was irrational, but now I think true rationality has more forms than people are prepared to be ready for.”

“I think the same way. Do you believe in wishing on stars, or on birthday cakes and stuff like that?”