Xia of Tumen

Chapter 11

Chung-Ae was sweeping the floor for the millionth time. He felt like he had to do something. He still felt guilty for having Xia cross the border, and risk her life so many times, when she could just stay there if it weren't for him. He should be the one doing the dangerous crossings. But Xia loved it. That was the only reason he let her go.

He was always worried about Xia. He loved her like a daughter. He had always wanted one, and Xia was the closest he ever got. If anything ever happened to her... but he dismissed the thought. She was a smart girl. She was stronger than she looked. Nothing would happen to her. Chung-Ae was still relieved to hear the door open, and Xia's voice shouting, "I'm back!"

Xia came rushing into the kitchen, where Chung-Ae was, with another giant bag of rice, "I'll make some rice right now. I'm sure you're very hungry!"

"No you won't, you sit down, I'll make the rice, and you can tell me about your adventures."

"Oh, alright. But today was just like any other day, except that I came up with a new plan. And I found out something about Dr. Chen who I work for."

Chung-ae chuckled a little, "Was it his name?"

"Uh...no. I still don't know his name. His brother is a Chinese border guard, so Chen knows a lot about what's going on at the river. He says crossing the river is going to get a lot more dangerous,"

Chung-Ae interrupted, "And you still want to be the one going across? I can always be the one to go."

Xia smiled, "I do want you to go. I want both of us to go and stay there."

Chung-Ae smiled, "That's just the plan we need right now. Then I could just cross once, and get a job." Chung-Ae bursted into coughing.

"Are you okay?"

"Yeah, I'm fine. I think I have a little bit of a cold."

"Alright. You up for crossing the border tonight?"

"Of course I am. I've been wanting to see China for weeks!"

"Okay then, sounds like you're very eager." Xia said, "I hope you haven't had that cold for weeks!"

Chung-Ae didn't say anything, and suddenly the thought struck Xia that he could have had a cold for weeks, and she would have never known, she may not have noticed it being gone for two days, and then coming back tired, to just leave again the next night.

"Wait...have you had a cold for weeks?"

"Not weeks..."

"But a week?"

"...Yes" Chung-Ae seemed reluctant to answer.

"Why didn't you tell me?"

"Because I knew you would be worried and stay home to try to take care of me, and when the food got low you would give it all to me. I don't want you to starve."

"Oh... Once we're in China we won't have to worry about that anymore."

The rice was boiling over and Xia and Chung-Ae raced to take care of the rice, Xia won, and carefully stirred the rice.

Xia said, trying hard to sound stern, "Now, Mr. Chung-Ae you have a cold, so you must sit down, and allow me to take care of the food." She couldn't help but laugh at this point. And of course this caused Chung-Ae to laugh also.

Chung-ae struggled to stop laughing before saying, "No, no. You can't do all the work all the time."

"Oh don't worry, I'll have plenty of work for you, after you get over the cold. Why was that even so funny?"

"I don't even know. You laughed, which made me laugh, which made you laugh... and well... that just kept right on going."

"I guess so. Tonight we cross the border. China awaits us! We leave all trouble behind us! Woooo!!!!!!!"

She had know idea how much trouble was still ahead of her. China was going to be so much more trouble to live in than she had ever imagined.