I still remember vividly how I met him. I had taken my cousin, Quay to what she would call a low class restaurant. She was very skeptical about going to these places but I heard the food was great so I convinced her to accompany me. When we got there, Phong, who was a waiter there at the time accidentally spilled cooled teas into her lap. She stood up screaming at him. "Don't you know how to be careful!" she scolded him as she wiped off her skirt. I freaked out because I promised her everything would be safe but already her expensive clothes were becoming spoiled.
Phone apologized quite fakely as he passed by but I by passed him and wiped her skirt as I said, "It's ok, you probably didn't mean it." and quickly walked to another table to gather more napkins to wipe her skirt. It was drenched in tea!
But Quay immediately pulled me out with her as she said, ":Suet, let's get out of here. This place is so trashy." I thought that was such a rude comment so I apologized once again for Quay's comment as I followed her out. Even though I was leaving with Quay, my mind was on Phong. I couldn't say I had feeling for him at that moment. Although he was dressed in rags, there was something alluring about him, which I couldn't figure out at the time.
However, on my second encounter with him I knew exactly why he was so alluring. I had dragged Quay to a fundraiser for the unfortunate with me. The fair would gain funds to buy basic necessities such as food and clothing, for the underprivileged and unfortunate.
She didn't want to go but once again I convinced her to participate by telling her it would help her reputation in the society. She had a good heart but she was somewhat selfish and egotistical because of the way her father raised her. She was the only child and very spoiled by her father. She was his joy and success, his pride and accomplishment. So he made sure she was raised in luxury and always had the best.
The fair had many booths set up. They were giving away basic necessities to the needy. That's where I saw Phong again. He was very distributing clothes, helping the elders carry their offerings home. Plus I saw him playing with the kids. As I noticed how kind hearted he was I also noticed he was intellectual.
Lap Ka Lam, the City Mayor came during the fair to get a bribe from the organizers. Lap Ka Lam was corrupt and usually arrived at any of the fairs to collect bribes. Everybody knew this but this event wasn't profitable to anyone so they didn't have any money to give him. Right when Lap Ka Lam showed up, everyone became worried and skeptical about the event.
Phong immediately stood up for the crowd by saying, "The Mayor of Shanghai, Ho Chi Chan, is coming." The crowd looked around. "Who says?" the crowd hollered. Phong looked around and replied, "Any smart or reputable man would have known that."
"What's he going to do here?" a man in the crowd asked. "Make sure everything is taken care of." Phong replied. Then he added, "He 's coming to collect the funds himself, so make sure everything is accounted for and in order."
Lap Ka Lam become frustrated and decided to leave since he didn't want to cause trouble with The
Mayor, Ho Chi Chan. The organization lead was so proud of Phong and so was I. That was when I
started admiring him.
My third encounter with him, lead me to realize that I liked him. Quay and I were shopping in the new Shanghai shopping center. As we searched through the new selection of clothing, we found him hidin between the clothing racks. All three of us gasped. He put his fingers to his mouth telling us to be quite. I nodded and fixed the clothes so whoever was after him could not find him.
Then I dragged Quay away from the rack because she seemed so flustered."We have to tell security there's a man hiding in there." She said. I covered her mouth. "Be quite. I think someone's after him. Don't blow his cover." I said hushing her up. She nervously looked at the rack saying, "I think its best we let security know."
I grabbed her arm pulling her back to stop her and at that same moment I saw three men whom I assumed were coming after Phong. They looked like gangsters, roughly dressed in lose clothing. I told Quay to stay close to the clothing rack Phong had hid in and act like she was looking through the clothes. She was hesitant but nodded and agreed to stay there anyways. I believe she was too nervous and tense to move.
I found some security guards and informed them of the inappropriate visitors in the Shopping center so they quickly came to escort the men out. I pretended to look at clothes in another rack as security escorted them away just to make sure they were gone. When I ran back to Quay and Phong they were gone. I don't know what happened then but later Quay told me she was afraid of him and gave him some money to leave her alone. For some reason I didn't believe that he would take her money. I strongly believed he was a virtuous and honorable man. That;s why I helped him. And that's how I knew I liked him. I had too much trust in a man I barely knew.
A few weeks pasted. I didn't have a chance to see Phong again. Finally Quay wanted to introduce me to her new boyfriend, which is the fourth time I saw Phong. I was devastated but what could I have done. They were so happy together.
As I sat there thinking on my balcony, I heard Quay's footsteps. She called me to go shopping with her, Suet JeiJei (elder sister)! Suet JeiJei! Hurry up we need to go buy a new dress for the school play. She said running up the stairs to my room.
I turned around to look at her. She was dressed in an English dress, yellow with white flower prints and white lace hems. Her hair was up in a matching headband and she had a matching white handbag with a big yellow flower on the side of it. Obviously she was from the upper class of Shanghai, which is where we lived, a bustling city of Shanghai in the 1930's. It was December of 1936 to be exact. I was 18 years old and so was my cousin. However, I was two months older than her, which made me her senior.
I looked at her expressionlessly, "I'm not going anywhere with you. I don't want to play these games and lie to Uncle and my father like this." I said annoyed with her request. I wasn't upset with her, I was just jealous of her.
Her father didn't approve of her dating a lower status male, so she always used me as an alibi as she went out with Phong. I watched everyday as they frolicked in the park, cuddled in the theater, or teased each other in the diners. They were the happiest couple I've ever seen. How I envied her. He was the best choice for a boyfriend even though he was from a low class family. He was kind, sweet, caring, understanding, responsible, and intelligent. Even more appealing was his charm and handsome looks.
Quay looked at me with a mischievous grin. "I know you don't have anything to wear, so I brought you an old dress of mine!" She exclaimed pulling out an extravagant dark navy blue dress from the other bag in her hands. It had white lace on the hem of the skirt, ruffles on the sleeves, and line with white fur on its collar. She always assumed that I didn't want to go out because I was from the middle class and she was from the upper class. She assumed that I thought I wouldn't match her and society would ridicule her.
I gasped at the sight of the dark navy blue dress. It wasn't even a color I would have chosen. I'm plainer than her and preferred a plain lighter color dress with no designs. "I'm not wearing that!" I exclaimed walking away from her.
"Please. Please go with me." She begged. "My only chance to see Phong is when we use this alibi.
Please." She begged tugging on the sleeve of my white dress. Looking into her eyes I could sense her emotions. She wanted to see Phong as much as I did. I nodded my head. "Okay, Quay, but I'm not wearing that ridiculous dress!" I said. She nodded and smiled happily. We then left for Crystal Park.
We arrived at Crystal Park, named for the reflective mirror-like lake in the center of the park grounds. We immediately saw Phong. To me, he stood out from the crowd of people, Everything from the style of his hair to the shoes he wore on his feet were more distinctive than others.
He was 20 years old, two years older than Quay and I. He quickly ran towards us. I couldn't resist smiling when I saw him. I totally ignored the presence of my cousin, Quay. But my smile immediately faded when he ran to Quay's side and hugged her. They embraced and I slowly moved away from them. My heart crushed just as it did each time I brought them together.
Finally the moment I waited for, Phong turned around from Quay and said, "Hi Suet!" Even though he quickly turned to Quay and didn't wait for my response in greeting him, I was thrilled he even acknowledged me. They walked together and talked as they teased each other. I walked to sit under the willow tree as I watched them cuddle holding onto each other tightly. My heart tore watching their romantic scene together so I walked up to them. "Quay, I've got to met a friend, so I'll meet you back here at six and we'll go home together." I said looking at her and Phong.
Quay smiled at me and pulled money out from her purse. "Here's some spending money." she said
handing me her money, "Oh yeah and buy me some clothes so my father thinks I actually went shopping." I pushed the money in her hands away saying, "I have my own money. Since you're out, you might as well buy your own clothes."
Quay shoved the money back into my hands and I shoved it away again. Phong grabbed our hands to stop the shoving. I froze so still as my heart raced up and down beating faster and faster. Even though he only touched my hand for a split minute I was too excited to move. I stared at him mesmerized by his charm.
"Stop shoving the money back and forth." He said looking at us. Then he looked at Quay saying, "We can go shopping for your clothes today, don't bother Suet." He finally let go of our hands as Quay nodded.Then he turned to me and smiled saying, "Have fun!"
I smiled realizing that he and Quay now wanted to be alone. I walked off and so did they. I turned back taking a glance at them. They were happily walking away. I felt my heart slowly tearing away. My foolish thinking was not going to get me anywhere. He loved Quay and I knew it. But I couldn?t help feeling the way I did. I loved him probably more than he loved Quay. I walked off feeling the chills. A cold and lonely feeling came over me as I folded my arms under themselves and slowly walked away.
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