I felt safe and warm as Phong embraced me in his arms. I was so glad Suet was gone. Sometimes she made me feel nervous. Every time she was around I felt a need to be closer to Phong. Sometimes I got the feeling she wanted to be the person by Phong's side. But it couldn't be, she was my cousin and Phong was my boyfriend. Suet would never do that to me and Phong loved me too much. Regardless, I knew no matter what happened Phong and I would always be together.
As we walked arm in arm towards the Shanghai shopping center to shop for my dresses I thought back to how we met. I still remember how we first met. Five men were harassing me. They were circling around me. I knew they wanted to violate me but luckily Phong arrived in time and saved me. He fought with the men in a charming and mesmerizing way. After he saved me, we became good friends. It didn't take long for me to realize I liked him. Finally three weeks later, on a stormy night, he asked me to be his girlfriend.
Phong was a great guy. The only thing he lacked was a wealthy affluent family background. Which I believed was not hard for him since he was such an intelligent man. I knew he would become successful. I had a good eye for successful men and without a doubt I knew Phong would accomplish many things.
Phong picked out a simple yellow dress. It was a mock two-piece style. The top was a solid sunny yellow color and the skirt was a yellow brownish plaid color. "Here try this yellow one on."He said handing it to me.
I took one look at it and said, "Eww... you must be kidding. That dress would suit Suet's style, not mine." Then I spotted an extravagant dress. It was shimmering purple with white fur trimmings on the skirt hem and sleeves. "This one is perfect for me!" I exclaimed.
Phong shrugged as place his selection back in the rack. I ran into the dressing room to try on the dress I picked. As I came out with the dress on the sales lady quickly exclaimed, "Miss you look great in that evening gown!" So I quickly responded, "I'll take it!"
Phong raised his eyebrow shaking his head disapprovingly but still pulled out his wallet to pay. I was surprised since he was saving to continue his education in England. I quickly grabbed his hand. "No, you're saving for your education! I can't let you pay for this dress." I said.
He grinned with a smirk on his face, "I can pay for it." he insisted as he pushed the money into the sales lady's hands. She took it eagerly as if she was a beggar grabbing money that people threw to them. I tried to grab the money again but he took my hands so I couldn't resist his offer.
Leaving the store I tugged on his shirt asking, "So when are you going to England?"
He smiled and replied, "October 1937!"
I was so excited for him and me. I knew that when he graduated from the Oxford University, he would come back a graduate student and open a flourishing business. Then he could ask my father for my hand in marriage and my father couldn't refuse. He would take care of the business and I would take care of our children and household. It would be so wonderful. My face flushed as I thought about it.
Phong saw me and teased me. "Your face is getting red. Are you thinking of becoming my wife?" he asked playfully.
I pretended to be annoyed by his remark. "Don't you have any shame? Who would want to marry you!" I retorted. But I was blushing from happiness.
"Well, if that's the case then I guess I'll have to ask someone else to marry me." he said randomly walking towards a woman who was obviously a stranger.
"You!" I pouted. "I can't believe you would..." I pouted again but couldn't finish my sentence because he was already talking to the stranger. I thought he was really going to ask her to marry him. However he came back and presented a bouquet of flowers to me. The stranger was actually a lady selling flowers and Phong had bought them for me. I was shocked and excited beyond belief as I held them to smell their sweet fragrance.
At six we met back up with Suet at Crystal Park. She was already there holding a grayish blue bag. I took one look at her and shook my head. She was already wearing a red qipao mandarin dress with orange trims, which looked ridiculous with the grayish blue bag in her hand. She never had a sense for fashion. "Why are you carrying that bag?" I asked her when we got closer.
She looked at it smiling as she answered me, "Oh this bag. I'm helping a friend hold this until he gets back." She was holding the bad around her waist.
I got closer smelling an awful odor and noticed it was coming from the bag. "What's in that thing!", I screamed as I pinched my nose.
She picked it up as if she was trying to annoy me and stuck it closer to my face. "This thing?" she asked pretending to not know it annoyed me, "It's my friend, Fei's laundry. He needed to go to the post office and was going to come back this way anyways so I offered to help him hold it so he won't have such a heavy burden to carry back and forth." She said smirking.
"Get that thing away from me!" I yelled pushing it away as I walked behind Phong.
He held onto my arm saying, "Suet, you know Quay is sensitive to odors. Please put it aside." Then he looked at me and asked if I was okay. I smiled nodding my head.
Suet refused to put the bag to one side. "Don't come near me then. I smell just as bad as this bag since I've been holding it for so long now. I'm going to hold the bag over here." She said in an annoyed manner as she walked away.
I felt awkward with her upset at me. I was going to apologize but Phong noticed she was upset also and he responded faster. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean it like that." He said, "It's just that Quay is so sensitive to odors. She might vomit or faint if she smells something nauseating."
Suet walked away from Phong holding the bag tightly. I walked closer to her saying, "Sorry Suet, I didn't mean you were nauseating."
Suet refused to look at me. Phong came closer to her putting his hands on her shoulders. "Don't be so upset. We're really sorry. The bag doesn't smell bad at all actually." He said. I believe he meant it too! I was shocked because that thing stunk so badly!
She turned around and smiled at him. It was a smile I never saw on her face before. He also smiled at her but it was different from the way he smiled with me. He looked happier as if it came from within his heart. I felt awkward. They were so close, so happy, and so unaware of my presence. But still I was glad she wasn't upset with me anymore, "You forgive me?" I asked walking closer to her.
"We're cousins, I can't be mad at you forever." She said cheerfully. I smiled. Then her friend, Fei came back and he smelled worse than his laundry. I backed off from Suet and Phong a little bit.
"Thank you! Thank you!" he said cheerfully reaching for the bag. He smiled at all of us gratefully then said to Suet, "Hey I'm having a party at my house next month for my 21st birthday. You want to come?" he then looked at us. "You two can come too!"
Suet nodded, "Of course! We are good friends, right!" then she looked at us and asked, "Do you two want to go?"
Fei looked at us also "Yeah it'll be fun." He said welcomingly.
Phong nodded but I didn't want to go. If Fei smelled this bad, his house probably smelled worse. But I smiled so Phong and Suet wouldn't get upset with me. I never liked them being upset at me. Phong was the love of my life and Suet was not only my couisn but also the person I was closest to.
We parted with Phong and Fei. When we got back to my house I told Suet about Phong going to England to study at Oxford University. She was just as excited as I was. I told her my plans and how Phong would have a successful business. Then he would propose to me and my father would happily agree. It would be perfect!
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