Love at First Sight

Chapter 1“Ni hao!” Aki Taan looked up from the display counter where he’d just put a tray of freshly baked pastries. His heart skipped a beat. Standing there smiling shyly at him was his ray of sunshine, Tsung Loa. Tsung was the twenty-three-year-old son of one of his neighbors. “Ni hao, Tsung. What can I do for you this morning?” “I’d like a soy milk latte and a pineapple cake,” Tsung answered, not taking his honey-brown gaze off Aki’s face. Every morning it was the same order. Tsung always came down the street and got a snack before his family-owned dry goods store opened. Each morning Aki rose early and baked pastries and made coffee and tea before his family opened their restaurant. And every morning he awaited Tsung’s arrival. Aki made small talk while he prepared the latte and bagged the dessert. “Are you going to watch the fireworks on New Year’s Eve?” Since the moment Tsung was old enough to enjoy the show he and Tsung always went to see the fireworks together. “Yes. Same time, same place.” They had their own private spot, away from the crowds. “Is your family coming here for dinner this year?” Aki asked. During the weeks leading up to the Lunar New Year, merchants all over Taiwan were busy selling necessities for the festivities. Their street, Dihua Street, was a major destination where they saw or served up to seven-hundred and fifty thousand people who visited. Tsung’s family would be busy selling anything red they had in stock from cash envelopes to lanterns. “Yes, Ma made reservations. It’s easier than cooking,” Tsung answered. “I’ll try to make you something special for dessert.” Tsung smiled at him. Aki’s heart did that fluttering thing again. From the first time he looked down at the newborn Tsung in his crib Aki knew they would walk the same path. Aki handed the drink and the bag of dessert to Tsung. Tsung paid him, thanked him then left. Aki watched him walk away. Tsung was one of those people who looked good coming and going. And he had the sexiest-looking… “Who are you watching?” Aki nearly jumped out of his skin. After twenty-seven years he thought he should be used to his mother’s shrill voice. “Nobody.” Of course, she didn’t believe him. She never did. She looked for herself and saw Tsung as he crossed the street. “Aye!” she cried out. She popped Aki on the arm. “Filthy boy. Rumor has it that he sells his body to men for money. Stay away from him.” His mother had known Tsung all his life and never liked him. He had a feeling she was jealous of the attention Aki gave him. Maybe he shouldn’t wear his heart on his sleeve for everyone to see. But his mother never had anything good to say about Tsung. Back then it was, He’s too beautiful to be a boy, or Why doesn’t he play sports like the other boys? Or It’s not natural for a boy to play with dolls. None of that mattered to Aki. To him, everything Tsung did as a child was cute. Aki was just four years old when Tsung was born. What did he know? Aki did not believe the rumors he’d heard most of his life. When Tsung hadn’t been busy with school or after school activities or cram school, he helped out in his family’s store. Then on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday he sold milk tea along with his older sister Chi-Ling in a stand at the night market. Then, once he graduated from high school, he put himself through barber college, opened his own barber shop, and continued to work for his parents and the night market. He’d also cut hair by appointment in the shop he’d inherited from his grandfather. Tsung no longer lived with his parents, but in an apartment over his salon. Rumor or no rumor, Tsung still was his friend. * * * * Annya Taan watched the young man until he was no longer in sight. She had long suspected that her one child was infatuated with Tsung Loa. Had their relationship gone any further than friendship? She did not know. She doubted it since Aki was very seldom out of her sight. Aki got up early every morning to open the snack café and to bake the pastries until she came to relieve him. Then he would put on his chef’s hat and go to cook next door in the restaurant with his father and uncle. Three nights a week he worked with her and sold dumplings at the night market. And one or two nights a week he went to the gym. Maybe all of this was her fault. Maybe she and Huang should have had more children, then Aki would have had siblings to play with. Or maybe she should have let him hang out with the other kids his own age in the neighborhood instead of making him work in the restaurant. All she knew was that she had to keep both eyes on him now so he wouldn’t get any more enamored with Tsung Loa and embarrass their family. Two weeks later the Loas showed up at their restaurant for Chinese New Year’s Eve dinner. Accompanying Kanaye Loa, the head of the family, was his wife Bai, their daughter Chi-Ling, and their youngest child Tsung. Like ninety-nine percent of the merchants in the neighborhood both north and south, the Loas had grown up in the area as the Taans and they all went to the same schools. She and Bai had been in most of the same classes and up until lately she considered their relationship close. Several of the neighbors had made reservations as well. The restaurant was packed from opening to closing like it had been for years. Packed or not, she didn’t fail to see Tsung wink at Aki as Tsung made his way to the men’s room. Even though dressed like a male, Tsung had just a little too much swish in his hips when he walked. Aki did not follow him, but he did wink back. Then he had this big silly smile on his face. Annya had been too busy waiting tables to do anything about it. The Loas and the first group of guests ate, then left and another group arrived. Later Annya’s family and the rest of the employees had a chance to eat and prepare the restaurant and kitchen for tomorrow’s brunch. The restaurant would be closed to the public because her and her husband’s families were coming to perform the ancestors’ rites at the cemetery with them and share New Year’s Day dinner. Aki, his father, and his uncle Hyson had been preparing food for a week for their family to enjoy. Aki, his father, and his uncle distributed cash envelopes to the employees for their loyalty and service. It meant good luck for the new year. Near midnight the young people often went out to watch the fireworks display before making their way to the shrines and temples in town. Aki presented his parents, his uncle and aunt, and his grandmother with red cash envelopes out of respect. Then he went upstairs to their home to shower and change. It was near midnight when he left for the temple. * * * * Aki’s phone beeped. He looked down at the display. It was Tsung. Aki read the message. The fireworks show is about to begin. Aki texted back. I’m on my way. It was a mild sixty-one degrees outside. Aki walked up the street and turned the corner. Tsung was there waiting for him. He took Aki’s hand like when they were kids and led him to their spot in the backyard of his barber shop. The fireworks were exciting, wonderful, and loud enough to scare away any evil and bad luck. The countdown to midnight began. He and Tsung counted. At midnight. Tsung leaned over and kissed him. It was Aki’s first kiss. At twenty-seven it was well worth the wait. Tsung’s lips were soft against his. Aki opened his mouth and let Tsung explore it with his tongue. Aki did the same thing to him. Aki had no idea what he was supposed to do after that. He’d been on one date in his life with a girl from high school. She turned out to be an obnoxious b***h and complained about everything, including the movie he’d taken her to. He’d been glad to escort her back home. He’d never seen her again, which was okay with him. The kiss ended much too soon. “We’d better get to the temple,” Tsung said. Funny, his voice said one thing, but his eyes said something else. Aki wanted the same thing, but guessed it wasn’t the right time. There was a shrine and a temple on Dihua Street. Tsung led him there. A lot of Aki’s cousins were present, which gave him an iron clad alibi for his mother. Maybe Tsung had anticipated this and cut short something that could have been special to them. Aki had waited this long. He could wait a little longer. After spending time at the temple and talking to people he knew from school and in the area, Aki walked Tsung home. Tsung kissed him again, then went into his apartment. Aki was ninety-nine percent sure Tsung wanted to invite him inside but didn’t. Aki wondered if Tsung had heard all the rumors going around about him. Knowing Tsung, he probably didn’t care. * * * * Aki was back up early the next morning. After dressing he went down to open the café and bake the pastries. His mother, for some reason, came out to help him. Since most shops and businesses were still closed for the holiday Aki didn’t expect many customers. He was wrong. A line had formed outside the café’s window and his mother was selling the pastries as fast as he could bake him. Lucky for him he had more than one oven. There was even a time when he had to stop baking to make coffee. The rush died down around eight. Tsung didn’t come by for his snack. He was probably sleeping in. His father and uncle thankfully had gotten up and was working in the kitchen. Aki and his mother closed the café and went upstairs to change for the trek to the cemetery. The waiters and waitresses who were scheduled to work were there when the family returned. The dining room looked festive, decorated in red lanterns. Red scrolls hung in the entrance of the restaurant. They were painted with messages that were supposed to bring good luck to the home. Aki, his father Huang, and uncle Hyson quickly changed into their chef uniforms and finished up preparing the meal. Everyone had arrived by twelve, dressed in red for good luck. The meal consisted of things like pork dumplings and other dim sum, steamed fish, chicken, noodles, and rice. The waitstaff joined the rest of the family in the dining room. Aki sampled a little of everything, including the pineapple cakes he’d made. After eating, most of the family who were staying went upstairs to play Mahjong or to socialize. Many stopped to pray at the ancestral altar in the front living room. Aki walked upstairs just in time to overhear one of his aunts ask his mother why he wasn’t married yet. He supposed it was quite embarrassing to have a twenty-seven-year-old son living at home without a wife. “Aki is too busy right now with the restaurant and café to date,” his mother answered. “Are you sure he’s not gay?” his aunt Jia-Li asked. Jia-Li was a widow with several grown children. He heard his mother gasp. “If he too busy to date a woman, he’s too busy to date a man.” True, Aki thought. “Well, it’s just not natural,” his aunt Deanna said. “All of my kids work and they’re still found time to marry.” “You can’t compare Aki to them,” his mother argued. “He’s a boss, not an employee.” Aki hated to be the object of conversation, especially since his personal life was no one’s business. Instead of joining his elders, he decided to see if Tsung was awake so he could bring him a surprise. Aki walked away from the room and headed back down to the restaurant. Everything had been cleaned and put away, and the waiters and waitresses had gone home to spend the rest of the day with their families. He texted Tsung. Ni Hao. Are you awake? He got an instant reply. Yes, I’m at my parents’ house. Good. I’ll be down there in a few minutes. Come outside. I have a surprise for you. Aki got the pastry box out of the refrigerator where he’d placed it earlier and went outside. There were cars parked everywhere. Dihua Street was one of the oldest ones in Taiwan, and it was filled with independent stores specializing in everything from art to food. A long time ago it used to be at the forefront of the export trade. Most of the people lived in houses above their shops, just like his family. All the buildings in the area were brick and had about three levels above their shops. The businesses had oblong signs with the store’s name on them. Each doorway had an awning over it. Cars and motorcycles passed him as he made his way down to Loa’s Dry Goods Store. It too had red lanterns and scrolls hanging from the doors and awnings. He found Tsung waiting for him in a pair of tight red pants that hugged his hips and a red shirt with a mandarin collar. Just about everyone wore new clothes during the holiday. And red was Tsung’s color. It brought a blush to his cheeks. “Ni hao.” Tsung bowed respectfully. “Ni hao,” Aki repeated. He bowed too. “This is for your family to share.” He handed Tsung the box. Tsung accepted it. “Thank you. What’s this?” He opened the box and looked inside. He giggled happily. “Pineapple cake.” “I missed you this morning,” Aki said, enjoying Tsung’s delight. “I overslept,” Tsung said. “Do you have family visiting from out of town?” Tsung nodded. “Yes. I’m trying not to be the topic of conversation.” “How? What happened?” “You know,” Tsung said. “They think I’m different.” Aki smiled. “Not different, unique.” Tsung rewarded him with a smile. “You think so?” He closed the box. “Yes. My family was discussing me earlier. They wanted to know why I’m not married?” Tsung eyes widened. “Did they ask you that to your face?” Aki shook his head. “No. I overheard my aunt Jia-Li ask my mother.” “What did she say?” “That I’m too busy to date.” Tsung chuckled sarcastically. “Not true.” “You don’t think that’s the reason?” Tsung shook his head. “No, you’re not married because you are also unique.” Aki smiled. “Yes, I like being unique like you.” He sighed. “I better get back before my mother comes looking for me.” “No, we wouldn’t want that,” Tsung said. “I’ll see you in the morning, and thanks once again for the cake.” “You’re welcome.” Aki waited until Tsung went inside, then he made his way back home. His mother was standing in front of the restaurant. “Where did you disappear to?” “I went down to the Loas to give them the pineapple cake I baked for them.” “Why?” “Why what?” Aki asked. “Why did you make them a cake?” “Because they’re our neighbors and they patronize our restaurant.” “Um-hmm,” his mother said like she didn’t believe him. “Everyone wants to know why you’re not married.” “No reason. I just haven’t found the right person yet.” That was a big lie, but she wouldn’t like the real answer. “How are you going to find the right person if you never go anywhere but here and the night market?” his mother asked. “Why is it so important to you all of a sudden?” “Because all my friends have daughters-in-law to help them around the house and to look after them.” Aki frowned. He’d heard all of this before. It wasn’t a good reason to get married. Procreation or needing grandchildren would have been a more convincing argument. “We can hire someone to come and help you out with the house if you really think it’s too much for you. Or maybe, I should hire someone to run the café so you don’t have to get up so early anymore.” “A daughter-in-law can do all those things for free,” his mother insisted. Aki knew he was not going to win this argument. In fact, they shouldn’t even be having this conversation. “We’re only supposed to talk about positive things today.” He entered the restaurant. His mother followed him inside. “Stay away from that filthy boy. You’ll never get a wife as long as you are friends with him.” Aki didn’t respond. Taiwanese kids were raised to be obedient and respectful to their parents. Now his mother was pressing her luck. Getting married couldn’t change what he was. * * * * Annya could not let the conversation between the womenfolk in her family get to her. She had always suspected that her son might be gay but was too embarrassed to admit it to her family. Aki had no friends except Tsung and it had been that way since the moment she’d taken him down the street to see Mr. Loa’s new baby over twenty years ago. Aki had been around four or five at the time. Since then, the two of them had been inseparable. At first, she thought the situation cute. Aki liked acting as big brother to Tsung, taking him to the park or to watch the other boys play ball. As they grew older, Tsung’s appearance and attitude started to change. He’d started taking care of his appearance, embracing the clothing styles from America, and he changed his hair and eye color. That’s when the rumors started about Tsung liking men. Annya blamed all of this on his mother Bai for allowing him to play with the dolls and tea sets in their dry goods store. And for letting him hang out with his older sister and her friends. She bet Tsung had already tried to seduce Aki. Maybe she should listen to her mother-in-law Yi-Hsuan and try to find a matchmaker to help arrange a marriage like the one who had paired her with Huang. They had been married for forty years and had learned to love each other. The more she thought about it the more it made sense to her. To make this easy on her and her son she was going to find him a wife.