MING LAN

Chapter Six: Ming Lan And I

I also have more time working on building a good relationship with my ‘sister’. She is the first lady I get close to. I show her my affection, hug her often, kiss her cheeks goodnight. I look into her eyes when talking to her. Caressing her long silky hair, praising her beauty seeing her coming down after bath. I make her happy indeed.

I catch her, swing her screaming in the backyard as we clean the backyard. We go swimming almost every evening and share our food at the river bank feeding each other. She even dares to climb up my back, making me carry her in the water. I often carry and throw her in the water.

I let her get naughty over me when we are away from Amma, not to offend the elder. I know she had missed out a lot during her childhood. I pamper her a great deal when we are together. I really enjoy her naughtiness at times.

I had a wonderful time with ‘my sister’ in getting to know her heart. She likes to lay beside me in my bed. Telling me all kinds of stories I should know, she said. I have to hold back from kissing her lips often, a tough time for me. It is hard but I still manage to restrain myself so far, not to shock or scare her.

She is five feet four. I am almost six feet. Many girls were after me in university but I was the low profile guy and had no courage to be with any of them. Soon everyone was taken away, leaving me single till the end of my campus life.

I have wavy hair, light brown skin, sharp features, deep set brown eyes. I grade myself handsome. I had kept a moustache before and fell in love with myself in the mirror. I don’t look like my father at all. More towards Malay or Indian. That DNA test tells me why.

It is not important whose child I am now. My father had said I am still his son no matter what. I don’t have to worry about it. Only have to see how Ming Lan is towards me.

I hope she feels the same way as I am. How am I to tell her I am not her biological brother? I have to leave that to my father. It would be different if it came out from his mouth, Ming Lan’s biological father. She calls me Ako (brother), all the time not knowing the truth. It is not easy for ne to tell her without creating other emotional problems for her. It is a problem indeed!

My father’s decision to keep my real identity a secret has made it difficult for me now. I should not have agreed with him keeping it secret from Ming Lan. Well, he might have his own reason. Maybe for his property issue. He is indeed a very rich man, inheriting everything from his father and mother’s side but stays low.

Staying at Amma’s house, I take every opportunity to be close to Ming Lan. Teaching her to play the guitar in my room is the best hour for me. Engulfing her in my arms, guiding her fingers, strumming the right key and the right timing, kissing and snuggling into her neck with her long hair tickling her ticklish nature, making her laugh and shriek on my bed with the guitar.

After a few times she is used to me doing that to her and no more pushing me away, enjoying our intimate moments. What a wonderful time I had with her, in and out of the house together.

If only I can tell her the truth. Tell her how much I love her and want to marry her. All those have to wait. Her guitar strumming has improved a lot since then. We are very close to each other with her still calling me ‘Ako’. She is getting naughty with me and laughs easily with me. Testing my young blood. I like her hugs and touches too. I do the same to her.

Her hands are soft despite all the work she has done.

We have been very close to each other after weeks together. My heart grows fonder day by day. Appa and Amma never say anything seeing me and Ming Lan together everywhere in and out of the house.

She is of course very happy to be with her ‘Ako’ helping and doing things for her. I enjoy being with her too as a brother to her. I like the girl very much, loving her with all my heart, fluttering every time I am in contact with her. Sometimes there is a pang of sharp pain inside me. I don't really understand that sharp pain, at the age of twenty eight. I have never been in love before.

The house compound fencing is done. Now comes the tougher part. Concrete wall for the front part with a new electrical gate. That is what I planned for Amma’s house.

The whole fencing of the wide piece of land is ready after six weeks. Amma looks happy, thanking me. Ming Lan tags along as I watch the men at work, asking them this and that, just as she is, inquisitive.

“For our safety, Amma. The whole fencing is rotting. It is our responsibility to take care of you too. Dad seems to regret letting you and Ming Lan down.” I explained to her.

Ming Lan comes and goes with her grandma to the mansion in her white car. Spending her school holidays in the city. I take her and grandma out to see the city and eat out. Talking to her, getting to know her heart, sharing her ice cream, buying her beautiful clothes, shoes and accessories a girl should have, with her always fighting over me spending money on her. I have that wonderful feeling inside pampering her, my girl.

“You don’t have to show off your money to me. I can afford all those. I just don’t need so many things and want to save up for my future plan. Don’t you have any plans of your own?”

I smile at her, taking her hand strolling in the mall. “I have. I want my Ming Lan to look beautiful like other girls.”

“You’re saying that I’m not beautiful enough? See if I can have men coming to me now.” She half whispers to me holding my arm.

“Eh ey! Don’t do that.” I quickly hugged her. “You’re beautiful. More beautiful if you dress up a little.” I touched her nose-tip and wanted to kiss her lips at that moment.

She tries to push me away shyly. “What are you doing? People are watching.”

“You think no one watch with you holding my arm like that earlier? I’m a man.” I whisper in her ears.

She quickly let go of her hands. Pursing her lips shyly.

“Mmm… let them look. See how beautiful you are, blushing. I love my beautiful Ming Lan.” I have stopped calling her ‘sister’ because in my heart she is my woman. I love her. I want to marry her.

I let Dad know what my heart desires. He just looked at me without saying anything. Lastly he nods his head still looking at me. He knows I never have a girlfriend, never heard or see me with anyone before. I ask my father to tell Ming Lan about the other piece of DNA result. He gives no response to me. Daddy!

Staying in Appa’s big house, she likes snuggling in my arms in my room saying how lucky she is, having a handsome and loving brother. Missing the ‘naughty’ me. She is more daring now towards me.

Making my heart race like hell almost exploding every time she snuggles touching my face with her close eyes. Looking so beautiful herself that way. Praising my handsome look every time, touching my eyes, nose and lips with her fingers. Sandwich my face with her palms.

“My handsome brother, Ako Keong.” She would kiss my cheeks whenever she got naughty with me. I let her be. Feeling my heart about to burst. I’m a man after all. She needs someone to love her obviously. I’m doing that in my own way. No one bothers us upstairs as long as we are not late for meals.

“Ming Lan, don’t you have a boyfriend?” I ask, testing her.

Looking at me, she shakes her head. “You?” she asks me in return.

“You’re my girlfriend. From now on.”

She chuckles looking at me. I look her in the eyes, feeling myself smiling inside out. I cannot hold on and kiss her lips briefly. She blushed. I mouth ‘I love you’ slowly to her. Her whole face turns red. She hides her face onto my chest. Mumbling “..naughty you..” I hug her head close to my heart, caressing her hair and back. Feeling my heart racing staying like that with her in my bed.

I pull my guitar to me and pluck the strings with my right thumb. She loses her hug and sits up straight, straightening her hair. I passed her the guitar.

Her music skill improves a lot. She chords better, sings better. Everyone can hear her from my room for hours. My music too improves as I coach her.

“I didn’t know you were good at music.” says my father to me one day.

“I was a singer for my campus band when I was studying. I left everything behind after taking over your business. No time for that.”

“Music is good therapy. Don’t waste your talent, son.”

From then on, I never left my guitar. Strumming my songs in my room whenever I miss Ming Lan when she is back home, teaching.

Every public holiday I spend time at Amma’s house with Ming Lan. Not missing taking her on a motor ride to the river. She is not afraid to be there anymore.

I bring along a fishing rod to fish. I learned how to fix and use the fishing rod from the shop owner selling fishing equipment. I understand the use of different sizes of hook and different types of baits for different types of fish. I don’t think there are so many types of fish in the river. I end up buying the one generally used.

“I feel safe with you, swimming here.” She says and climbs up my back, gripping my shoulders and gripping her two legs around my waist like a naughty girl. She does not weigh much. I can easily carry her walking, exploring the place, talking to her, feeling her body sticking to my bare skin. I often throw her in the river, making her shriek away, laughing.

“Naughty you. Why, you do that? I love your back….”

“Where in the world is a big girl like you climbing on a man’s back for a ride. Very naughty of you. Your pupils will laugh at you if they see you.” I joined her in the water, splashing more water to tease her, making her laugh and squeal. We always had a good time at the river. With her climbing on my back in the water again and again. She is getting naughty indeed. I can hardly swim sometimes. No chance for fishing at all.

I like feeling her soft breasts pressing on my back although I could not see it. It makes my imagination go wild. She is my best companion so far, the girl who makes my heart flutters and races every time I am with her. I can no longer swim in my briefs with her, like climbing up my back. I bought good quality trunks, covering my bulging front safely. Feeling more confident swimming with her.

Ming Lan is always in her shorts, T-shirt or blouse. Never a swimsuit. I bought her one but she never put it on. I never ask her why.

The trees growing along the river bank are not that big. Mostly about ten feet tall.

Sometimes we walk upstream where the water is shallower but seeing it too far to the waterfall source we turn back, swimming, racing. I always leave her behind. She still cannot beat me swimming. Maybe she has shorter arms and legs.

Tired of swimming, I fish. Somehow, I never get to fish with her at the river, getting naughty. Only once I caught a palm size fresh water fish. I have to get her a fishing rod too to fish peacefully. We always end up swimming and eating, not fishing. Lying on the mat, talking, sharing whatever she brought for us. We really are a good pair. We clique well together.

I take her back on the motorbike when the morning sun is getting hot. She hugs me in her wet clothes sitting behind. Shuddering the cool wind on her.

“Change your clothes next time. I can’t even stop buying something with you wearing it like that. You’re getting naughty, you know. A naughty teacher.”

“Your fault. You make me like this. You never stopped me. I never thought of you stopping buying something. You never did. I feel happy and free with you…. When are you coming again?” She always knows how to defend herself. I often give in to her.

“The next public holiday. ...School holiday is coming soon, isn’t it?” I ask her not knowing when the school semester holiday is.

She nods her head, “In two weeks.”

“Oh. We can go to the city again. Long holidays. I have places to show you.”

“Emm. Ok.” She answers me. I push the motorbike under the shed and lock it.

That night, we spent time in the shed strumming guitar with her singing. Her head is on my leg lying on the cement counter she made. It is always our best rebonding time with the guitar other than my bed back home. She burns three mosquito coils at the shed to keep the mosquitoes away. Insects’ sound here and there around the place adds to the magic of our nights there.

Amma is used to sleeping early, calls us into the house and leaves us on the sofa with Ming Lan sleeping on my leg watching television movies every night. I lay my hand on her long soft hair playing with it, stroking her head at times. My other hand caresses her cheek, ear and neck tickling her. I playfully covered her whole face, letting down her hair.

“Hey. I’m watching the guy jumping in. Don’t disturb me.” She hits my thigh, continues watching, clearing the hair off her face. I chuckle, hearing her displeased tone.

“Hello. I’m lying down.” I whisper into her ear. She gets up hearing me with her eyes fixed on the screen. I slowly lie down on the sofa with her making space for me as her neck is up keeping her eyes on the tv screen. I lay hugging her waist with her back close to my body. I feel my front bulging up but endures it.

I bury my face onto her head, feeling her soft hair, smelling the faint nice smell. I fell asleep with her head on my arm, hugging her with another arm. I like the feel of her warmth.

It is me who always has to pull Ming Lan upstairs to sleep in her room. She is a movie addict. Her actions show that she needs attention due to her loneliness. I give her my attention whenever I can. I too understand what loneliness is, as I am alone at home too. I do not go out after dinner, unless with my father to a dinner which I cannot avoid.

I stay at home to accompany my father until we are both sleepy. My father did not like to go out too, ever since he was a young man. It is boring at times but I have been living that way since I was small. Sometimes I fall asleep on the sofa and he wakes me up to go up to our bedrooms together.

Now that I have found Ming Lan, someone I love. My father lets me spend time with her, as much as I can afford to. He told me once that he has high hopes in Ming Lan as my wife, after knowing the truth about me loving Ming Lan.

I remind my father to tell Ming Lan and Amma the truth. He keeps delaying it. I really do not understand my father. What is there to hide anymore? I do not understand what is in this old man’s mind anymore.

“You have school tomorrow and I have to drive back. Get some sleep. Goodnight, teacher.” I give her a kiss on the forehead and push her lightly into her bedroom. ”Sleep… You need it.” She moves in slowly without protest.

I woke up early to see her off to school. “I’m going to miss you ‘Ako’. She pats my cheek in front of Amma before she takes her red motorbike, riding it to school. I watch until she is out of sight, then have breakfast with Amma before I drive to my office. Missing my Ming Lan already as I drive alone to my office.

I come and go for half a year without Appa saying anything. He knows how I feel about his daughter. I can feel that Ming Lan begins to restrain herself too. Enjoying our intimacy at the same time. So, it is me who has to control the situation and not let it cross the boundary I set in my mind.