MING LAN

Chapter Four: The DNA Result

I have to drive back today for our DNA test result. It is already the fifth day, the day I have been waiting for. We have a light breakfast together. I hug grandma before I drive home. I leave after Ming Lan leaves for school.

I came to know a lot about this girl, being with her for four days. She is a simple person. Independent. Free spirit, sensible, responsible and loving person. With a mind of her own. She loves her grandma very much, loves other people around her, even her pupils greet her every time we meet somewhere.

That is why she can easily make friends with me on that day. It is her character by nature, easy with people. I wonder if she is still angry with her father.

I drive to the hospital, sit and wait for my doctor friend to come. Exactly at nine he comes to see me and takes me inside a room. I sat opposite him at a table. Letting me read the three pieces of paper without saying anything, acting professional.

I sit there, reading it over and over. Not believing what I see recorded in one of the papers, signed by two persons in charge. It can't be fake. I have to accept it no matter what. I look at him and him at me. He must have seen it because he keeps looking at me without a word.

I thanked my friend and drove home feeling down. All my excitement is almost gone. Whose child am I? Oh, Mom! What have you done, to father, to Ming Lan, to me? I'm feeling so dreadful inside. The result cannot be a lie or a mistake. I saw the man taking each tube of our blood and labelling it. The test result cannot be wrong.

My Dad is sitting at his usual seat, I am in front of him, waiting for me to say something. I just look at him and give him the three pieces of paper. He reads for a long time without saying anything. Then sighs leaning back on his sofa seat, his hands go to his head and rest behind his head looking straight at me, giving out a little sigh.

“This is a private matter. No one has to know about us. Just the three of us. I’m happy that Ming Lan is my daughter. But you...I didn’t know what your mother had done. I don’t know how she got you home. I asked her many times but she never gave me a straight answer, only got angry with me. She only kept on that saying you’re her son.

“My parents allowed your mother to live in and I accepted her back just like that. I married Ming Lan’s mother at that time. She created all the problems in the house. You are my son no matter what, Keong. Carry on with your daily work and life as usual. You know I only have you. Nothing changed between us, son. You understand that, Keong? You’re still my son no matter what.”

I nodded my head happily and automatically said, “I like her, Pa. A good girl.”

My father looks at me then nods his head. Making me very happy. I understand my father and his body language well. He has no objection. Just saying, “Get to know her.” I almost jumped up. Happily.

“Pa. I must let her know I’m not her brother. Shall I take you to see her? You can break the news to her yourself and see what her reaction is.”

It is me who wants to see Ming Lan badly, actually. After knowing the result. I want to see her reaction too. Feeling excited for her. She and I are not related at all. I am not my father’s biological son. We are not blood related at all except that he raised me up like a son. There is a chance for me, but what if Ming Lan knows the real situation later. Let time solve it I hope.

All I know is I like Ming Lan. She knows me as her brother. I will surely face the problem in telling her the truth later. I hope my father will help me.

“Keong, keep the secret first. Don’t tell anyone yet. We must protect our business first. Now help me to pack. Call Nancy here. She knows what to pack for me.” My father says to me calmly, spoiling all of my plans. Anyhow, I’m going to go after Ming Lan, get to know her, make her like me, then tell her the truth. I hope I succeed.

I call the cook in and tell her what to do for my Dad.

“I’m going to a rural area. I want you to go with me for a week. Pack my clothes and your clothes too.” says my Dad to her. She nods and starts with her job. I go to my room and pack my own stuff too.

Since it is my father’s sudden decision, I have to go to my office, for an hour, at least. I have a few matters to handle and told my father about it before I left for the office.

Mr Ong Kee Teng recalls how he married Ming Lan’s mother, Kang Siew Lan. A young beautiful girl in her teens. He himself was a young handsome rich man’s only son. His family was one of the richest in the city at that time. It was an arranged marriage. His wife had left him with her lover a month after they got married. He was not married until he met a girl.

Kee Teng visited Ming Lan’s grandpa’s house. He likes Kang Siew Lan. His frequent visits to the house gave him a chance to get to know her. Both of them were attracted to each other. After a short engagement, they got married.

They were a happily married couple until his first wife, Geok Cheng, came back with a two years old son, half a year later. His parents were happy to see her with a son. They accepted her back into the house.

Problems arose as time went on. His young wife, Siew Lan soon became the victim of criticism of the house due to the first wife’s bad mouthing her. Not knowing how to do so many things, Siew Lan was scolded by the in-laws most of the time, even when there were servants to do everything.

Seeing Mr Ong loving his young wife, his first wife’s jealousy got worse, creating problems for the ignorant second wife from time to time while he was away at work. He knew nothing of the happenings to her until Siew Lan left the house.

His parents listened to everything Geok Cheng said and stopped him from going after his second wife. Saying she was a useless and lazy wife. He waited patiently for her to come back. Much later Mr Ong came to know of the real cause of Siew Lan leaving the house from a kind maid who secretly told him every incident.

Feeling embarrassed and guilty, Mr Ong did not go after his second wife until it was too late. He missed her so much, regretted it very much too knowing she had passed away. He was sad and turned quiet, full of regrets in his heart. He lived on as usual pretending everything was alright, not knowing what to do anymore. There was his parents to think of, his business and his pride.

He had lost her. After his parents passed away he devoted his life to his business. Caring for Keong only. His heartache got worse, thinking of him neglecting the innocent wife, Siew Lan, slowly distancing himself from his parents’ favourite daughter-in-law, Geok Cheng. His loneliness gets worse after his wife passed away, only caring for Keong, a teenager at that time.

He took care of Akeong personally, feeling sad over everything that happened in his family which led to his heart problem. Leaving only him and his son in the house besides the house helpers. He made sure Keong studied well, letting him take over his business after he graduated.

Lately he told Akeong about his secret heart felt, little by little, feeling relief. Akeong began searching for his sister. Mr Ong told his son roughly the place and the house, forgetting the house address. He felt too ashamed to search for the girl himself. Today he is on the way to see his daughter again, letting her see for herself the proof that she is indeed his daughter, just as she had asked for proof.

Mr Ong and Nancy are quiet, since from the city house to Ming Lan’s place, a two hours driving. Ming Lan is still at school at this hour. No one told her nor grandma of their coming.

Grandma is alone at home as usual. She is more than happy to see the three of them getting out of the car. Welcoming them to stay happily. Serving them fruit juice and telling them about Ming Lan in detail.

‘She is just like what I have in mind. A good girl’. I hear Ming Lan’s motorbike coming in. I get up from my seat, looking out of the windows, see her entering the gate and wait for her at the door. My heart beats faster and faster all of a sudden seeing her. I have high hopes for her. Seeing her is enough to make me float in the air. That is how I feel for her right now.

Earlier, I had doubts about how I feel. Now confirms everything. I love her. I have fallen in love with her since when I am not sure. I have to be careful. I have to see her reaction to the news first before letting her know about me.

She is not easy, remembering when she was in the house asking for a DNA test, unhappy. Then I remember my father is keeping my DNA result a secret. I hold back. It is going to be tough on my part. I have to be careful not to arouse her anger, not liking her angry face. I hope my father will tell her the truth soon enough, for my sake at least.

Standing at the door, I raise my hand to Ming Lan, smiling. She grins back, approaching me.

“Hello. You’re back. So good to see you again.” She says upon entering the house, taking my hand. Then stops, seeing her grandma with her guests. Her head is at my chin level. I can smell the faint nice smell from her hair. She pulls my hand and walks in sitting opposite my Dad, looking at him. “Hello” and she bows a little to my Dad and the cook. I sat beside her.

My Dad gives her the envelope with two papers inside. She takes it out slowly and reads both papers. She gets up and kneels in front of my Dad. Taking his shoulders and hugs him gently, placing her face on his neck calmly. Calling him “Appa”, twice.

My Dad hugs her, a few drops of tears wet his cheeks. She hugs him tightly now, in tears too. They stay that way for quite a while. She turns to me and hugs me calling me ‘Ako’, brother.

I hug her back full of emotions, looking at my Daddy's face. He looks at me, shaking his head a little. So, I hugged her, feeling her closeness with my eyes closed. Not realising my tears of happiness drop too. I caress her hair, sighing.

Feeling her loosen hug I let go of her slowly. Sighing softly. She takes my hand and calls me “Ako” again. I grip her hand and call her, “Ming Lan.” Oh! How I love you girl, seeing your face like this now. She moves closer to my Dad, her Dad too.

“I’m hungry. Let’s eat Amma, Appa, Ako, Ayiee.” She takes my Daddy’s hand and walks him to the kitchen.

She sits him and pulls my hand to sit beside her. “Thank you everybody. Today I am very happy and lucky to have a father and a brother, a grandma, to eat together. We are a big family now. Not just me and Amma anymore. There are four of us now. Let us be happy together. Let’s enjoy our lunch together.” She picks a piece of meat for every single one of us, for Nancy, the cook too.

“Let’s eat.” Ming Lan calls out.

She starts eating. I see her wiping her tears with her back hand. I got a tissue paper for her. She dries her eyes and continues eating in silence.

I touch her right shoulder. She turns and smiles at me. Making my heart glow and glow. I am happy for her and for myself. She has found her father and I have found my woman. I love her. My heart flutters sitting beside her at the table eating.

I remember something. “Appa. I want to help Ming Lan and Amma. I want to fence up the compound and make a proper gate for their safety. I feel happier knowing they are safe here.”

“Good idea. You handle it. Get the best workmen here.” My Dad gives his permission. Making me very happy. I can see her often then.

We talk things over after lunch. Ming Lan insists on staying with grandma in this house. She lets me take care of things the way I planned to do. Nothing changed. About her name. She prefers to keep it as Tan Ming Lan, because it involves too many things. Her official working records, other personal documents, which are too troublesome to change.

“I’m a girl. Appa. Nothing changed by changing my surname. Ako is the one to carry your surname, not me. I’m a girl.” Ming Lan confirmed what she wants with us, her family.

Dad sees the logic in her words, asks for Amma's opinion then nods his head. Granting his daughter’s wish. “No need to change your name then, Tan Ming Lan is not a bad name. Like the Chinese movie warrior, Ming Lan.” He smiles saying that.

“That warrior was Mu Lan, Dad.” I corrected him. Making him smile broadly.