MING LAN

Chapter Nine: Consequence Of The Truth

“Ming Lan, I have something to show you…. That day I only showed you half of it. It is time that you know the truth. The real truth.” My Dad hands her the same envelope with three pieces of papers inside, I hope. “Please read carefully.” He says to her.

She takes the envelopes looking at my Dad, reading it one by one. She puts down the three pieces of papers on the table and palms her face sighing.

“This is not right. Appa. Akeong. You two have been keeping this from me and Amma. You said we are family. What kind of family are we, Appa? What’s the meaning of this? Why can’t you just let me know the truth earlier about Keong is not my biological brother. You liars. Embarrassing me.” She is getting angry. I can see that in her face.

She gets up and gives me a hard knock on my head unexpectedly. Shocking me and my Dad with the loud sound from her knocking. I cover my head with my two hands and rub it instantly, hoping to relieve the pain.

Then she moves to my Dad, banging him hard on his shoulder blade. “Stupid old man. You caused all these troubles.” She rushes upstairs then hurriedly leaves with her bag and backpack. I hear her driving her car off, out of the house gate. My head still hurts. I do not feel like following her. My head still hurts. I sit there rubbing my head which really hurts.

My Dad says nothing, looking at me, not ordering me to go after her. He must be in shock himself, getting a hard blow on his back from that girl.

I did not see Ming Lan the next few days.

I only knew from my father that Ming Lan had come back, after a few days away while I was at the office. There is a weird feeling inside me, from my heart rushing to my shoulders down my arms to my fingertips. My heart hurts suddenly. Then there is a rush of blood from my neck filling my whole chest later. My heart hurts once more. I take deep breaths again and again. It is a weird feeling.

I never saw Ming Lan after that day. She told my Dad that she is taking leave to go travelling. Then leave him before he can ask her more. Travelling? Again?

I sit down immediately sighing. Taking my deep breath. My mind goes blank hearing what my Dad told me. Am I losing her again? I have been living tortuously for the past four months under the same roof with her. Feeling glad that she agreed to stay with us although she keeps everything to herself, not talking to both my Dad and I.

Now she is gone again. Ming Lan! …. What now! For how long this time girl?

Her car is in the garage, so there is no way I can know where she is heading. I tried seeing the State head office. Ming Lan had applied for a year's leave. The information of her destination is not specific. Oh my God. What is this? Where are you Ming Lan? Why are you doing this to me, to us again? ‘Please come back’. My heart pleads hurtfully.

‘I’m not staying with my father. Always asking me to get married. He never asks me what I want. I already listened to him asking me to stay with him. That stupid Akeong also one kind. No brain man. Follow everything father said. He can’t even tell me he is not related to me. So stupid of him. Embarrassing me. I’ll leave the stupid two together. Goodbye!’ Ming Lan is determined to live her own life by herself, being too angry with both of the men.

Feeling embarrassed is the worst for her. She tried her best to hate Keong for that. It is hard indeed for her to face him again. She does not know how and chose to escape instead.

I have decided to forget about Ming Lan. I am not searching for her anymore, letting her go with a pain in my heart. My father keeps on asking me about her. I told him directly that, “I do not know and do not care anymore. Let her come back on her own if she wants to”. I am too hurt to care now. But I did not tell my Dad that part. She left me broken-hearted. It hurts.

“Just let her be, Appa. She is safe somewhere. She is not stupid.”

I did not see Ming Lan for a year. Could not even contact her. Only sometimes getting postcards from her sent to my father, from different countries. How my heart aches for her, missing her. How long are you away this time? Why are you making things difficult for us? Torturing my heart? Keeping Daddy worried. What can I do?