AAE  Hawaiian Pursuit
(A continuation of DJ & The Prince).
Author: Margie L
2003-11-13
***********

Scene I

Yin Xiang Zhe sets his plan in motion. He knew with her sister in tow, it would be hard for him to get close to San Mei. He needs a distraction. After thinking for some time, he finally found an answer. He picked up the phone and dialed his father's residence.

It was his stepmother who answered. "Good morning. May I speak to Min Ho?"

Although she was surprised, she did not pry. "Min Ho? He is in his room. Will you hold a moment, please?"

She went to her son's room. "Min Ho, Xiang Zhe is on the phone. He wants to speak to you."

The teenager dropped the book he was reading when he heard his brother's name. "Huh? Brother wants to speak to me?" He has always felt intimidated by his much older half brother.

"Mom, please... please say I'm not home."

"I have already told him you were. Why are you so scared of him?" she admonished her son for his cowardice. "He's not a tiger -- he won't eat you! Now go and talk to your brother."

"Haven't you noticed how fierce he looks? He may not be a tiger, but he's close!"

His mother pulled him up. "Go and answer the phone. He'll only get mad if you keep him waiting any longer."

Min Ho reluctantly trudged to the living room. He could not imagine what his brother wanted to talk to him about. All these years, they had rarely communicated on a one-to-one basis.

"Wei? Brother?" He hesitantly answered, hoping that he would be listening to a dial tone instead.

"What took you so long?" His brother never raises his voice, yet one could not miss the icy tone in his voice. Before Min Ho could reply, his brother continued, "Are you free today? I have something to discuss with you."

"Today? Yeah, I'm free. Are you coming home?"

"Can you take a taxi to my apartment? I'll reimburse you."


Scene II

At Xiang Zhe's apartment, a nervous Min Ho was trying his best to put himself at ease. Sometimes he would follow his father to his brother's apartment but he would always wait in the car. Today's the first time he has been inside his brother's apartment.

Handing the glass of milk to his brother, Xiang Zhe said, "I don't know if you like milk, but I'm out of everything."

"Milk is okay. Thanks."

Actually, he hated the horrible stuff. Imagine drinking something from the cow's udder! Yuk! But he wasn't going to antagonize his brother. He forced himself to take a teeny sip.

"If you don't like it, you don't have to force yourself to drink it." His brother had noticed. Was he annoyed?

"How have you been coping with your school work? Father said you did not do as well as you could have, in some subjects."

Min Ho stole a glance at his half brother. Did his brother call him to lecture him on his studies?

"I really tried my best -- but I was sick during the exams so I could not concentrate."

"You were sick? Father did not mention that. Are you ok now?"

"Yes, I'm fine," Min Ho replied, picking up the glass of milk in another valiant attempt to drink it.

"I will be going to Hawaii in 2 days' time. Would you like to join me?"

Poooh!! He was so surprised, he sputtered out the milk all over his brother's face and white woolen jumper. Milk dripping down his chin, the shocked teen could only stare at his brother. While appalled that he had made a mess of his brother's snowy white jumper, he was more astounded by his brother's offer.

Xiang Zhe calmly got up and went to the bathroom to get towels for both of them. He threw a towel to his brother and wiped the milk from his face.

"Sss..orry, Brother."

Continuing to wipe the milk from his jumper, Xiang Zhe waved away Min Ho's apology. He didn't blame his brother for his reaction.

"Forget it. Why are you always stammering? Do you have a speech problem?" His brother did not seem angry.

"No, I don't. It's just that you could be quite intimidating." Now that he could see his brother was not as stern as he had thought, Min Ho was more at ease.

"You're inviting me to Hawaii?"

Xiang Zhe gave him the am-I-talking-to-a-moron look.

"That's great! Of course I would like to join you." However, he remembered something. "But I don't have any money!" He said dejectedly.

Xiang Zhe flicked the towel at Min Ho's head, "Stupid! I'm inviting you, so I would be paying for you. You just pay for your own shopping."

He decided to take advantage of his brother's generosity. "I don't have any savings -- it's no fun just window shopping. Dad's very tight-fisted and Mom's very frugal." He put on a long face. He peered at Xiang Zhe to see if he had seen through his deliberate lie. If possible, he did not want to have to spend a won of his own money.

Once again, he flicked the towel at the devious kid, this time making sure it hurts.

"Ow! That hurts!" Min Ho yelped, rubbing his forehead.

"You think I don't know how much allowance father gives you each month?" Although he looked stern, his eyes were laughing. "If you want me to foot your shopping expenses, you have to work for me. Whatever I tell you to do, you just do it. In this world, nothing is free!"

"I have to work? But you said it was to be a holiday." The poor kid finally realised his brother's too-good-to-be-true offer came with strings attached.

"It's a holiday for me -- a working holiday for you. I can always find someone else."

"I'll take it! I'll take it!" Work or no work -- who would refuse a trip to Hawaii?

Xiang Zhe smiled to himself. It's quite useful to have a kid brother around. He's not such a bad kid too.


Xiang Zhe's father was delighted that Xiang Zhe had invited his half brother to join him in Hawaii. He was finally ready to accept his brother. He even offered to pay all their expenses. However, Xiang Zhe refused his father's offer -- saying that as it was a holiday trip, he would take care of the expenses himself.

Min Ho's mother was just as happy at this sudden turn of events. As long as Xiang Zhe accepts her son, she was sure he would come to forgive and accept her too.


SCENE III

Xiang Zhe checked into the same hotel where San Mei and her sister were staying. He decided to fly 2 days after San Mei's departure to avoid arousing her suspicion. He had already taught Min Ho what to do and say when they meet up with San Mei and her sister.

If San Mei were to ask why he did not mention that he would also be in Hawaii, Xiang Zhe would say that it was a last minute thing. His father had booked the trip for his brother as a belated birthday present. Min Ho's friend had to withdraw at the 24th hour. His father had asked that Xiang Zhe accompanies his younger son.

"We're friends of Ms. Zhen San Mei from Korea. Can you please contact her room for me please?"

"Please wait a moment." The receptionist checked their register and dialed San Mei's room extension. But there was no reply.

"I'm sorry -- Ms. Zhen is not in. Please wait while I check the key drop."

After a few minutes, the receptionist returned and said that they had just left for the beach. They were probably going for their dinner at the buffet stalls.

Xiang Zhe thanked her and followed the porter to their rooms. He had booked a suite with adjoining rooms. His brother was not at all happy having big brother so close by. He wanted his own room and privacy.

"What does a 17-year old kind needs privacy for? You can get all the privacy you want just by closing the door. As long as the door's closed, both of us must respect it. Neither of us can enter without permission. Is that clear?"

Min Ho was beginning to regret agreeing to his brother's invite. He thought, not only is his brother a wet blanket, he's also a control freak. He gets more freedom from his parents. He decided if his brother is going to be this way throughout their stay, he would not get a chance to chat up the Hawaiian beauties.


SCENE IV

San Mei and San San found a nice spot near the beach and sat down to enjoy their dinner. Besides enjoying their food, they were also enjoying their solitude. They had deliberately dined late to avoid the influx of holidaymakers.

"Onni, thank you for this holiday. I love Hawaii, it's so beautiful and romantic here."

San Mei smiled at her sister. Now she could see why people had always mentioned that they look alike. Although San San is taller and thinner than San Mei, they have the same large, almond-shaped eyes, luscious lips and nose. She was extremely grateful to her parents for having given her such an endearing sister.

"We can always come back again."

As she puts a piece of tomato into her mouth, she looked up. For a moment, she had thought that man was Yin Xiang Zhe. He had been on her mind since the interview. She had liked what she had seen and learnt of him -- but he was not for her. He did say he found his Miss Right -- so she should wish them all the best and forget about him.

But the striking man heading in their direction is Yin Xiang Zhe! Heartbeat accelerating, she almost knocked over her glass of juice.

"Hi, both Ms. Zhen! I'm glad I found you." Xiang Zhe smiled at San Mei and San San.

"Mr. Yin, it's a real surprise meeting you here. When we last talked, you did not mention that you would also be in Hawaii."

Xiang Zhe recited so well from his 'script', she could find no reason to doubt him. "Let me introduce my brother, Min Ho. Min Ho, say hello to Ms. Zhen San Mei and I believe, Miss San San, her sister."

San Mei invited the brothers to join their table.

"Mr. Yin, your pictures do not do you justice at all. You're more handsome in person." San San was looking at Xiang Zhe with adoring eyes. San Mei kicked her sister for being disrespectful.

"Hey, what was that for?" San San gave her sister an accusing look.

"I'm sorry, Mr. Yun. My sister's too outspoken for her own good."

"It's perfectly alright. She was paying me a compliment after all. Thank you, Miss San San."

Xiang Zhe said, "May we just call each other by our first names? As we'll be together for 2 weeks, it's going to be terribly confusing to address 2 Miss Zhen and 2 Mr. Yin."

He asked San Mei, "What are you planning to do after dinner?"

San Mei replied, "We don't have any particular plans -- just on a midnight stroll along the beach."

Xiang Zhe looked at Min Ho and made a slight movement with his head. That was the cue for him to get lost!

"Brother, I would like to take a look around this hotel -- but it's so big, I might get lost. I wonder if I could get a hotel staff to show me around?" Min Ho directed his question at San San.

A smart girl, San San could immediately see through their wishy-washy ploy. However, she played along because she liked Yin Xiang Zhe and wouldn't mind having him as her sister's boyfriend.

She got up on her feet. "Don't bother the hotel staff. I can show you around."

She grabbed Min Ho by the collar and dragged him away.

San Mei reprimanded her sister, "San San, don't be so disrespectful to Min Ho!" But her sister had already disappeared into the hotel.

"Mr. Yin, please forgive San San. I'm afraid I've spoilt her."

"Don't worry about it. He can handle a bit of rough handling." He smiled at her. "But have you forgotten we're not to address each other as Mr. or Ms.?"

"I'm sorry... er... Xiang Zhe," San Mei reddens.

"Although it's not midnight yet, we can still walk along the beach. How about it?" he suggested.

San Mei accepted. They walked in companionable silence along the beach for several minutes. This moment was so special they were both loath to tamper with the atmosphere.

Xiang Zhe asked, "San Mei, what is your ideal man like?"

"My ideal man?" She paused awhile before replying, "I don't really know because I've never thought about what my ideal man should be like."

"In that case, I would ask -- what attracts you to a man?"

She smiled, "Then I would ask you in return -- why are you asking these kind of questions?"

He laughed and shrugged. "I'm just curious."

San Mei looked pensive as she replied, "I guess my ideal man is someone like my father. He loved my mom so much. He treated her as if she were the center of his universe."

She looked at Xiang Zhe, eyes bright with tears. "My father was not a rich man -- but we were rich with the love and devotion he gave us. It didn't matter that sometimes, my sister and I could not have the things we wanted because my father could not afford them. He always made up for it by hugging us more often. In a way, I'm glad my parents died together -- they wouldn't have wanted to live without each other."

She wiped the tears from her eyes.

Xiang Zhe was immediately contrite. He put his arm around her shoulder. "San Mei, I'm sorry I made you re-live your parents' death."

She smiled through her tears and looked up at the sky. "It's not your fault."

It was a starry night with thousands of twinkling stars. "The stars are so beautiful." She turned round to look at him. "Mr. Yin ..."

Xiang Zhe interrupted "I'm not answering if you continue to address me as Mr. Yin."

"Okay, Xiang Zhe. You should have invited Miss Right to join you on this holiday. Hawaii is such a beautiful and romantic state, it would be the perfect setting for you to declare your love for her." She looked up at him. "Our listeners were so curious who your Ms. Right is and, I must admit, I am too. Is her identity a big secret? I promise this is off-record."

He smiled knowingly and asked her, "You really want to know?"

San Mei nodded.

Xiang Zhe looked at the stars and answered, "The very first time she came into my life, she was on-air. Her voice floated in my apartment like angel's breadth. I like the way she speaks to her listeners."

"She's a deejay?" Her heart was thudding so loud, she thought he would hear.

He didn't reply but continued, "The second time she came into my life was when I saw her picture in the papers -- under the radio program schedules. I thought -- no wonder her voice is like angel's breath -- she even looks like an angel."

He turned to her. "Yes, she's a radio deejay. When I finally met her, I knew she was the one. She was the only person I want to share all my possessions. Would you believe, she even has the same initials as you do -- ZSM? The only problem is, I do not know how she feels about me. Do you have any idea at all?"

"Why are you asking me?"

"Because you're her! My Miss Right! So, how do you feel about me? Do I stand a chance?"

Her face glowing with happiness, she replied coyly, "Maybe, but only if you tell me the real reason you're here. No more ridiculous excuses."

Xiang Zhe was so happy, he scooped her up in his arms. Laughing out loud, he asked, "I thought I had come up with such a creative story."

He let her down but held on to her waist.

"I had to pursue you here. It took me nearly a lifetime to find you. How could I let you out of my sight?" He grinned. "I guess I have to thank San San for that night at the studio."

"You knew all along she was the last caller?" San Mei was surprised that he knew but did not even mention it.

"I knew when I heard her voice." He looked around, "By the way, where have the two conspirators disappeared to?"

"Let's go find them!"


THE END!!!!!