Original Stories Fan Fiction ❯ Just Another Day ❯ Volume One, Chapter Five: Break Through ( Chapter 5 )

Break Through

“You know,” Mai-Pai spoke up. “Jin will be eighteen soon. He's going to need a mentor in his life. Someone to help him be a man.” Soon looked so confused.

“What?” he asked.

“Be a father figure to my son,” Mai-Pai said. Soon couldn't think of how to respond. What just happened? Mai-Pai gave him a little smile.

“You don't have to answer now,” she said. “Take your time to think.” Soon blinked at her.

“Can you help me out with the chores?” Mai-Pai asked.

“Uh… okay,” Soon said. He walked over to her. Mai-Pai gave him instructions on what to do.

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After cleaning the kitchen, the pair moved to the storage closet.

“My kids call me a pack rat,” Mai-Pai explained. “They are making me clean things out.” She frowned to herself.

“I don't want to do it, but…”

“You've been stalling, haven't you?” Soon asked.

“Yeah,” she said. Mai-Pai frowned.

“They don't understand,” she said. Soon looked confused.

“They? How many kids do you have?” he asked.

“Two,” she said. “You met Jin. And I have a daughter.”

“How old?”

“Nineteen.”

“Wow.”

“Yeah.” Mai-Pai turned, smiling. “She helps me in the shop.”

“Shop?”

“A book shop. It was a gift from my late husband.”

“Oh,” Soon said. “I'm sorry to hear that.” Mai-Pai shook her head.

“No, it's fine,” she said in a trembling voice. “It was a long time ago.” Mai-Pai shook her head as she spoke.

“Um…” was all Soon could say. Only the ticking clock filled the silence.

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The cleaning began. So much junk in the closet. Photos, old baby things, old documents, notebooks, and a small black box. They took out each one. Mai-Pai sighed at each item.

“I don't want to throw them away,” she said. “There were my soul.”

“You're lucky,” Soon said. “I have nothing.” Mai-Pai looked up at him.

“What do you mean?” she asked. He shook his head.

“Nothing to my name,” he admitted. “Not even any money.” Mai-Pai narrowed her eyes.

“How… did that happen?” she asked. Soon shrugged.

“I just left my home after my wife left,” he said. “I don't have a key. She probably threw out my things. And sold the house.”

“I'm sorry to hear that,” she said. Mai-Pai set the photos on the floor.

“No, it's fine,” Soon insisted. “It would slow me down.”

“I disagree with that,” she said under her breath. Soon didn't even reply. He started back to work. His eyes noticed the small black box. It looked like the size of a shoebox. No damage or tears. There were no labels either.

“What's this?” Soon asked. He picked up the box.

“Hm?” Mai-Pai asked. Soon removed the lid. His jaw dropped.

“Mai-Pai!” he said. She glanced down into the box before looking away. Inside were many letters addressed to her from Soon.

“You kept all of my letters?” he asked. Her cheeks turned bright red.

“Yes,” she said. Soon struggled to speak at first.

“Wow,” was all he could say. Mai-Pai stared at him.

“Did you keep my letter before… you know?” she asked. His face turned just red as hers.

“Yes,” Soon answered. He started to look so sad. “But I don't know where they are now.” Mai-Pai put her arms around him in tears.

“Thank you,” she whispered. Soon gently patted her on the head.

As Time Goes By