53 THE TRUTH IS THAT IM GAY (1/2)
With his left elbow on the window and his right hand casually gripping the steering wheel of the blue Mercedes, Xuan Chaya steadily navigated the jam-packed city road.
Xiao Maiguo who was sitting on the passenger side of the car stared at his ringing phone and hissed irritably.
\”What's the matter with you?\” Xuan Chaya gave Xiao Maiguo a glance, his dark-blue eyes clouded with concern.
\”Ben.\” Xiao Maiguo spat. \”Ben's the matter with me. He won't stop calling me.\”
\”Who's Ben?\” Xuan Chaya's expression bordered on both confusion and amusement. He had always found Xiao Maiguo's temper amusing.
Xiao Maiguo sighed. \”The guy from the airport.\”
\”You two are on first name basis now?\”
\”First name, my foot. He calls me Mike. My name is Xiao Maiguo. How does Maiguo sound like Mike?\”
Xuan Chaya chuckled. \”Why did you give him your number?\”
\”You.\” Xiao Maiguo threw Xuan Chaya a murderous glare. \”You said I should give him a lift. Then you asked me to give him my number. You said, 'Just do it to make it up to him.'\”
Xuan Chaya shrugged. \”You did kick him in the crotch because you thought he was me. And he was stranded. It was only fair you gave him a lift.\”
\”What does that have to do with me giving him my number?\”
\”Oh! I only suggested that because I thought his persistence was cute.\”
\”Cute? Do you know how many times he called me that night alone? He called me to tell me he had been checked into his room. Then he called me to tell me he had had dinner. Also called to say he was about to go to bed.\”
\”He's into you. What's your problem with him?\”
\”My problem with him is that I'm in a serious relationship. And my boyfriend would misunderstand me if he sees any of his texts or if he notices how many times BEN calls me.\”
\”Oh! I forgot that there are people who go out with one person.\”
\”You fucking dumbass.\” Xiao Maiguo cursed.
\”Don't blame me for all this, you don't have to listen to me all the time.\”
\”Yun Peng is going to arrive any minute now. How do I explain some guy calling me twice every hour?\”
\”Your boyfriend is coming to the dinner?\”
\”No. You'll drop me before we get to the mansion. Then we'll leave together.\”
Xuan Chaya frowned at Xiao Maiguo. \”You told everyone you're on your way.\”
\”That was before I knew he was in Tianjin. Which was honestly when we just got in the car.\”
\”Jeez! My mum would be so upset if she doesn't get to see you. I think, sometimes, she forgets you're not her son.\”
\”Well, you kiss her for me, will you?\”
\”Sure. But you told your parents you're not coming, right?\”
\”No. You have to make up an excuse for me.\”
\”Asshole.\”
\”What asshole? You're about to ruin my relationship. Don't you forget that.\”
\”Hey, if your boyfriend doesn't trust you, don't blame it on me.\”
Xuan Chaya's words hit a nerve, but Xiao Maiguo retained his calm. \”He trusts me.\”
\”Then, just tell him the whole truth.\”
\”Starting from where I kicked a stranger in the nuts?\”
\”Well, you thought he was me.\”
\”That doesn't make it any better. I'm not supposed to be kicking you in the crotch.\”
\”And you just realized that now?\”
\”Fuck, I'm screwed.\” Xiao Maiguo slapped his forehead as he spoke.
\”Hey, chill.\” Xuan Chaya chuckled amusedly. \”Just tell him this-Ben-guy was stranded and you offered him a lift.\”
\”He'll think I'm lying. Yun Peng knows I'm not a nice person. Plus, that doesn't explain how Ben got my number.\”
\”Then... Just switch off your phone whenever you're with him.\”
Xiao Maiguo's face brightened up at the thought. \”That's actually a good idea.\”
\”Great. Can we now talk about my problem that you've been trying to avoid?\”
Xiao Maiguo sent a text from his phone. \”I haven't been avoiding it. Your parents want you to marry my cousin. How's that a problem?\”
\”Maiguo...\” Xuan Chaya let out an exasperated sigh. \”I can't wake up to one face everyday for the rest of my life. The thought of it is driving me crazy. Most especially if that face belongs to a head that has no brain.\”
Xiao Maiguo threw Xuan Chaya a glance.
\”No offence.\” Xuan Chaya added.
Xiao Maiguo shrugged. \”I'm not offended. Xiao Yuexi is quite dull.\”
\”Well then, you understand.\”
Xiao Maiguo furrowed his brows. \”I don't get it. Aunt Charlotte is such a forward thinking person. And she's so modern. How can she support something as obselete as an arranged marriage?\”
\”She doesn't support it. She and my dad had a serious fight about it. But he insisted that she always gets her way with me. So, he has to have his way this time. He really wants me to get married to a Chinese girl opposed to an American one. This new-found patriotism of his is quite frustrating. I could excuse him when he insisted on opening a branch of his company here in China. But the whole marriage thing? Come on...\”
\”So, Aunt Charlotte gave in to him?\”
\”Apparently.\”
Xiao Maiguo nodded his head suddenly. \”I have an idea.\”