#15

After a romantic dinner in a small cozy restaurant, where we ate steak with potatoes, gravy and vegetables, we went to the cinema. It was a movie premiere and therefore the tickets had been quite expensive.

When we entered the cinema hall and went to our seats, I automatically thought of all the things you can do in the cinema as soon as the lights go out and the movie starts.

Now I know that none of that is possible with Yibo. Because as soon as the movie started, Yibo fell asleep. Sure it was a long exhausting and exciting day. But really? Fall asleep in the cinema?

I watched Yibo as he slept and just thought, great, I'm tired too, I want to sleep too. I'd like to be at home in bed right now, and instead I'm sitting here with you, and instead of watching the movie, I'm watching you. Can it get any sadder? Yes well OK, I thought it was sad, but of course it could be sadder.

The movie had come to an end and right on time, Yibo woke up. I could only shake my head. I then drove us home, because Yibo was still half asleep and was freezing terribly.

When we got home, Yibo gave me a kiss, apologized to me for falling asleep and then went to his room and to bed. I actually wanted to go to sleep right away too, but then thought I might check my email again. And this time I had an answer from my sister.

She wrote me the outstanding amount and also added that she would be happy if I could help her, however she didn't write me her account number with it and instead asked me if I could meet with her tomorrow afternoon. She asked me to give her cash. I hope she actually uses it then to pay off the debt. Because it will cost me all my savings.

I am looking forward to seeing her again. Especially because she wrote she's bringing her sons. It's just a shame that I won't be able to make it to Mia's tomorrow then. At least not right after work. At the moment I don't know how much time my sister has. It could be that she just takes the money and disappears right away.

*~*~*

I was just talking to Yibo and his father at breakfast about my sister and the fact that I want to give her my money. Both of them immediately said that they are very skeptical and don't think it's good that I want to give her all my savings and then also as cash. "Finally, you have to know it yourself, she is your sister. But I'd be careful if I were you. Besides, it's weird too, isn't it? I mean, if her in-laws and husband don't want you to have contact, how is she going to explain where the money came from? And how come she suddenly found a way so fast and can meet you tomorrow? I don't want to accuse her of anything, but Zhan, please think about it." Said Yibo's father.

And I thought about it. Very thoroughly, in fact. Even when we were at work, I thought back and forth. Finally, I decided to give her only half of my money. So I went to the bank at noon and withdrew the money. I will give it to her this afternoon and hope she really uses it for the debt. If so, then I can give her the rest of the money some other time.

*~*~*

Yibo seems to trust my sister even less than I do. Because he decided to accompany me. He called his mother to let her know that we will be a little late to visit Mia. Mia immediately took the opportunity to make a few more requests. Her favorite ice cream, a teddy bear, and sweet tea. Her list would certainly have been even longer if Yibo's mother hadn't taken the cell phone from her again to tell Yibo to please bring her a coffee from Starbucks. To be exact, an Americano. According to her, the coffee at the hospital is undrinkable.

Although I was now also feeling great skepticism about my sister and the money, I was still very excited and looking forward to seeing her. And, for the very first time, my two nephews.

When we arrived at the agreed upon meeting place, a playground in the park, my sister was already sitting there waiting for us. She had the youngest son sitting on her lap, and the older one was playing in the snow. I immediately saw that the two of them were coming after their father.

My sister looked less than thrilled that I was not alone there. But she said nothing, instead coolly extending her hand to Yibo to introduce herself.

After a bit of small talk like, how are you, did you get here okay and such trivial things, I handed her the envelope with the money and said that it was enough for half of the debt. She didn't look happy, but she said that it will definitely help her.

She pretended that everything was fine and that she really wanted to pass the money to her in-laws. But she didn't expect her oldest son, who told Yibo that he, his mom, and his little brother were going on a long trip.

Of course, I immediately confronted my sister and asked if she wanted to use the money to run away with the kids. She was silent for a moment, a moment too long for my taste, and finally nodded. "Yes, I want to get as far away as possible with the kids. I can't stand it in this marriage anymore. This constant control in everything I do. My husband who is hardly ever at home because he has a mistress and neither would he have any interest in his sons."

Tasteless it became for me when she talked again about our parents and again labeled me as my father's favorite child. I immediately felt attacked by this again and wondered if she still thinks that she didn't get enough attention. Maybe I should remind her who got all the attention and why?

"With Dad, you would have always thought he only had one child. He always just praised his ZhanZhan. And he didn't even have to do anything for it other than have good grades. My sons, even the youngest, are always trying to get their dad's attention and he doesn't give it to them." She said, to be more specific.

It really made me very angry and I replied, "Have you forgotten who really claimed our father's full attention and whenever he came home? How you started picking fights with him every day at breakfast, so that he did nothing else the whole day but try to make you more forgiving again?" I asked her.

"It wasn't like that." She replied and I laughed bitterly.

"Oh no? Remember when Dad had two weeks off and came home? He came into the house and greeted me cheerfully. Then he said he was going to take me to the little island for a whole week and it would be just him and me there, and he would be there exclusively for me. It would have been the first time ever. But you immediately got angry and started yelling about how unfair that was. You accused dad of loving only me. And even when he tried to explain to you that he had never done anything with me, all alone, it wasn't enough for you. You ran to your room, locked the door, secretly packed your bag and left in the night. And while you were having fun with your friend at her parents' summer house for two whole weeks, Dad was looking for you every day from morning till night. On his last day of vacation, you came home as if nothing had happened and even asked, laughing, how my vacation with Dad was."

My sister looked at me thoughtfully and said, "Zhan, I was in the middle of puberty and that's how it is between siblings."

At that moment, Yibo took my hand, intertwined our fingers and said, "That's not true. My brother and I always had a very harmonious relationship. He helped me, protected me, took me everywhere with him and would never have spoken badly about me or been unjustly jealous of me. He and I got the same love and attention from our parents and never did either of us demand more just because we were going through puberty. Oh my, ZhanGe, I hope when we might have a second child later, that our children won't turn out like you and your sister."

I stared at Yibo and was speechless. My sister looked back and forth between Yibo and me as I sat there frozen, asking, "You're a couple and you have a child?"

Yibo, completely free of any worries said, "Yes, we are a couple and have a daughter, her name is Mia. Yes, she has a name. Your sons apparently don't, because you just said this is the big one and this is the little one. Which, if I may say so, is very obvious. And you're worried because your husband has no interest in your sons, yet you don't even seem to know their names."

I don't know why Yibo got so angry when he spoke. Maybe because he is a father himself. And I wondered when in the past few days, Yibo's daughter also became my daughter? And how far do his plans already reach with us?

Then I remembered that I wanted to ask him yesterday what exactly his mother knows about him and me. I had completely forgotten about it. Well, better I don't forget today.

"Is it really true about you guys Zhan?" My sister asked me.

Since Mia has already grown very close to my heart, even if it's only a few days, and I also don't plan to separate from Yibo again anytime soon, because just the thought of it hurts me, I said to my sister, "Yibo and I are together, and yes, there is Mia. She is a bright sweet girl and absolutely lovely. She loves to make up stories and is actually very creative."

Funny that I know more about Mia than I do about my nephews. And it's also funny that I don't mind saying that Yibo and I are a couple. Have I already gotten so used to the fact of being in love with a man, and so I don't mind anymore? Even after only such a few days?

The look Yibo had when I confirmed our relationship and also Mia, was indescribable. At that moment, I think I fell in love with him for the second time in one week. That loving look, that relieved and love in his eyes, I was blown away.

"So you like men?" My sister asked me, with an undertone that I didn't like at all.

But thanks to Yibo, it didn't bother me a bit. I stroked his hand with mine and said, "I'm not into men. I only like Yibo. And we should go now, too. Because our little Mia is in the hospital and she's expecting our visit. Do whatever you want with the money. I just think running away would be the wrong thing to do. Settle your problems with him like an adult, even for your sons."

And before she could say anything else, Yibo and I got up from that freezing cold bench and walked back to the car. As soon as we sat in the car, Yibo stroked a strand of my hair to the side, kissed me, and said, "I couldn't be happier right now ZhanGe. I love you and I am so grateful that you came into my life."

His words touched me so much inside that I was almost in tears. A week ago, I was just an agent looking forward to working with local hero Detective Wang Yibo of Homicide. Today, I am, Wang Yibo's boyfriend, maybe future daddy of Mia and the luckiest agent ever. I smiled, gave Yibo two kisses and replied, "I love you too Wang Yibo."