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03 | The Little Mermaid - Part 2
publish date:
2020-10-02 18:39:06‘What do you say about crossing the sea?’
‘Aye, aye, Captain!’
Her laugh joined her father’s. Meiying knew how ridiculous she must be doing that chant at her age but she would gladly follow her father’s game for as long as it made him happy. Ever since she was a kid, her father would call himself Captain Hook while Meiying was a Princess Mermaid. A lot of times, she habitually saluted when replying to her father, inviting ridiculing glances from people around her.
‘How’s my Niuniu doing? Have you eaten?’ asked her father’s throaty but cheerful voice on the other side. She rolled her eyes at her father’s endearing name for her. She felt too old to be called with that name.
‘I just ate, Pa. How about you?’Meiying shoved her other hand into her pocket as she walked to the vacant spot near the coffee shop so she wouldn’t block people from passing in the small alley. The large window allowed her to see through the warm exchange between a young couple who was throwing jokes to each other.
Although she was fine with her single life, sometimes she could wish for a soul mate. Someone who would stay by her side, a person with whom she’d spend eternity simply because they wanted to be together.
‘I just ate Misua and it reminds me of you.’
‘Well, funny thing that I just ate the same thing.’ Her father laughed at the phone. ‘Maybe our belly was connected as well as our blood.’
‘Yeah . . . It did, Niuniu. Anyway—’ there was a pause but before Meiying said anything, her father continued, ‘—do you think you can go home for Qingming this week?’
‘Of course, Pa. I will ride the bus after work. No, no! You don’t have to come to the station! I know my way back home, okay?’ Her father sighed at the other side of the line because she cut him before he got to say anything about picking her up. She wouldn’t have the heart to allow her father to went on so much trouble with his leg problem.
‘Okay. I’ll cook Mama’s favourite steamed fish and your favourite fried prawns. I’ll see you this weekend then, Niuniu.’
‘I can’t wait. I’ll see you when I see you. Love you, Pa.’
‘Love you too, my Princess Mermaid.’
The thought of going home that weekend made her dance with excitement. Meiying continued her walk to her apartment that wasn’t too far from the hospital she was working in. The area was peaceful; the air was clear because it was located in the mountain. The cold wind that hit her face was so refreshing and comfortable like the touch of a mother.
She was living the perfect life she ever dreamt of but somehow, something felt off. Maybe she became bored because everything was too perfect, wondering if her family’s absence was the reason.
Various shops from convenience stores, lunchbox stalls, bakery, and many things that would ensure that Meiying would always be loaded with foods, were lining up just across the hospital. The area was usually loaded with people who wanted to visit or buying gifts or souvenirs for the patients.
Her house located just a hundred steps away from the hospital, just behind the lunchbox stalls that saved her life at the beginning of her career. The owner smiled as Meiying walked past her store and offer a fried chicken steak for dinner, but Meiying rubbed her stomach, telling the owner that she was stuffed in motion, then said, ‘Thank you.’
Turning on the light to her apartment, she scooted towards her comfortable white couch and let herself sink into it. She inhaled the comforting peach aromatherapy she put in her apartment, relaxing her eyes as she enjoyed the white and blue themed interior that soothed her inner soul. Fixing the position of dolphin crystal on her table, she looked around her room to see her various collection of sea-themed crystal, snowballs, and seashells. People often called her sea-freak because she always found anything related to the sea fascinating.
Her tensed muscle started to loosen a little that her eyes started to flutter comfortable in sleep. But no matter how she wanted to go straight to bed, she had to feed Lady D, her pearl-coloured Asian Arowana that was given by one of her patients.
‘Hey there, Lady D!’ Meiying greeted the fish as she poured some pellets into the aquarium. Lady D gracefully danced around the aquarium, as if it was her way to say thank you before heading to the surface to eat. ‘Yeah, you’re welcome, Pretty Lady. I’m sorry I can’t talk with you too much lately.’ Meiying sighed, placing her forefinger on the glass where Lady D was heading.‘I have to get up early for surgery tomorrow, so I’ll make up for you next time, okay?’Meiying blew a kiss towards the fish.
While waiting for her bathtub to fill up, Meiying did a little cleaning around her apartment while turning on the television. She turned around when she heard a melancholic song and saw the opening of the trending drama titled ‘Eyes of the Ocean’ being played. Xiulin was a big fan of the drama but Meiying only knew the synopsis and nothing else, although she loved the opening song and the sea-themed exploration.
The hot water and cherry blossom bath salt really helped to wash away her wariness. Her tensed muscle started to loosen a little that her eyes started to flutter comfortable in sleep. Meiying let out an exhilarating sigh every now and then while enjoying Elva Hsiao’s songs she repeatedly played on her phone.
‘I could live like this forever . . .’
Though she still strived to climb for the best level of her career, Meiying was satisfied with everything in her life. She had a loving family, a good career, and good earning. She wished nothing more than what she already had.
Meiying checked her phone and smile upon seeing the picture a nun who helped her manage the Star of Hope Foundation sent her a crayon picture of her with ‘Thank you Doctor Tsai’ scribbled on the top.
Sitting down on her dressing table, Meiying took the brown-coloured lens off from her left eye, revealing the blue eye she hid since she was able to wear a contact lens. The colour of her eyes had given her a few troubles back when she was a kid, which was why she decided to hide it.
Sighing at the memory from the past, Meiying plopped herself on the bed, letting her shoulder-length hair sprawled around her pillow. The call from her bed became too much that it didn’t need long for her to close her eyes and slept through a dreamless night.
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author's note
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Niuniu [妞妞] is an endearing name for daughter.
Qingming Festival [清明節] is also known as Tomb-Sweeping Day, sometimes also called as Ancestors' Day. During Qingming, families visit the tomb of their ancestors to clean the gravesites, pray for their ancestors, and make ritual offerings. Offerings would typically include Chinese dishes, and the burning of joss sticks and joss paper.
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