The bus ride to Joreen"s school was even quieter. The little talks made by any of them to make it less awkward was futile. This was Joreen"s graduation and so, they had to make her happy at the very least.
"Jo, you have to smile. You can"t look like this today" Sara nudged.
Joreen faked a smile at her before she turned to fiddle with her schoolbag again.
Sara sighed. This was all her fault. Everything was. But what was she supposed to do?
When they got to her school, the first person they saw was Miss Kang.
In her usual cheerful tone, she welcomed them. "I am really glad to see you here"
She said to them all but it was obvious she was referring to Jianjun who looked totally inattentive.
"Glad to see you too Miss w.a.n.g. You look stunning by the way" Sara complimented
"Oh dear" She playfully hit Sara"s arm. She snuck a glance at Jianjun but he seemed to be lost in thought. Poor her.
"h.e.l.lo little pie" She crouched down to meet Joreen"s height and pinched her cheeks lightly. "Why the sullen look? Aren"t you happy?" She asked.
"I am okay. Thank you" Joreen replied casually.
Miss Kang took note of the cold air around them. She was about to ask questions before she heard a feminine voice behind her "My favourites" The person called.
They were all surprised to see her. Joreen looked even stupefied, when she registered the person was real, she dashed towards her and wrapped her arms around her in an embrace. "Mum!" Only a few seconds before tears began to stream down her face.
Cixi w.a.n.g smiled and bent down to hug her fully. "I missed you darling"
"I missed you. Why didn"t you tell me you were coming?" Joreen said between tears.
Sara had a big smile on her face. It was really a pleasant surprise seeing Aunt Cixi around. Jianjun was pleased also.
"Aunt!" Sara also joined the embrace. "Why didn"t you call us? Do you know how worried we were?"
When they broke free from the hug, she looked at Jianjun who was smiling at all of them. "h.e.l.lo brother" She said in a perfect English accent. She also greeted Miss Kang who gave her a warm smile in return.
"Alright Jo, stop crying. Mummy is here. How could I ever miss my baby"s graduation?"
"How have you been?" Jianjun asked her after they took their seats in the hall. Cixi sat in the middle while they both sat down beside her. Joreen had gone to join her cla.s.smates.
"Long story I"m sorry for worrying you all. The last one month was a disaster. I tell you" She turned to look at Sara.
"You look prettier than the last time. I can see Jinyong is treating you well."
Sara literally laughed out. Where has this woman been?
"Is....is that true?" Hoy"s mother was the first to ask in unbelieve.
"Nothing is going on between Sara and I. She is just a friend." He said in his usual aloof tone.
"Ah!" Li Sun scoffed. "Did I mention any name?" She threw the question at them all.
Everyone of them was surprised at this revelation. When did Hoy and Sara become friends? Heya asked herself.
"Sara..? You mean.., Heya"s coach?" Dana asked. Fazhan was also taken aback. What was actually going on?
Muchen ignored. His grandmother was obviously back with her trouble.
"It"s not true right?" Hoy"s mother asked in shock. "You like the same woman your cousin likes? And she is Heya"s coach?" This time, she looked at Muchen. Hoy"s father, Li Han said nothing and just watched all of them.
Hoy knew he had fallen into the trap his grandmother had set. She was right. She didn"t mention any name. "Sara is my friend and Heya"s coach. That"s all" He said plainly.
Sun smirked. "I didn"t come here to bother about your private lives—" Everyone rolled their eyes to that (including me).. "I"m here to set some things right and put things in order before I travel back." She looked at Heya"s direction and declared "You"ll move back into your parent"s house"
Heya shook her head and looked back and forth between her parents, and then, at Muchen. She didn"t want to go back. Never!
She was about to decline when she heard Muchen"s voice. "Heya is with me."
Sun tried as much as possible to not blow up at him. "Heya is a woman and she needs to stay with her parents"
"I....I am...an adult... and... I am fit..to decide where I want to stay" Heya stammered before Muchen could say anything else. She didn"t want him to continue being on their grandmother"s bad side. Else, it might be bad for him.
"Oh my dear" Sun said with a smile. "You deserve to stay with your parents. You"ll also like your new coach. I a.s.sure you that"
Muchen laughed when he heard the last part. New coach? Even Heya"s eyes bulged out.
Hoy and Minde stayed out of it. They knew it was not their business. In as much as Minde didn"t like Sara too much. He still felt his grandmother was crossing the line.
"Mother" Muchen looked at Dana. "You gave Sara your word. You promised you would let her remain as Heya"s coach if she could prove herself. She did that already. Do you think it makes sense for her to be fired now?"
Dana said nothing and only adjusted uncomfortably as she looked at Sun.
"Your mother gave her her word. Not me! Did she ever prove herself to me?"
"She is done doing so!" He blew up. "She can"t keep proving herself to all of you just because she works for me. I won"t let you all subject her to that point."
Sun closed her eyes, inhaled deeply and opened it again. "She wouldn"t have to be proving herself if you hadn"t fallen for her." She pointed a hand at him and spoke in the gentlest tone as possible. "It was your fault Li Muchen"