CHAPTER 1 - MAI DING IS VERY COMMONMai Ding is the type of person who disappears or blends in the crowd. The same routine repeats everyday. He thought of living the life of a superhero who will save the world, but he can"t fly, nor did he have the courage to wear the red briefs on the outside. He imagined living an exciting gunshot and conspiracy life, like "Infernal Affairs" (A 2002 Hong Kong crime thriller film), but nowadays, it is a crime to carry a gun around. He also imagined living a pa.s.sionate romantic love life like in the film "Romance in The Rain", but it is nearly impossible to find a nice woman like Yi Ping (lead actress in the film).
So, at the end of the day, Mai Ding is just an ordinary Mai Ding. He has some low self-esteem but he is not sad. Most of the time in his life, Mai Ding is always smiling and happy.
Mai Ding"s biggest dream is to be an overnight millionaire, so he always buys lottery tickets.
Meanwhile, Mai Ding is troubled over how to pack his own bed. After graduating from high school, Mai Ding was having the time of his life at home for 2 whole years, until his mother could no longer stand seeing him like this, so she threatened to cut off his allowance for buying lottery tickets in order to force him to go study in a university.
University, a place filled with hopes and dreams. In the outside, it is a place where different groups gather in one place, but inside, it is where guys and girls date and know each other more. This is how Mai Ding views universities to be like, very extreme in nature.
Just when Mai Ding was deep in thought, a voice interuppted him, saying,
"You"ll also be staying in Room 502?"
Mai Ding turned around to see this bespectacled guys whose hair is so long that it is nearly covering his eyes and he is carrying loads of luggage while standing opposite him (Mai Ding). That person opened his mouth, saying, "We are roommates from now on, my name is Li Ming."
"Mai Ding." Mai Ding smiled as Li Ming as he instantly observed this about him:
Average looks and a face filled with pimples.
"How old are you?"
"I am already 19."
"I am 17." Actually, Mai Ding is already 20, but he is very shameless to lie, as he is just like a typical woman, very secretive about disclosing his age to people.
"17? You"re so young, yet you are studying in college already?"
"Haha"
Mai Ding"s laughter became a little dry.
Based on Mai Ding"s observation, his new roommate is a closet geek, as he seems to be doing some secretive things on his computer that cannot be known to others. Other than that, he (Li Ming) is rather nice. Hmm, what will my university life be like? Thinking about that, Mai Ding dozed off as he dreamt that he won the lottery and became an overnight millionaire.
This is a good sign--
F— (flash-forward/forward)
Mai Ding checked in to school a few days earlier, so he has no lessons for those days. He went to buy scratch lottery tickets and he was scratching them while walking back to the dorm. It was then, when the silver layer of the ticket is scratched away, that his face turned black as he said, "What the f.u.c.k, man, what was the point of hinting about this to me in my dreams if I won"t win?"
As he said that, he was using the keys to open his room door, and there stood a guy, much taller than Mai Ding, standing outside the door.
"You are a friend of Li Ming"s right? You two were watching those dirty things again right? Not that I want to tell this to you guys, but yesterday, the noise was so loud that I can"t sleep! Why don"t you guys go find a girlfriend? It is not a solution to keep that all in. Watching "those things" may be able to "release", but over-using your hand is bad for your body, my friend!"
Mai Ding tried to insert the key into the keyhole, but it seemed to be impossible.
The guy at the side only stared at Mai Ding and didn"t say anything.
Mai Ding then banged on the door loudly, shouting, "Li Ming! Why did you lock the door! Are you doing something that cannot be seen by others?! Open the door now!"
After this, the door of the next room opened, and Li Ming popped his head out saying, "Mai Ding, why are you shouting nonsense, man?"
Mai Ding"s face changed as he looked at the door number again, 501, he mustn"t been concentrating as he was scratching his lottery tickets. Now, he doesn"t know what to do, since he shouted such a long string of words.
"Haha, cla.s.smate, I was just kidding with you--" Mai Ding tried his best to keep his tone light as he raised his head slowly, to see the guy"s face, and this made his whole speech incomplete.
That guy had a very handsome face, for his sharp facial features gives off a cool aura. His black eyes stared at Mai Ding and his lips were slightly curved upwards... If not for Mai Ding"s good control, he would"ve gone up and give him a kiss.
"Looking like that, he"s definitely asking for trouble...", Mai Ding thought, as he rushed back to his room.
***
The next day, Mai Ding learned that the guy"s name is An Zi Yan. Mai Ding"s observations were very accurate, word of An Zi Yan"s handsome looks started spreading across the whole school, where, not just girls of the same year run over to see him, but also senior girls as well. But, An Zi Yan is very cold towards them, and that made Mai Ding think that the colder he (An Zi Yan) is to the girls, the more they wanted to get to know him, but in Mai Ding"s case, the friendlier he is, no girl would even show half a smile to him.
Soon enough, everyone knew about An Zi Yan, but no one wanted to know this person named Mai Ding.
On the same day, Li Ming secretly went back into the room and looked eerily at Mai Ding, which made him feel rather uncomfortable.
"Mai Ding, Can you do me a favor?"
"Why do I have to help you?"
Li Ming gave a very convincing condition for Mai Ding to help: "If you help me, these 20 lottery tickets will all be yours."
Mai Ding"s eyes immediately shined as he said, "What should I do?"
"Actually, it is very simple. Help me by asking An Zi Yan if he likes guys or girls."
Actually, Li Ming is being bugged by a few of his girl friends, because An Zi Yan has rejected quite a lot of girls, even though the semester started only a few days ago, so, everyone suspects that he likes guys instead. Everytime Li Ming sees An Zi Yan"s cold face, he will have cold feet, so he pa.s.sed this responsibility to Mai Ding.
"Just that simple?"
Mai Ding just has to ask one simple question and he will get 20 lottery tickets, he must be d.a.m.n lucky to have such a good deal.
"I already told you, it is that simple."
Mai Ding couldn"t wait as he open the door and coincidentally, he saw An Zi Yan, who is on his way back to his room.
"Hey cla.s.smate, can you give me a moment?" Mai Ding called out to An Zi Yan.
An Zi Yan turned back to look at Mai Ding as he mumbled and stuttered a little saying, "Umm, I have something to ask you."
"Mhm?"
"Do you like guys?"
Regarding the straightforward way of asking this questions, Li Ming is breaking a cold sweat for Mai Ding, this idiot. An Zi Yan only frowned at Mai Ding as he had no intention to answer such an idiotic question.
Mai Ding suddenly realized that asking such as question is not really that appropriate, as he feared that An Ziyan might misunderstand, so he immediately added his statement, saying, "Don"t think too much, I don"t like you, but someone asked me to ask you."
"I didn"t say anything." Because of Mai Ding"s honesty, An Ziyan wanted to laugh.
"So, do you like girls or guys?" Mai Ding is starting to be a little impatient and anxious.
Seeing Mai Ding so anxious, An Zi Yan changed his mind as he moved towards the side of Mai Ding"s ears and whispered, "Guys, girls, I do both."
The air breathed out by An Zi Yan made Mai Ding"s ears itchy, but this seductive sentence is still successful in bringing out the flushing face of Mai Ding. An Zi Yan then took out his key to open his room door, but Mai Ding held onto it as this time, is out of curiousity. He lowered his volume and ask, "Why do you like guys?"
An Zi Yan didn"t say anything as he was about to close the door, when Mai Ding used his hand to stop it and say, "Is it because when you take off all the guy"s clothes and realize that you have the same organs as him, you feel a sense of familiarity, is that why you like guys?" Mai Ding always had this idea towards why h.o.m.os.e.xuals like each other, and this time he finally has the chance to ask it.
"Are you an idiot?" An Zi Yan pushed his head out and slams the door on him.
But Mai Ding refused to give up as he took An Zi Yan"s line for real and he is a very curious man. Very curious that it is itching his heart. Both guys and girls? Isn"t that only in movies where there are bis.e.xuals? He pastes his head on the door saying, "An Zi Yan, your taste is hardcore."
An Zi Yan couldn"t resist but give off a light laugh in his room.
Just like that, Mai Ding has a new found respect and curiousity towards An Zi Yan.
But Mai Ding"s dreams have come true, even if he didn"t know. Mai Ding did win the top prize: An Zi Yan remembering him.
----
To be continued...