Ch. 73 – Crowded Room

Xian called out to them. The woman and child looked at each other again as Xian walked over to shake Tony’s hand.

Xian held his hand out to Derrick too, and Derrick grasped it, willing himself to hold on for a socially acceptable amount of time, and forcing his lips into what was hopefully a reassuring smile. Xian’s eyebrow twitched, but he smiled back, with all the cheerful determination of a used car salesman, before turning back to Tony.

Xian said.

Tony guffawed. Xian’s compliment for Tony was clearly flattery, but Tony was easily flattered. He gestured to the woman and child, who were still standing aside the door, dumbfounded. And staring at Derrick.

It was an all too familiar stare. The mother’s face bunched up in disgust and horror, and the child’s eyes went wide, like he couldn’t believe what he was seeing.

the mother said.

Derrick bit his lip, but he looked back at her, through eyes that were beginning to water. It hurt, but it would be worse if he shied away and showed her how much it hurt. His new face had always caused revulsion, but somehow it was worse this time. Probably because the whole situation was just confusing.

Xian said, turning to the woman and the child.

the woman started.

Xian interjected, waving at the cracked old door with rusted hinges that they’d been trying to open.

The woman opened her mouth several times, before snatching her child’s hand. The child tottered a bit, thrown off balance by the sudden tugging, and wrapped his free arm around the backpack, slung backwards, over the front of his chest.

the woman said, choking out the words.

Xian rubbed his neck.

Tony tapped Xian on the shoulder.

Xian’s eyebrows went comically high as he grinned. he said, pointing at the child, who was still hugging his raggedy little superhero backpack.

Huh? The contact was a kid?

Tony exchanged glances with Derrick. And for the first time, Tony gave Xian the same look that he gave a barkeep when he asked if his whiskey had been watered down.

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Tony stared at Xian, bemused.

Xian says. he added, He nodded at the boy.

<—Just watch> Xian said, before Tony could get in another word.

the mother said, tugging her son behind her as she tried to circle around Xian.

Xian moved out of her way, but whistled, and tutted.

the woman asked.

The woman furrowed her brow.

The woman wavered for a bit, and then let go of her son’s hand.

Xian shrugged his shoulder.

the woman asked.

Xian said.

the woman asked, facing Derrick, but looking at Xian instead.

Xian’s smile was irritatingly nonchalant, as if he didn’t just insult Derrick’s appearance.

The woman’s gaze met with Derrick’s, and she took a half-step backwards, before her foot hit the brick wall of the building that Xian had been trying to unlock. Somehow, Xian, Tony, and Derrick had managed to surround her and the boy in a semi-circle, casting shadows over the both of them.

Derrick cleared his throat, which stung in the cold air. he said, scooting away from the wall.

Tony and Xian, who had been scrutinizing the woman’s face for her reaction, looked at each other and blinked, and then scooted backwards alongside Derrick.

The woman seized the opportunity and took a few steps towards the entrance of the community, still tugging her child along with her, but stopped short just as it seemed she was about to start walking away. the woman said, looking Tony up and down, her face slowly easing up. Tony had dressed up a bit to meet the mystery contact, so he didn’t look like a total slob.

Tony said. Tony had had the time, of course. He’d just chosen to spend it drinking and chasing bargirls. But there was no changing the past now.

The woman’s face flushed, and she bowed her head to Tony, and Derrick as well. She didn’t look that old, but gray hairs poked out among the black ones, all around her scalp.

Tony said, smiling warmly, like he when he was on his best behavior with a patient.

She opened her mouth as if to say something, but looked away instead.>

Tony said, broaching the sudden silence that fallen upon them.

Jane said.

Tony said. He rubbed his belly.

The two of them reminisced about various places and food in Hong Kong, and compared lists of family friends whom they had in common, Jane’s smile growing larger and more genuine throughout the animated conversation. Xian kept his mouth shut, looking at the both of them with a wry smile, and upon seeing Wilbert looking up at him, he rummaged around in his pocket, pulling out a hard candy, which he handed to the boy. Wilbert snuck a glance at his mother, and popped it in his mouth while she wasn’t looking.

The enthusiastic exchange between Jane and Tony had petered out, but their smiles were slow to fade. Jane put her hand on her hips and groaned, like a teenage girl would, when complaining to a friend. The woman looked down at her son, and rubbed his shoulder.