Episode 69 - Not Just Friends

Amari nodded and rubbed a finger against Taitai's cheek. "You're very observant. You should get a prize."

"Yeah?" Taitai tugged eagerly on the front of his sweater. "What kinda prize?"

"I'm not sure. What do you want?"

"I wanna go to the art museum!" The answer was instantaneous, Taitai clearly excited, and Amari raised an eyebrow in Yangyang's direction.

"He means the Children's Museum of the Arts," he said with a knowing chuckle. This was obviously a familiar request. "They have different hands-on exhibits. He likes looking at the art, too."

"That sounds pretty cool. Let's go there then." Amari lifted Taitai higher onto his hip as Yangyang directed him around the corner. "Why'd we pick you up from school, anyway? School hasn't started yet, has it?"

"Not yet, but he goes to summer camp Tuesday through Friday since I have to work." Shifting sideways, Yangyang pushed him closer to the buildings. "Sorry, people are rude."

Amari only smiled and nodded, knowing that well.

"Anyway, I'm trying to give ma more free time. He'll be gone all day during the week when he starts school, and they have before and after school programs. Sometimes Minwoo babysits, or Ziggy and Cate will take him when I have to work nights. I've asked Zhang āyí a couple times too."

Yangyang's voice was tight and his tone made it seem like there was something else going on.

"Your ma doesn't wanna watch him anymore?"

"Ba and nǎinai don't talk a lot," Taitai whispered, or at least attempted to whisper, in his ear. "They had a big fight."

"Oh?" Amari put his hand on the back of Yangyang's shoulder for a moment. "What'd you fight about?"

There was a deep sigh, followed by a few seconds of quiet before he mumbled, "I may have lost my temper, and all of the things I don't say when she lectures may have come out."

"Oh." Amari sighed as well and gave Yangyang a soft pat on the back. "When'd that happen? Why'd you lose your temper?"

"I don't really want to say."

"Then it's because of me." He could have guessed already, and there was no mistaking the tension in Yangyang's voice. He took his hand away, feeling guilty more times than he could count now. "Do you think she's mad at you? Or, do you think it might be something else?"

"What else would it be? I'd be mad." The words were bitter, but underneath, Yangyang sounded like he was wrestling with his own guilt.

"I'm not sure your ma's ever been mad at you." Amari wasn't positive, since his judgements were from voice alone, but he never heard angry. "It always seems like she's a little sad. A little worried. I don't know your family that well, so I can't really say, but she never seemed mad to me."

Yangyang took in a quick breath, then exhaled it out in defeat. "We're both stubborn and don't talk about things, so I don't really know either. We're just not good at communicating."

Amari chuckled and immediately shook his head, not wanting Yangyang to think he found the situation amusing. "I guess you'll just need to start practicing. Smart guy, the one who told me that."

An elbow jabbed him in the side and he groaned dramatically, making Taitai giggle in his ear. He tickled the child in revenge, which only made him giggle more, wriggling in his arms.

"We're here," said Yangyang, his footsteps suddenly halted.

Amari had been too distracted in conversation to pay attention to the trip, something rare for him while walking down the street. Placing Taitai onto his feet, he firmly grabbed his hand. Even with Yangyang at his side, a wave of panic rushed over him knowing they were near the road. Probably sensing his anxiety, Yangyang rubbed his back, then put an arm around his shoulders. The little bell rang as the door opened and Taitai released Amari's hand, running into the store.

"Zhang āyí!" he screamed out, his hurried footsteps stomping across the smooth, tile floor.

"Tiān a, look who it is." Amari barely made out the short figure coming down an aisle and after a few moments, it walked to him, giving him a tight hug. "You were really missed, you know? It isn't nice to disappear on people like that."

"Yeah, I know." She let him go, but kept a comforting hand on his arm. "Āyí, I heard you made some new friends while I was gone."

After a light chuckle, she gave him a squeeze. "I suppose I should thank you for that, a? This boy is much more loyal than you."

Amari smiled, the thought that his family was now Yangyang's family making him feel warm all over. "I know. He's definitely a better son than me."

"You're both wonderful," she cooed lovingly. It was a beautiful sound. "You visit more often than my own children, so that's something."

He gave her another hug. "Is shūshu in the back?" She made a noise to confirm and Amari scratched his head, suddenly nervous. "Uh, can I talk to you two for a minute? In private?" Yangyang grabbed at his shoulder, but he just flashed a half-smile. "It isn't a secret, I just don't want Taitai to hear. I'll talk to them first, then we can talk, okay?"

"Yeah, alright..." Yangyang let his hand drop.

"Yangyang, dear, you and Taitai can watch the register for me, hǎo ma?"

Amari took his aunt's hand and she led him to the back, calling for his uncle, then directed him to a chair. After a few moments of shuffling, she pet him gently on the knee. "Alright. We're listening."

He took a deep breath and cleared his throat. "Shit. I wasn't this nervous with my actual family." Though, I guess I never cared what my actual family thought... After another scratch at his head, he took a second deep breath. "So, about me and Yangyang... We're not really friends. I mean... We're not 'just' friends..."

His voice trailed out, letting the two ponder over the words for a moment. It wasn't the clearest way to tell them, but for maybe the first time in his life, it felt too strange to just say it bluntly.

His uncle cleared his throat, then coughed, showing he understood, but not saying anything in response. His aunt took a few more moments, then let out a slight gasp.

"Děng yīxià, you mean..." She paused again to process. "You two are together? What do they call it? Partners?"

Amari nodded, and the next instant there was a hard slap across his cheek. He hadn't known what to expect, but āyí striking him was definitely furthest from his mind. A hushed "ow" escaped, and he rubbed his cheek and stretched his jaw.

"You mean you are in that kind of relationship, and you just disappeared for three months?!" His aunt had never yelled at him before and combined with the slap, he realized the woman could be somewhat terrifying. "Do you know how worried he was about you? Nǐ zěnme huì... How could you do that to him?"

Amari stared, stunned, at her blurry figure. He had no idea what to say in return. After a short silence, his head tilted in confusion.

"So... you don't care about the relationship? That we're both men?"

"Why would I care about that?" she spit out, her voice still raised in anger. "It's the twenty-first century. Do I think it's a little strange? Yes. Do I understand it? Not really. But honestly, it isn't my place to judge. It certainly explains why your friend came to visit us every week, looking so distressed."

"Āyí is right, Xiao Li." His uncle was calmer, but still stern. "That was a very hurtful thing to do to someone. I'm glad that you are in a relationship, but maybe you aren't that serious?"

Amari snorted an uncontrolled laugh at the absurd question and received a huff from his aunt. "Uh, no, I'm very serious. An 'I'd get married tomorrow' kinda serious. Don't tell him that, though. He scares easily."

He smiled, afraid to appear too happy when his aunt had just been so mad but unable to keep the happiness contained. "I deserved the slap, āyí. You're right. It was a terrible thing to do. But, I'm glad you aren't angry or disgusted with us being together."

"Tiān a..." She sighed, any traces of the fiery aunt gone, and put her hand over his. "Xiao Li. Everything in you lights up when you mention him." Giving his hand a pat, she leaned back into her chair. "Look at you. You're a completely different person from that broken kid we took in off the street. If that's because of him, I don't care who he is."