(ch.14)

Chin was getting into the dress Lai has prepared her with a gloomy expression. A knock as at her door, "Chin are you already, we have to leave soon."

She answered "I'm almost done," in a quiet voice.

"Ok," she quickly grabbed her brush and brushed her hair. She spotted Xaing waiting for her at the apartment door. He said "Come on, let's go. They are all already at the location," in a calm voice as he opened the door for her. She nodded and went through the door as he follow behind.

When they got to the courtyard, they saw that her brothers were and Zhe was already there, doing things. Chin and Xaing went to help them. Lai, Jinyu, and Chin were by their mom's casket, placing fruits, flowers, and candles in their mom's casket and quietly sobbing. Zhe and Xaing sitting in chairs. They waited for a few minutes for them to place the things in the casket.

Shortly, Chin's friends came and their extended family came, they sat down in the chairs. Wuisms started to chant some prayer for their mom as they were burning joss paper and prayer money. They bowed 3 times after they burned their fair of paper, then they stood beside the casket as the other got up. Lai, Chin, and Jinyu handed some joss paper and prayer money to each guest. The guests bowed 3 times after burning papers. When the wuisms were done chatting, two wuisms covered the casket with a yellow and white holy paper as the family looked away.

A wuism quietly said, "You guys may bring her into the hole." Everyone got up to help put the deceased into the hole. As they fill up the hole, wuisms chant more prayers for the mom. Once they were done, everyone thanked the wuisms, then the wuisms left. The guests went up to the three siblings. Their aunties and uncles went to them and said "I'm sorry for our loss and sorry we can't stay long, here." They each handed a white money envelope to Lai as he thanked them. Chin's friends gave all three siblings a sad expression, noted "We're sorry for your loss," as they gave white money envelopes. Once all of the guests left, they stood in front of their mom's grave.

Lai asked "Chin and Xaing, aren't you guys late for the concert," in a confused tone.

Xaing answered "Yes, the concert starts in 40 minutes," in a calm tone.

Lai said "What are you guys still doing here? You guys should get going."

Chin asked, "Are you sure?" He nodded, she sobbed, "Ok, we'll be going and please watch the concert, it starts at 9:30," with a quiet voice as they left.

As Xaing was driving, Chin mumbled "My eyes are so puffy. What am I going to do," with a frustrated tone.

"Here," Xaing said as he gave her a pair of sunglasses. He added "One of the stylists will help you with your puffy eyes," in a calm voice. She quietly hummed while nodding. Chin and Xaing were jogging in, Xaing said "Sor- sorry we're- la- late," out of breath. Mr. Zhao roared "Where were you guys?" in an extremely angry tone as almost everyone was startled at the person Mr. Zhao turned into. He just sighed and added "Just go get ready. And Chin, why are you wearing shades, it's quite dark here," trying to calm down.

Chin said "Oh it's because my eyes are kinda red and I ran out of eye drops so I just need a drop of eye drop then my eye should be fine," in a calm tone as she turns back to look at him.

"Ok, now let's get going," he said, clapping his hands, all of the backup dancers when into one of the changing rooms to do their makeup as Xaing followed them. Chin was going toward the other changing room, Shu-hui asked "Chin, why are you going that way?" Before she can answer, Xaing told him that Chin wasn't feeling good so she wants to go into the other to have more space, then Shu-hui just nodded his head while Chin just went into the other room.

Chin sat in one of the chairs as she put her bag next to her, she leaned her head back as she sighed in a stressful way. Someone asked "Are you ok? Don't be so down, it's your birthday today," in a worried tone as Chin turned around. It was just Dong-mei, "Um, yeah," Chin answered in a hesitant tone. She asked, "Then why are you wearing shades inside?"

"Because my eyes are kinda red so I want to hide them and I want space to myself for a bit," she told Dong-mei. Dong-mei left the room as Chin just sat back down, she came back after a minute, she said "Ok, let's get you ready. Go put this on, then come back and we'll deal with your eyes and makeup," as she gave Chin an outfit, Chin went to change.

Chin came out with the shades still on, Dong-mei told her to sit in one of the chairs that are in front of mirrors, she told Chin to take off her shades but she refused so after a few times, she had to force them off. When she got them off, she saw that Chin's eyes were puffy and a little bit red, Dong-mei asked "Why are your eyes puffy? Were you crying before you came here, is that the reason you were wearing shades to cover up that you were crying?" in a concerned tone as Chin saw the concern on her face.

Chin nodded and told her "I just came from a funeral, it doesn't help everyone seems really busy for my birthday. That's why I was wearing shades," in a sad tone.

"Sorry for your loss. If you don't mind, may I know who passed," in a soft tone? Chin held out her pinky and said "As long as you promise that you won't tell other people." Dong-mei link her pinky with hers and said "Mmm," as she nodded. Chin revealed "It was my mom's funeral, she died of an illness," in a quiet tone as tears start to build in her eyes.

Dong-mei grabbed a tissue box and gave it to her, she said "I am so sorry you're having to go through this at such a young age," in a sincere tone as Chin was wiping her tears with a tissue. She added, "I'll give you a few minutes to calm down," but Chin insisted that she's going to be fine but she just want Dong-mei to make her eyes look less puffy.

She told Chin to go wash her face with cold water so she went to do that while Dong-mei went to get a cold water bottle, two ice cubes, a washcloth, and eye drops. She told Chin to rub the ice cubes on her puffy eyes after the ice cubes melted and Chin dried her eyes with the washcloth. When she looked in the mirror, she saw her eyes were still a little bit puffy but no one would notice, Dong-mei tilt her head back to put in eye drops, then a little bit of makeup to make her look nicer. She had Chin drink water to hydrate, they left to meet with the other.

When Mr. Zhao saw them, he asked "What took you guys so long? The concert is going to start in 20 minutes," in an upset tone as he frowned. Dong-mei told him that they had a small problem getting ready, he sighed but he shouted "Is everyone ready!? Xaing, you have your headset microphone on & ear monitors connected to the transmitter," as he saw Xaing put a thumb up while backup dancers nodded. Before they had to go on stage, they put their hand on top of each other and shouted "Fighting!" then they went on stage and soon started to perform.

After they performed, Chin and the other backup dancer got off stage as Xaing was still on stage. Xaing Spoked in a mic, "Hello my lovely CheerfulAngels, how is everyone?"

His fans shouted "Good, what about you?" with a cheerful tone.

Xaing slightly chuckled and answered "I'm doing well since I get to see all of you guys tonight," with a smile on his face. His fans cheer for him when they quiet them down, Xaing noted "For the last song before this night ends, I will sing a song that I made for my beautiful fans that I haven't released." His fans scream with in excitement, then music started as Xaing got ready to sing.

"Thank you for coming to my concert!!! I hope to see you guys again soon," as he was walking backstage, waving to his fans with a smile. When he was out of his fans sight, he fell on the ground, hyperventilating. Staffs immediately ran to help him as one put a breathing mask over his mouth and nose to help him breath. Chin stood behind the crowd with worry.

After 25 minutes, Xaing was breathing as normal as staffs helped him to a back room. Mr. Zhao shouted "Everyone please change into your clothes and you may leave after," then he follows into the room Xaing was in. Chin to change and when into the room that Xaing was in.

"Xaing, are you okay," she asked. He nodded as he stood up from sitting, "Come on, let's go home," in a calm voice.

"Are you sure you can drive? I can drive you guys home," Mr. Zhao utter. Xaing nodded as he grabbed his bag and walked out the door, waving to him. Xaing noted "Don't tell anyone about earlier," she nodded. When they got home, Xaing dropped on the couch as he mumbled "Chin, can you put my bag on my bed?"

Chin answered "Sure," as she got his bag and dropped it off in his room. Chin went into her room to grab things and went to the bathroom to do her nightly routine. Lai called her, "Chin, you guys did so good. I love the concert. By the way, happy birthday, sorry we can't celebrate your birthday today," in an ecstatic voice but the last sentence in an apologize pitch.

Chin smiled, "Thank you and it's ok, we can celebrate my birthday next year, brother."

Lai hummed and then "How is Xaing? How was it after the concert," he asked in a curious tone.

Chin answered "Xaing is on the couch. Everything was okay after the concert," as she was looking in a mirror to apply her face creams.

"That's good. Anyways I have to go now, bye-bye," then he hung up. Chin went to the kitchen to make some cup noodles. She was about to eat her food when she saw Xaing snoring on the couch. Chin cover him will a blanket that she saw on the couch before eating her noodles.

Chin just fell asleep when she heard her phone ring, "Hello?"

A male voice said "Were you sleeping," with curiosity.

She answered "No, I was just walking my pet fish in the middle of the night," with a sarcastic tone.

He giggled, "That's impossible," in a disbelief tone.

"If you know I was sleeping, why are you calling me?"

"Cause I'm bored and I'm not tired," in an innocent tone.

Chin sightly shouted, "Well then go bother someone that isn't sleeping."

She was about to hang up, but he screamed: "Wait! How is Xaing?"

She mumbles "He's okay now," in a sleepy tone.

He asked "What about you? What did you think of the concert?" There was no reply, "Chin?" then he heard quiet snoring. The guys whispered "Sweet dreams" and hung up. Chin woke up around 5 am from a call from Lai. "Why are you calling me so early," she mumbled in a confused voice.

He gigled from the other side and answered "No reason. I just wanted bother you and remember you have school. Ok, bye!" He hung up before she could say anything, she sighed as closed her eyes. Chin tried to go back to sleep but couldn't, so she went to do her morning routine. When it was almost tome for her to leave, she grabbed an apple and quickly ran out the door.

As Chin got into Xaing's car, she looked upset so he asked "What's wrong? Did you have a bad day or did something happened," in a curious tone as he started to drive off.

"It's nothing, it's just my test score is bad, Lai will be upset and probably lecture me," she said in a soft tone.

Xaing asked, "What is your score?"

Chin quietly says "15 out of 32."

Xaing giggled a bit, he saw Chin glare at him, he said " Ah, ah, how about this, I buy you something," in a cheerful tone. "Here" as he handed her, her brown sugar milk tea, drove home as she was drinking her milk tea. Once they got back to his apartment, Xaing said "Chin, I have to go back to work so if you need anything, it should be here," in a calm tone, then he left.

Chin changed out her school uniform into a plain, midi, pinafore dress with a baggy white t-shirt underneath. While she was changing, she saw blood, that when she realized that it was the time of the month, Chin took her last sanitary napkin. She went to the bathroom to check if there's enough to last her for a week. There was none, she assumes that Yu took the whole bag with her, so asked Lai for a bit of money, he sent her $20, combine hers's and his, she'll have $40. She went to go get her small, black, crossbody purse and left.

As she was walking back home while drinking warm, sweet ginger tea, she notices two guys heading towards her, she moves out of their way but they moved to the same side as her. One of the guys said "Hey, pretty, where are you going," with a flirty tone as they block her way.

She said "None of your business," with an annoyed tone as she moved out of their way, then walked away. They followed her, again, they blocked her way, "You're a feisty one. Come on we won't do anything to you, we just want to hang out with you," in an innocent tone as he grabs her by her chin.

Chin whacked his hand away, she replied "Don't touch me. I don't want to hang out with a bunch of idiots," with a nasty tone as she pushed them, making way so she can walk away. The guys laughed in annoyance, they stopped her and one of the guys asked "Did you just called us, idiots? That's it, we tried to be friendly with you, I guess we'll just force you to come with us," with a nasty voice as he and the other guy started to drag her with them.

She yelled "I can walk, no need to drag me," as she made them take their hands off her. She continues walking with them, without thinking she kicked one of them on their groin and ran as fast as she can. As she was running, she felt a cloth on her mouth and nose, then everything went black. By the time she woke it was nighttime, she checked and it was around 10 pm, she could hear people mumbling outside of her room, she quietly came out even though her legs felt like jelly. She saw Lai, Jinyu, Bojing, and Zhe sitting on the couch, discussing something, then Lai asked "Bojing, what is that bag," in a curious tone as he pointed at the bag.

Bojing looked at it and said "I don't know, it Chin's but by the looks of it just snacks and sweets," in a calm tone.

Chin thought her brothers would just take the bag but to her surprise, Jingyu suggested "Let's see what she bought," in an excited tone as he took the bag from Bojing. Just as he was going to take things out, Chin shouted "Stop!!"

They all turn to her, she quickly walked to get her bag, as she was walking away, Lai asked "What are you hiding in that bag," in a curious tone.

She turns to them and answers "Nothing, it just like Bojing said and something else that you guys shouldn't know about," with an annoyed tone.

Lai said "Come on, it's probably just makeup or something like it, just show us. Plus I kinda want to see what you got," in a joyful tone with an innocent smile, she shook her head, no. Her brothers started to beg her like little kids begging their mom for something, eventually, she tired of them whining. She sat next to Lai and said "Ok, ok, I'll show guys, just be quiet. You guys have to promise not to grossed out," with an annoyed tone as they nodded. They saw that she got chips, chocolate, crackers, noodles, and a box of ginger tea, she said "There, that's all."

Jinyu asked "No, what is that," as he points at something that was still in the bag.

Chin told him "It's nothing important," in a nervous tone as moved the bag out of sight.

Lai sarcastically gasp and said "Chin, did you buy new clothes? Is that why you asked me for money," in an upset tone as he leaned towards her. Before she can say anything he pins her and told "Jinyu, get the bag, hurry up, hurry," in an urgent tone as Jinyu went to get the plastic bag, Chin begins to kick.

He took out whatever was in the bag, that all looked at the thing Jinyu took out, he asked "What is this? You guys know what this is," in a confused tone, both of them shook their heads. He read "Sanitary pads? What is this for? Is it your eye or it for cleaning up something," in a very confused tone as they all looked at her.