Finding "you": Chapter 8: A new companion

"That's so pretty, Little Cloud." He praised as Pei Li stacked the final pieces which were the egg shells representing the flower bud sticked with paper petals made from the milk's bottle wrapper.

"Really? It would be nicer if we had more recyclables like bottle caps…" Pei Li said before trashing the art.

"Hey!" Wayne was surprised at her self-destructing act as Pei Li shrugged. "It's just rubbish. I was just having an itch to make something… Don't worry about it…" She said as he blinked with a brewing idea though he was a little disappointed that he did not manage to snap a picture of it earlier.

"Little Cloud…" He called out. She turned around with a tilted head as though asking him if he needed anything.

"Could you help me… with something?" He asked skeptically. "Yes!" She instantly agreed without asking what it was.

"Could you teach me how to live poorly?" His question took her by surprise as she frowned, wanting to be furious, but she knew she was not in the position to do that to her life savior.

"Why?" She questioned instead.

"Oh… It's just for work. I had a new role in a drama…" He explained knowing she was probably confused as he watched her frowns turning into a satisfied smile.

"Alright! What do you want to know?" Pei Li asked happily while clapping. He was smitten at how fast she could adapt and change her mood, but somehow, her mental state still worried him.

He knew the current state of mind Pei Li had no clue of her condition. For once, he wished night would fall quickly. He had begun to learn her pattern and knew the night personality would appear after certain hours but he was not sure when exactly. 

Hence, Wayne decided to keep Pei Li by his side till dinner. He took the chance to learn how to make the crafts she did before lunch and about her poor life in disguise for his work after their late lunch. 

"Did you like lunch? Sorry it was a little late…" Wayne apologised as they sat in the living room slightly close to 2 pm. 

"It's very delicious! It's been so long since I had such a good meal… Thank you, Little Wind…" Her confession made Wayne's curiosity grow. 

"How have you been all these years while I was gone?" He gently caressed her right cheek as she leaned into his palm with a tilted head, looking very adorable while being seated in the living room. 

"Share with me what you can." He requested as Pei Li sat up straight in front of him.

"Hmm… normally mum would head to work in the early morning doing odd jobs while I go around looking for recycled items from the entire village…" Pei Li explained.

"And do what with them? Into crafts you taught me to do before lunch?" Wayne asked, trying to guess as she nodded. 

"What do you build with them?" Wayne questioned.

"Anything. From fixing a broken pipe to a leaking roof or even repairing some cracks at home. Eventually, there's always something to fix at home. I don't even understand how that house could last so long. Whenever I wake up it's in a mess. After cleaning up for the day, next day it's a mess again and there were days, some furnitures would get destroyed." Pei Li explained, and Wayne instantly knew she did not know about her dad's tantrum.

"Do you see your father often?" He tested, but she shook her head.

"Mum said he is always drunk somewhere… He is rarely home." Pei Li explained briefly. 

"When was the last time you saw him?" He asked again. 

"Hmm… Sometimes in some alley in the early morning, but he would still be hungover to be able to recognise me. I would always run away 'cause Mum told me to." Pei Li explained in a very innocent manner, which made Wayne feel bad for her.

"Sorry I couldn't accompany you to see your Mum today. Let's go tomorrow, alright? She is doing fine in the new nursing home and is adapting well." Wayne wanted to make up for his guilt as Pei Li smiled and nodded easily to his coaxing.

"Little Wind, is your job hard? Why did I promise to buy you happiness? I don't remember this. Maybe when we were young?" Pei Li questioned as Wayne's eyes reddened. He pulled her in for a hug. 

"Marriage isn't it supposed to bring us happiness silly?" He lied as he forced his tears away while she giggled. 

"Is it fun to be on the stage?" Pei Li asked innocently when their gaze met. 

He nodded. "On stage, I could express my feelings through my songs, and now I wish to try through my acting." He explained. 

My hidden feelings, to be exact… of you. Of the whole chaos, we were left in the past and now… He corrected himself in mind as he smiled, keeping his unspoken words safe.

"Don't you attend classes?" He asked, trying to change the topic. She smiled sadly and shook her head.

"Oh, my notes! My books! They are in the old house…" She pouted as he smiled and gently patted her head.

"We can get new ones. I will make arrangements, and you can take your exams here in Qi Tai. I will teach you during my free time. When is the exam?" He asked as she gazed into his eyes with hope.

"Are you sure? It's next month…" She pouted again, with many thoughts in mind.

"We still have time. Don't worry. I will try to minimise work since I will be filming in a month. There shouldn't be anything heavy other than some photo shooting sessions." He comforted her as she skeptically nodded in agreement.

"Aren't you warm always dressing in long sleeves even on sunny days?" He questioned as he tried to lift one sleeve up only for her to stop him.

Her hostile behavior quickly returned to her warm demeanor. 

"I'm sorry. The heat back in Er Hu is very intense during broad daylight and could easily cause sunburn. On rainy days, a raincoat is good enough. When it gets too heavy, I would hide under the bridge near roadside stalls. Many motorists would gather there for cheap breakfast too from grilled charcoal rice to little egg wraps…" Pei Li explained before yawning. Wayne knew she must have lacked sleep every night because of her dual personality issues, and she must be hiding her scars as he wondered how bad were they.

"Slee…" He wanted to ask if she was sleepy, but she enthusiastically continued her story.

"I have some regulars who would pay me some spare change sometimes in return for my help to fix their motorcycles. Sometimes, I would also get orders to make some fake flowers for the stalls' aunties." Pei Li's revelation surprised him.

"You know how to fix motorcycles too?" He asked totally forgetting his own thoughts as she nodded slightly.

"Just a little from helping a few uncles and watching them do the work while I give them their resources. There would be one or two bicycles at times where they would need to oil the gears or put back the chain. It's quite similar to motorcycles too, except motorcycles are heavier and they tend to get a lot of tires punctured cause the roads in Er Hu weren't maintained properly with lots of holes everywhere…" Pei Li yawned again, and this time, Wayne smiled while helping her wipe away some tears. 

"Sleepy?" He finally managed to ask while glancing at the clock. 

"Hmm, most of the time, I would sleep in around four. I normally find myself awake the next day… I must be so tired now to feel sleepy this early at nearly three…" Pei Li pouted to Wayne who was beginning to be able to tell her living pattern.

"Why don't you take a nap first? I will prepare dinner early and wake you later, around five?" He suggested as she nodded and hugged him before making her way to her room.

"Little Cloud…" He called out while watching her as she turned around.

"Teach me some more crafts tomorrow, alright?" He asked as she smiled and nodded.

"And it's not that warm here… Wear comfortable clothes." He went up to her, but she tried to back away. 

"Have a good rest…" He said before gently pulling her in for a hug. She eased into his embrace a little, knowing he meant no harm before heading into her room. 

Goodnight Little Cloud… Though I hope to see you awake later but I guess it wouldn't be you right? Wayne questioned in his mind sadly though he still hoped it would be his Little Cloud. 

The moment she was awake again after two hours later, it was no longer his Little Cloud whom he promised dinner to as he expected. 

He noticed she was wearing a short-sleeved T-shirt with heavy make ups not just on her face but her body to cover the scars. He could tell from the porcelain look of the arms which differed from her skin tone at the higher part of her arms. 

He made his way to the dining table with a bowl of chicken soup as he sat with a very quiet "Pei Li". He had quickly learned recently from his own observations that her second personality loves taunting others and he was prepared for it.