Monday, 6:00 am; 30 minutes before Kevin is supposed to meet with Kin.
"Have a good day at school, Ming. I'll probably be back before you're done with school."
Kevin says, ready to close the door behind him. He waits until Ming responds, which she does with a slight wave. Kevin then closes the door and stands on the porch, taking a deep breath of the cool air. The cold winds mixed with the morning sun hitting his face were enough to put him in a good mood.
"I wonder what Kin even wanted me to come for? I know it has to be related to yesterday, but he didn't tell me what specifically." Kevin speculates to himself. He looks back at the door.
"It's a shame she doesn't remember me, but I think we're off on a good start, a fresh start like Kin said," Kevin mumbled. He didn't like that Kin was right. Kevin took out his phone, Kin put the address of where Kevin has to go on Kevin's phone, as well as a map app to guide him on where he has to go.
'I guess I'll walk there today. It seems like a good day to explore the town.' Kevin thinks to himself. He turns on the map app and starts his walk. Today seems like it will be a great day for Kevin. 10 minutes later, Kevin finds himself at a crossroads; 2 different signs for 2 different streets.
"Dude, are you kidding me?" Kevin complains. Both signs are in Mandarin, but he can't understand either. He looks left and right at both signs, trying to match the Chinese characters on his phone to the ones on the sign.
"Well, I guess I'll just pick this one," Kevin says doubtfully, then takes his route. He keeps walking, looking around at the town, all the houses and trees. He feels peaceful in that moment. For that reason, it took him a good 20 minutes to look at his phone and realize—he was going the wrong direction.
"Shit! I'm going the wrong way!" Kevin sees he had indeed taken the wrong path at that crossroads. Much worse, if he paid more attention, he would have seen the app telling him to turn LEFT at the crossroads; he didn't need to pay attention to the signs at all.
"Godamit, I'm gonna be late!" Kevin complained. He got ready to turn around and run back. He starts dashing back to the crossroads. In his hurry, he takes another wrong turn! It takes him a couple of minutes to realize this, but eventually he does.
"Dude… where the hell am I?" He looks around; he's made it to some kind of plaza area, with many stores and restaurants, cars zooming by and a bunch of people and families leaving and entering said places. It reminded Kevin of America. Kevin takes a second to look around before coming back to his senses and checking the time on his phone.
"I'm soooo gonna be late," Kevin says. He turns around to try to find his way again when he spots a bakery on the corner. He turns back around nearly instantly.
"Bakery... I wonder what kinda stuff they have in there," Kevin fantasizes, nearly drooling. Since he woke up later than he should have, he didn't have the chance to eat before he left.
"Well, I- I guess I should eat, who knows? That old guy might not have anything to eat," Kevin tries to convince himself. No longer worried about being late, he walks to the bakery rather quickly and goes inside.
Meanwhile, Kin is already at the gym…..
"6:30, Kevin should be here any minute. He's sure cutting it close." Kin says.
Back to Kevin…..
Kevin walks inside the bakery. The walls are Sky blue, with a yellow floor. The place was well-lit with big windows on each side. At the checkout counter, there's a display case with even more things. Nobody is at the desk, but Kevin is more focused on the pastries and food all around him. There's a ton of different kinds of things to pick out from all lined up. Hanging off the edge of each tray, Kevin can see the name of each item, both in English and Mandarin: glutinous rice ball, Pineapple tarts, steamed mantou, and mooncakes. Kevin has never heard of any of these things—he can't wait to try them all.
"Everything looks so good!" Kevin thinks to himself. He picks out a few things he thinks he'll like.
He checks his wallet. He doesn't have much. Worst of all, it's in American dollars.
"I'm not sure they'll take this, but I might as well try," Kevin said to himself. He walks to the checkout desk and looks around.
"Nobody here.."
He looks down and sees a bell he can ring. He presses it, then bends down; his eyes glued to the display case. He can hear someone walking to the desk, but he's too focused on the pastries in front of him.
"Hello, is anyone there?" Kevin hears someone call from above him; the voice seems familiar. Kevin starts to lift his head.
"Uhh, yeah, how are y-" Kevin's head is not fully lifted. He finds himself barely inches apart from a familiar face.
"I- Fei?!" Kevin exclaims, and he dashes back out of embarrassment
"Uh- O- Oh Kevin! How are you?" Fei responds, her face a rose-red.
"I uh- I didn't think I'd see you around here, what a coincidence," Kevin says, trying his best to play off his embarrassment. They both avoided eye contact for what felt like hours.
"I'm- uhm, I'm doing well. How about yourself? Fei asks, still not looking directly at Kevin.
"You're right, this is quite the coincidence," Fei adds, laughing faintly.
"I've been doing pretty good, I got to where I'm staying at yesterday, I'm supposed to be doing something today, but I'm definitely gonna be late." Kevin sighs. Ming replies with a chuckle.
"I see. You haven't been here too long, but how are you liking Qiawu so far?" Fei asks
"It's… different. Is it quieter? I don't know how to explain it, but I know I like it."
Kevin replies. The awkwardness between them was slowly dissipating with each word said.
"I see, I'm glad! I hope you get to see more of it." Fei exclaims, a warm smile on her face. Kevin's heart skips a beat.
"Yeah! For sure! Anyways, uhh, I'll take these. I haven't tried anything like the stuff you have here, but everything looks so great! Do you make these yourself?" Kevin asks.
"Thank you! I run the store with my mom; she's just feeling a bit under the weather today." Fei replies
"Ah, well I hope she feels better soon," Kevin says
"Thanks!" Fei replies. Kevin smiles at Fei and takes his wallet out of his wallet.
"All right, how much is it all gonna cost me?" Kevin asks.
"Don't worry about it, I'll tell my mom you said such nice things. Have them on the house- as long as you promise to come again another time!" Fei exclaims.
'Thank god, I'm fucking broke,' Kevin thinks to himself.
"Really? Thanks! I'll definitely come again. I do gotta hurry though; I have someone waiting for me. I'll see you later!" Kevin says as he starts to walk to the entrance
"Come again!" Fei replies. Kevin waves to Fei and leaves the bakery.
He takes a look around and starts sprinting back. Kevin is more of an idiot than he lets on, forgetting to get Fei's contact info for the second time in this story.
"Maybe if I hurry, I can get there on time!"