by Liwen Y. Ho
“Yeah, right,” Sam said as she turned the car into the high school parking lot and pulled into a space. “I think it’s going to take something a lot bigger than that to distract Ma.”
Melanie muttered under her breath, “Like the rapture…”
They exited the car and made their way across campus to Billie’s homeroom.
“Come on, guys, we’re late,” Billie called over her shoulder to her sisters.
“Haven’t you heard of Chinese time?” Sam replied. “Being ten minutes late actually means we’re early.”
Melanie pulled at Sam’s arm to speed up their pace. “Let’s go. Just pretend we’re at the mall and there’s a big sale at H&M that you need to get to.”
Sam’s eyes brightened. “Now you’re talking.” Pausing to give Melanie a once-over, she nodded in approval. “You look really nice tonight, for once.”
“Thanks,” she replied with a smirk. “I was trying to look more… parental.”
“In that case, you could have just worn mom jeans and a floral print blouse.”
“So true. I’ll keep that in mind for next time. Or at least pick more comfortable shoes to wear.”
“I can’t believe you’re able to walk in those. When was the last time you put on heels?”
Melanie looked down at the nude pumps pinching her toes and grimaced. “When I interviewed for residency. I’m so glad I picked a profession where I can wear flats all day. These should come with a warning label that says hazardous to your health.”
“That’s what you get for buying cheap shoes.”
“And that’s why I have money left in my bank account.”
“Very funny.” Sam stuck her tongue out in protest. “You sure have no problems acting parental.”
Before Melanie could respond, they arrived at Billie’s homeroom. They followed their youngest sister inside and found some space to stand in the back. The place was already packed with over two dozen parents and their teenagers in tow. A man wearing a navy striped dress shirt and tan slacks addressed the crowd from the front of the room.
Melanie heard the teacher’s voice before she saw his face. The rich baritone sound caught her attention, and she inched over to her left to get a better view of its source. Peering past the heads in front of her, she inhaled sharply at the sight. What were the chances? Before she could gather her thoughts, she felt a tug on her arm.
“Wow, I would have definitely aced my classes if this guy was my teacher. He makes geeky look like the new hot!” Sam gushed in a low voice.
“Shh, quiet,” Melanie urged, her eyes fixed on the familiar face of Billie’s teacher.
Sandy brown hair. Hazel eyes. And those dimples.
There he stood, her cure for hives, and he was as handsome as she remembered.
Chapter 3
“Melanie, what a pleasant surprise running into you here.” Ben had just finished speaking to the group and made his way over to where Melanie and her sisters stood.
“Ben, hi.” Melanie shook his outstretched hand, smiling self-consciously when he maintained contact a little longer than necessary. “It is a surprise, but it all makes sense now. You’re a math teacher. That’s why you prefer the language of numbers.”
“Yep, it looks like you’ve got me figured out. I’m a nerd at heart.” Ben glanced at Sam and Billie who were staring back with wide eyes and gaping mouths. He cocked his head as he studied their faces. “Now, let me see if I can do a little figuring out myself. I assume these are the two younger sisters you mentioned?”
“Yes, well, you know Billie. This is our middle sister, Sammie.”
Sam crossed her arms. “Okay, sorry to interrupt, but how do you two know each other?” She muttered out of the corner of her mouth to Melanie, “And why did you not tell me about him?”
“Yeah, Ga Je, how do you know Mr. Peters?” Billie chimed in.
“We met at the grocery store last weekend,” Melanie replied, her tone casual. “We talked briefly.”
“Your sister came to my rescue and assisted me in making a purchase.”
“She did, did she?” Sam’s deep brown eyes sparkled as a smile spread across her face. “That’s why you took so long that day.”
“It was just a few extra minutes.” Melanie shot Sam a look of irritation before turning to Ben. “Was your sister okay with the items I picked?”
“You were right on the money. She couldn’t have been more pleased.”
“That’s good to hear. I’m glad those worked out for her.” She shifted her weight from one foot to the other as three pairs of eyes gazed at her. With the fluorescent lighting overhead, Melanie suddenly felt like she was being interrogated. Sam may have been missing her police show, but there was no way she was going to turn their evening into a real life investigation. It was time to switch the focus away from herself. “Well, it’s good to know Billie’s in your class. She says you’re a great teacher.”
Ben smiled graciously. “It’s a pleasure having her as my student. I can tell she’s invested in learning, which makes a huge difference in how much she absorbs from the lessons.”
Melanie nodded towards Sam with an impish smile. “I agree. I was just telling Sam earlier that paying attention in class really helps.”
Sam glared at Melanie, her bright red lips parted slightly to show her gritted teeth. “I heard you the first time, Ga Je.” She suddenly turned to Billie with a pained look on her face. “Hey, can you show me where the ladies’ room is?”
“You don’t remember? You only graduated, like, two years ago. Wow, you’re aging fast.”
“It’s been a while since I’ve been on campus. Come on.”
“Okay, okay, stop pulling on my arm.” Billie rolled her eyes. “Didn’t you go at home? Man, old age must be affecting your bladder, too.”
“Don’t mind us. Keep chatting,” Sam called out as she grabbed Billie’s arm and ushered her out of the classroom.
Melanie shook her head. “Little sisters. I don’t know what I did to deserve them.”
Ben chuckled. “Yeah, they can be a handful. Thank God I was only blessed with one. I can only imagine how much more fun you must have with two.”
“If by fun you mean drama, then yes, I have more than enough.” She paused to look around the room. Many posters covered the back wall, some of which touted how useful math was in the real world, while others were meant to be funny. Ben had put a lot of effort into making the classroom visually appealing. “I like the quotes you put up, especially that one.” She pointed to one that read, “That awkward moment when you finish a math problem and your answer isn’t even one of the choices”.
“Yeah, the kids get a kick out of them. I think it’s important to make learning as enjoyable as possible. Math tends to have a bad reputation for being boring or too hard. But laughter makes any kind of suffering a little more bearable, at least I think it does.”
“That’s a great attitude to have. And very inspirational. I may quote you on that sometime.” Melanie looked up at Ben with admiration. “You’re pretty fun for a numbers guy.” She blushed as soon as the words left her mouth. “I meant that as a compliment. It’s just that most people I’ve met who are smart aren’t that down to earth.”
Ben shook his head. “No offense taken. I don’t mind being called fun. For us nerds, that’s almost as good as being called tall, dark and handsome,” he remarked with a playful wink. “Speaking of which, I hope you don’t mind me saying, but you look beautiful tonight.”
Melanie’s eyes widened in surprise. She was glad she’d worn her favorite black sleeveless dress. “Oh, thank you. You look nice, too. Very … teacher-like.” Teacher-like? Why couldn’t she think of the right words when she needed them? She cleared her throat and tried to change the topic. “Do you like teaching? You must like teenagers a lot to want to work with them all day. I imagine it takes an incredible amount of patience.”
He lowered his voice as if to share a secret. “Maybe I’m a sucker for punishmen
t.” The corners of his eyes crinkled as he laughed. “But honestly, I do like kids, and it makes me happy to see their faces light up when they finally get something. I figure if I have to work, I might as well find a job where I can have a direct impact on people. The other option I considered was medicine. Unfortunately, needles and I don’t get along.”
Melanie’s eyes widened. “Don’t tell me, you’re a fainter?”
“I don’t know what it is. I have no trouble jumping out of a plane or going a hundred miles an hour down a race track, but sharp objects make me uneasy.”
“It’s not that uncommon. About twenty percent of the population share your fear.”
“Hm. What you’re saying is that there are…,” he paused to glance around the room, “two point five other people here just like me? That makes me feel a little better. I sure would like to donate blood though someday. It’s number ten on my bucket list.”
Melanie’s ears perked up. “What blood type are you?”
“O negative.”
“You’re a universal donor. The vamp—I mean, phlebotomists at the lab would love to get their hands on you. There’s a shortage of blood right now.”
Ben’s eyes widened in alarm. “Were you about to say vampire?”
“Uh, yes, that’s a nickname we use around the hospital for the lab guys. They’re cool people, not like vampires at all, except when they wear fangs and capes on Halloween. They’re also trained to help people with trypanophobia.”
“That’s good to know,” Ben replied with a grin. “I’m going to take a wild guess here. You’re trying to recruit my blood because you’re a doctor.”
She laughed. “Am I that obvious?”
“Well, you also use big words that I’ve never heard of.”
“I don’t always use big words, but yes, I am. I’m in my second year of residency.”
“Nice. What’s your specialty?”
“Pediatrics.”
“We have something in common. You like working with kids, too.”
“Yes, they are a blessing.”
“Mr. Peters?” An older Asian woman standing with her husband and teenage son interrupted them.
Ben acknowledged the couple with a nod. “I’ll be right with you.” He turned to Melanie with a bright smile. “Would you excuse me. Feel free to have a seat while you wait for your sisters.”
“Sure, thanks.” She sat down on a blue plastic chair in the corner of the room. From there she watched Ben as he met with parents and exchanged high fives with his students. If there was such a thing as a good bedside manner for teachers, he had it. The way he tilted his head and smiled when he listened reflected his interest and patience with everyone. No wonder her sister liked him so much.
Melanie sat for a while, her eyes darting to the classroom door from time to time. Where did Sam and Billie go? What was taking them so long? Opening her purse, she took out her phone to call her sisters. When she turned it on, she noticed two alarming text messages on the screen. The first one from Melvin made her jaw drop: Melanie, I’m not ready to call off our engagement. Please reconsider.
The second one from Sam caused her to jump to her feet: Sorry, Ga Je. Tummy trouble. Went home. You’ll need to find a ride.
Melanie dashed out of the room, her heels clicking across the linoleum floor. When she reached the courtyard, she speed-dialed her sister’s number. “Sam! Are you okay? What happened? I told you not to eat instant noodles again for dinner. That stuff is packed with sodium, preservatives, saturated fat and MSG. Eating it more than twice a week puts you at a higher risk for metabolic syndrome.”
“Ga Je, it’s me,” Billie interrupted with an air of annoyance. “Sam’s driving. Here, I’ve got you on speakerphone now.”
Sam’s voice echoed in the background. “I’m fine. I just didn’t want to be stuck at school in case I got the runs.”
“You could have come get me before you took off. How am I supposed to get home now?” She sat down on the edge of a wooden planter and slipped off her heels. A sigh of relief escaped from her lips as she wiggled her red toes. “I can’t believe you guys just left me here.”
“I told you we should have gone back,” Billie mumbled. “You and your crazy idea—ow! Why’d you hit me?”
Melanie’s brows furrowed. “What’s going on?”
“Nothing,” Sam interrupted, “everything’s fine. Hey, why don’t you see if Mr. Peters can give you a ride home? He seems like a great guy. I’m sure he wouldn’t mind.”
“Mr. Peters? Are you serious? I hardly know him. I can’t ask him to do that.” She put her shoes back on and stood up, grimacing as the stiff vinyl encased her toes. What she wouldn’t give for a pair of sneakers right now. Anything but these three inch torture devices masquerading as shoes. “It’s less than two miles, I’ll just walk. You owe me one, Sam. A big one. Be prepared to give me a foot massage when I get home. And I hope you enjoy watching your TV show while I’m limping on the streets of San Jose with bloody feet. I know that’s why you left in such a hurry.” Although she hated guilt trips, she had to admit she enjoyed the pleasure of handing them out once in a while.
“Ga Je! That is so not why we’re going home!” Sam’s voice rose an octave in protest. “I’ll probably be sitting on the porcelain throne all night. Anyway, don’t be so stubborn. Just ask Mr. Peters for a ride.”
“Don’t worry about me. I’ll figure something out. See you later.” Melanie hung up and returned the phone to her purse. Out of the corner of her eye she saw Ben looking at her from inside the classroom. He excused himself from the conversation he was having and walked toward her.
“Hey, are you okay?” Ben rested one hand on Melanie’s shoulder. He furrowed his brows in concern. “You rushed out so fast.”
“No, I, uh, I’m fine.” The heat from Ben’s palm against her bare skin sent tingles through her body, making her feel like a teenager again. More specifically, a teenager who was having trouble completing her sentences. “It’s not me, uh, Sam … she’s sick … that was her on the phone. She and Billie had to go home.”
“Oh, I’m sorry to hear that. I hope it’s nothing serious?”
“No, she’ll be fine.” She breathed an inward sigh of relief when Ben removed his hand from her shoulder and placed it in his pocket. Being close to him gave her a whole new perspective on the term under the influence. Shaking her head quickly, she tried to wake herself up from the woozy state his touch had induced. “Nothing some Pepto Bismol won’t fix.”
“Ah, it must be handy to have a doctor in the family. Free medical advice whenever you need it.”
“Free and often unsolicited medical advice, which also means it’s unappreciated, too.”
“Well, I will gladly take your unsolicited help anytime, anywhere, especially in a supermarket.” Ben’s lips turned up in a sly smile.
Melanie wrinkled her nose in embarrassment. “I did walk up to you last week and start a conversation, didn’t I? I’m not normally that bold.”
“Then I guess I beat the odds that day. I regret not buying a lottery ticket before I checked out,” he joked. His eyes lit up as he continued. “You know what, I’m going to take a chance and hope the odds are in my favor again. Would you like to go out with me sometime?”
“You mean on a date?”
“Yes, I do mean a date.” His smile grew wider. “Say, how about now? I assume you just lost your ride home. I could take you. And if you’re not in a hurry, we could grab a bite to eat first.”
“Wow, you don’t waste any time, do you?”
“If you can believe it, I’m not normally this bold either. It seems we bring out the best in each other. Don’t be surprised if I decide to make a stop at the blood bank on the way home.”
Their voices joined in laughter, surprising Melanie with how well they harmonized. Seeing Ben again had already made her day; now to have him ask her out was more than she could have hoped for. Nothing about this evening seemed real, particularly the attraction
she felt for this man who was so different from her ideals.
Or, more specifically, her parents’ ideals.
“So, what do you say?” Ben asked.
“I appreciate your offer, but I don’t want to trouble you,” she replied in a firm tone. His dimples, however, seemed to be magically wearing down on her resolve. “You’re in the middle of work—”
Ben shook his head. “It’s no trouble at all, I mean it.” Holding up his right hand, he took a few steps back toward the classroom. “Just give me twenty, twenty-five minutes to wrap things up.”
“Okay, but take your time. I don’t mind waiting.”
“I’ll be back.” He flashed a thumbs-up her way before he turned and walked through the door.
Melanie returned to her seat on the planter and waited. The anticipation running through her body was more than she had experienced in a long time. Here she was about to go on her first date in years, with an American boy, no less. Although the butterflies in her stomach wished to take flight, her rational side kept them in check. It’s only a meal. Let’s not make it a big deal.
One by one, she watched the group of parents and students leave the classroom until only Ben remained. He gathered his belongings into a black messenger bag, turned off the classroom lights and locked the door. As he walked over, she spotted something cradled under his arm that captured her attention: a silver helmet.
Apparently, Ben was taking her home on a motorcycle, and there was no keeping her distance from him now.
Chapter 4
“Ever been on one of these before?” Ben patted the seat of an electric blue motorcycle sitting in the school parking lot.
“Yes, but it was so long ago, I don’t even remember it. My parents said they took me around on one when we lived in Hong Kong.” Melanie paused and pointed to the top of her knees where the hem of her dress fell. “I don’t think I’m dressed for a bike ride though.”
“It’ll be a bit windy, but we’ll be on and off the bike before you know it.”
