Mr. Ching looked up from the menu, as the waiter pulled out a chair from somewhere and brought it to the table.  And, then, he quickly placed a menu there for Lu Han. 

            “Lu Han, Mia has an apprenticeship a guzheng master here in Beijing.” explained Mr. Ching, with a smile.  “Mia, how long have you been in Beijing?”

            “For 1 week already.” replied Mia, as she returned the smile.

            Lu Han stared at her with his mouth open wide.  “W-What?” he asked, as he sat down.  “And, you didn’t tell me?!”

            Mia frowned at him.  “And, you didn’t tell me that you were going to transfer back to Beijing University?” she replied.

            Lu Han quickly dropped the question he asked.  He didn’t want to talk to her about transferring schools now.  He looked around the room uncomfortably to avoid meeting Mia’s eyes as the tension built up.  When he was sure that she wasn’t looking at him anymore, he glanced over at her.  She was nicely dressed for the occasion with a dress and her hair was in a nice updo.  Mia looked up Lu Han, catching his gaze, and he quickly looked away.  He turned to his dad.  Mr. Ching was simply smiling at them.

            “I was talking to Master Song about your progress and he says that you’re a quick learner, Mia.” said Mr. Ching.

            She beamed a smile at him.  “Well, that’s what he says, but I still have a lot to learn.” she said.  “I’ve been practicing so much after my lessons that I’ve started to get calluses on my left fingertips.  It’s amazing!”

            Mr. Ching laughed at how passionate she was.  Meanwhile Lu Han just watched.

            Ever since when was she interested in the guzheng?, he thought.

            “Why the guzheng?” asked Lu Han, without thinking.

            Mia glanced over at him.  “It’s because I wanted to learn a traditional Chinese instrument.” she said.

            Lu Han nodded his head.  He wanted to like how he always does, but felt that it was not the moment for that.  Especially with the obvious tension between them.  Lu Han looked over at his dad.

            “So, Mia was the business partner you were supposed to have dinner with?” asked Lu Han.

            “Of course.” smiled Mr. Ching.

            Lu Han was frustrated at his dad and Mia.  Why would they keep it a secret that she was in town?  Why couldn’t they just tell them?  What was so bad about that?

            After they ordered their food, Mr. Ching ordered a bottle of wine.  As his dad was distracted with deciding which wine to drink, Lu Han turned to Mia. 

            “Where are you staying, Mia?” he asked, quickly

            “In the dorms at the Beijing Music Academy.” she replied.

            “It’s winter.  You’re probably alone.” assumed Lu Han.

            “No, there are other students as well.” clarified Mia. 

            Lu Han in a breath.  “You’re staying at my place.” he stated.

            “What?  No.” quickly replied Mia.

            “Yes, you are!”

            “No, I’m not!”

            “Yes,  YOU ARE!”

            “NO!”

            “Mia, why don’t you just stay at our place?” suggested Mr. Ching, as he butted in.

            She was about to turn down the offer when Lu Han butted in.  “For the hospitality that your family provided me.” he added, quickly.

            “Especially for that.” nodded Mr. Ching.

            Mia just simply shook her head.

            “Why didn’t you just let Driver Chin carry her upstairs, Lu Han?” asked Mr. Ching.

            “It’s because he might not know where her room is.” he replied.

            Lu Han’s dad flashed him a face.  “Son,” he started.  “You’re supposed to put her in the guest room.  Not your room.  She’s in your room right now.”

            “Dad, it’s not what you think.” replied Lu Han, forgetting that his dad was still up.

            Although Mia was stubborn, she eventually agreed to stay over at the Chings until her month-long apprenticeship ends after a few glasses of wine.  They headed over to their house right after the dinner.  Mia dosed off in the car, so Lu Han decided to take her to his room since he thought that his dad was long gone.  He wanted them to sleep together for the night. 

            Lu Han has not seen her in a long time and actually started to miss her.  He thought that he wouldn’t miss Mia…  To his surprise and disgust, he did.  He would never admit it out loud though.  But, in his mind, he had to learn how to accept the truth or he would had went insane.  Ching Lu Han missed Chung Mia.  And, it was as simple as that.

            When he saw Mia at the restaurant, a wave of emotions washed over him.  He felt excited, happiness, anger, and frustration all at once.  But, most of all, he was excited and happy to see her.  Lu Han wanted to call her the day after he left Korea, but couldn’t bring himself to.  He wanted to send her the Christmas present he got for her, but thought that it was lame to send a pair of shoes through mail.

            Lu Han knew that even if he tried to explain to his dad about their friendship, he wouldn’t understand.  After dealing with Kris and his accusations of them being together, Lu Han has came to the conclusion that no one else out there will ever understand their friendship.   Only he and Mia will understand it the way they do.  This friendship is purely theirs.

            “What do you mean it’s not what I think?” asked Mr. Ching.  The tone of his voice hardened.    “Lu Han, what are you doing?  I just barely got you out of something and you’re getting yourself back into trouble?”

            “No,” he replied quickly.  “It’s nothing like that, Dad.  I-I just want to sleep with Mia because I miss her!!”  His hand quickly clamped over his mouth as his eyes widened.

            I can’t believe that I told Dad that, thought Lu Han, horrified.

            Mr. Ching stood in front of his son, amazed.  Is he in love with Mia?, he thought.  He’s been playing around with girls ever since middle school.  He has never brought home a girl…  And, it was him that suggested Mia to stay at our place even though I was planning on it.  What is going on?

            Mr. Ching opened his mouth to say something when a voice interrupted.  “Lu Han, you missed me?” asked Mia, surprised.

            She startled the father and son, as she stood there in the doorway of Lu Han’s bedroom. 

            “Y-Yeah.” stuttered Lu Han.  “I-I miss you.”

            Mr. Ching just watches as his son’s face turned bright red.  Seriously…  What is going on?, he thought.

            Great!  Mia’s awake now, thought Lu Han, embarrassed.  I even told myself that I would never say that out loud, but here I am!  Saying it to the darn person that I freaking miss!  What the hell?!

            “You better not get Mia pregnant.” said Mr. Ching, as he shook his index finger at Lu Han like he was 5 years old.

            He groaned.  “Dad, it’s-”

            “Oh, God!” chimed in Mia, disgusted.  “Uncle Ching, believe me.  Lu Han will never be the father of my children even if I begged him to be the donor.”

            “OK.” said Mr. Ching, not really understanding but nodded his head.  “But, if anything does happen and I catch you two, you guys are getting married right away.  And, I don’t care what your excuses are.”

            Mia looked over at Lu Han and scoffed.  “I’d rather go dig my own grave and die in it than ever doing anythingprovocative with him.” she said.

            Lu Han sent her a death glare.  And I’d rather die than have with you too, he thought. 

            Mr. Ching laughed.  “You two are hilarious.” he commented.  “That’s cute.  Have a good rest then.”  And, with that he left.

             Mia smiled as she reached out for Lu Han’s hand and tugged him into the bedroom.  As soon as he closed the door, she started twirling and laughing.  Lu Han approached her, as she came to a stop. 

            “Wow!  Lu Han, your room is big!” she said, as she started to walk towards the bed.

            It didn’t matter anymore.  Mia knows now about how Lu Han had missed her.  So he’s not going to deny it anymore.  He was so happy that she was with him right now.  He could hear his heart beat loudly in his ear as he pulled her back towards him.  Lu Han backhugged her tightly against his body.  He could feel her body tense up by surprise and then quickly relaxing. 

            “I missed you, Mia.” he whispered into her hair.  His voice was weak.  “I missed you so much.”

Author’s Note:

            Stupid Lu Han.  If you were going to sneak behind your dad’s back, at least do it when he’s actually asleep.

            And, then, he was in denial…  LOL  He missed her like crazy!

LOVE,

loveFORyunho