“You are such a Zai!” Dong Yufeng, A mother of two, and a wife of sevens years yelled at his husband, “I hate you so ing much!” He screamed as he shoved all of his belongings into his travel bag and started gather his son’s things.

“You must since you love wrapping your lips around other guy’s twenty-four seven!” Zai yelled back and leaned against the wall behind him watching the man he loved pack his things.

“Me? So now it’s on me? I’ve never cheated on you! How dare you! YOU! Mr. Perfect, decided it would be cute to date that little while I was out taking care of MY kids,” Yufeng replied, shaking from anger. He stopped packing and stood still for a moment. He was so frustrated he didn’t know how to act, or what to say. “I don’t know why I married a ing like you! You’re nothing! You’re a terrible father, and a terrible husband! How can you live with yourself?!”

“Where do you think you’re going anyway?” Zai hollered.

“Home.” Yufeng stated simply and shoved the last of his things in his bag and stormed into the living room where he lifted his son, Lian-Xun, and carried him to the door. “Call me when you care!” Were his last words as he slammed the door shut behind him and took off. Leaving his husband and young daughter behind.

 

 

 

“Marceline?” The twenty something year old teacher said loudly calling for the fourteen year old trouble maker. She paced around the room looking over the uniformed students that were watching with blank expressions. Her eyes suddenly fell on the one student that hadn’t worn the uniform like the students surrounding her. The girl had her head rested on the table doodling carelessly on the notebook that was supposed to be used for science. The teacher tapped her shoulder and repeated herself, staring at the girl expectantly. The girl lifted her head slowly.

“Mrs. Sara. It’s Mar-Sil-Le-Anne.” Marcyllean announced boldly slowly sliding off of the desk and lifting her head.

“Well, Miss Mar-Sil-Le-Anne, when I call your name please respond. I understand that you are new here, but please do not under estimate my power.” Sara warned. “Also please purchase your uniform soon, you stick out like a sore thumb.”

“And what is wrong with that?” Marcyllean challenged. At this point the pair was being stred at by all twenty three students surrounding them.

“I’m here to make you successful, not taint you.” Sara said avoiding a direct answer.

“How will you taint me?” Marcyllean pushed.

“Well-” Sara began but was cut off by the buzzing of the bell. “I’ll explain later, dear.”

Marcyllean stood up from her desk after the traffic of students passed by, well aware of the fact that she had won the battle. She threw her messenger bag over her shoulder and walked out of the classroom, not forgetting to give Sara a wink on her way out. As soon as she reached the hallway she ran into Kaew, a foreign exchange student that had been staying with her and her father since they came back to China.

“Hey!” Kaew said happily. Her hair had almost been the same a Marcyllean, a nice cropped bob, the main difference being the clip of hair cut near Kaew’s ear. The two had looked quite similar making it hard for Marcyllean’s father at first. Since the move, Kaew and Marcyllean had become something like sisters, their only problem being the language barrier. Neither were good at Mandarin, and Marcyllean only knew English, whilst Kaew only knew Thai. The only Mandarin she knew was the few words she had learned before she was five and separated from her mother.

Mommy… Marcyllean thought sadly. She had no recollection of what her mother looked like. All she really knew is that he was male, he had the same eyes and hair color. She had gotten her height from him and she also had gotten her weak immune system from him. The smallest sneeze made her sick. She only knew these things because her father had brought these up during his rants of frustration. She missed him dearly. She still wondered why her mother had left her. It made her terribly sad. Only a year prior had she tried to kill herself, stating that if she didn’t have the mother what was the point in living?

Marcyllean’s careless walking had caused her to bump into another body, slightly shorter than hers. She stumbled back trying to regain her composure.

“I’m so sorry. Please forgive me.” She said calmly. She had never been one to fuss, unlike her father.

“It’s okay.” A sweet male voice replied cutely. She looked at him closely and noticed a few odd things about him. His lips. His eyes. Daddy. He looked like a more feminine version of her father. So dangerously close. So much alike. But no way.

She lifted her hand and ran it over his lips. Tears welled in her eyes. Who was this? She smiled a little as a tears suddenly danced down her cheek slowly, making her shiver. “Who are you?” She whispered.

“Lian-Xun.” He replied sweetly. Seeming to not even be fazed by the sudden touching.

“You’re too sweet.” She said lightly.

“Do want to have a talk with me?” He offered.

Marcyllean nodded her head slowly, “Yes.”

 

 

 

“So I look like your dad?” Lian-Xun asked curiously. His hands wrapped around Marcyllean’s rubbing it cautiously. The girl had seemed so shocked and broken. He never usually was surrounded by sad people. His mother had made sure that he never was exposed to anything sad or disappointing., anything Lain-Xun wanted he got, even if his mother had to go through hell’s ends and back, he would make sure Lian-Xun got what he needed.

The three had dropped by a local café after school to have their little discussion. Kaew had been sent to collect their drinks.

“Yes.” Marcyllean informed him. She smiled sweetly at how compassionate he was. There was something about him other than his looks that pinged her heart, “How old are you?”

“Eleven.” Lian-Xun stated proudly.

Marcyllean’s jaw dropped.

“Why are you in high school?” Marcyllean asked completely confused, “And you look like you’re older!”

“I’m smarticles, and my Mommy taught me a trick on how to make myself look like everyone else.” There it goes again. That word. Mommy.

“Your Mommy? She-” Marcyllean began but was cut off.

“He.” Lian-Xun said heavily.

“He, let’s you wear make up so young?” She said completely jealous. Her father forbade her from even going into Victoria’s Secret™ to even get lady underwear. Yes, she still had to go to Sanrio and buy hello kitty , at fourteen. Lucky kid.

“Yup! ‘Cause he’s the best! How is your Mommy?” He asked cutely.

“I don’t have one.” Marcyllean said shyly.

“Don’t worry! I don’t have a Daddy.” Lian-Xun replied, completely understanding.

“And I don’t have parents at all.” Kaew announced as she smoothly placed the drinks on the table, placing them in front of their rightful owners.

“Aw!” Lian-Xun said completely shattered, he felt guilty for feeling bad for himself not having a Daddy.

“Don’t worry.” Kaew said happily, she wrapped her arm around Marcyllean’s shoulders, “I’ve got my closest to a sister and closest to a father.”

Lian-Xun smiled at her optimism.

“Crap!” Marcyllean shouted as she took a glance at Kaew’s watch, “It’s already so late. My Dad’s gonna be so mad.”

“My Mommy can take us home!” Lian-Xun announced, “He works near here and he should be getting off soon.”

“Sweet.” Kaew and Marcyllean said at the same time. The three kids waited patiently for Lian-Xun’s mother to show up after he called. The three filled their time by talking about everything under the sun, after their thirty minute wait the three had become something like best friends. It was nice.

The three walked out wit heir freshly  refilled cups when Lian-Xun announced his mother’s arrival. The three had made it half way when Lian-Xun’s mother dashed out of the car stripping off his Jacket and wrapping it around his underdressed son rubbing his shoulders.

“Mommy! I’m fine!.” Lian-Xun whined as he was smothered into his mother’s embrace.

“No you’re not, you are probably numb.” His mother said matter-of-factly. “It’s nice to meet you guys, and I don’t mean to be rude but get into the car.”

Marcyllean hadn’t noticed it before but it really was chilly. Or more like cold judging by the fact that it had started snowing. They had never realized that the weather had changed, they were far too distracted before. Suddenly she was shivering and tucking herself into her jacket and following Kaew into the black 2011 Chevy Camaro. As soon as the kids were seated, Lian-Xun’s mother the heater.

“Kids are so crazy nowadays.” He stated as he continued to rub Lain-Xun’s shoulder.

“Oh yeah.” Lian-Xun said, breaking and unnoticed silence. “this is Kaew and Marcyllean.”

Lian-Xun’s mother turned around immediately, recognizing the utterly unique name. The name that he had giving to his daughter fourteen years ago. “Marcyllean..” He whispered.

Marcyllean couldn’t help but notice his troubled expression. She brushed it off and smiled, “Yeah… you’re the first person to announce it correctly.”

“Because I gave it to you.” He whispered quietly.

“Pardon?” Marcyllean asked timidly, afraid that she had heard correctly.

“I gave it to you.”