Caucasian American woman falls for an Asian man in Hong Kong, China.
*
Jing Houng, better known as Jimmy Hung, aptly named because his penis was so small, no doubt, and I were friends in college. We attended the same university and lived in the same dormitory annex. A co-ed dorm, he lived on the second floor and I lived on the third floor.
We were part of a close knit group of six, three women and three men, who studied together, ate together, and partied together. Except for some light kissing and petting, when high, none of us had a romantic connection with one another. We were all interested in and dated other people. All of us had other regular fuck buddies that weren't part of our tight dormitory group. Part of our college experience, we were just pals that hung out together.
After graduation, we all went our separate ways. Promising we wouldn't, we lost contact with one another. I returned to my small town life and he returned home to Hong Kong, where his family owned some sort of manufacturing and import, export business. From what I gathered, they were very wealthy.
When I thought of Jimmy, I thought of him at the same time that I thought of my other five friends. I thought of him as part of our group. I never thought of him alone, as someone, with whom I'd like to develop a serious romantic relationship. He was Jimmy and we were just friends. We liked one another well enough as friends, but there wasn't any sexual and romantic chemistry between us. When we were together, we had a good time laughing.
We spoke on the phone a few times and exchanged e-mail addresses and even made plans for the six of us to meet in San Francisco, a halfway point, as a reunion, but life happens. I was in a new relationship, got pregnant, and, after the birth of my son, that was that. The guy who impregnated me took off, when I told him that I was pregnant. It turned out that he was married, already, anyway. I should have known. Instead of having an abortion, against my religion, I had the baby and it was the best thing I ever did. Our relationship, the love and the laughter, was all too good to be true, that is, until I became pregnant and complicated his life with a child he didn't want.
I didn't see Jimmy again, until nearly ten years later, when I accepted a job for a very famous and exclusive suitcase and handbag manufacturer. That summer, I thought I'd be spending another summer home alone with my son and taking day trips. Not that there was anything wrong with that. I love my son and I love spending time with him, but Mommy has needs, too. A single Mom, I've been dedicated to raising him alone. He needs a Dad, someone to share the responsibility and to show him how to be a man. Only, there aren't a lot of men who want a woman with a child.
Before taking off for my two week summer vacation, I was excited when my company asked me, if I'd accompany a team to scout out a factory location in China. Since the birth of my son, I haven't had a real summer vacation in years and I viewed the trip as more pleasure than business. At that point in my life, anywhere I went other than the park, the beach, or Disney World, was a real treat. Except for missing my son, watched over by my Mom, I was geared up to having some fun in a place that I always wanted to see. While there, maybe I could get in contact with Jimmy to see if we could rehash old times?
He'd be good for a lunch and a few laughs. Only, I wondered if it would be awkward seeing him alone without the rest of the group. Having lost touch with him, I dug out his old e-mail address that was still saved in my computer and contacted him.
"Jimmy! How are you? Guess what? I'm coming to Hong Kong on business. Can we meet for lunch? I'd love to see you again."
It was an innocent e-mail reconnecting with an old college friend and I didn't think any more about it, that is, until he responded. He floored me when he wrote back, not because he responded to my e-mail, but by what he wrote in his e-mail. He sounded so excited and surprised me with his hospitality.
"Susan! That's amazing! I'm so excited. I can't wait to see you. Lunch? Don't be silly. You are my guest in my country and will stay at my house. I insist. You will insult my Chinese heritage, if you decline my invitation and will have very bad luck, if you don't stay at my home, as my special guest. Come and stay with me. I will show you Hong Kong."
He told me not to make hotel reservations, which my company made anyway, but that he'd put me up in his house. Not knowing how my fellow employees would feel not having me available for early breakfasts and late night, impromptu meetings, I was a little reticent to stay at Jimmy's house, at first, but it was Jimmy. I was in an awkward position. I didn't want to insult Jimmy's Chinese heritage and have the curse of very bad luck, but I was there on business to do a job and my absence wouldn't bode well with the rest of the group.
It wasn't as if Jimmy and I were strangers. We were friends and, during our college years, we shared a lot of our good times, as well as some bad time memories. Having seen one another at our best and at our worst, we were pals and I was excited to see him again. Then, when I talked to him on the phone, he sounded so excited that I was coming to visit his country, China, and his city, Hong Kong, how could I say no?
Sure enough, when I got off the plane in Hong Kong, there was a driver holding up a sign with my name on it. Embarrassed and a bit uncomfortable, when the driver escorted me out to the car to take me to Jimmy's house, I watched my co-workers head for the shuttle bus to take them to their hotel. Already hot and humid, as soon as I stepped out of the airport terminal, I could feel the heat of the day, as well as the jealous stares I received from my fellow coworkers. They stood further down and away from me waiting for the bus to take them to their hotel. This was a chance in a lifetime to see Jimmy again, but I still needed to do my job. Jimmy assured me that his driver would drive me to meet up with my group later.
The fellow employees looked at me, stared, actually, as if I was abandoning them to join the PLA, the People's Liberation Army, but I told them that I was meeting up with an old college friend and to go ahead without me. I had their itinerary in my Blackberry and I'd catch up with them later. I waved my good-bye and made the hand sign that I'd call them. Definitely, I'd be there with them to take the factory tours and to scout out other possible and potential sites for our new factory.
No matter where I go, how far I go, and how long I stay, after losing my luggage once, I now only travel with a small carryon. It's unfortunate, since I work for a luggage company and can buy whatever I want and need in a high quality and matching suitcase dirt cheap. The driver took charge of my carryon bag. He would have carried me, if I asked, as he was a very large man for a Chinaman. Jimmy was only 5'8", at the most, and weighed a mere 150 pounds soaking wet. This behemoth of a man stood about 6'7" tall and weighed more than 300 pounds. I wouldn't want to stand in his way in the buffet line.
I'm not a car buff, by any stretch of the imagination, but I do know some cars and Gang, the name of my driver, certainly, he was a gang of one, escorted me out to this beautiful car that I had no idea what it was. Except, whatever it was, it looked expensive. It was big and it had a shiny black on the roof, hood, and trunk, and the sides of the car were a deep maroon. All the chrome pieces were plated in gold, including the wheels. It was an absolutely gorgeous automobile.
I stepped around the back, when the driver was storing my bag in the trunk to see the name of the car, Maybach 62. Wow. Even though I never heard of the name of the car, I knew it was expensive. Out of the corner of my eye, I caught a glimpse of my group staring at me and the car and, as disconcerting as that was, I felt a bit uncomfortable. They'll be telling the big boss that I took off with an old friend. Not good. I'll have some explaining to do when I return to work in the United States.
On the way to Jimmy's house, we drove through downtown Hong Kong. It reminded me of Mexico City, when I went to Mexico on spring break with Jimmy and the group, another lifetime ago. There were people everywhere and all the houses were huddled together. For sure, I'd never want to live there. I hoped Jimmy had a penthouse apartment somewhere near here, so that I wouldn't feel the claustrophobia that I was suddenly feeling now in the midst of so many people.
