I rest on the armrest and look out the window. To my left, Xu Zi Quan mirrors my pose, deep in thought. My jacket is folded on my lap. Going via Xu Zi Quan's car was definitely a good decision. I quite like not freezing to death.
When I was little, I used to try counting all the pine trees, the ones surrounding us on either side of the road, but eventually came to the conclusion that it was impossible. However, I never stopped loving those trees. As much as I hate leaving my room, hiking has always been highly enjoyable for me. Especially alone. My mom thinks I'm a little crazy for that.
Loud Beatles music blasts in the background. It reminds me of my dad. He loves old gems like that. Old songs, old movies, old books. The Beatles affected society then and even today, making them hard to forg--
"Ok. twenty minutes have passed, Xu Zi Quan. I can speak now, correct?" I flinch at the loud, deep voice of Xu Zi Quan's dad. Shoot, only ten more minutes to go without hindrance. We were so close to a perfectly quiet drive. He clarifies, "Xu Zi Quan told me to be quiet for as long as possible."
Twenty minutes is the longest Mr. Xu, an adult, could do? I could be quiet for days. Maybe even weeks. Should I be concerned? Nah.
I glance over at him. Xu Zi Quan looks like he wants to curl up and die.
At least, looking through my not-so-rose-tinted glasses. In reality, he just pursed his lips. Though, for someone as composed as him, that's a lot. Huh, he seems to purse his lips whenever he's in an awkward position.
"So, your name is Min Hui, right? Cool name you got there." His dad pauses, expecting me to answer. Nodding along won't work either apparently. I feel so bad for Xu Zi Quan. A dad who can't stay quiet for longer than twenty minutes? Oof.
"Yep, that's me." I answer, unsure how to navigate this.
Mr. Xu turns down the volume of the music. Great. He wants to converse. "So, I saw you guys chatting earlier. Was I the only one who saw the crazy chemistry? No better time than high school I say. If it helps, Xu Zi Quan looked real comfortable with you, Min Hui."
High school is the all-time worst time for dating. Like studying and puberty? No, thank you.
Wait, chemistry? Like, the romantic kind--not the kind we study in school? And Xu Zi Quan and I? Yeah, right. I'm not dating anyone for the foreseeable future, which is quite long. I might even skip that and do an arranged marriage. Skip all the mushy stuff and complete the transaction--I mean, wedding.
"Dad, talking while driving increases the likelihood of an accident by a whole 400%." Xu Zi Quan informs softly, but firmly. He's also feeling awkward by his dad's commentary. Technically, talking on the phone while driving has that specific effect, but I'm not correcting him. Turns out, I'm not the only one who internalizes random facts and spits them out occasionally. I try not to smile.
"I was just joking around. Why so serious?" Mr. Xu makes a left turn. Xu Zi Quan exhales slightly louder than normal. I hate when people tell me to chill. I'm serious because I'm serious. End of story. Xu Zi Quan must think so too, judging by that almost-unnoticeable sigh.
For some reason that's eluding me, I want to impress Xu Zi Quan's dad somehow. As if I care about his approval of me. I'll need to do some self-reflection on that later. "We've basically finished our social studies project by the way. It was about tea, a product originally from China. Xu Zi Quan did really well."
Said person and I make eye-contact. He smiles.
"Reeeaaally?" Mr. Xu drags out the word, clearly uninterested in this subject. Very different from Dad. And Mom. "If you were a villain, how would you go about it?"
I blink. That was out of the blue.
Come to think of it, I'd love to be a villain in real life. If only pesky morals weren't in the way. News flash: I do want to help people in a substantial way, but don't want to actually deal with them. If that makes sense...
"I'd be the villain who never actually does anything villainous. Just stands there smiling, making everyone feel guilty for how much of an open book they are to me. Just knowing that would kill them emotionally. Subtle, but effective, right?" Xu Zi Quan answers smoothly. He's used to this it seems. Comfortable. No wonder he has so many thoughts.
And his answer? The most adorable thing ever. Kill people emotionally? Ha.
Actually...
He does read a room pretty well. Reads me pretty well in just the few interactions we've had... Xu Zi Quan might end up being a real threat after all. But I'm a bigger one.
"That's way too nice. I wouldn't kill anyone either, but I'd slowly gain power, keeping a reputation for ruthlessness." I say, almost in a rehearsed manner. This may or may not be the first time I've entertained this particular thought. I think of one of my favorite books: The 48 Laws of Power. "I'd also manipulate the people into believing that I'm their hero. Hero origin story? Faked. Motivations? Manufactured. Emotional damage? Monetized. All in my control."
I had way too much fun with that. I should genuinely consider villain-ing as a career option. Anyway, even now, people get intimidated by me. And I'm not even evil.
Xu Zi Quan raises his eyebrows, concerned... But then he, amused, laughs in a sort of curious way.
"You're terrifying."
"I get that a lot." I smile. I'm proud of this tendency of mine. Everyone has something that makes them special. The kind I have? It's how powerful people are made. And yes, confidence is definitely not something I lack.
Even Mr. Xu laughs, "She's scary smart and strategic. You two as a team? I'd pay to watch that."
At this point, even if Mr. Xu is constantly shipping us, I don't hate him. Even if his middle name might as well be chaos.
For the first time, Xu Zi Quan rolls his eyes. Xu Zi Quan, of all people. He's so different here. And it's cool too. To be honest, I'm also pretty relaxed. I didn't even think of all the stuff I got to do in this whole ride.
Suddenly, I come to the realization as to where we are. We make a familiar turn. We're close to home now. Strangely enough, it wasn't completely mortifying, believe it or not. I mean, I liked this. So weird...
* * *
As we drive up to my house, I see my parents and brother getting out of our white Toyota. Oh, yeah. I don't suppose Xu Zi Quan's dad would let me out with no sort of delays... When the car comes to a stop, Mr. Xu strides out the car. Nope, no such luck.
Xu Zi Quan follows after his dad. If they're doing this just to be polite, I wished they didn't feel like they had to. I hate chivalry. Too artificial.
I also come out, grabbing my jacket, while walking up the driveway. I take a sip of my water bottle. My brother, still in his Jiujitsu clothes, is already in the house. Min Kai can squeeze a bit of TV before my parents come in. Smart kid. He, clearly, learned from the best.
"Hello, Min Hui's parents!" My poor mom startles by Mr. Xu's enthusiasm. She and Dad look at me, curious what kind of people I'm associating myself with. I shrug. I don't know either. In a second, my dad goes into "talk to annoying people" mode.
"Yes, I'm Min Hui's father. And you are--" He pauses. Mom quietly reminds him.--"Xu Zi Quan's father, is that right?"
My mom, shutting the car door behind her, adds, "Thank you for dropping Min Hui for us. It's been difficult driving nearly a hundred miles everyday to drop everyone."
"It was no problem. Great actually! " Xu Zi Quan's dad answers. "Though, nearly a hundred miles is certainly a lot. I was thinking that we could carpool, to waste less gas and effort, how about it?"
My dad isn't even listening; he's on his phone writing an email or something I try not to laugh. Dad simply doesn't have the energy to waste on this guy. Real. I barely manage.
My mom comes to the rescue, "I would need to wait for Min Hui's approval. She has a very busy schedule. However, it does save time. Can I have your WhatsApp?"
She knows, better than anyone, how stingy I am about changes in schedule. I can get extremely difficult to be around when unexpected things happen.
Though, carpool? That means I'd be trapped in a car everyday twice a day with people I barely know...
Xu Zi Quan, only loud enough for me to hear, says, "My dad's a lot. For me and for everyone. He's probably not going to give up either, so hello carpooling partner."
"Do you have a good hot spot? And are you on time most of the time?" I test. I need to know if carpooling will negatively affect me or not.
"Our hot spot works pretty well; I also got homework to do. And we are punctual the majority of the time." He passes.
"Then, I have no complaints." Even with this wacky arrangement, my life wouldn't change too much, so I'll live. "But you'll also be in my car sometimes, do you need anything?"
"I won't be any trouble," he brushes off. Xu Zi Quan check his phone for the time. Sure, if you say so. "Also, judging the kind of person you are, I don't imagine you to be a very chaotic person."
He's not wrong.
I nod to my parents. My dad puts his phone away. He's going to deal with this situation now. "So, I say we carpool for a week, and see how it goes."
"Great, we'll figure out the details later." Mr. Xu agrees. He takes his phone out to exchange numbers with my mom. My dad goes back into the house. He's had enough. I love how Dad has reached a point in his life where there is two categories: important and unimportant. This exchange places in not-so-important.
"Thanks again, hope to hear from you," my mom says to be polite before also heading inside.
Xu Zi Quan's dad turns back to us. "That's great. See you tomorrow, Min Hui."
I smile and nod. I need an award for how well I'm socializing. "Yeah, thanks for the ride. Bye."
I wait at my front door. Xu Zi Quan waves. I wave back. The Xus go back into their car. I watch them until they disappear behind the bend of the street.
I'll have to wake up earlier tomorrow morning. I miss sleeping. But, if I were to carpool with any of my classmates, Xu Zi Quan would the one I'd tolerate the most.