"Miss, is that all for today?"

"Yes."

DING!

My name is KiaoXiao Fei. I work at a grocery store near my apartment. I can barely make a living while working as a cashier. But at least I have a job. The rent is cheap, and the apartment doesn't look too shabby. It's three rooms. One the bathroom, two my bedroom, and three the kitchen and living room. As a child, I did not like to depend on others for money. Instead I wanted to work for it.

I payed my college tuition in science without the help of my parents. I did not like to depend on my parents for everything because I'll be a burden to them. If one person looked at me, they would see a 21 year old girl with glasses and shabby-looking clothes. But I don't really care about my looks. I care about my money.

"I should check the news."

                       (turns on tv)

"The famous actor Chan Xing has told the news channel that his crush--"

                       (turns off tv)

"Ugh, how boring."

"Now that I think of it, Chan Xing has the name as him. My old friend."

Back when I was living in China with my parents, we built a house in the countryside. Our house was small, but it fit all three of us in. We would pick flowers and play by the lake usually. The lake was closeby so we would go there a lot. One day, my parents had to go on an urgent errand and left me at home. It was so boring to just sit and wait for them. So I went to the lake. As I was walking towards the lake, I spot a boy with black hair, and in overalls crouching on the ground crying. I felt bad for him, even if I didn't know why he was crying. I tapped on his shoulder and smiled.

"Hey, want to be friends? I'm sure it won't make you sad."

He wiped his tears and nodded. I grabbed his arm and smiled.

"C'mon! Let me show you somewhere special!"

I took him to my treehouse.

"If you ever feel sad, come in here and shout my name. I'll be there. You can tell me anything that is bothering you."

"O-okay."

"Oh I forgot! What is your name?"

"M-my name is Xing. Chan Xing."

"It's a pleasure to meet you Chan Xing! I'm KiaoXiao!"

We shook hands and that's how our friendship started. His nickname was ChenChen and my nickname was KiXi. Once a week, Chan Xing would visit my treehouse and would shout my name. I would hear him and climb up the treehouse. He would hug me and cry out that his mom was being to mean to him. I told him to try to be a bit nicer her. The next day he came running to me saying she was still mean. And the next day too. I got tired of this so I asked ChenChen where he lived. When we arrived, it was a gigantic mansion. I gulped. When we were at the entrance, both doors flung open.

"Young Master, welcome home."

"This is my new friend KiXi!"

(ChenChen runs up the stairs)

"Ki-Xi you say..."

He was looking at me up and down.

"Um, i-it's actually KiaoXiao."

"Well then Miss KiaoXiao, you may leave."

"Wait! I need to speak to Chan Xing's mom!"

"The mistress? Very well then. I will ask her. Please take a seat while you wait."

The house was marvelous. It was covered in gold and marble, and there were so many rooms from just looking. The seats were polished with marble, and the vases looked very old but antique. After looking around, (while sitting) a woman with crimson hair tied in a bun comes downstairs. She walks up to me whiling glaring.

"What a plain girl. It's a shame."

"Hey don't talk about me like that! I'm here to tell you-"

"Be quiet. Why is a little plain girl like you doing on our land?"

"No. I have a house!"

"Well where it is little girl?"

"N-near Lake Kino."

"Everything past Lake Kino is our land. I will ask you to pack your bags and leave our land."

"That's not fair! We worked hard to build our house!"

"On our land."

"Hamilton, find out who this girl is in 10 seconds. 10, 9 , 8-"

"Mistress, her name is KiaoXiao Fei. She does live near Lake Kino. She has a mother and father also living with her."

"Alright. Contact her parents. IMMEDIATELY."

"Now, run along little girl. Go pack your bags because you are leaving. Since I'm nice, I will send you and your parents to America. Your welcome."

               (maid escorts KiaoXiao out)

"Mistress, the phone."

"Ah yes. Hello. I'm AnYin Xing of LIY Group. Your house is on our land. Pack your bags and get ready for America."

                       (hangs up)

"My job here is done."

(narrator/kiaoxiao)

Back at KiaoXiao's residence, she is currently packing her things.

"I hope we have a better life in the States." she sighs.

"Well, I will miss you."

"ARRRGHH! You scared me!" KiaoXiao screamed.

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It was Chan Xing, who was leaning on her window that was next to her.

"I'm sorry for whatever my mom said." he apologized with a frown.

"It's fine. My family decided to move to America." I lied.

For a moment I thought why did I have to lie? Was I afraid of his mother? Probably.

While I was eating dinner, my parents bursted in. My mother hugged me and asked me if I was hurt. I smiled and replied nope. My father said to me "It's a good thing you're alright." I also hugged him. I love my family very much. I wish to never be apart from my family.

I woke up earlier than usual and the first thing I did was check my parent's room. I opened the door slowly and peeked in. They were sound asleep.

"They must be really tired from work."

I was thinking about how hard they worked for us to live here. To show my appreciation, I cooked cook them breakfast on our last day in China. I looked in the fridge for ingredients. There weren't many ingredients in the fridge but I managed to find some eggs and some orange juice.

The living room was filled with boxes, and the kitchen was completely empty. There was just a few things more to pack. I felt gloomy thinking about America. Will I have a good time there? Will my parents and I survive living in America? Well, we'll just have to wait and see.

The day finally came, and a shiny black limousine was waiting for us outside. It was Butler Hamilton that was waiting for us.

"Your bags." He gestured.

We picked up our bags and plopped them in the trunk. The limousine has red velvet seats with extra cushions. It felt super comfortable to sit on. There was a tiny door separating us and Butler Hamilton. The door looked like a trap door but standing up.

There was a cabinet that was full of wine and oddly apple juice. The trip to the airport was long, so I was getting thirsty. I pressed a red button that would usually call Butler Hamilton. He did not answer. I kept spamming the button he still, he did not answer. Eventually, I just gave up. Maybe he didn't want to speak to me.

We arrived at the airport after 2 and a half hours. Butler Hamilton dropped us off gave us our tickets. He then left without saying anything. It made me think about how I will leave without saying goodbye to ChenChen. I didn't even say bye to him. I started to tear up and my parent held my shoulders and went to our plane.

THE END

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message from author:

i hope kiaoxiao will meet chenchen again T-T

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Okay enough of that. Fast forward to 2019.

I'm 21, who works at a grocery store . I survive by having multiple part-time jobs and my parents sending me money.

When I was four, my parents and I were forced to move to America. I stayed in America for about fifteen years and then moved to Japan. I was trying to pursue my dream to become a patisserie. It did not work out well. So instead, I found a job at a nearby store. The pay was OK.

Although I'm not underweight or overweight, I eat a lot of junk food. Mostly containing potato chip, soda, or homemade sweets. I do regular checkups but I'm always told I'm healthy. I am excellent at cooking. I could make anything taste good. Tomato soup? I gotchu. Healthy green juice? I still gotchu.

The next day, I woke up oddly energetic. While brushing my teeth, I was thinking of making an egg salad. So I decided to make it. Without following any recipe, I started to add in my own measurements. Hm, 4 eggs are enough. Oh, and ripe cherry tomotoes with the lettuce I grew in the backyard. Perfect!

And finally, I finished. It seriously looked like something you would find in an ad.

"Gotta take the those Pinergram photos!"

" Wow, already 48 likes!" I awed.

While on my phone, I decide to check my mail.

I spotted new mail so I clicked onto it.

" Your monthly bill of $148 has not been payed yet."

Geez. The pay here is getting more and more expensive. I can't live here with just being a cashier. I don't make a lot of money. I should find a better job. I won't quit my job just yet. I needed to get another job first. So I went off to find a job. The job I wanted should at least be somewhat related to art. I think I'm pretty good at sketching.

Although I majored in science when I was in college, and I always had a passion for art. I would sit behind a tree near my dorm, and would sketch anything. Nobody knew about this passion. Not even my parents. I kept it a secret because my parents did not allow it.

I was an introvert, who loved to stay indoors and sleep. I was difficult to talk to, and was not approachable. I did not like to be a subject of gossip or drama, so I would avoid everybody. No one wanted to become my friend because of how I look and act. Before this happened.

It was just a regular day of college. Me sketching behind a tree, and me avoiding people. Out of no where, a girl, who seems to be my age, taps on my shoulder.

"I always see you next to this tree when I pass by. What do you do here?"

"Something. If you'll excuse me, I'll take my leave."

I grabbed my notebook and ran off.

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message from author:

lil' gift for you :)

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