Su Lik’s secret

» Moiliili

Sharing the couch, Su Lik and Lu Wi watched the rest of the late news in frozen silence. Neither of them moved, both feeling their budding relationship teetering on the precipice of it's all over now, baby blue -- another song she learned from the oldies channel at work -- fearful of altering the fragile balance.

They watched the report from the East-West Center about another attack on the second Lama Jey Tsong Khapa, this one by a Muslim imam screaming that most damning epithet, "Polytheist!" They watched weather, sports and the traffic forecast. Finally, they watched reporter Mina Minimoto's wrap-up from the federal building.

"Saving the best for last, Joe," she said, "let's roll that footage of the eighth and final member of Te-Wu who was arrested today. His name is Fon Du. Police and the FBI allege he is the head of the Honolulu office of the Chinese secret police, and was posing as the vice-president of the Bank of Lhasa branch on Bishop Street."

"Your boss," Su Lik said, "yes?"

Lu Wi nodded. "Too bad. He's good man for China."

Su Lik slid to the other end of the couch.

"Why," he said, "you think Te-Wu bad?"

"Lu Wi, Lu Wai, babe... OK, I have secret too."

She took a deep breath, gathering her thoughts.

He took a deep breath, suddenly fearing that the woman he loved had once been a prostitute or something.

It was worse than that.

"My family," Su Lik began, "and many friends, are Falun Gong. Te-Wu come in Beijing, take my father away. I never see again. Other friends, Te-Wu comes, take to prison, beat them very badly. That's when I decide to come to America. Free to believe what I want to believe. You know, I never care too much about Buddhists, but now I see it is same thing. Te-Wu torture, kill Buddhists same as Falun Gong. Communists allow only one way. It's very bad way."

Lu Wi was hoping to hear a "but" in there. Like, "but I love you and it doesn't matter who you work for."

But there were no buts about it.

"So... " he said in a questioning tone.

"So... " she replied. "I love you, Lu Wi, Lu Wai. You first man I give myself to. I want to be your wife, Mrs. Lu Wi, Lu Wai. But I no can marry Te-Wu man. Never."

"But for the good of the Motherland... "

"This mother no love me. This mother hurt me, kill my father. She no longer my mother."

He stood to leave, tried to kiss her cheek, but she turned away, hiding her tears until he was gone.