themeixhuang

[themeixhuang]

Mei: Oh, alright Mei: Not necessary, no. But I thought it'd be nice? Mei: And I know she'd be excited if you one day picked her up. But it's not at all necessary Mei: We'll be there later tonight. Just let me know what time works

Mateo: that’s great!

Mateo: I’m not sure that’s necessary, honestly

[a few minutes pass]

Mateo: unless it is?

@themeixhuang

[themeixhuang]

Mei again shook her head, letting out a sigh. Her own daughter had had a string of time at that age when she'd solely wanted to wear Disney princess costumes every day, and Mei let her- because when it was something so simple, why already cause discourse with your kid? Especially when they weren't hurting anyone. "I see your neon orange and I raise you the very real idea that the kid will discover dyeing your hair with Kool-Aid and will do it in the sink, coming out with blueberry hair." And if Mei's first thought on it was serves the mother right, well, she wasn't gonna say it aloud.

"A hamster..." Mei thought about it, nodding slowly. "Maybe? Or even like, a bunny or something? Or the betta could be a good idea. Maybe even multiple fish, getting her a nice big aquarium to have in her room..." it would be pretty easy to maintain, and still give Luna some sense of responsibility. "I might just take up your suggestions."

Nikki let out an exaggerated gasp. "That poor kid is going to grow up thinking life is one big fashion critique. I mean, can you imagine the rebellion phase? He's going to show up in neon orange just to make a point." she laughed, shaking her head in disbelief. "But hey, at least you've got a front-row seat, priority ticket to the chaos."

Her eyes lit up at Mei's mention of pets. "Oh, first pets are such a big deal! And I totally get wanting to start small. Poem-writing fish are definitely an option, but if you want something a little more interactive, what about a hamster? They're tiny, low-maintenance, and cute as hell. Plus, they're perfect for teaching responsibility..." Nikki offered "Oh, or if you want something even easier, a betta fish could be a solid choice —they're hardy and super pretty."

[themeixhuang]

When Mei saw a familiar face huddled over a table, she headed her way, easily weaving through the chairs and people around. She'd really only intended on getting a coffee and drinking it as she walked, but with some free time still allotted to her, Mei figured sitting with her coffee would be fine as well.

"I can definitely join you for a bit! Especially since Luna's been hounding me for days to talk to you about our next get-together anyways." She teased as she moved to sit across from her friend, draping her bag down behind her seat back and settling in. "All good?" She asked, motioning to the page before her.

Open starter: @aurorabaystarter location: driftwood coffee

The warmth of her chai latte sat untouched beside her, the steam still rising in delicate spirals. She’d been coming to this café for years, the smell of freshly ground coffee beans always drawing her in like a magnet. There was something about the atmosphere—calm but lively—that made it the perfect place to think, or not think at all. Her mind, as it often did, was scattered with a dozen different things, but here, she could let it all float.

Her pen hovered over the page for a moment before she sighed and let it fall, letting herself relax into the cozy corner. Maybe today wasn’t a day for writing. Maybe it was a day for simply being. She took a slow sip of her drink, the warmth comforting her as she glanced around the café, wondering who else was here today. "Hey, yeah that chair is free for the taking or you can join me for coffee." she said to the other with a simple smile.

[themeixhuang]

Mei: Good! So far things are really good Mei: Lu loves kindergarten and has a few little friends Mei: If you wanted...I could put you down as an approved pick up person for her? No pressure or anything, just some days I get stuck at work so she stays for after care. But if you maybe wanted to get her some days? Spend some one on one time? Mei: I'll bring a dessert

Mateo: how are you both liking it so far?

Mateo: that would be really nice

Mateo: spending time with you both, I mean

Mateo: oh uh

Mateo: no

Mateo: unless you want to

Mateo: but you don’t have to

@themeixhuang

[themeixhuang]

Mei waved off the look on his face, a smile on her own expression. It's not like she was some holier than thou person just because she'd taken care of his soon during daycare a few years ago.

"That's good to hear!" She replied before her expression turned bashful but her eyes brightened; getting to help mould little lives and help children get ready for school and teaching them the basics was such a joy to her. It was the whole reason she wanted the job. She shifted closer when he took his phone out, a little aww slipping out of her when she looked at the photo of his children. "They have. They look great, which is obviously now all your thanks." She teased, knowing that a good, loving parent obviously helped a child thrive. "She's good! Started kindergarten this year, so having her go off to start real school was nothing short of heartbreaking, but she's loving it so far, which is all I can ask for ultimately."

Eyes widening with the realization of who was next to him, his expression akin to a child caught doing something they knew better of. He once again profusely apologized, offering a nod in acknowledgment of her words.

"Yeah," he says with a smile, "Coop's doing good. Obviously, we have you to thank for that," he adds with a small laugh, grateful for the curriculum in place at the childcare facility he had once attended. His hands work quickly to retrieve the phone from his pocket, swiftly pulling it out to show her the lockscreen of Cooper and Harley. "They've gotten so big," he says, his babies no longer as small as they once were.

"How's your daughter?"

@themeixhuang

[themeixhuang]

Mei stayed quiet as her friend's words tumbled through her head; she did have a good point, but in the few instances Mateo had been with Luna....it was practically natural, an instantaneous connection between a father and daughter. "I think he does. But...you're right. I need to have that conversation with him. Even if...even if nothing ever happens between him and I again, I do need to know if he wants to be more than just a friendly figure in her life. If he wants to be a father." Which meant tying his life here, tying it to her... It was a big change. "I'll talk to him."

Mei looked over when Joey's hand moved to her shoulder, and as her friend spoke again Mei reached her own free hand up, covering Joey's fingers with her own and giving a grateful little squeeze. "You're right. Like you tend to be." She added with a little smile as she nodded. "I want things to work out with Mateo. To....to be a family, in any capacity. But you're right. Even if it doesn't work out with him...things will be okay in the end." Mei held her hand over Joey's for a moment more before letting out a soft sigh and letting go. "Thank you. For listening, and giving me advice..and hopefully only judging me just a little bit for this....insanity that is my life."

"First things first, figure out if her father really wants to be her father. He might be a good man, but that doesn't mean he will step in like you expect."

It's no shade thrown. Finding out you have a daughter is a curveball most (if not all) men wouldn't be ready to handle. So many years in, and granted the circumstances they've been dealt didn't give Mei much of an option, likely makes it a bigger, drier pill to swallow.

"And I don't mean, 'yeah, I'll be there', I mean an actual dad. Someone who wants to raise her and see her through all her milestones. It wouldn't be fair to Lu if he stepped into her life just to step back out," she adds with no malice. The reality is what she focuses on as she doesn't truly know Mateo. "And even if things turn out okay, I think therapy is a great tool just to make sure there aren't hidden issues that aren't seen right away."

Especially with someone as young as Luna. Joey places her hand on Mei's shoulder with reassurance. "And if things don't pan out, don't think this means you can't find the person who can add to your family."

@themeixhuang

[themeixhuang]

Mei watched the way he was with Luna, and vice versa. She'd been blessed with the fact that her little found family here in Aurora Bay had all helped raise her raise her daughter, but she'd always felt like something was missing- that he was missing. Even if she knew she'd never get that piece back. She'd been led to believe for years that Mateo was dead, so she'd long since come to terms with the fact that Luna would never get to know her real father. So to know now that'd all been a lie, and to be able to see Luna now with him...it was all Mei had ever really wanted.

"Lu, be careful!" Mei told her daughter with a laugh even though she didn't stop it, smiling as she watched Luna grabbing Mateo's free hand and tugging him along, his other hand gripped around his cane (a sight that made Mei's smile dim just a bit). But she didn't want to focus on that, she just wanted to focus on this, now, her tentatively-formed little...family.

"Me too."

And for hours they walked around, taking in the sights and buying some things, Luna almost never letting go of Mateo's hand as she laughed and excitedly pointed out various things. They'd paused a few times to rest or eat (Mei made sure of it since she didn't want to risk Mateo overexerting himself, unsure of how much walking he could even do...) and even with all that and with the sun now hanging low, a general tiredness throughout her, the smile on her face never wavered. "How about we head home? I can make us some dinner?" Mei looked to Mateo as she said it, the silent (hopeful) invitation on her face.

It was strange to think about how Mateo was a father and apparently had been for years without knowing. It was even stranger to think that he had a daughter with the woman he'd fallen in love with years ago. Perhaps destiny did exist and they were supposed to be together somehow, but he didn't want to get his hopes up again. Spending time with Mei and their daughter was something special and while he wished he'd been there from the beginning, he decided he would focus on the fact that he was there now.

"I'm very ready. What about you, miss Luna?" He smiled down at his daughter, seeing Mei in her features and even a bit of himself. It was strange but it was wonderful. Luna took hold of his hand and started tugging him towards the many booths in the market. He laughed and followed her as best as he could despite his hurt leg and cane.

"I'm glad we're doing this." He turned to Mei as they walked.

@themeixhuang

[themeixhuang]

"Oh absolutely. She actually told me that she fully intends on sending him with new daily approved clothes to be changed into. All will be color-coded I'm sure. I already lament for this poor child's future because heaven forbid he wear blue on a red day." Mei shook her head, letting out a laugh that ebbed off into a sigh because some parents really were just too much.

Taking another sip of her drink, Mei listened as Nikki spoke, letting out a little aww at the story she was told. "Let me know if you ever want to swap classes." She tesaed, "But that's honestly adorable! You know, I've been thinking of getting my daughter her first pet. Something small and low maintenance though, since I don't quite thing we're ready for a cat or a dog yet. Maybe I'll have to look into these poem writing fish. Or..well, any other good starter pets? Admittedly it'd be my first pet too."

Nikki snorted into her drink, nearly choking on her sip as she laughed. “Oh my God, are you serious? Like the two-year-old fashion police were going to come knocking? Some parents, I swear!” She shook her head, setting her glass down. “Did she want you to carry a Pantone swatch book for emergency outfit changes or something!?”

She leaned back in her chair, grinning. “As for me, nothing quite as crazy, but I did have a kid tell me very —very— seriously that their pet goldfish writes poems at night. When I asked if they’d ever read one, they said ‘No, because the fish is shy.’” Nikki chuckled, shaking her head. “Honestly though, I have to respect the creativity.” || @themeixhuang

[themeixhuang]

Mei had gotten herself a latter and a pastry for her breakfast and was about to head to the daycare she worked at to get her day going when she heard the comment. Unable to help herself, she looked over and couldn't stop the little giggle that came out of her. "If it makes you feel any better, a three year old in my daycare thought glitter glue would be a great new addition to one of our work tables."

who: open / @aurorabaystarter where: driftwood coffee

Teaching was a whole different ballpark than working at NASA—it was enjoying, but a whole new challenge. He'd done some guest lecturing before, though that was different. At least he was passionate about science and physics. He hoped that was coming through to his students even if his class was sometimes a bit of a mess. Ripley settled down in the coffee shop with a stack of papers he needed to grade—sure he could have asked one of his student professors, but he liked the work. "Oh, wow. These are horrible," he marked all the wrong answers on this one with a sparkly pink gel pen.

[themeixhuang]

Mei smiled brightly as he turned to her and she nodded, "Sure did." She agreed with a laugh, letting Luna help her as she held up the gift for him, her little Merry Christmas! tagging along with it, making Mei laugh softly. "This is my daughter, Luna. She actually helped me wrap everything." She explained as she handed over the gift with a nice bottle of whiskey and a glass for it with an engraved leather holder. There was also a set of metal cubes for ice to note dilute the drink. "Hope you like it."

Nelson had been waiting around for a while unsure who had picked up his name. He kind of felt bad to be honest because not even he knew what he had wanted so he just threw stuff in a list that he could use. It was kind of hard to shop for someone who kind of had everything. He’d always sort of been that way. When he recognized the sound of the voice who called him he realized Mei had probably got him. “ hi” he replied before giving her a smile. “ how are you? did you end up getting me ?” He asked before looking at the girl standing with her. Kids normally liked him but to be fair that was just his brothers kids who did “ and who is this?” @themeixhuang

[themeixhuang]

closed - @ambivalenceshefelt

where - any food place

With their day done at work and Mei still having a few hours before she needed to pick up her daughter from kindergarten, she figured having lunch with her coworker would be a fun way to kill some time. "Has anything crazy happened to you yet this year? I had a mother lose her mind at me because the shirt I changed her son into wasn't the right shade of green to go with the pants he was wearing. As if a two year old would be judged for not color-coordinating."

[themeixhuang]

Mei: Of course! Mei: That would be nice. Luna started back up at school this week (and I at the daycare) so ending the first week back after the holidays with you would be really nice. Mei: [lots of ... typing and erasing] Mei: Can I bring anything?

Mateo 📲 Mei

Mateo: Would you and Luna like to come over for dinner sometime soon? Mateo: I was thinking this weekend.

@themeixhuang

[themeixhuang]

Mei grinned brightly at the thought, loving that her little girl had a best friend and so many people in this town that loved her. "It's amazing to see them growing up too- if not a little heartbreaking. I may need you to hold my hand when Luna officially starts getting into grade school." Kindergarten was bad enough when she still thought of her little baby with bottles and diapers. "Oh, absolutely please. Wine? And let me know if you need any help? I'm all yours."

"Oh, I know Sunny's so excited to see Luna too!" Noelle led Mei into the house before telling Luna where Sunny was in the house. The little girl beamed at the idea of coloring books being available to her, and she ran off in the direction of her friend. "Can I get you a drink?" She asked Mei.

@themeixhuang

[themeixhuang]

Mei knew the man as one of the parents from the daycare so she went over to him with her glass of wine in hand, figuring a few minutes of chitchat while her date (was he her date???) was off mingling as well. She laughed though at the question, shaking her head kindly at him.

"You're fine! It's loud in here after all." She assured with a laugh. "I was asking how your son is. He must be so big so now compared to when I had him."

open starter : @aurorabaystarter

where : nye ball // the seascape hotel

The soft lighting enveloped the polished wood countertop in a cozy glow, his eyes tracing every grain of the oak with his gaze as his fingertips lightly tapped against the whiskey glass he had been nursing for what felt like ages. He was too lost in thought to take a sip of the bottom-shelf liquor, a victim of his own thoughts as his mind wrestled with what the approaching new year might hold for him and his family. “Sorry, I’m not trying to be an asshole, I promise,” he said, glancing over at the person next to him. “But I’m going to need you to repeat whatever you just said.”

[themeixhuang]

New Years Eve Ball - Mei Lian Huang

with @mateoxdiaz

@aurorabayaesthetic

[themeixhuang]

Mei: She did! Funnily, she didn't even tell me. I know macaroni was involved though. And glitter paint given the state of her fingers and hair when I got her. So you should prepare space on the front of your fridge now. Mei: Either works! Lets say Tuesday? If you can you can stay for dinner too, I'm sure Lu would love it.

Santiago: Did she? Tell her I'm very excited to find out what it is. Santiago: It's a pretty busy week pub-wise, but I could stop by tomorrow or Tuesday if you have any time going spare. Santiago: I got some stuff to drop off for you guys too. @themeixhuang

[themeixhuang]

txt mei 📲 santiago

Mei: Luna made you something at school for Christmas! Mei: (Not to mention my own gifts~) Mei: You free any time this week for us to drop it off? Mei: Or of course you're welcome to drop by whenever ❤️ @santiagodeleons