The Truths Behind the Life of Maeve Sun Lively

62

SHE SEEMED TO BE MORE freaked out than I was, which didn't make a lot of sense since I was the one who harmed her all those years ago. She turned her back on me, and I didn't dare to move. When she finally turned around again, facing me, she had a hand to her cheek, that arm's elbow resting on top of her other arm that's wrapped around her waist. And I had to admit, she still had that sort of natural C-Pop glow to her she had when we first met.

Before I got to say anything, she said, "OK. Okay, okay." She took a huge inhale that looked like it might explode her lungs. "Okay. You're here. Wow. Okay." She looked like she was going to start pacing around but doesn't. Just stood there, waiting for me to say something.

My hand had somehow gotten to shaking as I found my voice, gaining it back bit by bit. "Uh, yeah, I guess I am? How would you not know? I've been filming here for two weeks now. Do you work around here? And how do you and Mary Qiu know each other? Workie? Is that your name now? It can't be, sorry, but it sounds ridiculous. How are you? You look great. Where did your highlights go? What happened to you after Mr. Wang? I never heard from you again. I'm so sorry, Bridget. I'm so sorry. I was so petty about such a thing years ago and I—oh god, things are spilling out of me."

She stays a good distance away from me, eyes dashing back and forth between me and the ground. "I think maybe...maybe..." I could barely look at her myself as she did with me. "Maybe we should talk. About some things." Her muscles on her arm from dancing so long ago flexed. Yes, we needed to talk. Should've done it so long ago. I should've done it so long ago. A simple apology that has been delayed for longer than intended. Or if I ever intended to even make the apology. "Maybe with some tea?"

She led us to some crew members' resting room. There was a teapot and some hot water, adding on with the tea bags. She started making one. I sat on the folded chair and table, feeling all those past times I've spent with her in a cafe of sorts, now meeting her again here in a too sharp-lighting room with an awkward smell to it. When she's done, she pours it into two paper cups and comes to sit in the chair across from me. Her two hands wrapped around her cup. None of us took a sip.

"Okay." She made a small gesturing motion with her hand, while the other one still glued to her cup. "So, maybe we can start with small stuff. Small stuff first, right?"

"Right. Small stuff." The jeans from the outfit I was given for shooting felt scratchy, making me realize I haven't even changed back to my own clothes. "Should I ask first or should you? Actually, I guess I'll just ask." I let my lips wander to the edge of my paper cup, the steam rolling up, the warmth of it feeling like a pleasant air blanket wrapping up my eyes and nose even when my mouth hasn't touched it yet. I set the cup down instead of taking a drink, waiting for it to cool. "What did you do after G.W.F. broke up? How did you end up here in LA? I thought you were back in China all these years. Sorry, that might've been too many questions at once."

"No, not at all. I'm used to questions." Instead of warningly testing the temperature of the tea like I did, she takes a sip of it, not shying away from the hotness at all. "The littlest one of most, they call me Workie here because," she rolled her eyes a little, "I apparently work a whole lot of load. That's why. But yeah, it is a pretty ridiculous name after all. I guess I've just gotten so used to it."

Her shirt was simple, nothing fancy, some paint on it even. And her fingers looked callused, which it hadn't before. What had she been doing all these years?

"After G.W.F. broke up, Mr. Wang wanted me to go out individually, said I had 'a talent'. I actually believed him for a bit." She eyes me, half of her face in her paper cup, then she laughed. "He said that to you too. And a lot of others. I guess that made it seem less important, but sometimes I wonder if he did ever see a talent in me. Have you seen him? I haven't since G.W.F broke up."