Chapter 13：CHAPTER 13 : THE RIVAL

Megumi had stayed in Doug's place for two days, but Caren still didn't want to talk to her. That night Josh came for tutoring her like used to be, he also wanted to see Megumi.

Caren :"Until when your girlfriend will stay here ?"

Josh :"Hahaha.... not for long, I'll send her to my mom in new year. Just be friend with her will you ?"

Caren :"Why should I be friend with my rival ? Dad seems like so happy with her, what so good about her ?"

Josh :"Her family was broken, her father is in jail. Her life was miserable. She's older than you a year but she quit school because of no money. Just try to be nice to her will you."

Caren :"I'll think about it. Now where is my gift ?"

Josh got a box from his bag and gave it to her, she eagerly wanted to open it. Her eyes got widened.

Caren :"Wow a music box also for jewelry, thank you Josh ! You surely know what I like !"

She took the gift to her room in second floor. Now he met Megumi.

Josh :"Hi Meg, how are you doing ?"

Megumi :"I'm fine, Mr. Liu is very kind to me. I can eat delicious food everyday, he really spoilt me. But I'm feeling guilty for just eat and sleep all day in here, do you have job for me ?"

Josh :"That is I want to tell just now. Starting tomorrow I think you can help my friend doing some cooking job or delivering foods. Just get ready tomorrow morning I'll pick you up here."

Megumi :"That will be great ! OK I'll be ready tomorrow morning."

Josh :"OK see you tomorrow."

Josh got back to his place, he met Hawk when he was about to enter his room.

Hawk :"Have you seen her today ?"

Josh :"Her who ?"

Hawk :"Megumi of course ! I won't ask for your girl !"

Josh :"Yes I met her just now. Why do you ask her frequently ? Do you interested on her ?"

Hawk :"Of course I'm interested to such a good looking girl !" he laughed.

Josh :"Tomorrow I'll bring her to Aunt Qing kitchen to help her. But you don't pursue her so obvious will you ? Remember she's too young ! Just wait for some years dude, give her times to bloom !"

Hawk :"Don't worry I won't touch her till the time has come. Don't be such protected brother will you ? hahaha... By the way you can't touch boss daughter also dude !"

Josh :"Absolutely ! She's too high to reach also, I don't dare to touch her !"

Hawk :"But looks like she's fond of you ? I can see her burning eyes when she saw Megumi."

Josh :"Ah just ignore her !"

The next day Josh pick Megumi up from Doug's house. He then showed her to aunt Qing to help.

Josh :"Morning aunt Qing. This is the girl I told you yesterday, her name is Megumi. This is aunt Qing."

Megumi shook her hand with her :"I'm Megumi, please teach me aunt Qing."

Aunt Qing nod and smiled :"OK young lady, don't get upset easily if I scold you OK ?"

Megumi :"I won't aunt, just teach me well and I'll help you."

Aunt Qing :"OK you may leave now Josh, just trust her with me here, don't worry I won't eat her hahaha..."

Josh left her to work that morning. He knew aunt Qing well, she just like tiger without teeth. She had a golden heart actually, she wouldn't harm Megumi for sure. Josh knew she was getting older and need helper, that's why he offered Megumi to help her.

Hawk couldn't wait for lunch time, he really wanted to see Megumi again. He remembered the time he spent together with her while they sailed back to the city. She had captured his heart with her purity, but Hawk knew he couldn't have her in this short time. He would wait patiently for her to grown up into young lady.

Megumi was a hard working girl, aunt Qing liked her quick wit and her fast work. That noon Hawk and Josh came to aunt Qing cafe they had their lunch together. Megumi was very happy to see Josh again she smiled welcome him, but then she turned to frown because she didn't like Hawk, he often teased her when they see each other. But she still served their meal.

After working hours Josh back to aunt Qing place to picked up Megumi. He banned Hawk to go with him "No, you can't come with me now. Next time maybe if you can behave yourself well !"

Josh :"Thanks aunt Qing for teaching her well today. Let's go home now Meg. See you tomorrow aunt Qing."

Aunt Qing :"Careful on your way home !"

Megumi :"Bye aunt Qing, see you tomorrow."

Josh :"How's your day today Meg ?"

Megumi :"Aunt Qing was very kind to me. I knew her high tone voice not to scold me but care with me. It's different with my past, people yelled at me because they didn't like me, not because my work."

Josh :"Forget about your past. Now start your new life in the new world. Just be yourself !"

They've arrived at Doug's house, Caren saw them came together she became upset "Huh she's really my rival !" Megumi tried to be nice to her, she said hello to her, but Caren ignored her and went back to her room. Doug saw that, he had plan to gathered them. Josh waved good bye to Megumi then he left to his boarding house.

It's dinner time, Doug told aunt Lan to call Caren and Megumi to the dining room. Doug had waited them in there, Megumi came and sit on the right side. Caren still upset and decided didn't have dinner that night. Doug couldn't hold his emotion anymore, he went to her room and he scolded her, he forced her to had dinner together. Finally Caren follow him with pouting face.

While they were having dinner, Doug lower her voice tone again and tried to smile "Caren and Megumi you both are my own daughter just don't get misunderstand to each other. Caren tried to be nice with Megumi she is our guest here, she maybe will stay here for a month. Meg you're a bit older than Caren just try to be a good big sister to her. We all want to have a happy and peaceful life right ?"

Megumi :"Yes sir, I'll try to be a good sis to Caren."

Doug :"Caren, how about you ?"

Caren :"Dad didn't you just side with stranger just now ?"

Doug :"Who is stranger ? Meg ? I don't think so, I treat her like my own daughter too. I'm not siding with anyone of you ! So, will you cooperate with me now ?"

Caren :"mm."

Caren was not satisfied with his father deal. She felt her father was not close to her anymore since there was Megumi. She still thought Megumi as a rival to her.

Megumi on the other hand, she now planning something on her mind, how to make Caren be her friend. She said to herself "I'll ask aunt Lan tomorrow what is her favorite food. I'll learn to make them for her."

It was week end that day, she didn't have to go to help aunt Qing, so Megumi decided to learn to make dumpling with aunt Lan since it's Caren's fave food. About three hours she helped aunt Lan to prepared for the dumpling, now they were ready to served for lunch. Megumi went to Caren's room, knocked on her door and she tried to persuade her to had lunch together. Caren's finally melted, she opened her door and went to the dining room together with Meg.

Doug :"It's nice to see you walk together !"

Caren :"Wow it's dumpling, what occasion is today ?"

Aunt Lan :"It was Megumi who made them, she asked me how to make them for you young miss."

Megumi smiled :"Yes, you can try them, I'm sorry if the taste not suit you."

Caren took one to taste, then she took another two to eat.

Caren :"Hmmm It's delicious ! You are a good cook Meg ! I don't like to cook but I really like to eat hahaha... you can have it too dad, it's delicious !"

After lunch they had chat in Megumi room. Caren began to open her heart to her, and now she was curious about her past, and she asked her how Josh knew her. She told her all, Caren felt sad to hear her story. Then she grateful to have her beloved dad. She changed her attitude toward Megumi now. She gave her cloth to Megumi also, and she told her to bring her to the department store tomorrow to buy some nice cloth. She asked her dad some money, and told her dad about her plan. Doug smiled, he said to himself "Well, my daughter had grown up, she changed now !"