Please note that all characters are over eighteen. Enjoy!
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I stopped in my tracks when I saw the tiny Asian woman turn into the rather posh riverside café where there was obviously a rather large party. She was incredible at around five feet tall with long silky black hair tied back with a scrunchy. She was dressed casually in long baggy cotton trousers and a blue and white striped Ralph Lauren shirt hanging loose. I knew it was wrong, but I couldn't stop myself from turning to follow her up the white marble steps into the large open plan café where long tables of food and drinks were set up.
My name is Gwen and ever since my girlfriend from school went to university, I have survived on one or two nightstands. Every Friday I go to one of the many gay and lesbian night clubs in town where I meet a woman whom I end up fucking and yet no matter how intense our passion I always seem to end up in tears: alone once more. I am particularly fond of small Asian women so noticing this woman whom I guessed wasn't much older than twenty-three: I was drawn to her like a magnet draws steel.
Walking close behind her I was surprised that she didn't seem to know many people so arriving at the drinks table I poured two glasses of punch offering her one.
"Care for a punch it's just the thing on a hot day like this. Oh, my name is Gwen."
At first, she was taken aback but quickly recovering took the proffered glass introducing herself as Ming then we stood contemplating each other as we drank the delicious fruit drink.
"I am afraid I really don't know many people here you see I was only invited by the hostess who is a friend from work I think she felt sorry for me because I never seem to get out and about much."
"Well Ming would you be horrified if I told you that the only reason, I am here is because noticing you enter, I followed simply because I had to meet you. I love Asian women and your beauty drew me like a magnet."
"Oh my gosh ... so like me you really know no one here?"
Answering rather bashfully I told her that I had never seen any of the people at the party before expecting her to walk away but was stunned by her quick reply.
"Then Gwen I will say that you are my flatmate and feeling shy invited you as my partner."
Leaning forward I brushed her lips with mine before suggesting we follow the crowd to the tables filled with seafood and salads. It was a strange party because although Ming's friend from work introduced us to other guests, we were largely ignored which although off-putting did give us a chance to get to know each other. As I was the gate crasher I spoke first.
"Ming I am twenty-three and my parents divorced when I was three: even now I don't know who or where my father is. Just after my eighteenth birthday party, my mother ordered me out of the house you see she is a member of this weird religious sect and as a result has many odd ideas about life. The following weekend she learned that I had been seen kissing a woman in the park opposite my school. I tried to explain how for most of my life I have known that I was different and I now know that although I like men, I see women in a completely different way. Hearing this my mother simply told me to leave the house. I spent that night on the street but the following day the girl I had been seen kissing invited me to stay at her house."
"She was in the same year as me although enrolled at a private girls school not far from where my mother lives. Her mother was cool about our relationship even giving us advice on how to deal with people to whom homophobia is the norm: how different parents can be. I lived with her until after graduating when she was preparing to attend university in the city while I had to find work. My mother had always said she would help me get through university but obviously that is no longer an option."
"What were you hoping to study."
"Math's was always easy for me, so I wanted to be an accountant. I am hoping to save enough money so as to commence university in two years' time. I was so lucky getting employed with a large multi-national company where I now have a lower managerial position with ten people under me. I live with a group of people my age in a converted warehouse down by the river the rent is cheap and although I am the only one not in a relationship life is enjoyable."
"I think I know that place I wish I had managed to find a vacancy there. What are your interests?"
"Before I answer your question allow me to emphasize that I am not living with a bunch of alternates we are all employed in full-time work and hope to improve ourselves over time. As for me, I love to read and also play the cello although I am not very good, it just gives me pleasure to make music."
"I think your mother is the loser."
"Like you, I am twenty-three and while my father was Chinese my mother was from the Philippines coming from Manilla where her parents owned a business marketing farm produce. I was brought to this country when I was ten when my father was offered a permanent transfer with BP ... he was working in their Hong Kong office before that. Sadly, when I was fourteen both my parents died in a small plane accident and since then until finishing my schooling, I was brought up by three foster families connected with the Catholic Church: both my parents were very serious about attending Church."
"Since finishing school life has been a grind and I have worked in many different jobs including as a prostitute on the streets. I was kind of saved when an elderly lady found me in a park where I had been dumped after being beaten by a client. I say kind of because when she heard I was a prostitute she forced me to service her many friends as payment for my food and keep. Finally, I decided I would be better off on the street and it was between clients that I was met by the woman who is hosting this party. Don't get me wrong she just wanted to help me and managed to get me a position with the small real estate agency she works at. The work is not well paid, so I am sharing a two-bedroom unit with two other people."
As Ming spoke, I got a closer look at her. She really was very beautiful and hearing that her mother was from Manilla I understood her light tan skin tone which made her even more beautiful. Her only real blemish was a small scar on her right cheek. When she finished talking, I asked about the scar and she explained it was a souvenir from the evening her client beat her up.
After telling our life stories and answering the many questions we both asked it became obvious that the party was winding down and once more we stood in silence.
"Ming you fascinate me I don't think I have ever met someone who is so resourceful: I can understand many people putting you down because of your time as a sex worker but I see this as a sign of your strength. It's not five yet so why not make an evening of it."
