The Foreigner

She watched as the lecturer, Mrs. Justina Silva, announced the arrival of the new foreign student, Yeong So. Her best friends fawned at the sight of the student's dashing looks. According to Mrs. Silva, he was here on a twinning programme, but he planned to stay for half a year after his graduation to study the Chinese language.

Yeong So had mixed heritage as his father was Korean and his mother was Canadian, but they had been living in Malaysia for the last decade as his father had started a business in Johor. His ancestral roots included Chinese as well, so he was keen on learning to speak Chinese and studying the culture of the Chinese.

Following that, Mrs. Silva announced the pairings of the class for their new upcoming project. They were all stunned that out of 105 students in the class, Myra was the one who was paired with Yeong So.

Yeong So glanced at this young woman, who had an air of immaturity and playfulness before her, but what dazzled him about her was the fact that she had natural beauty. Her face was flawless and free from blemishes of any kind, and her facial features were elegant. She also hadn't bothered with makeup (practically because she had forgotten to bring her makeup pouch with her before she ended up spending the night with Yu Bing). Yeong So recalled how he had just split up with Eun-Jung, a Korean girl studying at his university in Kuala Lumpur, because of the fact he was leaving for his twinning programme. He had wanted to find a girl close to his own heritage, but it had ended badly. Unknown to Eun-Jung, he had already found out about her affair with another. He hoped the next girl he met would not be like all these materialistic women who were full of plastic and had no true feelings for him. Probably Eun-Jung liked him because he was rich. If he hid the fact he was rich, would someone eventually like him for his personality instead?

"We're going to be busy for the next few weeks on our project," she explained at the end of the lesson. "Have you had a tour of the university?"

She escorted him around the university, and he watched the fascinating beauty before him, while heeding the details of the places that she seemed to place priority to, mainly the libraries, the food courts, and lastly, the 'hangout' corners. When they stopped at one of the corners, Yeong So realised that she had seemed to be befuddled by the sight of a tall man staring straight at her, while in the company of a professor in glasses.

"Mr. Wang, good morning," she greeted amicably. "This is Yeong So, the new student."

Yeong So extended a hand to the professor, and the professor shook it warmly. Myra informed Yeong So that Mr. Wang taught Chinese culture, so if he had opted for the elective module, he would be meeting Mr. Wang in the lecture theatre very soon. Their attention was then diverted to the man beside the professor. Yu Bing looked enraged, while trying to maintain his composure.

"This is Yu Bing, my fri-"

Yu Bing immediately curled an arm intimately around Myra's shoulder and glared at the new student irately. He introduced himself rather coldly, with an indignant look on his face.

"I'm Yu Bing, her boyfriend."

"I'm working with her on a project. We will be rather busy for the next few weeks, according to Mrs. Silva."

Wow, that escalated quickly, Mr. Wang thought, observing with interest as the two men appeared to be challenging each other in a contest for the fittest. Well.. May the best man..win?

Yeong So eyeballed the boyfriend closely as if trying to read him and his emotions. He scrutinised his choice of clothing carefully, admiring the man's taste. Was her boyfriend rich? He coolly stated in fluent English in a corny manner, "Brunello Cucinelli, 'The King of Cashmere'. Excellent taste." Yu Bing felt the younger boy trying to absorb him mentally, and responded with revulsion in his mind.

"Myra, I have something urgent that I need your help with," he told her, immediately ushering her towards the car, as she yelled back at Yeong So, "I'll call you about the project arrangements!"

As they drove away, the sight of the student staring after them stirred his mind and made him feel unsettled. Yu Bing frantically turned into a park and halted the car. She followed him as he alighted from the car, noticing how stormy his mood was. Could he be jealous seeing her with the new student?

"Yu Bing, didn't you say you had something to tell me?" she poked at him, tousling her hair as she spoke.

"How long have you been hanging out with that boy?" he suddenly asked, gazing at her with his fiery eyes. She could feel the tension in his voice.

"I just got to know him today for the assignment," she pronounced. "Are you being curious about me? He seems quite a friendly chap, and I wonder if he has a girlfriend."

Her words triggered more ire in him, and he instantaneously cupped her cheeks in his hands and locked her against the back of his car. She closed her eyes and his tongue invaded her mouth furiously. She felt dominated by the intensity of his hot kisses, but kissed him back hesitatingly. They were in such proximity that she could feel his heart thumping against her chest, as his hands moved to snake themselves around her waist possessively.

He knew he was furious, and he was not going to let the foreigner get her by all means, even if it meant being the villain in her story. At the same time, he felt disoriented and addled by his own feelings. His emotions were a turmoil inside his head, and he had lost his sense of direction. He desperately wanted her to be his, but given her words this morning, it seemed impossible. They were only a couple in name.

What would it cost him to get her?