Writer's POV.

It's been a week since Tom left to get started on the new Marvel movie Infinity War and Miriam and Tao still aren't on talking terms.

"ITCHI! NEE!" Miriam hit the punching bag without mercy with the occasional roundhouse kick after a long karate match in the dojo and a hard day at work in the garage with her boss Ben and a few unsatisfied clients.

The garage was so filled with cars this weekend that Miriam almost had a nervous breakdown with one of the clients that was complaining about her car (a white A4) still not being done. Luckily Ben came to the rescue before Miriam murdered the client, had a nervous breakdown and ended up in jail while the murdered client would probably end up at the cemetery IF they found the body.

"RRRRAAAAH!" Miriam yelled as she kicked the punching bag one last time sending it off it's hinges, spiraling into the air spraying the floor with the sand within and then finally smashing against the wall with a sonorus *BOOM!* before it finally hit the dojo floor with a resonating and satisfactory *thud*.

Miriam stood there panting heavily as she stared into space with her jaw clenched and her hands balled into tiny fists.

"Taking your anger out on our beginners training material isn't the solution Miriam-san" a firm yet gentle and comprehensive voice came from behind her.

Miriam remained motionless for another half hour or so; she had already sensed his presence from afar and didn't even need to turn around in order to figure out who it was.

"Sensei" she finally acknowledged after her breathing returned to normal.

She then proceeded to collect her belongings and then attempt to clean up her mess.
"You and Tao will clean up that mess tomorrow morning before the others arrive Miriam-san" Sensei interrupted her movements.

Miriam halted in her footsteps then slowly turned around to face her master.
"He didn't make this mess. I did" and she wasn't referring just to the sandy mess in the dojo.
She was also referring to her and Tao's friendship.
Tao was right.
She couldn't afford to grow close to someone else and then lose them.
That's what always happened.

Miriam would trust someone blindly and then they'd stab her in the back or leave if not die.
Just like her biological parents.

"Tao is young and clever but he is not yet wise.
Wisdom comes with age.
Be careful, yes.
But don't shut out the whole world."
He then winked knowingly at Miriam's stunned expression and slowly padded out of the dojo room.

Miriam looked down at the broom and dustpan in her hands.
Gave them a small squeeze, then let them fall to the ground as she let them go and rushed to her bag and jeans jacket.

***

Miriam pulled up in front of a small fancy smancy villa at the edge of town.
"Come on Mimi" she muttered to herself in an attempt to calm her nerves. "You can do this" her fingers then began to drum an off beat tune on the steering wheel of Ben's red Mustang truck from 2016.
She had borrowed it to avoid walking all the way.

Mimi inhaled some fresh air from her slightly ajar car door windows, held it for ten seconds and then exhaled.
"You can do this" she repeated to herself as she took the car keys out of the ignition.

Opening the door she was greeted by a big waft of cold fresh air.
Autumn was leaving way for winter.

Her black mid-calf Convers crunching through the red, brown, orange and yellow fallen leaves as she slowly treaded her way towards the black forbodding gate.

Pressing the button you could hear a faint *driiing* going of in the villa before someone answered the bell ring through the speakers.
"Ni-hao, wo zen mo nen gou ban ni?" (hello, how may I help you?)

"Wo scian yao he Tao gian hua" (I would like to speak with Tao)

The chinese butler stepped aside with a polite nod and a smile in order to let Miriam in.

Tao's villa/mansion never ceased to amaze her.

The floor was of a pearly white sturdy material waxed so well it was easy to slip on and you could see your reflection on it. This immidiately made her feel very subconscious as she discreetly cleaned her muddy mid-calf black convers on the doorstep before cauciously stepping inside.
As she entered the rather spacious entrance, Mimi's gaze immidiately flickered to the big and intricate clear and pure diamond  chandelear in the shape of a fire breathing dragon.

It wasn't the first time that she saw it but it was truely breathe-taking.

The first time she went to Tao's place had been when his car broke down in the middle of a snowstorm and Mimi (along with Ben) had offered him a ride home.
In exchange he had invited them in which resulted in Mimi staring in admiration at the chandelier for a full hour, two minutes and 38 seconds before the two men already in the kitchen over a cup of tea noticed her absence.

"jie bien, gen jie wo" (this way, follow me) the butler snapped her out of her admiring trance filled with good memories and flashbacks.
"Hm, scie scie" she muttered in reply as she followed him in.

Mimi had been adopted by Japanese and Chinese parents and thus knew the two languages well enough to get by.

Ye Zhi, the butler, led Mimi to Tao's study.
Tao was studying law at the time.
He was already very successful in the medical field as a cardiologist and therapist but it wasn't uncommon for him to find a new interest.
"Mimi-san" he acknowledged without looking up as Ye Zhi left them alone,closing the double doors behind him as he left.

"Tao, I..."
Tao looked up at her expectantly.
Way to make me more nervous than I already am.

"I uh... Uh..."
Tao sighed and put down his stack of papers that he had been filing through just a few moments ago.
"Listen..." They both said at the same time.
A ghost of a smile appeared on both they're faces.
"You go first" Tao said with a small rare smile.
"Well uhm... I'm sorry. You're right Tao, I should be more careful in who I trust and grow attached to."
Tao nodded.
"I'm not saying that you shouldn't make new friends besides me and Ben.
I just... Want you to be careful or you could end up getting hurt and emotionally shut down like I did.
I don't want my best friend having to climb through that..."
"Awwwe..." Mimi melted at his truthful words.
Tao gave her a look.
"I mean uh..." Mimi coughed trying to cover up her laugh.
"Am I... Forgiven?"
Tao hesitated tapping his pencil before putting it down and nudging it with his pointer finger to be perfectly aligned with his now completely finished and orderly stacked paperwork.
"Yes. You are forgiven."
"Yoouu aare forgiiiveen!" Mimi quoted a rock band that they both liked causing Tao's smile to fully break out on his face as he chuckled and finally stood up from his seat to give his goofy best friend a much needed embrace.
"You are forgiven, Mimi."

A/N
Hey guys, sorry for the late update but I've been having a lot of writer blocks lately so yeah.
Hope you enjoyed it.
Vote, comment, follow and all that Jazz.
Akray out!⚙