A Chance Encounter (Flash Fiction Continued)

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Flash Fiction #171

This is the 2nd half of the story. The 1st half is here.

When the Korean Wave came, it put an end to the wildly popular Hong Kong shows and movies as well as the Japanese productions. With beautiful backdrops and costumes, Korean dramas look more spectacular. Not only that, their best features are their stories that focus on women. The male characters in women’s life are very beautiful and androgenous, which made these stories irresistable to millions and millions of female fans.

You would think that Hong Kong would try to emulate the Koreans, but that didn’t happen. Hong Kong shows continue its old trajectory , stubbornly fighting against the changing trend. Family honors are to be respected to the point of reckless killing of others; women’s looks are to be commented constantly; traditional values are upheld to a ridiculous height; a woman has to produce a table of tasty dishes even if she has just fought two deadly intruders, saved everybody from a house fire, or cried for a dead relative.

Moonlight and Rainbow played roles that are very traditional and conservative. The story lines often make the women sacrifice their life to make the traditional value last longer or to make men’s life more convenient. And surprise, surprise. such story lines are enjoyed by many female fans.

“Well, Lulan, I mean Moonlight and Rainbow are handsome people. They can’t help it when female fans throw themselves at them or want to die for them. Also they can’t control the story lines of their TV shows. I mean they are hired actors. I mean the story lines are toxic to women, but that’s not their fault.” I say to Lulan.

“Well, they are part of the system that keeps women down and puts poisonous ideas into women’s mind.” Lulan says.

“I agree we should fight against it. However can we start our fight against some non-handsome guys? I mean these two are very cute guys. I dreamed about them since I was 12. I can’t yell at my dream.” I say to Lulan.

“Do you know how many impressionable, gullible women watch their shows and get mentally damaged by those toxic ideas. I just watched a piece of news the other day that a college girl stole money from her family and made a trip to Hong Kong to see them. She was arrested for trespassing and stalking. The Hong Kong media treated the poor girl as a criminal. That’s very unfair. I mean the poor girl, a teenager, was brainwashed by their shows, which was why she wanted to sacrifice herself for some spectacularly meaningful cause.” Lulan says.

“OK, let’s go. I mean let’s go shout at them for the poor girl’s sake.”

So we go to their table, shout at them for being part of an industry that is stuffing toxic ideas into women’s mind. We talk very excitedly and probably in an incoherent way. The two sit there, undisturbed. They have nothing to reply.

Facing their silence, we are very surprised. We thought they would shout back, but they are quiet.

“Are you deaf? Why don’t you say something?” Lulan asks.

“Your shows are very bad for women. You should feel guilty. Do you have anything to say at all?” I ask.

“Would you like to take a picture with us?” Moonlight asks and smiles.

I am very surprised but I can’t say I am unhappy to hear this. So Lulan and I get close to the two guys and we take two selfies with them.

After we leave the restaurant, we go around to see the autumn foliage and Lulan says to me, “Don’t you think the two guys are a little weird?”

“Yes, they have nothing to say and they… I don’t know.” I say to Lulan.

“You know I think they are just two guys who look like the two actors. The restaurant owner probably paid them to come during the busy hours to attract patrons. Do you want to meet Moonlight and Rainbow? If you do, come to my restaurant. I can imagine the restaurant owner gets people to spread the rumor like that.”

(The End)