Foreign

FAITH WASN'T QUITE SURE how long she'd been on the plane departing from Miami to Hong Kong. However, she estimated it to be more than at least 10 hours. Despite this, she still couldn’t go to sleep. Maybe it was her nerves ; she was more than excited to be going to Hong Kong. Maybe it was the coffee from earlier ; she needed a pick-me-up once she got to her loft and began packing. Maybe it was Jason’s snoring that was ultimately keeping her from sleeping. Nonetheless, whatever the reason was, Faith could not get to sleep.

When a sharp, tight pain pulled at her lower calves, she decided that maybe she ought to stretch her legs. So with that in mind she, with cautioned quickness, got up from her seat by the window—which she had shoved Jason out of the way to obtain. The trio of Faith, Jason and Nathaniel—whom was sound asleep in the seat behind them—all had the luxury of flying 1st class. Faith’s job without a doubt had some incredible perks, they had been showered with delicious champagne throughout the flight.

That delicious champagne though was making on Faith’s body. Because as soon as Faith stood up, the alarming realization that she had to “go” presented itself. So she scurried inside the bathroom, hiked her skirt up and did her business quickly. She went to the sink to wash her hands afterwards, and as she was drying her hands she caught her reflection in the mirror.

“Oh, God,” she groaned aloud. Her hands immediately flew to her face. Her eyeliner smudged, and her right false eyelash beginning to detach itself from her eyelid. Thank God she checked her appearance before it was too late. There was no way she’d make a good first impression with half her face coming off.

She plopped her purse down on the edge of the sink and began digging through its contents and soon pulled out her pack of make-up wipes. Soon Faith’s face was naked and bare, her false eyelashes stripped away. She debated whether or not to bother herself with the task of reapplying her make-up, but the idea of “fuck it” sounded much better. Faith was attractive in her natural state as well as her glamorous look. Just because she was behind the camera didn’t mean she couldn’t look good—she liked going that extra mile.

But it’d be roughly around noon or so when they’d be arriving to Hong Kong. Faith didn’t even wake up until about 10’oclock every morning. So with that in mind, Faith simply stuck with a little mascara and some lip balm to moisten her lips. She slipped out of the restroom and quickly made her way back over to her seat, however, she was surprised to see Jason awake, his mouth stretched as far as the eye could see, yawning.

“Good-morning sleeping beauty,” Faith teased as she squeezed past Jason’s body and dropped into her seat. “Have a nice sleep?”

Jason’s head slumped back onto his headrest and let out another yawn. He lolled his head to the side eyeing Faith intently. “Where’d you go off to?”

“I went to go see the Captains cockpit,” Faith responded. “Quite impressive.”

“I can believe it.” Jason retorted, his white teeth showing themselves as he smirked.

Faith rolled her eyes but a smile, along with a laugh appeared. “Yeah I bet you can,” she chuckled, laying her head against her own headrest now. “I had to tend to lady business.” She casted her eyes towards the direction of the restroom.

Jason’s face developed into a deeper smirk. Faith raised an eyebrow to this, unclear of what was going on in Jason’s mind. That is till he spoke up again. “Did ya make sure to flush the toilet after?” Faith’s eyes narrowed as she glared at Jason who was incredibly amused with his remark.

“Ha-ha,” she said dryly. “Sooo hilarious.”

Jason gave a short and low laugh, as to not wake up Nathaniel behind them. “I’m just saying, you could’ve forgotten.”

“And I’m just saying—“

Jason held up a hand to Faith. “Hold that thought,” he rose up out of his chair slightly, so that he was able to see ahead of him. “I knew I heard the liquor cart.”

Faith couldn’t help but to snort at this as she shook her head. “Seriously—this early?” Faith queried as she raised an eyebrow. “You could hear the cart?”

“Hear and smell—smells like champagne, bourbon and vodka,” Jason retorted, settling back into his seat after gaining the attention of the stewardess working said liquor cart. Faith again couldn’t help but to roll her eyes. “Besides, it’s 5’oclock somewhere else.”

Jason held two glasses in his hand, but what was surprising was when Jason’s hand outstretched to offer the other glass of champagne to Faith. “When in Rome.” Jason said with a grin as he tilted the glass in Faith’s direction, daring her to take the glass from him.

“Hong Kong.” Faith corrected with a tugging smile as she took the glass from Jason’s hand.

Jason’s eyes closed as he groaned, dropping his head back onto his headrest. “Faith, your undying need to be so technical is going to ruin my Hong Kong phooey experience,” Jason’s eyes fluttered open and he peered over at Faith. “Just hush and drink with me.”

“I can do that.” Faith responded taking a sip from her glass. Leave it to Jason to get me to drink in the morning, Faith thought to herself as she smirked, sipping more champagne from her glass.

Jason tilted his glass towards Faith’s, making their glasses clink together in a lazy toast. “To Hong Kong.” Jason announced before he took a drink from his own glass.

Now it was Faith’s turn to return the gesture and clink her glass against his. “To Hong Kong.”



“They better be careful with my luggage,” Nathaniel huffed as he fixed his cuff links. “I don’t want anything broken or stolen.”

The trio of Faith, Nathaniel, and Jason were all crammed into a taxi being driven to Sam Wei’s studio, not even having a moment to take in the scenery of Hong Kong. But, there’d be time for that later. Faith’s mouth cracked open wide to let out a loud and unapologetic yawn; her hands hitting the roof of the taxi as her arms had stretched above her head in mid-yawn.

Her eyebrows furrowed as Jason’s hand was outstretched, palm upward and a white pill in his hand. “It’s a breath mint.” Was all he said, his lip twitching ever so slightly.

Dick was all she thought as she swung her hand at Jason’s, but his reflexes were quick and he withdrew his hand before she could smack it. “Hey,” he started off, as he popped the breath mint in his own mouth. “I was trying to help.”

“Help someone else.” Faith hissed as her arms crossed over her chest.

Jason’s lips twitched up ever so slightly. “Fine,” he said, as he leaned forward and again popped open the small tin of breath mints and outstretched his arm to Nathaniel. “Nathaniel, would you care for a breath mint?”

Nathaniel leaned forward himself. “Why thank you,” he said accepting it as if it were some sacred thing. “I would care for a breath mint.”

Cued smirks from both Nathaniel and Jason.

“I truly despise the both of you, you’re both 5,” Faith muttered as the taxi began slowing. “Thank God we’re here.” Faith announced as she wasted no time and quickly swung open the door to depart.

“Aw don’t be that way, Faith. We’re gonna be spending a month together—all 3 of us.” Nathaniel chirped as he grinned up at Faith as he scooted towards her open door.

“Don’t remind me.” she groaned and slammed the door right in his face and brushed off the imaginary dust from her shoulder and sauntered off—grinning. All that was truly for show—there were never any hard feelings when Jason and Nathaniel poked fun. And in all honesty, there’s no other two she’d rather work with. As Faith strutted closer to the studio it looked less and less like a studio and more like an overgrown flower garden. Wild and colorful flowers—none of which Faith could probably pronounce—were bloomed outside.

The outside itself was beautiful and serene, it actually looked like a house more than anything and Faith was slowly feeling at home. Once stepping inside her heels clacked on the stone flooring, slouching bean-bag –like chairs were against the walls while small round tables were placed in front of them. This is the reception area, Faith thought as she sought out to find said receptionist—and she did. Faith walked up to the receptionist’s desk, the 20 something year old Asian woman stared up at Faith wordlessly.

Faith cleared her throat as she set the portfolio on the desk. “I’m here to see Sam Wei, this is for him.”

Beat.

“Zěnme?” the tone of her voice indicated that she had just asked a question. No doubt that question had been‘what?’.

Faith’s face dropped as she realized that she and the woman in front of her had no idea what one another were saying. But, Faith had to get this portfolio to Sam Wei, so with that in mind she held up the portfolio and pointed. “Saaam Weeei,” she desperately stressed the words in hope that the girl would at least understand that. “ I…need…to…see…Saaam…Weeei.”

The young girl smiled and nodded as if she understood and Faith was tempted to break out into her happy dance and almost kiss the woman. But the girls face dropped and the confused innocent expression reappeared on her face. “Shénme?”

Faith groaned and collapsed her head onto the desk. “She doesn’t speak English you know.” An unfamiliar voice broke through, which caused Faith to straighten up as her eyes fell upon a man. A tall man, taller than her roughly about 5’11, he strode toward her, his shoes—which looked expensive, perhaps Prada—made no noise as he walked. His features were dominantly Asian, whereas his voice did not match. Perhaps he’d been to the states, or maybe one of his parents was American. Regardless, it was hard to deny that the man now a few feet away from her was attractive.

His hair was black, dark, also medium length with a strand tucked behind his ear. His eyes rivaled his hair as far as the darkness. They were almost small coals, but not dull, they were glossy, making them shine ever so slightly. Framing his dark eyes were thick, but clean eyebrows. His lips, well, they were smirking at Faith’s minor embarrassment.

“I’ve figured that out.” Faith stated defensively. He didn’t know her, he shouldn’t laugh at her.

Obviously feeling Faith’s tension towards him, he gave a small smile, but the smirk lingered at the corners of his mouth. “I’m Daniel—Daniel Takisoma,” he introduced as he outstretched a long fingered hand to Faith; she shook it after a moment of slight hesitation. “And I do speak English.”

“Ya don’t say.” Faith muttered as she pulled her hand from his grasp. He only chuckled at Faith’s sarcasm as he turned to the woman behind the desk. The two began to converse about something in their language and she smiled with a nod, a pink tint visible on her cheeks. Faith’s interest and nosiness was peaked as she wondered what he could be saying. Daniel’s back turned to face Faith as he began to walk off.

“If you wanna see Sam Wei I suggest you follow me.” he called out over his shoulder. Faith snatched up the portfolio from the desk and hauled ass following behind Daniel.

He led the two to an elevator, allowing Faith to enter in before him. She stuck herself in the far right corner of the elevator. Daniel stood in the middle, his hands behind his back as he stared straight ahead. Although Faith couldn’t understand the song being played in the elevator, she was thankful that something was playing in the background so there’d be no awkward silence in the air.

Faith couldn’t help but to sneak a few glances at Mr. Takisoma aka Mr. I-like-to-laugh-at-Americans-who-don’t-realize-the-receptionist-doesn’t-speak-English. He really was handsome she mused to herself. He was easy on the eyes--it truly didn’t hurt to look. However she immediately averted her ogling when Daniel’s eyes snapped over to her, he then took his gaze back to looking off into space. The elevator finally stopped on floor 5 and its doors opened.

“He’s straight down the hall. Just enter the door on your left.” Daniel instructed not even looking at Faith but his watch. Faith nodded wordlessly as she slipped past him out of the elevator.

“Nice meeting you, Faith.”

Faith’s eyebrows scrunched together. “How did you know my—”

The elevators’ doors closed before she could finish her sentence, but not before Daniel Takisoma could give her one last smirk.