(Mis)Communication (Keona)

While his parents were muggles and weren't quite the type to understand how people in his world lived, Chee Wye was still a good child, and he made it a habit to write to his parents at least once a week, telling them about his life and what he had been up to. Most of the time, he lamented about missing home - there were so many Malaysian things that he craved, things he hadn't even considered to be 'Malaysian' until he had left the country.

"Hantu, faster send the letter okay?" he murmured to his owl, stroking its head gently. "And make sure ma and pa write back. Last two times also never reply." The owl gave a soft hoot, as though acknowledging its owner's request, and Chee Wye smiled, gave it one last pet, and then let it go.

Watching it fly away, he stared after it for a few moments before turning around. It was a nice day outside, and although he was still pining for the heat and humidity of his home country, Spring wasn't too bad a time in his opinion. So, instead of heading in just yet, he took a seat on a bench.

A few moments later, movement caught his attention and he turned to see someone else entering the building, and he offered the witch a smile. "Morning, leng lui," he greeted. "Sending mail ar?" [Translation: "Good morning. Are you sending out mail today?" Leng lui means 'pretty girl' and while started as a compliment, is now used by some Malaysians as a means to greet strangers.]

Taking the witch in, he couldn't help but wonder about her as she corrected him. "Eh, don't be so shy-shy lah. You so pretty, don't say like that," he told her, no hidden meanings beneath his words. He was not flirting or trying to get her attention in any manner. It was simply something he was used to saying and doing that it didn't even occur to him that she had misinterpreted his greeting as a name. "No, no, not waiting," he went on. "Wah, so different the name! I'm Chee Wye." [Translation: "Hey, there's no need to be so shy, okay? You're so pretty; don't say things like that." (He assumed she said, "I'm not a pretty girl").]

Shaking his head, he smiled at her. "No, I send already. Now just lepaking," he explained, then, realising he had forgotten his manners, scooted over to the side so there was more space on the bench. "You also want to sit? Come, come. Very nice out today," he invited, motioning to the empty seat beside him. [Lepak is the Malay word for 'hanging out/chilling'. In this case, it's been combined with the English suffix 'ing' to make an action word. Translation: No, I've sent my letter already. I'm just chilling, now. Do you also want to sit? Come, join me. It's a very nice day to be outside."]