“Brother, please come back. This time, the demons have gotten all of us except me,” Bajie said. The Mountains of Flower and Fruit where Wu Kong lived were tranquil and peaceful. Around them, monkeys played or were training themselves in the martial arts that taught them. Behind his throne, a waterfall flowed down.
Bajie could see why Wu Kong didn’t want to leave. However, they needed him. Without them, everyone was in peril.
“Oh? Weren’t you holding off the fort on your own?” Wu Kong snorted.
“Come on. You know you’re supposed to be on this journey with us.”
“No. I’m sick of Master chanting on the headband! You know, I can hear my thoughts for once.”
“But—“
“No buts. His chanting drove me up the wall! I can’t take it anymore.”
“He said that he’ll change.”
At this, Wu Kong perked up.
“Really?”
“I’ll get shifu to listen to you when it comes to demons. I promise. We’re brothers, Wu Kong. We have to look out for each other.”
“You’re saying this to get me to come back, right?”
“But what will Guan Yin say? If she finds out—”
“Puh-lese. She’s already found out. So what? I’ve always been the black sheep of the heavens, and I always will.”
“But does it have to be that way? Guan Yin will punish you sooner or later. If you come back, she won’t have anything to say.”
It felt like time had stopped. Wu Kong looked at Bajie and raised his eyebrow.
“I—I guess you’re right.”
Bajie beamed.
“But you have to stick up for me every time Master chants and gives me the headache,” he grumbled.
“Of course. What are brothers for?”
*
“Bajie, I’m really sorry.”
Wu Kong was now on the threshold of my office. I stood before him at the reception area and folded my arms. There was no way he was going to stand in my own personal office space like the last time. I liked its minimalist touches and IKEA furniture. It was my sanctuary. A place where I could be me and not overshadowed by him.
“Sorry for…”
I was really going to milk it this time.
“Sorry for what?” I prompted. He better know how to apologise, the egoistical…monkey.
“I’m sorry for making fun of you and bullying you. I won’t do it again.” My “older brother” sounded just like a preschool kid, and that almost made me laugh. But I remembered why.
“All master ever talks about is you, and he lets you get away with so much.”
“I know.”
We stood in silence for a while. I was clocking overtime and I couldn’t waste it. There were articles to write and traffic numbers to check.
“But we’re a team. You, me, and Wujing.”
I snorted.
“Our reunion dinner really wasn’t the same without you.”
“Yeah, right.”
“Come on! The only reason why he talks about me so much is because of you! Do you remember the time I ran off midway through the journey, so sick of Master’s chanting? The kind that gave me a headache? I came back with you, remember?”
I nodded.
“You kept your promise. You fought for me when Master doubted me, and I will do the same.”
I gave him a small smile. He remembered. I guess millennia of bonding was hard to get rid of.
“We’re having another gathering this Saturday. You think you can come?”
“I guess?”
“Bring Ruyi. We’d like to get to know her.”
“Deal.”
We shook. It was a handshake that we’d made up on our own—first bowing to each other and then attacking one another with our fists. He punched, and I ducked. I gave a kick, and he somersaulted above me. The brothers were back.
“Can you bring pineapple tarts? Wujing wants some,” Wu Kong added. “He loves the shit out of those things.”
Image by the inimitable Shelley Low