The Flight That Changed Everything
Lina-Mei had been counting down the days to this trip. A whole week with Luke’s family—finally meeting the people who raised the man she loved. And maybe, just maybe… a proposal.
Her heart fluttered at the thought.
She packed carefully—flats for dinners, heels just in case, and a soft blue dress she’d only worn once before. For special occasions.
That morning, Luke kissed her forehead as she tugged on her boots.
“Lina, you’re going to love my mom,” he said, grinning. “And I know she’s going to love you!”
She believed him.
The Request
The plane soared through the sky, mountains below like smudged watercolors. Lina leaned against the window, relaxed—until Luke turned to her with a smile that didn’t reach his eyes.
“Hey, Lina… when we get there, would you mind telling my family you’re Japanese?”
She blinked. Did I hear that right?
“What?”
“Not like a whole backstory,” he said quickly. “Just… let them assume. Maybe mention a dish or say a phrase in Japanese. They’ll figure it out.”
Her stomach dropped.
“Luke… I’m Chinese.”
He chuckled, like this was some silly little game. “I know. But my grandmother’s Japanese, and my brother’s wife is too. She’s obsessed with the idea of us marrying Japanese women. She’s even leaving everything to my brother because of it. If she thinks you’re Japanese…”
“So this is about money?” Her voice was dangerously calm.
“It’s not just money, Lina. It’s security. A future!” His eyes lit up. “We could buy a house. Invest. It’s life-changing!”
She stared at him, stunned.
He had already spent the money in his head. And in his fantasy, she wasn’t herself—she was just a character in his story.
“I’m not lying to your family,” she said firmly.
Luke sighed, disappointed but not backing down. “Just think about it.”
She didn’t answer.
Instead, she remembered third grade—Mrs. Reynolds leaning over her lunch tray.
“You must be Japanese, right? Lina-Mei… do you help your mom roll sushi?”
“I’m Chinese,” she had corrected.
“That’s the same thing,” the teacher had murmured, waving her off.
That night, her mother had sighed, hands deep in soapy water. “Oh, Lina. People think we all blend together. But we don’t. You’re not a shade in someone’s painting, my petal. You’re your own color.”
Now, years later, Luke was asking her to blend again.
The Dinner
Luke’s parents, Margaret and Tom, greeted them warmly at the airport. His grandmother, Sumiko, joined for dinner—small, sharp-eyed, wrapped in a pale blue silk scarf.
The table was set beautifully, soft light glowing above them. The air smelled of ginger and roasted garlic.
At first, everything was perfect.
Then Margaret smiled at her. “Lina-Mei, your name is beautiful! Is it Japanese?”
Lina hesitated.
“It’s not. My family is from the mainland.”
“But she loves Japanese culture!” Luke cut in, laughing nervously. “She’s learning calligraphy!”
“That’s not true,” Lina said, turning to him. “I’m not.”
Silence.
Sumiko’s eyes flicked between them.
Margaret quickly changed the subject, but Luke wasn’t done.
During dessert, he stood, tapping his glass.
“A toast!” he announced. “To my future wife, Lina-Mei—kind, brilliant, beautiful… and Japanese, just like Grandma always dreamed!”
Lina set her spoon down. Click.
The room froze.
She stood, her voice steady. “Luke, I told you I wouldn’t lie. I’m not Japanese. I’m Chinese.”
Margaret gasped. Tom looked like he’d been slapped. Luke paled.
“Lina—”
“No.” Her voice was steel. “You wanted me to pretend to be someone else for money. That’s not love. That’s not respect.”
She grabbed her bag—but before she could leave, Sumiko stood.
“Lina-Mei, wait.”
The old woman sighed. “I’m sorry my grandson dragged you into this. It was never about ethnicity. Luke doesn’t understand responsibility—that’s why I made my decision.”
Lina exhaled. “Thank you for your honesty.”
Then she walked out.
The Truth
The next morning, Luke stood in the doorway as she packed.
“You’re really leaving?”
She didn’t look at him. “I’m not mad at your family. They were kind to me.”
“Then why go?”
“Because of you, Luke.”
He ran a hand through his hair. “It was just an idea. I didn’t mean to hurt you.”
“You didn’t mean for me to see who you really are,” she said, zipping her suitcase. “But I did.”
He didn’t stop her.
The Aftermath
At the airport, Lina sat with a box of dumplings, watching a little girl line up stuffed animals on her suitcase.
She wasn’t heartbroken. Just… free.
Luke had seen a version of her that could bend. A woman who would trade her truth for money.
But she wasn’t that woman.
Next time, she wanted someone who knew her—and never asked her to hide.
That would be priceless.