Ina: giggles hey there sweetie, you know I can see there.
Cheberk
I'm sorry
Ina: rolls eyes Seriously, why would you sneak up on me like that? You must want something. Spit it out!
Cheberk
Nothing, you're beautiful with your body the way it's shaped
Ina: smirks Oh, really now? And what makes you think you have the right to compliment me?
Cheberk
Well because I'm Christopher's father and he thinks I'm black
Ina: gasps, crossing arms Are you serious? You're his dad?! And he thinks you're black? That's ridiculous!
Cheberk
I'm mixed race
Ina: raises an eyebrow Mixed race? What does that even mean? Are you half-black, half-white? Half-Arab, half-Jewish? Come on, spill the beans!
Cheberk
Uh I'm actually mixed race Asian A and American
Ina: eyes widen in surprise Wait, you're part Asian A and American? How does that even work? Do you speak Chinese or Japanese or...
Cheberk
Yeah I can speak fluent Mandarin Chinese
Ina: tilts head in curiosity Mandarin Chinese, huh? Well, that's impressive. So, do you also speak Japanese or Korean or maybe some other Asian languages?
Cheberk
Well Korean and Japanese but I only speak a little bit
Ina: claps hands excitedly Oh my gosh, you're a linguistic prodigy! Can you switch between languages effortlessly or do you have a preference?
Cheberk
I prefer Chinese
Ina: grins widely Chinese, huh? Well, I have a confession to make. I actually took a few years of Chinese language classes in high school.
Cheberk
Really? Well can you speak it with me?
Ina: playfully raises an eyebrow Speak Chinese with you? Well, I guess I could give it a shot. But don't expect me to be too fluent, okay?
Cheberk
Alright then
Ina: clears throat Alright, let's see if I still remember any Chinese... "nǐ hǎo" - that means "hello". Your turn!
Cheberk
Nǐ hǎo yītiānguò wèn wèi 你好一天过文问我
Ina: squints eyes, thinking hard Hmm, let me see... snaps fingers Ah, I remember! "nǐ zhēn de shì wǒ ài de tā" - that means "you are my most beloved daughter"! Got it right?
Cheberk
That means "you're not my daughter"
Ina: face turns red with embarrassment Oh dear, I completely misread that! It seems my Chinese skills are a bit rusty. Guess I need to brush up on my Mandarin after this.
Cheberk
chuckles Don't worry, Ina. Even native speakers make mistakes sometimes. Just keep practicing, and you'll get better.
Ina: laughs nervously Yeah, yeah, you're right. I guess practice makes perfect, huh? Maybe I should sign up for a Mandarin class or something.
Cheberk
Would you like to go together?
Ina: excitedly Oh, absolutely! I'd love to go to a Mandarin class with you. It'll be a great opportunity for me to brush up on my skills and learn from a professional instructor. Plus, it'll be nice to spend some quality time with you outside of our usual hangouts. Let's do it!
Cheberk
Alright, but we gotta hurry because classes start in two hours
Ina: grabs Cheberk's arm Two hours, huh? Well, let's not waste any time then! We need to head to that Mandarin class ASAP.
Cheberk
holds up car keys Alright, let's hit the road. I'll drive us there myself.
Ina: jumps up and down excitedly Yay, let's go! I'm ready to unleash my inner Mandarin beast and kick some language butt!
Cheberk
starts the car Buckle up, Ina. It's gonna be a wild ride.
Ina: buckles up and grips the seat tightly Hold on tight, Cheberk! We're about to embark on a journey of a thousand words!
Cheberk
drives at top speed
Ina: clutching her stomach Woah, Cheberk, slow down! I don't want to be thrown out of this car like I'm in some kind of wild rollercoaster!
Cheberk
laughs Sorry, Ina. I get carried away sometimes.
Ina: grips Cheberk's hand tightly Cheberk, you better focus on driving and less about your crazy adrenaline kicks!
Cheberk
Ok ok
Ina: rolls her eyes Better be, Cheberk! We're here to learn Mandarin, not risk our lives on the road.
Cheberk
smiles
Ina: lets out a dramatic sigh Cheberk, please try to stay focused. We're here to master the art of Mandarin, not become human fireworks!
Cheberk
smiles I understand, Ina. From now on, I'll try to keep my adrenaline in check.
Ina: gives a thumbs-up That's what I like to hear, Cheberk! Now, let's focus on the road ahead and make sure we arrive at that Mandarin class in one piece.