Annie Chang: In essence, Tang's first crush, it lasted through the end of 8th grade. Tang met her at a Chinese temple in Kissimmee when Tang's mom took him there for a session dedicated to a relative who passed away. Tang found out they had similar interests. Finally, when Tang said he was from Palm Coast, she immediately asked him if he knew Yen Chen, and to Tang's surprise he did. Also, she went to school in Poinciana High, and Mayah Shih, a childhood friend of Tang's who had moved from Palm Coast to Kissimmee also went to this school. This got them open up more and Tang found opportunities to go to be with her more often, along with the tight-knit group of temple-kids that would hang out and go the park and play. They even exchanged phone numbers and Tang suspected Annie had taken a liking to him. One summer, she and a lot of the temple kids said they were going to Taiwan, and Tang had wanted to go too! Tang had only graduated from middle school, though, and his parents forbid him so. After some arguing, Tang agreed to pay the $1000 ticket price (he thought the relationship would work out), and finally went. However, his meeting with Annie was setback by Typhoon Hobe (the biggest of century) that caused mass floodings. But Tang didn't give up. Finally, he had a chance to meet with Annie after a long train ride that took him halfway across the island. Tang stayed at her house for awhile and they talked a lot, and saw a movie, but finally he had to go back. Something about their long-distance friendship caused Tang to hold back from telling her about his feelings, but the Taiwan visit was truly an adventure he will never forget. After they returned to the states, there was a party held by her friend, and Tang was invited. It was one of the funnest parties of Tang can recall, and he was able to hang with so many Chinese kids. When playing truth or dare, Annie asked Tang whether he ever liked her, and Tang, knowing that they'd be apart sooner or later replied "only as friends." The party concluded with Annie and her friends filming a goodbye video for Tang (because Tang's had planned on moving to CA at that time). (This video was later lost in the 1998 fires). That night, Annie and Tang spent the whole night up in the gigantic master bathroom. After that, they never saw each other again, and lost contact. Her friends said she moved to Taiwan due to personal family reasons.
Jackie Heindl: This was a bad relationship consisting of two separate one-week flings that brought Tang to notice the realities of relationships. It started in 10th grade when they had met for one day after school and Tang thought she was alright looking, and after that her friends and cousins have been telling Tang that she liked him. Moreover, her sister had been a friend of Tang's for awhile so Tang decided to ask her out. The first few days went well, and they opened up to each other quickly. She wanted to become a cop and was already an officer in training. But the relationship was difficult because they had different backgrounds, different classes, and were in different grades (although she was older than Tang!). Because of this relationship remained almost striclty over phone calls and letters passed through school. And due to this, Tang was not certain whether or not to go fast or slow with this relationship, until Jackie finally hinted that she Tang to kiss already. So Tang did the next few days and thought the relationship was going to take off from there, but it didn't. One day, she stopped meeting Tang and told her cousin to tell Tang that it's over cuz her old boyfriend who broke up with her a few weeks ago got back together with her. At first, Tang was very depressed and wrote her a very mean letter that made her cry, and then Tang felt bad, and said they could be just friends, and she said okay. After they had been talking for awhile again (for about a month), she asked if she could have a second chance when she wanted to dump her boyfriend for Tang, and Tang said alright. Knowing her tendencies to be capricious, Tang didn't really get into it much the second time, and when she kept backing off when Tang tried to kiss, Tang already knew she was cheating. It was no surprise when Tang heard from a source that she was breaking up with him again, and this time Tang wasn't hurt at all. He said fine whatever you want, and just left, feeling kind of proud of not being phased, and from here on, it was pretty much the opposite of a friendship. After that, Tang rejected her presence all the time, and even when she wanted to just be friends, Tang wouldn't give her a third chance. This was definitely Tang's worst relationship, as cheating, dumping, etc. were involved a lot. For unknown reasons, she was not in FPC in the 1999-2000 term. One day, when Tang was skipping Study Hall and was heading upstairs to Mrs. Thate's room to submit some poems for LitMag, he saw her in the hall, talking to a teacher up ahead. Quickly, he dodged aside and went into Mr. Sanson's room, and sat down next to Evy and pretended to just be chilling.
Jennifer Nguyen:This was strictly an online relationship, and one that convinced Tang that those things don't work. Jennifer met Tang in an online chatroom and they started talking, and stuff. The fact that they don't know each other in real life allowed them to be more open and talk freely. Even though the relationship was casual and friendly in manner, some of the conversations were by far the kinkiest! She even mailed Tang her picture. She had planned on coming to FL during the summer of 1998 but plans fell through, and after a while, both parties kinda got bored and just called it quits. She also tried to comfort Tang after he lost his house, but now they've lost contact.
Irina Sheynkman:This was not a relationship, but Tang first did have a crush on her when they first met. After the fires of 1998, Tang had rented a house in a new neighborhood, so that meant riding the bus with totally different people. They talked a lot on the bus, and shared similar taste in music, but Tang realized that this relationship would not be a good one, and so he only remained friends with her. She only lived down the block, and when Tang got his car, she called him and asked him if he could give her rides to and from school. Tang didn't mind cause he was only being friendly, and having someone depending on him to wake up made him not be tardy so often. The year ended soon, and she signed Tang's 11th grade yearbook. After she got her license over summer, they hardly talked much.
Chelsea & Savannah:This was not really a relationship either, more like flirting. Tang and Raisin met and befriended two beach girls 2 years younger, during the summer before their senior year. They lived in Jacksonville, but their parents had owned a condo in Flagler Beach. So, Tang met them weekly at the beach and played in the water (including a dirty game where they changed bottoms in the water!). They also made a video together, which Tang still has, and Tang was also duct-taped by Chelsea once. After school started, they kept in touch by email, but later stopped talking.
Racquel Schenone:Not a real relationship, the two ended up working together for China Palace after his dad sold the store. They started talking and Tang even took her roofing. They continued to talk, and Tang found out she was going to also audition for Scapino, a play that he wanted to be in. Tang saw in her a happy, carefree spirit. She had the looks and the talent, but was kind of capricious and kiddy. Tang listed her as the female he admires most on his Top Dog survey (not knowing it was gonna be announced and she was gonna be there!). Finally, Tang decided that she was not his type, and that he wanted someone who he could have a stable, progressing relationship with. After Scapino, Raquel was fired from China Palace because the Commie owners thought she would seduce the Mexicans and get their business in legal trouble. After that, they hardly talked, but remain friends.
Evy Phang: By far the deepest of relationships, Tang saw in Evy all the good aspects of his past girlfriends, and Evy also reminded Tang of Annie a lot. Tang would gladly forget his past and start anew with Evy, because he loves her so much. It's the first time he ever said "I love you" and felt truly felt it mean something. He still can't believe he almost gave her up for someone else, and glad she finally opened up to him. Even though Tang is Evy's first, he swears would never put her through all that he had to go through. For more information about the Evy relationship, please visit the EvyTang page.
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