Dongyu suddenly let out a feather-like laugh that carried a sigh with it.
"Don't you… want to see me?"
I didn't move. I lifted my gaze to the door again, but no matter how hard I tried, I couldn't muster the courage to open it.
It had been eight years.
Dongyu, we haven't seen each other for eight years, but I've always been trapped in your world and never managed to escape.
How am I supposed to face you?
Am I to confront your happiness and witness you holding the hand of another woman, walking down the aisle of the church, taking your vow of lifetime commitment before the priest?
Time had not only worn down our youth, it had also worn down the courage of my youth.
It was hard for me to imagine how I used to hold him, forced a kiss on him, coerced him into loving me, and even brazenly asked him if I could break the bond of our ties to be with him, if I let the blood out of my body.
Ridiculous. Laughable.
Childish, naive.
Thinking back, I could only sigh.
And now, the love of my life was right outside the door, but I couldn't muster up the courage to open the door to greet him. Should I hold his hand, smiling like a flower, and tell him, "Brother, I'm home! I haven't seen you for eight years. How are you?"
"Congratulations, you're getting married! From now on, I have to work hard at it too!"
Should this be the way?
Must it be so cruel?
To have to smile in response to cruelty was probably the cruelest thing.
More than anything, I wanted to ask him, Dongyu, do you really love her?
That girl by the name of Anning.
Is she the girl that you once said you would meet one day? The girl that you'd come to know, understand and spend the rest of your life with?
I sat on the bed in silence.
Then through the door, I heard my mother's voice. "Dongyu, Xiachun has just returned and she's still a little unfamiliar! Besides, she must be tired from the long journey. Let her have a good rest in her room first. We'll have a proper gathering tonight!"
I could hear the sound of Dongyu's deep breathing.
"Okay."
Their footsteps faded.
I stood up and went to the door. I opened it surreptitiously and peered through the crack in the door. I caught a fleeting glimpse of his back. He was dressed in a smart looking suit, tall and lean, his jet black hair was neatly trimmed. At a glance, he had the air of a mature man.
I shut the door again and locked it, feeling like I was running away from reality!
Later that afternoon, a knock on the door woke me.
As I sat up in bed, I heard my mother calling out, "Xiachun, are you hungry?"
I didn't respond.
My father added, "Dongyu has already gone out with Anning. He still has some matters to attend to. The wedding is tomorrow, so he has to attend to the more pressing matters. He'll only be back tonight."
Only then did I get up and open the door. I saw Mom and Dad standing outside. They exchanged glances.
"I was afraid that you'd be hungry, so I kept some food for you. Shall I heat it up for you?"
I nodded.
While we were eating, my mother suddenly handed me a business card. I took it, looking puzzled.
"What's the matter? Don't you remember Su Qi?"
I looked at the calling card. It carried the print "General Manager of Nanjie Network Technology Co., Ltd.: Su Qi".
A rare smile appeared on my face. "Su Qi? He started a company?"
My mother nodded and was relieved to see me smile. "Yes! After graduation, he started his own business."
"Oh…"
"He told me to let him know if you're back. I thought that I might as well give you his name card so that you can call him yourself!"