The two of them arrived at the restaurant a few blocks away from the publishing. Glad it is not the rush hour yet or else they would be stuck in a jam under the blazing heat.
They found a seat at the corner near the window, away from the crowd. As soon as they settled down to their seats, a staff approaches and gives them the menu.
"What do you want to eat?" Wan Li asked, flipping through the menu.
"Anything," Liu Yang absent-mindedly answered.
Wan Li peeks at her and saw how she is staring blankly outside.
The hand flipping on the menu paused for a moment then he gives out a sigh. "Sure," he said while closing the book.
When the staff left, Wan Li rests his arms on the table, "Hey," he called out to her softly, "…I know something is up with you today."
Liu Yang immediately turns towards him. "Hmm?"
'Gotcha!' Wan Li rejoiced inwardly. But he knows it is not something to be glad about.
She smiled. "I hate your keen eyes." Should she tell him? Liu Yang licks her lower lip and sighs, full of hesitancy and doubt.
"My…," she clicks her tongue, "…Mom called the night before. And…" she stops there and smiled once again. "Later. I'll tell you later. Let's eat first."
Wan Li smiled back. "Sure, your choice."
It was reassuring, it made Liu Yang feel at ease and safe. She knows he will not force her out of it and will wait for her to take her time, knowing that she is a crybaby when it comes to personal matters, and they are in a public place for heaven's sake!
They eat in peace without touching the topic anymore – not until they got back into the publishing.
"Wanna go for a smoke?" Liu Yang blurted out all of a sudden, looking at her watch to see if they still have time. They are waiting for the elevator, and what she said earned her a deathly glare from her friend. "What? You think I couldn't do it?" she challenged him.
"You can't even finish a single stick." Wan Li said dryly.
She just giggled and lead her way into the elevator.
Top floor of Yinyang Publishing…
"Ahh! Fresh air!" Wan Li exclaimed while stretching his body at its fullest – spreading his arms wide. Liu Yang finds it amusing and childish as she laughs at him.
It is true.
The view up here is refreshing. And she is not talking about the buildings that surrounds the publishing – well, it can be considered beautiful, depending on a person's perspective – but the top floor has its own garden.
The greens and flowers complimented the blue summer skies. It is breathtaking and relaxing.
Serene to be exact.
Liu Yang yawned. Ahh~! Now she is sleepy after the meal.
The two of them considered this as their 'secret hideout' – not that they take claim to own the place but, it is the place where they let their hearts about work or their personal lives when it's too much for them to handle. Probably, all of the other employees do, too.
They sat on one of the benches they frequented under a shade.
Liu Yang inhaled the fresh air with her eyes closed while Wan Li lights a stick, immediately filling their surrounding with smoke.
"Yang," Wan Li said, breaking their silence. A cloud of smoke visibly covers his face. It is a signal for her to talk.
"How could you tell?" she asked instead.
"Oh, please. What? For twelve years, I still don't know you that well?" Wan Li said as he puffs out another mouthful of smoke, this time, away from her. "Here," he said as he passed her a stick of cigarette, chuckling.
"Funny," Liu Yang pushes his hand away. "You know, someday I'm going to accept that. Try me."
This time, he bursts out of laughter. He blows another mouthful of smoke before saying in a serious tone, "So, spill. I'm getting old waiting here."
It must that he is getting anxious about her story, he already finished smoking in a span of a minute.
Liu Yang sighs heavily as she leans her back on the bench, watching him light another cig. "As what I've said earlier, Mom called the other day, and you know how it always ends."
Wan Li blows out a cloud of smoke, this with a sigh. "You refused to see them, right?"
"Yeah. I'm a bad child, am I not?"
"En, you are. What are you afraid of? They're not asking you to quit your job."
"I know, but…" Liu Yang palmed her face. She did know what to do.
"Go visit them one of these days," he said in a commanding tone, giving no room for argument.
"Okay, I will."
"And? What else?" he said, just waiting for her to continue. Wan Li knows there is much more to it. He could see how hesitant she is.
Liu Yang purses her lips before saying, "I'm having those dreams. Again."
Wan Li is startled by what he had heard and started coughing vehemently – it was much more shocking than the news of her mother calling her. "What?!" he finally said after regaining his voice; tossing the unfinished butt into the bin. "For how long?!"
"I don't know, just this week?" Liu Yang answered. Her hollow eyes are staring at him.
"Do you know what triggered it?"
"No."
"Does Mei and Li Jun know?"
Liu Yang shakes her head in disapproval and spreads her arms to hug him. He could faintly hear sniffling sounds coming from her as she buried her face on his neck. With the way she is right now, Wan Li could clearly remember what Liu Yang looked like years back when she left home, especially because he was the one who stayed with her during those times. He could imagine her situation every night the moment she woke up from that 'dream'.
Because of stress, overthinking, and anxiety, Liu Yang would wake up screaming and crying in the middle of the night; not all the time, but mostly. It made them very worried that they even wanted to call her parents but she refused and told them to kept it under wraps. They did not know what to do back then, they were all clueless and helpless.
It went on for half a year until one of their friends advised Liu Yang to seek professional help. Thankfully, she agreed, but only went once and only asked the doctor for some anti-depressants and sleeping pills, and other prescription to lessen those sleepless nights. They were worried but they still respected her decision.
As time passed by, her condition became better and better, and she became herself once again.
Or so he thought…
Wan Li knew this would happen since Liu Yang is someone who rarely shows her emotions to anyone, even with the people close to her, saying she does not want to worry everyone. She will open up to you when she wants to or when she needs to. And they respected that, but sometimes it is taking a toll on her body and mental state.
Just like now.