Harvest Condominium
9:00 in the morning
Xu Jia Li had dark circles all over her eyes as she stared absentmindedly at the ceiling of her room.
"Ugh! My head hurts so badly."
She shut her eyes tightly then massaged her head lightly.
Everything felt surreal. Endless questions were bugging her mind; they won't go away and they felt like staying. What scared her even more were the answers she could find, in which she wasn't sure if she could take.
She tried her hardest to be tough so she could reach her dream – so she could avenge her mother. All those years, she did it on her own – knowing that one day, she could give her mother the revenge she desired, and let those people received their end of the bargain. She protected her heart, caved it in and never let anyone came passed the wall she built.
Yet, a guy she'd only met again – after all those years, made all her resistance futile. He made her feel like the spring, where everything was colourful and warm. Just by looking at his eyes made her heart blossomed with strange yet overwhelming emotions.
She had been thinking about him and what transpired at Sun and Star Entertainment which resulted to a long sleepless night.
She sighed as she suddenly felt the pain on her chest again.
'Mom, why do you have to leave me? I need someone to listen and give me advice.'
She sighed as she slowly climbed out of her bed. Her hair was a mess, pillows were thrown on the floor, and her whole being felt like her soul had left her. She lazily picked the pillows and put them back on the bed.
'Mom.. Why am I feeling this way? Why do I have to feel this? I can't fall in love. It will only hinder me from avenging you... love will only soften my heart.'
She put her hands on her face as she slightly slapped her cheeks. She didn't want this rollercoaster-kind of emotions. Everything felt like a dream – if only she wouldn't wake up anymore. She would just gladly succumb to this wonderful feeling and be happy.
She stood up with a weary heart and felt her head spin. Still she tried to walk. She went directly inside the bathroom, turned the faucet on and stared at her reflection in the mirror. She looked young, even with her hair in a mess, she looked beautiful. She touched her lips and traced its delicate form. She blushed as she recalled what happened the last day.
After the conversation that she had with Si Weimin, she could still feel his burning gaze on her – his words still rang in her ears.
'I've always been crazy about you'
She didn't know how to respond so she turned away and aimed towards the door. She didn't want this kind of emotion so she'd rather flee.
Before she even touched the knob, to her utter shock, he grabbed her hand and pushed her slowly on the wall.
She tried to escape from his grip but he didn't allow her to. He locked his burning gaze on her and spoke,
"I didn't want to scare you with all this fast-paced confession. It was never meant to be like this." He ran his hand helplessly on his neatly combed hair.
She stared at him and couldn't help from admiring how handsome he still was. Even with his hair a bit disarrayed, he still looked even more appealing and it made her heart beat even faster. He gave her thousands of butterflies in her stomach – the clichés she was only reading on novels and scripts.
She blushed crimson red when he heard his teasing voice, "Satisfied with what you see?"
Instead of answering, she punched his chest and started to free herself away from him.
However, Si Weimin held her in place and smiled his thousand-watt smile. Oh! How weak she was! One smile and all her previous attempt of freeing herself had turned in vain. Why was she so weak when it came to those gorgeous smiles?
He caressed her hair and put the strands back behind her ears. He traced the soft line of her jaw using his finger which made her shudder as she turned her face away.
"Look at me. Hey, look at me." She felt his warm breath as he whispered on her ear, and immediately she felt a burning sensation rose up on her cheeks.
When she turned her head, he pressed his forehead on hers as he stared on her eyes. She could hear how uneven both their breathing was. She could smell his scent – scent of woodsy notes and musk mixed with his manly fragrance. She felt intoxicated as she fluttered her eyes.
They looked straight into each other's eyes and felt all emotions poured into those gazes.
She couldn't remember how long they stood there, only staring – only their eyes speaking, pulling them both in the deepest part of their hearts. She felt the connections, the earth shattering truth that he already thawed her hardened heart.
Suddenly, Si Weimin moved his nose as he traced the tip of her nose up and down. She felt her cheeks burn even more as she lost all sense of rationality. She couldn't take his eyes off of him. Slowly, he moved his hand and held her nape while the other was placed on her back.
She shivered and caught her breath, her heart beating faster as she felt his breath becoming nearer. She closed her eyes and waited as he placed a soft feathery peck on the top of her nose, her eyes, and her forehead.
She stiffened like a block of wood when his lips finally reach hers. She tightly pursed them when she felt his lips touch hers. She felt the helplessness, the sinking yielding; the surging tide of warmth that left her limp. She held his shoulders as she felt the need for strength – any minute and she felt she would melt.
He bent her head a little and kissed her, softly at first. Then, the kiss intensified, his insistent mouth asking her to respond, she was burning hot with the warmth he was giving her. His lips sending electricity through her body – evoking sensations she never felt before. She writhed on his touch. With shaking lips, she didn't notice that it had been parted and willingly, she started kissing him back.
In between their kisses, Si Weimin whispered, "I've always been crazy over you."
She felt him caressing her back, sending thousands of tingling sensations through her. She was overwhelmed – a moan escaped her lips. Hearing her own moan made her woke up from her trance.
All of a sudden, she felt like cold water was poured over her; she felt so embarrassed that she pushed him hard and ran outside.
She didn't really know how she was able to go out and rode her car. She only remembered that Lan Meixu was still in the company when she reached home. She only texted her, telling her that she had an important thing to do.
She pondered on what happened, and she couldn't find the exact thing to say to pacify her mind. She was embarrassed for acting like a slutty bitch, responding to his kiss, even though they never really knew each other.
She cursed herself for being weak and promised herself never to succumb to temptation.
Xu Jia Li was cut in her thoughts, when she realized that the bathtub was already full. With a sigh, she put her favourite liquid bath soap and after seeing the bubble rising up, she leisurely enjoyed a long calming bath. She still thought of the kiss they shared and how wantonly she responded.
In her frustration, she submerged herself in the water, trying her best to forget what happened. When the water in the tub turned cold, she felt the numbing of her senses which satisfied her.
'I shouldn't feel anything towards him. I don't have time for love. Mom, I'm sorry for being weak.'
She embraced herself and got off of the tub. She patted herself dry as she walked out of the bathroom.
When she finished taking drying her hair, she heard her doorbell rang. 'Who could it be?'
Upon putting on her bathrobe, she opened her door and she was amazed when she saw a huge blue teddy bear with red ribbon on its neck with a huge bouquet of white roses carried by two delivery men.
"Good morning, Miss Xu. Please, sign here."
After she signed the paper, she asked the delivery men about the sender, "Who sent them?"
"There is a small letter on the hand of the teddy bear, Miss Xu."
"Oh! Okay. Thank you!"
She closed her door and smelled the fragrant scent of the roses; she smiled as she put them on a vase and placed on her side table. She held the teddy bear and looked at its hand; there she saw a small red envelope. She opened it and read what was written inside.
My Ever Dearest Xu Jia Li,
I was never sorry of what happened.
I never regret it, either.
It was the most memorable day of my life,
beside from meeting you on that day, at the cliff, 18 years ago.
Si Weimin