'Let me see you from afar because I knew that you'll never be mine.'
Xia De Ming
***
I decided to accept the job that Xia De Ming offered before. Okay, I knew, maybe my decision made me lose my pride, but I must survive. I live alone, and I need money to pay the debts. As I walked through the corridor, people that I passed by looked at me with strange gazes. I wonder why they are looking at me that way.
"Oh...Bai He Lian, please come in." Xia De Ming suddenly appears and orders me to get inside his room.
"Yes." I answered.
Upon entering his room, I noticed the atmosphere feels different. I knew Xia De Ming is not an ordinary human but toughen myself to come inside. Xia De Ming looks normal from the outside with his handsome face, but I can sense that he is also a dangerous man, like Chen Sheng Lin.
"Bai He Lian, you can work from tomorrow and I need you to move to my house." He calmly said.
What?!!
"Wait! What kind of job did you offer me exactly?!" I'm shocked by his request because I have never lived with any man before and he wants me to move inside his house if I wanted the job?
"You will help me manage my home. I think you have the talent since you were able to manage your small apartment. You don't need to cook." Xia De Ming looked at me with a serious face.
"But to live with you, I think that's too much." I protested.
"Why?", He asked, looking confused. " I think moving in my house will help you save since you have a lot of debts."
"How--"
"How did I know?", His smile annoys me. He seems to have this skill in rousing my anger. "I knew you had troubles with the debt collector and ended up with Chen Sheng Lin."
Xia De Ming looks so serious and that scares me. This time, I knew he was no longer joking.
"Uhm. I understand." I finally said not knowing what more to say.
"You need a place to live in where you can save as well." He reminded me again.
"Xia De Ming, why are you helping me?"
"Because you are someone that I couldn't help, even if I wanted too." Xia De Ming's face suddenly looked so gloomy and his answer unexpectedly pains my heart for something that I can't understand.
"What do you mean?" His answer confuses me. My heart started to beat faster, and I can feel it in my palm when I unconsciously touch my right bosom.
Xia De Ming looked so pale, but he managed it by taking a deep breath. It is still a mystery why his presence makes me feel so uncomfortable. My rational mind does not seem to work well when I find myself hugging him. Lightly tapping his back, I no longer feel scared around Xia De Ming. Strange, but I felt his heart has been hurt, though I don't know how.
Xia De Ming just kept silent. He must have been shocked as well, but I can't think anymore because right now, I just want to hug and comfort him.
Knock.! knock!
I immediately release Xia De Ming and step back from him. I was so nervous when our eyes met for a few seconds. On the other hand, Xia De Ming looked so calm like nothing happened. Perhaps, I'm just overthinking about the last situation
"Come in." He ordered.
Mr. Zhao enters the room bringing some documents in his hand. He looked so curious about my presence inside the room and I just smiled awkwardly at him.
"So, I will be going." I said, taking a step to retreat.
"No. Stay here." He stopped me from going outside his room while dealing with Mr. Zhao. I think, this week, there is going to be hot gossip inside this office. "Give me the documents." He ordered Mr. Zhao.
"Yes."
Mr. Zhao gave the documents to him and waited while Xia De Ming checked thoroughly and signed on them. I keep on standing still until they're done and when Mr. Zhao leaves.
"Bai He Lian, I will accompany you to move right away. I have free time now."
"Hey, I haven't accepted anything yet." I protested.
"I don't think that you have any other choice. Let's just go, right now."
Xia De Ming took his coat and grabbed my left arm lightly. I followed him until we reached the parking lot. He opened his car door for me. It feels so weird since no one ever did this thing to me before.
For the whole ride, both of us were silent. Xia De Ming concentrates on driving his car so I decide to look around and observe the raindrops, drenching the whole street. I'm still a little baffled in my feelings towards Xia De Ming. His gloomy face can make my heart ache. How is that even possible?
"Ah!"
I screamed as soon as the burning sensation from my back pains me, interrupting my musing mind.
"Bai He Lian, are you alright?" Xia De Ming started to panic and asked me.
"I-I am fine." I lied.
I can see Xia De Ming look so worried. I don't want to be a burden to anyone for something trivial - not even to him.
"Are you sure?" He inquired again.
"Yes." I answered.
For no specific reason, I just don't want to see his worried face anymore. I can't even explain why my back suddenly hurt like this. I must endure and bear it alone.
'Don't ever think of another man. I've told you before, you made an oath with me and we have completed it, so you have to bear the pain.'
I suddenly heard Chen Sheng Lin's voice in my ears now. How is that possible when he is not even near me. His voice is so clear and I turned to check on Xia De Ming but he looks like he doesn't hear anything. What is it then?
'How can you speak to me right now?' I asked in my mind, more to myself, and not expecting to receive an answer.
'Bai He Lian, how can you forget that we have an oath that binds us forever?'
Whatttttt???!!!
'What do you mean?! How--? You must explain everything to me!' I replied telepathically. I'm stupefied.
I'm bewildered of the fate that brought me to Chen Sheng Lin. What sin have I committed in my previous life to deserve this?
'Chen Sheng Lin! Explain to me clearly!' I asked again in my mind, feeling crazy.
I don't know what to feel about this stupid oath but I sure feel being trapped. Is there someone who can help me?
I tried talking to him again in my head, but he disappeared. I can't hear his voice anymore. I am so frustrated because of the unexplainable fire sensation on my back and the confusing oath he just mentioned.
"Chen Sheng Lin!" I shouted out his name unconsciously.
Why did I call his name?
I looked at Xia De Ming who parked his car inside the garage. I realized that we already arrived at our destination. I don't have time to look around because I caught Xia De Ming sharply gazing at me.
"Chen Sheng Lin." He mentioned his name again.
"I am sorry."
"How can he communicate with you?" He asked.
Xia De Ming's face was reddish and he looked so angry. What should I do now? I never imagined that Xia De Ming can become so scary like this. I think he wants to eat me. Will he kill me now?
"How...How did you know?"
I'm feeling so nervous and scared now. I doubt anyone can help me if Xia De Ming decided to kill me. Xia De Ming got out of the car and turned to open my door. He unbuckled my seatbelt and led me to his home. He then raised his left arm and all the curtains on the room closed in a snap.
"Xia De Ming, what are you doing?!" I started to panic.
He released me in the end, but his face still looks frightening. How can I calm him? The fire sensation started to burn my back again.
"Ahh!" I screamed because of the great pain on my back. My legs become numb and weak. I almost fell if not for Xia De Ming who catches me and steadies my feet to stand still.
"Bai He Lian, you looked so pale." He exclaimed looking worried.
I can't answer him this time. I just concentrated on bearing this pain. How can Chen Sheng Lin do this to me?
"Bai He Lian, don't close your eyes!"
Xia De Ming slapped my cheek but I can't feel the pain anymore.
"Can I just sleep?" I weakly asked.
"Don't!" He shouted. I know he is scared right now and I feel so guilty towards him.
But I just want to close my eyes right now. Contrary to the fire-burning sensation on my back, the rest of my body suddenly felt extremely cold.
Xia De Ming carries me in his arms, inside a blue smoke gate that suddenly appears in front of us. I then closed my eyes because the pain is almost unbearable, making me want to surrender.