Charmaine looked around as she entered the Ji mansion. The last time she was here, she was running away with only a bathrobe on. Today, she came back with a different perspective; knowing more than she did before.
"Charmaine."
Xiaomin looked up and saw a man coming down the stairs. Their eyes met and her heart couldn't help but skip a beat. Once again, Charmaine saw Leo's young and handsome look. His black eyes were so mesmerizing when they gaze at her. His red thin lips was so enticing to kiss. Memories of their first night together and those that follows in her dreams popped in her mind as if they were part of reality. It's only been three months since she last saw him but it felt like it's been years since she had last laid eyes on his cold and carefree look. Her last memories of him in his dreams were that of the thirty year-old ruthless and heartless Leo who always wore a frown in front of her.
Charmaine lowered her head and sneered. Leo has always been cruel. He didn't even bother to visit her this last few weeks she was recuperating. He clearly doesn't care about her at all. Yet just a glimpse of his handsome face and her heart run wild like this. She's really hopeless. After finding out so much, she still love Leo like crazy. If she didn't know about the future, she sure would do the same mistake all over again.
"Why are you here so early?" Leo asked as he walked towards her. Somehow, deep inside, he was glad to see Charmaine alive and well again. He really thought the accident would take her life and that she would never wake up again. Thank God she's alright!
Charmaine raised her head and glanced at the young man. "I'm here to see grandpa Ji. I need to talk to him about something." she replied with a forced smile. "Are you on your way to the university?" she asked. Leo only answered with a nod. "Then I won't delay you any longer but... can I ask you a favor? Can you go out on a date with me this weekend? I have something I want to tell you."
Leo thought for a while and then nodded again. Seeing he has agreed, she told him the place and time before saying good bye and left Leo standing there. She hurriedly went upstairs to see the old man. She didn't even look back.
Leo watched as Charmaine disappeared from his sight. Something felt different about Charmaine that day. Her glowing eyes and brightly lit face she usually display whenever she sees him were no where to be seen. The lively young girl who loves clinging onto him seemed to be aloof now. Was he overthinking things? After all, she did ask him out for a date like she always did!
***
"Grandpa!" Charmaine rushed towards the old man who was standing and looking outside the floor to ceiling window of his study room. He hugged her tightly and bawled her eyes out.
"What's the matter, Xiaomin? Did anyone bully you?" the old man asked as he patted her back. Charmaine rarely cries. He really wondered what happened.
Charmaine shook her head. "It's nothing. I just missed you." she mumbled. Yes. She missed this old man who always stood by her side. He loved her like a real grand daughter. But in her dreams, grandpa died of a heart attack a couple of years after she married Leo. The cause of it? Charmaine's fight with her sister. Every tragedy in the near future, it would be Charmaine's fault.
"There, there. Don't cry little Min. It's my fault alright? I've been very busy and didn't have time to visit you." he coaxed her.
Charmaine let go of grandpa Ji and shook her head once more. "I'm not here to blame you grandpa. I came to ask you a favor."
The old man smiled and caressed her hair. "Go ahead. You can ask me anything and I'll grant it as compensation."
Charmaine held the old man's hands and looked straight to his eyes. "Grandpa, it's about my marriage with Leo... My mom said you're planning to hold the wedding after my eighteenth birthday. But...can we postpone it till I finish collage? I want to study abroad."
Grandpa Ji was surprised. She became speechless for a long while. It was obvious he was against the idea. But Charmaine can't afford a rejection. This is the only way to keep disasters from falling onto them. She wants grandpa Ji to live. She also didn't want to lose both her sister and herself. She needs to persuade the old man that this is a good call.
"Grandpa... Leo and I are still very young. I also have a dream of my own. I've dedicated my youth to your grandson; now I want to do things for my self. Please allow me a few years of freedom..
Grandpa Ji sighed. "This is all that brat Li You's fault, right? Are you already giving up on him? Don't you like him anymore? I'm old now. I at least wants to see you happily married before I leave this world!"
Charmaine patted the old man's hand. "You're still young Grandpa! You will live decades more! Let's not rush things between Leo and me, can we? Please??"
Gradpa Ji hugged Charmaine. He didn't want to let her go? But even he himself knew how bad Leo treats Charmaine. They say absence make the heart grow fonder. He wondered if it's true.
"My dear Xiaomin..." he said patting her shoulder. "You have suffered. How can I face your grandmother in the after life...?" he sadly stated.
"That's why you can't meet her yet." Charmaine jested. "You have to take care of yourself. I want to see you healthy and well when I get back after four years!"
"Four years... That's too long..." he commented. "Where are you heading? I'll come visit you there from time to time." he told her.
Charmaine's eyes brightened. He agreed? Things will be a lot easier then. She would be able to leave this place sooner. The truth is... she wants to leave before Jienna comes back.