Lu Feng
Time passed by so fast. Before we knew it, we were planning my brother's mating ritual. Every one in the kingdom is excited. Mom and Dad are organizing the cave where the ritual will be held. Lin Mie, as usual, can't wait to see her brother and congratulate him. I wonder what Hao Tieng did to become her favorite. The guards are on full-alert, we don't want anything or anyone ruining/ disturbing the ritual. This mating ritual means more than just two people in-love becoming one. It's the Quadbrid and the Icebreath's mating ritual, our Kings. It's a big deal.
The last two months I buried myself with work. Working all the time although unnecessarily, just to avoid thinking about him. I know he has come and he's somewhere in the mansion but I don't want to see him. I'm still angry and embarrassed. I shouldn't have told him everything I had seen. I can't believe my visions were wrong. They're usually right and everything looked so real, I thought he was my mate. I wish I didn't tell him anything. Maybe I wouldn't have to avoid him or be so angry with him. I can't believe he said all those words to me.
I told him everything I had seen, I even showed him everything and he laughed. He laughed like the maniac he is. He called me a 150-year-old virgin who is desperate to find his mate. Okay. I maybe a virgin but am not desperate, I just wanted to tell him cause the pull felt so real, I wanted to know if he felt it too and he didn't.
The stupid moron kept on laughing then told me I could become one of his many sex-partners since am so 'desperate.' That's when I lost it and punched him right into that stupid face of his and the maniac just kept on laughing, then he said he doesn't believe in mates that's it's all a lie. After hearing everything he said especially the sex-partners part, I just told him to forget everything I had said , told him some pretty hurtful words, told him we should become strangers again and I left the room. I was so embarrassed and angry I couldn't look at him anymore.
I hear a tap on my shoulder and it brings me back to reality. Fuck, I'm the welcoming committee yet I got distracted by my thoughts. I turn around and see the last face I want to see today. The stupid moron, Quang Ho.
He's staring at me, it's like he's grey eyes are boring into my soul. I turn around to walk away but he starts talking and it's like my legs are glued to the floor. The Pull. I can feel it then why can't he.
"Just listen." he starts and I wait for him to start speaking but I don't turn to look at him "You're all I've been thinking about for the past months. I tried forgetting and getting you out of my head but I couldn't. I know I said I don't believe in mates and all that but The Pull. I feel it. I felt it the day I saw you. When you showed me the vision, I panicked. I've never been committed to anyone but me and the thought of committing to you scared me." he paused and talked again.
"For the past months I've watched my brother and yours flaunt their love in my face. They're so happy with each other and I was so jealous. If I had just acknowledged that I felt the pull too, we would be like them. Happy and in love. We would be having our mating ritual today too. All I want is for you to give me a second chance to prove myself. I want to be with you. I want to have the future I saw but not with just anyone. I want to have it with you."
For a moment there I almost fell for his lies. The words he said to me that night still linger in my mind. The way he laughed, I won't forget that. I won't fall for his lies. I know people like him. Casanovas who think they can have anyone. He won't have me. A 150-year-old virgin must be fresh meat for him. The Pull might be strong but my pride and dignity are stronger.
"Is that what you say to all the people you want to sleep with? You think by giving a speech and pretending to care about the pull. I'll forget everything. How naive do you expect me to be? That was a good speech though, you should try it on your many sex-partners. Maybe they'll believe you." and with that I walked away. I didn't wait for him to say anything else. I just want this day to get over with so that I can't see his face again.
I reached the parking area and saw my brother holding hands with Gang Zhi. They look so happy. Quang Ho's right. If he had just believed me that day, we would be together now and it's getting harder and harder to resist the pull.
"You guys are late. You were supposed to be here two hours ago" I said as I reached them. I gave Hao Tieng a quick hug, Gang Zhi and Yung Jen a friendly smile and attempted to give Mrs. Chen a handshake but she pulled me into her arms for a hug. It was weird and after what she said to me it got even weirder.
"Don't resist the pull. You'll only end up hurting yourself and Quang Ho." she whispered in my ear and let me go. How she found out? I don't even want to know. It's hard to hide anything from sirens since they can get into your head.
"I didn't get into your head, dear. Quang Ho came begging me for advice." she said with a friendly smile.
"Which kind of advice?" Gang Zhi asked.
"It's a mother-son secret plus I don't want to jinx it." Mrs. Chen answered with the same smile.
"I'm also your son." Gang Zhi said monotonically. The air around us was turning frigid.
"Ohh son, I've been waiting for you to acknowledge me as your mother once again." Mrs. Chen said and hugged Gang Zhi who didn't hug her back but she stayed there nonetheless. She later pulled back from him and placed a small peck on his cheeks. "You should ask your brother yourself. I swore I wouldn't tell anyone." she said to which Gang Zhi just nodded. I guess he only smiles for Hao Tieng. I only see him with his usual mundane monotonic expression.
We walked into the mansion and found everyone waiting in the living room. Yung Tang and Bing Wen still haven't come.
The moment Lin Mie noticed us, she ran and hugged Hao Tieng, her pink hair hitting me in the face. "I'm so happy for you brother. Unlike the 150-year-old virgin who hasn't found his mate, you're going to be so happy. I hope I also find my mate soon, I don't want to end up like eldest brother." she said making everyone in the room snicker but Gang Zhi. I'm telling you, it's like his face is paralyzed. He looked at me. He gave me the same look earlier. Like he is trying to know what I'm thinking.
"Hey! Keeping yourself for the right person is not a bad thing and most people don't find their mates as early as Hao Tieng did. Mom found Dad when she was 200." I defended myself.
"Whatever you say. Brother do you want to see where the mating ritual will be held. Mom made it all pretty for you."
"Sure. Gang Zhi, do you want to come?"
"No, I have to talk to Quang Ho. I'll see you later." Gang Zhi answered and gave Hao Tieng a quick kiss on the lips.
Every one in the room left to go check out the cave and I was left alone in the living room with Gang Zhi and Quang Ho, whose eyes were red for some not so unknown reason. Gang Zhi took a seat opposite his brother and before I could walk away he made me halt my movements.
"What's going on between you, two?"