"It can't be... do I like him?"
He shook his head dismissing the thought.
"There's just no way..."
He walked out of the restroom and headed to the ward room. After finding no sign of Ding and Tsun, he decided to take a seat by the window and allow himself to relax.
"Huh? Isn't that.."
As soon as he opened the window and peered outside, he saw Ding and Tsun relaxing under the cool shade of a tree. Though he couldn't exactly tell what they were talking about, he could make an accurate guess from Ding's happy expression. He sat on the seal and subconsciously watched Ding's face.
"He looks better when he smiles like that," he mumbled to himself," I wish he smiled like that when he's with me..."
As if sensing someone staring, Ding turned and looked up locking eyes with Lian. Without thinking, he immediately got down from the window and hid.
"Something wrong?" Tsun asked following Ding's gaze.
"No, nothing. Am hungry."
Tsun looked at him and shook his head," What, are you ordering me around now?"
Ding shrugged his shoulders and Tsun shook his head.
"Fine. Let's get you back to the room."
Lian's eyes widened surprised by his sudden reaction.
"Why did I hide? This has never happened before... there must be something wrong with me..."
The door slammed open forcing Lian to snap out of his thoughts.
"What are you doing over there?" Tsun asked and Lian immediately stood up.
"Nothing!" he replied his voice coming out louder than intended," ... I mean..."
His eyes landed on Ding and he abruptly looked away.
"Make yourself useful."
"Yes sir."
Lian had almost forgotten about who Ding was, he was a mafia, someone he was sent to investigate and bring to justice. As he walked towards him, he resolved to focus on his assigned task instead of the weird feelings inside him. He supported Ding and helped him onto the bed and ensured he was comfortable.
"Would you like anything else?"
Ding looked at him and before he could speak, the door opened and Rin, who was running, almost stumbled on her own feet but Lian caught her by her forearm saving both her and the fruits she had with her.
"Thanks for your h.."
Her words trailed off once her eyes met with Lian's.
"Rin?"
She immediately stabled herself and pulled away from Lian a nervous smile on her lips.
"Oh Lian... I had no idea you'd be here... such a small world huh?"
"Rin..."
He opened his mouth to speak but no words came out.
"You two know each other?" Ding asked breaking the awkward silence around them.
"Well... he's my best friend," she admitted.
"Best friend?" his eyes travelled from Rin to Lian and back clearly not believing her words," him?"
Rin placed the basket of fruits on the table and sat on the edge of the bed.
"How are you? When I heard that you got hurt... I was worried sick," she said and before Ding could reply, she slapped his shoulder.
"Ouch! That hurt."
"How did you even get injured? That's so unlike you."
"Well... it's all thanks to a certain someone," he replied his eyes on Lian.
Rin followed his gaze before turning to him confused," Lian?"
Lian looked at the two shocked by how close Rin was treating the exact person he was sent to bring in.
What am I supposed to do in this kind of situation? Let's just apologize first.
"Am sorry sir," Lian said with his head bowed and his gaze fixed on the floor.
"Why are you apologizing?" Rin asked and Lian looked up.
"Because it was my fault. If I hadn't tried to intervene then sir wouldn't be in this situation."
Rin turned and looked at Ding for a few seconds. Ding in return looked to the side afraid that Rin might have already guessed the situation.
"What? Why are you staring at me?"
"You bad man."
"Bad man?" he asked and Rin huffed in annoyance.
"How could you make Lian feel so guilty about something that wasn't his fault?"
"Look at that, a nice family reunion," Tsun's voice sounded from the door.
"Tsun!"
Rin threw her arms around him in an embrace and Tsun grabbed her waist pulling her closer to him.
"I missed you," he said burying his head into her hair and she chuckled at this.
Lian watched their interaction in silence. He was smart enough to realise that the three were a lot closer than he had imagined. The thought of Rin lying to him for all the years they were together hurt but he did not want to make any wild, baseless assumptions, he needed to hear everything from Rin herself. If she did lie to him she may have had her reasons and Lian was more than willing to hear those reasons.
Rin snapped her fingers in front of Lian's eyes and he shook his head, his gaze settling on her.
"Is something wrong?"
"You are thinking too much," she said and Lian shook his head in denial.
"I wasn't."
Rin let out a sigh and grabbed his hand pulling him towards the door.
"Lian and I are going to have a chat."
With that, she walked out of the room dragging Lian with him. They walked out of the hospital grounds and into a 24 hour café.
"Why did you bring me here?"
Rin finished placing their order and turned to him with a raised brow," Why? To tell you the truth."
"Truth?"
"Yeah. I saw the look you gave me... you were thinking about our past right?"
"Of course not."
Rin chuckled at this, before teasingly adding" So you don't want to know the truth? Okay then... let's just have a quick snack and be on our w..."
"Why do the two act all friendly with you?" he asked interrupting her.
"I knew it. You were curious," she said and rested her chin on the palm of her hand," I was part of their group."
"What was that?"
"Hah, when was the last time I saw you make a face like that?"
"Face like what?"
"Your gaze... it speaks a lot."
"Please stop messing with me..."
"Who said anything about messing with you? You wanted to know the truth and when I tell you, you think it's a lie?"
"N, No... but..."
The waiter handed them their snacks and walked away. Rin picked a strawberry and popped it into her mouth.
"Mmmh. Delicious. Won't you have one?" she asked.
Lian reluctantly took a strawberry and ate it.
"Don't look at me like that. Let me tell you the story of how I came to join the mafia. After am done, feel free to do as you please."
Lian had never heard her sound so serious before, so he leaned against the chair, placed his hands on his lap and looked at Rin urging her to go on.
"Okay. Tell me everything."