Chapter 10: Revelations
Another day, another chapter to write.
That's what they're doing again and this time, they're not on the balcony, the two of them are inside the house because of the cloudy weather outside and it seems that any moment will pass, rain will begin to occur.
Clouds are painted in colored gray, the warm air turns to cold— slowly getting stronger making it swaying the leaves and flowers in her garden. It's still good weather and it added some motivation to her.
"Do you want some coffee?" she asks Hex and the latter just nods while still focusing on writing.
She smiled and immediately went to her kitchenette. It's amusing her to see how delicate he is to their collaboration. He's naughty but he knows how to handle it well and when to show that side.
But still, while staring at him earlier, she can't help but to think about the man in her dreams. It feels like he is really with her but when their eyes meet— she knows they're not.
She sighs and just continues making their coffee until she hears some footsteps coming towards her kitchenette.
"He Tian? What do you need—'
"Who is Mu Yan?"
She stiffened and looked at him back in surprise.
"H-Huh?"
He sighs and puts her tab on the table. She immediately grabbed it and her lips parted when she saw a digital sketch.
It looks like this man infront of him but then, his onyx brown eyes are emphasizing and the name Mu Yan below the sketch are there.
This sketch.. it's hers.
"Lu Xia?"
She sighs and turns it off before turning back to her coffee and stirring it using a tablespoon.
"I-It's just a sketch. It's nothing." she said and bit her lower lip when she stammered a bit.
"I know it has and I want to know about this."
"I-I said it's nothing—"
"But you are lying!"
She stilled again. How do she explain this to him when even though it's the same as him— she's also confused?
She sighs and sits on the tool.
"He's the man in my dreams."
His forehead creased. "Huh?"
"In the past few days, I've been dreaming about something dark. I thought it was a nightmare until I saw him— Mu Yan." she bit her lower lip and continued explaining.
"He was always there in the darkness together with the blue and white lights that surrounded him."
"And why do we look the same?"
"I-I don't know.." she stirred her creamed coffee and looked away from his gaze.
"I was also shocked the first time I saw him to the point that I thought that it was you but no." she looked at his nut brown pair of orbs.
"You don't have the same eyes, the same stares, and the way you treated me."
"Why?"
"He was there for me—"
"I am too." She was stunned and gasped a little when he said that.
"H-He Tian..."
He sighs and walks towards her and stops right in front of her.
"Lu Xia..."
"Hmm?" She didn't know why she's feeling nervous so she stood up from the stool and took one step backwards away from him.
She's really not comfortable being this close to him unlike Mu Yan who—
"I like you."
She blinked and went to solid rock.
"W-What?"
His pale complexion suddenly turned pinkish as he rubbed his nape and looked away from her.
"I like you, your highness."
She gasps. "He Tian, are you even serious—"
"I am, A'Xia. I am."
She was even more shocked when he calls her that name.
"B-But—"
"You don't feel the same, am I right?"
That made her totally shut up. Of course, she doesn't.
"It's just—"
"Is it about your dream? About Mu Yan?" she silently nodded. A moment of silence happened until she took courage and looked at him.
And there, she saw him looking at her intently— with a worried expression written on his face.
Her forehead creased. "Why?"
"Lu Xia..."
She feels nervous again all of the sudden.
"H-Hmm?"
"Are you okay?"
"Huh?" she was more confused about what he asked. "What are you—"
Her sentence was cut off when a loud ring made them shocked and surprised.
"That's mine. Excuse me for a bit." she just nodded so he immediately exited.
She walks towards the back of the stool, sits there and decides to take a sip from her coffee.
It was just a couple of seconds before He Tian entered the kitchenette again but this time, worries, shock, and some pity were all over his face.
"Why? What happened?" she asked curiously. He looks at her for the meantime and she can see that he's holding back to say something.
She sighs. "Tell me."
"Lu Xia..."
"He Tian, tell me what happened. Is there a problem?" he went silent again for a moment before handing her his phone.
With such confusion, she looked at the screen and what she saw... ruined everything.
"N-No.."
"Lu Xia..."
Her lips trembled and so her hand started to shake. Her palms were sweating as she felt the loud banging of her heart because of what she saw.
Her past... the nightmare behind her tragic endings.
"A'Xia, you're crying."
She stilled a bit and that's when she feels her tears streaming down on her face. She sobbed.
"I-I..."
He went closer and wrapped her in a tight embrace.
"Hush down. Everything will be alright."
But she can't stop from crying. She can feel the thorns of the rose that she'd been loving slowly piercing her heart-- making it bleed and she feels pain. So much pain.
Her past that she wants to hide is already revealed. The misery that her heart forgot brought her back to pain again. The path that she walked away, the past that she runned away, it's slowly bringing her back to the cage again.
The reasons why she's like this. The reasons why she's been alone and lonely for all these years..
"W-Why does it have to be back? W-Why can't I escape from this much pain?"
"Lu Xia.." his embrace tightened even more.
"It hurts. It's suffocating me— it's hurting me again. He Tian, why do I have to experience this excruciating pain again?"
"Shh.." he guided her towards her room and laid her down on her bed.
"You should take a rest, okay?" He covered half of her body with the comforter and gently stroked her hair.
"Rest from this sudden pain, Lu. I'll be right here, okay? I'll stay until you wake up." he said and continued stroking her long hair to calm her down.
Tears continued to stream down but she chose to close her eyes but then she remembered what she read making her feel the pain again.
..
'Lu Xiao also known as Ms. Lu, the famous published author has now revealed. From the investigation, she came from an old orphanage or the known, 'Sudden Blast'. It was the orphanage that was in the news years ago because of the big fire that happened which caused the sudden loss of the home of the children in the orphanage. And then later on, one of the caretakers revealed something big again. It was said that Ms. Lu did something which resulted in the fire accident and even the others claimed that it was true, that the past Lysia is a trouble maker which questioned her reader's trust in her.
Is she worth it to stan? Who really is behind her pen name Ms. Lu? She's one of the famous writers in the country and also one of respectful role models to her readers but after this revelation, does she really deserve this?
We will wait for your proper answers then, Ms. Lu Xia.'
...
.
"W-Why do they have to bring it back?" she whispered and sob even more.
"It's okay. Everything will be fine, okay? Trust your readers, Ly. They still don't know anything, okay? We will wait for you but for now take a rest. Sleep, Lu"
His words were somewhat comforting to her but when she felt her eyelids closing and she's pushed down to a deep slumber, she knew that there'll be someone who can truly make her feel better.
Mu Yan...
***