Sorry it's short guys but I do hope you like it any way.
~Enjoy~
~No One's POV~
Later that evening, Meizuo and Ximen were left to attend to Ah Si's anger. He drank himself into a stupor so he decided to drink as he stood beside the harbor. Ximen and Meizuo sat on the stairs across from him, making sure he doesn't do something he might regret.
[We've been sitting here for three hours. How long are we going to wait?]
Ximen looked at Meizuo as he looked at the ground.
Meizuo sighed as he looked at a mosquito on his wrist.
[I think all my blood will be sucked dry by the mosquitos.]
He smacked the mosquito on his wrist and chuckled as Ximen looked at him.
[I'll be a master mosquito killer before the night ends.]
He grinned at Ximen as they looked back over at Ah Si.
[Our little Rose is all grown up and the mighty Daoming Si has a hard time admitting it.]
[He had a hard time doing that before she left.]
[Most hate her and criticize her without ever having really known her and what she's been through. I feel bad for Ah Si. Having to go through this all over again.]
Meizuo nodded.
[You know what?]
Ximen looked at Meizuo just as he turned to him slightly.
[If it happened to us…]
[No way.]
Ximen wouldn't let Meizuo finish that thought. He knew where he was taking this and he was not about to let Meizuo admit he liked Rose now too. Although the thought no longer bothered him, he just didn't want more of his friends getting into it then absolutely necessary.
[We'd never like a girl to that extent.]
Meizuo smiled.
[Or we should say that there is no girl that we can't handle.]
[Except for Rose.]
[She is the only exception. We need magic to figure that one out.]
They chuckled as they looked at Ah Si and then back at each other.
[You're right, Meizuo. There's no other girl that we can't handle.]
They clinked bottles and drank some more. Ximen then sighed as he looked back at Ah Si.
[But why must three people suffer when only one is broken-hearted?!]
[Lei is so lucky he isn't here!]
They said these things loudly to Ah Si and when he heard it, he drank the rest of his bottle and threw it to the ground, glass shattering along the pavement behind him.
The boys looked at each other now slightly more sober than they had previously been. They were now worried about where this was going to go.
Meizuo looked back at Ah Si as he spoke again.
[I think we won't get through to Ah Si right now.]
[There are two options.]
Meizuo looked at Ximen as he spoke.
[One, get him drunk and drag him home. Two, knock him out and drag him home.]
Meizuo lifted his beer bottle up.
[This is all the alcohol left.]
Ximen sighed.
[Is it just me or is he overreacting about Rose?]
[I'm sure he's just not used to this yet, again.]
[We all aren't. But with Kai gone, I think someone should be with her at all times now. She's not handling the negative stress load like she used to.]
Meizuo nodded.
[That's why I called Lei. Asked if he minded coming back for a bit. It's going to take all of us this time around...]
He reached into the pocket of his jacket and pulled out a black origami lotus flower.
Ximen went wide-eyed.
[Where did you get that?]
[Off of her front door. I wanted to check on her but she slept at Lei's house last night. Turns out she found her old key set.]
Ximen sighed pretty hard.
[We should go. We'll have to use force then.]
The boys playfully fought over who would be the one to knock Ah Si out only to discover that he had walked off.
Ah Si made his way to the place where his and Rose's date took place. He was confused, angry, disappointed, depressed, and desperate. So much was running through his head. Not a single thing he could put a finger on and yet, he knew. Knew he was wrong. Knew he had hurt Rose. Knew that the way things usually work wouldn't work for her. Knew he was sorry and yet was too proud to admit it. Maybe it hadn't dawned on him yet. That the way things appeared to be wasn't who Rose was. Then again, he did wonder if he even knew her any more.
In his drunken stupor, Ah Si started to have flashbacks of his date with Rose. How she came to him even though she didn't remember him the way he remembered her. He wasn't even sure she still loved him at all. Then a feeling of guilt washed over him. Ah Si sat on a stair and stared at the ground in front of him.
In his alcoholic haze, Ah Si noticed someone standing beside him and that they were holding an umbrella over him. He hadn't even noticed it was raining.
[Ah Si.]
He looked up at her.
[Why are you sitting here?]
He stood. Having believed Rose had come for him once again, he pushed the umbrella out of the way and kissed her. Never noticing that the girl he mistaken for Rose, wasn't Rose at all, but rather Yijun.
[Rose, why? Why did you lie to me?]
He gently wrapped his hands around her neck, his thumbs stroking her cheeks as he did so.
[You want me to trust you, right? Why did you lie to me then?]
Ah Si was so desperate for understanding that Yijun couldn't move and couldn't speak.
[Don't you care anymore?]
He kissed again, harder this time. Now, the young girl who was so desperately in love with Ah Si, dropped her umbrella completely to kiss him back only to have Ah Si pass out in the meantime. With great effort, Yijun got Ah Si back to her apartment and laid him on her bed to sleep the rest of the night off.
/\/\/\/\/\/\
~Rose's POV~
I woke up that next morning with a terrible feeling in my gut. Not one that would make you sick, but rather one that said something bad was going to happen. That insanely anxious feeling that you can't shake. Dred. That was the feeling that I couldn't shake. Then I shot up straight in bed. The only time I felt like this was when she was around. My adoptive father wouldn't send her here. Not if he wanted me here. Not if…
If she's a part of the Black Lotus group then of course she'd be here...I can't be a coward now...not now…
I quickly got dressed in a shirt and pair of jeans before quietly sneaking down the stairs and around the house. Then of course, to my dismay, she was sitting at the kitchen island, flipping through a newspaper, two of her thugs standing behind her.
"Xue, darling, please come in. I won't bite."
Liar.
I stood straight as I walked into the kitchen and stood in front of her on the other side of the counter. I didn't want to be anywhere near her.
"To what do I owe this pleasure of a visit?"
She flipped the newspaper down to look at me.
"I wanted to see how my baby girl was doing."
Right. She's not here for that.
"How did you get in?"
She smiled.
"Do you really think that I wouldn't have a key to my own house?"
There it was. The reason for the dread like feeling I had. This house was once hers. She still had a key. She could willingly invade my life at will. The sad part? I didn't have the ability to argue with her about it.
"Anyway, I hear you're stirring up quite the mess here. I guess I need to reteach you some manners."
"Manners?"
Manners could mean absolutely anything when it came to her. I do mean anything.
I swallowed hard when she nodded in my direction to her two goons.
"It's really not necessary."
"Oh, but I think it is...avoid the face boys."
I bolted when one of the men cracked his knuckles. I ran around the house the best I could...but eventually my luck always runs out. They caught me and then proceeded to beat me until I could no longer move. Then they dragged me back to her and dumped me at her feet.
"I do hope you've learned from this, dearie. I don't wish to treat you like this."
Liar.
She gathered her things and the three of them left. Leaving me on the floor as they did so. I couldn't move and I could barely breathe. I could take a few good hits from time to time but I was a wuss when it came to her. She's been doing this behind my adoptive father's back for as long as I've known her. Which at this point I'm guessing really isn't as long as I think it is.
I whined as I tried to get up. If my ribs weren't broken then they were bruised. Those grown ass men never held back. They just didn't hit my face because according to her, it was the only thing I had going for me.
Most of their punches were aimed at my torso. A few hits here and there at my legs when I dared to stand. Then when I hit the ground, they kicked me with all they had. I should go to the hospital, because now I was pretty sure at least two of my ribs were either cracked or broken.
I rolled onto my back with tears in my eyes. I had almost forgotten how much fun this was. This happened so often that I learned how to tell if my ribs were broken. Initial pain said yes, a few hours later, the pain said no. If I was lucky, they were just bruised and not cracked.
When I was able to roll over, I gently got up and sat on a stool at the island. I sighed as I grabbed the bottle of painkillers and took a few. I then slowly walked back to the stairs and then back up to my room. I went into the bathroom and grabbed one of my ace bandages and wrapped my midsection. I grit my teeth as the pain reminded me of how out of practice I was. I was all too happy when I pulled my shirt back down over the bandage. I was not going to have fun feeling like this. Go figure.
This wasn't something I wanted to do today. I thought that once I was out of the States that this kind of thing would stop. I guess I was wrong.
I sighed as I grabbed my purse and headed down the stairs. I walked out of the house, locking the door as I did so. Then I slowly walked to the mall, knowing that if I drove, I might find myself passing out and in turn, crashing. That was the last thing I needed. I needed to move. To walk off the pain I was suddenly aware I was no longer used to.
I stopped by the tea shop and got one of those tasty bubble teas. It looked like a slow night, so I decided to sit and listen to my music. A little of what they call K-pop played through my headset. I listen to a bunch of different things. I like the rhythm of classical and the way it makes me feel and then I listen to other things because I like to sing along and this? Well...I like the beat mostly.
I rested my head on the window beside my seat. I was on Weibo, looking to see if anything new had been said. It was just the same mean comments. The same absurd questions. I've never understood the way people get so jealous over someone that they would stoop down this low just to ruin them. Now that I think about it...that night shouldn't have happened.
There were only three of us there. I never left my drink unattended. I won't do that these days. I've learned from my heavy partying and clubbing days not to leave a drink and come back to it. Always order a new one and never accept one from a stranger. You never know what's been added to the drink when it wasn't in your sight. I won't even take my hand from off of the top of the drink when two people approach me and stand on both sides of me. It's like one distracts me while the other spikes the drink. I don't trust people much any more. Not after all of that. So if I never left my drink, no one approached us, how was my drink spiked?
The sudden realization of the only person who was close enough to do so was Yijun. She was the only one who sat beside me...it had to have been her.
But if she drugged me...then maybe she was the one who posted the picture and not Thomas.
I rubbed my forehead as I sighed. I was stupid to trust a girl like her. She was quiet. Observant. She was...ugh. Stupid me.
When I finished my tea, I put my headphones away and walked out of the shop. I sighed slightly as the ache in my abdomen. I was going to need to take it easy for a few days. I just hoped that she wouldn't come back.
I need a new house…
I started walking towards the end of the mall where the exit was. I hadn't gotten ten feet when two random guys grabbed me and started dragging me off. I was too tired to call out for help. So, I tried to struggle against them but it was like they knew I was sore and one of them hit me in order to stop my struggle. It worked. I whined in pain as the new reminder of my bruised rib cage was given to me.
They drug me into a storage area that had been left open. They threw me forward once we were far enough inside for them and I had to lean against a box inorder to keep from falling over.
[Pretty little thing. What would you do for your freedom, hm?]
I scoffed.
[Stay away from me, punk. Trust me, this isn't a fight you want to start.]
I went to walk past them and the one shorter one grabbed my shoulder. I wrapped the arm of the shoulder he grabbed and as fast as I could manage, I grabbed his arm with my other hand flung him over me, sending his back into the ground. However, I wasn't fast enough to catch the second guy's lucky spin kick to my side. I did my best to block it, but I just couldn't tolerate the pain.
The second I hesitated, he hooked me in the right cheek, and I stumbled for a second. Giving him time to do it again, but this time, I fell. The cracking sound my forehead made as it came into contact with one of the solid wooden crates, scared me half to death. The guy I hand planted on the floor grabbed the back of my head and slammed my face into the concrete floor...then it all suddenly came rushing back. Everything was clear now.
I didn't have time to think about anything as the guy spun me around and he too, hooked me on the opposite cheek.
[I can't believe you have the balls to try what you just did.]
The second time he hit me, he hit me harder. I couldn't help but laugh slightly as I grinned at him.
[Is that all you got? You bastards are going to get what's coming for you!]
I whined again as he hit me in the gut.
[Such big talk for such a weak little girl.]
I wrapped one arm around my waist and balled my other fist. He reared back to hit me again as I prepared for the next landing. I was going to hand his ass to him if I could. I felt him start to swing but something stopped him. We both looked up at the cause only to see Ah Si standing there, the guys wrist in hand.
I sighed in relief at the death glare he was giving the shorter guy. I could relax. Dao had this. I leaned back against the box behind me as I wiped a drop of blood away from my eye. My head was cracked open and it was almost as if the blood flooding out represented every memory I owned.
I smiled as Dao faught them both. A reminder of how protective he was of me and I could recall without pain, how he used to fight guys like this all the time when we were in highschool. I had bullies. Lots of them. I looked like a foreigner so they treated me like the outsider they believed I was. I'd fight and then he'd rescue me. Like I needed his help. Yet I always took it.
Then without realizing it, I started to cry. Relief and disbelief overcame me. Dao knelt down on one knee as he looked down at me and I suddenly realized that he towered over me. He grew up so fast and I missed the best part of it.
[Sorry, I'm late.]
I smiled as I looked up at him. Decided to keep my sudden remembrance of my memories to myself for the time being.
[Who says you're late? Right on time, as usual. So, I guess you believe me now?]
Just because I remembered, didn't mean I had forgotten what I was currently dealing with.
Dao gently wrapped his arms around my shoulders and pulled me to him. I flinched slightly at the pain.
[If you say you didn't do it, I believe you.]
I slid my hands around his neck and rubbed my thumbs against his skin as hugged me slightly tighter, nuzzling his face into my hair as he did so.
[Thank you, Dao.]
He sighed slightly as I gently pushed him away.
[I have a confession to make...my ribs are bruised.]
He gave me a worried look so I told him about her. How I was living in a house she had previously owned and that her goons attacked me on her command, blah blah blah.
After a long silence, Dao gently picked me up and carried me out of the building. He gently placed me in the seat of his car and I buckled as he shut the door. He climbed in the driver's seat and took off.
We drove in silence. I was thankful for it as it gave me time to think. I loved my boys. Some more than others and I had to make a choice. I wasn't good with choices. I gave my life for theirs. I promised to be erased from existence and yet...here I am. My adoptive father and I are the only ones who know the truth. I knew what my subconscious was trying to tell me now. I needed to go back to where this all started. I needed to go home. Just because I remember everything doesn't mean I understood everything. I chose my boys last time. This time, I needed to choose myself. Then I remembered what Dao said once: *[No matter what happens, it's us against the world. Be it the two of us, three of us, four of us, five of us, doesn't matter. Choose who makes you happy. We're family regardless. We love you and do this together. Remember that.]
I rubbed my forehead and Dao passed me a bottle. I looked at it and then remembered it was supposed to be for my head. It was a pain killer nonetheless, so I took it and two of the pills before handing it back. He set it in a cup holder and he took my hand in his, lacing his fingers with mine as he did so.
[How did you find me, Dao?]
[I went to your house. You weren't home, the car was still there, you're stressed, Ximen's busy, so I figured the closest place you would go would be the tea shop at the mall seeing as how you walked. You used to drink a lot of tea when you were stressed out or needed to do a lot of thinking. Talent's used to know you were coming when we were younger. You studied there a lot when we were busy. It was my best guess.]
I squeezed his hand as he looked at me.
[I'm sorry, Dao. I've been nothing but trouble since I got here…]
[Don't say that. You're just getting used to the way things are again. I'm just glad I found you when I did.]
I smiled.
[You and I both. I'm not sure how well I would have done on my own with the condition I'm in now.]
He smiled and then grinned as he started to laugh slightly.
[I'm sure you would have had them knocked out and then some before calling someone to come get you.]
[You think?]
[I remember a time when you've done so with a broken arm out in Barcelona.]
[You and I remember Barcelona very differently.]
[You don't remember Barcelona.]
[Don't I?]
[Do you?]
I sighed as I tried not to smile. Barcelona was the first place Ah Si ever told me he loved me. It was where he took me for my birthday just before I left. It was where he promised me that even if I chose Lei, that we'd still be friends. That we'd still be family. It was also where he signed the marriage contract his mother denied, saying that I figured out he was the one for me, that all I needed to do was sign the contract, because at the time, his father signed it so his mother had no say in it. Oh, I remembered Barcelona, I just chose to remember the good parts.
He pulled in his driveway and parked. Without a word, he climbed out and then opened my door. I had just gotten my seatbelt off when he picked me up out of the car, closing the door behind him. He walked inside his house and told his butler to run a bath. He bathed first and changed clothes. He blindfolded himself and proceeded to help me bathe and change clothes. I borrowed a blue set of his pajamas and he gently sat me on his bed where he took the blind fold off and grabbed his first aid kit.
I grit my teeth as he cleaned the wound on my forehead.
[Does it hurt?]
[Could you be more gentle if it did?]
He sighed as he set his arms down.
[It doesn't look like your skull cracked at all, just the skin. You're lucky.]
I rolled my eyes as he placed those bandage-like stitches on the wound before placing a bandage on it.
[This brings up so many slightly unpleasant memories.]
I smiled.
[Does it now?]
He smirked as I looked down at my ribcage.
[Let me see it.]
[Excuse you, no.]
[How can I treat it if I can't see it?]
Now that was a memory I didn't need reminding of.
[Fine.]
I leaned back a little as I slid one side of the shirt up slightly and then the other.
[I think you should wrap it again. From what I remember, after a few days, you'll be fine. It just looks bruised and swollen. Let me rub this on it and we'll wrap it.]
[Gently.]
[Shut up.]
I giggled as I scrunched my face up in pain as he rubbed a special cream on both of my sides. I then stood up as he wrapped an ace bandage around my waist.
[Nothing happened between you and that foreigner, right?]
[Really? You're asking me this with my midsection bare like this?]
He looked down at me as he secured the end of the bandage.
I sighed.
[You're an idiot. I might be friends with Thomas but I don't trust people like that. Not after what happened to me back then. Why would I do anything with him?]
I quickly grabbed his wrist when his hand touched my lower back.
[Dao.]
[With a reaction like that, it had better be true. I'm so angry, I could kill him.]
I pulled my shirt back down as I stepped away from him slightly.
[I get it, Ah Si...but what are you, jealous or something?]
[Yes, I am.]
I looked up at him as he began to lean down towards me. He rested his forehead against mine as he wrapped a hand around the side of my neck.
[Why?]
[Because I still like you, Rose.]
Before I could say anything, he kissed me. It was gentle but it was passionate and it was all I could do not give that same passion back. I wanted Dao, I did, but he wasn't the only one. Then suddenly I caved. I deepened the kiss and he pulled me closer. I missed him. I missed this. There was just too much that I needed to figure out to get lost right now.
We parted from each other and he smiled.
[You may not remember us, but your heart does.]
[Dao…]
[I know, but I mean it, Rose. I still feel the same as I did then. Just think about it.]
I nodded as I looked at the floor.
[I guess I should sleep in the guest room, huh?]
[You don't have to.]
I smacked his chest as he laughed and rubbed it.
[Ow!]
[Wuss. I don't trust you right now.]
[I get it. Third room on the right.]
[Good night, Dao.]
[Good night.]
I went to my room and laid down. I had taken my contacts off when I bathed so I pulled my glasses off as I rubbed my face. I set them on the nightstand tried to get some sleep. I was almost asleep when Dao patted my arm.
I squinted at him as he handed me my glasses. I put them on as he helped me sit up.
[What's wrong, Dao.]
He sat a change of clothes on the bed.
[Get dressed and come with me.]
[What? Why?]
[Trust me.]
I nodded as I stood up.
[You want my help?]
I looked at the clothes and scratched the back of my head.
[You mind?]
He smiled as he pulled the blindfold out of his jacket pocket. He helped me change again and then we went down to his car again. We got in and he took off. We parked just outside of an older apartment complex and he nodded for me to get out. He then led me up a few flights of stairs, making sure I could walk up them from time to time before we came to the door where Meizuo and Ximen were standing next to.
I was surprised to see them.
[She's in there.]
Dao stood on the other side of the door frame from the other two boys and I looked at them confused.
[Guys, what's going on?]
Dao looked at me.
[The person who posted the photos is in there.]
I stared at him for a moment before looking at Meizuo and Ximen.
[Are you sure?]
Ximen looked at me as Meizuo looked at the floor.
[See for yourself.]
I stared at the door as Dao knocked on it. I couldn't believe my eyes when Yijun opened the door. I figured it had to have been her, but to have my suspicions confirmed, hurt me.
[Yijun?]
She was confused.
[Xue? What brings you all here? Please, come in.]
I walked in first and the boys followed behind me. Yijun shuffled a bunch of paper around as she quickly tried to clean her table off.
[My place is a bit messy, I don't have a studio like most people. I hope you don't mind.]
She shuffled a few more things before standing up.
[There. Have a seat.]
Dao stood on my right side as Ximen stood on my left and Meizuo behind me. It was like they were covering every possible vulnerable spot I had.
[Looks like someone is still feigning innocence.]
Yijun looked at Ximen the same time I did.
[What do you mean?]
I looked at the ground as I faced Yijun.
[I think you've made a mistake, Xi. Yijun couldn't have been the one who set me up. She's my friend and I trust her.]
I looked up at Yijun as I glared at her. She in turn, looked at the ground.
Meizuo sighed.
[Yijun, you enrolled into Ming De university a few days after Xue did. You're in all of her art classes and have easily befriended her by taking an interest in her. You only did this after hearing she was close with F4. Correct?]
She stayed silent.
[Xue is like family to us so we did some digging. The Weibo user that posted those defamatory photos was you.]
She swallowed pretty hard as I shook my head.
[Why, Yijun? What have I done to you?]
She sighed.
[Well…]
Then she stopped and then Ximen's tone grew harsh when next he spoke.
[Perhaps you prefer to settle it in court. I'll call the lawyer.]
He pulled his phone out and I grabbed his wrist to stop him the same time Yijun spoke.
[No. Fine. I admit it. I posted those photos online.]
I let Ximen's wrist go as I walked over to her.
[So, you set me up with Thomas?]
She shook her head.
[Then how did you get those photos?]
[I was jealous of you being so close with F4 after only having been enrolled for a short time. I wanted to separate you from them. I just didn't know how. I read up on a few roofie drugs and picked one to slip you. That night was the perfect night. After the drug hit you, you started dancing with Thomas and appeared to be having fun. I could tell he was interested in you so when you passed out on the lounge seat, I feigned being sick and asked him to look after you. When he agreed, I asked him to send me a photo of where he took you so I knew you were safe. I left and he later sent me the photos as promised. The next day, he called me and said he wanted to confess to you and wanted to see you. I saw the two of you looking really friendly on campus. But then I saw Daoming Si and looked like you guys were arguing. I was furious as I looked at the photos Thomas sent me. So, I shared it.]
I shook my head.
[I don't get it, Yijun. I thought we were friends.]
[Us? Friends? Sorry, but I don't do friendships with people like you.]
[What do you mean?]
[You have F4 wrapped around your finger and you flaunt it constantly. Not once, did you think to introduce me to them.]
I scoffed.
[I grew up with F4. I've always been friends with them. I may not remember them but they remember me and have done everything in their power to make me feel like I'm at home. They're trying to help me!]
She looked down at the floor.
[I thought you were above being jealous, Yijun...but I guess I was wrong. I don't need friends like you.]
I turned and walked out of her apartment with the boys on my heels. I trusted her and would not make that mistake again.
~End of Episode 7 part 2~
BAM! Hope you liked it.
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