EDITED

Ru Ying Sui Xing – Chapter 5 – Missing Voice

I woke up on my bed, a wet cloth on my head. I heard faint noises outside my closed room. It sounded like father talking to Zhuge Liang. But what exactly was happening between them?

"Do you know what you know what happened to my daughter?" snapped father. Zhuge Liang did not hesitate; he just blurted out, "Yes, in fact I am behind all of this. I blindfolded her and asked her to run to my voice. Sir Huang, it was only a game to see if she could-"

"Game? You think her life is a game, Zhuge Liang? Do you know what you have done? You have nearly killed her!"

"Sir, it is entirely my fault. Your daughter is no way culpable."

"That I understand! I don't want to see you – "

Was it possible that father screamed so loud, not even I could hear? It seemed like Liang understood though because he had said after that loud annoying screech, "Yes Sir." After that, I heard footsteps, a door close and that was all.

Father opened the door to my room.

"Ying?"

"Yes, father?"

"Are you feeling okay?"

I strained my eyes. "A little. Pain stabs once in a while. No more."

Father smiled. "I'm glad to hear that, Yue Ying."

He walked up to me and said, "The bleeding stopped a little while ago. You can take that ridiculous hat off your head now."

When I removed the cloth, I realized that it was Zhuge Liang's hat. I put it on the table, where my headdress was also. "What about Liang?" I asked. "How is he?"

Father looked away. "Don't even think about him. I forbid you from ever seeing him again."

"What?" I cried. "But I haven't-"

"I'm sorry, but look at what he as done to you, Ying. I thought I was going to lose you. You will not see him again, and nor will he."

"But-But-"

He sat beside me. "Just the other day, Yue Ying, you were calling him just another annoying boy who just wants you to do his biddings. What happened?"

"Man." I corrected. "Zhuge Liang's a man, not a boy anymore, first of all."

"He's a boy, Ying. Men will never take such foolish decisions. Besides, you've got your wish. I'll be a little more careful when looking for suitors for you, Yue Ying..."

I frowned at this; Liang was a young man, but it was I who had decided to act like a child and created such a stupid, indecisive choice. Why did Liang take the blame for me?

I looked down. Just when I was getting to know him better, this happens. He seemed nicer, cuter, and way smarter than any man I have met. Why me? Why was I so upset at this?

Father glanced at me.

"Something wrong, Ying?"

"No nothing," was an immediate answer.

This day had somewhat created a small spark in my freakishly plain life. As fast as it was lit, it faded out. How? Why? Me?

No. Zhuge Liang.

I couldn't sleep that night. Why did Liang take the blame for me? What kind of demon possessed him to do that?

I just rested back, and lifted up Liang's hat from the stand next to me. It was ruffled a bit but it still had his "essence" on it. It was...different. I like different. Noticing that it was smothered in my blood, I began to cry. Why did Liang do this for me? Did he really care for me? What am I thinking! Of course not! But that would be childish again...But still. I didn't understand why I had this much emotion with Zhuge Liang as the cause. Why?

And then it hit my non-understanding low minded, self absorbed brain.

I love him.

I love Zhuge Liang.

Logically, this is true. Think deep though. Was it true? Or did I really just think this because I fear dying alone?

"Liang..."