Another day another soul carried over by the lantern. The departure of a Young man leaving his wife and daughter behind. No matter how many times I have watched this, I still couldn't get used to it. Her looks while praying over the departure of the poor soul. Mischievous and humorous is what people will tell you about her, undecipherable riddle, yet there are times like these where her eyes show her dignified and solemn side. With the night sky at Yujing Terrace glowing dimly over the crescent moon, a small lantern with a dove engraving floated over the horizon.
Not long after the lantern is released, the rest of the Funeral Parlor starts to leave. Leaving just the both of us tonight. Sobbing mothers, baffled sons, sleepy undertakers. I wonder, How many times did she hear those already? But look at her, still standing straight with a bright smile on her face, brighter than the moonlight and all the lanterns could possibly shine. She doesn't fear deaths and doesn't mourn, it is somehow charming and calming in its own way.
"Phew, I am glad that's over." She stretched her arms. "Tonight the stars are dazzling and the moon's majestic, it must be a special night!" She smiled at me and I can't help to think likewise that She, I mean the night is truly beautiful. A zombie once told me, none of Hu's smiles is real but looking at her then, I can't feel anything except genuine laughter from her, either that or she is a very talented actor.
"Are you sleepy yet?" She tilted her face, "If you are, let's just talk tomorrow" but I shook my head. She smiled and raise her hands as if there is somebody in front of her. She starts to move her feet and danced alone on the terrace. Her dark hair twirling covering the moonlight. She moved by the pace and glancing at me. Slowly she made sure that I was captivated in her moves As she moved followed by golden butterflies burst disappearing following the lantern in the sky, she stopped and bowed as if she had finished a performance. She stopped and stare at me with a weird look. She acts all embarrassed,
"Geez Aether, do not stare at me like that, or you will soon fell in love with me." I think it's a little too late for that, "O ya? o ya ya?" Her cheek puffed and she starts to laugh uncontrollably "Are you blushing, Aether?" She points her finger at me, I stuttered, gritting my teeth together. "Perhaps you are blushing because of me?" She smirked. She starts walking toward me and bent her face toward mine.
I couldn't say anything, as much as I want to. "Wait wait, maybe you ARE already in love with me!?" She wheezed and kept talking about how nonsense that is.
"Can you imagine that?" "A traveler that's looking to find his sister ends up being lovey-dovey with a funeral director!" She talks in mocking gestures. She kept on laughing her heads off for minutes. Yeah, it must be so hilarious for her, I tried my hardest to laughs. It hurt so bad that my whole body was paralyzed. A part of me really did want to just laughs with her, but another part of me wants her to know that what she has done is plain painful. Her laughter start to fade and she wipe her tears from laughing too hard.
She finally looks at me, widened her eyes as if she just realized something "Aether? Don't tell me you?" She covered her mouth in shock. I tried to avoid her eyes. I told her my eyes itched, but my words aren't fooling anyone. "Tell me it's a lie please?" What's there to lie about. I don't even say anything. finally my voice starts to come back to me slowly. What did she want me to say? Surprise it's just a prank. "Oh, you got me good for a sec there, ahaha..." We both know these acts aren't even fooling a hilicurl. I felt guilty, I should have shut my feeling and we could both play dumb.
Once again, she covered her mouth and nose trying to comprehend everything. "Since when? How? Why?" But just before I could say anything she jumped of the railing and fled away. Wait, I am the one supposed to be running away not her!
No, I won't let her get away, fear darkens my mind and anger filled my heart. I can't accept her running away now, at least hear me and reject my feeling right at my face. I will never be able to hate her, but if I don't catch her now, I will hate myself. I know for a fact, the girl I love is always inconsiderate and thoughtless, but it doesn't matter.
The void was deep and scary, it was very dark, I regret a lot of stuff and hesitate to take the first step. But she smiled and hit my back, pushing me forward. Now I don't want to have anymore regret. She is my lantern to keep me moving forward in this world, and I don't want to lose her light.
You are the one that once said, life is short and so tonight I wanted to tell you how I really feel. Panting but we both keep running. But I reach her hands. She doesn't try to break free but she just kept her head looking down facing the other way.
"It's fine, just don't run anymore, I just want to say I am sorry, and let's forget all this ever happened." She looks at me distress
"You got it all wrong Aether! I was, I was laughing at myself" she shook her head violently and hold her head, "I thought that I can laugh it away, but you, I, I was, not that I," She took a deep breath "I don't deserve you nor your love, that's how I really feel, no more jokes and tricks. But after all those words I said earlier, my words must means no weight anymore." She tried to push my hand away. "So please just let me go..."
No way, I have carried out so many selfish requests but that's not a wish I could carry. I pulled her into my embrace. "Wait! Aether" "I won't let you go. I really love you, Hu,"
"Even though I hurt you so much, and what kind of fool want to get out with a me?" "I don't care, I won't let you go. Soon my lantern will have your engraving and yours will have mine. So for these short moments, will you continue to light my way?
She gives in and gives a sigh
"Aether, You are really really IS an idiot.
Of course I do."
I felt really happy that all my anger and sadness just disappear, She, Who let me THawed in her embrace, is a nut, one that's very hard to crack. But inside, comes a sweet prunus scent which can only be felt by those she let to.