Though Jan knew about his best friend's real identity, that did nothing to hinder their strong friendship. Granted, Jan had to catch himself from calling out Mei's real name each time they're outside. Fortunately, no one else noticed anything strange about "Tang", so they were free to continue their days like how they did before.
The two continued to attend classes like they always have. Now that their lessons were easier from their study sessions, they slid by with little friction as the months slipped away like wax off of candles. With the time slipping away so fast, it was no wonder as the final weeks flew by it was finally the day of graduation.
Along with a myriad of students in their white and blue hanfus, Jan and Mei waited as the headmaster, with his scroll of names, announced the graduate students. Though there were cheers as graduated students' names were announced, anxiety coursed through the two the longer their names weren't uttered. If unlucky, students would need to retake another year of their studies. Jan chewed the bottom of his lip. He needed to graduate as soon as he could in order to finish his training as a merchant and Mei's father had high expectations for her, too.
"Ready?" Mei whispered to Jan. He looked down, meeting her inky eyes, and nodded. Mei was quite restless, too, judging from how she shifted in her spot as she clasped her hands together. Jan gave her a quick pat on the shoulder.
"Don't worry, you'll definitely pass." Mei glanced up and smiled before she looked to the side, a smile on her face.
"Thanks!"
"Jan De Vries!" The headmaster called out. A sigh of relief escaped Jan as he climbed up the platform to collect his scrolled up certificate. Some acquaintances clapped, but the loudest was Mei. Glancing back at her as he descended down the stairs, he gave a small smile.
"You did it!" Mei greeted, shaking one of his hands. "You've passed!" Jan looked to the side, a lopsided smile growing as his face heated up.
"It's only thanks to your help!" He scratched the back of his head. "If I passed, you definitely did. I'm feeling confident."
Sure enough, the headmaster soon called out Mei's name, too. Mei descended down the platform, stars shining in her eyes as she looked at the rolled up paper. A smile and even a small, thankful laugh escaped as he clapped, though he was immediately tackled onto the ground by an ecstatic Mei.
"We both passed! We did it, Jan!" She cheered as she embraced Jan. "We graduated! We…" but her speech faltered. Her eyebrows furrowed a little as if she was deep in thought. "We…" Mei's smile disappeared. Jan frowned.
"What's wrong?" He asked. Mei faced away from Jan.
"We… we need to go back now."
Jan raised an eyebrow, confused until he realised what Mei meant. Once they've finished studying, they would need to return to their respective homes, and their time together will be over. But they have spent so long together that Jan couldn't imagine his day without Mei. Could he come back to his old life now?
Jan furrowed his eyebrows and looked up at the vivid hyacinth blue sky, so different from the pale cornflower blue of his native land. He needed to go back to the Netherlands, too- an entire continent away. Not only will they never study together again, but they will be miles and miles apart. His guts twisted and squirmed into a tight, uncomfortable knot. It was the same feeling as when he had to leave his siblings, this knowledge that he will be far away from the ones close to him.
"Don't worry, maybe I could visit you sometime," he said. As Mei glanced up, her eyes glimmering in hope, Jan couldn't help but glance to the side at the guilt. "Just… not very soon. I…" he twisted his lips. "I need to return to the Netherlands for my merchant training." Mei raised her eyebrows and glanced down.
"Oh." She cleared her throat and tucked a lock of hair behind her ear. "But…" To his surprise, Mei mustered up a small smile, like she always did. "We could spend one more day together. My carriage won't arrive until the evening. When do you need to go?"
"Ah. Well…" Jan scratched his head. "Tomorrow morning." Mei lit up, her eyes sparkling. Jan smiled- Mei always manages to find a silver lining.
"That's great! That's plenty of time!" Mei stroked the bottom of the chin. "Hmm… we could either paint and draw, or…" Mei's eyes wandered to the academy's gates, now open as the students start to flood out. Was she thinking about something?
"Is something wrong?" Mei rubbed the back of her neck.
"Since it's your last day here… you wouldn't fancy staying indoors for too long, would you?" Jan furrowed his eyebrows, confused as to why she suggested it, and realising that Mei had remembered his love for the island, smiled.
"Heh, you know me too well." He rubbed the back of his head. "Certainly. I'd love to."
After they hastily packed up their belongings, they stepped out of the academy, hand in hand. Already students climbed into their carriages as their servants carried their luggage inside, ready to go home. It was funny to think that most students throughout their last 3 years have never stepped out of the white compounds of the academy, despite the location being the first time they've lived outside of their homes.
Away from the main road, they walked down worn down paths carved into the mountains by the feet of wandering travellers, where the birdsong was crisp and clear and the calming, leafy fragrance of trees permeated the area. The sounds of the other students' chatter and the creakings of the carriages dimmed until they were engulfed in the sounds of nature. Squeaking white eyes hid amongst the thick psithurism of the ancient cypress trees. Fallen leaves on the unfrequented paths crinkled underneath their feet. They strolled, not uttering a word as they drank on the unspoilt scenery and the sweet music around them.
Mei brushed one of his fingers, causing Jan's hand to jolt as a fluttery feeling spiked underneath his skin. As Mei retracted her hand, he fiddled his fingers, considering whether he should do something in response.
"Mind if I…" Mei turned her head around and smiled, the apples of her cheeks flushing a plum blossom colour.
"Sure." Jan nodded. With a slow, hesitant hand, Jan wrapped his fingers around Mei's. First a pinkie. Then a ring finger, each touch awakening static under his skin.
A silent gasp escaped his mouth as Mei connected their palms. Jan glanced at Mei, who gave him a cheery smile and a small shrug. Jan smiled back, and they continued strolling, enjoying the beautiful sights as they held each other's hands.
The higher up they strolled, the more picturesque the scenery became. Opaque mist clouded blue mountains in the distance, with only the very tips peaking. Plum trees bore their pink petals that drifted down upon the floor, the sweet aroma mingling with the mountain air. So many different locations, can he remember them all? Each time, Jan stayed a little longer to paint a picture in his mind, admiring every gleam, shadow, and colour. Judging from how Mei's eyes sparkled, she was awed by the scenery, too. Of course- Mei came from a rich household, so she wouldnt've gotten as much of a chance to explore natural landscapes.
Unfortunately, the longer they hiked, the longer their feet tired out. Once they were worn out, Mei exhaled and sat down on top of a rock.
"Let's… let's rest for a bit, shall we?" She huffed. Jan nodded and sat on top of the rock, too. Only once he put pressure off of his feet did he realise how much they ached. How long had it been since they've started walking? Wondering what time it was, Jan looked up at the sky. The sun was in the centre, signifying noon. It had been morning since they've left, too. He stroked his chin.
"Mei, we may need to go back at this point, any later and it'll be dark." Mei nodded
"Yeah, a good point. Let's rest for a while, though."
"Sure." Relaxing onto the rock, they both leaned upon each other and sighed
"Hah… I'm so thirsty... Guess we should've brought some water." Now that Mei had mentioned that, Jan's parched throat became a lot more noticeable. He slapped his hand onto his forehead- Mei had a good point, they should've brought some water. Maybe they should head back now and get some water from the academy. Even thinking about water made him hear trickling water, ever just so out of reach…
Jan opened his eyes. No no, the trickling water sound was still there. If lucky, that should be coming from a stream where they could get a drink.
"Hold on." Jan stood up. The trickling sound came from behind the shrubs. If his luck was bad, it could've come from water dripping down the rocks, barely counting as a stream. But the trickling water was too loud to be that. Convinced that it came from a large body of water, Jan delved into the foliage.
"Hm? Hey, Jan! Wait! Where are you going?" Mei called out.
"I think I hear a stream!" Though the shrubs' foliage was so dense very few sunlight reached the ground, the louder trickling sound urged him to keep on going.
At last, sunlight shone through once he reached a sunny clearing. He looked up as he brushed some excess leaves off of his shoulders. To his joy, the sound of water had come from a small spring. A small waterfall from a small limestone cliff dripped into a clear spring, fragrant lotus flowers cresting the surface while a kaleidoscope of red and black swallowtails fluttered above. Below his feet were soft, green grass, rejuvenated from the spring's water. The water chilled his hands as he dipped his cupped hands in. Bringing it up to his mouth, the cold, honey sweet water dripped down his throat, quenching that parched thing better than any elixir could.
Soon, Mei burst into the clearing as well, panting as she put her hands on her knees. But at the sight of the spring, Mei raised her head and, like Jan, looked around in wonder.
"Wow… it's really pretty here." Noting Jan's actions, Mei cupped her hands into the water and took a sip, too. "Ah! Just what I needed!" After she finished drinking, Mei stood up and, to his surprise, took off her slippers and socks. Jan raised an eyebrow as Mei slipped her lily white feet into the cool water. At the contact, Mei took off her bun, leaned onto the grass and let out a sigh. Not seeing the harm in doing so, Jan did the same.
The cool air touched his feet as Jan took off his socks and slippers. A relaxed sigh came out of him too as he slipped his feet into the chilly water, just what they needed for his tired feet.
For a while, they lied down upon the soft, fresh grass and watched the clouds drift in the sky and the butterflies fly. Jan raised an eyebrow- had they seen those butterflies before?
"These butterflies… these are the same type we've seen on our first day here," Jan noted.
"They are! What a strange coincidence! And…" Mei's speech melted into a small giggle when a butterfly perched on top of Jan's nose. Jan's nose itched, causing him to sneeze, sending the butterfly away. It fluttered higher and higher, above the limestone cliff and into the blue sky as Mei giggled on with her musical laughter. Where would the butterfly go from now? A strange crossed his mind whether they could see it again, seeing as it had the freedom to go wherever it liked. Mei was still giggling a little. Discarding that train of thought, Jan laughed along with her too.
"Jan, look!" After she finished giggling, she pointed towards a spot. His laughter dying down, he looked in the direction Mei pointed to. A pair of colourful mandarin ducks swam amongst the pool of lotuses, the brown-headed female preening the feathers of her brightly coloured mate.
"They're so caring of each other. We are like those ducks, don't you think?" Jan's lips twisted, wondering if Mei's words had some kind of connotations. But it was likely that Mei meant in a platonic sense. Sure, they were very close friends, though Jan… Jan didn't know if she loved him in that way. It was likely just himself.
Jan stroked his chin and hummed in agreement. "In a platonic sense? Mhm. I guess that we are close enough to be like them. Yes." He expected Mei to respond immediately. Instead, she glanced his way, back at the ducks, and down again, her long, black hair tumbling down.
"Ah." Why was she so dejected?
"Mei? I'm sorry, did I do something wrong?"
"No no, erhm…" Mei looked to the side and twirled a lock of her hair. "I read a sad tale about them when… when I was a child, that's all." Mei wasn't the best liar. Jan wondered if something was wrong. But if Mei was lying rather than telling the truth, it was because she was protecting something rather personal. Jan looked to the front and swished his legs around in the water some more.
"Alright."
"Mei… thank you so much for being my friend over these past three years," Jan started as they arrived back at the academy entrance, in attempt to start a conversation. He raised his head, mustering up a small smile for her. In reality, at the sight of her carriage waiting by the entrance, his heart weighed down like lead. Seeing Jan smile, Mei smiled back, though there was a sadness behind those eyes.
"Same can be said for me." Mei gave a small chuckle as she looked down. "I… I wish I have anything else to add to that." To his surprise, Mei tackled him into another of her big, generous hugs. A flurry of feelings welled up at that. Jan was a more logic guided person, but at the thought that this will be their last hug for a while… well, tears were beginning to prick at the corner of his eyes. Mei let go and tucked a strand of hair behind her ears. "I'll miss you just as much. Oh! Hang on," Mei knelt down and dug into her luggage, pulling out a folded piece of paper carefully placed near the top, under a book so that it won't crumple. "Here, I almost forgot! Silly me. Have this." Mei handed Jan a folded piece of paper and gave him her sunny smile as she wrapped him into a hug again. "Something to remind me by."
Jan blinked once they parted. "A gift?" Looking down at the folded piece of paper, he stroked the surface with a finger and smiled as a kaleidoscope of butterflies tickled his stomach. "Thank you."
Sadly, their goodbyes cannot last forever and Mei had to leave. Jan let out a sigh as he leaned upon the white walls. Once the carriage departed, Jan opened the piece of paper.
It was a pastel drawing of two butterflies, another piece of paper wedged inside to ensure that none of the pastels rubs off to the other side. A male and a female swallowtail, their black, white, and red colours so vibrant against the yellow paper. They looked so lifelike- one touch, and they will flutter away. Upon further inspection, he noted that they were drawn with pastels. He smiled- Mei had improved so much since she first started.
"MEI!" He called out at the leaving carriage, hoping that Mei may hear. "SEE YOU NEXT TIME!" Only the sound of the carriage's wheels and the clopping of the horses' hooves responded. The carriage was too far away. Dejected, he
He thought that the carriage was too far away. To his surprise, Mei responded.
"I'LL BE WAITING!" Mei called back. Jan snapped his head up.
She'll be waiting… she'll be waiting… somehow, that gave him enough courage to go back.
In the morning, the carriage had gone from the thick, green foliage of the academy grounds to the urban, run-down streets of Zeelandia. The Wang household was a compound in the capital., as her father, Wang Yao was a powerful politician well known amongst the inner circle. Being such a politically important figure, her family lived in a large compound near the city centre. At the scent of petrichor, she huffed and placed her cheek upon her hand.
She will miss studying at the academy. Well, studying with Jan. Mostly Jan. But it seemed that Jan only saw her as a friend. A sigh came out. Well, at least they could still see each other from time to time. Perhaps she can write some letters to him, too.
On the bright side, she will finally be home in the first time in years. How were her brothers? The servants? And her father? Her spirits now heightened, she sat up straight, ready to come back home as the carriage strolled through the busy streets she had grown up in.
The nearer they arrived at her house, the more she heard something strange. The sound of the cheery, high pitched suona caught her attention, its melody cheerful and quick. She frowned, and sat up, peeking outside of the window. As Mei stepped out of the carriage, she looked around the courtyard. What was the occasion?
"Oh, excuse me," she muttered as one of the outside servants bumped into her. The servants glanced, but paid no other attention as they placed the caskets onto the ground. Mei looked forward.
Many servants not their own brought boxes and boxes of items into the courtyard. Littering the entire courtyard were lacquer wood boxes that bore crimson diamante stickers, a single pathway in between that lead to the house. Mei leaned in for a closer look. Inscribed upon each of the stickers was a single, black character:
囍
Joy characters, side by side, often representing a happy couple.
These were offerings for a marriage.
囍- this character is the duplicate of the xi character 喜, by itself meaning happiness. When doubled, it is used for marriage.
The butterflies are broad-tailed swallowtails, which are native to Taiwan
Mandarin ducks are a Chinese symbol for love, referenced in the original legend. Coincidentally, the word for a mandarin duck pair, yuanyang, colloquially means "odd couple" in Cantonese. So yes, Mei's hinting that she likes Jan in a romantic way XD
Buckle up, guys, this is the bit where the story gets sad