Chapter 108：Another Promise

"I.. I.. I'm.. sorry," he whispers so painfully, stammered as someone is choking his throat. Then there is a heavy silence. Only a click of a closing door disturbs. But she knows it wasn't him. He is still there. Standing next to her. His hand an inch above her hand. Doesn't dare to disturb her but doesn't want to leave neither. The air feels so dense. A tear fails to be held by her eyes.

"Just leave..," Xiao Ping finally says.

"I don't want to.." Takeshi finally moves his hand, slightly touches her hand. Xiao Ping is freeing another drop of tear from her eyes.

"Tell me.. What should I do to make it up to you.. I will do anything.. as long as I don't lose you," Takeshi says again. Another promise.

Xiao Ping pulls her hand, releasing it from Takeshi's touch. "Stop. No more promise," she whispers in fatique, then she turns her whole body to give her back to Takeshi.

------------

The water is still flowing down from the faucet to the drain hole. Takeshi staring at it blankly, ignoring droplets running down from his face and front hair, dampen his shirt. The cold water freshens up his face a little bit, unfortunately not his spirit. He was barely able to sleep. Not that he blamed the hard bench he had as his pad. He doubts that the most comfortable bed on five-stars hotel might able to lullaby him at this state.

She rejects my promise. The thought of it pierces his eyes again. She doesn't want your promise, she needs your action, his heart urges. Be a man, do what is right.

What is right ? Do you know exactly what it is ? Can you be sure what you're going to do is the right thing ? Or will it be just another stupid act ? His thought interferes.

The more you wait the more she will slip from your arm. No stupid act, you will ruin mom's live. How long should you wait ? Be patient. Think all the risks. You will lose her.

His hands are splashing out water to his face again, trying to calm his anxiety. He feels so dumb. So frustrated. He wipes his face from chin upward to the back of his hair with both of hands. While pulling his hair he lets a muffled scream from his mouth.

-------------

Yu Jin slowing down his steps to see Takeshi sits on the bench, head dropping low with a stare on the floor. If only he didn't change his tshirt, Yu Jin may think the guy hasn't moved from last night. Yu Jin sighs then decides to approaches the idol.

"Here.. have some breakfast," Yu Jin says, handing an instant noodle cup that has been added hot water. He has one more on his other hand. Takeshi raises his head to look at the noodle cup then shakes his head.

"She told me once that you have a bad gastric acid. You barely ate yesterday. Don't make more trouble here. Just eat this," Yu Jin saya in almost mocking way. He puts the noodle cup beside Takeshi, then eats his own.

Takeshi finally grabs his backpack and takes some pills from its front pocket then just swallows them with no help of a drink. "Thank you," he murmurs before taking the noodles cup. Yu Jin nods casually, his mouth is full with noodles.

"She hate people who breaks promise," Yu Jin then says after a while. Takeshi stares at him, with a string of noodle halfway to his mouth. Yu Jin chucklea to see Takeshi's stupid expression. "I'm just guessing what you talked last night," Yu Jin explains. "I don't know she told you or not.. she was mad at me when I joined the conscription. She accused me that I broke my promise, even when I technically didn't."

"What did you promise her ?" Takeshi asks. Yu Jin looks at him while his mind considers should he tells Takeshi or not.

"Is that why you flee from your conscription now?" Takeshi asks. Yu Jin chuckles. "Honestly, I didn't remember about my promise at all. I was just so worry. But. yeah... maybe unconsciously I did." Yu Jin gulps the noodles sauce down while Takeshi is stunned. He feels ashamed yet insecured toward Yu Jin. This guy.. loves his woman that much.

"What is your promise to her ?" Yu Jin asks, calling him back from his thought. Takeshi looks at Yu Jin for a moment before his eyes is dimming full of sadness as it moves to the floor. "Too many," he hisses full of guilty.