Chapter 38 - Love Circle?

Reen and Cixi looked all over for Joreen but didn't find her. They had taken a different route so they didn't bump into Joreen nor Hoy.

"That girl wants to drive me crazy! I bet she is freezing somewhere!" Cixi cried out.

"Or maybe she has returned to the room after seeing how cold it is out here? Maybe we should return inside because I am with the key." Cixi said with her hands inside her coat's pocket. If she was this cold even though she was wearing a coat, she wondered how Joreen was able to survive.

"I thought so too. We should return insude. Why did she run out like that! I feel a headache coming already." Cixi began to massage her temples as she spoke wearily.

Reen watched her quietly and began to think deeply about something. After a while, she said it out,

"Uhm... mum?" 

"Hmm?" She replied weakly.

"Haven't you noticed anything strange about Joreen and uncle Hoy?" Reen asked. 

"Anything? Like what?" Cixi asked curiously. 

"Like the fact that she may be having feelings for him?" 

Cixi looked at her with wide eyes before pulling Reen to the side. She checked both sides to be sure no one was within earshot before whispering, "You think so?" 

Reen nodded. "I've noticed it for a long time but with Joreen always wanting to get away from him, I thought maybe I was over thinking things. But during this trip, she's been acting strange and even ran out when you said uncle Hoy was with a girl. I think she likes him but doesnt quite realise it. You know how dumb she is."

Cixi began to chew her nail nervously. "That doesn't sound good." She began to pace around. 

"You look like you have suspected it too." Reen said suspiciously. 

"I have. I have!" She sounded panicky. "But I also ruled it out because I felt I was overthinking things."

"But there is nothing wrong with her feeling that way about him right?" Reen asked curiously. 

"There are a lot of things wrong about it! Firstly, Joreen is not yet an adult—"

"She'll turn 18 in 10 days."

"Hoy is already 30. He is far more matured and experienced than her—"

"But he cares about her and probably loves her. Everyone with eyes can see it." 

"What if he doesn't feel the same way about her? I mean, we all know he likes her and cares about her but not because he sees her as a woman. I don't think he sees her that way." She fidgeted. 

"Come on, there is a thin line between the Philia and Eros kind of love. I actually think he likes her more than anyone is willing to admit."

"The family wouldn't accept it!" 

"We cannot blame Joreen if she's in love with him! He's practically been in her life for a long time. He is handsome, wealthy, and he cares about her. I would fall for him ten times if I were her. So everyone should blame uncle Hoy instead."

"You always take your sister's side. That's why she is so dumb and spoilt because everyone keeps supporting her." Cixi hissed. "Anyway, let's not conclude yet." 

"The earlier you accept it, the better." 

"You are not making things easy for me!" Cixi said through gritted teeth. "I should have paid more attention to her relationship with Hoy. I don't want her to get hurt. This is not the best way to learn about adulthood. I cannot have her start with a heartbreak. We need to find her and make sure to talk some sense into her. That silly girl! How could she go out in this cold." Her motherly concern kicked in and she began to seriously worry about Joreen's emotional and physical health.

Although Reen was worried, she laughed. "Poor Jo. She doesn't even know how she feels yet everyone is trying to talk her out of it."

"You silly girl!" Cixi hit her arm. "You should have told me as soon as you noticed."

"You also suspected it, didn't you?" Reen rolled her eyes. 

Cixi continued to berate Reen but when Reen didn't say anything like she always used to, she turned to look at her and noticed Reen was looking elsewhere. She followed her gaze and saw her looking at a handsome young man walking towards them.

"Hey!" Reen raised a hand and smiled at him when he got closer. 

He stopped in front of them, greeted Cixi with a polite "Good morning ma'am." Before he looked curiously at Reen as if trying to remember how and where they met. 

"You are... Miss Luo Reen right?" He guessed.

"Yes! You remember me." She smiled broadly and tucked her hair behind her ear shyly. 

Cixi watched in frustration. She was talking about one problem but another was coming? What was she going to do about her two girls?

"Of course, I remember you. What about your boyfriend... his name is Kyle right?" 

Talking about Kyle made her frown. "Well.. he is available."

He nodded. "I'm running an errand now so I'll just get going."

"Okay! We'll surely bump into each other again right? And you owe me a picture!" She said with a grin. 

"Sure." He smiled politely and bowed slightly at Cixi before walking away. 

"What do you think you are doing?" Cixi asked immediately he left. 

"He is handsome, isn't he? I'm his biggest fan. Have you watched him playing basketball before? Yan Shen is so cool." She said with a girly squeal that made Cixi frown.

"You better end your childish crush and remember there is Kyle— wait! He is... Yan Shen?" Cixi asked and turned to look at his retreating figure. 

"Yes... why?" 

Cixi sighed. "Do you know who Yan Suyin is?" 

"Ya Suyin... Zhu Liang's fiancee?" 

"Yes! If you are his biggest fan like you claim, then you're supposed to know he has a sister. And not only is it ill fated for you to get yourself involved with him, it seems like he is interested in being friends with Li Heya. And you my dear, you have a boyfriend already."

So... Heya still liked Zhu Liang who was now engaged to Yan Suyin. Suyin's brother, Yan Shen, probably liked Heya. She had a crush on Yan Shen while her supposed 'boyfriend' probably had a thing for Joreen. Joreen on the otherhand, liked Li Hoy who was busy hanging out with another girl. 

Reen processed everything in a few seconds and muttered a frustrated, "SHIT!" 

********

Heya gently strummed her guitar while playing whatever that came to her mind. She had been in bed all morning and didn't feel like leaving her room. She had a feeling that as soon as she step outside her room, she was going to see him. The fact that Suyin's room was just across hers made it worse. She didn't want to bump into the two of them entering inside her room. 

The soft knock on her door made her leave her bed. Her legs were almost cramped as they touched the floor. She wanted nothing more than a hot cup of coffee and she was certain it was the room service at the door whom she had called for earlier. 

"Hold on." She said as she wore her slipper and moved towards the door. She looked totally unkempt but didn't mind. It was the least of her problems. 

But when she opened the door, she came face to face with the last person she wanted to see. 

Her heart literally stopped and her eyes widened.

"What... are you... doing... here?" She asked in panic as she came out to look at both sides of the hallway, hoping no one had seen him standing there. "If... you are looking for Suyin's room, it's over there." She said with a dry voice and pointed at the opposite door.

Zhu Liang just stood there and looked at her without answering. Heya heard distant voices at the end of the hallway and panicked. If anyone saw him there, it was going to be trouble.

She quickly pulled him inside and locked the door. "What are you doing here? Do you realise the Yan siblings live in this floor?" She asked in a whisper. 

"Why aren't you saying anyth— ahh!" She was startled when he forcefully pulled her into a hug.

For a moment, her brain stopped functioning and she revelled in the hug. How much she had missed him. Being close to him like this brought tears to her eyes and pain to her heart. 

Why the pain? She suddenly remembered he was engaged to someone else. She tried to push him away but he didn't budge.

"Please... let me go." She pleaded weakly. 

But he didn't. 

Until a knock came on the door, causing them to jumped apart at the same time. 

"Heya? It's your mother, please open the door." 

Heya's eyes widened and she began to panic again.

***********

NEXT EPISODE ON HML: THE CHRISTMAS TRIP.

"I just want to ask you a question..." He paused. "And I need an honest answer." 

"I don't care whatever question you—"

"Did you ever regret it?" He interrupted. 

"Breaking up with me, have you ever regretted it?"