Shui yawned and rubbed her drowsy eyes as she stretched her back. She saw Jin over at the couch, sleeping in an awkward position. She blinked, confused.
Why is he sleeping like that?
She let out another small yawn and walked towards him. She was puzzled at his seemingly annoyed expression he showed while in his sleep. He loosely held his phone in his right hand that was close to slipping away.
A popup light flashed on his phone and she curiously leaned in. Seeing Alix's name highlighted on it surprised her. She cast a sideways glance.
Jin was talking to Alix at this hour? Strange, she thought.
Shui stood like that for a few moments in the early morning's silence, staring at Jin's sleeping face.
I promise I will always be by your side.
A small, defeated smile laced her lips.
No, Jin. You won't.
Shui raised her hand, slowly inching it towards him to touch his face. Her fingers hovered above his cheek, hesitating to bridge the last distance. The more she looked at him, the more the fact took root in her heart that nothing was the same between them anymore. On the contrary, the distance between them seemed to be widening even more despite the fact that he was back.
Shui smiled to herself and withdrew her hand silently.
—
Jin woke up an hour later and the first thing he didn't see was Shui on the bed. His eyes widened and he looked at the time.
Damn I was late...
He took his phone and his mouth twitched seeing Alix's new message. His gaze darkened.
She talked nonsense the whole night and ruined my sleep!
His gaze darkened.
Zhou Ai!
"She told me how Shui got in danger and you saved her."
"D-Did you tell Uncle Zhi or...?"
"No. I think Shui doesn't want to let them know about it either. That is beside the point. You got so angry that you punched Kang Yuze and confronted him in front of everybody. You took it upon yourself to destroy Ren Mui. Is this
only
friendship I am seeing? Or maybe I have gone blind," her eyes narrowed.
That felt like a punch on his face. Jin felt like he was standing in the witness box in front of a court judge. "Anybody will get furious sis. We have known Shui since she was little. Of course-"
"Of course what? Of course that you get to pass off your feelings as just friendship just because it's so convenient? Your denial of feelings is just hurting Shui. And she doesn't even know why. She at least deserves to know the reason, right? You plan to keep her in the dark for her entire life?
Nobody here is forcing you two to be together. Yes, we are creating chances but only because we hope that something might change between you two. We have that hope because we know how you feel for each other. But if things are really impossible then tell that to Shui and give it closure once and for all. For the sake of Shui's happiness, don't be so weak."
Muyang was close to coming to a wailing point and Nuo quickly took him back. "Aish, you don't have to cry. Your idiot Uncle is making everybody cry."
Jin pressed his lips.
"So he better get his act together before I punish him for real."
She glared at him and left the room in a huff.
Jin stood in silence for a long time and stepped out of the room himself too. He passed by Shui's room and found the door slightly open. Through the slit, he saw her getting ready as she stood in front of the mirror. He clenched his fist, his breathing becoming ragged.
I...I should tell her...