Hold My Hand

x33 - Sneak Out

Xinran wanted to see how her cousin was doing. But when she arrived at her room, she was met with an empty bed and a sleeping figure--back facing the door--on the couch instead.

Her first reaction was to check the female's hand to see if there's a ring. But then she thinks it's silly because two of her cousin's are currently grounded, Jiaqi doesn't have long hair and there's no way Xu Yiyang would be back in the country--it just seems impossible. So slowly, she walked towards the sleeping female to check her identity.

When the younger saw that it was the least person she expected it to be, she was very surprised.

News about Yiyang going back in the country never reached their ears. Not even the girl's parent knew that she was back. Only Youshuo, Mrs. Xu, Jiaqi and Yuzhou (who accidentally tapped the call button and was surprised that it connected) knew that she was back.

Because of the excitement, Xinran squealed and tackled the older in a hug, forgetting that she's sleeping.

And with that, Yiyang suddenly jolted up awake and in panic.

When her brain has finally registered that it was just her cousin, Yiyang slowly relaxed and returned the hug.

"Don't. Ever. Do that again. Do you hear me, Song Xinran?" Yiyang scolded.

Xinran bashfully laughed. "I'm sorry, hehe. I got surprised and excited after seeing you."

She detached herself from Yiyang and situated beside her, waiting for Jiaqi to come back.

Yiyang obviously knows why the younger girl came to visit. So she told her Jiaqi’s whereabouts.

"Aunt took her out a while ago to talk, I guess." Yiyang answered. "You wanna see her? I think they went to the garden."

When Xinran nodded her head, the two of them stood up from the couch and went to look for their beloved cousin.

~~~~~~~~~

Upon reaching the hospital's garden, Yiyang and Xinran were able to spot Jiaqi, alone, sitting on one of the benches with her head thrown backwards and her eyes closed.

"Ki jie," Xinran silently called when they were near enough.

The two younger cousins sat on each side of Jiaqi, waiting for her to talk.

"Mama...made me choose," Jiaqi started, opening her eyes and looking at the sky.

"I'll either..." she sighs. "...leave the country...and then return when everything's better.....or leave her...for good..."

Yiyang was confused.

As far as she knows, their parents had never meddled with their love lives, unless the relationship is toxic, which, so far has never happened. But considering what happened with Jiaqi, she can understand why her aunt would worry like that.

Xinran, on the other hand, frowned at this.

"Your gonna run away again? Aren't you tired of that already?"

She said, going straight to the point.

"Exactly," Jiaqi agreed with another sigh.

"Not to be disrespectful, but you just found happiness and she wants you to...leave that? Why?" Xinran says, obviously frustrated.

"I don't know," Jiaqi grumbled, messing her already messed up hair.

"What will you do then?" Yiyang asks.

Jiaqi looked at them with a hesitant look. "I don't want to leave," she whines like a child.

"Then don't leave!" Yiyang demanded.