Strings Attached (Sequel)

Sanya

March 17th

Faye Calinao

"Not fair!" Moonbin argued and everyone around the picnic tables laughed. Currently we sat out by the lake at picnic tables behind the lake house we were currently staying at. We had a Barbecue going as we decided to spend today relaxing by the lake.

"Faye's somewhere around 17 weeks along with a child inside her," Gu Weiyi chuckled as Cha handed the first batch of the food to me along with apple juice. "She needs to eat first."

"She's carrying my goddaughter," Jing spoke.

"Mine as well," Senior Yu Yin said and the two of them smiled at each other.

"As well as my god daughter," Cha smiled and patted my head lightly, careful to not mess with my hair. "I want her to have a very healthy daughter. I plan to be her private piano teacher." I smiled at Cha as he walked back over to the grill where he was making the rest of the food.

"She's so loved already," Jing beamed. "We're all really excited to finally meet her." Everyone around me agreed and I smiled, feeling content.

"I can be her science and math tutor," Gu Weiyi offered and Sito Mo bursted into laughter and I laughed lightly.

"I can teach her how to dance," Moonbin commented. I smiled at all of them and I was in awe. Everyone began planning out and talking of their future with Ming Yue. It was too long after I finished eating that I was receiving a FaceTime call from Doaming Si. My thoughts turned to Lei and my smile faltered slightly. I excused myself from the table and walked over towards the lake to put a distance before answering the video call.

Once I answered the video call, Doaming Si appeared on the screen and he looked frustrated. Once he realized I was on the phone, his expression softened and he smiled slightly.

"Hi," I spoke softly wondering if there would possibly be good news on Lei's whereabouts.

"How are you doing?" Doaming Si asked gently and I smiled slightly.

"I'm doing alright. Everyone here is helping me... enjoy the break."

"I'm glad." Doaming Si nodded, seeming to be thinking of the one person I wanted to see. "That's good you're having fun with your friends and Jing."

"Have you... heard from Lei?" I asked lightly and his expression immediately expressed frustration and guilt. He shook his head and I lowered my eyes slightly, feeling sad Lei was still mad and disappointed with me since the beginning of this trip. I felt ignored by Lei and it did not help but to think I am still not good enough for him even after everything we have been through.

"I wish... I had better news for you. I am sorry Faye." I hugged myself slightly, feeling a waveness of disappointment and the familiar neglection feeling. It has come to this point a few times now and I begin to question myself. "Faye..." Doaming Si sighed. "We will find him and I will talk to him. It was my fault for letting this happen."

"Maybe... he felt forced to ask me,: I looked down towards the bottom of my screen and shrugged slightly. I shivered lightly, always feeling guilty, feeling like I am the problem.

"Faye... don't think that way," Doaming said, sounding distressed. "Have you been thinking like this since you left for this trip?" I looked up more on my phone to see him concerned.

"I can't help it. Lei's... disappointed with me again... and ignoring me." I bit the inside of my cheek mentioning the last part. I felt like I was annoying him by sending him texts when he hasn't responded back. I couldn't control that I suddenly felt upset bringing this up. My eyes began watering. "I don't like feeling like this," I sighed and closed my eyes trying to lighten the pain that was slowly building. "We were doing so well and I was really appreciative of his support and love, especially with... Ximen."

"Does she want me to come over there?" I could hear Meizuo from the background. I opened my eyes and quickly wiped the tears from my blurred eyes so I could see. Meizuo was now on the screen with Doaming Si. Meizuo has a worried look. "Faye, I'll make sure he has a good talk once we find him. I promise he won't hear the end of this for making you feel upset like this." I heard footsteps coming closer to me and I turned slightly to see Cha and Jing. Once they realized my state, they were surprised and alarmed and immediately took a seat on both of my sides. Cha wrapped an arm around me and Jing took my free hand.

"Why did you have to upset Faye?" Jing asked, frustrated towards the phone screen. She took the phone from me so she could talk to them. Cha pulled me towards him and I leaned my head against his shoulder.

"I'm sorry Faye," Cha apologies and uses his thumb to rub small circles against my hand he held. "I wanted you to feel better on this trip."

"I want Lei here," I mumbled lightly. I placed my free hand now against my stomach in hopes I wouldn't upset Ming Yue today. I looked at the engagement ring on my finger and sighed sadly.

"We will try our best. We can't promise that he will be here." I listened to Cha's voice as he listed the things about what Lei's was doing wrong and how he wished this could be easily fixed. Jing placed a gentle hand on my shoulder before rubbing my back slightly. I sighed slightly and played with the engagement ring on my finger.

"Faye..." Domaing Si spoke after a while and Jing turned my phone towards me. Meizuo and Doaming Si were staring at me through the screen.

"Lei is being unfair," I mumbed. "Maybe I should take off the ring for now." Everyone froze for a moment as I shrugged and slipped the ring off my finger for a moment and Jings eyes widened.

"Lei doesn't regret asking you Faye," Jing spoke lightly.

"It honestly feels like it does," I sighed. My mood has dropped quite a lot in these last few moments.

"Don't think this way Faye," Meizuo sighed, "I don't want you to be worked up about this. You know Lei can be dumb about this stuff."

"Being ignored by him is quite tiring. It's not a great feeling."

"I'm going to kill him," Jing said. She hands her phone over to Cha and takes her phone out. I watched as she looked for Lei in her contacts before calling him.

"How about we go for a walk?" Cha suggested. "Let's plan for the arrival of my goddaughter. We can go shopping for her if you'd like."

"Alright," I nod liking the idea. Both Meizuo and Doaming Si looked towards each other before me. I hand my engagement ring to Cha before getting up and taking my phone telling Cha and Jing I needed a few minutes to get ready.

"Faye..." Meizuo sighed. "At least wear the ring."

"I don't want to," I said lightly.

"You and Lei are just arguing at the moment. He will eventually apologize to you."

"It's not just an argument," I said frustrated and upset. "Until Lei is ready to talk, I'll pretend to be fine for both of our sakes. Though I'm not going to wear the ring until we make up."

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Next update: July 16th, 2022

I apologize for a later post! Next post will be posted on my birthday 🥳

Samantha