I AlwaYs havE AnD I AlwayS WiLL --PART-2-TimE & AgaiN" Ongoing.

Chapter 20- "BacK From the PasT"--

Chapter 20

Back from the PasT

Chonging -- 2019 :

Zu's House :-------

'Mom, you need to have dinner,' pleaded Zu. 'You have to.'

Madam Yu looked at her with horribly vacant eyes and it took all of her strength to keep the smile on her face.

'Mom, see , I made it on my own with a little help from the cook, won't you at least tell me how it is? See even Papa ate.'

Her mother's eyes began to liven a little. 'He did...ate?'

'Yes, Mom, I made him eat, and I'll make you eat too,' Zu was a little thrilled to see her mom sound enthusiastic.

Holding on to the cheerful expression she said, 'And...you?' asked Madam Yu.

Zu faltered for a heartbeat before saying, 'I ate already Mom, do you really think I wouldn't?'

As it had been for the last two days since her cousin Lucy had gone missing and was subsequently found dead due to snakebite in the forest, Zu helped her mother eat, then cleared away the dishes and guided her mother to her parents' room where her father sat sitting, holding a framed photograph.

And as usual she went back to her room, blinking back the tears that were beginning to pool in her eyes. She hates her life. Where had her old life gone? Though she hated her, still Lucy was her sister and she was dead.

Wei Ying on the other hand was missing, her parents broken- how much more was she going to bear with a forced smile?

She'd never dreamed of being mature, responsible. She'd never thought she was, with Lucy barging in their house and her private space now and then.

And with Wei Ying around, she'd always been the tomboy of the family. Right now, though? She probably resembled a Hindi soap heroine.

She scrubbed viciously at her cheeks, trying to stop the flow altogether, and failing. She flung herself face down on her bed and lost herself in her misery, sure in the knowledge that nobody would see her, given that her parents were themselves trying to put themselves together.

So when she felt a touch on her hair, she bolted upright in shock...

And came face to face with her best friend Huan.

Her tears stopped at once as she frantically tried to make herself look presentable. 'Hi,' she said, trying to make her voice sound normal. 'Did you- need help, or anything-'

Huan stared at her without the hint of a smile. 'Cut it out,' he snapped. 'Stop acting like that.'

She stared at him. 'Acting like what?' she asked.

He gripped her chin. 'This,' he said. 'This whole- strong act that you're carrying on. I'm not saying you give it up entirely- I'm saying, stop pretending with me.'

'I'm not pretending!' snapped Zu , blinking furiously to avoid crying.

Huan raised an eyebrow. 'You could never lie to me, you know,' he said. 'I'm your best friend, not some stranger.'

She turned away from him. 'Go away and leave me alone.'

When she heard the door close, she drew a shuddering breath. In spite of telling him to leave, she hadn't really wanted him to go- did she?