Metamorphosis

Introductions

Yue

I left the function room in haste...tears steadily flowing down my face... I feel suffocated... as if my heart was held in a tight grip... It is getting difficult to breath...

Stop acting like the victim Yue... You have to accept that everything changed that day you made that decision... You changed him when you decided to leave... I scolded myself as I ran, unknowing where to go.

Why do you have to ask that question anyway? It was not what you're suppose to ask him... It was not even included on your damn questionare! What are you trying to prove asking him that ridiculous question? Are you out of your mind? I kept on castigating myself as I finally stopped to catch my breath... Wiping away the remainder of my tears... As I find myself alone at a deserted hallway in the hotel. The gripping pain in my heart never ceasing.

You better stop expecting too much from him... He's not your HeDi anymore... He's Dylan now... After everything he's been through because of you... Aren't you too cruel to expect forgiveness from him... I sighed as I chuckled to myself... deciding to let go of HeDi completely... To move on with my life without him... To finally accept that we are not really meant to be.

"What are you doing there you crazy stupid lady?" Someone asked...as I roamed my gaze startled by the sudden interruption on my reverie.... finding ZhiTing Ge leaning on the wall with his arms crossed.

"Why are you here chuckling by yourself after running away crying like baby a while ago... You were not even aware that hell is about to break loose by the commotion you made earlier..." He said as he walked towards me his expression unfathomable.

"Why?...what are you talking about?" I asked confused by his statement.

"In case you've forgotten Miss... that press conference is streamed lived by two social media networks...
And your drama stunt earlier was seen by millions of viewers worldwide basing on Dylan Wang's popularity... Just so you know..." ZhiTing Ge sternly said...

My mouth went agape from shock... I was so consumed by my emotions... that I have been blinded by it... Disregarding everything around me...  As I made a mess of myself and my interview.

"I'm so sorry Ge... I was just so  overwhelmed by the situation... I-I'm j-just..." I stuttered...suddenly at a loss for words
"What am I suppose to do now Ge? Is Tao Jie mad?.. The management... Are they firing me? Do I still have a job?" panic and helplessness took over me.

"Quit over reacting Yue... you still have your job... but the management suggested that you take a break first ... With you getting all the media hype... And Dylan's fans hating on you... they said that it would be easier for them to do damage control while you are laying low..." ZhiTing Ge said reassuringly. "They're asking you to take a break for a week... I guess by that time the situation has been settled already." He continued as I nodded in understanding yet worry still evident on my face as ZhiTing Ge enveloped me in a comforting hug...

"Tsk... stop being a big baby Yueyue... everything will be alright... just be careful next time. Stop living in the past... You have a present to live and a future to look forward to... What you had with Dylan is all in the past now... you better focus on yourself and what's ahead of you...how many times do I have to tell you that?... Besides... Compared to me... Dylan Wang's charm and personality is just so-so... Don't you think?!?" He jokingly said as he let go of me ruffling my hair... as he flashed me a comforting smile. I smiled back... Nodding in agreement... unaware of someone overhearing our conversation hiding in the shadows.

"Let's go! We better pack our things... Our reservation last only until tomorrow... We better check out early before we get evicted." He said trying to cheer me up as he led me towards the elevator to our rooms.

"We better visit your sister too before going back to Hunan.... or.... better yet, why don't you stay here for the week?... Consider this break as a vacation... Catch up with your friends here... I bet they're missing you." ZhiTing Ge suggested as he walked with me... Arms on my shoulders.

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We checked out of the hotel later in the afternoon the following day. I've decided to considered ZhiTing Ge's suggestion to stay here in Shanghai for the rest of the week. Considering the chaos I made at the presscon. ZhiTing Ge told me to not visit my social media accounts for the mean time... He explained that I would just be stressed out by the articles posted there... So I did what he advised and refrained from surfing the net for a while.

We hailed a cab and decided to spend the rest of our stay at my old house before he returns to Hunan... Xiaowen Jie would be surprised... She's not expecting me to come although she knows that I am in town.

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Nostalgia filled me when I stepped out of the cab the moment we arrived. All the memories of me and HeDi came flooding through my mind... seeing that tree connecting his room to mine... I was overwhelmed by my emotions I almost teared up.

"Yueyue?" I heard a female voice calling my name... then I saw HeDi's mom walking towards me. I was stunned... Unable to move as she enveloped me in a tight hug. "It really is you! How have you been?" She excitedly said.

"Auntie..." I am at a loss for words... Shocked by her welcome...

"So... you're back to calling me auntie now? The last time you're here you're calling me Ma already..." She chuckled holding me at arms length giving me the softest gaze only a mother could give...

"I'm sorry Ma... For... Everything..." Silent tears started welling in my eyes as she enveloped me again in a comforting embrace rubbing my back once in a while...

"Shhhhh... hush now... It's alright... I understand... your Ba and I understands that you have to do that for him... Your jie explained it to us a long time ago..."

I somehow felt relieve and grateful that after everything that happened... HeDi's parents chose to be the understanding and forgiving person that they are... Making me love them more...

"So are you here to pay your Xiaowen jie a visit?" She inquired as she let go of me... Her eyes widen when she noticed that I was not alone... " Oh! Yueyue you have company?" She exclaimed.

"Ma...this is Gao ZhiTing... my friend" I introduced ZhiTing Ge who politely
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xtended his hand to the older lady saying his greetings.

"Why don't we get inside... Xiaowen is still at work... Tell her that you'll be waiting for her here so that we could catch up on things before she arrives..... Oh Yueyue ...Your Ba will be surprised to see you..." She said cheerfully as she led me towards their home...

I was immediately welcomed by a comforting hug from HeDi's father the moment I entered the house.

"You look amazing Yueyue..." He complimented making me blush a little "And you still are not comfortable with praises... Oh...so who is this young man?" He asked

"I'm Gao ZhiTing sir... Yue's..."

"Boyfriend..." We were all stunned by a cold menacing voice interrupting ZhiTing Ge's introduction...

"Ni hao... I'm Dylan... I am also Yue's boyfriend." He said looking me straight in the eye with his piercing glare as he walked closer... as if challenging me to contradict his statement... While I  stood there unmoving and at a loss for words...

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