Memories

First Sight

It was a beautiful morning in the Peach Blossom Forest when two figures emerged out of thin air and materialized on the far side of the orchard.

Upon feeling the soil under his soles, Ye Hua oriented himself and realized that their entry point was nowhere near the High God's hut –
the designated location where he would finally meet with his Su Su.

Bai Qian, Ye Hua thought, self-correcting himself not for the first time that morning.

As far as his eyes could see, there were only rows and rows of peach blossom trees. No hut of any kind in sight.

Zhe Yan turned and pointed to a direction north from whey they landed. "My hut is over there. Make your way there on foot. It will help to calm your nerves."

Ye Hua dipped his head in response. There was a barrier in-place that prevented immortals from cloud-jumping freely in and out of certain part of the forest. Only some were given free rein by Zhe Yan to come and go as they please. He remembered the first time he had brought Su Su there, they had been even further away from the hut than his current position.

"And Ye Hua," Zhe Yan continued, in an extremely calm voice. "Do better this time—" The threat part was left unsaid, but Ye Hua heard it loud and clear.

Ye Hua bent his body and bowed in acknowledgement. This threat he would receive in all its entirety.

Threat delivered, Zhe Yan immediately cloud-jumped. They were on their own. He could offer no assistance for this part of the plan, because if the two of them could not find a way to go forward from here, then all hope were lost. But more importantly, Zhe Yan had another essential task to do elsewhere.

Once Zhe Yan had dematerialized, Ye Hua immediately ran along the pathway, which was still in compliance with Zhe Yan's instruction to go on foot. Ye Hua admitted that Zhe Yan's keen sense of observation was on point – Ye Hua was indeed on edge. But he didn't need a long walk to calm his nerves— All he ever needed was her.

His long legs and his desperation brought him to the front of the hut in no time at all. His robes were slightly askew. The wind has messed his hair, little tendrils have fallen loose around his face. But proper appearance was far from his mind. Breathing hard, he stood still, mere steps away, staring in awe at the goddess standing on the front porch.

Su Su has always been beautiful. As Bai Qian, her true immortal self, she was magnificent.

Having been surrounded and chased by beautiful goddesses most of his immortal life, Ye Hua had never once fallen for any of them, no matter how beautiful they were.

With Su Su, even though he thought that he had fell in love with her kindness and her naiveté — in truth, it was love at first sight. The moment he had looked into her eyes, he was captivated. But being never been in love before, he didn't realized he had fallen for her from the very first sight.

Now, having experienced falling in love with Su Su, Ye Hua knew – without a doubt – that he was falling in love all over again with Bai Qian.

That realization was at the forefront of his mind, as he made his way closer to her. Tears were forming in his eyes with each step he took. Time seemed to slow down considerably. He wished to hold her, assuring himself that this was not a dream, afraid he was imagining the whole thing. But he noticed the small step back she took when he was only a couple steps away from her, and that made him stopped from advancing further.

So there they stood, facing one another. Their instincts told them to advance, to embrace, to revel in one another. But an ocean of distrust, disappointment, and heartache separated the two.

There were so many things he wanted to say. Please forgive me, for not telling you the truth. Please forgive me, I was an utter fool. Please forgive me, for all your lonely nights. Please forgive me, for every tears you've shed. Please forgive me, for keeping you in the dark. Please forgive me, I've failed to protect you. Please forgive me, for taking your eyes and breaking your heart. Please forgive me, for even knowing how unworthy I am of you, but I can't stop loving you. Please forgive me – and love me again.

All those words were swimming in his mind, begging to be let loose. But one he never prepared for, escaped his lips. "Thank you."

Those were the words that she never saw coming in that precise moment. Bai Qian was confused, her brows knitted in a frown. "For what?"

One lone tear has escaped his teary eyes, but Ye Hua was smiling his small smile – the one that triggered the flights of hundreds butterflies in her stomach. The one he reserved only for her and for no one else.

Ye Hua's gaze caressed her face, mapping the dips and curves of her profile. "For being alive," he finally answered. "For choosing not to treat me and our son as the aftermaths of your trial."

Bai Qian cocked a brow in surprise.

"I deduced  it was a trial because I noticed your High Goddess essence. There hasn't been a High Goddess in all the realms for such a long time before your ascend."

Ye Hua walked forward a step. "For choosing to remember."

Bai Qian gasped. "How did you—"

"High God Zhe Yan told me this morning."

Ye Hua walked forward another step. They were now just an arm's reach away from one another. He dipped his head down slightly, being aware not to invade her personal space, and whispered. "And lastly — for giving me a chance to be here today."