Ten's POV...
"She's over there," I say as I gaze at Lucas.
"Ok. Thanks," says Lucas before he walks away from us, and making his way to Xiali.
I watch Lucas approaching Xiali who is with her step-brother, Winwin. He starts talking with the two, and even though I couldn't hear what they're talking about, it already bothers me to know that this guy keeps trying to get into Xiali's life in every aspect. As they continue to talk, Hendery walks in while also holding a bouquet of white roses.
"Who are they?" Xiaojun ask as he starts to stare at Lucas who is talking with Xiali.
"The new students at college who smells like trouble," I say.
"Where are they from?" Xiaojun ask.
"Hong Kong," I say.
Kun starts glancing at Lucas and Hendery as we watch them talk with Xiali and Winwin. "How long have they known each other?" Kun ask.
"A few days. But damn, they've been trying to get into her life too fast. Especially Lucas," I say with an annoyed tone.
"So Xiali literally has only known them for a few days?" Yangyang ask.
"Yeah," I say.
Kun starts to look at them with a suspicious look. "Keep your eyes open. They could be associated with the stalkers," Kun says.
"That's exactly what I thought," I say.
"We need to do some research," says Yangyang. "What are their names?"
"Lucas Wong and Hendery Wong. They are brothers," I say.
A few hours later...
"Thank you for coming today," says Xiali to Lucas and Hendery.
"No worries," says Lucas. "It's the least we could do to support a friend."
Meanwhile, Ten keeps staring at Lucas and Hendery from a distance with a suspicious look. Deep down he still thinks that they have something to do about Xiali's mom's death and the stalker.
"How has she been lately?" Yangyang ask as he walks over to Ten.
Ten takes a deep breath. "Wasn't too fine," says Ten. "A lot has been going on in her life."
Yangyang looks down after hearing Ten's answer. Not only did he feel sad about Xiali losing her mom, but he also feel bad about their misunderstanding a few days ago. Since that, Xiali had been ignoring him, even till today when he decides to come to her mother's funeral along with the rest of the guys.
The funeral ceremony eventually comes to an end. All the guest starts to depart and go home.
7 PM...
After they all arrived home and finished shower, Xiali walks over to her room and lies down on the bed. She covers her face with a pillow as tears slowly starts to fall from her eyes again. She didn't feel like joining Winwin and his dad for dinner together downstairs. She lost her appetite due to the amount of stress she's been dealing with. After a while of crying, the young girl eventually falls asleep.
An hour later...
Suddenly, Xiali hears a knocking sound coming from her door. She sits up on her bed and realize that she had fallen asleep after crying. She gets up slowly and starts walking over to open the door. She opens the door to reveal Winwin standing while holding a bowl of dumplings.
"Winwin ge," says Xiali as she rubs her eyes.
"I saved you some dumplings," says Winwin in an awkward tone as he sees his step-sister still looks sleepy. He thought he might have interrupt her. "I thought you were maybe hungry."
Xiali looks at the bowl of dumplings before she turns her head to face Winwin. "Thank you," says Xiali as she takes the bowl from Winwin.
Winwin then turns around and walks back downstairs. Xiali watches the young boy as he walks away. Knowing that her step-dad is probably in his room now and getting ready for bed, Xiali thought that Winwin is probably alone downstairs, and by that she decides to join him. She walks downstairs with the bowl of dumplings in her hands.
Xiali walks over to the dining table and sees that Winwin is sitting there alone while drinking a bottle of beer. Xiali walks over to dining table and places the bowl of dumplings on the table. She then pulls out a chair and takes a seat. Xiali starts eating her dumplings as the tension between them gets more awkward.
As Winwin finish his first bottle of beer, he decides to break the silence. "Would you like a bottle of beer?" Winwin ask as he looks at Xiali who is still eating.
Xiali looks up at Winwin as their eyes meet. "Sure," Xiali says.
Winwin walks over to the kitchen and grabs two bottles of beer from the fridge. He walks out of the kitchen with two bottles of beer, placing it on the dining table. He takes a seat and opens his bottle to drink it, while thinking about a topic to bring up so things wouldn't be too awkward between them.
"So...you're going to college tomorrow?" Winwin ask.
"Yes," says Xiali as she gets up and enters the kitchen to wash her now empty bowl. After washing the bowl, she walks back to the dining table. She pulls out a chair and takes a seat, before opening her bottle of beer.
"I can drop you off to college tomorrow morning," Winwin says.
"No thanks. My friend is gonna pick me up," says Xiali before she drinks her beer.
Winwin just nodded after hearing Xiali's statement. "Ok," says Winwin before he drinks his beer.
Xiali looks at her bottle of beer she had placed on the table, before moving her gaze to Winwin. "Ge," says Xiali.
"Yes?" Winwin says.
Slowly Xiali could feel her heart getting more emotional. "I'm planning to move out in a few days," says Xiali in a sad tone.
Winwin's eyes widen as he was surprised at what he just heard. "What? But, why? What's wrong?" Winwin ask in a curious tone.
"I don't want to trouble you and your dad, now that my mom is gone. You guys had been kind to me, but I just feel uncomfortable if I'm being a trouble," Xiali says.
"No, Xiali. You're not a trouble. We're happy to have you with us," Winwin says.
"But I feel like I'm trouble, Winwin," says Xiali. "And...I don't want to put you guys in danger." Xiali starts to tear up at the last part of her sentence.
Winwin's face suddenly turns into a confuse expression. "Danger? Why?" Winwin ask.
Xiali knew that Winwin could get scare after she tell him about her dangerous situation, but she was too afraid that the stalkers would also go after Winwin and his dad, knowing that her mom is already a victim, and it's all because the stalkers are after her. This time she knew she had to speak about her situation.
"Winwin ge...someone is after me," Xiali says.
"Who?" Winwin ask with a surprised tone.
"I don't know who they are actually . But I've been getting followed by these people with masks and sunglasses lately," says Xiali with a sad and scared tone. "I have a feeling they might have something to do with my mom's death."
Winwin's eyes gets wider as he couldn't believe everything he was hearing. He is definetly beyond surprised. "You mean....your mother's murder, is actually after you?" Winwin ask.
"Yes," says Xiali. "That's why, since the incident, I figure I don't want to hurt anymore people. It's hard enough that I lost my mother. I don't want to make you lose your dad, or the other way around." Xiali tries her hardest to hold back the tears from falling.
Winwin takes a deep breath after everything he just heard. He couldn't believe that his step-sister has been through a lot more than he had ever imagined. He used to get lost about his bittersweet past that broke his heart, but tonight he learned that everyone has been through something in their life that made them broken inside.
"Xiali...you're not trouble. You are just in danger," says Winwin. "I'm gonna help you get through this."
Xiali continues to tear up. "Why are you being so nice to me?" ask Xiali. "I could be the reason that your life is in possible danger now."
"Honestly, your mama was very nice to me, Xiali. Her care and affection taught me the meaning of having a mother figure in my life," says Winwin. "Besides, I should start cherishing the people around me more. Who knows how much time they have left."
Xiali starts to get confuse about Winwin's words. She stares at him with a puzzled look. "What do you mean, Ge?"
Winwin takes a deep breath. "A few months ago, Papa told me that I was actually adopted since I was a baby. He thought it was the right time to tell me since he thought I was old enough."
Xiali's eyes widen after she hears Winwin's surprising statement. She never knew that her step-brother was actually adopted.
"But I guess I wasn't ready to hear that. Since that I start to push everyone away, yet I remember how your mama would still care for me. She even made me some herb tea when I was having a bad hangover," Winwin says.
Xiali starts to remember the flashbacks of her mom. It's true that her mom had always been caring towards the family. Even after she got married to Winwin's dad, she still cared for Xiali as her only daughter. These thoughts made Xiali remember how much she admired and loved her mom. In her eyes, she had always been perfect.
"You share a lot of resemblance with your mama. Everytime I see you, I keep seeing the young version of her," says Winwin. "I wish I could have say a lot more to your mama. But it was too late. Regrets always serve last."
Xiali starts to get lost as she continues to listen to Winwin's words. This is actually the first time for them to have a deep conversation together.
Winwin realize that they have finish their beer. He gets up from his seat and walks to the kitchen to get two more bottles of beer. He walks back to the dining room and takes a seat to continue to conversation.
"You and your papa had also been kind to me, Winwin. But I don't want to trouble you guys," says Xiali before she grabs her bottle of beer and opens it.
Winwin takes a deep breath. "I don't want to make the same mistake twice," says Winwin. "If you say someone is after you, give me a chance to help you out, just like how your mama helped me in my hard time. At least just stay here."
"I can handle it, Winwin. I don't wanna put you and your papa in danger," says Xiali.
"Wasn't it painful enough to see what they did to your mama?" Winwin ask. Xiali's face suddenly changes into sadness at hearing his words. "I already lost two important people in my life this year."
Hearing Winwin's words made Xiali wonder when he says he had lost two important people in his life. She thought for a moment, maybe that's why he had been acting more quiet these days.
"What happened?" Xiali ask in a sad tone. "Was it because of me?"
"No. It wasn't because of you, Xiali," says Winwin. "I should have protected her."
Winwin takes another deep breath before he drinks his beer. "One month ago, my girlfriend and her family got into a car accident," says Winwin.
Hearing Winwin's story made Xiali remember back about one month ago. Now she knew why Winwin had been acting more quiet than usual. Realizing how much hard times the young boy had experienced somehow made Xiali feel bad inside. The way Winwin puts his heart in telling his story reminds Xiali when Ten told her about his story while he was drunk. She could see the pain of the two guys through their eyes, it's like she could feel how broken they are inside.
Xiali takes a deep breath. "Ok. I'll stay," says Xiali. "But I'm also gonna try to distance myself. I can't put you in danger because of me. Besides, these days I often stay at my friend's house. They'll look after me, so no worries."
"If that's what you want, I understand," says Winwin. "But why are you afraid that you'll put me in danger but not your friend?" Winwin ask with curiousity.
Xiali puts down her bottle of beer as she starts to think of an excuse. She couldn't tell Winwin that her friends are actually a part of a gang. By that, she tries her best to look calm and think of an excuse.
"My friends stay together and they are actually a group. They knew about my situation and insisted to help," says Xiali.
Winwin nods after hearing Xiali's statement. He eventually finish his second bottle of beer.
"By that, from now on, I'm also gonna protect you," says Winwin as he stares into Xiali's eyes.
The two stare into each other's eyes for a while with both of them feeling more closer than before after the conversation they just shared. Tonight both of them knew that they needed to look out for each other knowing the danger that could approach them, and to cherish the moments while they can.
To be continue...