To String Together ( Huaze Lei )

Ximen

Faye Calinao

3 weeks later

Ximen Yan: Faye, I know you're probably in the lab right now working late there. I know I haven't been the best supporting friend for you since you've arrived and with Doaming Si telling us about...the incident... I was pissed off even more and I know Meizuo has been acting cold towards you. I'm sorry for taking this long to reach out to you. I'm really worried for you Faye. Are you eating and sleeping alright? Are you alright staying at Lei's? How were your midterms? Are rehearsals with Lei alright? Please call me when you can

"Everything alright Faye?" I looked up from my phone to look at Senior Xin Yu Yin. Her beautiful long hair was put up in a bun and her hazel eyes stared towards me in wonder. I was in the cafe with Senior and Gu Wei Yi after a long evening working on our experiment. Wei Yi looked towards me as well making sure I wouldn't have my mental breakdowns I've been having a lot lately.

"Ximen sent a text," I spoke. Both Senior and Gu Wei Yi looked towards each other before looking back at me.

"He finally reached out to you?" I nod as I took a piece of my chicken. He had reached out to me earlier while we were in the lab.

"You could ignore him," Gu Wei Yi said lightly. "He hasn't been a very great friend for treating you like this."

"Wei Yi!" Senior frowned slightly and nudged him with her elbow before turning towards me. "That isn't helping the situation. Is he worried about you?"

"I guess he is," I shrugged wishing I could erase every ounce of pain I've endured these last few weeks. Without Lei, things would be unbearable. "He wants me to call him."

"You should," Senior smiled reassuringly. If it weren't for Gu Wei Yi and our research group, I honestly wouldn't know what would have happened. Lei especially has been a supporting boyfriend to the best of his ability. It was Lee Dong Min who reached out to me asking if I returned safely to Shanghai and helped me cope with my sudden anxiety when I broke down in front of him during our Skype call.

"I don't want to talk to him," I sighed, not wanting to get hurt more than I already have. I did not want to be involved with Ximen, Meizuo, and Doaming Si after what happened that day.

Not only did I have the encounter in the bridge room, I had my encounter with Ximen who broke glassware in the house angry with me and accused me for keeping things like this from him and thought I was keeping other things from him. He wasn't close to knowing the story and he became angrier with me. He clearly wasn't listening to me when I told him that Doaming Si put me in the hospital just weeks before. It was terrifying to see a very angry Ximen.

Flinching, I took a step away hearing the piercing sound of the vase crashing onto the marble floor. The inside of my cheek numbed from biting nervously at Ximen's behavior. His eyebrows knitted close together, eyes squinted through his circular glasses, and his expression telling me he has been holding in his anger for quite some time. Ximen had his arms folded against his chest and was glaring at me.

Arriving at the house, I knew I couldn't avoid Ximen any longer than I have. The school day went by quickly and I felt unfocused thinking about what Meizuo had said and what Ximen would react. Ximen and I haven't been on the best of terms since... our weekend trip.

"Ximen..." I spoke hesitantly.

"What did you do Faye?" Ximen asked with a hint of anger of his tone. He was glaring at me. A lump formed in my throat and I tried to remain calm seeing him like this.

"I did nothing." My eyes looked down to ground feeling intimidated by my best friend. I did not want to start an argument with him, because last time I tried to talk he sent me away. "Ximen, I had nothing to do with directly putting Doaming Si in the hospital."