3 SIDES OF A BETRAYAL

Chapter 2

October 07 – [25 days after the incident] SHEN KAI -

BLANK. Yes, that's the word. My mind went blank that time. I wanted to escape with Xingxing from the building as soon as possible.

October 07 – [25 days after the incident] RAO ZIJIE -

I still remember Xingxing's selflessness...Well, that was something I couldn't ever forget. Instead of rushing out, she decided to ensure first that the rest of the people get out safely. I decided to help her.

September 12 – [Day of the incident] XIAO XING -

That time, I didn't care about anything, life and death felt the same...so I decided to help people to get out of the hotel even if meant DEATH.

October 07 – [25 days after the incident] SHEN KAI -

I followed Xingxing at that time because I totally felt lost at that time.

October 07 – [25 days after the incident] RAO ZIJIE -

We rescued several people and told them to rush downstairs. A few seconds later, it happened as expected. A gas explosion ripped through the hotel. There were some 7 people including me, Xingxing, and Shen Kai at that time in the hotel. The walls couldn't hold it any longer. The hotel started to collapse.

September 12 – [Day of the incident] XIAO XING -

Right now, I am hating all this. HATING IT LIKE ANYTHING. I want to run away. But I can't do anything except facing it.

October 07 – [25 days after the incident] SHEN KAI -

I still remember one of the hotel's crew members who was stuck with us, finally found a safe place to be at as we couldn't go out of the hotel. All the ways of going out were blocked. Firemen were busy doing their job of putting out the fire caused by the explosion. But till they finished their job, we had to hang on till then. The safe place that the crew member found was a small room behind the lobby where the explosion hadn't shown its effects yet.

October 07 – [25 days after the incident] RAO ZIJIE -

It feels as if everything happened yesterday only. We all decided to rush to the room at the back of the lobby as fast as possible. I still can remember Xingxing shouting "XIAOXIN" to everyone. But apparently that room could hold only 5 people because there was a huge wall that collapsed at the back. If more than 5 people entered, a person would have gone straight down the window due to lack of space and too much of weight in the small room. We all decided to let the females enter in first, with leaving me and Shen Kai behind. I never thought he could sacrifice himself for someone. For a moment I thought he changed, but I guess it was all in my fantasy...

September 12 – [Day of the incident] XIAO XING -

I was thankful already enough to GOD that they let me enter the room and be one of those 5 people. But I definitely didn't want it to be at the cost of Zijie's and Shen Kai's lives.

October 07 – [25 days after the incident] SHEN KAI -

I could only hear a voice screaming "SURVIVE" at the time. I wanted to survive. I wanted to live so bad all of a sudden. So, without thinking I also went inside the room despite knowing that it could only hold 5 people. As soon as I went in, I accidentally pushed Xingxing out....

September 12 – [Day of the incident] XIAO XING -

I was falling...falling from the first floor of the hotel...just being able to see the last glance of Rao Zijie, Shen Kai and other people who were present. For the first time in my life, I felt that my body was so light. I wanted to believe that it was a dream. I knew what was going to happen next....and while I still had my consciousness, the last thing I did was to pray that Rao Zijie, Shen Kai and the others survive. Even though I had a lot to say to Zijie, I would be contented if my life ended this very moment. I wished the world a final goodbye. ZAIJIAN!

December 10 – [89 days after the incident] RAO ZIJIE -

Xingxing, please wake up...your mom's condition is worsening and she is asking about your whereabouts...it's been more than 2 months...I really don't know how to face her...I want to see you awake so bad...I will do anything in return if I can...but please wake up.

January 23 – [133 days after the incident] XIAO XING -

Was it all a dream? Or did I really wake up? I was in a coma for almost 4 months...as soon as I woke up, I saw Zijie. I cried. I wanted to do this for a long time...but the sleep wasn't ending. Suddenly I asked about Shen Kai and my mum. Zijie told me that Shen Kai would never come back...he regretted his deed so bad that he shifted to another city but he left you a letter. And then I asked about mum...and asked him to take me to my mum..