Pandora's Heart | d.cx ✓

CHAPTER 23

'What do you want to talk about? You want to talk to me now that Chengxin is interested in me?' Pandora asked as she got up from the chair.

'I didn't say that, that's your assumption.' He answered. 'It's going to be brief, just talk to me.'

Somehow, even though she didn't want to talk to him, she was curious to hear what he wanted to say. She nodded. 'Talk.'

'I said inside. Don't be brat.'

Haoxiang never ceased to amaze her. Even though he was the one who wanted to talk to her, he still had the audacity to call her a brat. She rolled her eyes and followed him inside anyway. She didn't know why she treated him differently. If it was Chengxin, she would have probably not followed him in.

She continued to follow him into the living room, and he sat down. He didn't say anything, but Pandora understood she probably had to sit as well. She sat opposite him and looked at him curiously to hear what he wanted to say.

'I heard what you were telling Chengxin,' he looked up at her.

'So you were eavesdropping?' She widened her eyes in surprise. It wasn't as if she said something wrong, but the fact that someone was listening in to their conversation came as surprise. Well, she didn't understand why someone would listen in to that conversation anyway.

'I wasn't exactly eavesdropping, I only listened in because I heard my name. Why would you say I don't want to see you happy?'

'Because I heard that all of the sudden you're mad at Chengxin, and he was assuming that you're doing that because you still like me.' She explained painfully. 'When in real sense, you're just annoyed that I may be moving on.'

Haoxing bit his thumb and stayed quiet a moment. 'Why didn't you ask me why I did that when we met?'

'Ask you why you insulted me and just left? Why would I ask that to someone who said I should stay away from them?'

'I said that years ago, and now it's years in the future. You should have asked.' He continued.

'Why did I have to ask? Why couldn't you just tell me?'

'Anyway,' Haoxiang ignored her and raised his arms. 'I feel misinterpreted. Maybe I shouldn't have said the things I said when we broke up, but I didn't men to hurt you. I did it for you.'

'What?' her tone was full of disbelief.

He nodded. 'I knew that I was going off to become an idol and you were just a normal girl...the relationship between us wouldn't have worked. I wouldn't have been able to give you all the time you needed...you didn't deserve that. So I broke up with you.'

Pandora's mouth hung agape. She wasn't sure whether to believe him or just ignore his statement. 'No...no...then why didn't you just say it? That you're breaking up with me because you're going to become an idol?'

'Because...you wouldn't have been able to let me go.' Haoxiang shook his head. 'I know you would have held on to me either way because you loved me, even though it was obvious that it wouldn't have worked between us. I wouldn't have been the boyfriend you needed. And I insulted you because I needed you to leave me alone...for your own good.'

She shook her head in disbelief. 'Do you have any idea how much you hurt me Haoxiang!? Do you? I felt so lost that time and I didn't even feel like living any more...?'

'I was hurt too!' He cut her. 'When we broke up, I used to like...cry every night. But I had to endure it, what else was I going to do? My parents wanted me to be an idol and I couldn't let them down.'

Pandora felt tears brimming her eyes as she remembered that season of her life. She remembered crying almost every day and feeling useless since he had left. He had completely shattered her in a way no one ever could, but she shook her head and sucked it in. 'Anyway, I guess it's in the past now. Let's just forget it and stop being awkward.'

Haoxiang nodded and offered his hand across the table. 'And I'm sorry for saying mean things about you, I was just mad.'

'Mad about?' She asked as she slowly took his hand.

'Isn't it obvious? I don't want you to be with Chengxin...I want you to be with me.'

She pulled her hand away from him before they shook hands. 'Why are you saying this now? Like why at this moment? I don't want to let down Chengxin even though I loved you.'

'Loved?' Haoxiang nodded. 'Okay, I understand. Goodnight.'

'Goodnight Haoxiang.' Pandora answered quickly and started to walk off.

'Hey! Wait!' Haoxiang walked over to Pandora and softly pushed her against the wall next to the staircase. 'Is it that you LOVED me or you still LOVE me?'

Pandora looked in his eyes, and she had suddenly lost her answer. Come to think of it, she would have still been with Haoxiang if he hadn't just left her and said those words. She finally found a reply. 'Well you're still an idol right now, so based on the reason you broke up with me, you still wouldn't have enough time for me. So why are you concerned whether I still love you or not?'

'Well, because now you're an idol too. You also wouldn't have enough time for me and you would understand my schedule. If I knew you'd become an idol too, I wouldn't have broken up with you.'

'I'm sorry but...' she started.

'Whoa, what's going on there?' Chengxin's voice asked from the opening of the corridor. Haoxiang immediately pulled away from Pandora and looked up at Chengxin. He didn't look pleased.

'It's nothing.' Haoxiang quickly answered in a cold tone.

Chengxin's eyes moved from Haoxiang to Pandora who seemed distraught. He walked over and stood next to Pandora. 'Are you okay?' he pushed her hair from her face.

'I'm fine.' She answered in a shaky voice then hugged Chengxin with her arms around his waist, trying to keep him from asking questions. He patted her head and smiled.

Haoxiang looked at the two then walked away without saying anything.

'I'm going to bed.' Pandora pulled away from him.

'Okay. He wasn't bothering you was he?' he asked in a serious tone.

'Of course not, I would have told you.' She poked his nose playfully then quickly started running up the stairs.

'Hey! Goodnight one more time!' Chengxin exclaimed from the bottom of the stairs.'

'Goodnight!' she answered without looking back then quickly got into her room. When she shut the door, her legs felt wobbly. Why would this happen at such a time when she was falling for Chengxin? She wished that Haoxiang had told her sooner before she even felt anything for Chengxin and he was more of the annoying pest. But unfortunately, he had to wait until she felt she wanted to be with Chengxin and was giving him greenlights.

But on the other hand, Pandora couldn't forget that look in Haoxiang's eyes as she stared into them. It reminded her of the same eyes she had known for years. Those were the first eyes she had fallen in love with, and despite how cold they looked, they were always warm with love when she looked into them...and she saw that love again this particular evening.

Pandora felt her mind talking in two different voices. She didn't know what to do, all she knew is she was feeling confused. She sighed and dropped herself on the bed, hoping that sleep would be able to take her into dreamland.

As Pandora turned to the wall, she heard her cellphone beep indicating the arrival of the message. She turned over and grabbed her cellphone from beneath the pillow. It was Chengxin who had sent the message, and she curiously opened it.

Chengxin: You didn't look okay! If anything is bothering you, try to forget it for now and get some rest. But you have to tell me tomorrow, I promise I'll solve it!

Pandora smiled to herself then placed the cellphone back down under her pillow. She wasn't sure what to do, but she knew she loved Chengxin.