Zhejiang and Enterprise (Book One)

Lie 2 Me (1)

Following Yat-Sen's advice, I find my little sister and Dalian and together, we spend the night enjoying ourselves to the best of our abilities. From dining, like there's no tomorrow to dancing our hearts out, it's truly something like we've never experienced before and is certainly a memory I'll hold onto for a long time. I'm certain the same can be said for Dalian. I've never seen her this happy and my little sister's equally having fun. However, despite everything, my mind can't focus entirely on what's happening around me. Even as I play with everyone, my heart silently aches and I know why. Deep down, hidden behind all the other things that have happened since then, I still love Enterprise.

Not wanting my mood to affect those around me, I manage to excuse myself from the group by making up a story about having something important I need to do. Jiangsu seems disappointed but accepts and after a quick hug, she seems to forget entirely as she heads off with Dalian to continue exploring what the festival has to offer.

As I watch them both runoff in their cute outfits, I can't help but reflect on how much effort everyone's put into this event. They even got my hair redone in the same colours as when I first arrived. All told, if one were to see me now they wouldn't know about the many changes that I've gone through since arriving here but I can't say I'd change anything. At first, I may have been sceptical about being in a new world without anyone I knew but I've quickly grown attached to this world.

Standing in front of one of the few closed stores, I take in my reflection in a mirror positioned at the front of the store. I really am beautiful, aren't I?

Still, even I can notice the loneliness in my eyes. It's truly surprising that no one else has noticed as yet or perhaps they have but simply chose to stay silent? I'm not even sure anymore. After all, Yat-Sen's speech seemingly came out of nowhere and yet it was exactly what I needed to hear at that moment, even though I myself hadn't noticed that at the time.

????: Hey, miss! You dropped this!

Thinking someone's talking to me, I turn to find a man handing what appears to be a purse to a woman. Seeing them causes me to smile. To think, a romance could blossom from something as simple as that act the man just performed. As I continue observing the pair, however, something catches my eye. It's a familiar eagle. Surprised, I follow it as it flies just above the main street's lighting. 

Once we arrive in the city square, it turns inland which again surprises me but now completely hooked, I follow it as it makes its way towards the outskirts of the city. Others, perhaps recognizing me, give way as I all but dart from street to street and alley to alley until we clear most of the activities and yet it doesn't stop. It hadn't shown any signs of being aware that I'm following it either, instead, heading further out of the city. 

I briefly consider calling for assistance or at least telling others where I'm going but as it pulls further and further away, I decide against it. If I tell anyone else, they'll demand to come along and by the time they get here, the eagle will certainly be gone.

My mind made up, I continue giving chase as it leads me further and further away from the noise of the city and out into the surrounding countryside. It's not until the city becomes nothing more than lights in the distance, however, that it occurs to me that perhaps this wasn't such a good idea after all. 

As I begin turning to return to the city, however, a voice interrupts me.

????: Zhejiang?

Tracing the source of the voice, I look up to find a surprised Enterprise looking down at me from within the nearby tree. 

In the moonlight, her hair glistens a silvery blue but it's her clothing that catches my attention the most. She must've planned to come to the festival being held in the capital. Did she come to see me? If so, what's she doing all the way out here?

Me: Found a new hobby?

She looks around at the tree she's in before bursting into laughter. The sound is melodious and hearing it causes my heart to silently skip a beat. It skips two more as she daintily dismounts from the branch and touches down before me. She's absolutely stunning.

As if retracing steps she's practised a thousand times, she's soon by my side as though it's the most natural thing in the world. Wrapping her hands around my waist, she gently pulls me forward for a kiss and it takes everything in me to resist but resist I do. Pushing her away is easily the hardest thing I've had to do since coming here but I must know.

Enterprise: What's wrong?

Me: What do I mean to you?

Enterprise: What do you mean?

Me: One minute you're attacking me, the next you're trying to kiss me...it's really confusing, you know?

As the words leave my mouth, tears I never knew I held begin falling down my cheeks. Seeing them, Enterprise steps forward and reaches up as if to dry my tears but stops just short of actually touching me. Instead, after looking into my eyes, she steps back.

Enterprise: I'm sorry, I never meant to-

Me: Don't lie to me.

Enterprise: But I'm telling the truth!

Me: Then tell me this, would you abandon everything for me as I would for you?

Enterprise: I-

Me: Answer me!

When she falls silent, my heart breaks and before I know it I'm already running at top speed back towards the city. I can't believe I was such a fool to think she'd actually care more about me than her nation. 

As I run, lightning flashes above. It's as though the weather reflects the war raging within me. Even after hearing all that, my heart still screams at me to stop but I've had enough. I'd rather end things here than go back only to have what small piece of my heart remaining completely destroyed.