Just A Step Away From You

CHAPTER IV: Fabricated Tale of A Deceased Lover

 It was early in the morning, Rays of the sun peeked through the window. Mai Ding was now at his hotel room.

 "You collapsed; probably from experiencing a jetlag. But don't worry your fine now." He heard someone talking.  

There was a foreign girl with blonde hair and blue eyes standing at the window; he realized that it was Ellen.

Moreover, there on the side of his bed was a girl he fully recognized.

On her lap was a right hand with the same silver band he saw from that night... on his supposed dead lover.

"Bai Xiaosi, I never knew that the reason you've never contacted me...was that because you're engaged with him, for you to hide it like this." He began to close his eyes, trembling with agitation.

 "Wait, you need to listen to me. Let me explain."  The tall and slender girl was touching his hand, but he immediately pulled it away and stood up.

"Mai Ding, stop this already we need you to calm down for a bit."  The man hurriedly grabbed his arm to prevent him from taking another step, it was Zhou Ge.

"Five years! Five whole years, do you know what I felt that entire time?  I cried a lot of tears; I spent sleepless nights, wasted myself down the drain, live my life like a dead person. How can you tell me to stop like it was nothing? Mai Ding has started to break down.

* Every single detail of what happened on the accident was revealed, Mai Ding never thought of moving on that easily.

He was told that An Ziyan's car was caught up by a man's reckless driving. According to the investigation, the driver appeared to be drunk and died due to the impact of the car crash.

But An Ziyan was quickly brought immediately to the nearest hospital, he was badly wounded and suffered severe blood loss. He was in dire need of an operation.

However, it was too late.

An Ziyan failed to survive the operation.

 His lover's body was never to be seen, his warm touch; never to be felt again for the very last time.*

***

But all of it was just a lie. An Ziyan's alive and now he's really going to get married for real.

 "Bai Xiaosi, Zhou Ge and even Ellen all this time you knew all along what's happening, how can you this to me?"

 "No, you don't understand, he doesn't remember you. But now you're here, we can tell him all of it clearly." Bai Xiaosi was in melancholy.

"...." Mai Ding realized that moment on, that time when An Ziyan was taking to him, he doesn't seem to recognize who he was.

"Please Mai Ding; Xiaosi just went on to the engagement because An Suo threatened that she'll hurt you." Ellen spoke to him; full with sorrow.

 "Mai Ding I'm sorry An Suo persuaded my family to hinder my relationship with Ellen. She's a foreigner and they were against it. I know that I am selfish." Zhou Ge looked down at the floor as he continued.

Then they heard a knocking sound from the other side of the door. " Xiaosi, are you there?" The four people inside the room were startled. It was the voice of An Ziyan.

Mai Ding wiped the tears on his face and so did Bai Xiaosi, she opened the door and there appeared the man they're talking about a while ago.

"Is he alright now?" An Ziyan entered inside and asked, He looked at Bai Xiaosi and back to Mai Ding.  Their eyes were both red.

"What's happening here?"  He was surprised to see Zhou Ge and Ellen there too.

" An Ziyan, you need to know the truth. Mai Ding, he's..."  Bai Xiaosi then began to speak.

"We were classmates back in college, 1st year, in China." Mai Ding interjected.

'What are you doing?'  Bai Xiaosi looked at him baffled.

 "When I told her about what happened at the party, she quickly rushed here. I didn't know that the two of you were acquainted." He continued to stare at Mai Ding inquisitively.

Zhou Ge breaks the ice and said. "Ziyan, they were happy to see each other's company,I forgot to tell you that you're the reason why the four of us knew each other. I want to surprise you."

""I see, I'm really not sure but you do look familiar." It was An ZIyan, he was staring at Mai Ding again.

 "..." Mai Ding just kept quiet. The room was now filled with a very awkward silence.

 "I think we better go now, he needs to rest. Mai Ding we will continue this talk again later."  Xiaosi said.

Mai Ding was left there; he heaved a sigh and touched his forehead like it was in pain.

 He's now confused even more and sat down on a chair.

  ***

In the afternoon, he was called by Bai Xiaosi to walk at the central park. It was really cold that time; their body fully covered by their warm coats. Mai Ding can't still look at her properly.

That moment she told him that An Suo was married now and lives in Europe. She never knew about anything about their plot. That's why their plan was carried out with ease.

 "His sister told a fake story about how An Ziyan broke our relationship because he cheated with me for another girl; who only loves him for their money." This piqued his attention and looked at her; Bai Xiaosi smiled at him bitterly.

"An Suo told her and my parents that the girl brainwashed me into agreeing with it."  She continued to speak in a small tone.

"Remember what I said before: Short pain is better than a long one." Bai Xiaosi's   voice began to break.

"Yeah, I remember." He just replied at her hesitantly.

"That night, I tried to call you but they've cut my entire link to China. So I wasn't able to reach you and tell the truth. An Suo got Zhou Ge into this mess too; with that he was able to lie to you. I'm sorry, please forgive me."

 She can't take it any longer; Bai Xiaosi bursts into tears.

Mai Ding hugged her and felt her suffering. The strong girl she was before was now suffering with guilt. He understands now what happened.

An ZIyan and Bai Xiaosis' parents after hearing the story immediately decided to let him stay in America and take advantage of his memory loss due to the car accident.

 To make them continue their relationship like before and push through with the engagement.

What's more, a fabricated tale of a deceased lover, this was all done...just for the sake of not letting Mai Ding to be with An Ziyan. 

But one thing Mai Ding was sure about now is this; he knows that he's not ready yet to tell him the truth.

If An Ziyan rejects him, or is disgusted, and hates him; how can he take the situation calmly? 

Mai Ding was already shocked knowing that's he's alive, what's more in an amnesiac state?.

His heart couldn't handle the pressure he's feeling.

He is afraid.

TBC