To the other end of the Dream

10

Next evening

Shen Jin looked at herself in the mirror. With a pink hoodie and jeans, she admired her look for the celebration she was going to attend with Rou Rou and Su Su.

"Perfect." She smiled. She picked her purse and was exiting her room when Rou Rou came barging in.

"Jin you-" She stopped short, gaping at Shen Jin from head to toe.

"Jin Jin, what are you wearing?"

"Why?" She looked down at her clothes. "It's just you, me and Su Su. It's eating out, right?"

"Umm..." Rou Rou scratched her head awkwardly, unable to form an excuse to get Shen Jin dressed up. "I..I invited some of my friends as well...so it would be..you know..better to wear a dress..."

"Ugh! Seriously Rou Rou? When are you going to tell me everything that's going on your mind clearly? It confuses me."

Shen Jin made an irritated face and went to her closet to find a dress, leaving Rou Rou smirking evilly behind her.

After 1 hour

"Oh no! We are late." Rou Rou sulked visibly at Shen Jin, sitting inside a cab.

"It's not my fault that you didn't tell me about your friends." Shen Jin said nonchalantly while fixing her hair.

After arguing and fighting for at least half an hour, Shen Jin and Rou Rou came up with the perfect dress for her. And another half an hour went fighting over makeup. Shen Jin despised anything related to makeup and was no way going to agree to put them on while Rou Rou was having a hard time persuading her to put on the least amount of makeup.

"It will make you look more presentable." She argued.

All those fightings made them late. So they are now fighting over being late.

"Ok ok stop stop stop." Rou Rou finally took the initiative to stop their silly fight. "I am not going to ruin the mood by fighting with you now. I am sorry for us being late."

Shen Jin rolled her eyes for some unknown reason.

"Ok. I am sorry too."

Rou Rou smiled secretly.

"You are going to get another shock of your life today Jin Jin. Just get accustomed to getting shocks from now on." She mentally squealed in excitement.

The cab skidded to a stop and both the girls got down. Shen Jin fixed her dress and looked up only to stare in horror.

"Rou Rou!"

"What now?"

"Y..you booked this restaurant?"

"Yes. What about it?"

Shen Jin suddenly panicked.

"Rou Rou! Do you even know how much luxurious this restaurant is? How can we be here? You are just a rookie actress and I am just a rookie writer. We can't even afford a glass of water here. Why-"

"Jin Jin. Stop. Breathe first." She signalled her to breathe by taking deep breaths herself. Shen Jin followed suit. When she seemed to calm down a bit, Rou Rou spoke.

"Do you believe me?"

"No." Came the immediate reply.

"Good." Came the nonchalant statement.

"Come in first before panicking. See for yourself if it is good or bad and then panic."

Saying this, she dragged Shen Jin inside, the latter whining in front of her ears.

Rou rou smartly reached the reception.

"Hello!" They were greeted by the receptionist.

Rou Rou smiled. "Hello! Reservation under the name Xiao Su."

"Rou Rou! If you two get into any trouble now, I AM NOT GOING TO HELP YOU TODAY!"

The receptionist flinched at her sudden outburst and looked questioningly at Rou Rou. Rou Rou smiled awkwardly at her.

"Erm...she is my friend. She is just a little angry at me now. Please....don't mind her."

"WHAT DO Y-" Before Shen Jin could practically burst their eardrums, Rou Rou pressed her hand over her mouth and dragged her behind the receptionist.

They passed numerous tables and private cabins, their jaws dropping more and more. Shen Jin was cursing Rou Rou under her breath whereas Rou Rou's heart swelled with pride at her Su Su.

After a walk which seemed 2 seconds for Rou Rou and 2 days for Shen Jin, they reached a private cabin at a far end of the restaurant.

"This is your reserved cabin ma'am. Please enjoy." The receptionist bowed and left.

Shen Jin suddenly felt an unknown nervousness creep into her heart. Strange.

"Jin Jin, are you ready?"

"I...umm..I suddenly feel a bit nervous." She answered truthfully.

Rou Rou smiled.

"Even your heart can sense him."

And she opened the door of the private cabin, revealing four people. They were smiling when the two girls entered which made four pairs of eyes turn to them.

"Hey guys!" Rou Rou squealed excitedly and ran to hug Su Su.

Shen Jin stood rooted on her place. Widened eyes fixed on a specific person. The person smiled and got up from his seat.

"Welcome." He greeted.

The only word that escaped her lips were-

"Chu Xiuming!"

There is a beautiful thing inside you that is thousands of years old.

Too old to be captured in poems.

Too old to be loved by everyone

But loved so very deeply

by a chosen few.

                      -Nikita Gill