He's mine

Part 2?

"I can't believe we are arguing about this!" He whined.

"I CAN'T BELIEVE WE ARE ARGUING ABOUT THIS! I said it once and I will say it again, ''WE DO NEED TO PUT ON A GRAND SHOW." I yelled at him.

Bystanders were walking by the streets, eyeing us. I ruffled my hair in frustration and he gave me his best 'come on' look.

"Little mo, I proposed to you, spontaneously, but I still did. AND you said yes, you don't want a ring cause you cook, fine. But the least I could do is get you a new pair of studs. The black ones were from years ago!" He said with the gentlest smile on his face. I felt myself wavering. But no, I must not. He has pampered me too much; I recall back to the endless amount of tupperware and stainless-steel pots that are neatly stacked into our kitchen cabinets. I reach over to play with the studs in my earlobes, recalling the time it was fetched up by that snake. The first moment of many that He Tian protected me.

"Earth to little mo?" He waved his hand before my face. I reached up and pushed it away.

"Come on, let's go, I need to be back soon to marinate a chicken for dinner tomorrow." I said as I physically pulled him away from the fancy jewellery store in downtown Shanghai. We were here in the main city to visit Jian Yi, who moved here with Zheng Xi all those years ago. Just after the debacle where both Jian Yi and He Tian decide to pop back into our lives, where Xi and I knew we were holding out for them. Xi moved out of our town into the main city with his new cushy job whilst I moved into the further suburbs to be with my mother in a less fast paced environment. The train ride from the suburbs to the city ranges about 2 hours and once every week, Xi and I will take turns to visit each other. What little friendship we had over in our school years spilled over to our adult life. And I love He Tian, but Xi holds a special spot in my heart. We grieved together, watching each other grow. He was there with my mother and I to welcome our father home, and we were there, front row when his sister walked down the aisle. And soon, it will be my turn to walk down the aisle. A destination wedding. I never imagined that this would happen.

Years ago in school, when both He Tian and Jian Yi disappeared without a trace, it felt like our world was ripped into half. The half that stayed and the other that left. I acted like it didn't bother me. Zheng Xi would keep trying to check in, but I refuse to show any emotions. But he knew that now with an open space in my life, She li would come slithering right back in. And he was right. My grades started to fall, and I started hovering between being scared of She li and angry at He Tian. But Zheng Xi refused to budge, he would hover around me all the time, and push back at She li when needed. And one day, it all escalated, my things were ruffled with, thrown from buildings to across the floor. I was bleeding out onto the ground, covering what I knew was precious. But the wallet was ripped from my hands, the studs were hand picked out and the only thing I remembered is seeing the stud on the ground, being stomped on over and over again. Till it broke, till I broke. But before anything else made contact with me, someone came over. His back wasn't as broad as He Tian's but it was comforting regardless. We ended up both in the hospital as our mother's hovered outside making their statements. I remembered crying then, finally letting my emotions pour through. Zheng xi cried too, and there we both were, crying over two boys who left a strong hold in our hearts.

I took what I gathered from the fight and finally spent money on something selfish for the first time in forever. The studs cost a fortune to fix, but it was a fortune well spent. I wore it on the day I checked out of the hospital, and it has been on ever since. Shortly after graduation, I told Zheng xi that my mother and I were moving into another suburb for me to take on an apprenticeship and he confessed he was moving closer to Shanghai for university as well. It was quite a solemn passing, and on the train ride away, I thought to myself that this was it. The last piece of true friendship in my life has ended.

A few months passed when there was a knock on our door and just like that Zheng xi re-entered my life. I cooked for him and the silence that filled the room was one of peace. And somehow it became tradition, once a month transition to once a week, we will meet. Here in my home, or in his. It was even more months later when He Tian and Jian Yi decided to pop back into our lives. They made a stop at Zheng Xi's house first. Zheng Xi let He Tian know where I was living and though He Tian had his doubts, Zheng Xi reassured him that I was still wearing his studs. Just like that, this boy with the raven hair showed up at my house in the middle of the day and swore he would re-earn his place in my life.

Months later, we were unpacking our stuff into a new house with our joint names on the lease. It was even more time later when the stock of endless branded kitchen knives filled the kitchen benches. Our fridge is always stocked with the freshest of ingredients, and I never seem to run out of pots to cook with. There was no name attached to what we were, but for the first time in my life, I knew. Finally, one day, I was stirring his favorite beef stew while my mother was watering the plants. He came home and stood by the door, taking in this domestic life we have seemed to build and blurted out the proposal. I ladled the stew into our bowl and placed it onto the kitchen table.

"What do you think we have been doing here? House sitting?" I questioned him as I continued to set the table.

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Zheng Xi places the ice cooler on one end while I place the basket on the other to prevent the wind from blowing our mat away. And as usual, Jian Yi grabbed the sandwiches that were laid out, choosing the one he wanted. He grabs the sliced beef banh mi I made for He Tian and declares that it was his. He Tian reaches over to snatch it back and they begin their childish chase around the fields that overlook the mountains. Zheng Xi pops a beer bottle for me and one for himself. We exchange the slightest of smirks, as if saying look at those idiots. I reached over to ruffle my hair and brushed my studs. I hear Jian Yi scream and look up to see He Tian has pinned him down onto the ground. I take a sip of my beer, flashes of memories rush into my mind. The dark alleyway where I grabbed his hand. The comforting weight of his arms around me, the violent shove from the back, the comforting view of his broad back. I see He Tian walking back towards me, and I can't help but smile, because this stupid, hilarious, yet brave and kind man is mine. What an outrageous thought but it's the truth.

He's mine.

Notes:

Okayyy, soooo hey?

Omg, it's been 2/3 years since I wrote anything! It's been awhile, but to everyone who keeps reading and commenting on the works I publish years ago, thank you.

Literally, no words is enough to express my thanks. I wanted to keep writing but things happen and things piled up and I just lost motivation. I am trying to pen an original story script and have decided that Tuesday are writing days. Hopefully that goes well and long.

There have been a few people who sorta asked for a part 2 of this story and this isn't really a part 2 but more like a fluff kinda story? I don't know if the story made any sense or if it's just a paragraph of endless words but let me know what you think!

I have since graduated from university and is on the hunt for a full time production job now. It's been very down on luck lately. (or more like the whole year but yeah). How are all of you doing? The world is moving pass Covid? well not really, but we are all learning to live in a new world now yeah?

If anything, I hope this story made sense and it makes you feel better in any smallest way. Wherever you are in the world, I hope you are doing well, or is hanging in there. You ain't alone, and I appreciate you as I am sure people in your life does too even if they don't say it.

Love y'all!