Ài Zhī Sî | Death Of A Love

TWO

It was the autumn of the year of rat that my parents first fell in love.

Two high school students growing up together, studying together, it probably was inevitable. Maybe they fell in love way before, they just didn't know the feelings they were experiencing.

My grandma Xiao and grandma Wang were best friends from two houses that stood side-by-side. They grew up together, played and studied together and finally fell in love together too. It was a beautiful story of two best friends.

They married one month apart and fell pregnant nearly at the same time. So they planned that they will get their children married. But unfortunately on the forth month or so grandma Wang lost her child. While mourning for the unborn child my two grandmothers became even more close.

As my papa was born grandma Wang loved him like her own. And then after two years grandma Wang was pregnant again and had my dad.

It was a warm family story until then.

Seeing my dad was a boy child, grandma Wang and grandma Xiao was a bit disappointed that they couldn't get their children married anymore. But seeing the two children growing up together their happiness knew no bound.

They were two happy children, maybe a little bit mischievous when their mothers aren't watching. But that connection slowly grew into the form of pure puppy love. And after around sixteen years, right before my papa was about to graduate high school they decided to fall in love.

They were two years apart but that never stopped them from becoming the most beautiful couple anyone has ever seen. They were inseparable. They spent most of their times together. They went to trips together. And when they felt lazy to go out, they would just stay in watching movies at home.

It was warm. Though I didn't see any of that, I knew how cheesy they both were. I mean I've seen their cheesiness and it was cringy too at times. They never shied away from showing PDA. And from when I came into their life, I grew up knowing that love was something that should be cherished.

My papa once told me that love is like a tree that needs care and love and watering to grow and prosper. And I believe him wholeheartedly.

My parents' love taught me love. My parents' love taught me that it's not that you would never face difficulties. It's the way you overcome the difficulties that counts. And if you let your love prosper with all the care, it wouldn't be hard to overcome the difficulties.

There was once a time papa was very sick. We were all so worried that something bad has happened. But dad was always so strong. He never believed that anything would happen to papa.

Dad always went to papa's hospital room with a smile, that showed reassurance and strength.

Later I learnt, he wasn't so strong. In his opinion, that was the time he was the weakest. Every day he was scared to lose the most important person of his life. But he persisted. And that's purely because that was exactly what papa would have done for him. He would stay strong for papa. And believe in papa's own strength to recover. And he would hold onto every single one of papa's memories if he really did leave.

I didn't like that then. I hated dad for saying that it was going to be okay if we did lose papa. I was a little boy after all.

But after growing up I slowly learnt, how love never makes you weak. Rather it makes you strong. It gives you strength to live when love is not the only thing you need to survive.

And survive, we must.

Until we can live.

Around eleven years ago, my papa adopted me. And I was brought to Beijing, straight from Helian. I was just an orphan back then. But then I got this family who loves me.

And ten years ago they got married. I even was the ring bearer.

We spent a whole eight years as a happy close knit family. I don't know what happened between them that now they're like this, but their way of dealing with things is different. And I believe there has to be something really serious for them to fall apart like this.

My papa stayed in the hospital for a day for observation and dad sent me back to the Wang family house because I wasn't allowed to stay the night.

I stayed at my room at the Wang family house, contemplating about how things will go from here. I don't hate my parents because of how they're calling apart. Even though I act like I do. I just don't know how to act when my parents are falling apart. Or maybe I'm just trying to hide the hurt behind the mask of sarcasm. What else can I do anyway. I'm just a teenager after all. I don't know life like others. And if adulthood is like this I don't wanna be an adult either.

But now I don't wanna think about anything. It was a long day today.

Lying on the bed looking at the ceiling I thought about when papa would come back home.

When he comes back, should I tell him that I don't like what's going on with our family right now? Papa himself said I should share if something is happening with me. Should I do it?

But if I tell him he will choose to stay with dad, and that would hurt him more.

Do I wanna be the reason of my papa's pain? I can't do that.

Thinking this and that I slowly fell into a dreamless slumber only to wake up to a knock on my door.

When I opened my eyes I realised it's already morning.

"Who is it?"

"Young master, Madam is calling you for breakfast."

The voice of a maid came from the other side of the door.

"Okay! I'll be there."

I informed the maid as I went to freshen up in the bathroom. After brushing my teeth, doing my morning business I went downstairs to find both grandma Wang and grandpa Wang sitting at the dining table as an old maid was serving the breakfast. I went to the table and sat beside grandma Wang.

"Good morning!"

I greeted them trying to fake a cheerfulness.

"Good morning, A-Xing!"

They both said in unison.

And that's how my new reality began!

🍂🍂🍂🍂🍂

Hello everyone! I just edited a part of the story! I think you enjoy the chapter! I don't wanna say much in here! Just lemme know if you find any mistakes!

All the love
C 💕

Also please don't forget to vote!! ⭐⭐