Dangerous Flame

Chapter 8

Myst is drinking her hot tea in her brother's backyard garden.

This place was a home away from home. There was a distinct look that resembles the celestial gardens and the ancient China.

Seeing the fusion of these gardens, Myst felt the timelessness of the time when she waited for Luan Feng to come home. She knew he would never return but she lets her mind wander what if Luan Feng suddenly appears.

She hates to admit it but somewhere inside her stop. The world kept moving fast but she felt stuck on the moment when he died. She could see the darkness among the vibrant colors she sees everyday and even the cheeriest of smiles is something she could cry about.

Nudging her forehead to calm her nerves. She have forgotten that sadness and was instead replaced by the pressure of the deadline she and her brother had set. She was even more annoyed by the fact that she cannot help anybody she cared about except herself.

She was so good at taking care of herself and even her guardians are taking care of her but when the time comes that she has to protect someone; she failed.

And now that she knows her weakness, she has to improve now and start doing her best by saving the life of one annoying brat.

Then she heard the creaking of the sliding door behind her. She looked behind to see Andrew's frightened expression.

She stood up and approached him. He draws back and points at her. "Stay back. I think I get it now. You're trying to erase any evidences regarding the guy you chased. You're the bad guys."

Myst stopped at her tracks and said. "I'm not like that guy believe me."

"You hit me."

"Well, you're leaving so I have to do that to protect you."

"That's not protecting at all. You're restricting me."

Myst inhaled sharply at the words he just said as she reminisced what her lover told her eons ago. "I'm sorry. I shouldn't have done that but I thought that it was necessary and didn't thought about your opinion."

Looking at her sad expression, Andrew felt a pang in his heart as he sighed and said. "Forget it but don't do it again."

Myst nodded. "Are you going to class today?"

"No, I think I'm going to cancel it. I'm going home to fix my stuff and finish my homework."

"Are you going to school tomorrow?"

"Yes and why are you asking?"

"I'm going to be your personal bodyguard."

"What the- I didn't remember signing up for this."

"No, you didn't. I decided to put you under witness protection and I will personally guard you."

"And we're back to square one. How many times do I have to tell you until you understand? You're restricting me of my freedom of choice." Andrew scratched his forehead. "No wait. Maybe it has to be spoken in Chinese."

"And I understand and you said 'forget it'."

Andrew sighed and raised his eyebrow. "And I did say 'don't do it again'."

"Really? I haven't heard it."

Andrew again scratched his head. "Okay, fine but if you do it again after I said this; stay away from me and that's final."

***

It was already late afternoon when Shui Long saw a caravan of small carriages tied with red ribbons and red lanterns on its roof paraded on the streets in the city.

People make way for these carriages and congratulated the people walking with these carriages.

It's the first time Shui Long sees this kind of celebration and like a fly caught in a fire, she followed.

She stopped when the caravan reached a very huge house and enter. She watched from a distance together with other curious people to see a woman dressed and covered with red got out of a carriage.

She asked the woman beside her. "Who is that woman who covered her face and is dressed in red and why is she covering her face?"

"I don't know who she is but she definitely comes from a well-off family down south. Can't you tell from the way she looks that she is getting married? Where do you come from that you don't know about this?"

Shui Long fell silent. Too scared for her identity to be exposed.

"Anyways, this ceremony was passed down to us by our forefathers that Nu Wa and Fu xi who are siblings asked the heavens to permit their union. When they approved, Nu Wa asked to cover her face with clouds during their vows because she is shy. That's why the woman is covering her face."

"What is married?"

"As you can see, this is a ceremony that ties you to the one you love forever. That is what getting married mean but only rich people can afford this ceremony."

"So without this ceremony, you cannot be together with the person you love?" Shui Long looks concerned.

"No, it doesn't have to be a ceremony just like this. The most important and crucial of all is the unity of the hearts. Because without this; marriage is nothing but a sham."

Shui Long would only nod but she still has a lot of questions regarding the matter like; who is Nu Wa or are they descendants of Nu Wa? "I now understand. A many thanks." She said as she left the scene.

After a short distance, Shui Long turned to look back and saw the smiling faces of the bride and groom as they were congratulated by their friends and kin.

Her face was filled with confusion and concern as she ponder upon humans. Humans are a very weird creature; one moment they said they do not want their hands to be bound and the next moment they are happy to be tied with the person they love. What kind of bond are they talking about? I see no shackles or rope to bound them together. Whatever thing or magic bounds them; I hope I don't have it.

Then she saw Luan Feng at the distance and starts running towards him.