Three Months Later
“Ella, when are you going back to Taiwan?”
“I’m leaving this weekend, Becky. My friend’s getting married next month and I want to be there with her.”
Becky sighed. “I guess only rich people get all the luck.”
Ella forced a smile.
Ella didn’t actually tell her roommate that she was rich, actually, Becky fell upon it one day.
As she was coming home, she saw a letter opened and it was addressed to Ella. And inside the open envelope was a check written for $5,000.
Ella mentioned Becky not to tell anyone of their friends.
Ella and Becky worked at the same place, and when Becky found out that Ella was living alone on her first time in America, she asked Ella if she wanted to move in with her.
And she said yes.
She couldn’t live in a hotel forever.
And she could have practically bought a home, but she figured she only needed time for Chun to forget her and she’ll return.
But that wasn’t the case.
In fact, Chun dreams of her every night since she left.
He didn’t know why.
His mother came to the conclusion that it was ‘love.’
Chun laughed at that idea.
But still, he didn’t go near any women, knowing that he was still a married man.
---
Ella’s phone ranged. “Hello?”
“Ella?” a sobbing voice came through.
“Hebe?” she asked. “What’s wrong?”
“It’s Selina.”
---
“Hey, Ella what are you doing? I thought you weren’t leaving until the weekend. You sure like to pack early--”
“Becky, I have to leave for Taiwan now. There’s an emergency at home.” Ella said and looked at Becky’s worried face.
“Oh ok.”
While Ella was frantically packing her clothes, Becky got Ella’s bathroom supplies and helped her pack as well.
“Thanks, Becky.”
“what are friends for, right?”
---
Ella informed her parents that she was coming home on the next flight.
And Mong and Li couldn’t have been more happy.
Ella on the other hand only hoped that Selina would be ok lying on the hospital bed.
---
“Hebe? What’s wrong?”
“It’s Selina.” Hebe replied crying.
“What happened?” She asked even though she could have guessed what happened.
Jiro finally let the cat out of the bag.
“Sel’s in the hospital now.”
Ella’s heart dropped.
“She and Jiro were talking about--something, and she came out of the room crying--and she fell down the stairs and she started bleeding--”
“Hebs I’m on the next flight home. Just stay with her. Don’t let Jiro see her.”
Hebe nodded frantically and hung up the phone.
---
“Selina, wait for me.” she pleaded. “Just wait for me.”
Ella got off the plane tired and met her parents by the arrival area.
“Where’s Selina?”
---
“Sel?” Ella cried seeing her body deformed. “Selina?”
Selina woke up and looked at Ella and smiled.
“You’re back.” she whispered.
“Honey, what happened?”
She sighed. “You don’t have to worry about buying me baby clothes anymore.”
After that she broke out into tears and Ella hugged her tightly.
“Arron? Promise me one thing.” Hebe silently said.
“What’s that, honey?”
“Never break my heart.”
---
Ella stayed with her that night.
And she warned everyone not to tell anyone that she was back in the country, or else she’ll run away to America and never come back.
“Morning sunshine.” Ella said as Selina rubbed her eyes.
“Hi.”
“How are you feeling?” Ella asked? “The doctors were really worried about you.”
Selina told her the whole story of Jiro confessing that he was part of the mob that tried to kill Ella.
And she just went wild.
Ella excused herself to use the bathroom.
“Hi, Selina. How are you today?” It was Chun.
“Chun? What are you doing here?” Selina asked surprise.
“I came and visited you. Am I not allowed to?” Chun jokingly said.
Selina forced a smile. “Uh, Selina, I hope you don’t mind but since you probably won’t be able to work for a few days, I closed down your bakery shop, just until you have enough strength to go back.”
“Thank you, Chun.”
“Selina, Jiro-”
“I don’t want to hear it, Chun. He lied to me long enough.” Selina yelled.
“But, Sel--he didn’t mean to.”
“Why are you on his side, Chun? He was the one who caused Ella to be in danger. Don’t you hate him at all for his doings?”
“He didn’t mean to though. He wasn’t trying to kill her. He was trying to help her. Don’t you worry about him at all?” Selina lost eye contact with him. “Remember when you found out that Jiro was beaten up, you stayed up night and day crying and comforting him? If you love him that much why don’t you give him another chance?”
“Who are you to talk about ‘love’ with me, Chun? You could barely keep Ella alive. And as far as I know you don’t even like her.”
Chun kept quiet.
He didn’t know how to respond.
“I miss her.” he finally said and Selina just rolled her eyes at him. “I dream of her at night. It’s like I can feel her skin on me. Her lips--are always so soft. And I find her…adorable. And I see something I her that I felt when we were younger.”
By now Selina had a smile on her face knowing that he just failed her test.
“My mother say’s it’s ‘love’. What do you think?” Chun asked her.
Selina smiled bigger. “I think…your mother’s right.”
---
Chun left after talking for another thirty minuets of convincing her to forgive Jiro and left for work.
Ella came out crying.
“Did you hear that?” Selina asked seeing Ella in tears. “he loves you.”
“It’s not love. It's guilt.”
