Wuxia Tale: Hua in Bloom

Crossroads

(PRINCE JIN)

I finally said it. Finally confessed it. It's finally out in the open.

I am in love with Wang Hua.

This slight but lively girl. Sheltered but not restricted. A female but educated. She is funny, radiant, vibrant. Alive.

Hua has this energy that is contagious. A smile that can calm your worry. A presence that cannot be denied. Her eyes shows compassion and kindness to those less fortunate than her. She doesn't condone abuse of power. She is fair. Wise. She is fragile but at the same time strong. Innocent but at the same time worldly. Naive but sharp. She is like her name, a flower with thorns in her to protect herself.

You don't pluck such flower. You take care of it. Watch it bloom and see how it can change your surroundings.

Hua is my Northern Star. She gave me direction. After meeting her, being a son of an Emperor does not matter that much anymore. She won't marry someone because he is a prince. Even being a Crown Price became a disadvantage when it comes to Hua. She is not impressed with title.

No. Hua pushed me to be a man worthy of her. To show her kindness. To put efforts to see her smile. To do my best to make her happy. Because making Hua happy is suddenly my purpose in life. That's the direction I am taking.

And I want to continue going that way by saying that I love her. Saying it to Hua. So she will understand that I am now putting my heart along with my life on the line for her. It's hers, I am hers.

"Prince Jin..."

"You don't have to say it back. I don't think I want you to say it back without thinking about it first. Not that I am ordering you how to think but..." I winced. "I am not in a hurry, Hua. Nothing changed. I am still courting you. I just want you to know that I," I sighed. "I do. I do love you."

Hua look down and sniffed. I understand because I saw her eyes shining with tears. I hope those are not sad tears because she is actually rejecting me today. Except that will be a bit strange because she is still letting me hold her hand. It means she still like me touching her.

Hua look up. "Me too. I have something to say to you."

I nodded my encouragement, "Go on. Oh but wait. If you are rejecting me tonight, can you postpone it a little. Maybe give me some warning first, then give me one more week to court you and change your mind. I..." I am rambling in fear of her rejecting me.

Because in truth, I don't know what I will do next if Hua rejects me.

"I am not rejecting you," Hua put a hand in my chest to calm me.

"Oh..." I sighed in relief. "Well, go on. What is it that you want to tell me?"

Hua stared at me for moments before she took a visible deep breath. "I am strong." She finally said.

"Yes," I nodded. "I know you are strong." That is no news. Hua is a strong and independent lady.

She frowned, "You know that I am strong? How? When?"

"Always," I shrugged. "Ever since I met you and you never let my sister, the Princess, to push you and order you around. I knew then that you are no ordinary girl but a lady with strong values..."

"Oh, not that!" Hua shook her head. I frowned at her. "What do you mean?"

Hua gave me an impatient look, "I am strong. Physically," she specified.

That made me pause and look at her. "Yes," I nodded slowly. "Of course, you don't look sick so..."

"Ugh!" Hua moaned in frustration. I am starting to get confuse. What does she mean when she said she is strong? If is evident. She is not sick so she must have a strong and healthy body.