MG2018 - Compilation: One Shots

The Jacket

Shancai opened the door to her closet and listlessly put her things away. She couldn't shake the disappointment over how her date with Huaze Lei had gone down. She had been so excited for their date, but it didn't seem like he exerted much effort to make it special—she had agonized for hours over what to wear, while he had thrown on the first thing he picked up because he overslept. He didn't even make any plans about where to go! Plus, she had to open her stupid mouth and point out the spot where Jing's poster used to be, when she was the last person he wanted to talk about! She shook her head in frustration. The whole thing had just been so awkward, and she really couldn't understand why.

She pushed the hangers away when something deep in her closet caught her eye. She touched the familiar fabric and felt a sharp pain in her heart. Slowly, she took it out and held it to her. She closed her eyes and remembered how Daoming Si had stopped her in the hallway to give her this beautiful white jacket. It brought back memories of that day she stood him up then changed her mind, and how, in her haste to meet him, she ran out of the store in that cute pink jacket before her mother could even pay for it. Her lips turned upward into a half-smile when she recalled how he had hugged her so tight after waiting in the rain for hours, then he spotted the price tag that was still on that jacket. How arrogant was he to think she had bought that jacket just to see him?! And he had the gall to buy her this one and tell her she should buy more expensive clothes to look nice for him!

She hugged the jacket to her chest as the memories played like a montage in her mind. Daoming Si lying on her lap at the elevator. The way they stood side by side with his arm around her shoulder as she took in the beautiful view from their room at the resort. How he rescued her from those gangsters and treated her wounds afterwards. She didn't understand it. He was stubborn, overbearing, and wanted to get his way all the time. There were glimpses of a sweet gentleman somewhere in that domineering exterior, but mostly he drove her crazy. How could she be attracted to that kind of guy? It couldn't possibly be attraction. She felt something, she would admit that much, but she couldn't begin to name what that something was. All she knew was, despite not knowing what exactly she felt for Daoming Si, she always felt most herself when she was with him.

When you like someone, is feeling attracted to them so important? Isn't feeling at ease around them more important? Xiaoyou's words came back to her in a flash, and Shancai shook her head briskly. No, she liked Huaze Lei. And she knew why—he was handsome, kind, gentle, and caring. Whatever this was with Daoming Si, it wasn't attraction. "The one I like is Lei, not Si," she repeated to herself and punctuated the thought with a sharp nod. Carefully, she folded the jacket and tucked it away in a box. Maybe if she hid this box in the deepest part of her closet, these weird, confusing feelings for Daoming Si would go away too. Out of sight, out of mind... and heart. Right?