Hello, Mr Li: The Christmas Trip - Chapter 125

They had a late breakfast that morning, and it was also kind of awkward. Joreen tried to avoid looking at Hoy while Mr Ping kept his head down during the entire breakfast. In his 30 years, he had never experienced any embarrassment worse than what happened today. He could neither look at Reen nor at Changyu.

Heya was also quietly eating her food. She wished they could all at least say something to end the silence because it was beginning to make her feel like they were all quiet because of her.

“Are you sick mummy?” Li King asked, looking at Sara who had eye bags and a sleepy look. She was eating slowly.

Everyone turned towards her direction. She looked like she hadn’t slept at all the previous night.

“I am fine baby.” She assured her little boy with a smile.

“Then why do you look like you didn’t sleep last night? Did something happen at the resort?”

Sara’s face flushed from embarrassment at her son’s question. She could hear some giggles and suppressed laughter but she didn’t even want to know who they were coming from.

“She had to do some work stuff last night. She is fine. Now, no talking while eating.” Muchen said but heard someone giggle opposite him.

“Work stuff…” Minde muttered and giggle again, all the while, keeping his face down on his plate. His wife elbowed his side and scowled at him.

“Alright everyone!” Heya’s mother clapped once to get everyone’s attention.

“I hope you already got your bags ready? Let’s return quietly and try not to get into any scandal. Hmm?” She gave Hoy and Joreen a quick look before looking at the others.

After breakfast, the others returned to their rooms to pack up their things. Heya had to return to the resort to get hers, Hoy still had to go back there also.

But as Heya sat on Reen and Joreen’s bed, she thought about what she was going to do when she got there and bumped into Suyin. She knew she could not avoid her forever because when they board the ship, they would return to living across each other for the next three days.

“Sister Heya?” Joreen called gently and sat down beside her.

Heya turned to look at her and also noticed Reen watching them.

“Reen and I would go get your things for you. You don’t have to worry about going there. Also, we talked about it…” Joreen looked at Reen who gave her an encouraging nod, “We are willing to exchange rooms in the ship. You can stay in ours while we stay in yours. We don’t think it’s against the boarding rules to change rooms.”

Heya looked at Joreen with a tender gaze before looking behind her at Reen.

“Thank you.” She had a sad smile on her face as she continued, “But you don’t need to change your room for me.” Her brother and Sara had also offered her the same thing the previous evening but her answer was still the same. She couldn’t run or hide from Suyin forever. She was dreading to have that conversation with her, but she knew that was something she won’t be able to avoid forever.

“I will also get my things from the resort myself. I am so embarrassed to show this weak side of me to you two.”

“No!”

“You shouldn’t be.”

Joreen and Reen said at the same time while Reen went to seat on the other side beside Heya.

“We are your family. It is okay to not always look strong.” Joreen said softly as she looked into Heya’s eyes.

“She is correct sister Heya. It’s okay to depend on us sometimes. We are always happy to help in any way we can.”

Heya’s smile was still sad but she nodded.

“Thank you.” She said to the two of them.

********

Heya got to the room after all the hesitation and thankfully, she didn’t meet any member of the Yan family on her way. She gathered her things and looked around the room one last time. She was definitely going to miss this place and the environment.

She left the room with her luggage. She hadn’t walked far when another door opened and she came face to face with Suyin who was coming out of her room.

They both looked surprised to see each other. Heya noticed how red the right side of her cheek was. Thankfully, it was not swollen. She couldn’t imagine how she would have looked like had Joreen not help her like she had said.

When the surprise wore off, Suyin’s face showed displeasure which Heya had expected.

“Hey…” Heya greeted less cheerfully from the guilt that was eating her up.

She thought Suyin was going to ignore her when she turned to return inside her room, but Suyin stopped to look over shoulder at Heya.

“I believe you have something to tell me.” She said before she entered inside her room, leaving the door open.

Heya was very uncomfortable. What was she going to do in this case? She should follow her inside right? But what if Suyin was planning some kind of thing? Different thoughts ran through her head but she eventually followed her inside and slowly closed the door.

Suyin was facing the window and had her arms folded across her chest.

Heya didn’t know how to start. An apology? Explanation? Thankfully, she didn’t have to think too much because Suyin helped her.

“You are his ex girlfriend right?” Suyin asked.

Heya couldn’t tell exactly what she was thinking from her tone. Her voice sounded calm.

She answered, “Yes. I’m sorry.”

“What are you apologizing for?” Suyin asked before turning around to look at Heya,

“What exactly are you apologizing for? The fact that you lied to me?” Suyin asked in a bitter tone. “I asked if you two knew each other. You were the first to say no. I took you as my friend. Whenever I did anything you didn’t like, I apologized immediately because our friendship meant a lot to me. But did you even see me as a friend? Was it fun watching me make a fool of myself, imagining I had a future with Liang when you still liked him and was looking for a way to get back together?”

“Suyin…”

Suyin took in a deep breath before turning around to face the window.

“I really didn’t plan to see you again or even talk to you. Your cousin in-law wanted me to listen to what you had to say. But right now… I don’t even know if I want to listen to you anymore because it’s making me really angry—”

“I wanted to tell you!” Heya cried.

“I didn’t mean to hurt you. I knew you liked him. But I liked him too and couldn’t help it!”

“You should have at least told me the truth!” Suyin yelled. “You should have told me you were the ex he has refused to get over. I wouldn’t have blamed you. I wouldn’t have told you all the things I told you about Liang and I. I wouldn’t have tried to push you unto my brother, I wouldn’t have asked you to sing for us on our special day!”

“I… didn’t know what to do. I’m sorry. I really didn’t mean to hurt you. I just…” Heya looked down. She didn’t know what else to say. She felt really guilty because all Suyin was saying was the truth. Things would have been a lot different if she hadn’t lied from the beginning.

She heard Suyin sniff and raised her head to look at her. Suyin was still facing the window but Heya could make out her pained expression.

“I love him. I know it’s silly to love someone who doesn’t love me back, but I cannot help it.” Suyin sniffed again. “I even hate myself most times. I wish I didn’t have to force a man to love me. I wish I didn’t have to force peoole to like me and see me as their friends… I…” She stopped talking and Heya could hear the sobs she was trying to muffle.

Heya also cried quietly. She wished she could assure her that all would be fine, but she couldn’t. Because she could not leave Zhu Liang.

“I am sorry for ever forcing my friendship on you and making you uncomfortable at any point. I am also very sorry for the words I said yesterday. I… didn’t mean any of them. I don’t blame you for hitting me. I guess I deserved it.” She turned to look at Heya again.

“I will let him go.” She said with resolve and smiled painfully.

“I thought about it through out the night and brother Shen reminded me last night that I was a lot happier before I met Liang.” She sighed sadly.

“I love him but the love comes with a lot of pain and insecurities. I am always worried about him changing his mind or meeting a better woman.”

“I hate him for breaking my heart and also hate you for being a bad friend, but I hold nothing against you two. You can do whatever you want with each other. I’m out.”