Míngqín's POV

After I gave Tàiyáng his present, we left to resume our studying. While going through my school notes, I happened to look up and notice Tàiyáng grimacing while holding his left leg.

"Are you okay." His eyes widen when he saw that I noticed.

"It's nothing too serious, it just........slightly hurts."

"How did you hurt it?"

"....Uh.....I .....fell down the stairs?" He said while staring intently at his textbook.

"You fell down the stairs?! In school?" I panicked as I went over to look at his leg, but he jerked it away from me.

"It's nothing. Don't worry about it."

Frowning, I nod my head in understanding. "Since you seem pretty uncomfortable today, why don't you rest up at home. We can resume this later." I smiled up at him.

"That sounds good," he nodded his head,"I promise I will make it up to you." Retrieving his bookbag, he quickly left the building.

I wonder if he will be okay....it's not like him to be....upset.

Gathering my things, I leave for work. While I was walking, Tàiyáng entered into my train of thoughts. He seeemed odd today....is he hiding something from me?
I shake my head. No, I should trust him.

Because I was so engrossed with my thoughts, I accidentally bumped into a man. Unfortunately, since I was smaller than him, I ended up falling to the ground from the force of impact.

"I'm so sorry!" he said in English as he offered his hand to help me up.

"No, it was my fault." I responded in broken English. When I got up, I bowed in apology.

"It's okay." He said.

When I looked up at him, he appeared to be Korean, but for some reason he only spoke in English. When he opened the door for me, I noticed a lizard tatto wrapped around his wrist like a bracelet. That's a weird looking tatto.

Thanking him, I enter the busy cafe and prepare myself for a busy day.

"We are low on servers today. Míngqín, could you fill in as a waitress?" Měi asked me.

"Sure, no problem."

All day, I served and cleaned the area. The blaring of the television over the sound of people talking was starting to give me a headache, so I retrieved the remote. As I was about to turn the volume down, one of the news articles caught my eyes.

I listened carefully as a pretty middle aged woman with perfect hair and makeup was reporting on a theft and assault case.

"Today's highlight of the day is a recent robbery near this jewlry store."

When they showed a picture of it I gasped. That was the same store I went to for Tàiyáng's bracelet!

Evidently a man named Rén Huài, his picture was shown up on the screen, attacked a minor with a knife near a jewlry store. The police suspect the man was a former gang member from America. Whether the minor had ties to the culprit is still yet to be discovered.

They said the minor had chased after the robber, even though he was stabbed in the left leg, and captured the thief for the authorites. The owners of the stolen possessions would like to thank the boy, but because he is a minor, his personl information will not released."

After the shocking news, I decided to leave the television on. Cleaning off all of the tables as the crowds began to die down, the news came back on after countless commercials and the same lady was shown.

"Could you turn on the subtitles?" The man from earlier asked me. I didn't know he was still here?!

"Sure," I said as I grabbed the remote. Turning the volume down a little, I switched the subtitles to english.

"This is just in. Evidently the heroic boy of today's highlights has just turned eighteen today. Happy Birthday, Chén Tàiyáng and thank you for capturing the wanted criminal. Evidently Tàiyáng was related to the man by a group called Lacerta that has long been disbanded. Reporters have found pictures of him....."

My mouth dropped open when I saw Tàiyáng's picture pop up on the television. As the news began to report details of Tàiyáng's life, all I felt was shock.

"No wonder he was so interested in me... ." I whispered. Tears began to fall down my face as I felt both relief that he was okay and hurt that he lied to me.

Hearing my phone begin to ring, I go over to it and see Tàiyáng's number calling me. Should I ignore it? I decided against it since it might be important.

"Hello?"

"Songbird, did you see the news?!" He seemed breathless.

I sniffed. "Why did you lie to me?"

"Are you crying, Songbird? We need to talk. Are you at work? I'll meet you there."

"It's fine." I replied

"No, it's not fine. We need to talk, but not on the phone. I'll be there in five minutes. Don't go anywhere." He pleaded.

I nodded my head even though he couldn't see me. I quickly hung up on him, as I struggled to compose myself.

Walking towards Měi, I told her that I was finished with my shift and needed to start walking home.

"Are you okay, Míngqín?" She asked with a worried look.

"I'm okay. I just need to go back home and get some rest."

Měi nodded her head in understanding. She must not have heard the television.

I must look horrible. I thought to myself as I was walking back to the dormitories. No wonder Měi was worried about me.

Suddenly my skin started to crawl as I felt a weird creepy feeling. Is someone following me?

As I continued to walk home the creepy feeling eventually left me, so I decided to let out all my pent up emotions by crying my heart out to the night sky. Suddenly I felt a hand on my shoulder!

I screamed, but a hand covered my mouth. My attacker turned to face me causing my whole body to tense up.

It was Tàiyáng.

Motioning for me to be quiet, I nodded my head as he removed his hand from my mouth. I shuddered in fear as I realized that this situation could have turned out a lot worse.

Tàiyáng looked upset when he saw my scared expression and my blood shot eyes. He tried to wrap his arms around me to comfort me, but I evaded his touch.

"Why did you lie to me?" I choked out.

"It's because I didn't want you to worry. I didn't want you to be scared of me..."

"But I ended up worrying about you anyway. Did you just get close to be in order to learn more about my village?"

He remained silent.

"Was this the only lie you've told me or is this one of many?" I quietly asked him.

He hung his head as a wall of silence distanced ourselves. "I do have one secret that I should have told you sooner..."

Wiping my eyes, I prepare my heart for the worst. No matter what, you can forgive him, Míngqín. What is one lie?

"I know more about Lacerta then I led you to believe."

"What?!" I shouted at him as tears began to stream down my face.

"It's not what you are thinking....I wasn't there when they pillaged your village." He whispered as he looked at me with sad eyes.

"Have you've ever killed anyone?"

"Never."

Taking a deep breath, I couldn't help But get upset when I looked at him. "I'm scared to trust you....How do I know that you don't want to kill me?" I yelled at him. I knew I shouldn't be angry at him for something other people did, but because he looked so much like my brother, it resurfaced pain that I thought I had long since buried.

"Rumor has it that my brother was the one who betrayed us. He disappeared three days before the incident happened. I hate that I can barely remember my past..."

"I'm so sorry, Songbird. I didn't know...." he trailed off.

"But then you came into my life." I pointed my finger at him. "You filled my life with light. You allowed me to dream again. You allowed me to trust in people..." I dropped my hands near my side in defeat.

"I love you, Chén Tàiyáng. And that's why I'm so hurt. I allowed myself to love again, but now I'm afraid you will betray me. I'm scared, Tàiyáng. Say something that will relieve my fears. Please!" I begged him.

But when he hesitated to answer, I nodded my head in understanding. Turning around, I ran away from him. I could hear his warm voice calling my name, but I couldn't bear to look behind me.

When I get to the dormitory, I try to avoid the worried glances that my room mates give me and run straight to the bathroom. Looking at my reflection in the mirror, I continued to cry. My eyes were bloodshot and puffy and I looked like I was hit by a train. Isn't this worse then where I started off? At least I didn't even know what warmth was. How could I miss something I never experienced? But now....I've had a taste of what it feels to love and be loved.

After I couldn't shed anymore tears, I decided to lock myself in the bathroom for the night.

While sitting on the cold bathroom floor, I lean my head against the wall and close my eyes. Unfortunately, I had procurred a headache from crying so hard. Hugging my legs to my chest, images of Tàiyáng swam through my head.

It was just one lie.....I shouldn't have been so worked up about it. But.....I'm scared that he will turn into someone I'm scared of. I loved him so much......

Don't cry. Be Strong...don't break.

But it hurts.

Thankfully tomorrow is Saturday.

As I begin to also drift off into sleep, memories of Tàiyáng dance in my head, reminding me of what I had just discarded. After countless numbers of nightmares, I wake up to one with my heart beating at a rapidly fast pace.

I look down at my hands only to notice that they were trembling. As I rub my eyes, I notice that my face is wet with my tears. Was I crying in the my dreams?

Am I a monster for not letting him explain himself? Did I lose him forever? Will things ever return to what it once was?

I guess my classmates were right. I am a curse to this world. I should have died like the rest of them. Why did I fight to live that day?

Darkness mixed with the words of my classmates wrap around me; binding me as I lose consciousness. The cold of winter creep through my body and into my heart....

I will never stop loving you, Tàiyáng. Even if you choose to hate me......

This was a long chapter to write....I'm sorry guys. Even though it was sad, I hope you enjoyed it :) and since I'm somewhat free from school, I might update more than once a week.

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