The Gorgeous Ex Girlfriend

He continued, his voice breaking on the next set of words .

"When I should have protected you, understood you, taken up the responsibility of your well-being, I did everything but that . By the time this realisation hit me, it was too late . You had walked out of my life and that too without a word or a backward glance . More importantly, you had walked off with a scar both on and inside your heart . And it was all because of me . I don"t know if either of the scars can ever be removed . For the longest time, I couldn"t face my own self . I drank myself into oblivion every single night out of shame and guilt," his voice had gone hoa.r.s.e with pain .

His eyes were br.i.m.m.i.n.g with tortured tears .

"So thank you . Thank you for allowing me back in your life . I can"t tell you what this means for my tortured soul . I am happy to stay here in whatever capacity you want me in . I am here, to support you in anything that you do . All I want in return is that you don"t shut me out . Just let me be around you, and at some point… if possible, walk the same steps as you . Is that ok?" he asked softly .

Jia Li"s eyes watered and she sniffed delicately . This was turning out to be a far different evening from what she had imagined it to be . When she had walked in to the restaurant, she had expected to be wooed, maybe even proposed to, but what she hadn"t seen coming was – honesty, understanding and support .

She could barely recognise this Tang who sat in front of her .

Since childhood, he had been reserved but self-a.s.sured, not the kind to bare himself in front of anyone, no matter the circ.u.mstances . But the man who sat in front of her today, was vulnerable and full of words . He had really turned around his whole personality .

She didn"t want to see his tears trickle down . Her heart would never forgive her for it .

"You made me sleep on the hard floor last night . Now, is tonight"s plan to keep me hungry?" she asked him in mock anger .

He smiled at her, inclining his head in apology . Gesturing to the waiter, he asked for the wines to be brought which he had shortlisted and kept aside for her to choose from .

All through the dinner, she made sure to regale him with enough funny stories till the time that gaunt, guilty look in his eyes was replaced with a quiet content one .

"I am flying back tomorrow morning . Zheng He has already returned to Shanghai . I stayed back because I wanted to clear the air between us, face-to-face," he said once the dishes had been cleared away .

She acknowledged his words with an impa.s.sive face and a short nod . Unwilling to think of yesterday or tomorrow, she wanted to live in the present .

"Hmm… so what should we do now?" she arched her brow and asked him suggestively .

"Uh… I don"t think I should be answering that . I am pretty sure your and my thoughts would not be matching on this one," he replied, partly smiling, partly hoping .

Jia Li fought to keep the blush off her face which seemed to climb up almost every time he opened his mouth .

"Well, my idea was to take you to a really cool Karaoke bar, here, in central London . They not only have an amazing selection of English songs, but also Korean, Chinese and more . What say you," she wiggled her eyes at him, smiling widely .

Tang knew that she was trying to cheer him up and that warmed his heart more than any words spoken by her . The server brought the bill, which Tang pushed in front of her .

She looked at him in enquiry .

"You told me the other day that since it"s your city, it"s your treat . So go ahead and pay," he told her, nonchalantly .

Jia Li laughed at his bold faced antics .

"I shall be happy to pay . Please accept it as my thanks for the remodelling of my house," she quipped back .

"Wait, you mean to say that I will have to pay at the Karaoke bar . What about the next time I come visiting?" he kept bantering with her all the way to the bar and even while dropping her back .

"I had a good time . Thank you for tonight . Have a safe flight back," she said to him, standing at her doorstep .

He dipped his head in acknowledgment and caressed her cheek, longing clear in his eyes . With an effort he restrained himself and turned to go .It is a miracle that I am able to sit in front of you, being able to see you, and talk to you after my past actions, Tang said gratefully . He continued, his voice breaking on the next set of words . When I should have protected you, understood you, taken up the responsibility of your well-being, I did everything but that . By the time this realisation hit me, it was too late . You had walked out of my life and that too without a word or a backward glance . More importantly, you had walked off with a scar both on and inside your heart . And it was all because of me . I dont know if either of the scars can ever be removed . For the longest time, I couldnt face my own self . I drank myself into oblivion every single night out of shame and guilt, his voice had gone hoa.r.s.e with pain . His eyes were br.i.m.m.i.n.g with tortured tears . So thank you . Thank you for allowing me back in your life . I cant tell you what this means for my tortured soul . I am happy to stay here in whatever capacity you want me in . I am here, to support you in anything that you do . All I want in return is that you dont shut me out . Just let me be around you, and at some point… if possible, walk the same steps as you . Is that ok? he asked softly . Jia Lis eyes watered and she sniffed delicately . This was turning out to be a far different evening from what she had imagined it to be . When she had walked in to the restaurant, she had expected to be wooed, maybe even proposed to, but what she hadnt seen coming was – honesty, understanding and support . She could barely recognise this Tang who sat in front of her . Since childhood, he had been reserved but self-a.s.sured, not the kind to bare himself in front of anyone, no matter the circ.u.mstances . But the man who sat in front of her today, was vulnerable and full of words . He had really turned around his whole personality . She didnt want to see his tears trickle down . Her heart would never forgive her for it . You made me sleep on the hard floor last night . Now, is tonights plan to keep me hungry? she asked him in mock anger . He smiled at her, inclining his head in apology . Gesturing to the waiter, he asked for the wines to be brought which he had shortlisted and kept aside for her to choose from . All through the dinner, she made sure to regale him with enough funny stories till the time that gaunt, guilty look in his eyes was replaced with a quiet content one . I am flying back tomorrow morning . Zheng He has already returned to Shanghai . I stayed back because I wanted to clear the air between us, face-to-face, he said once the dishes had been cleared away . She acknowledged his words with an impa.s.sive face and a short nod . Unwilling to think of yesterday or tomorrow, she wanted to live in the present . Hmm… so what should we do now? she arched her brow and asked him suggestively . Uh… I dont think I should be answering that . I am pretty sure your and my thoughts would not be matching on this one, he replied, partly smiling, partly hoping Jia Li fought to keep the blush off her face which seemed to climb up almost every time he opened his mouth . Well, my idea was to take you to a really cool Karaoke bar, here, in central London . They not only have an amazing selection of English songs, but also Korean, Chinese and more . What say you, she wiggled her eyes at him, smiling widely . Tang knew that she was trying to cheer him up and that warmed his heart more than any words spoken by her . The server brought the bill, which Tang pushed in front of her . She looked at him in enquiry . You told me the other day that since its your city, its your treat . So go ahead and pay, he told her, nonchalantly . Jia Li laughed at his bold faced antics . I shall be happy to pay . Please accept it as my thanks for the remodelling of my house, she quipped back . Wait, you mean to say that I will have to pay at the Karaoke bar . What about the next time I come visiting? he kept bantering with her all the way to the bar and even while dropping her back . I had a good time . Thank you for tonight . Have a safe flight back, she said to him, standing at her doorstep . He dipped his head in acknowledgment and caressed her cheek, longing clear in his eyes . With an effort he restrained himself and turned to go .