Publishedat 6th of July 2019 12:45:06 AMChapter 261
Hui didn"t want to impose his own feelings upon her, not when she was so overwhelmed already .
But they were going back the next day and he didn"t want to go back to being boss and employee without saying what was on his mind .
Later that evening
"The place is not far from here . Would you like to hail a taxi or should we walk it?" Ying Hui asked Jia Li .
She told him that she didn"t mind walking to build an appet.i.te . Upon reaching the place, they were seated at a table next to the window . The place overlooked the Nile . In the night, the river seemed mystical . The full moon threw its reflection onto it, making it seem like a ribbed sheet of silver rather than ink blue .
She was struck with a thought while looking at the river and swung her gaze towards Hui to share it with him . He was caught red-handed, staring at her . She gave him a quizzical glance . He seemed to suddenly have a peculiar expression on his face .
"Uh, Ms . Lin… Jia Li, I have been meaning to have this conversation with you for some time now . As you are well-aware, words are not my forte . I am barely expressive, forget eloquent . So try not to judge me too harshly as I bare myself to you," he started on a serious note .
Jia Li frowned . What could he possibly have to say to her which needed such preparatory words? She nodded her head, encouraging him to go ahead .
"For the first time in my thirty one years of existence, I have fallen in love . The depth of emotions which you invoke in me, have left me stumped . My clinical, precise heart which only knew measurements, now even thumps at an irregular beat, in defiance of everything logical . Will you… would you like to match your beat to mine?" his voice and eyes held trepidation and intensity, mixed with sincerity .
Jia Li was stunned . Not once in the entire duration of her employment had she sensed any sort of romantic feelings from her boss"s end . She didn"t know how to respond without hurting him . But she at least owed him a reply . With a deep breath, she calmed herself down .
"Mr . Ying, I am honoured . Your words really touched me . And I hope you will soon find someone worthy of these emotions," she said softly .
Forcing herself to meet his eyes, she struggled to find the right words to make him understand, "I am an alloy, Mr . Ying . I am no longer a metal . My heart fused with someone else"s, really long ago and however much I try, it is impossible to reverse that amalgamation process . All I am trying to say by giving this poor chemistry example is that my mind and soul belong elsewhere . I would hate to see such a sincere heart as yours wasting its beats on someone who can never match it . "
Hui looked away, unable to bear her gaze . He could see the depth of pain in her eyes . It was as if she had allowed him a peek inside her soul . And there was only bleakness there, emptiness .
He wanted to ask her about the person . He was curious to know what did it take to capture her heart and keep it forever . Who was the lucky guy and why wasn"t he with her? How could he have let her go? But Hui couldn"t bring himself to say this out loud . Maybe he was scared to know the answer .
Neither of them spoke much afterwards . But there was a s.h.i.+mmering intensity which lay in its aftermath, on that table . Murmuring farewell to each other, they walked towards their respective rooms .
Hui realised that he didn"t want to end the conversation on such an awkward note . He turned around and walked upto Jia Li"s room . Raising his knuckles to knock, his hand froze in mid-air .
Jia Li reached her room and threw herself on the bed . She couldn"t stop the gut wrenching sobs from flooding out . Every night she had been sleeping with sorrow getting the better of her and tonight was no different .
Hui forgot what he needed to say, wanted to say… standing there helplessly, he could hear the m.u.f.fled sobs despite the door separating them . He cursed the person who had caused her such anguish .
"I won"t be a reason for causing her any additional pain or awkwardness . That"s the least I can do for her," he vowed to himself and traced his steps back towards his own room .
They came face-to-face the next morning at the breakfast table . Jia Li looked uncomfortable but Hui gave her a warm smile . He waited till she had filled her plate and brought her to the table where he had been sitting .