Neil was almost fined for speeding as he drove towards his brother"s house. And the reason was obviously that he wanted to know the latest information about the Hu"s.
At last he reached the house and he was NOT disappointed to see the driveway empty. It was perfectly fine for Mi Rae to take her time...Just then a flash of light pa.s.sed through the car. A familiar car stopped in the driveway and a familiar figure alighted.She looked just the same yet different to him.Neil sighed and got off the car as well.Of course,he was only going to be civil and say h.e.l.lo. He planned to tell her his answer after dinner so that her mood would not be ruined.He also needed to have a chat with Alicia for trying to play matchmaker.
Mi Rae came forward and with a cool smile bypa.s.sed him and went towards the door.Forgetting his own resolution to stay cool,Neil grabbed Mi Rae"s hand.When she turned to him in question,he realized he had nothing to say..But then he noticed the basket in her hands.It was similar to the one he received in the afternoon.Scowling at her,he asked,"What do you have there?"
Mi Rae roled her eyes and said,"Neil,your brother and Alicia have treated me to a meal not once but twice!Of course I am not going to come in empty handed.So I bought them a gift."
The box was unceremoniously s.n.a.t.c.hed from her hands and put behind his back."If you think I am going to let you gift them blueberries you are out of your mind!"
Mi Rae crossed her arms in front of her and looked at Neil with narrowed eyes.Then with a smile,she shrugged her shoulders and said,"Fine.You can check it and then carry it inside!And I am happy that you liked my gift so much though you did not even say "Thank You.""Neil caught hold of Mi Rae"s wrist and pulled her closer.In a whisper he asked her,"Mi Rae..Why are you intent on hurting yourself?You are an amazing woman but I am living in the past.Why would you did up the past?It will only hurt you."
Mi Rae simply smiled at him and said,"I only want you Neil.If I am hurt in that then so be it.If the past is painful then I will soothe and heal it."
His hand on her waist tightened and cruelly,he said"Do you really believe that?Then let me tell you that you are sorely mistaken.Even now I have just returned from visiting her grave.Will you be able to live with a person who visits his lover"s grave before coming to you?"
Mi Rae felt a pinch of pain in her heart but she refuset to show it.Bringing up her hand to caress his face,she said,"Even if you visited her grave,I am the only one in your arms now.I am the one who can touch you,caress you and be held by you.I am the one who can kiss you."With that Mi Rae gave Neil a small peck on the lips and then taking the loosened basket from his hand,came out if his arms.
With her back to him,she turned her face a little and said,"Even if you visit her,all I want is that you come back to me.I"ll see you inside."
With that Neil who stood shocked still,did not know what to say and was left behind.Mi Rae had already rung the door bell so Neil could only jog forward..The door opened just as Neil reached the front step.Ryu was the one who opened the door and after the memories he had remembered today,he was a little hesitant and unsure of himself.But Mi rae had no such qualms.Going inside,she gave a big smile and handed the basket to Ryu with a polite,"This is for you.Thank you for inviting me Brother Ryu."
Neil"s eyes rounded in shock when he heard the intimate way Mi Rae addressed Ryu Long and he han an ominuous feeling in his heart!He had been taken back to the past...Ning Ning always wanted to go to this house..always wanting to ask brother Ryu this and that.He remembered that him and Ning Ning had once come over like this..after that,whenever she had pestered him to eat together,Ryu had always been busy..and with Leona Knight in the picture,he had become even more distant..
But nothing skipped Ryu"s eyes..not then and not now.And every obstacle in his brother"s way of happiness needed to be cleared.Even if it was himself.In the past,he had to distance himself to avoid misunderstandings but in the end, himself and Neil had paid the price. Not anymore.From what Alicia had told him, she approved of Mi Rae so he would too. And to show his support he was the one who had planned the dinner tonight as well.And to make Neil understand and remember the difference between the past and the present, Ryu was also the one who had invited Mi Rae to address him as brother.That is what Ning Ning used to call him as well. Neil needed to know that the biggest difference between Mi Rae and Ning Ning was that Mi Rae had eyes only for Neil.