Words I Was Afraid To Hear

Xiu Jin finally went back to City S . Dan was there to provide him with a private transportation anyway .

They went back to work in their own companies as soon as they arrived .

Masaichi strode towads the Chairman"s office . After knocking on the door, he was allowed access .

Xiu Jin saw his son, and immediately remembered the secret .

"Chairman . " Masaichi bowed .

"Oh, he"s here not as my son? Lucky . " Xiu Jin had a smile . "CEO . Is something the matter?"

"I had sent you the photos from the pictorial for the new collection . We will appreciate your opinion on it . " Masaichi eyed his father . He seemed happy . Maybe his mother already forgave him .

Xiu Jin took the folder and browsed through the photos . At the back was the report from the marketing director . "Ming . . . Rushi?"

"She is the new marketing director . " Masaichi reported .

"Hmmm . . . " Xiu Jin nodded like it was nothing, but his mind wandered off to a distant memory .

__________

Xiu Jin was a handsome young man about 30 or so years ago . Being the heir to a then small company, he had spent his time socializing really well .

That summer, he and his friends went to the beach, surfing all day and eating grilled seafood .

One night, he was walking along the sh.o.r.e, white sand in between his toes, when he found a girl staring blankly into the ocean .

She had delicate features, with thin, straight brows, dark brown eyes, tall nose, and thin lips . Her jet-black long wavy hair was gentle blown by the sea breeze . Her skin looked like it was sun-kissed . She seemed to be alone .

Xiu Jin slowly walked towards her . Even when he was close enough to appreciate her long lashes, she still remained dazed, staring at the crashing waves .

"Isn"t the sea loyal to the sh.o.r.e?" He suddenly spoke, then flashed a gentle smile .

The girl was startled and looked up at him . She watched him sit beside her, still not saying anything .

He continued, "No matter how far it goes, it still comes back to hug the sh.o.r.e . "

"If that was true, then the sea is unfaithful . " The soft voice was just enough for him to hear . " Though she seemed to be talking to him, she still kept her eyes on the waves .

"Why do you say that?"

"The sea hugs a lot of sh.o.r.es . You can never tell which one is home to the sea . Maybe none of them . " There was melancholy in her voice .

"Have you found your home?" He stared at the girl .

"It doesn"t matter where I am . I can always decide to make any place my home . " She finally looked back at him, subtly smiling .

"You are beautiful . " The young Xiu Jin blurted it out .

___

His memory shifted to the day when he saw the girl in a white dress, holding a bouquet of red roses, her veil had been shifted off her face .

"Why? Why did you not wait for me to come back?!"

"I . . . Jin . . . I didn"t . . . " Her dark brown eyes were filled with tears . She clutched on her bouquet tightly .

Suddenly, the groom found them . "Xiaoyu . " He looked at the man who was talking to his wife . "Your friend?"

Wong Xiaoyu did not speak, but gently nodded .

"Hi . I"m Ming Rouguang . It"s good that you could make it to our wedding . " He held out his hand .

Xiu Jin shook his hand absentmindedly . He mustered all his strength to keep his posture and to bring out a smile . "Congratulations . "

"Why are you still at the garden, let"s go back in . " Ming Rouguang politely offered .

Xiu Jin shook his head, tears threatened to fall from his eyes . "I just dropped by . I actually needed to go on a business trip . I . . . uhm, congratulations again! I better go now!" He bowed and quickly left after glancing one last time at his first love .

_____________

Masaichi"s voice pulled him back to the present . "Otousan . . . "

"Hmmm?" Xiu Jin almost let a tear fall .

Masaichi was confused by his changes in expression . "How did it go with Mom?"

Chairman Xiu flashed a bright smile . "Everything is under control . "

"That"s good to hear . If that"s all, I . . . "

"Maskun . . . " Xiu Jin interrupted him . "Would you ever consider marrying someone else?"

Masaichi was not sure if this question was theoretical or does his father want him to remarry .

"I"m not sure of what you mean, Dad . "

Xiu Jin had a gentle smile . "Nevermind . You can go back now . "