Chapter 74: Hiding her pain

Chen Jianyu was waiting for Nana at Natsukashi. It had been a long time but there was still no sign of her.

He asked the twins, “Did she say anything by when will she be back? It’s quite dark out there.”

Yukito shook his head. “No. We have been trying her cell for a while now. But it’s coming as unreachable.”

Yukira said, “We are getting worried for her now.”

Jianyu said, “Maybe she is stuck somewhere. There must be heavy traffic by now. All the roads would have been flooded by water. I will go look for her. Maybe she is already somewhere nearby.”

They nodded.

Tang Suyin was also getting impatient. Her dinner already got over and she was supposed to leave but how could she do that before executing her plan? She had no excuse to stay anymore.

Damn it, Nana! Where are you? You are ruining my plans, she cursed her silently.

She noticed Jianyu getting ready to leave. She was busy cursing Nana so she didn’t hear their conversation.

“Are you leaving?”

“I’m going to look for Nana. It’s quite late.”

What? He cannot go. Or how will my plan work?

“I don’t think it’s necessary. Why don’t we wait-“, she abruptly stopped when through the window she saw Nana getting out of a cab.

She is already here! I will have to text that man. But how in front of Jianyu?

“Ouch!”, she screamed.

Jianyu asked in surprise, “What’s wrong?”

“Aahhnnn…my stomach is hurting. Can you wait for a while? I will just come back.”

“Okay. If it’s too much then we can go to the hospital.”

“No-no. Just wait here.”, and she quickly dashed to the washroom.

She called that man’s cell but he didn’t pick it up.

Huh? Why isn’t he picking up my call!?

She dialed two more times but it didn’t get through.

Damn it! I don’t have time to waste.

Then somebody picked it up on the fourth call.

“You! Why the hell weren’t you picking my calls? Now get ready. She is already here.”

“Excuse me mam, but I’m not the person whose this phone belongs to.”

She froze. “Huh? Then who are you?”

“I’m the bartender here. This man came to our bar and had quite a few drinks. He is completely wasted now. I saw his phone ringing for a while, so I answered it. You know him, right? Can you pick him up?”

What the hell! How can he get drunk when I have given him a job to do!? So useless! She was furious.

F*ck I will have to give up my plan for now. Damn it, Nana. You are so lucky!

“Uh hello?”

“Oh shut up! Do whatever you want to do with him.”, and she hung up.

The bartender was dumbfounded. What a rude woman. She was the one calling incessantly and now she was giving him the attitude?

—

Nana got down the cab and very slowly walked towards Natsukashi. She didn’t have any energy left in her. She just wanted to go to her room and collapse on the bed.

The whole way she was trying hard to not think of that kiss. But every time she remembered Jinhai’s gaze and his thin lips on hers igniting a fire inside her. And all those sensations she felt came back to her. She was completely drained of any strength now.

When she reached near the entrance, she realized that there would be the twins inside.

No, I cannot go like this. They will figure out something is wrong.

She touched her cheek where the redness of that slap was still visible. She quickly ruffled her hair to hide her cheek behind them.

This way they won’t notice it, she thought.

She then tried to smile fighting against her feeling to cry and went inside.

Not far away, a car was quietly parked at a distance and the man inside watched every move Nana did.

—

After Nana left, Jinhai didn’t leave for his home. It was very dark outside and the storm would have disrupted all cab and train services. He couldn’t let her go to her place all alone.

He went back to where his car was parked and said to the driver, “Go that way.”

The driver surnamed Mu jolted on his order. He nervously stared at him.

“Quickly.”, he said coldly.

“Y-yes sir.”, he immediately started the car.

They followed Nana from a distance. It was difficult to get a cab but after fifteen minutes she finally got into one. Jinhai was worried about any possible trap. There were some instances where some cab drivers took advantage of stranded passengers, especially if it was a woman. So, he followed her all the way for his assurance.

The cab reached near Natsukashi and he saw her getting out. They too parked at a little distance away. Nana was walking very slowly as if dragging her feet. He could see how distraught she felt.

Then when she reached the entrance, he could see some realization hit her. He understood it too. He saw her touching her cheek and clumsily covering it with her hair. He saw her trying her hardest to smile like nothing ever happened today.

He stared at her face, her eyes that reflected only pain, and her every single expression like he wanted to burn all of them in his memory.

He looked out of the window and said, “Go back home.”