The elevator…

“Let’s go upstairs” Jiang got

into the elevator and pulled me in as I stood there motionless. I was still

thinking about leaving the place and it still hurts me to part with Chen Chen

and Jiang that I just met. There were only he and I in the elevator which was

very unusual for a crowded area like Dragon Street. I was wondering why, when

suddenly a man came to hold the closing door of the elevator. He got in and in

no time, I was in the corner of the elevator with Jiang facing me. Ten other

people who were almost the size of an elephant seemed to have ignored the

caution sign that only 1000kg load allowed inside. What’s worse! Another lady

with a big vacuum cleaner in her hands entered squeezing the other dudes in and

pressed the button for 14th floor. I was slammed to the wall and

Jiang was almost there at a touching distance to me. I didn’t notice it before;

he is half a foot taller than me. I shifted uncomfortably, my head touching his

lips. ‘Uh! This is so embarrassing. When will this awful ride be over?’ I

thought to myself even though I wished it went forever. Suddenly, the lights

went off and the elevator stopped in the midway to the 14th floor

like of those in the popular soap operas. Everyone screamed at once and turned

the flashlights on their mobile phones on. One of them called the management

and with a disgusted expression he started complaining about the hotel. “I am

going to give it a bad rating” he said. “What happened sir?” I asked him

carefully lest he explode his feelings at me.

“Generator failure!” he replied

harshly. ‘It is better not to provoke him again’ I thought. He continued with

his complaints, this time more fiercely. He grew violent with every word he spoke,

and he hit the waiter who was supposed to deliver food. Poor guy! He fell back

and pushed Jiang towards me. Not even a hair strand can pass through us now.

Jiang completely fell on me and supported his hands on the wall, his chin on my

forehead. I didn’t want him to feel that I’m taking advantage of him. I tried to

move but stopped when he brought his face close to my ears.

“Don’t move” he whispered gently

and brushed the locks of hair away from my ears. I was confused. Who’s taking

advantage of whom now? His touch made me paralyzed for a moment. I couldn’t

concentrate on what was happening. With a dozen of infuriated people with us in

the elevator, we are standing facing each other but the mood doesn’t affect my

romantic imagination of him in my head. My heart can’t act normal with him by

my side. He moved away from my ears, his cheek slightly touching mine. Now I’m

seeing his face a few centimeters away from mine. I looked at his perfectly

carved kind of lips and imagined kissing them. I wondered if he would want to

kiss me. The elevator started moving again and the guy who called the

management is satisfied that he may probably get to see the manager directly.

We reached the 14th floor and I scurried out of that enclosed space

giving myself some room to breathe. It surprised me how I was not at all scared

in the elevator when Jiang was by my side. For a person like me who fears

confined spaces, going into an elevator is like an adventure. We headed to his room,

and he asked me to sit on the couch and wait. The room was not very big, but it

was cozy. I looked around. “It is the smallest room in this

hotel” he scoffed. After the elevator incident, he is getting comfortable with me.

For me, it has become more awkward.

“Oh!” I spoke. He probably got it

on a low price.

He looked like an angel even when

he was packing his things. The golden yellow light from the table lamp was

reflecting beautifully on his perfect jawline. He stuffed everything into two

trolley bags, and we went down to check out of the hotel. By the time we came

out, Chen Chen was waiting for us in the taxi.

“How did you get here so fast?” I

jumped and grabbed his arm.

“How can I let my lady wait for

me?” he gave quick, bright smile and took the luggage from Jiang. We reached

home and I helped them to set up their place. It was 8:00pm and none of us had

the mood to cook.

“Why don’t we go celebrate our

meeting, staying together today? Let’s go to a restaurant” Chen Chen suggested

with excitement filled voice. Looks like, he’s happy to be with me here. He

looked like a child who was offered a free tour around the candy factory.

“Yeah. I don’t want to cook

tonight. Let’s go Jiang. We treat you today. Welcome to our little gang of two,

now three, like the three musketeers” I grabbed his hand and didn’t wait for

him to react to the situation. Chen Chen followed us. We went to the “Paradise

diner”.

“The sweet and sour ribs they

have here are the best in the entire country. I love them. Come on, let’s go.

Don’t be shy tonight. Eat as much as you want. Chen Chen will be paying the

bill” I tiptoed as I reached the food counter.

“Guess who!” I closed the cook’s

eyes and mimicked mickey mouse’s voice.

“Xiao Li don’t play around. There

are so many customers” she guessed it was me without any doubt.

“Qi aunty. How can you guess it

right all the time?” I removed my hands and she turned around to see me.

“Who gives me surprise from the

back other than you? Oh! Chen Chen is here too and who is this new kid?” her

eyes sparkled with joy.

“Qi aunty. Let me introduce you.

He is Jiang, my new friend. Whenever he comes here to eat, it’s on me.”

“Hello Qi aunty. I’m Zhao Jiang.

You can call me Jiang. Nice to meet you”

“Since there is a new kid,

today’s meal is on me.”

“No aunty. Chen Chen is paying

today.” I winked at her.

“Alright then, I would make you

the most expensive dishes tonight” she laughed along with me.

“No aunty, I will go broke at the

start of the semester. Please show mercy on me. You are the most beautiful and

kindest aunt, right? Please spare me today.” Chen Chen complained. We all

laughed together.

“Okay. Enough teasing. What do

you want to eat, kids? I will make it for you.”

“I want those delicious

sweet and sour ribs that you make” A beautiful night with the ones I hold dear.

That was the best moment of my chaotic and ghastly long life. I shouldn’t be

running away from it. I shouldn’t hide from my problems. Only by being with

them, I feel alive. Jiang is fighting and putting up a tough front to survive.

About Chen Chen, I don’t know what he will do if I go missing. Will he miss me?

I don’t know. I decided not to leave anymore seeing these two lovely boys by my

side.

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