I Deserve A Second Chance

When Shao Yan got into the car, her phone started to ring. She peeked at the caller ID and let out a gentle smile, before she closed the car door.

"Yan Yan," his soothing voice caressed her ears, "I just saw your text, are you driving home now?"

Shao Yan leaned back on her seat, and her eyes skimmed outside of her car window; while looking at the sky bridge in front of her. From afar, she could also see the famous iconic building of the city, the Oriental Pearl TV Tower.

This view had never stopped to mesmerize her. While enjoying the night view, Shao Yan started to say, "Not yet, I just got into my car now. Where are you?"

Li Xiqing was walking somewhere, as she could hear the sound of his footsteps echoed on the other side of the phone.

"We are just done too, I'm about to go home now. But then I'm craving some Japanese skewers. Shall we meet at the Yakitori place we went to last time?"

"You want to eat again?" Shao Yan burst out in laughter, "What did you have for dinner?"

Li Xiqing laughed along with her as he pressed on the elevator button to go down, and Shao Yan could also hear the 'ding' sound.

"Well, I had some noodles, but we ate in a hurry because of the conference call, so I'm still hungry now."

Shao Yan felt warm currents waved through her heart. She pursed her lips as she felt amused at his attitude.

This man had never been shy in showing his feelings to her. And lately, she noticed that he was not shy in acting cute or acting spoiled in front of her. Shao Yan tried to think of the traffic and ways to get there.

"Hmm, alright, let's eat some Yakitori then. It should take me about thirty minutes to get there," she pulled her seatbelt, and started to buckle it.

Li Xiqing was waiting for the elevator. One hand was holding the phone to his ear, and the other hand was inside his pants pocket, "Alright, be careful okay? I'll see you soon."

.....

When Feifei got into her car, and before she buckled her seatbelt, she took out her phone and quickly dialed a number.

"Zhong Zhong! What are you doing?" Feifei crisp and childish voice echoed inside the car.

"What is it, Feifei?" Zhong Yu calmly said over the phone, "I've replied to your message, haven't I?" A tinge of tiredness could be heard from his voice as he sighed.

Feifei pouted, and started to sulk, "Zhong Zhong, be nice! I'm here to bring news to you!"

On the other side of the phone, Zhong Yu took off his reading glasses, and leaned back to his chair. He had been working longer hours the past few months, trying to keep himself busy and occupied as much as he could so that he would stop thinking about a woman.

He tilted his neck downward and with one hand, he began to massage his tensed muscle and waited for Feifei to continue.

"You have been rejecting my invite to the grand opening party for my cake shop," Feifei started with a sulk.

Zhong Yu felt a headache was coming. He was very aware of Feifei's feelings towards him. He knew that Feifei had always cared and loved him. He was actually surprised that she was still feeling the same way after all these years.

The way she looked at him. The way she would always steal glances at his direction. The way she would stutter when they talked. He was aware of all that.

But his mental aptitude right now, he was not able to accept any feelings from anyone; not while he was still drowning in one-sided love.

"Feifei, I-"

She cut him off right away, "I'm not finished yet," an irritated huff was heard from the other side of the phone, Zhong Yu just patiently waited for her to continue again.

"What I wanted to say, Shao Yan had promised me that she will come to the party," and then she paused.

Feifei counted in her heart. What she wanted to say next would make or break them apart. But she was tired of waiting, and something had to be done.

A moment later, she said, "Zhong Zhong, I know how you feel about Xiao Yan. I have always known. So, at the party, I hope you can come and settle everything that is still left in your heart. I want you to move on."

Feifei started to say what she wanted to say without giving Zhong Yu any chance to reply to her.

She quickly continued, "Say what you want to say, and then you can close that chapter in your heart, and then let me care for you, don't reject me anymore. That's all I wanted to say. Don't stay up too late. Good night!"

And then Feifei hung up the call.

.....

For a moment, all she could do was to stare at the mobile phone in her hands.

Feifei could see her trembling hands clutching onto the phone so tight, all of her knuckles turned pale.

She threw the phone to the passenger seat, and then with both hands, she hugged the steering wheel, and leaned her forehead on it.

"Feifei ah Feifei," she started to talk to herself, "why are you so stupid."

She heaved a long sigh, "There are so many men in this world, and yet you have to set your heart to this heartless man."

And then she let out a bitter laugh.

She felt so tired, both mentally and physically.

Without realizing, she saw droplets of tears started to fall onto her lap. Feifei had started to cry without even realizing it.

'Falling in love is sweet, they said. Falling in love is comforting, they said. What bullshit. They are all lies,' she thought to herself as she cried her soul out in the middle of a parking garage in the downtown area; surrounded by the sky lights.

.....

Zhong Yu was also staring at his phone after Feifei hung up the call. His mind jumbled as many thoughts started to fly all over his brain.

He slouched down the chair to position his head to lean back just right on the head of the chair.

And the memories of their university days started to come back.