20 Don't They Look Alike?

It was already 4 p.m. when the pictorial was finished.

After work, Cheng Jian, Cheng Jia, and Shuyang were sent home by Luwei. The gentleman asked the three if they'd want to grab something to eat but maybe because of exhaustion, the two ladies refused the offer. Shuyang being his mother's baby, just went along with whatever his mother wants.

As they arrived in front of the building where they lived, Luwei asked Cheng Jia if she could have a word with him. Being a protective son, Shuyang eyed his Papa suspiciously, which did not escape from the gentleman's eyes.

"Seriously, Shuyang. You are giving me that look?" he snapped at the little one.

He was just answered with a shrugged by Shuyang. Both women, Cheng Jia and Jian laughed at the father and son interaction. With Shuyang around, Luwei's day would always turn out to be amusing.

In conclusion, Shuyang and Cheng Jian headed first. When they can't see the two anymore, the expression of the two people who are left turned serious.

'What is it that you want Luwei? Is this about the fiance' thing?' Cheng Jia asked, inwardly.

The man sought for Cheng Jia's gaze but the lady folded her arms and tried to avoid Luwei's eyes by looking left and right while swaying her body a bit.

He snickered, "Just because you can avoid my gaze, doesn't mean you can avoid what I want to say. Jiajia..."

He was not able to finish what he was about to say when Cheng Jia holds a hand to his face and faced him.

"Don't!" she said, "Please, don't say anything about it," thinking about him blurting out as her being his fiance' in front of her bosses.

Luwei gently put her hand away from his face and pulled Cheng Jia in an embrace, which surprised her. She gasped for air as her eyes widened, "W-what..." is the only thing she mustered.

Stroking her back as he leaned his chin on her shoulder, he said in a soft voice with eyes closed, "Just let me be, now. Just for today, console my broken heart. After this, I promise I will be your big brother again."

Cheng Jia blinked, confusedly, "O-okay," she said lifting a hand and patted Luwei's back.

'Broken heart?' she asked herself.

'It pains me to see you looking at somebody with longing in your eyes,' Luwei thought.

They stayed just like that for a moment, not uttering a word but with just their beating heart consoling each other, one for confusion, the other for pain. Then, the moment they pulled back from each other, they just stared at each other momentarily until Luwei spoke, "Remember that I am always here whatever you do in your life. I cannot protect you as your lover but I can always be your brother and your son's father as long as you needed one."

Not saying a word, Cheng Jia just nodded. There is nothing she can say any more since it is an unrequited love after all. Luwei is a good man, probably the best one she met but she cannot deceive her heart.

Both of them knew that the void inside her heart is not for Luwei to occupy.

Cheng Jia always felt awkward every time Luwei expresses his feelings for she felt guilty for not being able to repay his kindness to her. She sighed looking at him, "Can I head inside, now?" she asked politely.

When she saw him nod, she turned her back to him right away and started walking. Yet, after a few steps, Luwei called her name so she stops without turning back. Since she heard nothing from him, she continued walking inside the building.

'Cheng Jia, don't you think they look alike?' Luwei thought.

Inside the apartment, both mother and son are sitting on the sofa, watching TV. While looking at the screen, Cheng Jia's mind wandered at Luwei.

'What is wrong with Luwei, suddenly?' she asked not noticing Shuyang's question.

"Mommy? Are you listening to me?" After not receiving a reply from his mother, Shuyang waved his hand in front of Cheng Jia's face to get her attention, "Mommy!" he called his mother again.

Cheng Jia blinked several times as she got back to her senses.

"Oh! I'm sorry, baby. I think I was lost a little bit," she said to her son while the little one frowned in disappointment.

Seeing her son's reaction, he reached her hand out to his face and touched it as if it is the most precious gem. Suddenly, she felt the urge to cry.

'Why am I so emotional, nowadays?'

This always happens. She is happy but she cannot explain why her heart feels complicated every time she sees Shuyang's face. It has always been like this since the little one grew up. At the back of the joy she feels when she is with her son, pain is lurking in the dark. This confused her for she doesn't know what is wrong with her.

Cheng Jia felt her son's warm hand touching her face as it wiped the tear that formed at the edge of her eyes.

"Mommy, you are doing it again."

The mother retracted from her son's touch and wiped her eyes as she smiled foolishly, "Something got into my eyes. I'm sorry," she lied.

"Mommy..." was all that Shuyang can say since he cannot verbalize the question he has in mind, afraid that he would inflict pain to his mother.

'Mommy, why do you always look at me with longing in your eyes?' he asked in silence while looking at the woman beside him.

At times Shuyang hopes that she is stupid to notice her mother's emotions. Being smart, for him, is a pain in the ass because he can decipher his mother's feelings, just like how he can see that she is in pain every time she stares at him.

Cheng Jia smiled at him trying to reassure him that she is fine.

She held Shuyang's cheeks with her hands and looked at him straight in his eyes, "Look, are you worried you make mommy sad?" she batted her lashes, acting cutesy as she spoke, "Is this how sadness looks like?"

Shuyang giggled and answered despite his cheeks being squished by his mother, "No, mommy."

She scanned for a sign of weariness from the little one's eyes and felt relieved when she can't find any. Then, Cheng Jia let go of her son's face and wrapped him in an embrace, gently stroking his hair while leaning her head on him, lightly.

"You grew up so fast, mommy wondered how you'll look like when you grew up more," she muttered in her motherly voice.

'You will surely grow handsome like your father' her mind answered as she closed her eyes when she kissed her son's temple.

Shuyang's short hands embraced Cheng Jia back to console her wary heart, "Don't worry, mommy. I will not leave you even if I grew up as the most handsome guy in the world."

She pulled back from Shuyang's embrace and beamed at the latter's smug look. The little one shrugged his shoulder, "Aren't you just afraid that I will be taken away from you by other girls, mommy? It's you and daddy's fault for giving me such a handsome face," he accused her.

Cheng Jia burst into laughter, "Yeah! Yeah! It is our fault," she scrunched her nose, "But honestly, baby. Who taught you to be boastful? Remember," she put a finger in front of her son to emphasize a point, "Blessed people should always be humble. Do you understand?"

Understanding completely, Shuyang nodded with a smile while Cheng Jia smiled back at him. He didn't mean to boast, he only wants to make her mommy happy, and he's glad to see his mother's brightened face.

"Oh, right! What was that you are asking me a while ago?"

Seeing her mother's happy face, Shuyang shook his head, "Nothing, mommy."

She frowned, "Are you sure it is nothing, baby?"

The little one nodded, "Yes, mommy. I just want to see you happy like this."

"Oh, baby. Sometimes you make me feel like you have matured so much already. Please, stay as my baby, baby."

"If that's what mommy wants," he grinned.

"I love you, baby," she said enveloping Shuyang in a hug again.

"I love you too, mommy."

On the other side of the city, someone is trying to put himself to sleep.

'Should I? Or Should I not?'