7 The Boy

"Ahh, did you hear?" A middle-aged woman gushed to Madam Dan.

"No, I didn't. Something going on?" She replied with a hint of curiosity. Madam Dan was always one for new gossip as it always helped pass the time.

"That girl, Ren Dong. You know, the former betrothed of your son?"

"Eh," A hint of displeasure flashed across Madam Dan's face at the sound of that girl's name. "What about her?"

"Well, my neighbor saw her carrying a handsome youth on her back." Dan Lue's heart instantly dropped down to his stomach. 'Miss Ren Dong found someone new?'

"What? Really?" Madam Dan gaped in shock.

"Eh! It's true! You know Old Wu wouldn't lie."

Dan Lue didn't bother sticking around to hear more slander about Ren Dong. He was determined to find her and ask for the truth himself.

Frantically searching the village, he spotted her walking towards the direction of her house, holding a basket of laundry. 'She must have already heard the rumors.' "Miss Ren Dong!" He called out.

Ren Dong turned around to the sound of her voice. A flicker of happiness swelled Dan Lue's heart as he looked at the older woman. Even though their family's promise broke, Dan Lue still held feelings for her. However, when he thought about the fact she had a man waiting for her at her home, snuffing out his momentary joy. "Is it true!" Dan Lue demanded. 'Please don't it be true!'

"What's true?" Ren Ding questioned; however, her expression remained calm as she watched him heave slowly from his frantic search.

"That you brought home a man!" Dan Lue said again, panic lacing his voice as he pressed for her answer. "Is it true?"

"Well, technically, it's a man and his kid brother," Ren Dong corrected. "But yes, I have brought home a man."

'How can she be so nonchalant about this!' He couldn't understand why Ren Dong couldn't see his feelings for her. Couldn't she at least care a little bit for him? "I said I would marry you after I convinced Mother!" Dan Lue cried. "I don't care what they say; I'm keeping the promise between our families!"

"Hah," he heard Ren Dong give a tired sigh. "A-Lue, how many times do I have to tell you, you don't need to marry an old woman like me. You have your whole life ahead of you."

'But I want you in my life!'

"But it was a promise between our fathers!" Dan Lue wasn't sure why he kept bringing up this excuse, but he didn't know any way to keep the one he likes tethered to him.

Ever since he was born, everyone told him that Ren Dong would be his future wife. Though his mother was a bit disgruntled about the agreement, she couldn't do much to change the relationship between the two fathers.

Looking back, he couldn't figure out when he started to look at Ren Dong more than just an older sister. Perhaps it was after that time she had saved him from drowning in this river that he started to develop more feelings for her.

But then her father passed one winter. After that, their interactions with each other grew less and less. Until it was to the point, they didn't even see each other in the passing. However, even with the distance between each other, his feelings didn't change.

"Yes, and your family has already compensated me," Ren Dong calmly replied. "I very content with my life right now, so stop making it like as if I'm miserable."

"But-" He argued but then stopped himself. "Tell me this, Miss Ren Dong, do you." He paused before taking in a deep breathe. "Do you plan on marrying that man?"

He saw that Ren Don hesitated in her response. Could it be that there may be a chance for him?

"Well," she said slowly as her face began to glow red. "If our relationship develops enough for both of us to harbor feelings for one another, then yes," Ren Dong stated firmly. "Yes, I would gladly marry him if he will have me."

It can't be.

After all this time, did she feel nothing for him? "And if he doesn't?" Dan Lue whispered. "If he runs away from taking responsibility?"

There was another pause in her response before Ren Dong said, "Then I have no one to blame but myself for not seeing the signs," and with that, Ren Dong walked away from Dan Lue.

He couldn't even bring himself to call out after her, to tell her his feelings.

Because deep down, he knew he was just a coward.

Dan Lue didn't move from his spot for a long time, standing there in a daze.

"Ah! Boy, why are you standing there?"

"Oh, Auntie Wang," Dan Lue waved back in a daze. "Eh, its nothing."

"Eh," Auntie Wang nodded hesitantly. As if she didn't believe his words of reassurance. "You should go home. It's the lantern festival tonight, after all. Your mother is probably waiting for you to come home."

"Alright, farewell, Auntie," he waved as he plastered on a smile. 'How could I forget? Tonight is the lantern festival.'

Turning in the direction of his home, he strolled as he tried to sort out his feelings. He was sure that he loved Ren Dong. No, he was sure of his feelings towards her; however, why was it that he couldn't bring himself to do or say anything.

"Sigh, I am a coward," he sighed. He remembered when she first went to the lantern festival with Ren Dong. The two of them had followed Mister Ren into town to see all of the lanterns.

Dan Lue recalled that time fondly as he thought about how beautiful she looked like her face bathed in the soft light of the lanterns. Her eyes wide and bright and sparkled like stars.

'Does she remember that night as well?' Like an ember, this little thought had reignited his determination. Sharply turning around, Dan Lue quickly walked back towards the path that leads to Ren Dong's home.

'She must be home,' Dan Lue thought as he hastened his pace. 'Sure, she may have a man a home, but he must be just another one of her patients.' He smiled at the thought of inviting her out for the night.

Soon enough, a humble shack came into view. Dan Lue felt a slight pang of nostalgia as he recalled the days where he would come over to see Ren Dong and her father.

However, the shack looks different now. 'Since when did Miss Ren Dong expand her home?'

The lights in the house were dim, and there didn't seem to be much movement inside. Coming closer to the home, he couldn't hear a peep. 'Could it be that she is out?'

Walking over to the slightly open window, Dan Lue tried to peek through the cracks to see if anyone was there.

"Can I help you?" A bored voice drawled.

Jumping in shock and embarrassment, Dan Lue snapped his head over to the source of the voice.

A beautiful youth leaned against the doorway, looking at him with an impassive expression.

"I-I'm-" Dan Lue attempted to salvage his image in front of the boy but ultimately seemed to be failing in that task.

"A pervert?" The youth offered.

"What! No, I-" Dan Lue's ears began to grow hot as he struggled to find an excuse for his behavior.

"Just stop," the boy shook his head at him. "Tell me why you are here and why you are peeking inside the house like a peeping Tom."

"I-is Miss Ren Dong here? I'm looking for her."

"Hmm?" A crease developed between the sword eyebrows of the boy. "Big Sister Dong? Why are you looking for her?"

"Its the lantern festival tonight, I'd like to invite her to go with me," Dan Lue answered. "Is she here?"

"Oh, she left a few hours ago to go to the lantern festival," the boy answered a trace of pity on his face.

"B-by herself? That's crazy! What if-"

"No," the boy said, interrupting his crazed rant. "With my older brother."

The ground seemed to disappear under his feet. 'Miss Ren Dong left with that man.' The one that he loved for so many years chose a man that she has only known for a week! 'Why? What does he have that I don't? Where did our relationship go wrong?'

"Tough luck," the boy said bluntly and went back inside, closing the door.

Dan Lue slowly turned around and began to walk down the path in which he ran up, full of hope. 'Where did I go wrong?'

"Hey, buddy," a cocky voice called out to him. "What's got ya down?"

"Who's there? Show yourself!" Dan Lue shouted out. 'This path is so remote, who could be lurking around here?'

"Relax~" The voice drawled out. "No need to be so tense." A red-haired youth stepped out revealed himself to Dan Lue. "I think we have a common goal."

"And what is that."

"Getting back the girl we like."