37 Who are you? (II)

She wasn't deaf. It was vivid. Every letter, two words. She heard them. Yes, she wasn't wrong nor was she hallucinating. Her feet had ceased moving, grounded on the solid floor telling her that she wasn't dreaming. Few more steps and she would reach the elevator, with a push on the round button, soon she would leave this place. Yet, no matter how she tried, her entire being wanted to stay.

Who? Who in this world had called her name from the past? Who had called her Fu Ya? Who?

"Fu Ya." She heard it again, now right to her ears.

"Don't leave me." A man. It was a man's voice.

"Stay." Two hands were pulling her to an embrace. There was a familiar scent as his hand tightened around her small frame. Overcoming the fear in her heart, she looked up and was slightly shocked upon knowing who he was. Slightly, because the moment he hugged her, she already guessed his identity.

Wu Zhaoyi.

Yes, Wu Zhaoyi.

"How?" She had more questions to ask but couldn't. Her eyes were purely curiosity and fear.

Seeing the fear in her eyes Wu Zhaoyi flinched and tightened his embrace even more. "Promise me that you will not leave me." He pleaded. He understood the fear in her eyes but he was afraid that she would leave if he released her now.

Fu Yixiao weakly nodded. She had no other options. The man knew her. Her past and her present life. Who is he? She wanted to know. No matter what. She needed to know.

Seeing her response, Wu Zhaoyi loosened his hand and swiftly held her right hand, in fear that she would leave. He walked her to the sofa and ushered her to sit. Then, he positioned himself in front of her, crouching while holding both of her hand.

"I don't know where to start. I have a lot to say to you." He said, feeling the reality by squeezing her hand.

"Tu Island is a training ground aim to produce a top notched expert in City Z. It was also a free land where dangers lurked everywhere." He looked at her, tracing the emotions on her face. But she was staring at him with a blank expression on her face.

Was she still in shocked? Definitely. And those blank expression? Wu Zhaoyi was without a clue and helpless for he knew she was waiting for his explanation.

"Your grandmother was the owner of Tu Island." He was hesitant to tell her this. It was too early for her.

"I believed the threat you received was from her. Lu Xinya was another child she brought on that island, earlier than you, and you two were once a training partner." He intertwined his fingers with hers, kissing them lovingly. It was hard to explain everything, but he had no choice. Things were different now, she needed to know.

"There was an underground organization on Tu Island called the Wuming corp. One that shouldn't be provoked and Fu Yixiao had obtained an intel of them planning massive destruction. Who, when or why. I wasn't one in the knowledge. She was the only one who knew about it." His voice was unsteady, for the burden was great. Again, he looked at her. The same expression was still on her face, except for her eyes, they were eager. Eager to know more.

"Have you ever experienced deja-vu where memories suddenly come to you when you do something or touch something?" He asked. He wanted to hear her voice. Silence could kill him but she was his revival.

Wu Zhaoyi was awaiting her response only to watch her slightly shook her head.

"I have. When we met the first time." He couldn't help but smile. Her voice was an assurance that she was listening and hopefully learning to accept the truth.

"Then, my prediction was correct. Your memory is sealed. I believe when the time is right, you will know the answer to all of your questions. No...our questions." He corrected because he too wasn't entirely sure of the whole story. He was only here because of his strong desire to protect her.

"Fu Ya, your reincarnation was related to Fu Yixiao. Probably planned by her. How she did it, I had no idea nor clue." That was the last thing he could tell her. Now, it was time for her to made her decision. Whether to run away or to face reality. He didn't mind for he would always be there, being her shield. For that was his purpose to live again and again.

Shaking their intertwined hands, he peeked on her face and noticed a change in her expression. He presumed it was anger but he felt no animosity coming from her. He shifted his gaze, looking way up and saw her eyes beamed in curiosity.

Right away, he wanted to laugh at the thought he had earlier.

.

.

"Who are you?" Fu Yixiao pulled her arm from Wu Zhaoyi's and slowly reached for the mask on his face. She paused and run her fingers through the mask, feeling the obscure details carved on it.

What he told her was shocking. No, it was absurd. But, it made sense. Everything finally dawned to her about the life she had experienced so far. There were times she wanted to stop him from embellishing his story but there were no words that came out from her mouth.

Her feeling was... complicated. She knew she could forget everything and find another way of living. But that was a cowardice act and she wasn't a coward. Not in the past and not in this present life she was living. If Fu Yixiao had chosen her, then she must have her reason. So, her option? Wait and act accordingly.

Besides, there was no guarantee that she would be safe pretending to be ignorant.

Now, her concerned was more toward the man in front of her. He sounded like he knew her from the past but was it as simple as knowing her? Or was there a bigger explanation that he had been hiding from her.

The critical point was he knew both Fu Yixiao and Fu Ya's life. Something that should be impossible. But impossible was nothing to her after listening to his explanation earlier. Perhaps, the impossible was the most logical answer. One that she must have right now.

She continued caressing his mask letting its rough surface pricked her skin softly. She waited for him to stop her, but he didn't. Then, she proceeded, separated him from the mask. The truth would soon be revealed to her. Who is he?

And like a spell, she shed her tears.

She knew him.