Doomed House

"Life is a perilous journey where people fight for their dreams, for their breaths, for their money..or their families...

For these, they plunge in unknown seas, they clung to straws as hard as they can..and they pushed themselves further without taking into consideration the price they will pay for it.... it's so mysterious to me... why?!

Regardless of the unknown ends they might meet, they still fall into the abyss...they throw themselves into danger because of something they call "mine" ...or "my."

One may wonder, Why do people go this far for their lives? ... Why do people become more unhuman just because they have something to achieve in their lives?...why do they throw other people into the chaos they created with their hands? .. why do they push people to pay for debts they never owe others?!! ..they are all questions popping up to my mind... until...!!!!

I understood later that "when the unavoidable loss arrives, rapping gently upon our life's gate,The descent is harsh, the sorrow sharp, A deep sting that resonates within" ... This is something that pops up in these people's minds.. so the only way to save themselves is to throw this burden on someone else's back! This might lessen the fall for them... They might feel a sense of satisfaction... and sense of resilience!

Do you think these people are evil? Do you think the other people who will take the fall for them are stupid? Kind? Or have no desire to fight for their own lives?..

I let you think of an answer to this question... Take a deep breath..feel your life... and make up your mind: which category of people would you like to be? " ...---end---

At the end of this line... A profound sigh comes out of a girl sitting on a sofa in a large balcony of a big mansion. She closes a book she was reading and looks deep from the balcony... The balcony was facing a large green space with large, tall trees and a growing green grass where horses were grazing... Some servants were all around, doing their work..

The girl took a sip from her white cup of tea... And smiles to connote her appreciation of the tea..or maybe her appreciation for that landscape...!!

She was wearing a creamy sweater as the breeze was somehow cold..or cooler..

The cup of tea is quickly returned to the small white table... And the girl took another deep breath...

At this moment, a servant came into the balcony. The servant was very young, with a small, beautiful face: "My lady! You're awake?! Why didn't you call me to prepare your tea?" At this moment, she gazes at the cup of tea on the table.. and she gets annoyed... "have you already prepared it yourself, my lady?" She asked, raising her voice!! "You are also a lady in this mansion, so you have the right to be served like other ladies here!!" She adds.

The girl did not reply.. Only a small or a very tiny smile appeared on her small, strawberry-like lips ...

The servant sighed: "You wouldn't care even if I said this one hundred times, my lady.. isn't it!! Ah, what shall I do with you!!!

The small smile became a bit wider.. as the girl's well aligned white teeth slightly appeared...

The servant arranged the tea cup and asked whether the lady needed something...

The girl shakes her head as she doesn't want anything!!

Before the servant left, the lady girl murmured some words: "Sheila, thank you for taking care of me... But remember, we are just guests here." The girl keeps silent for a small period of time and then adds, "This cool weather will change soon... And all I want is to keep myself as comfortable as possible.. Storms are hard to face.. it's so annoying.."

The girl turns towards her servant, smiling at her... The lady was a real beauty.. Her small face, white, shiny skin, well-drawn eyebrows, long eyelashes, and wide eyes... Her small nose, which centres her face, and her shiny strawberry lips ...made her face seem like one of the Fantasyland princesses... Her black hair shines when some strands of it meet the bright sun in the eastern sky... She has that kind vibe of fairytale princesses... As she smiles... You feel like your life is smiling at you..

The servant looks at her: " I would like to see this smile first thing in the morning, my lady... it makes my heart race." she laughed at what she said..

The girl says: we agreed that you would call me by my name when we are alone, isn't it? Why are you calling me my lady now?

The servant replied hastily: "Oh, I'm sorry.. That has become a habit since we came to your grandfather's house... Xian Mei"

Mei laughed as the servant told her name: " My grandfather will get angry if he hears you calling me like that! He hates the meaning, hehe: the dangerous beauty"

The servant smiled and said: Ah, yeah, I'm sorry, " Xiao Mei" I used to call you with that name when we ...!!" she stopped talking for a moment. "Anyways, I need to go.. Do you need me to prepare your bath? "

Xiao Mei refused..as she likes doing her things by herself..Sheila knows that very well, but she asks out of courtesy...

Before she leaves, she asks Xiao Mei to not arrive late to the breakfast, her uncle and aunt won't let her go easily this time..

Mei smiled at her, as she knew that already...

After Sheila leaves.. Mei goes to bed ..and carries on her sleep...

At 8.30, the alarm rings, ..and Mei quickly snoozes it... She slowly gets up, slowly takes a bath, wears her horse-riding outfit.. and comes out of her room... As she reached the stairs, she started walking fast and then running...

She goes into the living-room, where everyone were waiting for her...

"I'm sorry I woke up early this time, but I didn't have enough sleep last night because of the nightmares, ..so I went back to sleep!! I apologise, grandpa!!!" She bows to him respectfully..

On the table, her family was sitting..namely, her aunt" Dei li", her uncle " Han Li" and his wife " Da Rina", and his two daughters: one at the same age of Mei " Rilla" and the younger one " Ha Nia". The uncle also has a firstborn child, "Jian Li," who is studying abroad. He is one year older than Rilla and Mei.

The aunty had an upside down look at Mei and said: "your grandpa is not the only one who is waiting for you! You know?! We are all here, waiting for you!! Shouldn't you apologise to us too?!"

The words were harsh on Mei, even Sheila who was standing there, was annoyed.. because apologising in this doomed family goes to the older person only..that's what the aunty taught her when she first came to this house, but she couldn't do anything for her. She is now a mere servant..

Mei calmly turned to them and apologised to them: " I apologise!! I overslept.. and to punish myself, I am going out without having breakfast."... and then she intends to leave..but Rilla worriedly says: " sista, don't do that to yourself..you will be thinner..you should take care of yourself, sister!" ..she stopped for a while and then stood up: "Ah, I apologise! I shouldn't have spoken while old people spoke..I apologise; I spoke out of my worry about my sister's health!"

The aunty spoke gently to Rilla "Girls should be as kind, and educated as you, my darling... She deserves it. This is what happens when you have no one to educate you!!

These words were heavy on the ears of Sheila, ... and could barely control her anger.. but she reminds herself of Mei's words: "Remember!! We are just mere gusts here!" So she really had a hard time trying to control her anger.. Mei's parents were dead long ago, as she was told when she was four years old...and this is why..she had none to take care of her...

In this moment, Mei turns to her aunty and has that kind ..poor smile on her face..a smile that bears a lot..but can't outspeak anything.. a smile that many people read it as a weakness.. it is a smile that weak people who can't do anything to save themselves.. a smile of a poor... A smile of inability... A smile that makes you feel sorry for that person...

Her smile shortly disappeared while Mei murmured some words: " In a society where material wealth determines one's rights, the tears of the poor are considered an ugly sin.

The laugh of the beggar is a violation of the silent rule, as opulence claims everything in its unrelenting pursuit.Yet, amidst this claim to every earthly delight, Lies the one thing money can't ignite— The rich may grasp at all within sight, But the flame of morals remains ever so slight."

Everyone was asking about what she said....Mei's smile then reappears...and bows to everyone. " I mean, I rely on you to educate me in the future, my dear aunty...you are my only family now..as a sister of my late father... You're my family." Sheila's anger was dissolved as Mei's answer were uttered, and the aunty got annoyed...yet the grandfather quickly gave her permission to leave!!

Mei leaves with that mysterious smile on her face... leaving others to boil in anger..or question Mei's character...

A kind face, ... a kind smile, and a weird name...this opposing characters make anyone wonder what kind of person Xian Mei is... and which face of hers is real? The outspoken or the inspoken one.

Before she leaves, the grandfather finally says: "don't be late this afternoon.. Come back before the sun sets..we have important guests who are visiting...they are people to whom we owe many things..so I do not want to show them any of our family's shaming facts!! Have you all understood.."!!

The grandfather is very dominant, seeing that none of his children or grandchildren were able to lift a gaze at him when speaking... his words are decrees that none should overstep...

This doomed house is a prison emprisoning people's freedom? Or the past dictates this step—that even Aunty couldn't speak up!!!

The guests coming are they part of the past? Or the future!!

Before sunset, nothing is clear!!

<<<<<<<<<<<< To be continued<<<<<<