Her Friend

Shao Lin crashed against someone. She screamed.

Long Xia screamed.

"My goodness, you scared me!" Long Xia complained.

"You scared me!" Shao Lin countered. She then took in the voice, the eyes, the hair…it was dark, but everything about her was still very much like her friend. "Xia…?"

Long Xia sketched a bow. "Long Xiatian at your service," she said. "But you can call me Long Xia or Xia. Anything will do!" she said with a polite smile.

"Your hair?"

"Oh, about that," she twirled a black lock around her finger. "I wear a wig sometimes, just so I don't have to be Long Xiatian, the fourth child and first daughter of Long Jie and Song Luli," she rambled on. "But outside these doors, I can just be myself with it."

Shao Lin's eyes widened, letting it register in her mind. She should have known. The relation, the blue eyes, and the remarkable winter night beauty she shared with Long Yat-sen. Xia was Long Xiatian and Long Yat-sen's younger sister.

Shao Lin then realized something and her smile faltered. "May I ask what happened…what am I doing here?"

Long Xia looked at her, pursing her lips. "Actually, I was just making breakfast. I'll tell you everything you need to know while you eat. But you must eat first."

Shao Lin's stomach growled at the thought. She nodded and let Long Xia guide her to the breakfast table.

She settled on a seat as Long Xia served her waffles, eggs, bacon, and some green grapes with orange juice as her drink. Shao Lin scarfed down her meal as Long Xia watched her with slight amusement.

She was hungry since she had eaten little in the last few weeks and even less in the last few days.

"You called my brother last night," Long Xia began to explain. Shao Lin gave her a surprised look as she let her continue. "You didn't say a word, so we went to check out your place, and we found you…"

Shao Lin recalled some fragments of memory from the night before. She discovered Zhong Bai was lying, hiding things from her. He then trapped her in her own bedroom. She remembered calling someone with a choked sob before her service was cut off, and the rest was a hazed blur.

Long Xia continued. "My brother brought you here to my apartment. He would have brought you to his, but he said you would be better in female company given…"

"Given a man had manipulated me and hurt me," Shao Lin replied.

Long Xia looked at her with sympathy. "That man was a jackass," she told her. "And you can stay here as long as you want, Lin. You don't ever have to go back. My brother and I will do everything we can to protect you."

"A lot of people want to 'protect' me," Shao Lin responded coldly. "And all I want are answers. Where is your brother?"

"He had to step out the entire day," Long Xia answered. "Would you like to see him later? He lives in the apartment above me. He can make time for you if you feel comfortable enough."

Warmth bloomed in her heart by how much Long Xia wanted to ensure her comfort. Shao Lin had been in such a stressful situation, and above all, with a man, she thought she knew. Not only did Zhong Bai break her trust again, but he also manipulated her, made her believe she was wrong to suspect him. He hurt her.

She wanted to see Long Yat-sen. He had come for her, but a part of her was afraid, not of him. Long Yat-sen was right to make Long Xia watch over her. He was right to give her space. That was what she needed right now, but she afraid that if she had asked him the same questions she had asked everyone else, that he, too, would refuse to give it to her. And she knew that it would break her.

"Not today," Shao Lin responded. "But sometime soon."

…

Shao Lin spent the next few days at Long Xia's apartment. She had not felt safe enough to go to work, but she felt safe enough to stay with her friend. She'd take some time to read, draw, and she used the apartment gym to work out.

She spent some time reflecting on how her life had nearly changed for the worst. How hard it is for her to trust anyone now. How difficult it will be to get into a relationship again. She thought she liked Zhong Bai, and now…nothing. She was happy to be free even when she was unsure if she should trust Long Xia and Long Yat-sen yet.

But she could not stop thinking about the details Long Xia had filled her in. Long Yat-sen had saved her. He took care of her, even going as far as leaving her, knowing that she would not be able to be around another man so soon after what had happened to her.

At that, Long Yat-sen seemed thoughtful.

…

"I shot him once in each arm," Long Xia explained to her casually over some afternoon tea. She then looked at her, "And before you start to feel guilty about it, don't. If I hadn't done what I did, he would have killed me, my brother, and most likely you."

Shao Lin frowned. "Is he dead?"

Long Xia shrugged. "Maybe."

Shao Lin thought Long Xia so absurd; she wanted to laugh. Long Xia had nearly killed someone and yet felt no empathy toward it. But to Shao Lin, Long Xia had kept her good company, acted as her friend, made her feel safe, and they'd watch movies together and stayed up nights talking.

"Do you know what Zhong Bai's motive was?"

Long Xia set her tea down over a small plate. She then tilted her head, wearing a small smile. "Would you like to see my brother now?" she asked.

Shao Lin thought about it. She nodded. "Yes, I would like to," she said, feeling ready.