A Month's Promise

"I'll do whatever to get you back…" Pei Nan kept thinking back to those words and then feeling like a fool. His words felt shallow now that he was lost on how to gain a woman's forgiveness. All he could do was silently follow her like a mute slave. Not a single word formed in his head.

Meanwhile, Old Man Wu was matching his pace with Yu Mei. He then got closer to her until they were only inches away. "Pssss…" He first got her attention. "So what's the story between you two?" He asked curiously.

She pursed her lips.

"It's a long story. But to make it short, it's because we are too different. Think of me as the farmer and he the bad apple. Bad apples get kicked." She explained.

He let out a sigh as if he understood the whole story.

***

The three of them finally set camp before the sun had set. Pei Nan was left to set up the two tents while Yu Mei and her master sat on an abandon log having dried fish and an apple each. Just enough food to last them the two days in the mountain. By tomorrow morning they would have reached the mid of the mountain, where the herbs her master needed were located.

Yu Mei didn't realize her eyes were fixed on Pei Nan the entire time until her master coughed loudly, grabbing her attention. "Aiya~" He sighed. "If you want to go talk to him, just go. I'm sure I'm not the only one who can't bear this uncomfortable atmosphere." He urged her. He had not been able to speak comfortably in front of Yu Mei this entire time. Especially since Prince Nan was right behind them. Not to mention having a prince follow them was even weirder for him. He would rather be convicted of murder than this.

"I don't want to talk to him." She quickly pinched a piece of the fish and put it into her mouth.

"Suit yourself." He said pretending not to care. To be honest, he did not care much about Prince Nan but his disciple….her being this quiet meant her mind was a mess. A mess filled with something or someone. And that someone he could only guess was Prince Nan.

Then he got up. "Poor his highness." He once again heaved a sigh. "He must not have eaten since morning. But what do I care….Ju Ming, I'm going to bed. Rest early." He bid her goodbye.

She watched as he went over to Pei Nan, spoke a few words and then entered his tent. She then looked at the dried fish in her hand and once again pouted her lips. "What do I care if he starves to death." She coldly mumbled to herself.

Damn it she thought. Her conscience was getting the best of her. She couldn't even take another bite without feeling a little bit guilty. She shook her head to the left and then the right. "Who cares about him. He came here on his own free will. It's not my fault if he starves to death."

The next thing she knew, she was standing in front of him. With one hand reached out, the fish was offered to him. But she did not look at him. "Here. I don't want to add a crime to my records by starving your highness." She 'offered' him.

"You still care about me….don't you?" He asked as he took the fish from her hand. His shocking statement made her turn.

"Your highness, do not get the wrong idea. I am only offering you food because I do not want to be marked as a murderer." She crossed her hands and squinted her eyes at him. "Why exactly are you here?" Before he could speak, she held her hand up to stop him. "On second thought, I do not wish to hear another one of your lies." She made a turn to leave.

Without a thought in mind he took a step forward and gripped her wrist and pulled her into his embrace. Yu Mei's body was a perfect fit inside his hard chest; her chin resting neatly on his shoulder.

"You know why I'm here. I am here to bring you back." He desperately spoke.

"I am no longer your woman. I've chosen to forget you the moment I left. I do not wish to return with you forever."

He shook his head, refusing her answer. "No…I do not believe you have erased me from your heart. Hit me…curse me…mock me…I don't care. But I refuse to let you forget me."

Yu Mei closed her eyes. "I have forgotten you the moment I asked for a divorce. Now it's your turn to forget. Your highness has thousands of women lined up ready to be at your side at any moment. Women who are hundreds times more beautiful, smart, and gifted. So why must you make me suffer?" Her words piercing his heart.

He let go of her.

Prince Nan stared at the emotionless woman in front of him.

"Was marrying me only to make you suffer? Only now did I realize how useless of a prince I am. I could not give you a shred of happiness…What can I do to give you happiness?"

Three words...

"Let me go."

He felt his heart stop. She really did forget him, he thought.

"I have not signed the divorce papers yet. Give me a month. A month to atone for my wrongs against you. I'll listen to your every word and command…" he paused as if contemplating his next words. "After that…I promise to sign the paper and never see you again." He vowed.

He swore he saw a shred of disappointment in her eyes.

"Fine. A month it is."

A long pause between to two.

The two of them, as if one soul looked up at the bright moon simultaneously. "The night is not young, I bid your highness good night." Yu Mei bowed and then turned to her tent.

***

Early next morning when Yu Mei opened her tent, she saw the pitiful sight of Prince Nan. He was leaning on a tree with his head leaned over to the right. A prince who probably has never slept in such a poor conditioned place…she started to feel bad for him. Just as her heart was softening to him, he awoke. And their eyes met.

*Swoosh*

Within half a second, Yu Mei cowardly hid back in her tent and closed the tent flap. Her cheeks began to heat. Did he see? She asked herself. How embarrassing! Yu Mei hit the ground a few times out of shame. What would he think? To think she was doing so good last night of giving him the cold shoulder and forgetting him. His pitiful state just now…she had lost herself for a second and she hated herself for it. Deep down somewhere in that broken heart of hers, she still had a soft spot for him.