Li Wei made her way through the shaking shadows on the stone paths. The summer night was not cold, but there was a chill along her arms. She hugged herself closer and hurried along until she saw a familiar figure with his arms outreached.
"Feeling cold?" Khan Bojing smiled as warmly as ever. "Come to me."
Light laughter followed her steps as she ran toward him. "Yebai!"
Khan Bojing caught her, wrapped her in his warm fur cloak, then twirled her around as if they were old lovers reuniting after a long period of separation. "Feeling better?"
"En, a hundred, no, a thousand times better!" She snuggled deep into his embrace, wrapping her arms around his neck. "Your embrace is the warmest place on earth."
"Then come here more often, it belongs only to you after all," he whispered.
"Khan Bojing, you're the best. You're just so good, so wonderful to me," Li Wei suddenly felt like tearing up, her emotions going up and down. Regrets suddenly rushed like waves at her. Tears dropped down her cheeks. "I should've treated you better. I want to take back, to erase everything painful I've inflicted on you..."
Surprised by the sudden change in emotions, Khan Bojing hurriedly wiped her tears so none dropped to the ground. He led her to a nearby bench, pulling her onto his lap. He gently caressed her head, "Silly, what are you thinking about again? You've never hurt me, don't worry."
"No, I..." Li Wei paused before being hit with another wave of emotions. "Y-you just don't know, I was so mean to you!"
"Alright, here," Khan Bojing took off the bag hung on his waist. "Would this make you feel any better?"
Through her teary eyes and the lanterns hanging on the walls, Li Wei was able to see the contents inside the bag, instantly bringing relief to her. Dried mangoes!
Khan Bojing broke into laughter, seeing his little wife changed back to being cheerful. He fed a piece to her mouth, which she quickly finished. In the soothing sounds of the cicadas and crickets, he patiently fed her until the dried mango slices were gone.
"Oh no..." Li Wei realized.
"Hmm?"
She felt like tears were back on the brims of her eyes again. "There were so many, and I didn't even give one to you..."
"Silly, I got it just for you." Khan Bojing wiped the corners of her lips. "Now, don't cry anymore, okay?"
Li Wei nodded obediently. Her gaze met his comforting eyes, feeling like she was being carefully protected under a blanket of nothing but warmth. Her gaze wandered from his eyes to his nose, and then lower to his lips where they stayed.
"What are you going to do next?" He asked teasingly.
Without answering, she pulled on his neck and he gladly lowered himself. Their lips were just about to meet when a voice came through.
"Li Wei!" Aunt Rin came sprinting from behind. "Did he leave already?"
"A-aunt Rin," Li Wei stuttered, jumping off of Khan Bojing. Clearing her throat she asked, "Who are you looking for?"
"Where's Hao Tian--" Li Fahrin paused, "Where's the High Priest?"
Li Wei, although confused, replied, "He has left already."
"No, I don't believe it." Aunt Rin rushed past Li Wei into the dark path ahead. "Not this time again."
Li Wei could only shout worriedly from behind, "Aunt Rin, be careful!"
Li Fahrin's quickened footsteps soon turned into a full run. The shadows of trees were a blur in her vision. She could not see the path she ran on, but none of it was of importance. The chilly wind blew her hair back, tears pooled in her eyes.
No, she refused to let him go again.
In her youth, she paved her way through life with all the fibers in her being. Li Fahrin had always been a fighter for her own destiny. She fought her way into the business world where women were mistreated and marginalized. She rose to fame and wealth, standing stably by herself. The goals she set were accomplished one by one, all except him.
Once in her lifetime, she met a man whose name engraved onto her heart so deeply she was incapable of removing it. The sounds of cicadas and summer heat still felt like it was just yesterday when she met a youth sweeping the willow leaves off the yard under the temple. He was like no other she had seen whether it was the way he carried himself, the way spoke, the way he cared for others, or the way he so gently tended to every plants in the temple. Everything about him were all instilled into her mind until today.
Among all others, he alone seemed otherworldly, taking his time to complete each task with simple happiness and contentment. He seemed almost unreachable, too pure to be touched.
The temple visits she first dreaded started filling with anticipation. Being close to him was the best feeling. From watching him smile to slowly becoming a reflection in his eyes, these were the highlights of her youth.
Yet, they came to naught in the end.
Between them, it'd always been a fool's unfaltering love. He was her world, he was the sole being in her eyes, yet they met with the wrong timing. Or rather, the wrong identities.
"Hao Tian, will you travel the world with me?" She bravely asked one day.
"Ah'Rin... I can't promise you," he whispered quietly. He was to love the whole world, but no one in particular...
Angered by his rejection, the fiery her declared to never see him again, even forbidding him to show himself in front of her. The very next day, she left without a farewell. All these years, he really kept her words, keeping himself hidden from her gaze. She'd hear about his whereabouts here and there, but never saw the man himself.
"Hao Tian!" Li Fahrin's heart dropped the further she ran, stopping abruptly after shooting out of the gate and seeing no figure in sight. "Hao Tian, you jerk! You're sure good at hiding!"
The tears she had been holding back finally dropped. Her heart softened tremendously, letting go of all of her pride. Her lips trembled, and very much unlike herself, her voice broke when it came out, "I dare you to show yourself, Hao Tian... Please, I'm begging you."
There was no response, no movement. The trees were as still as ever, the winds as cold as ever. Li Fahrin sat on the ground, slumping into a ball of a mess.
Amongst the willow trees, hidden within the shadows, was a man. His gaze lingered on the woman in the distance, the usually calmness in his eyes shook. He tore his eyes away and turned his feet in the opposite direction.
Farewell, Ah'Rin.
In this lifetime, you were always meant to soar among the clouds, shining, and I, simply an admirer from afar.