Kai and Teanguan were whispering softly to each other,
their heads close, their words concealed.....
yet their movements were carefully watched
by Wee and Lamai from across the hall.
Lamai had already told Wee not to approach her brother,
not to let her emotions drive her feet toward him.
But still.....
something stirred inside Wee,
a thought, a desire,
something she could no longer share with Lamai.
Dinner ended.
Kai and Teanguan slipped away quietly,
their departure unnoticed by most.
The others paid them no mind.....But Wee's eyes...they followed.
That face.
Those eyes.
The very same she had seen that night in the shadows...And as the two passed by,
her chest tightened,
her mind spun.
The storm within her...once calm...
now rose with fury.
Why?
Why did she want to see that face again,
so close,.....so unbearably close....
as though her very heart was granting her permission,....but her mind held her back.
Moments later,
Wee and Lamai also rose from their seats,
ready to return....The night had already descended,....and it was time to rest.
Wee told Lamai softly,
"Go back to the room.
I want to sleep now."
Lamai agreed,
nodding, smiling,...bidding farewell to the others...But deep inside,
she knew.
She knew that Wee wanted to speak of Lu.
It was written in the unease of her steps.....And so.....after walking a short distance,...she finally turned,
her voice calm yet probing,
"Wee… did you know?
That Brother Lu would be here?"
Wee's head lowered.
Her lips parted slightly.
She shook her head,
slow, reluctant.
And after a silence that felt heavy,
she answered,
her words stumbling as though tangled in her own heartstrings:
"Lamai…
You know, don't you?
That there are many things about Brother
that he never tells us....But there is one thing I can say.....with absolute certainty.....
he must be here for a reason,
for something important.
And… it is a good thing, isn't it?
That he has a girlfriend now?
I'm… happy for him.
But…"
Her voice faltered.
The words died in her throat.....Because her mind had already accepted it....
that the girl at his side was his lover.
Luneth was never the kind of man
to keep anyone near him without reason.
Yet her heart....
her heart could not bear the weight.
The very same girl, Kai....
the one whose gaze had stolen her peace,
whose eyes had struck her to the core....
was now her brother's beloved.
Lamai's voice broke the silence.
"But what?"
Wee inhaled sharply.
And then....
she turned the words aside,
burying her emotions beneath a fragile mask.
"We should stay away from his business, Lamai.
He must be here for some mission.
And besides… Brother always warned me
that his work is filled with danger.
So it's better if I keep my distance."
Lamai nodded.
Wee's reasoning felt right.
She could not deny it...And yet…
even as her words seemed calm,
a strange lightning bolt had struck Wee inside.
Her face fell,
her heart weighed down,
though she herself could not understand why.
Perhaps....
just perhaps ....
the reason was Kai.