Changing appearances (2)

Emma felt like a child caught with her hand in the cookie jar. "Err... Nothing," she mumbled, unable to look directly into Ying's eyes.

"Were you leaving?" he asked, his gaze flitting to her hand still resting on the door handle. She quickly retracted her hand.

"No!" Emma blurted out before thinking. Then realising that there was no point denying it, she crossed her arms, and raised her chin defiantly. "Ok, fine. Yes, I was leaving."

"I told you that I would be right back. I told you to wait," Ying said indignantly, leaning over Emma even further. He was a good head taller than her, and she had to crane her head backwards to keep his face in her sight.

"You were taking too long! I have things to do," Emma countered, knowing deep down that she was being the unreasonable one, which was ironic, considering Ying's weird behaviour until now.

Ying looked down at her with a mixture of amusement and exasperation, but his eyes were also sparkling with a hint of adoration.

"And I'm hungry!" Emma said defensively, ignoring her heart skipping a beat.

"I know," he said, raising a perfect eyebrow at her. "That's why I brought food," he said. He pulled her back towards the spacious living room.

Emma felt her jaw drop. Laid out on the floor was a veritable feast. There must have been at least twenty dishes, each one more delicious looking that the next. Emma felt her gaping mouth starting to water at all the deliciousness before her.

She turned back to Ying, staring at him in utter disbelief. "How did you..." She couldn't even finish the sentence.

Ying flashed her a wide grin, looking a bit smug at her stunned reaction. "You were hungry, so I got food," was all the answer he gave. Then he ushered her over to and pulled her down to the floor next to him. She was so distracted by all the delicious looking food that she didn't notice that as he scooted close to her, one arm placed behind her back, and even breathed in a deep whiff of her scent as she bent over the food, and began eating with gusto.

Ying didn't touch the food, but kept his eyes on her the entire time, a doting expression in his eyes.

Once she had eaten her fill, Emma leaned backwards against Ying, sighing in satisfaction. Closing her eyes, she rubbed her full stomach.

"Satisfied?" Ying asked, chuckling as he stroked a stray strand of hair away from her face

"Mmh," she mumbled. Then suddenly her eyes flew open, as she seemed to realise their close position. She sat up abruptly, moving some distance away from him.

Ying could only sigh mournfully.

Emma cleared her throat and pretended nothing had happened. She looked around for a change of subject, and her eyes landed on several bags arranged in the corner.

"What are those?" she asked perplexed.

"New garments," Ying commented.

Emma frowned, scrutinising the bags more closely. Unable to contain her curiosity, she crawled over to peer into the bags. She stared at them for several seconds, her face expressionless.

"Is it not enough? Or are they not good enough?" Ying asked anxiously, appearing at Emma's side in a flash of shadow.

Emma startled a bit as he appeared beside her. She looked at his face for another heartbeat, and then she couldn't hold it in any longer. She erupted into peals of laughter. Her laugh was clear and melodious, like the peals of silver bells or twittering birds.

Ying looked at her in utter confusion as Emma clutched her sides gasping for air. She grabbed the closest bag and emptied the contents onto the floor. Then the next and the next until she was surrounded by a large pile of jeans, sweaters, and T-shirts. Her laughter intensified, and she fell over laughing so hard that tears appeared in her eyes.

Ying couldn't stop a smile from spreading over his face. How long had it been since he had heard that wonderful melodic laugh? His heart suddenly tightened painfully, and the smile turned sad and melancholic. A single tear ran down his smooth cheek, before he brushed it away. He must not get too stuck in the past, but focus on the present, and more importantly the future. His eyes flashed with determination. No matter what it took, he would make sure that she gained her freedom.