THE GUITAR HE WANTS

"So you are watching Chaoxiang too?"

Qianfang asked the woman who is now sitting beside him. The woman just nodded, feeling embarrassed of the fact that despite Chaoxiang's disgust for her, she is still loving him unconditionally. Being in front of the television watching Chaoxiang's guesting is a complete trauma for her. Her memory about last night still remains so vivid.

Qianfang gave his car a full stop last night after seeing Meixiu fell down on the road. He got down and saw her fainted. He brought her home and she stayed in his house throughout the night.

"I am his fan."

"Me too. Have you seen him in person?", he asked.

"I am attending his concerts with a friend. I can invite you next time."

"Oh that's great. Now I have a concert buddy. Isn't he so sweet with his fans?"

Meixiu focused on the man talking from Qianfang's television. Her husband is still handsome. Whenever he dyes his hair blue like that, every fan girl goes wild. Meixiu knows that feeling, she knows how it feels to be obsessed to him.

"Is there anything you wish you could have by now?", the interviewer asked him.

"Last night, I was really in a bad mood that I ruined my guitar.", he laughed and Meixiu remembered what happened.

"He is so cute when he laughs.", Qianfang said.

Meixiu is still looking straight at the camera, remembering how traumatizing it was when she saw him throwing his guitar on the wall. "How can he laugh about that?", she asked herself.

"So I really want a new guitar."

"Do you have any brand that you would like to have?"

"A Fender Acoustasonic Telecaster would do.", he said.

Meixiu smiled hearing him saying her dream guitar. "But he doesn't know about that.", she said to herself.

At this point, she realized something. Although they are from different worlds, something is still connecting the both of them. It's like the center in every Venn Diagram that professors use to compare and contrast two different object. Maybe this is why musicians are born; to connect people wherever they are, whatever they do.

And maybe just like her, maybe it'll take Chaoxiang to realize that common factor. He doesn't even know she sings. He has no idea that years ago, they once shared the same stage, singing a song dedicated to his special someone. "Or maybe he does know it was me but he keeps discrediting that for I ruined his life like this.", Meixiu thought and shook her head.

"I saw something like that on the nearby guitar shop outside the village.", she heard Qianfang saying.

"Really? How much is that?"

"$2000? Are you planning to buy that?"

"Wait, I should go home. I'll get back to you once I'll be able to buy one. I'll give it to my husband"

Qianfang just let her go. The last time he saw her, Meixiu's hands were covered in blood that night. He was also scared of the fact that she goes out almost every night just to throw their garbage. Jianguo already mentioned Meixiu is already married but he never thought everything in her marriage is hell.

[•••]

"That was a successful interview. Good job Chaoxiang."

After hearing someone complimented him for his another step to success, Chaoxiang looked back to see who that person was. He was completely absent minded throughout the whole show, still wondering about Meixiu's disappearance.

It was Suyin who is now standing behind him. She is wearing a black classy dress with her casual make up on.

"Oh hey. Why are you here?"

"I actually need your help. I don't have any money. I am coming back to Japan tomorrow. Can I borrow some from you?"

"How much do you need?"

"$2000 would do."

He handed her 13,000 Yuan, pretty equivalent to what she's asking. He doesn't know why he is trusting her too much up to this extent, to the point where Yang Sora's warning doesn't matter to him. Even Ruomei had to warn him back then but he didn't listen to her as well.

"You can use that and don't think of paying it. It's nothing."

"Oh thank you.", she said and hugged him.

He admits it is awkward for him to hug her back. He hasn't sleep thinking about Meixiu because she never went home. And even at the time of the interview, he is still thinking about her. "Where are you Meixiu?", he thought.