HE CHOSE HER OVER ME?

"I brought something to serve as our lighting here. Is this fine?"

Meixiu is still speechless. Her face is facing the floor and she isn't looking at the person who just came to rescue her. The guy clearly doesn't know anything about phobias but he knows something is strange with Meixiu once she came in contact with the darkness. Ruomei told him about it, and he even witnessed Meixiu's reaction that night when he turned all the lights off in his apartment and she suddenly dreamed of something terrible.

"Meixiu, are you still scared? The blackout's not going to take long. It'll be just about five to ten minutes. It'll be alright."

"Did you come here to rescue me?"

"I know you are afraid of the darkness so I assumed you'll freak out once the lights are out."

"Thank you then."

"You can hug me again if you still feel scared."

"You cared for me all of a sudden. Did you eat something strange?"

"No, but you are still my responsibility. I just don't want to be blamed if something happen especially because you're not coming home. Why are you here in this studio?"

"Do you expect me to go swimming in a music studio?"

And Chaoxiang's laugh surrounded each corner of the room. She is right. Of course she is making music here. This is a music studio. At this moment, he finds her cute. Pulling a sarcasm at this time when she's scared made him think she's is now feeling better. But her hand is still holding the hem of his jacket. She is still not over the fear, maybe a part of her is still uncomfortable.

"Meixiu, is there any CCTVs in this place?"

"Even if there is, no one will know that it is you who's here. Your image will never be put to danger because of this."

"Are you thinking I asked you because I'm afraid I'll be in a headline tomorrow, dating you?"

"What could be the reason why?"

And Meixiu's body stiffened after Chaoxiang touched the back of her head. Is he still comforting her? But she is already over the fear of the dark. His source of light, the lamp that he brought eased her situation. And now he is looking at her eyes, intently, as if he wants to burn her.

And she was immobilized by the fact that Chaoxiang could actually get even more closer. Right now, his face is shoving in her face, his nose almost touches hers. He is still brushing his wife's hair with his long fingers and he took Meixiu's hand, the one holding the hem of his jacket and inserted them on the pocket of his jacket.

His hand is warm, his breaths are burning her system. What is he going to do with this close distance? Meixiu already feels awkward so she moved away and looked at her side but Chaoxiang pulled her even closer to his body.

"Don't do that again if I'm trying to kiss you."

"What?"

"I said I was trying to kiss you."

"Don't. You hate me, don't you? Enemies don't kiss right?"

"I married you didn't I? I heard kissing is actually the one of the best ways to make up."

"You heard it wrong. Love should be the best way."

"Yeah I heard you."

And their lips collided as Meixiu gasps for air for she still wants to explain herself to Chaoxiang. His head is tilted to her left, he is kissing her gently with all his might. And as Meixiu looked at him, his eyes are closed as if he is really feeling the kiss. He seemed passionate and sincere this time, a certain feeling that Meixiu never felt before.

"I can't breathe stop!", she tried to pull away but the man isn't willing to let go. He even lifted her thighs and placed them on his both sides. Then his hand crawled from her legs up to her hips and pulled her even closer until she ended up locked in his body.

"I'll keep kissing you until the lights went back."

"No!"

"Oh..."

And Chaoxiang ended the kiss and looked at Meixiu. He even licked his lower lips while looking at her. Chaoxiang thinks it is better for Meixiu to know how he ended up being here with her.

"Suyin actually called me and told me about the blackout. She said I should come to her apartment for she is scared of the dark."

"Are you asking for my permission and are you planning to go there now?"

"No. After she mentioned the blackout, I remembered you. I know I said you're going to beg me to let you in once you come back to my house but I can't wait and do nothing while you're trying to handle your traumas here. I'm a good husband, ain't I?"

"Are you being sincere or what?"

"I am sincere. You are still my wife and I should be responsible for you. Would you come home with me now?"

"I don't know. I'm still scared."

"I paid you already. I kissed you to actually convince you to come home. Don't tell you never felt anything with my kiss?"

And Meixiu shoved her palm on his face. She is embarrassed with his question. Did she feel something when he kissed her? Of course she felt comfortable and happy. She felt the thrill and she even had goosebumps as he own her lips in the most unexpected time like that. She had the urge to respond to his kisses but she tried hard to control herself.

"Did you say you chose me over Suyin at this point?"

"Yes. I know Suyin for so long and I know she has no issues with the darkness. She even tried to bring me one time to a forest at nighttime."

"Thank you."

"I won't take that gratitude. You have to come home with me."

"Fine I will."

And they are both distracted as the lights then went back. Chaoxiang extended his hand and reached for the chargeable lamp he brought here and turned it off. His other hand is still on Meixiu's waist and as he's trying to turn the lamp off, he squeezed her tightly and he felt her body jolted. It's his first time seeing Meixiu reacting like that. And to that he concluded his wife actually felt the thrill from his kisses. She felt something, an explosion of desire maybe.

"If you plan to check Suyin, you can..."

"I won't. Let's spend the night together."

[•••]

"Did he turn his phone off?"

Suyin threw her phone on the floor and even stepped on it twice before leaving it behind. She tried calling Chaoxiang for the fifth time now, but the server keeps saying his phone number is unavailable. She can still remember how their conversation prior to this went through.

"Chaoxiang, have you heard of the blackout?"

"Blackout?"

"Yes, four minutes from now, the electricity will shut down. I feel scared. Can you come over?"

"Shoot! My wife!"

"What?"

And that's when he ended the call. His last words say it all. Whatever he did after the call, for sure he'll be with Meixiu. And he seemed worried, panicked upon hearing the word blackout. But what hurts Suyin the most is that he insensitively called Meixiu as his wife while he's talking to Suyin. "The disrespect!", Suyin said to herself.

"So he chose her over me? I will make you pay for it!", she screamed at the top of her lungs.