One Stormy Night

By Lea (Indonesia)

I had the idea of this story long time ago, just after I finish watch AAE and read many unsatisfied comment (especially in chinese FB) about the love of San Mei toward Xiang Zhe. They said he love her more than she love him. So, I wrote my own version. The original version is in Indonesian. I’d tried to write it in English so I can share with everybody in this fb.

Please forgive me if I make many mistakes. Especially in grammer, since English is not even my second language

I had tried my best.

Special thanks to The Dew. I won’t make it without your help.

Btw, this is only a short story but I split it into 3 parts.
Hope you girls like it.


One stormy night.

San Mei looked up at the sky with unbelievable gaze. It was a beautiful afternoon and the summer sun was shining brightly, spreading the warm across the land. The blue sky was clear without any clouds, enabling eye to look into to entire universe. And the air was is filled with a tinge of flowery fragrance

But at the opposite of all beauty before very eyes, there’s no smile in the faces of people across the street. Everybody looked very busy, walked with head bowed and hurried. As if something very bad is pursuing rear them.

SM took a deep breath as she continued her journey. Xiang Zhe apartment’s was just a block away and her grocery bag seems becoming heavier and heavier. She speed up

XZ had given her his apartment’s key for her convenience whenever she wishes to visit him. But she had never used it until that day. His apartment was so simple for someone like Yin Xiang Zhe. She didn’t see any sign telling that the owner was an heir of one of the richest man in the country. He had chosen furniture for function rather than style. It just one additional point that made SM fancy him more.

She put her grocery on the kitchens table and turns on the TV, automatically searched for MBS channel. She watch the news for a while. The news probably been watch by millions of Korean. The storm is on its way.

The news presents a heartbreaking view of Japan, the place where the storm knocked over just a moment ago. In about 4 hours, it will reach Korea.
The newscaster, one of SM’s colleagues was suggesting a few preparations that must be done in anticipating the storm

That was what she been done in XZ’s apartment. She had bought food stuff and grocery of more than one week supply. A lot of candle and batteries, in case the electricity went out.
XZ was in way home from Beijing. He didn’t want SM to pick him up at the airport. So, she just waits at home.

After finishing unpack her grocery, she started to prepare dinner. She had promised a special dinner and she intends to make it a very special indeed.

Everything was set. She had finished it all, she took a look around the apartment. She had been there a couple of times but never be alone like this time. A big smile curved in her face. She can do anything she likes and XZ would never know. That’s what she thinks of.
She browsed at his collection of DVD. Looks like he has all Julia Robert’s movie. Is that kind of girl ZX like? She was curios.

All of a sudden, her attention was taken by a photo album, slipped among the natty heap of his DVD collection. She picked it up and opened it. There were picture of XZ in his childhood and in his youth. SM smile again and promised herself she would interrogate him of the entire event in the photo.

At the end of the album, SM was startled. There was a picture of XZ huddle up two beautiful girls. At his left side was a total stranger and at a right side SM recognized her as young Liu yung Xi. There were few other pictures of XZ and YX together. And in the final page she saw two close up portrait of YX.

She became completely dazed. She took out the photo, hoping she could get some information from it. There was nothing at the back of the first one and at the second it written ‘My birthday will never be the same again without you by my side. YX’

A rapid ring of the phone interrupted her melancholy thoughts. It shocked her. She was about to lift it by insisting when suddenly she realize this was not her place and XZ was away. It didn’t seem right if she be the one who pick up the phone. So she just let the answering machine answered it.

‘Xiang Zhe, it's me.’ Its Yung Xi’s voice. SM instantly recognized it . ‘I don’t know what time you will be home. The storm is on its way and I just want to make sure you are all right. Call me when you get back. Bye.’

SM froze as she heard the click sound ended the phone line. She was surprise. She knows XZ and YX was friend ever since their childhood and they was close friend. But how close? She just sat there and keeps staring at the phone, hoping she would hear something else.

Hesitation had defeated her common sense. She glance at her watch. There were still time if she want to go to the airport. Without having second thought, she grabs her purse and flies toward the door. She wanted to be the first one XZ saw when he arrives.

She felt upset along the way. Did they ever have an affair? Why it didn’t work out? Why XZ never told her anything about their relationship. There were so many why in her mind and those entire question couldn’t be answered. In fact, it added the anxiety in her heart.

***

The scene at the airport was one of chaos and it seemed to XZ that the half of the country was hurrying home. But the second he saw her, his face broke into a wide smile. She looked extremely beautiful in her pink blouse and white khakis shirt. Looking casual and elegant at the same time. He gave her one of his soul stopping smile.

‘Naughty girl. I’ve been told that marrying you will be very tiring. You never listen to anything I’d said. Why didn’t you just wait for me at home?’ XZ said with anger tone ‘What will happen if you trapped in the middle of the storm? I don’t want to loose my bride”

ZX was just teasing her but for SM it sounded so seriously because the next second tears welled up in her eyes.

It gave XZ a shocked. He always knows SM is a cry baby but it seems like there was nothing to cry for. ‘San Mei, what’s wrong?’

She shook her head, felt the heat of tears and blinked, forced them back. ‘I won’t come here if I knew will be scolded by you’

He laughed. Grabbed her into his embrace ‘Silly girl! I was just kidding. Haven’t seen your beautiful smile for three days feels like 3 years. Off course I am glad you’re here to pick me up. It means you really miss me too.’

‘But you are so mean to me’

XZ hold her tight. Didn’t care of people walking around in the busy airport or his assistant watching them unbelievable. He really longed to give her the 5 minutes hug as he usually did. But looks like everybody was in hurry. He himself didn’t wish to be trap in the storm.

He let go of her ‘Lets go home’

It sounded do intimate. Even to his own ears, as if ‘home’ was their destination together everyday. He asked his assistant to go home by cab, no need to drive him home. He would drive his own car.

When they get out from the airport, the fair sky had disappeared. The wind started to blow unfriendly. XZ lift his traveling bag by one hand and the other hand hold SM’s hand tight, as if he was afraid the wind might blow her away. He let go of her hand after she was sat peacefully in his BMW.

XZ drove his car in high speed without realize the stillness of SM, until he heard ‘Xie Zhang, slow down’

He slowing down, stare at her and smile. ‘I just want to be home soon so I can hug you as long as I can’

She pouted her lips. Give him a widely stare and said ‘You better be concentrate on the traffic. Everybody is in hurry. It's very dangerous if you keep speeding like that. And if you don't listen to me, I better take a cab’

‘Ok, ok, whatever you say my princess’ He laughed.

One Stormy night (2)

A crash of thunder, so close it rattled the window, welcome them home. Then another blast shook the house, made San Mei jumped and she was plastered against his chest as tightly as she could. Her warm cheek pressed to him, her arms around his waist as she clung to him, trembling.

Realizing that SM was scare, XZ hold her tight. He hold his arm around her, rocking her gently, murmuring comforting nonsense. ‘It’s ok. Don't be afraid. The thunder is outside. It won’t hurt you. ‘

‘I’m not afraid,’ she said. ’I’m not…, I’m just… a little nervous. I know thunderstorm is nothing more than noise and light. I know it, but….’

‘But you are still six year old kid curled up in the bottom of your sleeping bag. Beside, if it really strikes, it will hurt me first since I am holding you like this.’ ZX tried to make jokes

It worked out because SM smiled and punch XZ chest with her little fist. ‘I don’t want you to get into trouble either.’

The feeling of joy, satisfied, happiness filled his heart. San mei cared for him, didn’t want anything happed to him.
‘You said you have prepared dinner. Have you finished yet? It better be ready because I am starving. I skipped lunch so I can eat more’

By nature, her cheerfulness was back. ‘It will be ready after you take a bath”

‘But if I have to take a bath, I had to let go of you. What will happen if there is another thunder strike? Ah! It’s better if we take a bath together. In that case I can still holding you like this and you never have to be afraid of the thunder any more’

She spouted her lips and released herself from ZX embrace. She knew he was just kidding but still feeling of shyness captured her.

His laugh held a humor, wondering how long she will be shy like that.

He took a bath while SM gave the last touch to the dinner.

After taking a shower, XZ checked his answering machine. San Mei was startled. She had forgotten Yung Xi’s massage. What would XZ reaction? Would he answer the massage immediately?

SM listened attentively. There were several other massages before Yung Xi’s. She felt her heart pounded when ZX lift the handset of his phone. Who will he call? When she heard him talking in English she felt relieved .Their conversation was too fast to be understood by her but whoever he called, definitely not Yung Xi.

SM got mad at herself. What happening to her. Why did she become like that? XZ was the love of her heart. YX was her most respected senior and she is happily married by now. She shouldn’t think about something weird like that. Even if there was something between them, it was a history anyway. Everybody have a past. Even she, herself have it. The most important was the future because she definitely will be in his future

‘Silly girl!’ She cursed herself

‘San Mei, whats wrong? XZ asked when he saw her strange behavior

‘Nothing’. SM forced a weary smile

During their dinner, SM was quieter than she used to be. She rarely spoke, and just becaming a good listener while XZ told her about his business trip to Beijing. But all her action got XZ’s attention. He just couldn’t bear when she said nothing. So after they had finished their dinner and cleaned up the dishes, he dragging her to sit in the sofa, clapping her hand and asked : ‘Now, tell be what has been bothering you. Don’t tell me it’s the storm course its calming down now. ’

The storm indeed subsided but its only for temporary, waiting for the bigger one to come.

‘I’m thinking why they always used women’s name for the storm. Sarah, Isobel, Thelma, Elaine’ She said evasively. Tried to avoid the conversation.

‘Not always, but yes, most of it. That’s because women are so unpredictable just like the storm it self. Just like the one sitting in front of me now’ XZ stare sharply at her eyes.

San Mei tried to pull her hand from his claps. She twisted her own finger, writhing in anxiety. Deep in concentration, as if she was searching for a right words to say.

‘Xie Zhang…’ she tried to speak but hesitated.
‘That’s a massage for senior Yung Xi, why didn’t you answer it?’ The question finally came out

‘Is it important for you whether or not I answer the massage?’

SM took a deep breath ‘Yes’ her answer were just a soft whisper. She frowned and refuse to meet his gaze

XZ took her hand in both of his again and held it tight. ‘There‘re so many things in your mind. Aren’t they? Come on, tell me. Did you find anything, heard anything?’

The alarm in herself was suddenly ringing. She stared at him with her big eyes. ‘Is there something I shouldn’t know about?’

‘No.’ XZ answered straight to the point
‘Come on SM, I am an open book today. You can ask me anything you want to know. In less then three weeks we will married. I don’t want any secret between us’

SM still lost his tongue. So, as if he’d plucked the question right out of her mind, XZ started his story. He told her about his childhood. About his parents, about their fight, his unhappy mother, their separation. The relationship between  his family and Yung Xi’s and what SM would like to hear the most, his friendship with Yung Xi.

She listened to him and tears stung her eyes. She blinked them back. All this time she only know a litle bit of XZ’s past. Guessing why in their early acquaintanceship he said he would never get married and would never have a family. Now she knows it.

‘I live my day without a direction, without ambition until one day I bumped into a dreamy girl while crossing the road. She garbles all my life, turn it upside down.’ He smiles. A very gentle smile.

She flushed; know exactly who the girl was.

‘Xie Zhang, you and senior Yung Xi, Your affair, why it didn’t work out?

‘Wrong question.’ He cut her off. ‘We never had any kind of affair. Yung Xi is a bright girl with a modern thinking. She knew her feeling and mine too. I also knew she want me to change. But that would never happen. And when I did change, that because of you. She knew that too. That’s why she opened her heart for someone else and Sien Da was there. She had found her happiness and our story end up living happily ever after with our own partner’

They fell silence for a moment. When she finally spoken, her words amazed him

‘Senior Yung Xi and you…., just like me and brother Yu cen..’

Now he was startled. Talking about YC was a discussion they always avoided. There was a time when his thoughts have gone astray, if YC didn’t die, will SM accept him, his proposal? Would he become the second man in her life forever? He dislikes that kind of thought.

‘I don’t know. What do you think?

‘Senior Yung Xi is so beautiful, so smart and also coming from a respectful family. I am nothing compare to her’
.
XZ let go of SM’s hand. His expression became so serious as he tipped up her chin with his finger so he was staring directly into her eyes.

‘You compare yourself to Yung Xi. What about me and your Yu Cen brother?

The words sounded sarcastic, but XZ really wanted to know.

She heard him and the cynicism in his tone made her chin lift a degree.

One Stormy Night.

She heard him and the cynicism in his tone made her chin lift a degree. For a long moment, their gazes held. She looked straight into his eyes as if she would transfer all her heart through their eyes contact. She took a deep breath, cleared her throat, then replied,

‘I was never being alone during the thunderstorm. I hate it. I don’t know why. I just felt so scare of the howling wind, the heavy rain, the rolling thunder. When daddy’s away, I always go to aunties. But brother Yu Cen never comforting me. He laughed at me, scared me and scolded me makes me even more afraid. He will stopped it after auntie get mad at him. In these storming days, he will not be the one I look for. Even though you’re not around I will look for Sau Di or senior Ching Xi for comfort. ’

She paused for a moment, then continue ‘When I wake up in the middle of the night or in the morning and finding a stalk of rose slipped in my fence, I dreamed it was a knight in white horse and shining armour in the form of you, await for me the whole night. In my happiest moment I think of you and wish to share it with you. In my most sorrowful moment I also think of you because I know you will be able to lift my burden. I will pick up the phone and make a call out of habit whenever I think of you or just to hear your voice. That is what I feel about you .

She sighed and turned away from him.. ‘With Yu cen brother everything was different. I’d known him my whole life. A boy who like to pull my ponytail and made me never wish of having a long hair. Who laughed at me when I got scare. But he always be a good brother to me. He protected me when other boys bothered me. Accompanied me and play with me when I was lonely’

She paused again, thoughtful, and considering what should say. Her voice minimize and become a small whisper. ‘When his life losing its direction because of Yin Mei, I thought that was the right moment for me to making it up with him. I will become a sister or even as a lover accompanying him in that period of time. My biggest unforgiven fool was when I am asking you not to wait for me again. And when I heard from Yin Mei that you broken up with me, my whole world was upside down. I wish to scream, to cry out loud and bid a farewell like I did by the lake long time a go. But I really couldn’t do that. My voice, my tears were disappear. I felt like my soul had left my body and I just walk and walk aimlessly without direction until morning , and… and…’ she sobbed.

‘Hush…, It’s ok. I know what you meant.’ He pulled her and held her tight in his embrace, tried to soothe her. He heard enough. He could felt her trembling even as she struggled to be firm and steady. ‘ Please don’t cry anymore. I’ve made a promise never let your tears ever shade anymore. Please don’t let me broke my own promises’ He kissed her hair and continued ‘I’m here and we will never be apart ever again’

He held her in his arm and allowed her to cry her heart out , stroke her gently to calm her down. Embracing her until her feeling of stress alleviated. She felt at ease and relaxed.

Slowly, he kissed her eyes and felt her tears. Then he kissed her eyelids, her forehead, then slowly moved to her nose, the fine bones of her check and jaws. When his burning lips touched hers, it was a feather soft as if SM were a precious porceline that easily broken.

Her breath caught in her throat. The tender kiss awoke her whole body. She gulped in another breath as her heart continued to pound against her breast. When the second kiss came, SM was totally surrender to XZ.

It took him a mighty effort to broke their kisses, lifted his head and stared into her eyes. He saw the emotion blazing in her eyes. Their gaze meet and the world stopped by their feet. He curved one hand around the back of her head and drew her closer again. This time, the kiss was deeper, sweeter and her giving nature called out to something lost within him.

She trembles. Her tongue fluttered against his, shy, inexperienced, but willing. She felt like a sensory magnets that drew her closer and closer. She felt his heart beat slamming against his ribs. It echoes the racing of her own. Creating a strange sensation, an incredible discovery for both of them, a sensation they both had never known possible.

He kissed her nose again. He nipped at her ear then ran his tongue slowly around the rim moved way down to her throat. Back to her ear and her name came on a hoarse whisper. SM totally lost. She could not think. All she knew was that XZ was there and there was nothing in the world but him. Not the thunder storm and the heavy rain outside. She not even realized when XZ lift her body and carried her to his bedchamber, laying her body in his big bed.

Slowly, sensuously, he slid his finger over her body, touching and caress her. She made a sound, soft, pleading….When his finger came to the button on her blouse that lined up from top to bottom, he unbuttoned it one by one. The action that he himself almost didn’t realize it.

He kissed her bare shoulder, her neck and when his lips touched her chest with passionately and intimately, he heard her moan.

At the same time, a loud thunder came along that cut off the electricity, had taken back XZ to his reality. He felt as if the thunder was knocking him down..

‘Oh my god, what have I done?.’ He addressed the words to himself, and let out SM’s body as soon as he could and then sat on his bedside.

The warm that suddenly taken out had confused her ‘Xie Zhang ?’

He needed a moment to cooling down himself, his mind.

‘Xie Zhang, What’s wrong?’

‘San Mei…, San Mei. I’m sorry. Please forgive me. I…..’

First time in his entire life he was speechless. Knowing there was nothing to else to say, no word that would mitigate his action. But his asking for forgiveness was enough to bring back her consciousness. Made her aware of where she were, what they’d been doing. She pushed him away.

‘San Mei..’

In the darkness, XZ grabbed her arm but SM let go off his hand and try to stay away from him. Realization made her dizzy. She struggled ,tried hard to release herself. She felt ashamed. Really embarrassed.

‘San Mei, please, San mei'

He held her tight. Didn’t want to loose her. ‘It’s ok. Everything is fine. Calm down San Mei.’

‘Xie Zhang…’

‘What was happening to me?’ She sounded so strange and far away as she continues ‘I feel like I am not myself. As if there’s a fire burning firery deep inside me, which seemed to invade me...and you….. And…, and when you kissed me, I wanted more. I wanted to be closer and closer… I…. I felt like it was impossible to feel such ecstasy and still alive and….’ San Mei broke into cry. ‘Xie Zhang, am I so cheap, so shameless? You must have looked down on me, laughed at me…’

‘No!. For God sake San Mei, definitely no.’ His answer was swift and adamant, contested to whatever she was about to say . Her words touched him deep in his heart. ‘That’s how people are in love felt. That is how I feel. That’s because I love you. I love you so much and I don’t want to spend another day of my life without telling you so’

‘But …., but we are not…., not yet….’

“Sst…. Sst. It’s ok’ He clamped her mouth shut. He heard enough of it. ‘You listen to me San Mei. We are two grown up people and we love each other. That’s nothing wrong with your feeling, with our feeling. Do you understand? That’s what people in love do. That’s why it calls making love. In less than 3 weeks we will be married. I’ll wait. We’ll wait. Ehm….?!

She nodded in his embrace. Still felt endearingly shy as she deeply hiding her face against his chest.

The silence that fell was absolute. She felt her heart beat slowed. She felt a sense of relief that was so acute. She got her breath back under control. She got her self back under control. ‘I love you Xie Zhang. I really love you.’ She whispered, pressing a soft kiss to his chest.

The murmured was so soft. Almost inaudible. But to XZ, it was louder then the thunder out there. It’s for the first time SM ever confess her love for him. A real love and not just like him. He was speechless. He just sat there, holding her tight and breath the moment of happiness.

****

It took a long moment for XZ to back to reality

‘You have forgive me, haven’t you?’

‘That’s nothing to forgive. Its not your fault’

‘Off course it’s not my fault. Its Zhen Gui Chen’s, Its all his fault for having such a passionate daughter’ ZX tried to make a joke. One thing he knew for sure would bring back her cheerfulness and laughter.

His effort was succeed. Holding back her laughter, SM punch his chest with her little fist. A very soft one, but..,

‘Auch! It’s hurt! I have to keep exercise so I’ll be fit enough to be your sand bag. Not yet your husband but already been torture like this, I don’t think I could make it later.’

Her soft finger turn into a fist again but then it stopped in the air.

XZ laughed heartily. He cupped her chin and kissed her forehead soundly. But the next second he released her. Afraid of himself. He caressed her face softly. And when he touched her bared shoulder, he tried to help her buttoned her blouse. But as fast as a thunder strike she turned around. With her quivering hand she buttoned her own blouse.

‘It’s so dark’ SM just realized the total darkness surrounding them

‘Looks like the electricity will not recover until tomorrow. Come on, let’s light the candle. I bought something for you from Beijing’

‘Really? What is it?’

***

The rain still poured heavily. The thunder was still striking and the howling wind was still blowing. But SM didn’t realize it all. Her fear had disappear else where because she was in the safest place in the universe. By ZX’s side.

That night became the happiest night for them. They light the candle everywhere, just like 2 children, playing with fire for the first time. They talked, they joked and laughed, playing scrabble in a tricky ways and then punish each other and end up by throwing at each other.

It’s almost dawn when SM felt asleep in the sofa

Softly, he lift her body
‘Xie Zhang…’ she humble unconsciously, cradle in his embrace

‘Back to sleep’

For the second time XZ lied down her body down on his bed. But this time he covered her body with a blanket and then pressed a lightly kiss on her lips. He had no guts to lie down beside her or even stay there longer. That’s why he hurriedly step away. He turned out the candle and left only one.

When he had reached the door, he turned back and stared at her tenderly. Watching candle light danced over her sleeping face. A soft smile decorated his lips. All doubts in his heart have gone. Now he knew for sure Zhan San Mei belong to him. Forever and ever.


The End.