217 Cruel Reality (2/2)

Rin realized the contradiction in her response and let out a little sigh. She didn't dare tell him it was because she was nervous. If An Sun thought she wasn't making any sense, he was kind enough not to mention it.

He continued to gently lean against her. Her back brushed against his several times, the contact seeming to set her entire skin on fire. Heat radiated from him. She was drawn to his warmth, and when she realized that fact, she knew she should pull away. Rin tried to lean away, when she suddenly felt his hand on the boulder grab hers.

”I'm not mad.” He said.

Rin's brows furrowed. She was baffled. ”Why not?”

”Because I know you, Rin.”

”You know me?” Rin couldn't help but snort.

”I know what you said isn't as cruel as you mean it to be.”

His voice had taken on a hard edge. She ignored it. ”I just implied I was going to fight against your closest friend - possibly kill. How is that not clear?”

How could he know her? How could he possibly understand the decisions she had to make? Decisions she hated, were disgusted with but had no choice but to accept.

An Sun could detect the confusion in her voice, the nervousness. He sighed and looked up at the sun fully hanging above the trees and stone buildings.

”For a while now, I've lived in a world where I believed everything could be achieved peacefully. Without pain. But now, I've come to understand something. Reality is pain. I tried to hide my pain, my reality. But I was wrong. My pain is something I need to carry. You feel your strengths in the experience of pain. Your feelings are a part of you. I was ashamed of them and hid them, allowing my wishful hope to destroy my reality.” He explained in a whisper.

An Sun's hand that had been resting on her wrist, moved to her palm until finally, their fingers intertwined. He squeezed them.

”The reality now is that you're right. No matter how I try to look at it, Manchu is still on the enemy's side. Even if by force, it doesn't change the situation.”

”Sun…” Rin's throat tightened.

She hadn't let go of his hand. Like before, she could have pulled away. But she didn't. Instead, her hand gently squeezed his.

Even though the position the two of them were in was indecent, Rin couldn't care less at that moment. If anything, she had long forgotten about Fan Mingli and the others, her thoughts too occupied on An Sun.

”Even if this is the reality…We will fight against the odds. I promise.” Rin's voice held conviction.

An Sun didn't say a word for a long minute. He didn't smile, but the corners of his eyes crinkled together in warmth. Because her back was faced toward him, Rin was unable to see his expression.

”Thank you, Rin.” He smiled as he pulled his hand away from hers to glance over the rock. ”They're gone now.”

On her side, Rin peered behind the rock to see that An Sun's words were true. They were gone. Her shoulders slumped with relief.

”You can leave first,” An Sun offered.

Rin slanted her head to the side slightly. ”Are you sure?”

”Yeah, I need to wash a little longer.”

Without questioning, Rin nodded her head. She quickly scrambled out of the lake and reached for her clothes by a bush, bearing with the chill she received from a sudden wind.

Wrapping a towel around her body, she would occasionally glance at An Sun from time to time to ensure he wasn't peeking. Although with great difficulty, she finally managed to dress and turned her back to An Sun.

”I'll be leaving now.” She cleared her throat.

From behind the rock, An Sun raised his hand to give a silent wave. Rin couldn't stop herself from chuckling. Taking her shoes in her hand and towel, Rin walked away from the lake. Alone, An Sun leaned against the cold rock and sighed.

He lifted his hand from beneath the water and stared at it silently for a moment. Lifting it to his nose, he sniffed. It strangely smelled of something sweet. Realizing what he had just done, he covered his face and groaned. His chest swelled until it was in jeopardy of bursting.

What was happening to him?