57 Han returns (1/2)
The party that started so well ended in a certain situation for An Ning. Maybe it was inevitable. There really was no way to avoid it so she didn't. Han called and asked to come home to see her.
An Ning was a little annoyed but she said yes, asked him to call Nyra when it's convenient for him then hang up.
There really was nothing to say anymore.
Nyra called her up two days later.
”Han wants to see you,” she said.
”Yes, he told me.”
”And you're okay with that?” Nyra insisted.
”Why not? It will happen sooner or later.”
”But....”
”Just take him here. Let's have this done and over with.”
When the helicopter touched down, An Ning was there to meet it.
Han was the usual Han that she's come to know and loved. Tall, brooding and emotional. She could see it from the moisture that started to wet his eyes when he saw her. An Ning sighed and went up to him. They kissed. Then she led him to a tent pitched a little way away from the helipad.
”A tent? I'm not even allowed inside the cave house anymore?” Han was a little peeved.
An Ning didn't even deign to answer. She sat down and poured him a glass of orange juice. Han grimaced but drank it nonetheless.
”So, when is the wedding?” An Ning asked, straight to the point.
Han choked. His eyes watered. He put the glass down and looked reproachfully at An Ning.
”He told you.”
”Yup. He and Moira arrived a month ago and he told me.”
”What's he doing here?” Han scowled.
”None of your business,” An Ning said. ”Here,” taking a small gift from her pocket, ”for you.”
Han looked at the box but didn't take it.
”What's that?”
”My gift. For Valerie. A wedding sendoff, if you will.”
”An Ning...”
”Stop explaining for christ's sake,” An Ning was annoyed. ”We're not married. We're both free agents. Your marrying Valerie is none of my business. It's yours. So, let's stop with the dramatics. It's annoying.”
Han was silent.
”I didn't mean to hurt you,” he said softly.
”I know that. I would like to thank you though for helping me all those months. You were always kind to me and I appreciate it very much.”
”I wanted to be with you, you know that, don't you? Spend my life with you. Love you and grow old with you. But...,” Han's voice was anguished.
”You delved into memories you had no right to know and found Richard's love and passion for Valerie,” An Ning ended.
Han looked at her, shocked.
”How did you know?”
”Because Richard told me. Laughing while he said it, by the way. He really has it in for the both us, you know. I didn't think Richard could be that vicious.”
”He told you?” Han was still reeling from the shock.
”He showed himself to me. I think he found a way to prolong his life. All he needs now is a body and he'll be good as new.”
”When did you see him?”
”That afternoon we went to your office and I met Valerie. He very graciously told me that you're going to fuck Valerie that night and I'd better just go home and forget about you.”
”Bastard!” Han was so furious he gritted his teeth.
”Precisely what I told him.”
”I didn't go to Valerie that night.”
”I know. You went to her the following morning and you fucked her,” An Ning's voice was very amused.
Han's face turned beet red.
”Anyway, I went home and got on with my life and pretended I ever got entangled with both you and Richard. I think I was successful at that until, of course, Du Lu called me.”
”I'm sorry,” Han's voice was very small.
”Do me a favor?”
”What?”
”Don't bother calling me again. If something happened between you and and Valerie, if she gets sick or you get sick and you want my help, don't call me. I'm not God and I shouldn't be making all these stuff anyway. I guess what I'm saying is, I just want to close the book on my entanglement with the Liu brothers. I've been doing well so far and I just want to forget all this drama. It's getting old and, frankly, it's starting to bore me.”
Han was silent.
”What about the kids?”
”Don't go there, Han,” An Ning's voice became dangerous. ”You and I both know they're not your kids so don't go there.”
”How...?”
”Seriously? We've lived together for several months and you still don't know how thorough I am? I had their DNA checked against yours, of course. Your soul may take residence in Richard's body but his DNA is not yours so surprise, Richard is the father. Although I don't remember how it happened since obviously we're already been divorced when he got me pregnant. Any ideas?”
”How do I know?”
”You carry his memory but you won't tell me,” An Ning said, dryly.”Okay, fair enough. I don't need to know. All I know is that you tried to take responsibility and I really thank you for that. You didn't have to but you did and I thank you.”
”What happens now?”
”You go your own way, I go my own.”
There was a sound of finality on her words that stunned Han. They looked at each other in silence. Han saw a woman who finally came into her own without him. Nearly a year ago the two of them looked at the future with unclouded eyes. They were together and that was all that mattered. He remembered his promise to love and protect her. He was sure he meant it that time. His heart was with her, his thoughts with her, his body wanted her.
And then he saw Valerie and the rush of memories that were Richard's nearly drowned him. He saw Richard in that garden, listening to Valerie as he smoked a cigarette, a light carefree feeling twisting his lips in a smile. Like Richard, he forgot his promise to An Ning. He forgot the past, he forgot the joys he shared with An Ning. He only wanted to live in the present. With Valerie, who long ago, his brother Richard also loved.
So, he found himself driving to her house. He sat in his car debating with himself. He didn't want to see her. Didn't want to knock on her door and stay the night. Part of him knew Richard had something to do with his confusion. This feeling of despair and lust was too sudden. He and An Ning were together only that morning so why the sudden desire for Valerie, a woman he didn't even find attractive the first time he saw her?
Perhaps An Ning was right. It was time for her to close the book on her relationship with the Liu brothers. She always got the bad end of the stick anyway. She always ended up being hurt, which was the last thing he wanted to do.
But...letting her go. She would continue on without him. She will meet someone else. She will share her life with him. That fabulous life she had been planning with him not too long ago. And then she will get married and have kids. Then she will grow old and die, maybe. All the phases of her life that he will never see, or know, or share. Because his vengeful brother fucked him up and destroyed the only one thing that he thought belonged to him.
Han sobbed. He covered his face with his hands and sobbed.
An Ning just watched him. She didn't say or do anything. She didn't even offer comfort like she always did. She was watching the end of a chapter in her life and she actually didn't feel anything but a prick of irritation. Honestly, there was no use being overly dramatic about it. So, she poured a glass of juice for herself and waited.
After a while, Han finally composed himself and gave An Ning a wan smile.
”I wish you and Valerie the very best, Han.”
”Thank you,” he mumbled.
”By the way, out of curiosity, does Valerie know it's really you and not Richard?”
Han looked a little embarassed.
”No, she doesn't. I didn't tell her. I don't know where to begin actually.”