337 Trapped In Past & Presen (1/2)

Even after listening to Dylan, Darren was unusually calm and quiet. This reaction came as a surprise to even Dylan himself.

Placing a hand on Darren's shoulder, Dylan began, ”I think something's bothering your girlfriend. But you might be the only one she'd like it to share it with.”

”She won't,” was Darren's reply.

Dylan's brows knotted together. ”Why not?”

Darren gave an odd look to his best friend. ”You have followed her when she was Chen Xiu, you work with her when she is Bai Xiu. Didn't you figure her out even now?”

Dylan felt like his words were an attack on his intelligence or his lack of observation skills but he wasn't in the mood to prove himself at the moment. He was more inclined to hear what he had to say.

”No one taught her how to share her worries with others. She had buried them deep inside for a lifetime and even now, she's still trying hard to keep it all in.” Darren took a deep sigh. ”The reason why she doesn't share anything is that she thinks nobody will understand. And in fact, she isn't wrong either.”

”What are you trying to say?”

Darren looked straight into Dylan's eyes as he questioned, ”Didi, can you tell what it feels like to cross over the threshold of death and yet come back to life?” Dylan's eyes widened up. ”You can't tell how it feels to be in a body you know nothing about. As long as she doesn't retain the memories of the original owner, she's gonna be feeling like she doesn't belong anywhere.”

”I... I didn't think about that...” said Dylan feeling ashamed at how he wasn't really paying attention. He honestly couldn't imagine what Xiu was internally feeling. But all he could tell was that... It must be a scary feeling.

”Of course, you didn't notice. Haven't you seen her wearing her facade? She's often spiteful of everything and yet somehow she ends up smiling at others. How will you see anything which she so desperately concealed behind that big bright smile of hers?” Darren was staring into space as he went on, ”I don't like bringing it up but I know she feels trapped. She is indeed trapped in the past and present. And there is no guarantee what she'll be tomorrow. The mysteries surrounding her existence are gnawing at her pure soul that can't live with the fact that she stole someone's life.”

”And the worst part, she can't even tell this to anyone. You and I are like that breather she found before her own mind could suffocate her into an abyss of no return. Do you know how scared she must be before disclosing her biggest truth which can easily be taken as nonsense? And yet, she took the risk to say it out loud. I have seen that fear of rejection in her eyes the night she told me who she is.”

For the first time being reminded that he was overlooking the pain that Xiu was going through, Dylan felt really weird. How was he supposed to deal with this information he didn't know at all.

Darren patted his back as he said, ”Now, don't look like you're gonna pity her. That's the last thing she needs.” He stood up from Dylan's bed and walked towards the door saying, ”Take a shower and come down. I'll take care of my girlfriend. She's my responsibility anyway.”

As Darren left Dylan's room, his mind replayed everything that Dylan told him. With a frown etched between his brows he wondered, What are you hiding, Sweets?

”Francesca, you came fast...”

”Well, if my elder brothers are the one complimenting someone then I had to come to see this new family member.”