𝐃𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 ||

ᴛᴡᴇʟᴠᴇ

Without hesitation, I shamelessly took a coin from his wallet and inserted it into the claw machine. I bit my lip in concentration as I tried to grab

the plushie, but my attempt was unsuccessful. "Better luck next time," Cheng said next to me, and I glared at the machine in frustration. Undeterred, I grabbed another coin and searched for an easy-to-grab plushie.

"I can do it," I encouraged myself as I continued playing. The claw machine's hook seemed useless, but I didn't give up. On my next try, to our astonishment, a plushie miraculously fell down into the machine. Cheng and I screamed with excitement, hugging each other tightly.

I grabbed the stuffed animal and squeezed it tightly, while Cheng and I continued jumping with joy. When a child noticed us, Cheng stuck out his tongue playfully, causing the child to burst into tears. Laughing, I grabbed Cheng's hand, and we fled the scene.

We stopped near a fish tank in the middle of the park, admiring the colorful fish swimming inside. As we stood there, a curious cat joined us, observing the fish with interest. I noticed Cheng grinning mischievously. In a swift motion, he grabbed a small fish from the tank and handed it to the cat. The vendor, who had been engrossed in his phone, glared at us, but we couldn't help but burst into laughter as we quickly made our escape.

Cheng suddenly stopped and pulled me into a nearby theater, where some staff members were arranging things. I looked at him in disbelief as he sat on one side of a chair, and I hesitantly sat on the other side, a large flashlight placed between us.

"What is this?" I asked, perplexed. Cheng smiled and explained, "It's a story about a goddess who fell in love with a human boy." The show began, and Cheng started narrating the story to me.

As the story came to an end, he surprised me by gently grabbing my cheeks and leaning closer. I closed my eyes, feeling his lips press against mine. We kissed, and I could sense his forehead against mine.

Smiling at him, I saw his smile fade, and he looked at me with a mix of sadness and confusion. "I'm sorry, I shouldn't have done that," he said, causing me to look at him in confusion.

"It's okay," I reassured him softly, but he shook his head and stood up abruptly, leaving the room. I quickly followed him, catching up to him outside. "Hey, Cheng, what's the matter?" I asked, concerned.

He looked at me, his expression still filled with sadness and confusion. "I shouldn't have done that," he repeated, and I gazed at him, perplexed. "Look, it's okay. I enjoyed it," I said, trying to reassure him. But he continued, "You shouldn't like that."

"Wait, what?" I asked, taken aback by his words. He sighed deeply, gripping my shoulder and apologizing, "I'm sorry I said that, but I don't know what I was thinking. I didn't mean to kiss you." My heart ached, and I fought back tears, refusing to let them fall.

"I'm sorry I got carried away. Don't worry, I won't tell anyone, and I appreciate the time we spent together. Thank you," I said, forcing a smile for him.

"I didn't mean to be so—" Cheng began, but I ran away before he could finish his sentence.

In my haste, I accidentally bumped into Zhuang as I hurriedly left the theater. Concerned, he asked, "Hey [name], why are you crying?" I quickly wiped away my tears and forced a smile at him.

"Happy Qixi Festival, Zhuang. See you tomorrow

," I said, brushing past him and rushing away. Liang looked at me with surprise as I fled. Searching for my mother, I eventually found her with Mr. Han. I composed myself, wiped away my tears, and wore a fake smile as I approached them.

My mom greeted me, "Hi, my love. How was your stroll with Meiying?" I grinned at her and replied, "It was fun, really nice." However, I couldn't help but notice Mr. Han staring at me with concern.

As I walked towards my mother and Mr. Han, I tried to compose myself, wiping away the remnants of my tears and forcing a fake smile. My mother looked at me with concern, unaware of the turmoil inside me.

"Hi, Mom. How was your stroll with Meiying?" I said, mustering up as much enthusiasm as possible. She smiled and replied, "It was wonderful, dear. I'm glad you had a good time too."

Mr. Han's gaze lingered on me, his expression filled with worry. "Are you alright, [name]?" he asked gently, his voice carrying a hint of concern.

"I'm fine, Mr. Han," I replied, forcing a more convincing smile. "Just got a bit emotional earlier, but I'm alright now." I hoped my words would put him at ease, even though deep down, I knew there was more to my emotions than I let on.

My mother looked at me intently, her eyes searching for any signs of distress. "Are you sure, sweetheart? If something's bothering you, you can always talk to me," she reassured me, her voice filled with motherly warmth.

I nodded, grateful for her understanding, but I couldn't find the words to express my inner turmoil. Instead, I redirected the conversation, eager to change the subject. "So, what did you and Mr. Han do while I was away?"

My mother smiled, her eyes twinkling with excitement. "We explored the festival, watched performances, and even tried some delicious snacks," she shared enthusiastically. "It was quite a memorable experience."

Mr. Han chimed in, his voice gentle yet distant. "Indeed, it was a lively and vibrant atmosphere. I appreciate your invitation, Mrs. [Last Name]."

As we continued to walk through the festival, I tried my best to immerse myself in the festivities, distracting myself from the complex emotions that swirled within me. The colorful decorations, lively music, and joyous laughter of the crowd provided a temporary reprieve from my inner turmoil.

However, my mind couldn't help but drift back to the bittersweet encounter with Cheng. I felt a mixture of confusion, hurt, and a longing for answers. Did he truly regret our kiss? Was I just a fleeting moment of weakness for him? I couldn't shake off these questions that gnawed at my heart.

As the night wore on, I became more adept at hiding my true feelings, burying them beneath a facade of cheerfulness. I laughed when necessary, admired the festival's attractions, and engaged in small talk with my mother and Mr. Han. But deep inside, I yearned for clarity and resolution.

The Qixi Festival came to an end, and we bid farewell to the lively atmosphere. As we made our way home, a veil of silence enveloped us, each lost in our own thoughts. I sat in the backseat of the car, gazing out the window at the passing scenery, contemplating the complexities of love, friendship, and the unforeseen twists of fate.

In the quiet solitude of the night, I allowed myself a moment of vulnerability, letting the tears that I had held back for so long finally flow.