< 7 years ago >
A young woman stood at the edge of a rooftop, looking out at the beautiful city lights over the horizon. The skyline was breathtaking, but it paled in comparison to the glimmering stars overhead. She reached a hand out toward the night sky. Her expression reflected her heart, and her dazzling, ocean-blue eyes reflected the stars.
"I want to go there,” she whispered. “I want to see you, mama."
All she needed to do was take one more step, then she could be reunited with the person she wanted to see more than anything else. She closed her eyes and braced herself. Her foot dangled lightly in midair as she prepared to take the final step to paradise when someone suddenly called out to her.
"Hey!"
Stunned, she turned around and saw a young man with dark brown eyes staring at her. His hands were shoved inside his pockets.
He had a laid back aura that matched his average appearance, but his black and gold-rimmed glasses gave him a sharp look.
"I just found this place,” he sighed. “I don't want people jumping off of it. It might give me bad karma and affect my career."
She looked at him in confusion for a moment but then stepped back from the edge and bowed.
"Sorry…” she muttered meekly. “I will find somewhere else to go."
At the sight of her teary eyes, his heart pricked.
"Look,” he said, “I don't know what your problems are, and I don't want to pry nor meddle, but life isn't short nor is it long. Instead of running away, why don't you face it? Running away just brings more trouble."
The nonchalant way he spoke and his lackadaisical body language made it clear that he didn’t care what she did; however, the subtle change in his tone gave him away.
His words struck a chord in her heart. The woman paused for a moment to consider his remarks before offering him an awkward smile. She took one last look at the ground and turned back to the young man, clenching the hem of her shirt tightly. Her expression was still torn.
"Help me..." she whispered.
‘I'm lost.’
The man scanned her from head to toe. She looked to be around the same age as him, maybe a year or so younger. Her face was remarkably lovely, and if he didn’t know any better he would have thought she might have been an angel. In particular, her ocean-blue eyes were so gentle yet entrancing.
He wondered,
‘What kind of problems does this girl have? With her looks, she could get anything she wants.’
"What's your name?" he asked as he leaned on a nearby wall.
"Zhou… Zhou Qinyang," she replied.
"I’m Luciel Wang."
Upon hearing his name, Qinyang took a step forward towards the man.
"Can you help me?"
"Why should I help you?" Luciel said as he popped a stick of bubble gum in his mouth. He then placed his hands back to his pockets and studied the girl.
'
She must have run away from home.
'
Qinyang also looked him up and down in an attempt to better understand who she was talking to. She raised an eyebrow in interest.
“You don’t have money and you’re struggling to get by,” she said, reading through his casual facade.
“How do you know that just by looking at me? What if I am actually rich?“ Luciel retorted.
He looked for a place to sit down, since the conversation with this woman had turned intriguing. He plopped himself down on a nearby stack of wooden crates and sat crossed legged. ‘
She must be good at observation
.’
Qinyang leaned on the edge and smiled, “You bought those clothes at the thrift shop below. There are crumbs on your cheek. Moreover, you smell like… cup noodles. Haven’t you had a proper meal lately?”
Before Luciel could come up with something to explain himself, his stomach betrayed him. Luciel placed his hand over his stomach as his face turned red. He looked away, afraid that Qinyang was going to burst out in laughter.
“So what if you have good observation skills?” he glared at her.
Seeing as how she had caught his attention, Qinyang gave him a look that said she wanted to cut to the chase.
Luciel eyed her suspiciously. ‘
Does she seriously want me to work with her? Can I trust her?’
He thought about the situation for a moment before opening his mouth to speak again.
“Tell me what your problems are, first. Also... how do I know you are not some CIA or FBI agent?" After all, she was mildly suspicious.
She ignored his question and looked at him sternly, "Can you... hide my identity?"
"Your problems must be really big, then, to request something like that. Suppose I could, what’s in it for me, though?"
"I can help you earn more money."
Her eyes were dead serious as she met his gaze. That statement alone made him laugh internally.
"And how do you suppose you’ll do that?" he smirked.
"With my abilities, of course,” she said with confidence. “Just as you said, I have good observation skills. I am also pretty good at doing business deals, plus I’ll pay for you to get proper meals."
"Also, I'm not some sketchy person,” Qinyang continued. “I can assure you, I’m just an eighteen-year-old girl. My problem isn't something that can be solved just by hiding my identity. I just want to stop running and not be disturbed for a moment. "
Her shoulders slumped as she explained her situation, and her eyes grew weary as she looked at him with a half-hearted smile.
Luciel listened intently to her. Then, he made his decision.
________________
A middle-aged man, who had been standing near the door, was surprised at the sight of his son stomping past him. It was his first time seeing him acting so unruly.
"Lee Junting!” he yelled. “What's wrong with you? Don't you know how to pay respects to your elders anymore?"
Junting stopped in his tracks and bowed at his father, "I'm home, father."
The man nodded and invited the boy to sit down.
"What is wrong?” he frowned. “Did something happen in the office?"
"Father, could someone disappear without a trace?" Junting looked at his father seriously and clenched his fists. Thinking of the news he received earlier today, he sighed.
"No. Not in my life, yet. There’s always a way to find them. Unless, maybe if they’re dead, probably. Why do you ask?"
Junting looked away from his father.
"I'm looking for someone. I even asked professionals, private detectives, the underground network… but I can't seem to find that person. She just vanished, like she never even existed in the first place."
"That shouldn’t be possible. Are you sure this person is real? Have you ever met them?" his father's ears perked up at this interesting conversation. How is it that even someone’s records couldn’t be found illegally?
Junting sighed, "Yes. This person is a friend of mine. She suddenly disappeared one day. Look, if you can't help me, then I'm going upstairs."
The younger man abruptly stood up and left for his room. Before Junting's figure disappeared from his father’s sight, the elder Lee called out to him.
“Richard Bach once said, ‘Don't be dismayed by good-byes. A farewell is necessary before you can meet again. And meeting again, after moments or lifetime, is certain for those who are friends.’ I hope those words can help you find what you are looking for."
Junting stopped for a moment and thought about his father’s words.
‘If fate allows, we will meet again. When that happens, I will not let you go again.’