“I thought there’d be a happy ending.”
“Not all stories have happy endings.”
“I know, I just... it seems tragic to spend your life that way, searching for the other half of your soul.”
“Could be fun, like a treasure hunt.”
She scowled. Trust him to turn everything into a joke.
But Zizi was suddenly serious again. “But haven’t you ever felt like that? Like you’re searching for someone out there who’s justrightfor you—someone who completes you.”
Rui stayed silent, wondering, maybe even hoping, that somehow she might be that last piece of the puzzle that would complete this boy who was looking back at her with those strange, strange eyes. But it was just a story, and maybe she was just a silly romantic too.
“Since you’ve confessed your crimes, there’s something I’ve beenmeaning to tell you.” Zizi faced her. “When I saw you that night, I knew.”
He was talking about the night they first met. The night he saved her life. The night her mother died.
“Knew what?”
“That you were important to me.”
It wasn’t the answer she expected. “Why?”
He considered her question. “Do you need a reason? Because I don’t have one. I just know. You’re the most wondrous thing I’ve ever seen.”
“Thing!” she scoffed, pretending to be insulted, appalled she was blushing again.
He tried again. “You are the most wondrous creature I’ve ever seen.”
“Creature?” she glowered, reaching to poke his ribs.
Zizi caught her hand and placed it on his chest. The beat of his heart was steady and strong, a melody she could listen to forever. She didn’t want to spoil the moment, though she wasn’t entirely sure if what was happeningwasa moment. But Madam Meng’s words were troubling her.
“Your grandmother told me to stay away from you.”
Zizi’s expression turned lukewarm. “My grandmother sees the past and the future. She says many futures are possible, depending on the actions of individuals. If she told you to stay away from me, then it’s probably for your own good.” He let go of Rui’s hand, as if assuming she would do just that.
But Rui kept her hand on his chest. “You fool. To hell with fate.”
There was only silence as they stared at each other.
Then, Zizi grinned. “To hell with fate.”
It sounded like a promise.
They lay on their backs, staring at the ceiling of false stars and dreams, of a heaven that did not exist, and a future beyond this moment, neither feeling the need to say anything aloud.
Rui wasn’t sure how much time had passed when Zizi reached over. His eyes were anxious, uncertain in a way she had never known him to be. His fingers grazed her lips. “May I kiss you?”
She nodded, forgetting to take her next breath as he leaned in. But he tipped his head up, pressing his lips gently on her forehead like she was something precious.
He drew back, wincing slightly, his hand going to his temple.
“Are you all right?”
“I thought I saw—” He blinked a few times. “Never mind. Must be the migraine.”
“You should go back to your grandmother and figure out what’s wrong,” Rui said, though she didn’t want to let go of him just yet.
