Fate As Me
Huang HuiLiang
" Longwei! You can't do this!" Reaching for my brother's hand before he decides his final moments.
"Don't sacrifice me!" I pleaded with all my heart. I swore to the heavens and the gods, hoping that the closest brother of mine would not do what I feared he would do. Longwei only gave me a look of regret and sorrow.
"Hui Liang, I'm sorry, but...your sacrifice won't be in vain." As a single tear drops from my eyes, my brother pushes me off the building. Sending me to my death.
With my last breath, I yelled my last words. "LONGWEI! DAMN YOU ! I WILL COME BACK AND YOU WILL SUFFER THE SAME FATE AS ME!"
CRACK
Feeling the stinging and my consciousness starting to wake me. I slowly opened my eyes to find a familiar place. Looking around I rubbed my eyes. Am I alive? Still half asleep, a thought crossed my mind.
Rule #1 Never fall into a deep sleep
Realizing who taught me that rule, I clicked my tongue to myself. My eyes widened as I realized where I was.
"MY ROOM!?" I checked the alarm clock that was at my bedside.
" 8:46AM, Saturday, June 2, 2021."
"HAH!? 2021!??" Picking the alarm clock up and staring at it, blinking and rubbing my eyes. Was my eyes tricking me? Thinking back, I remembered when I was pushed off. Standing from my bed, I checked my phone, and it said the same date. Confused as ever, I stomped my way to Longwei's bedroom. Filled with anger, betrayal, and sadness. I was confused with all the elements of the world. I slam the door open to find Longwei not in his room. My nose perked as I smelled something delicious. I followed it to the kitchen, where I heard a familiar melody with a familiar voice.
My feet stopped when I reached the view of the window. My mouth parted, my eyes widened and tears began to develop. Somehow, my hands lost their grip, and I dropped my phone, which caused a loud sound. Startling the woman who was humming.
"Ah, Hui. You're awake." She greeted me with a warm smile. Without hesitation, I ran to her, arms open wide, and hugged her like it was the end of the world. "Oh!" My mother jumped, after a few seconds, she hugged me back. I took in the warm embrace, as memories started to flow back into me. I only remembered that I was such a brat, a troublesome one. How much my mother would beg my father to let me go. And all I did was be selfish and take advantage.
The warm hands brushed my hair. "Hui, you're different today." She chuckled. " Did you awake from a bad dream?"
Bad dream? Maybe all that time...all the horrible things that happened to me...was just a bad dream. I shut my eyes, and nodded slightly. I buried my head in her shirt.
" If you're looking for Longwei, he is eating breakfast with your father-"
"He's not my father!" I hissed. My mother's eyes turned soft. "I'm sorry Hui...I was too insensitive." She apologized. My heart hurted as my bratty self from 3 years ago started to show. I shook my head. "Sorry for yelling." I apologized back. My mom let go of me and grabbed my shoulder. Separating me from her embrace. She stared into my eyes. "You've changed Hui, how did my young boy become so kind and forgiving?" I stopped. Seeing her face made me feel like crying. Tears escaped my eyes and my effort to hide them was in vain. "Hui! I-I are you okay?!" My mother panicked. "No!" I chuckled.
"I'm just happy!"
Happy? Now that I think about it, it feels like ages since I've said or felt that. It felt nice. If all that was a nightmare, I'm so glad that I woke up. If this is a dream, I wish to never wake up. If this is what death feels like...I regret not doing it sooner.
Finally, my tears dried. I sat at the other end of the table while my mother got breakfast ready. She wore her apron and her old Hanfu. I smiled gently, as this was what I realized I wanted. It's hard to believe that distruction began just 3 weeks from here.
After breakfast, I helped my mother do laundry, wash the dishes, and clean the floor. If I think back, my dumb self would avoid such task and go out to play in the trees. Regretting it now, I had hoped that I could fix it.
"Hui, You can go back now. I can handle this on my own." My mother suggested. I nodded and walked outside to the garden. Observing the trees that I always played on, the flower field that was just a few yards away....and my father's mansion. A bitter taste could be felt in my mouth.
My mother was just a mere commoner. Someone with a very weak Lin. But it wasn't like this. She was strong before the accident occured. My father loved my mother, and my mother loved my father. But after my mother became weak, my father locked her away to a farmhouse a few minutes away. She was pregnant with me when she got thrown away. My brother, Longwei, was around 4. And at the age of 5, he awakened his Lin, which is very rare. Usually they awaken at the age of 12. But my father decided to love and give everything to Longwei. Longwei became "close" with my father, but he was also very kind and caring towards me and my mother. Of course he hated father, but he didn't dare to say 'no' to my father's requests. He seemed trapped, but was rewarded with fame, power, and a loving father who didn't abandon him, like how he did to me and mom. Just thinking about it made my blood boil.
"Hui. You shouldn't squeeze the orange like that." My mother said in a timid tone.
"H-huh?" I looked down at my hand, and found myself squeezing the orange until it looked mushy. All the juice spilled everywhere. "I- I'm sorry!" I apologized. My mother chuckled and helped me up from my chair. "No worries."
"Hui!" My head jerked and found Longwei. I frowned as he came closer. "Longwei, how was breakfast with your father?" My mother asked. I kept quiet. Longwei with his disgusting smile, answered mom. " It was great! We had some herbal soup that helps with digestion and healing for the Lin energy."
"It's always meals that heal your Lin." I said while rolling my eyes. Longwei looks at me and smiles. "Well, it also included shrimp." Hearing that word made my ear perk. Shrimp is the BEST. It felt like ages since I've had it though, I've even forgotten the taste.
My mouth started to get watery as I envisioned the tasteful bliss I would feel if I ate one tiny piece. I looked at my mom and she chuckled. "Yes, yes, I'll go to the market tomorrow to buy shrimp." My mother answered my unsaid question. I smiled as I would finally taste my favorite food! "No need Ma, I can just go to Pa's mansion tomorrow and grab a few boxes."
"I don't care how, just gimme shrimp!" I said excitedly. That night, we laughed and enjoyed dinner together. It felt so weird, it felt like I hadn't seen them for so long. Maybe it was all just a dream. Doesn't matter, it only matters that I finally awoke!
2 weeks later....
Friday June 8th 2021
4:29PM
I sat at the shore of the pond near the farmhouse. Staring at the lotuses and lilies that sat elegantly on the surface of the water. I wondered to myself; "How can such a pretty scenery be so near our farmhouse? Wouldn't father take it away?"
"Well, I'll just have to keep it away from that asshole."
As I said that something caught my eyes. Looking across the pond, I frowned in disgust. "Speak of the devil" I whispered to myself. At the other side of the pond the ass stood there with his white silk, and expensive jewelry. I clicked my tongue and stared back at his cold piercing eyes. This lasted for a few minutes before he turned around and clicked his tongue. Saying his 'farewell.'
"Tch, useless."
Without much thought my rage burst and before I knew it, I was on the other side of the pond. I grabbed his collar and growled.
"Say that again you jerk!"
The posh and calm jerk simply stared back with daggers.
"I advise you to let me go, you peasant." He threatened. I glared back and took my right hand back to punch him. Within seconds a white gush of wind flew in between us. Knocking me down and away. As the wind flew away, a sudden reflex kicked in and I suddenly dodged a blade. Both of us were surprised by this. My body just moved without me even knowing. Still shocked, the ass took his blade back and cleared his throat.
"Nice reflexes, but survival instincts will get you so far." And just like that, a mist came in and he was gone.
Wait!
MIST?
During a battle between the demons and Longwei, there was a large mist that protected me while Longwei fought the demons. But after that, the mist disappeared and never came back. For some reason Longwei started to act weird and emotional after that battle.
...
Psh what am I even thinking? That dream was fake anyway.
"Hui!"
I turned around to see my mother running towards me.
"Hui! Are you hurt?! I saw it happen!" She said as she looked everywhere on my body. She was frantic and I smiled. "I'm okay mom. Don't underestimate me! I'm a man and a lot stronger than you think!" I reassured her while trying to flex the very small biceps I had. My mom laughed and brought me back home.
While on the other hand.....
Hui's father gave the signal. An assassin appeared from nowhere and bowed. "You called, Master?" Hui's father wasted no time and said, "Keep an eye on Hui, he's different."
"Yes sir!" The assassin disappeared into thin air.
Disclaimer: Read description if you haven't yet! (Just scroll down to the last paragraph)