Do you hate me?
Do you hate me?
"Mello, wake up. Mello~"
Lu Mello slowly opened his eyes and saw his beautiful wife, smiling sweetly at him. "Enxi…"
"How can you sleep this much when your wife is hungry? Go get me some food now!" She ordered as she sat up and crossed her arms.
A small smile appeared on his lips, "Alright, alright, let me get you some food." He sat up as well and instead of getting out of the bed, he ended up staring at his wife. He watched her walk towards the balcony to greet the morning sun. Once again, he couldn't help but be enchanted at the way the wind blew against her, making her hair sway beautifully.
Although his adoration for his wife was interrupted when a sudden knock was heard.
"Dad, breakfast is ready." A boy's young voice was heard outside.
"Alright, I'll be there in a moment." This time, he got out of the bed and head out of the room only to see his 18 years old son, Lu Xueren, waiting for him.
Lu Xueren has mixed features inherited from his parents which made him look charming in many ways. His sharp eyes were just like his mother's. It didn't hide the same craftiness his mother had. On the other hand, when he smiled, the similarity with his father was seen. Except for his smile, he also inherited his father's brown, wavy hair. He was the complete mixture of his parents. The boy was wearing a formal attire, a black suit.
It was only normal to wear something formal since they were going to visit her.
As they both headed downstairs, they were greeted by a young girl, wearing a white dress. Her long black hair was tied into a high ponytail.
"Eh? Why aren't you dressed up yet, dad?" The girl turned to her brother and glared, "Gege, I told you to wake him up earlier!"
Lu Xuelan grew up to be a lovely girl who inherited most of her features from her mother except for her amber eyes.
A sudden laugh was heard, "Mello, you've been sleeping in lately! If I know better, I would think that you're the one who's pregnant, not me!" Shi Enxi joked.
Lu Mello sighed, "I'll prepare after having my breakfast."
It was supposed to be a sad day and yet, their place was filled with laughter and smiles. It was warm. She would definitely prefer something like this instead of sulking for her.
…
Upon arriving at their destination, they all stood in front of a tombstone that stood near a cliff.
Each of them placed down the flowers they brought before they stood there for a while.
"What was she like?" It was the first time Lu Xuelan asked something about her since she has always avoided such questions when it came to her family. It was like an unwritten rule in the house to never to talk about her. She never brought the topic about her and so did her brother. Their father was always busy so the topic about her never came out throughout the years.
Both her father and brother were quiet for a while, not answering her question. Lu Xueren was young when she died so he couldn't really remember the time he spent with her that's why he didn't have any answers with him. On the other hand, their father would always keep his mouth shut every time they visited her grave. He would never say a word until they left the place.
"She was someone who wouldn't back down without a fight."
Both Lu Xueren and his sister ended up looking at the person who arrived.
The man who walked towards them was none other than Huang Li. His son, Huang Mingyu was walking beside him with a bouquet of roses.
"A strong-willed woman who refused to let others look down on her," Huang Li continued.
"Uncle Huang…"
"She was the person who taught me how to be brave…" This time, it was a woman who said the words.
Behind Huang Li, Fan Xiao Yao followed, and beside her was another young boy who was a few months younger than Lu Xuelan.
"Your mother is the bravest person I know…" Fan Xiao Yao said with a sad smile.
Lu Mello couldn't bear to listen to them as they talked about his wife that's why he turned and left them there. He headed straight towards the rest house that he built for her.
"Dad…" Lu Xuelan lowered her head after seeing her father leave.
"He'll be fine… like he always is after this day pass…" Her brother patted her head gently as he tried to comfort her.
…
Lu Mello headed straight to the attic of the house. There was a room in the attic where walls were filled with pictures of his family but mostly his wife. He now added the newly discovered things in that mini-museum he made for his wife. After placing the box on the shelf, he turned and stared at a photo of his smiling wife.
How can she leave him without even saying farewell? Without even a warning?
"I should have a big photo over there!" Shi Enxi suddenly exclaimed as she pointed at a wall. "Ah wait, not my photo, let's have a big wedding photo over instead!"
A wedding that never happened…
He closed his eyes as he inhaled deeply, "How many more years before I can join you?"
The room became quiet and the figure of his beloved wife disappeared in the room. The only thing he has of her was the memories of her. Every morning, every afternoon, every night, she was only living in his memories.
He stayed inside the room for a while until someone finally called him, "Dad…"
Lu Mello turned and saw his daughter peeking at the side.
"Can I… come in?"
A small smile appeared on his lips as he opened his arms for her, "Come."
His daughter entered the room and carefully approached him. She stopped when she was just a step away from him. She hesitated in giving a hug. Ever since she learned how her mother died, she distanced herself from her father as she began blaming herself for her death.
There were times when she couldn't understand how her father could still look at her so kindly and continue to be loving to her despite being the reason for her mother's death. She couldn't understand why he would continue to approach her even if she continued to push him. She never understood why and she couldn't bring herself to ask him that question.
She didn't know what came into her but that day, questions she couldn't ask him kept on slipping out her mouth, "Dad, do you hate me?"