The Blood Hourglass Volume 1 Chapter 7

Chapter 7 Meeting

When I opened my eyes it was dawn. The nice weather outside sent sunlight into my room, reflecting even brighter on the mirror by my bed. I rubbed my eyes and got up, groggy-eyed, just like a highschooler. I staggered my way into the bathroom. I was used to living among normal people because I was more and more like a normal person now.

After I was done with my was.h.i.+ng up and went downstairs, my dad heard my footsteps and said in the kitchen, "Jing, why are you up so early? It's Sat.u.r.day. You could sleep in."

"Xiaoya told me to take her clothes shopping." I sat in front of the breakfast table as usual.

"It'll just be a second. Breakfast is almost done." Dad treasured me, fixing breakfast for me every day. I know he loves me so much; should I leave one day, he'll be heartbroken. I didn't want to see him like that, not even in my imagination.

We ate together. It was great to see him with a wonderful appet.i.te; it made me happy every day. His job kept him busy, making him go to work on weekends, too. We usually walked out of the house together and took off in different in directions.

I went to the meeting place to find Xiaoya. She was waiting already, so we browsed the various stores, but after several rounds, she still didn't find any clothes to buy. This was unlike her.

"Did you have something to tell me?" I didn't want to waste time walking around, so I stopped.

"Yeah, it's actually my birthday today. I want you to have dinner at my house; would it be okay? If not, it's fine, too," she asked with her head lowered.

"Okay!" I agreed.

"Really? You're really coming?" She was excited, and looked at me with disbelief, as if she didn't believe her own ears.

"Yes."

"Yay, you're making this birthday my happiest ever!" She jumped up, making pa.s.sersby watch us with curiosity; they even looked back.

"Let's head out then." I didn't want an audience. I was about to go but she stopped me to say, "Let's wait here."

"Who's picking us up? Your dad?" I asked.

"No, you'll know in a second." She smiled at me. I saw some melancholy in her smile, which didn't suit Xiaoya's innocent face. Just then, a car drove towards us. It was a clean, white car, but where the car logo should have been was a simple but unusual cross made of two wooden sticks. The car stopped next to us. The door opened to reveal a man not too much older than Xiaoya. He must have been her older brother. Xiaoya called out.

"Gege, You're so on-time!"

"That's 'cause I always wear a watch." He chuckled.

"This is my best friend, Jing." They both turned to look at me.

"Hi, I'm Xiaoya's older brother." He extended his hand politely.

"h.e.l.lo." I gave my right hand to him to shake. I had a weird feeling that I'd seen him before. But why couldn't I remember his name? I scoured my memory.

"Have we met?" he suddenly asked.

"I don't think so," I answered.

"I feel like we've met each other before; you seem familiar to me."

"Really?" I said softly, acting not very interested; actually, my brain was racing to find the same answer.

There's such a thing as a familiar stranger, and that was how I felt. Why did he feel so familiar to me? The way he acted, the way he talked . . . all made me feel deja vu. Was it an illusion? No, normal people would have it, but I wouldn't. Plus, he felt the same way. There was no way both of us felt the same illusion. This was very odd.

"What are you thinking about? It's getting late. Let's get in the car." Xiaoya nudged me.

"Oh, it's nothing." I got in the car with her.

"Hey, what are you doing ? Get in and drive!" Xiaoya hollered at her older brother.

"Yes ma'am. I'll be right there." He seemed to be lost in thought as well.