56 'Su Chen' and Chesa

Duan Base, 1 year ago...

Both people had made it a habit to go up that hill every night. It had become something usual for the both of them.

Being the only person who knew his his secret, Li Chen always felt more safe and relaxed around Chesa and could only be his real self around her.

On a particular night that Saturday, Chesa didn't show up and he got bothered. They said she had left because of a family emergency and he couldn't help but get worried.

She had never told him anything about her family before. She always changed the topic any time he brought it up.

Still, he found himself calling her number to ask if everything was okay with her.

Her voice sounded hoarse and it sounded like she had been crying.

He heard cars in the background but her small voice still managed to squeeze out "I am fine...."

"Where are you?" Li Chen asked grabbing his jacket. With the way she sounded there was no way she could be fine....

"You....do not have to worry about me" Chesa said groggily over the phone.

Bai Sheng heard sounds of glasses crashing and a woman's surprised gasp.

"....Are you at a bar?"

There was a short silence before Chesa replied to him "Li Chen.....I want to go home. Please come and take me home..."

Hearing her sobbing over the phone, his heart suddenly felt heavy.

He didn't even waste time to ask her anymore as he tracked her location and left immediately.

Thankfully the bar was almost empty that night, the only thought that kept going through his mind was if Chesa got abused in her drunk state.

After looking around the bar, he finally spotted her. She seemed to have passed out as her head was on the table and she wasn't moving.

"Chesa?.....Chesa...."

Li Chen patted her shoulders but only got a grunt in reply.

"Mm, leave me alone.....I'm waiting for Li Chen...."

With a sigh, Li Chen carried her in his arms, ignoring the weird gazes he was getting and walked out of the bar.

Opening her eyes slightly, under the light from the street lamp, Chesa saw his face and was suddenly happy.

"You came....you came for me....."

Li Chen put her in his car and helped her to put on her seat belt.

He thought of going back to the Duan Base but, he knew people were going to ask questions and he wasn't sure Chesa would be happy with that when she became sober.

He remembered that his brother had an apartment not too far from where they were, he decided to take her there.

"Don't go to base.....please..."

Li Chen couldn't help but chuckle, it seemed he already knew her well.

After reaching the apartment, Li Chen, who had no idea what he was doing, took of the girl's jacket clumsily and went to fetch her a glass of water.

Taking the water from him, Chesa stared at the glass intently and her tears began to fall again. She smiled bitterly and drank it.

"Only Li Chen loves me the most" Chesa said not making eye contact with the man she just surprised. 'L....Love?'

"They are all backstabbers, they always used me. But I kept coming back.....just because I wanted a family"

Chesa began to sob making Li Chen flustered. He patted her back but it only made her increase the intensity.

Frustrated, he pulled her into his embrace and put her head on his chest still patting her back.

"Is it too much?...." Chesa looked up at Li Chen's face, this was the only time she could be this close to him without feeling afraid.

"Is it too much to ask for love from your own family?....is it too much to want to be loved like my siblings are?"

Li Chen felt really sad hearing her words, he felt like he was the one in pain and not her. He took a tissue from the coffee table and patted her face dry "It isn't too much, Chesa...."

"Then can you love me back?"

She suddenly interrupted the rest of his words and shocking him at the same time.

"W...what?"

Chesa began to sob again "I knew it!.....but it wasn't my fault. I tried to.....I tried to stop my feelings for you because I knew this would happen. Back in high school you always treated me nice and I didn't want to lose that.

I shouldn't have said this....I'm so stupid...so stupid...." her wailing continued and she buried her head in his shirt soiling it with her tears.

Still shocked by her sudden confession, Li Chen was still in a daze...then he smiled.

He was feeling pressured for so long, since he had started developing feelings for her. He was feeling so pressured, that she would never like a guy like him or even think of being with him.

But now...Li Chen hugged Chesa tighter before lifting her chin and capturing her lips.

Chesa's eyes widened, what the heck was going on!!!?

Still she closed her eyes returning his kiss, even though it was a dream. She felt content at the moment. She didn't want it to end, she didn't want to wake up.

After running out of breath, Li Chen finally left her lips. Her teary eyes were looking at him in surprise and she was slightly panting.

Staring at her eyes, he kept wondering why she still chose to wear glasses when she could just be this way.....

"Li Chen, I...."

"Let's get married! "

Chesa stared at the man with wide open eyes "What?" she thought she didn't hear him right. She has been dreaming of this moment all her life so she won't be surprised if it was just her imagination.

"I said, marry me Chesa Simon!

Let's get married and start a family together, a family that will love you without you asking for it and I would like to spend the rest of my life with you.....it would make me really happy if.....you agreed to be my wife....."

At this point, Chesa was sure she was as sober as they come, she feet like his question washed away every bit of alcohol left in her body.

"You.....you're not going to.....change your mind tomorrow right?"

Li Chen chuckled before shaking his

head.

"And...you are not allowed to divorce me!"

"I would never do that Chesa" Li Chen assured her before connecting their lips again.

Chesa who felt she was about to die from happiness suddenly passed out.

Hearing her even breaths, Li Chen laughed and took her to the bedroom.

He contemplated for a bit before joining her, hugging her from behind.