275 Senior year (Seven)
“Yan Ge, are you not going to the library after school?” An Xiulan asked her brother as all of them were going home at the same time. It was one of the rare times when the three of them would return together.
“Yeah, ” Gu Shangyan softly said, tugging his school tie to loosen it. He heaved out a tired sigh and checked his phone once again. Since last night Yoona hadn’t texted him. He didn’t trouble her more because these days all of them had been too busy with studies that they didn’t even have time to spend with each other. The senior year would end in three months and teachers had been extremely strict with the senior students.
“Why didn’t you go to the library with that boy?” Lu Xuan questioned her.
“I was tired, ” An Xiulan replied. “I thought I should take a day break.”
“So, we are going home together, ” Lu Xuan said with a smile.
“I’m a bit sleepy, “An Xiulan murmured.
“Come, place your head on my shoulder. I will wake you up when we reach home, “Lu Xuan said, patting his shoulder.
An Xiulan placed her head on his shoulder and closed her eyes to relax. Lu Xuan placed his head on Gu Shangyan’s shoulder and slept.
Gu Shangyan shook his head at the two kids but didn’t say anything. These days were too tiring. He just hoped that this year passed soon and they could go back to their schedule. They had the best days at school but now that high school was about to end in three months, he found out that he didn’t even have time to take a breath. He wanted to relax but he knew that it wasn’t possible until the final exams.
Soon, the car stopped at the gates of their house. As the three of them got out, they saw An Qinyan and Gu Yanxi at home earlier than time.
“Good evening Mom and uncle, ” An Xiulan greeted them. “How come you are home so early today?”
An Qinyan sighed as she looked at the children. “We went to the Bai family’s house.”
Gu Shangyan furrowed his brows. He had a very bad intuition about this. He didn’t want to guess what the two elders were about to say. In his heart, he felt as if they would say something bad.
“Why?” It was Lu Xuan who asked this question.
“Old patriarch Bai passed away in the hospital, ” Gu Yanxi replied. “Since we are close to Yoona’s parents, we went to the funeral. Old Bai gets to spend his final days with his family. The family is devastated by his loss.”
Gu Shangyan now understood why Yoona had not called him all day. He didn’t know how she was doing. He immediately ran to his room to call Yoona to ask how she was doing.
“What happened to him?” An Qinyan asked.
“Mom, Yoona is our friend. Yan Ge is worried about her. Losing a family member is painful, ” An Xiulan replied with a sad smile.
“Yes. It’s very hard for everyone, ” An Qinyan nodded her head. “When you get time, call your friend and make sure that she is alright. If you can, you should visit her too.”
“Yes, mom, ” An Xiulan nodded her head.
In the evening, Lu Xuan and Gu Shangyan were standing on the terrace. Since both of them were eighteen years old now, no one stopped them from occasionally consuming beers.
“Did you talk to your girlfriend?” Lu Xuan questioned him.
“Yes, ” Gu Shangyan replied. “She is sad. She said she will spend more time with her dad as he is devastated by the loss of his father.”
Lu Xuan nodded his head. “In just three months, we will be leaving home to attend university in another part of the country. Two years ago, when we met, did you think that we would become family?”
Gu Shangyan smiled at him. “Life is very unpredictable. I dare not assume anything about life now.”
“Did you choose which university you want to go to?” Lu Xuan asked.
Gu Shangyan sighed. “Are you angry at me for entertaining the thought of moving abroad just for the sake of my girlfriend?”
“Is it even a question?” Lu Xuan snorted.
“I’m serious, would you be angry if I chose her over everything?” Gu Shangyan questioned.
“Honestly, I don’t know, ” Lu Xuan replied. “She is a good girl. She loves you. She cares for your family. But sometimes she expects too much from you. Instead of meeting halfway, you have to cover the journey for her. I have this feeling that if you leave her, nothing will ever be the same. And you know what sucks? I can’t tell you if it’s a good change or a bad change.”
“What would you do if Xiulan chose to study abroad?” Gu Shangyan replied.
“She won’t survive anywhere without family. Not that she is naive or silly but because she loves her family too much, “Lu Xuan answered. “Her score has improved. I’m thinking of going to the same university as her or near her. I don’t want her to face the world alone. I want to always protect her.”
Gu Shangyan smiled at him. “I don’t even know what I want to do. I don’t want to lose Yoona but I don’t want to leave my family behind either. Can’t I have both?”
“You can’t have the best of either world, ” Lu Xuan shrugged. “Bro, why do I have this fear that if you leave once, you won’t return?”
“Nonsense, ” Gu Shangyan grunted. “I’m just going abroad for graduation, not setting down.”
Lu Xuan smiled at him and patted his shoulder. His brother had made up his mind and he was happy that he finally knew what he wanted to do with this life.
Where are you going?” Gu Shangyan asked as he saw Lu Xuan leaving.
“Downstairs, mom didn’t look well to me, ” Lu Xuan said and disappeared.