Reflections

Mei Sinan had not yet figured out how to explain himself when his hands reached out to untie the bag. Officer Silei looked at him in puzzlement, brushed his hands aside, and tore open the thin plastic directly.

"I was afraid it would spill," Silei said. "Thank you all. My breakfast is quite plentiful today."

They exchanged a few more awkward words. Less than two minutes after Mei Sinan arrived, Hesta rose from her seat in the hospital room and said goodbye to Silei. When the two reached the door, Silei turned back and asked Si Yu to say goodbye to Hesta. Hesta said goodbye as well. Only Mei Sinan remained where he was, staring at Hesta with a somewhat dazed expression.

"...Goodbye." Hesta still glanced at him and spoke softly.

"Goodbye," Mei Sinan said at once.

"I'll walk her out," Silei said. "Will you keep Si Yu company?"

Mei Sinan nodded.

After the two left, he sat down in the spot Hesta had occupied. The boy in the hospital bed spoke softly. "Is that her?"

Mei Sinan let out an indistinct hum, as though acknowledging it, yet also hesitating.

"She seems so fierce," Si Yu deliberately lowered his voice. "Is she pretty?"

"What?"

"I couldn't see her clearly," Si Yu said. "Is she pretty?"

Mei Sinan thought for a while before speaking with some difficulty. "She isn't... um, pretty..."

"Then what do you like about her?"

Mei Sinan raised his head. "What?"

"What do you like about her?" Si Yu found this strange. "What's wrong with you?"

"Who told you I like her..."

"You wrote a piece for her."

"You completely misunderstood... completely misunderstood!" Mei Sinan said immediately. Then his voice sank into a murmur. "A huge misunderstanding..."

"Then why—"

"You haven't said any of that to Officer Silei,