PROLOGUE

From: [email protected]
Subject: I’m Coming Back
To: [email protected]

My gorgeous girlfriend, your dearly missed Hebe is coming back!
Selina, you better get this or else Yahoo shall feel my wrath!
Note Ella about this yeah? Her email address doesn’t seem to work anymore.

Can’t wait to see you too!

Love,
H

Enjoying the bright morning with a cup of cappuccino and a laptop in front of her was Selina Ren. After finishing reading the email from her supposedly best friend Selina felt a wave of mix emotions hit her like a tsunami. Yes, she was shocked; however, she was also confused, angered, happy, and the list of emotions goes on; everything felt surreal. For the past decade the name Hebe Tian seemed to have faded away from Selina’s life due to the lack of contacts from Hebe. Because Selina had made some effort to keep in touch; however Hebe’s lack of response had imprinted an impression in Selina that Hebe no longer wants to be connected to her in anyway. Staring at the email, memories came rushing back to Selina like a slide show, and there is no way in hell she would forget that very piece of memories just before her best friend left Taiwan in a flash.

All emotions aside, Selina Ren could only feel anger. Snapping her laptop shut without any bother to reply the email, Selina set down her cup and reached for the phone. She dialed her favorite number and called her best friend of fifteen years. After a few rings the call is finally being picked up, revealing a cranky Ella on the other line, “Selina, this better be important or else I’m going to break every single one of your camera lens!”

“Don’t you dare Ella Chen,” Selina couldn’t help but defend her precious lens first, “Anyway, Hebe is coming back.”

“The last name is Wu now, and who the f-“ Ella paused right before she was about to pronounce the syllables of middle finger. There was a pregnant silence before she resumed her sentence gravely, “Hebe? As in Hebe Tian?”

“Yes, and if you’re still in doubt, the Hebe Tian that disappeared for a decade.”

“Gee, thanks for the detailed elaboration like I couldn’t catch you the first time.” Sarcasm filled Ella’s tone, “How did you know?”

“We all know your brain functions a bit slower than normal people,” Selina chuckled, “And I got an email from her.”

“Since you’re not Chun, I’m not going to say the royal ‘ you’, but yeah I got it. See you later.” Ella’s words were sour, but it was evident to Selina that her best friend was humoring her. They bid each other goodbye.

__________________________________

Sitting like a true diva she is in the business section, Hebe Tian flipped through the latest issue of Vogue to kill time before the plane reach their destination. Beside her was her twenty-four years old personal assistant, Genie Zhou. Assistant was just a label; the two were like best friends or sisters rather than employee and employer. Unlike Hebe who’s reckless, Genie makes her every move with caution; it’s ironic that two different personalities can be so understanding and close to each other. They sometimes wonder themselves.

From the moment Hebe made her sudden decision to return back to Taiwan up to this very moment Genie was still at lost. She had no idea why her boss wanted to go back when they had everything back in the states, and selfishly, Genie would give the world to stay in the States. She has no memories of Taiwan, since her family migrated when she was give, marking this trip her first return to her homeland. Frankly speaking, it won’t be a surprise that her mandarin is no better than a foreigner’s, there was no doubt that Genie was overwhelmed with great anxiety. Genie was starting to regret being a goddamn best friend, and gave in to Hebe’s persuasion.

“Why are we going there anyway?’ Genie asked before she kills herself, mentally.

“Because that’s where we belong, it’s our homeland.” Hebe replied nonchalantly, “By the way, you should start speaking in mandarin.”

Genie groaned, “Oh my Jesu-“

“Is that mandarin I’m hearing?” Hebe feigned, eyes still glued to her magazine, “Nope, that was not.”

“Fine,” Genie rolled her eyes and finally rolled her mandarin tongue with much hardship, boy, isn’t she embarrassed with her accent. “ But really why all of a sudden? Everything was great in the states.” Genie knows Hebe too well to take that lame excuse. Reckless Hebe Tian cares about homeland? Please! Pigs can fly!

Finally lowering the magazine, Hebe gazed towards Genie with a smirk. “I love how you can read me like a book sometimes.” Hebe complimented, “We’re going back because the State is getting boring. And I need new inspirations for my upcoming novel.” Pausing a little, Hebe then continued, “And the rest, figure it out yourself.” Because I need to figure it out myself too, Hebe left out the last sentence. Without giving Genie any chance to ask any more questions, Hebe picked up her magazine and continued reading once again.

Sitting with a train of thoughts regarding what Hebe just said, Genie decided that she could never read Hebe like a book. She can only read when the author herself allows the readers to access the book. And the author had stopped at this page, veiling the rest of book to the reader’s dismays.
________________________________

After the short conversation with Selina, Ella could feel her emotions running like an earthquake—chaos of danger that marks every human with confusion. Hebe has always been the devil and magnet of troubles, even during their trio times. Hebe Tian was a sole heartbreaker she may add; however, despite all, nothing had stopped their friendship. Not until she pull a stunt of cheating and running off with another man, which broke her brother-in-law’s heart without mercy. There were moments where Ella tried to stand by Hebe’s side and defend her friend even though the latter didn’t make any effort to keep in touch. But, even idiots know how wrong Hebe Tian was. It didn’t take long for Hebe to become Ella’s peeve.

Why the is Hebe Tian coming back?’

But Ella knows that if she couldn’t read Hebe Tian’s mind a decade ago, she couldn’t read hers now. Hebe Tian’s comeback is bad news, and when she steps foot on Taiwan soil hell will let lose; she better talk to Chun. Pushing herself off bed, Ella barged in the steamy room with her eye-candy of a husband in the shower. Now that’s a view only Ella has privilege to.

“Oh Ella!” Chun exclaimed in surprised, but didn’t bother to cover up. Instead he continued with his hair, it’s not like this was the first time. His wife is ert, and he loves her for that.

“Morning y,” we should go back to bed, Ella wanted to add, “Are you done yet? I have something to tell you?”

“Still need to take care of the hair. Why don’t you tell me here?” Chun reached for the conditioner.

“Where’s Aaron? Selina just called, Hebe is coming back.” Ella dropped the bomb in one breath.

Chun literally froze while he let his wife’s words process through his brain correctly. Did he hear right? Hebe Tian is coming back? “Aaron is one a business trip. He should be back today. Why the is she coming back anyway?” It was obvious that he was not fond of the novelist.

“I’m not sure, but I’m worry about how Aaron will react.” Ella answered in a low voice. Aaron was beyond repair when Hebe broke him.

“Don’t worry about it. Aaron is over it a long time ago. Even though we don’t share the same father, he is still my brother after all.” Chun confirmed. “Now can you close the door, and let me finish my business here? I’m kind of freezing here!”

__________________________________

Aaron Yan smiled with satisfaction at his laptop screen; the company’s stocks are rising in rocket ship speed. He unconsciously brought his coffee up to his lips and paused, the hot coffee had long turned cold. If there is a word you could use to describe Aaron Yan, it would be diligent or workaholic to be blunt. It took Aaron years to make the public acknowledge him for his ability rather than his bloodline. Being a CEO of your family’s company with your own brother as the chairman is not easy. There are high bars expectations to meet, and Aaron has finally reached this bar with recognition. Welcome to Aaron Yan’s life if you don’t believe it.

__________________________________

“Dear all passengers, we are about to land. Please turn off all electronics and put on your seat belts for your safety. Thank you.”

Magazines are being put down, laptops are shut down, phones are off, iPods are closed and etc.

And the slowly, the plane decelerates.