Rain Falls
Russia took in a deep breath of air and savored it. It has been so many years since he breathed in Chinese air. How long has it been now? 20, 30 years? He wasn’t sure. Time never did make much of an impression on him. Russia stole a glance as the nation walking beside him. His heart swelled and grinned like a love struck fool. It was so good being able to see him, walk beside him again after long. Time also seemed not to hold sway on the Chinese nation.
When Russia stepped out of the airport, he immediately recognized China among the throng of people waiting outside. He was still hauntingly beautiful, surreal in his Oriental perfection. Immediately Russia dropped his suitcase and ran towards China, enveloping him in his arms. Knowing the Chinese, Russia fully expected China to push, squirm or at the very least protest at embracing in public. He did none of that, in fact he didn’t react at all. Russia released China, opening his mouth to say how much he missed him but before he could utter a single word, China turned around to motion to the servants to carry Russia’s suitcase.
Russia smiled at China’s thoughtfulness. He reached for China’s hand but China turned away, walking briskly. Russia shrugged his shoulders. After all these years, China was still so shy about public affection. Russia hurriedly caught up to the other nation with his long legs. He walked backwards, facing China and smiled, “Yao, I’ve missed you. Did you miss me too?”
China ignored the question and stopped in front of a black car, “I’m sure you’re tired from you’re flight. We’ve made arrangement for you to stay at one of our hotels.”
“Eh? But I want to spend the day with you. I’m not tired at all.”
China heaved a tired sigh, “Russia, I think it’ll be best if you-”
Russia didn’t pay China any heed and walked off in a random direction, forcing China to follow him.
Russia was in awe at how much China’s house has changed since he last been here. He looked towards China. Of course China himself still stayed the same. Even in today’s modern time, he still opted to wear a light blue tang-zhuang. Russia grinned. At least it was made out of cotton.
“Is your house close by here?” Russia asked.
China stiffened at the sound of Russia’s voice but replied tonelessly, “Why do you ask?”
“I thought maybe I could spend the night there instead of at a hotel,” Russia said nonchalantly.
He grinned mischievously, reaching for a strand of China’s hair, “We can consider it a ‘welcome back’ party for me.”
China slapped the hand away almost instantly, his eyes rounded with horror. Russia gazed at China curiously, wondering what was wrong with China.
Realizing he overreacted, China bowed his head and apologized. Russia nodded his head mutely and continued to follow the other nation, rubbing away the stinging pain on his hand. Soon they arrived at a market, crowded with people. It was almost impossible to walk through the mass of people without touching shoulder to shoulder.
Pushed around from side to side, Russia quickly lost sight of China among the crowd. Russia panicked. He had to find China. Something was wrong with him. With his height, Russia scanned for China’s familiar head wildly until at last he spotted a blue tang-zhuang. Russia breathed out a sigh of relief and weaved his way through the crowd towards China. Thank God, China was still old fashioned. Russia almost reached China but stopped in his track when he heard the sound of China’s laughter.
He was talking to an old woman in Chinese- too fast for Russia to understand what they were saying. Hesitantly, Russia tapped China’s shoulder. China whirled his head around and the laughter in his eyes died away instantly. Russia felt all the jubilation and excitement of finally being with China leave his body. This was not what he imagined when his boss told him to travel to China's house. He thought that at last, after so many years, they could finally reunite and be happy again. He imagined so many things, so many scenarios in his head. But not this. He didn’t imagine this, of China hating his touch.
Without warning, rain fell from the sky to drench the people down on earth. The bustling streets filled to the brim a moment ago, quickly became empty as people ran to find shelter.
“Come on, this way,” China ran ahead towards an alley, shading his head from the rain with the sleeve of his shirt.
Russia watched numbly as China got further and further away from him. He tried to take a step forward, tried to close their distance, but his foot wouldn’t listen. Their gap just got bigger and bigger as Russia stood there, getting rained upon. When China rounded the corner, disappearing from Russia’s sight, Russia’s heart clenched. He took a hesitant step then another and another; with each step he took, he gained speed and soon he was running outright to catch up with China. He frantically searched the corner China turned. His heart drummed in his ears as he saw the China in front of him, still out of reach. No, no. He can’t let China out of his sight again.
Out of pure desperation, Russia grabbed China’s wrist and flung him against the wall. Russia leaned in, placing his hands on either side of China’s head.
“What are you-” China started to say but his angry words died in his throat when he met Russia’s eyes.
When Russia stepped out of the airport, he immediately recognized China among the throng of people waiting outside. He was still hauntingly beautiful, surreal in his Oriental perfection. Immediately Russia dropped his suitcase and ran towards China, enveloping him in his arms. Knowing the Chinese, Russia fully expected China to push, squirm or at the very least protest at embracing in public. He did none of that, in fact he didn’t react at all. Russia released China, opening his mouth to say how much he missed him but before he could utter a single word, China turned around to motion to the servants to carry Russia’s suitcase.
Russia smiled at China’s thoughtfulness. He reached for China’s hand but China turned away, walking briskly. Russia shrugged his shoulders. After all these years, China was still so shy about public affection. Russia hurriedly caught up to the other nation with his long legs. He walked backwards, facing China and smiled, “Yao, I’ve missed you. Did you miss me too?”
China ignored the question and stopped in front of a black car, “I’m sure you’re tired from you’re flight. We’ve made arrangement for you to stay at one of our hotels.”
“Eh? But I want to spend the day with you. I’m not tired at all.”
China heaved a tired sigh, “Russia, I think it’ll be best if you-”
Russia didn’t pay China any heed and walked off in a random direction, forcing China to follow him.
Russia was in awe at how much China’s house has changed since he last been here. He looked towards China. Of course China himself still stayed the same. Even in today’s modern time, he still opted to wear a light blue tang-zhuang. Russia grinned. At least it was made out of cotton.
“Is your house close by here?” Russia asked.
China stiffened at the sound of Russia’s voice but replied tonelessly, “Why do you ask?”
“I thought maybe I could spend the night there instead of at a hotel,” Russia said nonchalantly.
He grinned mischievously, reaching for a strand of China’s hair, “We can consider it a ‘welcome back’ party for me.”
China slapped the hand away almost instantly, his eyes rounded with horror. Russia gazed at China curiously, wondering what was wrong with China.
Realizing he overreacted, China bowed his head and apologized. Russia nodded his head mutely and continued to follow the other nation, rubbing away the stinging pain on his hand. Soon they arrived at a market, crowded with people. It was almost impossible to walk through the mass of people without touching shoulder to shoulder.
Pushed around from side to side, Russia quickly lost sight of China among the crowd. Russia panicked. He had to find China. Something was wrong with him. With his height, Russia scanned for China’s familiar head wildly until at last he spotted a blue tang-zhuang. Russia breathed out a sigh of relief and weaved his way through the crowd towards China. Thank God, China was still old fashioned. Russia almost reached China but stopped in his track when he heard the sound of China’s laughter.
He was talking to an old woman in Chinese- too fast for Russia to understand what they were saying. Hesitantly, Russia tapped China’s shoulder. China whirled his head around and the laughter in his eyes died away instantly. Russia felt all the jubilation and excitement of finally being with China leave his body. This was not what he imagined when his boss told him to travel to China's house. He thought that at last, after so many years, they could finally reunite and be happy again. He imagined so many things, so many scenarios in his head. But not this. He didn’t imagine this, of China hating his touch.
Without warning, rain fell from the sky to drench the people down on earth. The bustling streets filled to the brim a moment ago, quickly became empty as people ran to find shelter.
“Come on, this way,” China ran ahead towards an alley, shading his head from the rain with the sleeve of his shirt.
Russia watched numbly as China got further and further away from him. He tried to take a step forward, tried to close their distance, but his foot wouldn’t listen. Their gap just got bigger and bigger as Russia stood there, getting rained upon. When China rounded the corner, disappearing from Russia’s sight, Russia’s heart clenched. He took a hesitant step then another and another; with each step he took, he gained speed and soon he was running outright to catch up with China. He frantically searched the corner China turned. His heart drummed in his ears as he saw the China in front of him, still out of reach. No, no. He can’t let China out of his sight again.
Out of pure desperation, Russia grabbed China’s wrist and flung him against the wall. Russia leaned in, placing his hands on either side of China’s head.
“What are you-” China started to say but his angry words died in his throat when he met Russia’s eyes.