● THE MEMORIES ● 1

My first memory of my childhood was crying helplessly until I couldn't breathe, sucking air in my tiny lungs because the only son of the family who owns my mother and I had been cruel. Master Li He shoved me down the dirt out of his own meanness.

It was not a game then, it was intentional. He meant to make me cry and he succeeded upon it. I cried and cried screaming without understanding how can anyone be so cruel. I remember my mother as she ran to my side and swallowed me in her protective embrace.

The sound of cries and the sight of my tears upset her gravely, mother looked at her young master like he was the devil himself. He caused pain to her only daughter and there's nothing to do about it.

Le Hi held a firm stare over my mother, leaving her no choice but to apologise for her daughter's behaviour.

''Forgive my daughter, master Li He.'' Her voice croaked.

Li He pressed his mouth into a thin line without muttering anything as he turned around like a privileged child, leaving a billow of dirt behind his trail as he walked away.

When I was twelve and Li He was fourteen, I caught him with one of the neighbourhood girls under the shade of a bamboo tree on a midsummer afternoon. It scared me back then because I thought for sure that was how adults make babies. I later found it was far from it, but I leaned far enough from my perch when I slid and fell from tree I was on, ruining their make-out session.

Li He jerked away from the girl nervously, thinking he was found out. He was relieved when saw me sprawled on the ground, wincing in pain.

''Spying on me, Hui?!''

I shook my head immediate denial. ''No, master. I was here before you two came to make babies.''

''Make babies?''

I tucked my head to my chest red and golden as an apple.

He gurgled a laughter and I don't know why he was laughing at me like that when I'm obviously in pain and he's obviously about to be a young father.

Amused, master Li He watched me struggle to get up from the ground. He cocked his head to the side, his eyes on me, and I felt fright being watch by him like that. He was two years older than me, and he was my master.

''Did you see anything?'' He implored.

I knew telling the truth could get me in trouble so I outright lied to him. ''No, I didn't.''

He gleamed with a smile, bending over to help me on my feet. Master Li He fished a piece of candy from his pocket and handed it to me. It was a bribe, and I was sold immediately. He sometimes bribed me with food when I caught him doing what he's not supposed to do.

TO BE CONTINUED..........

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