The History Behind The Festival

Sha Sha's POV

Today I don't know what happen to my little brother. He keeps insisting on sending me to work. I know he meant well. He's totally different from Hanwei. But, I think some times his gentleness is not like a little brother to a sister, but 'sweeter' in a certain way.

Of course, I didn't think about it too much. I thought that maybe Linwei wants to practice being a good boyfriend when he had a girlfriend. The last time Linwei in his junior year in college, Hanwei told me that he got himself a girlfriend, and Linwei also did not deny it.

Until now, I never heard that he break up with that girl. Maybe they still in a relationship. From what I understand, she's from Narvi town. Someone with high status and a 'lady' at that. Well, suitable for Linwei. He was able to attract someone from the same age as him. After all, Linwei kinda tall and almost at the same height as Andrew. Between my brothers, I think Linwei is the most handsome.

As I walk to the gate, I saw two men standing outside of the factory. One is Andrew, which is I totally understand why he waited for me, and another one is my little brother, Linwei.

I scrunch my eyebrow looking at my brother. I don't think I ask him to fetch me today. Did my father ask him? Now I feel guilty toward both of them. I can't choose between the two. One is my boyfriend, and the other one is my brother.

"Sis, let's go." Linwei grabs my hands, and when I want to open my mouth, Andrew suddenly wraps his hand around my shoulder.

"Sha Sha...I want to bring you somewhere today. Shall we?" he smiles at me before he then glares at my brother.

I'm at a loss. What should I do? This morning I already left my brother when I decide to go with Andrew, and if I said no to him again, I would feel like…ugh...I feel totally guilty.

I look at both of them. Not knowing what I should do...

"Sha Sha.." Andrew holds my hand, which is grabbed by Linwei and push Linwei's hand from grasping me. "We should go now."

I then look at my brother, his reaction looks like he's ready to punch Andrew in his face. Oh god..don't start any drama in front of here, you guys.

"Hey! What right do you have to force my sister to follow you? You said you're his boyfriend, but what you did is forcing her!" I gasped. No, that's totally wrong.

Andrew never forces me. I am the one who wants to be close to him. I am the one who attracted to him first. I was just...

"Excuse me?" I heard Andrew chuckles before he turns his face to the side. Maybe hid his face from embarrassing my brother.

"Then what about you? Why are you keep hitting on my girlfriend when you have yours." I turn my head to my brother. I actually didn't understand what are they talking about.

But I wonder how did Andrew know about my brother's girlfriend? Did someone tell him? But who? The only people who know about it are only Hanwei and me.

Oh, wait, did Hanwei told him? But, since when did those two becomes friends? I think I again fall in my trains of thought when suddenly, Linwei's raised his hand to Andrew, ready to punch him.

I immediately pull Linwei's arm, "Linwei! Stop it, please." I said, and I turn my head to look at Andrew. He seems rather calm, with a little smile on his face. A winning smile?

When I want to turn my head to Linwei again, I heard a faint vibrating sound from Linwei's pocket. "Linwei…your phone." I said, and release his arm.

He sighed and took out his phone from his pocket before he looks at the screen. I saw his face. He seems a little troubled by that call. I wonder who's calling him right now.

"Uh, wait here a sec sis," he told me while touching my shoulder before picking up the phone.

"Hello, Sophie?" As he goes a little farther from us, I turn my body around and look at Andrew, smiling warmly at me.

"Andrew, how did you know about Linwei's girlfriend?" I asked as I want to clear up my curiosity. I know he wouldn't mind telling me.

"Well..isn't he quite handsome? I just take a guess, and who knows if it's true?" He chuckles and holds both of my hands before he brings it close to his mouth and kisses it softly.

"Can't we just go?" he asked me while looking so cute like that. His eyes just like a cat's eyes. I almost melt right now. By this time, my face already red, and I can't stop smiling.

"Um…" I squeeze my eyes, trying to consider Linwei's feeling if I just go without waiting for him. But I think I can't do that.. he's my little brother. I have to at least make him understand that I'm in good hands. He should believe Andrew and stop this weird atmosphere between them.

"N-"

"Sis.." Linwei's done with his phone before he snatches my hands back from Andrew. I saw he stare at Andrew like he wants to kill him, but Andrew didn't intimidate by that stare.

"I had things to take care of, and it seems like I can't send you home either. Could you please tell father that I'll eat out and don't wait for me?" I blink my eyes a few times. Hm? Did he have something important to do even though he's in semester break? Oh well…I believe he had more friends than me. I never know what it's like to study in college. Maybe I should not ask him more.

"Okay," I said and pull my hand back from Linwei slowly and holding Andrew's who stand at my side. "I'll leave now. Take care." I waved goodbye and went inside the car, which Andrew already open the car door for me.

As we leave the factory, I look at my brother from the side mirror, he seems a little sad. I wonder why.

"Are you worry about him?" Andrew asked me, and I turn my head to him.

"Um..not really. Usually, I don't care much about Linwei's private life. But since yesterday, I keep on thinking why he changes so much? I mean..he's too overprotective toward me."

"He's a grown-up man. He'll learn it one day that you too..have your own life. Maybe he just worried about you being my girlfriend? Who knows.." yes, he's right. Everyone seems like they oppose our relationship. Again, I wonder why.

"Aren't you afraid? I may not be able to stay with you for a long time." I scrunched my eyebrow when he says those words. I don't like it. I don't like the tone he uses to say those words. It felt like…it's too real.

I'm not replying to him. I didn't respond because I don't know what answer I should give him. I'm not ready to answer those questions. Maybe I show it too much on my face that suddenly he held my hands and intertwine our fingers together.

"Sorry.." he said, and we turn silent for a few minutes before I remember about the festival that will hold up in a few days at downtown.

"Um...Andrew.." I turn my head to him, and he raises his eyebrow a little. Asking me if I want to say anything to him.

"Do you..um, remember about the festival I told you?" my heart race up. I don't know if Andrew remembers it or not, but I really want to go to the festival with him.

"Do you still want to go to the festival with me?" he turns his face to me like he was thinking of something.

"The festival?" he asked me and nod my head. My right hands still clenching on my edge of the shirt. Anxious because I am afraid that he doesn't want to go anymore.

"Sweetheart, didn't I said that I would love to go with you? Anyway, what kind of festival they hold? I never know there's a festival here." he looks like he was deeply in thought. Did he ever hear it from someone about this place?

I mean, he's kinda familiar with the roads here too. But, isn't this the first time he's coming here? Oh wait, maybe he's a quick learner who can remember the road once he saw it?

"Uh...It's a lantern festival. It is said that once upon a time, there's a royal couple, they were blessed with a happy marriage, but the queen didn't get pregnant after five years of marriages. She was so sad with the people talks, and so she decides to went to the water fountain which is rumored that can grant every wish." I start to tell him about the history behind the festival that they host every year.

"So, the queen makes a wish, but it never been granted. She was so sad and wished for the last time saying that, if she got pregnant, she would send lantern each year to the fountain guardian and make a pledge to keep doing it for as long as she can. At that night, she dances in front of the fountain for about a few hours and lit up the lantern, she left while still crying. The fountain guardian enjoyed the dance and felt sorry for her as she keeps making the same wishes every day. Thus, he went to see God. Make a request to God to give the queen a blessing to have children. But God said that she was fated with no child. The queen has everything in her life. Beautiful face, wealth, and a loving husband.. if she was still granted with a child, it'll be unfair to other human beings which are tested with far greater than her."

"And the fountain guardian said again, then..take anything else to replace it with a child. The next month, the queen was diagnosed with pregnancy, and on the same night, she was informed that her husband died in a war. He runs back to the fountain, crying and says that she doesn't want the child but asking to returning back her husband. However, it was too late. The deal has been made. She dances and dances until a few days passed, but there's nothing she can do. So, the tradition to lit up the lantern has been until now keep going on. It was the form of respect for the queen who lost her husband but blessed with a child. They say that the child from that queen is the descendant of the royal family in Estovia. I don't know if it is true or not."

I ended my story, and Andrew still lost in his thought. I don't know what's he's thinking. But he looks a little serious than the expression that he always shows me.

I start thinking that maybe he didn't like that kind of thing? Does he not like the crowd? Or perhaps he just doesn't want to spend his time with-

"When is the festival again?" he asked, and I was a little surprised.

"This weekend," I reply to him instantly before I pressed my lips. Did I show him that I really want to go? I don't want to force him, though.

"Okay. We'll go there together this weekend. Clear your schedule on that day." Andrew said, and I, a little thrilled inside. I can't hide my smiles, and I think he saw me smiling.

"Let's make a bunch of wish there and dance all night long." I giggle at his idea. Well, I never dance. So don't ask me to dance.

"I can't dance. But we can make a wish. That's if you still believe in those things."