My Beloved

"How did this happen?"

"That was unexpected!"

"I feel bad for that twelve year old girl."

"Her name is Luo Han, right?"

"Was her ankle twisted or her foot fractured?"

"I don't know. She was dancing so beautifully and suddenly the accident happened. She couldn't go to the fourth round, could she?"

"Yes. What a pity! I was cheering for her."

"Yes, I voted for her too."

While the staff was talking, Han Luo who was quietly lying on the bed, covered herself with the quilt. She recalled what happened ten hours ago.

She was dancing like a proper belly dancer and everyone was mesmerized by her dancing. However, in the last part, her heels couldn't stand her weight and movement; and the heels broke. Obviously, Han Luo wasn't wearing a sandal. It was wrapped around her legs with golden laces. 

As a result, when the heels broke, she couldn't throw the heels. Though she was prepared to dance on bare feet, she couldn't and she lost her balance. Everyone saw her fall down at the last moment and twist her ankles. 

It hurt like hell and she couldn't cry in front of people. The pain was overbearing enough to make her faint on the spot. The medical team came and took her away. Everyone was worried about her and they felt sympathy for her.

However, she couldn't keep it up till the last part, and therefore, she was taken down.

Han Luo shut her eyes tightly. 

She was taken to her room right after she fainted. The medical team took care of her ankles. When she woke up, she heard from the staff that she was disqualified. After the medical team left her room, she checked the shoes she was wearing while dancing and found out that someone deliberately broke the heels beforehand.

Remembering the smiles of those four girls, she clenched her fists. 'No, I won't blame them. It's my fault for not being careful. I'm the one who is stupid.'

Now that she was on the bed, suffering in pain, she felt like crying for her own stupidity. 

Knock! Knock!

Someone knocked on the door. Han Luo quickly wiped her eyes and got out of her bed. She was wearing pajamas. She hurriedly wore a sweater over her pajamas. 

She opened the door and found Jared standing in front of her. He was worried about her but he didn't know how to approach her. In the end, he gathered some courage and came to meet her.

Seeing her milky face flushed and her eyes red, he was upset. He hesitated before asking worriedly, "How's your leg?"

"It twisted a little, nothing more. Come inside." Han Luo let him enter her room and then she locked the door.

Jared helped her to sit on the bed and then he sat down on a chair. "I'm sorry I didn't come to check on you earlier."

Han Luo replied, "It's a good thing that you didn't. I wanted to stay by myself for a while."

"Which leg was twisted? It can't be both, can it?" Jared asked. Both of her legs were bandaged so he couldn't guess.

She answered, "My left leg was twisted and the skin of my right foot was torn because of the shoelace." 

"…Was it them?" Jared could guess what happened. When he was having dinner, he heard those girls speaking and making fun of Han Luo. He could only clench his fists and listen to the very end. 

Han Luo gave a forceful smile. "It doesn't matter anymore. I'm already out. I guess I've lost. You are the best dancer in our school."

Jared interrupted her saying, "Stop this nonsense. I won't take this failure of yours for granted because you weren't supposed to be disqualified. I want to compete against you fair and square. That will make you and myself know for sure who is better."

"That's very noble of you," she praised him.

He frowned. "Just what did you take me for?"

"A jerk." Han Luo smiled a little. It was the first time she smiled today after the accident.

"You…" Jared paused and resigned. "Fine, I know I deserve it after hurting your feelings back then in school." He finally stood up. "I think you should go to bed now."

"Thank you for coming." Han Luo said. 

She wanted to stand up but Jared stopped her. "Don't get up. I will lock the door from inside before going out. I don't think those girls will disturb you since you are leaving tomorrow. I will come tomorrow and help you pack."

Han Luo was surprised by his kind gesture. "That's very kind of you. Thank you."

Jared blushed a little and quickly averted his gaze. "This is what I should do for my fellow dancing partner. I'm going then. Good night."

"Good night." Han Luo saw him close the door and the door was locked from inside. She lied down on the bed and closed her eyes. However, the moment she did, the accident again flashed in her mind and she opened her eyes. 

'I cannot do this anymore.' She covered her face with her hands. She took some deep breaths but still couldn't calm down. Seeing no other choice, she sighed and got up from the bed. 

She couldn't wear any boots or shoes as her feet were bandaged. She wrapped her feet with plastic. She covered her body with an overcoat and a muffler and headed out. The night was surely cold. She shivered as she walked out of the building. She went to the hotel next to hers where Mo Yuan was staying. 

Some of the participants were still in the lobby after dinner. Seeing her, they recognized her instantly. Han Luo's accident was known worldwide. They began to whisper. 

Han Luo didn't pay attention to them and headed to the direction of the elevator. When the door of the elevator opened, some participants of music and singing came out and bumped into her.

They recognized her and exclaimed, "Oh, you are Luo. Are you all right? Is it okay for you to walk?"