The Rise of the White Lotus

Ethan Lu just stared at the inquiring pair of orbs that were laid on him. After a beat, the corner of his lips curled upward before his head moved a little up and then down. 

"Civil." Raising his hand, Ethan Lu showed his finger that had a ring on it albeit placed on his forefinger for some reason. 

"Wow..." Kevin Woo marginally raised his brows that made his ears move along with them as he revealed a slightly surprised front. "That's fast but congrats." Meekly smiling, Kevin Woo sincerely delivered his congratulatory remarks to his dearest friend. 

Kevin Woo had this part of his heart that he believed that Ethan Lu and Lexi were probably happy now, but he never thought that far ahead that they were that crazily in love to the extent of getting married this soon.

Granted that Ethan Lu did extreme measures to teach him a lesson for bad mouthing Lexi in front of him, Kevin Woo still had this small conclusion that it was just Ethan Lu's ego for having all this power within his grasp. Nevertheless, he was happy if his dear friend as long as he was happy. 

"Thanks, man." Nodding in acknowledgment, Ethan Lu smiled a smile that had the same peace as a mild ocean wave yet, his eyes had the same depth of the vast, unexplored ocean deep. "So, are you coming? Lexi will appreciate your attendance. Also, Lou's girlfriend is an artist and loved your paintings." Waiting for his friend's confirmation, Ethan Lu tilted his head a little to the side as he patiently waited for his answer. 

"I— sure." Hesitating for a second, Kevin Woo finally agreed as he thought he did also need to mend things with Lexi— now Ethan Lu's wife. 

"Great! Here's the address... and I'll see you later." Ethan Lu jotted down the address of the venue that was near their place and then slid it in front of Kevin Woo. His usual mask that he usually wore whenever he was this Ethan Lu: CEO of the Lu Corporation and the master of the Lu family had vanished and only displayed a good friend who truly missed his friend's company. 

"Alright..."

"Okay... I'll head out first— meeting. Endless meetings." Snapping his tongue, Ethan Lu heaved an unreadable heavy sigh as if he was carrying a heavy burden on his shoulders.

With that said note, Kevin Woo personally sent Ethan Lu off down to the establishment's parking space. Staring at the numerous cars that followed Ethan Lu's car which he assumed were his bodyguards, Kevin Woo faintly chuckled as his friend's life had really changed. 

"He's not the same anymore, is he?" As Ethan Lu's car along with the rest of his bodyguard's cars sped away without stopping, Mia Chen's voice rang behind Kevin Woo. 

"Mhmm..." He still had his eyes glued on the retreating cars, Kevin Woo hummed a tune as he slightly nodded his head in agreement. "And so have I." Slowly, Kevin Woo turned to face the elegant yet fragile Mia Chen smiling at him. 

The instant his eyes landed on her, it became extra soft as if he was staring at the most precious masterpiece of the universe. By the looks of his eyes, he was obviously staring at the person who dominated his heart and mind... even his soul, maybe. 

"There's really too many wonders in the world that happened unexpectedly like Ethan and Lexi being together..." Raising his hand, Kevin Woo cupped Mia Chen's cheek while his thumb tenderly caressed it. "Me and you." His other free hand then slowly reached out to her fair fingers as he guided them to his lips to place a soft peck behind the back of her hand. 

This simple yet sweet gesture made the corner of Mia Chen's lips curled upward. "That's true..." Her voice was as gentle as ever as she said those two words. 

"I love you, Mia." Slowly, Kevin Woo pulled her into his embrace and whispered his heart to her ears. 

"I love you..." Soft and barely audible, Mia Chen rested her head to his chest and wrapped her arms around his. Alas, unlike the lovely pair of eyes that the man showed, hers, on the other hand, were cold and bitter. 

'... brother Mo.' Her mind continued and her emotions turned vivid— making Kevin Woo, who was unaware of the name she called inside her mind, smile— thinking that those affections she was displaying were meant for him, and for him alone. 

*****

Hours later...

"Awww~ my sweetie twins, I missed you!" As soon as Rika Song arrived at the venue of the twin's six month celebration, she immediately clowned around the two like a real auntie. 

"Aww~ you missed me too? That's so sweet! Honey, did you hear that?" Turning to Jaime Liao on her side, Rika Song brightly smiled as she asked for a back up for this imaginary 'we missed you too, auntie Rika~' from the twins. However, even before Jaime Liao could support this delusion, Elliot Gong was there to ruin the moment. 

"No, he didn't hear it neither did I." Rolling his eyes, Elliot Gong scoffed in disdain as he slightly shook his head. 

"Oh, shut up you single dog!" Sassing back, Rika Song glared daggers at her number one basher slash a friend. Though sometimes she wondered if they were truly friends or just enemies— perhaps, frenemies?

"You two bestfriends, please don't start arguing in front of the twins." Chuckling as she saw the invisible bolt of lightning that sparked between Rika Song and Elliot Gong, Lexi arrived with a tray of desserts for them. 

"Hey, babies. Mommy missed you a lot. How's your day?" Kissing her adorable twins, Lexi talked to them as if she was talking to a toddler. The instant the twins saw their mother and felt her motherly love, even without words, they smiled brightly and reached for Lexi with their tiny adorable hands. 

"See? That's how they respond because they were like that when they saw me!" In a matter of fact tone, Elliot Gong nonchalantly shrugged his shoulders as he referred to how the twins responded to someone if they miss a person or not. 

"Eli, my beauty will not fade soon but my patience will— so don't start." Snapping her tongue in annoyance, Rika Song casted Elliot Gong a last glare before she took a sweet tart from the tray. 

"You mean don't continue?" Feigning innocence, Elliot Gong marginally raised his brows before he bit his lower lip, restraining himself from bursted out laughing. 

"Urgh!!" Ticked off, Rika Song tried to calm herself down as she didn't want to scare the twins if she goes beast mode again. "Bestie, Honey, please duck tape his mouth for me!" Glancing at the giggling Lexi while carrying Evan Lu and then to Jaime Liao who was oddly silent the whole time, Rika Song helplessly asked for help before she could murder a certain someone. 

"Don't let him get to your head— he's just happy for you." Just then, Ethan Lu's voice was heard from behind and gave his piece of thought of what he overheard. He then headed to Lexi and greeted her and his son with a kiss before he took Lara Lu from the nanny beside his wife. 

"Happy for me my a—" Rolling her eyes, Rika Song snapped her tongue in annoyance as she took the first sentence Ethan Lu said and disregarded the latter. However, even before she could finish her sentence, she was abruptly shushed by Lexi, Ethan Lu, Jaime Liao, and Elliot Gong. 

"Shhhh!!"

"Right! Sorry my baby twins!" Smiling like an innocent girl, Rika Song shrugged off her almost slip of the tongue with an awkward laugh.