Shui was taken aback by the suddenness of the question. For a brief moment, she didn't answer. Not because she didn't know, but because she wanted to choose her words carefully. It was like all the time she spent with him until now began playing in her mind like a movie.
"Well…we are still seeing each other, getting to know each other. But yes, I do see him…more than just a friend," she cleared her throat.
Hou Fa looked at her, attentive.
"I care about him deeply," she continued. "And I admire him. I feel like I want to keep spending more time with him. It's fun to be with him. But more than that, I respect him. For the choices he makes every day, even when they are hard."
Hou Fa let out a quiet breath. "He was never good at talking, - even as a child. When he was hurt, he would just withdraw. Sit in a corner and stare at nothing. Luli and I thought he was being difficult. It made us crazy because we could never tell what he was thinking about."
