As the two sat down to dinner, Yu Chen asked, "Hua?"
Xi Hua was playing with her chopsticks and seemed to be out of it.
Yu Chen called again, "Xi Hua?"
Xi Hua looked up and said, "Huh? What?"
Yu Chen shook her head, "At least stay in the same zone with me."
Xi Hua: "Sorry, it's just....."
Yu Chen: "Did something happen at work?"
Xi Hua forced out a smile, "Nothing happened, really. It's just...been a long day."
Yu Chen was deeply hurt by Hua's response. She said, "Did we really drift so apart during my time away that you're gonna act like this in front of me?"
Xi Hua avoided looking into Chen's eyes, "There's really nothing to tell Chen. You're getting worked up over nothing."
Yu Chen dropped her gaze as she said, "Fine."
The two ate in silence for a while when Chen suddenly stood up.
Xi Hua looked up from her plate, "Huh? What's wrong Chen?"
Yu Chen looked directly into Hua's eyes and said word for word, "Nothing. I'm just tired and not hungry anymore. I'm going to bed."
She collected her plate and bowl and washed them before wiping her hands and going towards her bedroom.
In the apartment usually filled with Xi Hua's chatter and Yu Chen's remarks, the silence was stifling for both the girls as Xi Hua continued to sit at the table ans Yu Chen closed her door with a bang.
Inside her bedroom, Yu Chen sat down on the floor with her back leaning on the door.
She lightly punched and scolded herself, "Why did you have to go and get upset? She's the one who's upset, you need to be there for her."
She then leaned back on the door, "Oh my god! I can't believe this is what has become of per friendship. Is it my fault? Is it because I was not available when Hua needed me the most? Whaaaaaa....."
Her own voice turned into an exclamation of pain as the door on which she was leaning suddenly opened and Chen fell back and her head banged on the floor.
"Owwww!!!!!! What the hell!?!?!?" Yu Chen exclaimed as she lay there looking up.
Hua's face appeared in front of her and she said, "What the hell were you doing?"
Yu Chen sat up rubbing her head, "I was sitting. It's your fault for suddenly opening the door."
Xi Hua crossed her arms, "So now I am supposed to knock on doors of my own apartment?"
Yu Chen and Xi Hua stared at each other for a moment before they both started giggling like little girls.
"Guess you haven't changed that much." Xi Hua said, sitting on the floor opposite Chen.
"What that much? I haven't changed one bit. I'm still your unofficial mom." Yu Chen pretend scolded her.
Then she turned serious and said, "I'm really sorry Hua. I shouldn't have gotten angry like that. I guess it was just because I started feeling insecure."
Xi Hua tilted her head, "Insecure?"
Yu Chen: "Seeing you all closed up, I got the feeling we're not that good friends as we used to be."
Xi Hua hugged Chen, "Idiot. You'll always be my best friend in the whole wide world."