The hard splashes of the cold water trickled down Jia’s brows, cheekbones and chin. She cupped her palms to collect water for another splash where its coolness seed to seep inside her skin pores, bringing a much needed relief. She let the tap water flow into the wash basin’s drain while staring at clear water with a dazed focus.
’Thinking about a case shouldn’t spur these reactions unless you weren’t just thinking solely about the case.’
Jia had abruptly ended the conversation and left the place, heading straight to her house. Taking a shallow breath, she turned off the tap, and the sound of the water dissipated into silence. Rubbing her face against the towel, she stepped into the kitchen and opened the fridge to fetch a can of beer.
She collapsed on the living room’s couch with a soft thud, letting all her exhaustion drain away. She gulped a strong sip of the chilled beer, feeling lightheaded as the cold liquid washed down her throat. She rested her head back on the couch, her gaze staring at the ceiling.
From the corner of her eye, she could see the outline of a photo fra facing down on the table under the television mounted on the wall. She ignored its presence and continued gazing at the ceiling. She took another sip of the beer and closed her eyes.
’You need help.’
She straightened up with a gasp escaping her lips. She sucked in a mouthful of air, her chest heaving up and down. She held her head with her elbows resting on her knees.
"I don’t need any help..." she whispered. "I am alert. I am focused. I am doing my job just fine. Mingshen is wrong."
She lightly scoffed. "He just wants an excuse to drag to his lab and dig my heart out of my chest, doesn’t he?"
Jia enjoyed her own company for a while and then headed to dump her creased and dirty uniform in the washing machine. She shook the clothes and emptied out the pockets when a slip of paper dropped on the floor. Sighing, she picked it up but soon stiffened upon recognizing Mingshen’s handwriting on it.
Before she had left the premises without a warning, he had forced a piece of paper into her hands. Jia had read its contents as she made her way to her cop car. She read that writing once again now, pressing her lips inwards. She crumpled the paper and threw it in the dustbin.
Switching the washing machine on, she turned to leave. Her gaze fell on the dustbin, and she stood staring at it for a long ti. The trash can was clean and empty except for that lone scrap of paper. Eventually, she grabbed the piece of paper, dusted it and carelessly folded it. Back in the living room, she stuffed the paper into one of the drawers and shut it.
Jia thought of listening to so music to distract herself when her phone buzzed with a call. Her eyes bead, seeing her sister’s na flashing on the screen and she eagerly slid the green button.
"Lihua! How are you?"
Jia didn’t hear any response from that side but she did catch so whispering.
"Jiaaaa..."
Her heart lted realizing that it was her sweet nephew on the phone. "Weiyun my dear!"
Lii took her turn next and giggling, she called out in the earpiece too. "Jiaaaaa..."
"Lii!" Her heart was now a puddle in her chest. "Aish, how are my cute babies! Were you missing ?"
Lihua took back the phone, much to the twins’ dismay. Their cooing and wails displayed their protest. Then they quieted as Wei arrived just in ti to divert their attention from the snatched phone, much appreciated by Lihua.
"Sis, how was your day?" She asked with the usual chirpiness in her voice.
"Good. Tiring as usual," she sat back on the couch and fetched the beer can, "But I am happy. We just solved a case. A little boy’s parents were both arrested for the cri. I was worried about his future. He was temporarily placed in foster care. He had no relatives to take him in. But a couple related to the case ca forward to adopt him."
"Isn’t that aweso!"
"It is," a soft smile lit on her lips. "I sensed the couple’s sincerity. That’s why I am happy for the child."
"Hehe I am happy for him too! Every child deserves a good, happy family."
She unfocusedly stared at the precipitation forming on the can’s body. "...Indeed."
"Ah yes! The reason why I called you is because Wei and I were thinking of going to the amusent park in a few days. A flier caught the twins’ attention and since then they have been playing with the pamphlet. They are so excited to see the colorful rides."
Jia chuckled. "They won’t be able to ride more than half of them. They are very young."
"I know. But an amusent park is so much fun! It has more than just thriller rides. Plus, there are many fun rides and attractions suitable for babies too, hehe. So let’s all go together!"
Lihua’s hyper excited voice seems to be more eager to go to the park than her children, she helplessly thought.
"Why do you want there?" Jia shook her head. "You should enjoy your family ti with Wei and the twins. I will just be a bone in the chicken."
"No way! How can you even think that, sis? The twins demand their Aunt’s presence too. And and Bojing will be there too! Bro Li, Sister-in-law Lanying, Bro Xinyue and Ruiling are coming too~ It will be so much fun! I am informing you today itself so that you can drop in a leave and co with us. No ifs and buts!"
It indeed felt like a tempting offer. Relaxing a day at the amusent park with the kids and others seed like a great idea.
"Well...okay."
"That’s like my sis! I will send you the schedule in so ti~"
"Wait, if Bojing is coming then does that an..." Jia narrowed her eyes and cautiously asked, "Mingshen will be joining us too?"
"That’s the beauty! Hahaha!" Lihua clearly expressed her joy. "Bojing said that the idiot doctor vehently refused to join us. He is not interested in this kiddie stuff. Hmph! How dare he call our fun ti kiddie! He can coop up in his lab all he wants. We will enjoy it without him hahaha!"
Jia didn’t realize but a silent sigh of relief escaped her lips. "Cool. Count in."
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