War of Love and Honor

China, 1992 The waves have been bothering me since I left the coast of Europe. Now, the city of Shanghai was unveiled before me as I sit at my table inside my peaceful and luxurious cabin. I don't know what should I suppose feel as I step out from this ship. The life I will be having on my father's roof is unclear and everything is uncertain. It is rest assured that I will only trust myself for I'm just a foreigner in my motherland. Daiyu closed her journal as she finished writing down her deep thoughts about going home after eighteen years. Her mind is chaotic as soon as she left Europe to be her father's attendee in addressing some problems with his business. Daiyu's parents separated a long time ago and since then, her mother took her to Europe to live with her. “Mom, I don't know what to do,” Daiyu mumbled using her native language, Chinese. She's been living in Europe for years but her mother did teach her how to speak Chinese to honor her father. She's originally Chinese after all. Looking at the peaceful waves, a knock on the door caught echoed all over the room. “Lunch is ready, Ms. Zhang,” someone spoke outside. “Thank you. I'll be coming up after few minutes,” She replied as she packed her things. This is her last meal on the ship before arriving at the dock. Grabbing her gloves from the study table, she gracefully exited the room and proceeded to the main deck. A well-organized and elegant deck accompanied by jazz music and laughter from different people welcomed her. This is the best part of this ship because it's always crowded and she doesn't feel alone around these people. She was about to have her lunch when a man approached her. “Are you going to China?” he asked. Daiyu simply gave him a nod and started eating. Thinking he should leave any moment, Daiyu didn't bother looking at him but she frowned when she saw him standing beside her. “Can I help you, Sir?” she asked him but he didn't seem to hear it. He's busy looking around with an agitated look on his face. Moments later, he started trembling. “I s-should keep g-going.” He just bolted away while looking around, nervously. “What's wrong with him?” Daiyu mentally thought. That man is Chinese and Daiyu doesn't know why he was acting anxious. After a while, Daiyu cleared her throat and sighed as she finished her lunch. Right now, she can see the docks not far from where they are. Shanghai is just at her reach and she needs to get her things ready so, she paid her bills and left the deck. The corridor is usually quiet and empty but on her way to her cabin, she suddenly heard the sound of something breaking in the cabin just beside hers. The noise didn't stop, it seems like there's a fight going on inside. No one's around and her heart is beating faster, she's nervous. Daiyu don't want to meddle but before she knew it, her hand twisted the knob and pushed the door open. As the door closed, her body felt numb and all she can hear is the loud beating of her heart. She's beyond horrified and frightened at the scene before her. Someone is lying on the wooden floor, bathing with his own blood. Daiyu slowly averted her gaze to the man holding a knife only to find out an outraged look on his face. “Who are you?!" he growled and Daiyu trembled in fear. She's running out of breath because of uneasiness and can't even utter any word. She's frightened and stunned. The only thing Daiyu did was walk backward and try to escape but the man quickly fled in her direction and locked the door. He even captured both of her hands and handcuffed them at her back as he carried her towards the bed. The man put Daiyu on the bed and tucked her. ”Get away from me!“ Daiyu shrieked when the man closed the distance between them. Their face is so close, she can even hear his heavy breathing. He flashed a devilish grin. ”Lower your voice or I will kill you,“ he whispered. Daiyu looked away as tears started rolling down her cheeks. She will be dead if she asks for help. The man checked his watch for a second. ”We'll be getting out from this ship in six minutes so, you have to keep your mouth shut. Don't try to make a noise, you know what will happen if you disobey me,“ he said with pure seriousness. Daiyu gulped and nodded as she watched him clean up his mess. He put the dead body inside huge black luggage and put it under the bed where Daiyu is sitting. The next thing he did was wipe the blood on the floor and make sure to dry every drop of blood. The man is incredibly good at this, he killed someone in this cabin but managed to make it look like a crime didn't take place here. He tidied up everything in just a few minutes and now, he's standing tall in front of Daiyu. When the man grabbed Daiyu's chin and made her look at him, she looked away. ”Tell me your name.“ It was a demand that needs a quick answer. ”Selene Zhang,“ Daiyu muttered. ”I need your Chinese name,“ he asserted as he composed himself and folded both of his arms in front of his chest. ”Zhang Daiyu,“ she recited her name. The next thing Daiyu know, the man held her chin again and made her look at him straight in the eye. ”What you saw just now costs your life,“ he marveled. Daiyu closed her eyes and tried to suppress her tears. ”Please, let me go. I promise not to tell anyone about what happened earlier,“ she begged. The man smirked and leaned closer to her. ”I won't let it slide.“ Daiyu already reached her limit. She has to talk to free herself from him. ”I won't talk about what I saw because it's not my business. I can sign an agreement and pay a huge price if I go against your rules.“ ”Negotiation, huh? How about taking your life as soon as you dare talk about what you saw? Pretty fair, right?“ Cruel. He's awfully cruel. Daiyu mustered all her courage to negotiate with him because it's the only way she can be free from this predicament. ”I won't break my words, trust me.“ He scoffed. ”How can I trust a woman from Europe?“ Daiyu frowned because of his remark. How did he know? She doesn't remember telling him anything except her name. ”How did you know?" Daiyu questioned him. “This necklace can only be found in Europe, you can't get something like this in China.” He touched Daiyu's necklace and glanced at her. “Only Europe produces this kind of pattern in jewelry,” he added. The man left Daiyu impressed. He isn't to be underestimated, he's wise. “You're right. I'm from Europe and I don't have anything to do with your business so, let me go.” Just after Daiyu finished her sentence, a loud knock was heard from the door. “We've arrived. Please exit the ship peacefully,” someone announced. The man distanced himself but he was staring at Daiyu as if he's examining every part of her. “Alright. I will let you go,” he spoke up and took off the handcuff. As soon as took the handcuff off, Daiyu hastily left the cabin and entered hers to grab all her luggage and exit the ship. She has to get away from him as soon as she can, he's dangerous. Daiyu may have successfully departed from the ship but she knew she's not entirely safe. That man might be lying about letting her go. She wanted to get home but she has to find the person her father sent to pick her up. “Welcome home, Ms. Zhang!” Daiyu was startled when a group of people bowed in front of her when she was about to walk past them. She didn't know her father sent them to pick her up, she only expected one. “Thank you so much for being here,” Daiyu thanked them and bowed. She didn't know what more should she say because all of them are strangers to her. “Please get inside the car, Ms. Zhang. Your father is waiting for you at home,” one of them said. Some of them took all her luggage and put it inside the other car, they used two cars. Before getting inside the car, Daiyu looked around because she can feel like someone is watching her every move and she nearly jumped in fear when she found out who's watching her. That man in the cabin, he's giving her a warning look and she knows what he's trying to say. She can't disclose what she saw or she'll be dead. Daiyu was the first one to break their eye contact and got inside the car as they drifted away from the noisy dock. On the way home, Daiyu started recalling the incident at the ship then moments later, something hit her. Her eyes widened in shock when she realized who the murdered man was. It was the man who approached her at the main deck! “Why did he kill him?” she whispered in the air. She didn't recognize him earlier because she wasn't in her right mind, she was beyond scared. Daiyu kept thinking who's the man at the cabin? Why did he commit murder? She badly wants to know more but she shouldn't because her life would be at stake. She would choose to cage her very own curiosity if it means being safe from the man she just met.