Love's Labors Lost Ch. 7
By Ring-chan

Hong Kong Airport
"No, it's not true," Chun Li thought stubbornly as she continued sitting in the otherwise empty waiting lobby.

"It can't be true."

She stared up at the gate's sign.

"Arrival flight 727 from Kompong Som," the bold letters read. Then she looked down at her watch.

11:25

"The plane's just a little late," Chun Li reassured herself, attempting to steep herself further into denial.

"He's okay... I know he's okay..."

"Miss?"

Chun Li looked up to see one of the airport's personnel approach her. "Miss, I think you might be waiting at the wrong gate. Flight 727 won't be arriving. It was..."

"I know," Chun Li snapped brusquely.

She stood up, and slowly walked away. After over three hours of waiting and hoping, she finally realized she couldn't disillusion herself any further.

Ryu wasn't coming back to her.

He had done it again. Even from the grave, Ryu had jerked her emotions back into turmoil. When she thought she finally knew what she wanted. He had disappeared from her life again.

Chun Li returned to her apartment in silence. The trip from the elevator alone, seemed an eternity. She froze in her tracks as she saw Jeff standing in front of her door. He was still in his tux, looking unchanged since she last left him at the restaurant.

Just as she was about to pour out her apologies, Jeff rushed up to her, concern etched into his features. "Chun Li, are you alright? My God, you've been crying, haven't you?"

"I'm so sorry about disappearing on you like that, Jeff." Chun Li said, "I know it was supposed to be our special night together..."

"Sweetie, listen to me," Jeff brought his hands up and tenderly framed Chun Li's face with his palms. "It's alright. It doesn't matter. I'm just worried about you. Is something wrong?"

Chun Li couldn't answer. The man who she loved was dead and had taken her heart with him...

"I'm fine," she answered despite herself. "I'm just fine."

"Where did you have to go?"

"I... I really don't want to talk about it," Chun Li irritably brushed Jeff's hands away from her, feeling a sharp pang of guilt as she caught sight of his hurt expression.

"I was getting so concerned about you lately," Jeff replied. "But honestly Chun Li, these past months together have been the happiest in my life. Tonight when I was worrying about you I realize just how lost I would be without you."

"That's very sweet, Jeff," Chun Li gave him a weak smile and kissed him on the cheek.

"Chun Li," Jeff continued. "I love you, and tonight I realized just how much I loved you."

Then suddenly to Chun Li's surprise, Jeff kneeled down before her on one knee and pulled out a small velvet jewelry case from his pocket.

"Chun Li," Jeff looked up at her with utter adoration, "the love of my life, the woman of my dreams and the queen of my world..." He took one deep breath and asked, "Will you marry me?"

He opened the velvet case to reveal a diamond engagement ring.

Chun Li's hands flew to her mouth and her heart jumped to her throat. Feeling unsteady on her feet, she took a step back from Jeff.

"Chun Li?"

"Jeff..." She paused. "This is so... sudden."

"No, it's not," Jeff insisted. "I bought this ring last month... I've just been waiting for the perfect time to ask you."

"Jeff, I can't..." Chun Li back another step away.

"Why not?"

"Why not?" Chun Li silently asked herself. Oh God, there was no reason... not anymore. Ryu was gone and there was no one else for her. Still, this wasn't right.

"Jeff, I... I just can't," she answered again.

Jeff got off his kneeling position and stood up. "You can't? Or you won't?"

That question stung Chun Li as she heard it leave Jeff's lips.

Before she could say anything else, Jeff slipped the ring box into her hands. "Please, just give it a little more thought Chun Li. I know that we have something very special here."

He gave her a last kiss goodnight, then turned away and walked down the hall.

Chun Li stared after him, clutching the velvet ring case in her hands. Even after he had already descended from her floor via the elevator, she remained motionless and simply gazed at the Jeff's chimerical figure that her mind so insistently fixed in her vision.

Her body stood still but her mind was frantically at work, trying to make sense of everything that was happening. She was feeling so many things at the same time and there was no way to understand what her heart was trying to tell her.

Finally, she sighed and snapped out of that trance. Glancing at her watch, she noted it was nearing midnight, and hurriedly reached into her purse for her apartment keys.

She entered her home and closed the door.

Chun Li kicked off her shoes and with a forlorn sigh collapsed on the couch. Then she sat still... staring off into space... dazed and confused...

All her life, she's been so strong and independent and now she felt so lost. Now, all she wanted was to have someone make her decision for her. She wanted someone to tell her it'll be okay, that he'll take care of everything and all she has to do is curl up in his arms and feel safe.

Suddenly in a fit of rage, her face twisted into an expression of utter anger. She grabbed the purse beside her on the couch and flung it across the room. The small leather purse's loudly audible collision with the wall did little to calm her temper. Chun Li grabbed one of the decoration pillows from the couch and hurled it in the same direction as she did the purse. Next she reached out and got a hold of the small ring case. She wound her arm back and was just about to let it fly when... She stopped herself.

What was she doing?

Her expression softened... the storm inside her eyes died out... and her arm slowly, ever-so-slowly, lowered.

She looked at the velvet case again and brushed a finger over the delicate down textured surface. Then she opened the case again. The diamond engagement ring greeted her eyes with a glimmer and a sparkle, sending her silent promises.

Promises of a future, promises of a new life, promises of a chance at happiness... Quite possibly her last chance.
~~~~~~