The echo of sneakers squeaking across the gym floor blended with the thud of basketballs and the sharp commands of the coach.
Chi Cheng wiped sweat from his brow, glancing briefly toward the bleachers.
There, sitting quietly with a water bottle and his usual oversized hoodie, was Wu Suo Wei.
He was pretending not to watch eyes flicking away every time Chi Cheng glanced back but the boy hadn't looked at anything else since practice began.
Chi Cheng's lips curved up faintly. He's too obvious.
A sudden loud smack of a ball bouncing off the rim snapped his attention back to the court.
One of the rookies fumbled a rebound, sending the ball flying straight toward the sideline.
Straight toward Suo Wei.
"Suo Wei!" someone shouted.
Chi Cheng didn't think.
He ran.
And in a blink, he was there arms shielding Suo Wei as the ball smacked against his back instead.
But the momentum was too strong.
They both stumbled backward and Chi Cheng fell.
Right on top of him.
The gym went silent.
Suo Wei stared up at Chi Cheng, eyes wide, lips parted.
Chi Cheng was breathing hard, caging Suo Wei beneath him with one hand braced beside his head. His palm was pressed flat against the floor, just inches from Suo Wei's cheek.
They were too close.
Too close to think.
Too close to breathe.
Too close not to kiss.
Suo Wei's lashes fluttered.
Chi Cheng's heart slammed against his ribs.
For a wild, fleeting second, he leaned in–
"Whoa!!" someone shouted.
Phones clicked.
And the spell broke.
Chi Cheng quickly stood and offered a hand, pulling Suo Wei up with him, his face unreadable.
Suo Wei's cheeks were bright pink. "T-Thanks…"
He dusted off his sleeves nervously, not meeting Chi Cheng's eyes.
From the other end of the court, Cheng Yu and Jiang Xiao Shuai exchanged loaded looks.
"I mean," Shuai said with a grin, "that fall looked straight out of a romance drama."
Cheng Yu raised an eyebrow. "It's getting harder to believe they're just roommates."
Later that day, on the university forum:
📸 [Photo 1] Chi Cheng diving to protect Suo Wei 📸 [Photo 2] Them on the floor — Chi Cheng hovering protectively over Suo Wei
[THREAD]: Is this not the most romantic save ever??
Post by: SweetOnRoommates
"HE FREAKIN SHIELDED HIM LIKE A KDRAMA HERO"
"I'm not even mad anymore this is… actually kinda cute?? 😭😭"
"Ok but seriously. If they're just roommates, I'm just a chair."
"Forget the hate. I ship it."
Back in their shared apartment, Suo Wei couldn't stop replaying the moment in his head.
The way Chi Cheng had grabbed him.
The way his face had hovered so close, eyes unreadable, lips just above his...
He smacked a pillow against his face with a muffled squeak.
Chi Cheng, passing by with a towel slung over his shoulder, paused by the door.
"…You alright?"
Suo Wei peeked out from under the pillow, face burning. "Y-Yeah. Fine! Nothing happened!"
Chi Cheng raised a brow but said nothing, walking off toward the shower.
But inside, his heart was still racing too.
He hadn't meant to fall.
But once he had…
He wished he hadn't gotten up so fast.