Di wasn't planning to go.
The message had come through just after the last exam ended.
["Hey hey hey, we're finally done with finals—KTV celebration tonight! You coming or not?"]
It was classic Jie—loud, casual, and full of energy. The photo attached showed him flashing a peace sign in front of the KTV's floral wall, grinning like nothing in the world had ever gone wrong.
Di stared at the message for a long time.
His mind flicked back to that moment in the hallway—the sunlight, Lan's lowered eyes, the way Jie leaned in and kissed her.
That kiss still echoed inside his chest.
And yet… he opened the map. And found himself walking there.
He didn't know why.
Maybe it was because of that night's phone call.
Maybe it was because he hadn't figured out how to leave.
—
The door to the KTV room swung open. Lights and sound poured out like waves.
Jie spotted him first. "Di! You came!"
He was seated in the middle of the couch, a drink in hand, smile so wide it seemed untouched by memory. Untouched by guilt.
Di nodded faintly and slid into the far corner seat, away from the others.
Jie leaned back and said casually, "She'll be here soon too."
There was no need to ask who "she" was.
—
Five minutes later, the door opened again.
Lan walked in.
White shirt, denim jacket, ponytail high and neat—simple and clean. Her gaze moved quickly across the room, pausing when it landed on Di.
He didn't look up. He sipped his soda, cold fizz burning down his throat.
But he knew she had seen him.
And more than that, he knew—she didn't come for him.
—
"This one's a must tonight," Jie announced as he grabbed the mic. "For our hardest-working student—Lan!"
The opening notes played.
It was "Sunny Day."
Di froze.
"Little yellow flower in the story, floating since the year I was born…"
Jie's voice wasn't perfect. But it didn't have to be.
Every lyric was soft, pointed, and clearly for her.
His gaze kept drifting to Lan between lines.
Lan sat silently, her fingers tightening over her knees.
Di sat stiffly in the corner.
The melody wasn't a sunny day—it was a storm.
A quiet, spiraling, choking storm in his chest.
—
Jie finished singing and turned with a laugh. "Your turn, Di."
Di didn't move.
"Come on," Jie nudged. "You haven't sung anything all night."
Di lifted his eyes slowly.
"You forgot, didn't you?" he said quietly. "How she rejected you?"
The room fell still.
Jie's smile faltered.
"You look real happy today," Di continued, his voice tightening. "Like a song erased what she said."
Jie frowned. "Dude, it's just a song. Just letting loose after finals. You don't have to—"
Di stood up.
"You moved on that fast?" he muttered. "You act like you were never hurt."
"Di—" Lan's voice cut in low, almost like a warning.
But Di didn't turn.
He stepped forward until he was standing directly in front of Jie, who now looked genuinely confused.
Di opened his mouth to speak.
But nothing came out.
His throat burned with all the words he'd never said.
All the things he'd promised to bury.
Then he moved.
He lunged forward and shoved Jie onto the couch.
—
"Di, what the hell?!" Lan jumped to her feet, reaching for him.
But he pushed her aside without looking.
And in the next second,
he kissed Jie.
—
It wasn't gentle.
It wasn't careful.
It was desperate—sharp and unstoppable, like the burst of everything he had swallowed whole.
Jie's eyes widened in shock.
He froze.
Then he started to push.
Di held on like he was drowning.
Until pain cut through.
Jie bit him.
—
Di gasped and pulled away, tasting blood.
Jie shoved him back, jumped to his feet, eyes wide with panic.
He said nothing.
He ran.
The door slammed behind him.
—
Di sat there, motionless.
Blood trailed down the corner of his mouth.
The room was silent.
Only the karaoke screen kept playing a new, upbeat song—
cheerful, oblivious,
completely out of place.