Keng stopped coming around.
At first, Ping didn't notice immediately.
Or rather- he pretended not to.
There was no breakfast hanging from the door handle in the morning.
No warm drink waiting for him before class.
No familiar figure leaning casually against the hallway wall, pretending he just happened to be there.
Nothing.
The absence should've felt peaceful. Instead- it felt strangely loud.
"Seems like your admirer is tired," Rain said casually one morning while packing his bag.
"You finally succeeded in sending him away."
"I don't care," Ping replied immediately.
Too immediately.
Rain glanced at him briefly but said nothing.
Still, Ping's chest tightened anyway.
-
Days passed. And Keng still didn't appear. Not outside the dorm. Not across campus. Not lingering nearby like he usually did. Nothing.
Ping hated how aware he was of it.
Every hallway felt emptier than before.
Every morning felt quieter. And somehow- he found himself looking for Keng without meaning to.
"Maybe he's tired", Ping thought bitterly one afternoon.
"Maybe he was never that serious to begin with".
The thought made something ache sharply in his chest.
Leaving people behind... That's always been his nature.
Ping clicked his tongue in annoyance, frustrated at himself for even caring enough to think about it.
"You've been grumpy lately," Rain observed casually while scrolling through his phone.
Ping ignored him.
Rain smirked.
"Did someone steal your snacks?"
Ping shot him a glare instantly.
Rain's grin widened.
Clearly, he already knew exactly what the problem was.
Before Ping could reply, someone approached their table.
Tao.
But unlike usual, Tao didn't look playful.
He looked... worried.
"Keng caught a bad cold," Tao said.
Ping froze.
Tao continued, "Probably from the rain the other day. He's been holed up in his room."
Something inside Ping shifted uncomfortably.
So he wasn't tired.
He was sick.
"Since you live next door..." Tao added carefully,
"can you check on him for us? We're tied up with projects."
Ping stiffened.
His first instinct was refusal.
Absolutely not.
But another thought slipped into his mind before he could stop it.
...He got sick because of me.
"Tch," Ping muttered under his breath.
"Annoying."
But despite the complaint- he still went.
-
Ping stood outside Keng's dorm room, staring at the door for a second longer than necessary. Then he knocked.
No response.
He frowned slightly and knocked again.
Still nothing.
Ping exhaled sharply, turning to leave- Just as the door creaked open.
Keng stood there looking nothing like himself.
His hair was messy, falling carelessly over tired eyes. His face looked pale, his expression sluggish, stripped completely of the confidence he usually carried so naturally.
For a moment, Ping simply stared.
"You look terrible," he said flatly.
Keng let out a weak chuckle.
"That's a nice way to greet a sick person."
Ping ignored him and stepped inside without waiting for permission.
The room was quiet. Too quiet. Almost lonely.
Without thinking, Ping reached out, pressing the back of his hand gently against Keng's forehead.
His brows furrowed immediately.
"You're burning up."
Keng's gaze softened slightly at the touch.
"You're sick because of me," Ping muttered.
"It's okay," Keng said softly.
"I'm fine."
"No, you're not," Ping snapped immediately.
"Sit."
For once- Keng obeyed without argument. Ping looked around the room, then opened the fridge.
His expression darkened instantly.
"...Do you even eat properly?" he asked incredulously.
"Why is this almost empty?"
Keng looked away slightly.
"I don't really have anyone to take care of me."
The answer was quiet. Too quiet.
Ping rolled his eyes quickly, ignoring the uncomfortable twist in his chest.
"Annoying," he muttered again.
But he still stayed.
-
Using the few ingredients available, Ping cooked something simple.
Nothing special.
Just enough.
Keng sat nearby silently, watching him move around the kitchen area with tired eyes.
The atmosphere felt strangely domestic.
Comfortable.
Like something they had lost and accidentally found again.
When the food was ready, Ping placed it down in front of him.
"Eat."
Keng obeyed immediately this time too.
Ping watched carefully until he finished every bite.
Only then did he seem slightly satisfied.
"I'll stay until you fall asleep,"
Ping said afterward, crossing his arms.
"Then I'll go."
Keng nodded slowly, exhaustion already pulling at him.
"Okay."
-
It didn't take long before the medicine and warmth dragged Keng into sleep. His breathing steadied gradually. The tension left his face.
And suddenly- he looked younger.
Softer.
Nothing like the confident senior everyone admired from afar.
Ping sat quietly beside the bed, staring at him. He didn't realize how long he'd been watching until his hand moved on its own.
Slowly- carefully- his fingers brushed lightly against Keng's cheek.
Warm.
"...Why do you look so annoyingly cute even like this..."
Ping whispered softly.
The words slipped out before he could stop them. His expression weakened slightly.
"I was hurt that you left me," he murmured quietly.
The room remained silent except for Keng's steady breathing.
"But what annoys me more..." Ping continued softly,
"...is that I can't bring myself to hate you."
His fingers curled slightly against the blanket.
Because no matter how much he tried- No matter how angry he got- The feelings never disappeared.
Deep down... he still wanted answers. Still wanted understanding.
Still wanted him.
"I still want things to go back to how it was..." Ping admitted quietly.
"Years back."
A quiet laugh escaped him.
Self-deprecating.
Tired.
"I'm so stupid."
What Ping didn't know- Was that Keng was awake. Not fully. But enough. Enough to hear every single word. And Keng stayed completely still. Because if he moved- if he opened his eyes- this fragile moment would disappear.
So he listened silently, his chest tightening painfully with every confession Ping unknowingly gave him.
Eventually, the exhaustion caught up to Ping too. His body leaned forward slightly. Then slowly- he drifted asleep beside the bed.
Keng opened his eyes only after Ping's breathing softened into sleep.
For a moment, he simply looked at him. Really looked at him. At the tired expression still lingering on his face. At the way his hand remained loosely curled against the blanket near him. At how close he stayed- even after everything.
Carefully, Keng sat up. He moved slowly so he wouldn't wake him. Then gently- he lifted Ping properly onto the bed. Ping shifted slightly in his sleep but didn't wake.
Keng adjusted the blanket around him carefully, making sure he was warm. His fingers brushed softly through Ping's hair, pushing messy strands away from his forehead. His expression softened completely. So much regret. So much affection. So much love he still didn't know how to say properly.
"I won't leave again," Keng whispered quietly.
The promise sounded more serious than anything else he had ever said.
He leaned down slowly- And pressed a gentle kiss against Ping's forehead.
"I promise."