Jian woke up to a strange kind of quiet.
Not the peaceful kind.
Not the lazy, warm kind.
But the kind that makes your chest feel full even before your eyes open.
"…why I feel like this…" he mumbled into his pillow.
He blinked at the ceiling.
The early morning light spilled through the curtains — pale, winterish, almost shy.
His heart gave one small thud.
…because you said yes.
Wei's voice floated up from somewhere in his memory, soft and trembling.
Jian groaned and rolled onto his stomach like he could crush the feeling out of himself.
He couldn't.
His Sister barges in
The door burst open without warning.
"GEGE WAKE UP!"
Jian jumped so hard he choked on air.
"ARE YOU A DEMON?!" he yelled.
His little sister stood there with her hands on her hips, hair sticking up like she'd fought gravity and lost.
"You're acting weird," she declared.
"Ma said why you shouted his name in your sleep."
"I DID NOT—" Jian's soul left his body. "WHOSE NAME?!"
His sister squinted at him.
"…Wei gege?"
Jian threw a pillow at her.
"GET OUT. GET OUT RIGHT NOW—"
"Ma!!" she screeched, running away.
"GEGE IS HIDING SOMETHING!! I THINK HE HAS A BOYFRIEND!!"
"WHAT— NO— COME BACK HERE—!!"
His mother's voice echoed from the kitchen:
"Jian! Why are you screaming so early?! Come eat!"
"I'M NOT Hiding ANYTHING!" Jian shouted, slamming the door even though no one was inside anymore.
He collapsed against it, face burning.
This was not how he wanted to start his morning.
Jian's Morning Hustle
He brushed his teeth too fast.
Swallowed mint foam.
Coughed.
Almost slipped on the bathroom floor.
His reflection stared back at him, judging silently.
His ears were still red.
"Why am I like this…" he muttered.
He put on his uniform in the wrong order.
Then again in the right order.
Then buttoned the top wrong.
Then fixed it.
He kept remembering Wei's exhausted face yesterday.
Wrapped sleeves.
Soft voice.
That tiny confession—
"…because you said yes."
His heart did that stupid flip again.
"STOP," he told his chest.
His chest did not stop.
At the breakfast table, his mother watched him suspiciously.
"You're quieter than usual."
"I'm ALWAYS quiet."
"No, you're usually loud and annoying," his sister said while munching on toast.
Jian slammed his head on the table.
"I can't do this life anymore."
Leaving home
He wore his shoes wrong.
Fixed them.
Forgot his bag.
Went back to get it.
Came out running.
His mother shouted behind him:
"Don't forget your lunch!"
His sister added:
"And don't forget your BOYFRIEND!"
"HE IS NOT— I DON'T— YOU—"
He sprinted down the road before more words could kill him.
His heart was racing
and it wasn't from running.
On the way to school
The winter air bit at his cheeks, sharp and cold.
He walked fast, but his thoughts walked faster.
Every time he imagined seeing Wei in class today his stomach twisted.
Would Wei look at him?
Would he avoid him?
Would he pretend nothing happened?
Would he say something?
And why did Jian suddenly care about all these questions?
He shoved his hands into his pockets.
"…this is stupid," he whispered to himself.
But he still quickened his pace.
Like someone was pulling him forward.
Arriving at the classroom
He stopped outside the door.
Took a small breath he didn't admit he took.
Pushed the door open.
Wei was already inside.
Sitting by the window.
Head resting lightly on his hand.
Eyes half on the outside and half lost in thought.
The morning light touched Wei's face gently, making him look softer, quieter, a little lonely.
And then—
Wei's eyes lifted.
Just slightly.
Right at Jian.
Their gazes brushed.
Just a second.
Just enough for Jian to feel something warm drop into his chest.
Wei looked away quickly.
Not out of discomfort—
But out of shyness.
Jian swallowed.
His face warmed.
And Yanyan, who was drinking water, stopped mid-sip.
She slowly lowered the bottle.
"…okay, what was THAT?" she whispered.
Jian inhaled sharply.
"What was what— nothing happened— don't say weird things early in the morning—"
"You two just looked at each other like a slow-motion drama scene," Yanyan said, eyes wide.
"STOP TALKING."
Yanyan only smiled like she knew more than she should.