I gently picked him up and held him in my arms. He lifted his head and gazed at me, as if examining me.
His clear blue eyes shone brightly like twinkling stars in an azure sky. Like crystals. His soft, white fur danced as the breeze passed by us.
"Wowww." It came out before I knew it.
Such a beautiful little cat. No wonder why Xey liked him so much.
I once again scratched beneath his chin.
He purred softly as I scratched him.
I chuckled faintly.
"…Well, well. It should be enough playing." I said to him and stood in front of Xey's room.
I clutched the cold handle of the door, and the moment I opened it slightly, a familiar scent filled my nostrils.
Sandalwood.
It was the faint scent of sandalwood that filled my nostrils.
I quietly stepped inside, not daring to make any noise.
The first person I saw when I stepped in was Li Xifeng, who was sitting on a chair, reading a book.
He didn't notice that I had come in, so he kept reading. Xey was lying flat on the bed, tightly hugging a pillow and sleeping without making any noise.
He looked as if he was sleeping peacefully, but... I knew something harsh was hidden beneath his peaceful expression. Even if he was in pain, while sleeping, he always looked peaceful, as if everything... in his life was going well and fine, as if he was sleeping in an eternal sleep.
He looked no more than a sleeping beauty, with just one difference: he was a man, not a woman.
I sighed quietly.
What am I thinking? What kind of friend thinks like this about his male friend—especially his best friend?
I walked towards the bed but stopped midway.
"...?"
Did someone say anything? I guess so.
"What...?" I asked, not sure whether someone had said something or not.
"Were you and that girl arguing?" Li Xifeng asked in a deep voice, not bothering to look up.
I thought he didn't notice, but he did. Pretty attentive.
"Not really," I answered as I sat on the comfortable, fluffy bed.
"Then why did she yell, 'FUCK OFF!' and you ran upstairs like she was going to eat you alive?"
Instantly, memories of the morning's peeled apple flooded my mind, and my body shivered.
"Cause I just wanted to eat some food," I answered as I slowly stroked Zen's fur. "...And also, don't stare at, gaze at, or admire Xey while he's sleeping—"
"I know, I know... That he can't sleep when someone is looking at him while he's sound asleep," Li Xifeng cut in, not letting me finish my sentence.
So annoying.
"Then why were you doing it?" This time, he lifted his head and gazed towards me, as if wondering how I knew it.
How could I not? Of course, I would know. It's been so many years since I got to know him.
And he didn't even miss a chance to admire Xey—for so many years.
"...I can't help it."
"..." I was speechless. I didn't know what to say to an answer like this.
He and his love for Xey.
I let out a mouthful of exhausted sigh.
When would I get a chance to love someone truly from my heart? Ahem! It's not like I don't love my friends, but I want to love someone romantically—
Well, leave it! Friendship is better than love, I guess.
Suddenly, Zen, who was just sleeping in my arms, got up and hopped onto the bed. He slowly walked and sat on Xey's chest and... fell asleep once again.
Li Xifeng was also confused when I checked his reaction.
"What was the use of that?" he finally asked.
"I have no idea."
Then, suddenly, Xey's hand lifted and rested on Zen.
I jolted at his sudden movement.
"...Because you both are babbling and annoying me and Zen," Xey said irritably, his voice deep and husky from sleep, still lying flat on the bed except for his hand, which rested on Zen's body and slowly stroked him, giving him a light body massage. "Won't let me sleep, right?" he said as he yawned.
"He's the one who started it. I was just reading a book... in my mind," Li Xifeng said as he closed the book.
"Ha-ha... whatever," I said dramatically.