Weakness (Zuodeng)

Twenty-Two

“Wow look,” Ji showed Jiaxin the cover of Cosmopolitan as the two of them sat together in Ji’s room.

Jiaxin was surprised to see Zhixin on the cover, and he immediately snatched the magazine. “Wait a minute, how is this possible? I thought it’s supposed to be Zuo on the cover.”

“Apparently he fell sick.” Yuhan, Ji’s roommate, commented.

“Really?” Jiaxin asked suspiciously.

Meanwhile, Zuo had just seen the cover of Cosmopolitan and how handsome Zhixin looked on it. Of course he was always handsome in Zuo’s eyes, but the dark concept definitely had a vibe to it.

Zuo smiled to himself as he walked to Zhixin’s door to congratulate him. He was about to enter when he heard a conversation between Xinhao and Zhixin.

“I mean the cover is cool but you’re still flirting with your ex-boyfriend right?” Xinhao complained.

“What? No.” Zhixin replied.

“Yes I know you are! Why else would he give this up?”

“Hey, I did it because I really needed to be on the cover okay? Now look, the spotlight is back on me. “I had to lie to him that my mom’s in hospital just so he could let me be on the cover.”

“Lie?” Zuo repeated to himself outside the door, it was almost unbelievable. And probably Zhixin had lied to him that he had broken up with Xinhao, they were still talking like a couple.

“How could you lie that your mom’s in the hospital? You’re sick.” Xinhao commented in disgust.

“You know you love my mischievous mind,” Zhixin laughed. “Let’s read the comments about my magazine cover.”

Xinhao chuckled. “Okay. This one says ‘wow I always knew Zhixin is handsome but has he just upgraded in the hottie department’?”

Both Zhixin and Xinhao laughed.

“I know, my boyfriend is hot. Okay next one…” Xinhao continued.

Zuo couldn’t take it. He didn’t like confrontation, but this time he was going to do it. He was so angry and disappointed, perhaps it was worse than what he felt when Zhixin told him he’s over him.

He impulsively opened the door and walked in. “Really Zhixin? Really?”

Zhixin sat up from his bed. “What?”

“You tricked me!? I heard everything!” Zuo balled his fists angrily. “What’s wrong with you!?”

Zhixin gritted his teeth then finally spoke. “No. What’s wrong with you? You’re so easy to trick because you’re so obsessed with me. Get a life dude.”

“Get a life?” Zuo asked tearfully. “And that thing that you and Xinhao broke up…? You were lying?”

“Why would he break up with me?” Xinhao asked in surprise. “Of course he didn’t.”

“Hey get out of my room, didn’t I say you shouldn’t come back here?” Zhixin told him. “I’m gonna tell Mrs. Wang you’re being a stalker again.”

“Why are you so evil?”

“Move on!” Zhixin replied. “I already told you we’re grown up now! And yes, I do love Xinhao, a lot, there’s no room for you and I. Just go.”

Zuo looked at Xinhao then Zhixin and painfully walked out.