Tangled Threads of Tradition and Love

C̶h̶p̶a̶t̶e̶r̶-15

❃❃❃❃

❃𝓦𝓱𝔂 𝓭𝓸 𝓘 𝓱𝓪𝓿𝓮 𝓪 𝓰𝓾𝓽 𝓯𝓮𝓮𝓵𝓲𝓷𝓰
𝓽𝓱𝓪𝓽 𝓽𝓱𝓮𝔂 𝓪𝓻𝓮 𝓽𝓪𝓵𝓴𝓲𝓷𝓰 𝓪𝓫𝓸𝓾𝓽 𝓗𝓾𝓪𝓷❃

❃❃❃❃

__________________________________

Detention was terrible, but what was even worse was having to make up for the missed training afterward. Akira felt bad about keeping Huan behind so late, knowing it was cutting into their evening.

"Sorry for keeping you here this late," Akira apologized, biting his lip. The digital clock was ticking closer to dinner time, and Huan was busy monitoring how well Akira performed while he moved.

Huan glanced up from his tablet, offering a reassuring smile. "It's fine," he said, his tone casual as he reviewed the data. "We should get going soon though. It's almost dinner time."

Akira nodded, relieved. But before they could leave, Huan started to remove the wires attached to Akira's chest. As Huan's hands brushed against his skin, Akira couldn't help the warmth creeping up his neck and flooding his cheeks. He was blushing so hard he felt like his face might catch on fire.

"Wow, you're really sweaty," Huan commented, frowning slightly as he detached the last of the electrodes.

Akira's face turned an even deeper shade of red. "Uh, yeah..." he mumbled, desperately trying to downplay his embarrassment.

Huan looked at him, puzzled. "Are you sure you're okay? You look like you might have a fever."

Akira quickly shook his head, waving off the concern. "No, no, I'm fine. Really." Inside, though, he knew exactly why he was so flustered-it wasn't the workout, but being in such close proximity to Huan, especially with him touching his bare skin. It felt to good.

Huan raised an eyebrow but didn't press further. "Alright, if you say so. Let's get out of here before we miss dinner entirely."

As he gently peeled the last of the wires off Akira's chest, he paused, noticing something strange on Akira's fingers-a thin, healed cut running across two of them. His brow furrowed, and he reached for Akira's hand, holding it up to inspect the mark more closely.

"What's this?" Huan asked softly, his concern evident.

Akira tensed slightly before answering, "Oh, that? It's from when I made the talisman during all that drama with Chen Zixin."

Huan's face went still, and the playful air between them vanished. He became quiet, and Akira felt a knot tighten in his chest. Something was wrong.

Huan stared down at the cut, his grip on Akira's hand tightening a bit. "That... that was because of me," he said quietly. "If I hadn't run into Chen Zixin back then, none of this would have happened."

Akira blinked, confused at first, then panicked as he noticed Huan's eyes welling up. Before he could react, a tear rolled down Huan's cheek, and the sight made Akira panic even more. He didn't know what to do, but he couldn't stand seeing Huan like this.

"Huan, no." Akira blurted, "This wasn't your fault, Chen Zixin was being a complete jerk-that's on him, not you."

Huan shook his head slightly, his voice barely a whisper. "But if I hadn't been so careless... you wouldn't have gotten hurt neither would have Adi or..."