THE ON1Y ONE (某某) [ TAG/ ENG ] FANFICTION

ACS 104

A CERTAIN SOMEONE FANFIC ''THE ON1Y ONE ''

JAMESVINCE

A Certain Someone
Chapter 104: Dog Food

The moment Jiang Tian walked in, the room fell into an awkward hush. You could almost hear the collective gulp as everyone's eyes followed him. It was as if he were an unexpectedly glamorous guest at a casual gathering, and the room struggled to maintain its relaxed vibe.

Jiang Tian, effortlessly cool, shrugged off his coat and hung it on the rack. He casually strolled over to Ben, who had awkwardly tried to clear a path but was now staring blankly. "This seat?" Jiang Tian asked, his tone light but with a hint of amusement.

Ben stammered, "Uh, yeah, that's—"

Without missing a beat, Jiang Tian pulled out the chair and took a seat next to Sheng Wang, who had been fidgeting in his own seat, trying to keep his composure.

The silence that followed was thick enough to cut with a knife.

The round-faced waiter popped in with two glasses of water for Sheng Wang and Jiang Tian, and a bucket of ice, which Sheng Wang had requested. As the waiter left, Sheng Wang's attempts to make conversation fell flat, and the awkwardness lingered.

Ben, still in recovery mode, tried to make light of it. "No, seriously, what's up with the ice? It's winter, you know?"

Sheng Wang shrugged. "You don't know the joys of winter ice—it's a special kind of fun."

Dave, whose patience was wearing thin, exclaimed, "You're killing us with this! It's like you're rubbing it in!"

Ben, taking a shot at humor, said, "You guys are just mad you're not the ones with heating and ice."

Their friends were mixed in reactions. Some laughed, some just shook their heads, and the tension started to ease.

As they settled in, the group started to loosen up. Ben, ever the social butterfly, took the lead in setting a jovial tone. "Let's get this party started! Time to celebrate all the good stuff, and let's not forget our favorite game!"

He produced a set of Truth or Dare cards from a small box. Everyone cheered, and the game quickly became the evening's main event. Jiang Tian, initially indifferent, realized he was caught in a game he hadn't anticipated.

Truth or Dare was always a double-edged sword. If you chose truth, you risked revealing something personal. If you chose dare, you faced embarrassing challenges. Jiang Tian was determined to keep his cool.

The game began, and the room erupted in laughter and playful banter. When Jiang Tian drew a card, he was met with a question that made everyone's ears perk up: "When was the last time you kissed?"

There was an electric pause as all eyes turned to Jiang Tian. He glanced at Sheng Wang, who was trying to appear nonchalant, but the red tint on his cheeks was evident. Namula na ang kanyang pisngi.

Jiang Tian cleared his throat and answered with a low voice, "Today."

A sudden hush fell over the room, and Sheng Wang's face turned a deeper shade of red. He tried to recover by sipping from his cup, but the room's focus was firmly on him now. The others couldn't help but snicker and exchange knowing glances.

The game continued, but the atmosphere had shifted. Dave, now thoroughly intodavecated, waved his arms dramatically. "I can't handle this anymore! I'm drowning in dog food here!"

The group erupted into laughter, and even Jiang Tian couldn't suppress a smile. But amidst the merriment, something unexpected happened. Dave slurred, "Hey, Brother Tian, Brother Sheng, there's something you might want to know. Someone doesn't know about you two... Do you remember?"

Sheng Wang's brow furrowed. "What are you talking about?"

"I actually told Tangyi before—"

Ben cut in sharply, "Shut up, Dave!"

But Dave, undeterred, continued, "Tangyi said you two probably don't want to know, but I can't hold it in. I just have to say it."

"What is it?" Sheng Wang asked, more curious than ever.

"Jr," Dave said, "There was an accident at a construction site this year. Guess who I saw on the list of responsible persons?"

The name hit Sheng Wang like a ton of bricks. He remained unusually calm as Dave explained. "Jr. His father's company had issues with safety measures. Now, he's facing criminal responsibility."

The revelation was a punch to the gut. Sheng Wang had barely thought of Jr. since their tumultuous past, and now hearing his name, even in this context, stirred up old, buried feelings.

Ben's reaction was visceral. "Damn!"

Dave continued, "I just thought you two should know."

As the evening wound down, Sheng Wang found himself reflecting on the conversation. The weight of time had made Jr. a distant memory, but now, that memory had resurfaced in a way he hadn't expected.

Jiang Tian, noticing Sheng Wang's pensive mood, asked quietly, "You okay?"

Sheng Wang nodded, though his mind was clearly elsewhere. "Yeah, just... reminiscing."

As they left the restaurant, the warmth of the night and the laughter of their friends seemed to chase away the lingering shadows. Yet, as Sheng Wang and Jiang Tian walked out together, their hands brushing against each other, the past and present seemed to intertwine in a way neither could fully articulate.

The night was far from over, and their journey together was far from predictable. And as they drove home, the echoes of their past and the promises of their future danced in their minds, leaving an uncertain but hopeful trail ahead.

To be continued...