Do I love you? | hualian

ch.2

~17:00~
"Oh shit! I'm running late, I hope Hua Cheng is not there yet"
I just left my house and I'm on the way there. I didn't take the bus or anything since it's close by. After all I walk there every day except for 2 days every single week.

I passed a lot of shops on my way there, but it was just now, that I had an idea. I went into one of them and bought something for Hua Cheng. After that I continued to walk, I pulled out my phone and looked at the time.

17:10

My eyes shot open at the seeing and I started running, I didn't want him to think that I don't want to meet with him, because hell yea I want to. In barely five minutes, I already saw a familiar figure in the distance. I ran faster till I got close to him.

"I'm really sorry! sorry!...sigh I underestimated the time it takes me to get ready sorry..." is what I got out of myself in between my panting.

"Oh I was starting to think that gege forgot about me..." Hua Cheng replied in a fake sad tone.

"No! no! I would never. Also I have something for you" I reached into my pocket and pulled out something wrapped in paper. I took a step closer to him and reached out my hand, waiting for him to take it. Hua Cheng grabbed the thing in my hand and curiously looked at it, before unwrapping it and revealing two earrings with red beads and a little bag with two additional beads. He laughed and looked at me.

"Ah gege thank you so much, now I feel bad that I didn't get you anything... however why earrings? Quite unusual gift between guys"

"No need to feel bad! Your presence is enough of a gift for me" I paused "Umm...I saw you wearing earrings in school today, so I thought you like wearing them, but if you don't l-"

"No no, I love them! Seriously thank you so much, I'll make sure to wear them often"

I just giggled to myself, blushing a bit and we started to walk towards the bar, I told him about before.

The whole walk we just walked in silence, except for a few small talks, but it wasn't much of a burden, since the bar was only two streets away, so we we're there quite quickly.

As we arrived, I already saw a figure in the distance, waiting for us.

"Hii! Come inside" he looked at Hua Cheng "I'm Shi Qingxuan, nice to meet you. Xie Lian doesn't bring anyone very often.."

"Hi, I'm Hua Cheng. Well then I hope that I will be the one, he brings here very often" he smiled at him

Shi Qingxuan returned the smile with a slight curious look, but let it go. They walked inside and sat in the corner, because Shi Qingxuan said, he will bring them drinks.

"Does gege come here often?"

"Um yea you could said it like that, I've been best friends with Shi Qingxuan since I was a child, so it naturally went like this"

"Mhm" he looked around the room.

"I'm back and! I brought someone with me"

Hua Cheng looked up and saw a black haired male standing beside Xie Lian's friend, quite the opposite of what Shi Qingxuan looked like. They got closer and Shi Qingxuan put his arm around him.

"This is my husband He Xuan!"

They both smiled at each other.

"Oh! You're married?"

"Uh well no... we're just dating since same-sex marriage is not legal in China...but in the future we're planning to move countries to get married"

"That's a pity, I don't get why it's still not legalized. What's so wrong about two men or two women being in love?"

"Mhm it's literally just sad. The only thing I can say is that atleast it's not completely illegal"

These conversations always get me so sad, I wish we didn't care about the gender of our partner that much. I looked to the ground and fidgeted with my rings, till I felt a hand on my right hand. I looked up and saw that the couple already left, so I moved my gaze next to me and saw Hua Cheng looking at me.

"Are you okay? You looked nervous" he said quietly and caressed my hand.

I can't say that I'm okay, when my feelings are eating me inside out. My lips formed into a line and I tried to look put together, but a tear ran down my face. I tried to wipe it off, hoping that he didn't see it, but he grabbed my hand and put it down, taking his own hand and wiping off my tears.

"Is something bothering you?"

He continued to rest his hand on my cheek, caressing it with his thumb.

"Sorry"

"You don't need to be sorry"

"...B-but... now you're gonna see me differently b-because I broke down in the middle of our hangout"

"No. I won't, don't say things like that. Do you want to go home? Or would you prefer staying here?"

"...I don't want to go home like this.."

"Sure"

He put his hand down and turned around to me, staring at me.

"I-is there something on my face?"

"No, you look pretty even if you're crying" he said with a smirk.

I blushed at his words and looked away from him.