pity the fool who falls in love with you

i/i

words: 19 245

pity the fool who falls in love with you

it was the first and only car in four hours. from afar zi tao could hear its engine rumbling low and loud. it sounded broken, like thunder was nearing. when it approached closer zi tao saw its black shiny surface glowing in the sun that ripped clouds far over the dry ground. tilting his head he took a step and raised his hand. the fact that the car was old didn't matter when he'd waited all day for just someone, basically anyone to drive by. air was hot and dusty and hard to breathe. it was an american car, by the look of it an ancient one and the sound it made was beyond terrible. maybe this isn't a good idea.

however the car pulled to the side and stopped. zi tao bit the inside of his cheek lifting his weight from right to left. the door opened and a blonde haired young man, maybe a few years older than him, stepped out. he was tall and lean. zi tao pressed his lips tight together, rethinking his plan. the guy tilted his head, probably eyeing him behind the dark pilot sunglasses he was wearing as he leaned against the roof of his car.

"so, you need a ride?" he asked simply, and zi tao nodded. the man's voice was deep and somewhat raspy, it was kind of attracting. he was wearing a plain white t-shirt and dark blue skinny jeans whereas zi tao was dying wearing black jeans and a tank top of the same color. "where are you off to?"

"anywhere", zi tao answered swinging his bag over his shoulder.

"i'm on my way to guangzhou. is that good for you?" the blonde smiled faintly tapping fingers against the door window's frame. zi tao nodded but puckered his nose looking at the car suspiciously. it had some mud dried on its surface and it was pealing. this is bad. the man smirked. "yeah, i'm sorry, i can't afford a ferrari but that don't mean i can't get you there. anywhere."

he had no choice. after waiting for so many hours on the roadside without wind to blow in his neck or rain to keep him from thirst he wasn't going to wait anymore. if this man was willing to take him out of the tiny town he'd go with him. after he opened the door and slumped on the leather seat he sighed and rested his head back. the blonde sat next to him, slammed the door shut and started the crying engine again. zi tao groaned as he put on his seat belt and glanced around the car. it was neat from the inside, he thought. clean and american and loud. the man driving was still wearing shades and it was quite disturbing (though it was sunny and bright so he kind of had a reason). zi tao dropped his bag between his feet and sank deeper into his seat. the leather was cool against his bare arms.

the scenery outside looked the same all the time; fields of all kinds for rice and grains and some buildings here and there. such a small town it was, xingcheng. it probably had the least people in the whole china, zi tao thought. such a small town. to think why people actually lived there was a question to be answered. zi tao shifted in his seat, prying at the strange man from under his fringe. he was concentrated on the road ahead.

"what were you doing in xingcheng?" the blonde asked out of curiosity when they took a turn to g1 jingha expressway. zi tao huffed crossing his legs.