Dino and Lee were inseparable. At least, that's what they hoped to be.
Ever since they met each other, college students Dino and Lee formed a connection that they never had with anyone else. And in the midst of their flourishing friendship, they eve...
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D E C E M B E R 3 1 2 0 1 6
THE SEASONS have passed by in a blur, and the previous months are now measured by a mere flicker. A new year was approaching, and when Dino and Lee sat by the window to watch the fireworks, they both thought the same thing: Has it already been a few months? It feels like it was just yesterday when I moved in to study here.
While they were waiting for the fireworks, nostalgia washed over both of them and created a silence in the room. It gave them some space to breathe and think about the past year.
A smile graced Dino's face when he remembered the very first day he moved in their flat. It was a bright Wednesday morning, and he looked like a beating heart strolling down the hallway. But so was Lee, who almost tripped on his way to the door to welcome him. They used to be so awkward and timid they used to be around each other (and they still are sometimes), but little did they know that a few months later, they would be here, sitting by the window, spending New Year's Day together.
Dino flinched a little bit upon the sight of fireworks exploding from afar. "Oh, that scared me." He chuckled and faced Lee, who had a crestfallen look on his face. Sensing the atmosphere, Dino cleared his throat and observed Lee's face before shifting his focus back to the bursts of color that were hitting the sky.
With a modest tone, he spoke. "Are you feeling okay, Lee?"
In a blurry state of mind, Lee replied monotonously with his eyes focused on the view outside. "Yeah, I'm fine..." He didn't look fine at all though, which made Dino frown.
Though he's done it a couple of times already, Dino is torn between asking him if he really is fine, or believing him right away. He didn't want to make it seem like he was doubting him, but he had a persistent voice inside him saying that Lee wasn't. (Dino always had a tendency to make things bigger than they were.)
Nonetheless, Dino trusted his gut feeling. "Are you sure you're okay?" He asked gently, his eyes full of empathy. (He got a habit of asking this question because of Lee.)
"...Yeah, I'm sure." Lee answered with a small smile, hoping it was enough to reassure Dino. He was in a moment of reflection.
Dino observed his face one more time. He wasn't buying it. "Alright..." He said and looked back at the view outside. Maybe Lee didn't want to talk about it, and he respected that.
