𝕷𝖎𝖓𝖌𝖊𝖗𝖎𝖓𝖌 𝕱𝖊𝖊𝖑𝖎𝖓𝖌𝖘 || 𝔸 𝕐𝕦𝕖𝕤𝕚𝕟𝕘 𝕆𝕟𝕖-𝕊𝕙𝕠𝕥

Lingering Feelings

"Dang it. Stop crying like a girl!"

"Well, sorry for being girlish on the inside, too!"

"You really get on my nerves!"

"Then just leave me alone!"

"Oh, give me a break!"

That was where it had started. Sing couldn't help but let a smile form on his face at the mere thought of the memory. He still remembers Yut Lung's tear stained face and the red mark imprinted on his cheek. Maybe, just maybe he had hit him a bit too hard. Sing felt guilty back then, but thinking about it now, it was almost like a fond memory. He thought he deserved it after what he had done. Since then, they had only grown closer. Sing still vividly remembers the words they exchanged that day. When he found out about Yue's past from Blanca, he couldn't help but pity him. Sure, Sing disliked Yue for what he did to Ash and Eiji. He hated his actions. But just like he said back then on that day, he could never hate him. Sing could almost feel the pain that radiated off of him. He wondered how he had never noticed before. Despite what it looked like, Yut lung wasn't a bad person. The world had messed him up. Hidden behind his black orbs was suffering. Sing wondered if he was the only one who noticed it. Perhaps all Yut Lung needed was some form of love, just like Ash. It was funny, now that he thought about it. How similar Ash and Yut Lung were. But in the end, Ash was able to find happiness, some form of closure while Yut Lung remained. He recalled how Yut Lung had apologised to both him and Eiji after finding out about Ash's death. Yut Lung felt guilty, but Sing had felt so even more. After all, it was Lao, his own brother who stabbed him.

Before Sing could realize, him and Yue became close. So close it was almost scary. They had formed a bond like no other and were practically inseparable. Sing didn't know how it had happened, but he wouldn't complain. But Sing was greedy, he desired more. He wasn't sure what it was, the feeling in his chest. He was stubborn. He never admitted his feelings, let alone submit to them. So when he finally realized what he felt for Yut Lung, it had came crashing down on him hard. Love. Even the word itself seemed strange to him. No matter how many times he had tried to deny his feelings, he couldn't. He was in love, and the person was none other than Lee Yut Lung. That's right, Sing Soo Ling was in love with Lee Yut Lung. No matter how many times he tried to deny, his heart would say otherwise.

Yut Lung promised the leadership of Chinatown and all his wealth to Sing. He would eventually pass down all of his wealth to him. Sing wasn't sure if that's what he wanted. He wanted to study, but he still thought that the streets of Chinatown would be the only place that would welcome him. Besides, his lovestruck self couldn't reject Yue. When he had first brought up the idea of wanting to study to Yue, he was scared. He was scared that he would turn it down, even degrade his dreams. But, to his surprise, Yue didn't even think twice before agreeing. Yue payed all his tuition fees without him having to ask. Yue was happy for Sing. He was happy to see Sing so enthusiastic about something. Although Yue missed his presence, he would gladly do everything in his capability to see Sing happy.

It hadn't taken long for Yut Lung to realize his feelings as well. Though he was just as hesitant at first, he was more accepting of it than Sing was. Love. The word itself was foreign to him. Yue had only ever known hate. The only source of love he had, had been ripped away from him in his childhood. He still remembers vividly, and the nightmares of his past still haunt him. Sing was the only form of love he had known since then. Yue laughed at himself. He thought of himself as a fool for falling for Sing. He had taken Sing's acceptance of him way too far. He fell for Sing because he treated him like a human being. Would he still fall in love if it was someone else? No. He knew that. Although he didn't know how, he had fell for Sing because Sing was himself. Because it was the same Sing who made stupid jokes, the Sing that was there for everyone and who Chinatown looked up to. The same Sing that was the first person to treat him like an actual human being. Not because he was the first one to show kindness to him or the fact he was the only one he could call a 'friend'. However, he couldn't ignore the slight ache in his heart when he thought the two of them as 'friends'. Out of all the people in the world, Yut Lung never thought he would fall in love with Sing Soo Ling. They were so similar, yet so different. Yut Lung found it funny, how when he thought about Sing and himself, his thoughts wandered to Ash and Eiji. Now, he knew what Ash had felt. He regretted trying to separate them. He wanted to apologize to Ash but it had already been too late. Back then, he was jealous. He was jealous of Ash and Eiji and the bond they shared. He was jealous of Ash for opening up to Eiji, and Eiji accepting Ash the way he was. He was jealous for Eiji treated Ash like a human being, caring for him without wanting anything in return. Something that Yut Lung could only dream of.