> 𝐏𝐑𝐄𝐒𝐄𝐍𝐂𝐄. • 𝗁𝖾 𝗑𝗂𝗇𝗅𝗈𝗇𝗀

𝐒𝐈𝐗

— 𝐘𝐎𝐔𝐑 𝐏.𝐎.𝐕.

xinlong kissed me on the forehead... how did i not completely freak out?! i'm still not really, but... i just can't stop thinking about it, especially right now while i'm just laying in my bed and looking at the ceiling.

i mean, maybe it was just in a friendly way, though? or just a way to get me calmer? either way, i guess it did somewhat help... ugh. it just seems crazy how safe he makes me feel, even though this is technically the first span of time we are officially meeting... which seems crazy.

well, we've known of each other's existence for the fact two or three months now, even occasionally getting to chance to message here and there, but... i don't know. everything is just strange for me right now.

but, i guess here i am. i'm half way across the world and getting to work with him on this dance... and here i am, laying in this bed not even being able to keep him off my mind for two seconds.

and that's when... i get a text... and it's from xinlong.

xinlong :)

hey, i was just wondering if
maybe i could stop over by
you or the other way around
because we don't have
anything going on tomorrow
and i realized you forgot
your jacket in the studio after
you left so... yeah.

oh really? thanks for grabbing
it for me. and sure, i can stop
by there if you want since i
was just wanting to go out
anyways hahah.

oh cool. well when would you
come over here?

i could stop over in literally
twenty minutes.

sounds good.

alright then i'll see you then.

yeah. see you. 

—✖️—

well... i guess i'm going out then to get my jacket back. don't get me wrong, don't mind... honestly not at all. to be honest, it just gives me another excuse to see him...

i really need to stop crushing on him as much as i am. just because he kissed me and hugged me and is overall really caring towards me doesn't mean he feels like same... right?

after telling my "host mom", i guess you could call her, where i am going, i slip my shoes on, then heading out the door and walking until i get to their place which i had gotten the address for a few minutes ago from xinlong.

once i take a deep breath, i knock on their door, which is then opened to reveal xinlong with his hair all messy, but in a pretty much adorable way.

"please don't be mad at me... but..." he starts. "i didn't grab your jacket."
"i-" i say, but not really knowing what else to make come out of my mouth. "isn't that the whole reason why i stopped here?" i laugh, not being able to be mad at him.
"okay, that was maybe just an accuse for you to come over."

"why didn't you just straight up ask me? i would've said yes." i inform him.
"i-i- didn't know though, i'm so-"
"it's fine." i laugh.
"here... you can come inside if you want. i just cleaned, so... yeah." he then lightly chuckles which makes a smile form on my lips.

"that's a lie, i clean!" i hear hanyu's voice yell from the kitchen.
"i put my clothes in my drawers!" xinlong shouts back with a smile on his face. he then turns to me against and motioning me inside. "come on."

i follow him, then slipping off my shoes and going with xinlong by the other guys. mingrui immediately stands up and gives me a hug which i find adorable, making me laugh.

although mingrui is taller than me... he is a bit younger than me, so i just find him overall adorable, and the same with shuyang. since i have a brother who is the same age as them, it kind of just makes them seem like almost younger siblings..?

"here, come over here by the not crazy kids." xinlong says as he lightly pulls me by my hand into the kitchen. i just follow him and parting from mingrui with a slight laugh.

"so, is this where the cool kids hang out?" i jokingly ask.
"totally." zihao responds with a slight laugh. i then do the same and sort of just standing next to xinlong who leans against the counter. as we sort of just talk, hanyu then says something.

"here's the real question though. since (y/n) is in between us three and those three age wise... which side is she gonna pick?" he asks, probably as a joke.
"(y/n) wants to come by us!" zeyu laughs.
"yeah! by us!" shuyang echos.

"hm... i don't know." i then say.
"if you don't want me to drop you in that one part of the dance you'll stay here." xinlong then says, taking a sip from his glass immediately after. my mouth slightly opens and i laugh.
"you wouldn't drop me." in response to this, he just shrugs.

"you know what, just because of that i'm gonna go with the other three." i tell him.
"no, no! i'm joking, i'm joking!" xinlong then laughs, holding onto my arm. "you'll fit in more with us anyways."

—✖️—

— 𝐗𝐈𝐍𝐋𝐎𝐍𝐆'𝐒 𝐏.𝐎.𝐕.

"well, i should probably go now." (y/n)'s sweet sounding voice says.
"are you sure? i mean... it's dark outside. can't you just get picked up?" i then ask.
"i'll be fine. i just have to stop at the convenience store and then walk back to the house. it's no big deal."
"but... you shouldn't walk alone at night."

"xinlong, i'll be fine." she slightly laughs. "now, where did i put my phone down?" as i then begin to look for it just with my eyes, i spot it on the counter and quickly grab it, hiding it behind my back. "hey! come on, xinlong. just give it here."
"nope."
"gege, please..?" she then asks, making my heart melt.
"only if you let me walk with you."
"fine." she answers.

"then get your shoes on and let's go before it rains too." i say. she nods and getting her shoes on, which i do too.
"be back quickly, okay?" hanyu then says to me.
"i'll try."

once we leave and begin walking down the street, i look over at (y/n), then back in front of me as we walk. when i then look back at her, i see her take a deep breath, looking almost nervous.

"what's wrong?" i then ask, my eyes staying on her.
"n-nothing."
"no, tell me... are you scared?"
"no!"
"then what is it?"
"i'm-" she then pauses, exhaling. "okay, yeah. i'm scared."

i let out a breathy laugh, then sighing as i slip my hand into hers.
"it's alright... i'm here." i tell her, then facing back forwards.

after not too long, possibly just a few minutes, we reach the convenience store, which i open the door too as we step inside. as we kind of just look around in there, she ends up splitting from me and looking over in the other corner for things... so i just sort of look for something to buy myself.

but, after a minute or two, i feel a familiar hand slip into mine... (y/n)'s hand. slightly confused, i look down at her to why she would just randomly do this, but her head is more downwards as she almost pretends to be looking at things... which is then when i notice a man sneaking a look at her as he passes the end of the isle.

so, i give her hand a squeeze, and she looks up at me. i look back at the guy who's eyes meet with mine, making him look away and also walk away. i'm pretty sure she sees this, and i then lean slightly down to whisper in her ear.

"you okay?" i ask.
"mhm." she answers.
"good... now let's go, it's suppose to rain soon." to this, she nods, and we go to check out our things, which she puts in the little bag of hers just in case it would end up raining before we arrived back... which is what ends up happening.

—✖️—