Acceso: ignited, on fire.
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They were backstage for a few minutes, but then Zhong Hai led them to leave the area. Their responsibility to perform in the school festival had been completed, so they didn't need to stay at the place.
The seniors invited them to dine together at a tavern near the school to celebrate the success of their performance. Shenshi's members accepted the invitation. They also wanted to have a welcome party for Zhou Yongliang, after all.
The five young guys walked down the school corridor towards the lobby with light steps and big smiles. But, once they reached the lobby, there was a tall student who blocked their steps.
The said student forced them to stop their steps. "I want to talk to you," he said as his eyes fixed into Zhou Yongliang's round eyes.
Zhou Yongliang was about to respond, but Ren Weisheng instead stood in front of him with his hands on his hips. "What else do you want, Yang Liu? Do you want to destroy my brother's glasses again? Oh, he doesn't even wear glasses now," he asked sarcastically.
Yang Liu, the tall student who was blocking them, ignored Ren Weisheng's question. The youth's eyes remained focused on Zhou Yongliang, who was standing behind Ren Weisheng. It didn't matter even if Ren Weisheng standing in between them, Zhou Yongliang's head wasn't even the slightest bit covered by the short student.
"I want to talk to you, just the two of us," Yang Liu repeated his wish as he continued to stare at Zhou Yongliang.
Zhou Yongliang softly pushed Ren Weisheng's body aside so that the short boy no longer standing before him. "Just wait for me at the tavern, gege," he calmly spoke to the short boy, then glanced at Yang Liu. "I have to talk to him alone for a moment. I will catch up with you later."
"But, it's dangerous, Liangliang." Chen Guangli tugged at Zhou Yongliang's arm. "He might hurt you again."
Zhou Yongliang slowly removed Chen Guangli's grip from his arm. Silently, the brown-haired guy motioned "It's okay" with his mouth to Chen Guangli, trying to convince the latter that he would be okay with Yang Liu.
The guitarist was contemplating for a while, but finally, he nodded. He then dragged Ren Weisheng's arm, who had been reluctant, to leave Zhou Yongliang. He also motioned for Zhong Hai and Huang Bo to walk with him, leaving Zhou Yongliang and Yang Liu alone in the lobby.
Now, it was only Zhou Yongliang and Yang Liu in the deserted lobby. People would have preferred to flock to the backyard since the festival was held in that area. It was no wonder the front of the school was deserted at the moment.
"So, what do you want to talk with me?" Zhou Yongliang asked softly, he remained friendly even though a few days ago he was irritated by the dodgeball incident.
But, the student who was slightly taller in front of him still didn't budge after hearing his soft question. The guy was still staring straight at Zhou Yongliang as he kept his two hands in the pocket of his pants. His eagle eyes stared intently at Zhou Yongliang's eyes as if he wanted to delve deeper into what was stored in those round eyes.
So far, there had been no sign that Yang Liu would quickly answer Zhou Yongliang's brief questions, and Zhou Yongliang was still waiting patiently. The cheerful guy seemed to be challenging Yang Liu's sharp eyes, completely unafraid even though Yang Liu's aura seemed to want to dominate.
"Why do you keep staring at me?" The question finally slid quietly from Yang Liu's lips, causing Zhou Yongliang to raise an eyebrow in confusion.
"You are staring at me now, so I'm staring at you too. Am I not allowed to return your stare?" Zhou Yongliang asked back.
Yang Liu snorted in dissatisfaction at the question. "That's not what I meant," he then spoke again. "Why do you keep staring at me? Since the first day you walked into the classroom, you have been staring at me. When I walked out of the classroom with Fang Xing, you stared at me. When I drove my motorbike leaving the school, you stared at me. When I sat alone under the basketball hoop, you stared at me. Even earlier, when I performed on stage, you also stared at me without blinking. You think I didn't notice?"
Zhou Yongliang flinched in shock at Yang Liu's long question which seemed to be cornering him. The student with the surname Zhou swallowed nervously, he was shocked to know that all this time, Yang Liu was aware of all the stares he did secretly.
"Now, explain it to me." It seemed that Yang Liu had not finished giving him pressure. "Why are you secretly staring at me whenever and wherever? It makes me uncomfortable! What do you want from me? Tell me!"
Zhou Yongliang reflexively took one step back after Yang Liu yelled at him. The distance that previously stretched out to be one and a half meters, was now expanded to two meters due to Zhou Yongliang's movements.
Now, Zhou Yongliang's heart was beating fast as fear began to creep up. Those sharp gazes seemed to tear Zhou Yongliang's self-confidence to the lowest; it was at zero points now.
He now understood why Yang Liu was so cynical and sentimental towards him, even to the point of committing actions that hurt him. It turned out that Zhou Yongliang himself had provoked Yang Liu's discriminatory attitude.
Suddenly, Zhou Yongliang made a startling grimace when he felt the collar of his shirt being pulled upwards by a hand that was gripping him tightly. Zhou Yongliang was startled, Yang Liu was currently gripping the collar of his shirt to the point that his body was slightly lifted upwards.
"You can't answer?" The cold student whispered in front of Zhou Yongliang's face. The pull of his hand on Zhou Yongliang's shirt automatically brought the two of them closer together.
Zhou Yongliang's body stiffened under Yang Liu's intimidation. His eyes moved restlessly. His brain stirred the right answer to satisfy Yang Liu's curiosity. He had no better choice than to say it right now. Yes, he had to say it now to save himself from the fierce student.
"I-I…" Zhou Yongliang stuttered timidly. "I keep looking at you because... I like you, Yang Liu."
Yang Liu's grip on the collar of his shirt loosened as soon as Zhou Yongliang confessed. The confession slapped Yang Liu's conscience completely, gave him a wholly unexpected blow.
Yang Liu's two hands slumped weakly at his sides, his feet reflexively retreated away from Zhou Yongliang. "Don't lie," he whispered weakly.
Zhou Yongliang heaved a sigh of relief as he was now free from Yang Liu's grip, which had made it difficult for him to breathe earlier.
Out of nowhere, Zhou Yongliang found his confidence again now. He bravely looked up at the taller guy. "I'm telling the truth," he said confidently. "Since the first time I looked at you in class, I have been attracted to you. Gradually, I see more and more that you are different from the others. I like you, Yang Liu."
"Don't be ridiculous!" Yang Liu sneered. "You are talking so casually as if the story of a guy who likes another guy is a common one!"
Unexpectedly, Zhou Yongliang laughed loudly, and then said, "I think that kind of story is quite common in an all-male school like this. Aren't there a lot of same-sex enthusiasts here? Indeed, not all of them have confessed to the public, but that doesn't erase the fact that same-sex love stories are prevalent in this place."
"Just so you know, I'm not part of that story. I'm straight!" After saying that, Yang Liu left Zhou Yongliang, who was still standing in the school lobby.
Zhou Yongliang's round eyes followed the departure of Yang Liu's tall body, and his lips slowly curved into a smile. He had ignited the fire between him and Yang Liu.
"Watch till the clouds part to see the moonlight[1]. I will make you kneel in front of me."
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Footnote:
[1] Watch till the clouds part to see the moonlight: from Chinese proverb "Shǒu de yún kāi jiàn yuè míng" that means "Things may seem bad or uncertain at the moment, but it will get better eventually."