"Oh my god, I am so sorry! Are you okay?" The young handsome man's shrill voice sounded out as he hurried to help the other person up. It was unbelievable how a male student could have such a high-pitched voice, the loud noise immediately attract the nearby students' attention as little murmurs sounded out from time to time.
Lao Ke was embarrassed, after all, he was a new student. He still hasn't figured out the ins and outs of this school, resulting in his many clumsy movements and now even bumping into another student. He couldn't help himself from panicking after receiving all sorts of different gazes from the students.
He turned to look at the student he bumped into, "You- Are you alright? You're not injured, are you? I am really sorry. Can you get up?" Although his voice was filled with panic and sounded genuine, there was a trace of annoyance within.
Sensing no response, Lao Ke bit his lips and asked, "Hey, I didn't bump into you that hard, how can you not get up?"
Seeing the small hunch back turning away blocking his view, Lao Ke glanced around at the surrounding students then back at the young man, "Classmate, can you not make things so difficult? I am trying to help you here!" Lao Ke felt really impatient at his unresponsive back and couldn't help reaching out his hands.
"Pa!"
A resounding slap echoed in the hallway, the stinging pain on his hands shock Lao Ke speechless. Before he could digest what happened, this strange classmate stood up and ran out at the speed of light, he couldn't even catch a glimpse of his back.
"What- Hey! Come here!"
Lao Ke's face turned white then green, his shock turned into anger as he wanted to chase the young man but he was immediately stopped by the nearby student.
"Why are you stopping me?!" Looking at his red hands stinging in pain, he was even more unwilling. What was wrong with that person? Rudely slapping someone who was trying to help him? This was his first day and he already met such a crazy person, how unlucky!
"You must be the new student, right? Don't even bother."
A petite young girl in glasses advised him as she patted his shoulder. Her words confuse Lao Ke even more.
"Huh? Why not? What's wrong with him?"
Seeing his confused, ignorant face, Kong Fang sighed. "That young man earlier...his name is Qin Yan. He has always been like that so don't take it to heart."
"Has always been like that? What do you mean?"
As if she was about to reveal the darkest secret, Kong Fang looked around then leaned in to whisper into his ears, "It was rumored his family abandoned him and he has gone crazy! Always hallucinates and alienated himself from everyone. I advise you to stay away and mind your own business. Just blame it on your own bad luck for bumping into him."
A chill immediately spread through his back. Did he just bump into a crazy person? What shit luck! At first, he only curse him as a crazy person in his mind casually, who would have expected he met an actual crazy person.
"T-Then, why is he still in school? Isn't someone like him supposed to get treated or something?"
Kong Fang sighed and shook her head, "There is really no answer to that question. I heard he has some sort of connection with the principal and so far he hasn't really done anything to harm others, there's no rule saying people with mental illness can't attend school."
Lao Ke was speechless, he wouldn't have expected to encounter such things on his first day. He couldn't help but shudder at the thought, how can a crazy person who hallucinates attend school? What if he suddenly goes crazy and attacks his classmates one day?
"Say....What if he actually go crazy one day and kill someone?" He couldn't help voicing out his thoughts in a moment of fear.
"..."
Silence engulfed the two as they looked into each other's eyes.
"Don't overthink it, it's just a rumor. Maybe what I said is an exaggeration, there's no way something like that would happen....right?"
"Right haha!" Lao Ke laughed out loud to lighten up the atmosphere. Yes! It is just a rumor, he really overthinks it.
—
In a large luxurious living room, a drenched young man stood quietly amidst the darkness, leaving only the sound of water droplets hitting the floor.
He was...no other than the said 'crazy person' in Lao Ke's mouth.
Qin Yan shook the water off his hair, the wet school uniform shirt uncomfortably stick to his skin, revealing the abnormally thin and unhealthy body. Little goosebumps crawl up his pale skin as he shivers, hugging his body with his arms.
His backpack was already thrown away carelessly on the floor, making a loud thud sound. No one would have expected such a thin and fragile youth to carry such a heavy bulging backpack. The size was too contrasting.
"Cold..." The soft murmur sounded aggrieved, like an abandoned puppy, and yet there was no response to his words. Only the cold and dark living room bears witness to his pitiful state.
"Cough, cough!" His dry throat couldn't help letting out a few coughs as he made his way toward the bathroom. The shivering small hunch back looks gloomy and dejecting, disappearing and blending with the darkness.
There were small whispers from time to time as if he has a pleasant conversation with someone, his voice was soft and sweet. Contrasting to his pitiful appearance, his voice held a trace of tenderness and happiness. Small giggles can even be heard like crisp bells ringing, it makes the empty apartment seems somewhat warm and lively.
However....just who is he talking to?
...
"I didn't mean to hit him...just...just...it was my instinct. Who told him to bump so hard into me? Just look at this bruise...Xiao, you won't be mad right? I'm not a bad person."
Feeling incredibly wronged, Qin Yan complained to his beloved. The man was very understanding and listen patiently to his vent as if the youth was his most precious treasure. How can he get mad? What a fool.
"Hey! I can hear you! I'm not a fool....." he pouted, feeling aggrieved. The red and juicy bottom lips were enough to hang a bottle of soy sauce, his long eyelashes cast down in gloom.
"Dummy Xiao....you're a fool."
Yes, yes. My baby is not a fool, I am a fool. The man chuckled in amusement. He loves it when the youth act spoil to him. He couldn't help thinking his unreasonable appearance was really cute.
"Mhm. You have to coax me." Blinking his wet eyes pitifully, he spoke out in a demanding tone. Today was really exhausting, he feel both wronged and tired. He wish he could stay at home all day with Xiao.
Seeing the youth like this, the man feel distressed. He wanted to reach out to pull the small shivering figure into his embrace, he wants to touch him, hug him and kiss those tempting little lips until it turned pitiful red. His heart felt pain at the thought of not being able to do all of those.
"Xiao...One day, can I kiss you? I wonder how nice would it feel to hug you? Hehe, to tell you the truth, I hugged you many times inside my dream and you smell really good." The youth let out a mischievous giggle, his eyes shine brightly as he reminisce his past dreams. Every of his dream was occupied by this man.
Listening to the sweet words, the men's eyes darken as if he sacrifice his every being not to lose control at this moment. The feeling of both helplessness and desires mix together, chaining him down onto the abyss as he crazily tried to break this chain, this illusion.
Even though he just giggled a moment ago in happiness, at this moment, the youth's eyes were red as the sounds of sobbing echoed in the bathroom. His changes of expression were at a speed of light, nobody knows just how he truly feels.
He craves this men's touch, everything...everything about him, he craves crazily with greed. Hugging his knees together and burying his head to hide his flushed face, he muttered out quietly with a trembling voice, "Xiao, will we ever meet one day? Can I?" The increasingly pleading tone was pitiful as if this was his last straw. Both his heart and body were in a fragile and vulnerable state.
Silence engulfed the two as they need no useless comforting words, they can read each other's minds, they can feel each other's pain. Their existence alone, just like a double-edged sword, continuously brings pain....However, within those pain was a rare trace of sweetness, they feel both greedy and reluctant to part from it. They willingly embrace this pain, savoring the bittersweet feeling.
You and I, nothing shall do us apart.