Qilin replied from within the curtain "I love kitties and bunnies, they're so cute"
Sean said "Bunnies are my favorite animals too, Kitties are adorable also"
Qilin changed into a T-shirt and yellow bunny shorts
Qilin finished changing and peeked his head out of the curtain "Wanna come in?"
Sean nodded with excitement and entered "It's like an entirely different world here"
Qilin smiled with satisfaction "Wanna do a matching manicure? Just short nails though, I don't like long ones"
Sean said as he hugged the bunny plushie "I don't like long nails either. I hope it's the easily washable ones you have"
Qilin brought it out "These ones don't last for more than forty eight hours so which colour?"
Sean replied "According to our aesthetic for tomorrow night, it would be so cool! I wanted us to go to a professional one but since you have it, it would be more fun to do it by ourselves"
Qilin brought another box out "After painting, we can decide what cute thing to stick on it, maybe pearls or tiny animals or tiny symbols"
Sean was surprised "I thought you said your lil sis didn't let you bring girly stuff"
Qilin made a smug expression "I have my ways"
The twins got back to the dorm twenty minutes after seven in the evening with a lot of stuff which made Sean and Qilin curious
Before Andre highlighted the things they bought, he noticed Sean and Qilin's nails "You two painted your nails?!"
Andre rushed in to look at Sean's hands who proudly showed them off "Pretty, right? I did it myself, Linlin brought the idea"
Andre gave a thumbs up "Good job, you two. Looks pretty nice"
Qilin went towards Azlin who was closing the door "Lin, Check it out"
Azlin looked at the nails "Nice delicate colour arrangement, suits you"
Qilin felt satisfied with Azlin's praise then asked "What are all these?"
Azlin gently took all the stuff on their desk onto his bed so they wouldn't get stepped on if placed on the ground then Andre placed the bags on the table
Azlin sat on the steps as Andre opened the first bag "Your wigs"
Sean collected the wigs and placed them on Qilin's bed then Andre passed their ice cream to them "It's the last thing we got so it wouldn't melt"
Azlin spoke up "It already did once then Andre ate it up and we bought another for you two"
Qilin curiously asked as he ate his ice cream "Lin, you don't like sweets?"
Azlin shook his head "I don't"
Sean asked "So what's in these two remaining bags?"
Andre smugly replied with a smirk "It's dinner! We knew we'd be late so Azah brought up the idea to get food after the wigs. One bag is for Qilin and the second is for the three of us because y'all know he's a big eater. Now the four of us can eat dinner together in our room. No need to go to the cafeteria. Also we got actual meals not all these fast food and light meals they sell in the cafeteria"
Sean asked "So how are we four gonna eat together at the same time?"
Qilin hurriedly said "I have a big foldable table under my bed, we can use that"
Qilin went inside his curtain and under his bed then brought out the foldable table and cleaned it
Then he brought out a wall hook and used it to hold the curtain to the wall which revealed his bed area to the twins who were shocked
Andre said "I thought Sean was girly but you're even more girlish"
Azlin said "Don't mind him, your bed looks pretty"
Qilin then started unfolding the table and placed it in front of his bed "So Sean, you and Andre can use this, nice right?"
Sean nodded with glee "It even has bows on it, so pretty"
Qilin said "Andre, sit down with Lin. Sean and I will set the table"
Sean gave his ice cream to Andre to hold "Don't eat it"
Sean then collected Qilin's ice cream and gave it to Azlin to hold it
While the duo were busy setting the table, Andre and Azlin watched with a smile then Andre said "They look so small and fragile"
Azlin answered "You don't know how to treat things with care"
Andre pursed his lips and looked down then sighed "I might lose him"
Azlin replied "That's not an excuse"
Andre retorted "What about you? Aren't you also using excuses to hide your feelings? You think I don't notice the way you look at Qilin?"
Azlin stopped talking and Andre scoffed "That's what I thought"
When the duo were done, they came to collect their ice cream then Sean and Andre went to sit on Qilin's bed where the foldable table was
Andre said "Azah was the one who came with idea to get Chinese food for you, Qilin"
Then Andre and Sean started eating and joked about some stuff while Qilin smiled and said to Azlin as he finished his ice cream "Lin, thank you"
Azlin nodded "You're welcome, Linnie"
When Qilin heard the name that came out of Azlin's mouth, his cheeks heated up "Linnie?"
Azlin asked "You don't like it? If you-"
Qilin smiled jovially "I like it. A lot"
Then Azlin collected Qilin's chopsticks which puzzled him until Azlin used the chopsticks to take a Xiao Long Bao "Say ah"
Qilin's cheeks heated up even more "Ah"
And the Xiao Long Bao went into his mouth then Azlin waited for Qilin to finish chewing then picked a Xia Mi dipped in tomato sauce and fed Qilin again
Qilin ate it then when he was done chewing, Azlin picked another one and Qilin asked "Aren't you also going to eat?"
Azlin tried to feed Qilin but he didn't collect it"You first, I'm not yet hungry"
Qilin pouted "But by the time you're done feeding me, yours would be cold"
Azlin shook his head "No point eating it now without appetite"
Qilin folded his arms "If you don't eat, I won't either. When you're done eating then you can feed me"
Azlin paused when he realized that Qilin was being serious and dropped the chopsticks "Fine"
Andre signalled to Sean when they were done eating and they packed the plates, wrappers and the other plastic bags into the bigger one then told the duo who were still eating "Okay so we're off to our room now"
Azlin said "See you guys tomorrow then"
Sean said "Linlin, how about we go to a Chinese restaurant for breakfast tomorrow?"
Qilin excitedly replied "Then we can have Korean food in the afternoon!"
Sean giggled "It's like you know what I was thinking. Deal then"
Qilin chuckled "See you tomorrow then"
Andre whispered to Azlin "Make a move tonight so you won't be greened out"
Sean waved with glee as he and Andre went out and closed the door
Azlin had finished his food so he went to go drop the takeout plates in the dustbin by the door and used the chance to lock it
Azlin then passed to look at Qilin who was peacefully eating and using his phone 'Pretty'
Then he shook his head and snatched Qilin's chopsticks after he removed them from his mouth which alarmed Qilin
Azlin realized he had been rude "Sorry, that must have been startling for you, I didn't mean to scare you"
Qilin dropped his phone "It's fine, I kinda understand why you did that?"
As Azlin fed him, Qilin tried to strike up a conversation so the room wouldn't be too silent "So about your facial paralysis, Were you born with it something happened?"
Azlin pursed his lips and paused "Actually, Andre was the one born with facial paralysis when he grew up and realized he was unable to move his face, he cried a lot every day, he wouldn't even go to school or eat or play with me anymore so I convinced my mum to get us into surgery so that I would be the one with the facial paralysis and not him. When he woke up and was able to move his face, he was so happy and joyful, it made me happy"
Qilin asked "Couldn't he have just gotten it treated or something else other transferring it to you?"
Azlin shook his head and continued feeding Qilin "There was no method of treatment then and even though there is now,I can't get it treated because it's already been more than a decade so I'm stuck like this. I'm alright though, never really been a fan of showing my emotions on my face for everyone to know what was on my mind"
Qilin touched Azlin's cheeks and caressed it "You really can't move any part of your face?"
Azlin replied "Well, the paralysis only affects above my lips to my eyebrows. It was actually a total facial paralysis but by my own, I practiced movibg my mouth so I could talk or I would turn mute"
Qilin asked "Did it hurt?"
Azlin nodded "Very much but it was worth it. Now I speak normally"
Qilin pursed his lips "Did you ever try moving other parts of your face?"
Azlin replied "Yeah but I rarely do it nowadays cause the pain has started to become unbearable"
Qilin had tears in his eyes which startled Azlin "Please don't start crying"
Qilin sniffed and wiped his tears "I'm sorry"
Azlin caressed Qilin's hair "Linnie, come on, it's not your fault"
Qilin nodded but Azlin saw that he was still feeling a bit down and Qilin was done eating so he packed the takeouts and plates to the dustbin which was already full "Linnie, I'll be back in a while, gotta go dump this trash"
Qilin nodded and Azlin left the room
When Azlin left, his phone rang and Qilin went to go check who was calling and he saw 'Linnie's friend, Madison Bells'
Qilin frowned upon that 'I was a bit skeptical when Sean told me but apparently, it was true. Oh no, it's my fault she's bugging him'
Azlin came back only to meet his phone with Qilin who stretched it out to him "Madison called"
Azlin grunted "Oh her again? That's her fifth time"
Qilin asked "Why did you give her your number if you don't like receiving calls?"
Azlin replied "Because she's your friend. I can't be rude to any friend of yours"
Qilin inquired "Is she bugging you, if she is, You are allowed to be rude to her. Also she's not my friend or more like never was"
Azlin collected his phone and said "I'll blacklist her right now"
Qilin was shocked "You don't have to go that far"
Azlin shrugged "I just prefer it that way"
Qilin yawned and let down his curtain "Oh alright. I'm already sleepy so goodnight, Lin"
Azlin froze in place when Qilin went in his curtain and Andre's words kept ringing in his head 'Make a move tonight so you won't be greened out'
Azlin sighed as he went towards his bed to arrange their stuff back onto the desks "I better not"
Qilin suddenly stood up from his bed "Oh no, I forgot to take my shower and have my usual night skincare"
Azlin heard while he was arranging the desks then saw Qilin come out five minutes later with his stuff and into the bathroom
Azlin giggled 'Cute'
Azlin was done arranging the desks but sat with his chair facing the bathroom door so he could see how Qilin looked with his hair wet
Thirty minutes later, Azlin was becoming worried because Qilin had been in the bathroom too long so he decided to check on him
Azlin opened the door and saw something he could never have imagined
Qilin naked in the bathtub washing away blood from underneath him
When Azlin opened the door, Qilin froze 'Oh no! I forgot to lock the door'
Azlin was alarmed and stepped in "Linnie, what happened? How did you get hurt?"
Qilin shouted which immediately stopped Azlin in his tracks "D-don't come any closer! G-get out! Right now!!"
Azlin was confused and worried at the same time also feeling his blood boiling in anger but obediently went out of the bathroom and closed the door as he stepped out
So many questions and scenarios filled Azlin's mind which made his head hurt
When Qilin came out fifteen minutes later, he saw Azlin with his head down and thought to sneak past him
But then Azlin said "Qilin, I need an explanation. Who hurt you?"
Qilin still continued tiptoeing towards his curtain as he replied "No one"
When Qilin got to the stairs, a strong hand pulled him into a warm embrace while Qilin thought 'What's with these twins and their habit of using their strength on someone to get what they want?'
Azlin said as he rested his chin on Qilin's shoulder "Please... Linnie.. I need an answer for what I just saw"
Qilin tried to be nonchalant as he said "I bled, that's all"
Azlin separated himself from Qilin and held his shoulders "I'm not a three year old kid so stop joking with me. Of course I know you bled! I need an answer as to why!!"
Qilin pushed Azlin away from him as he suddenly got so irritated "Don't you dare shout at me, Azlin! Why do you care anyways?! What gives you the right to know about my personal matter!?
Azlin was about to reply but then he calmed down and took a deep breath "I'm your roommate and friend, Linnie. I worry about you so I wanna know. If someone hurt you, I promise-"
Qilin cut him off "Promise you'll do what! Hunt them down and skin them alive!?"
Azlin kept silent and looked right which shocked Qilin "Y-you'd... do that?"
Azlin held both of Qilin's hands and slightly ran his thumb over them "I can understand it must be personal for you to react like this but.. I care about you too much to just ignore this matter. It might seem crazy but you're already more than a friend to me in my heart and I see you as someone I want to spoil, give all my attention and time, care for, attend to all your needs and wants. I want you in my life as someone special to me. This is a bad moment to confess but I've fallen for you deeply and this would sound like a lie to you but it was at first sight even I myself didn't believe it until I saw you this morning pop your head out from the bathroom and you looked so cute and fragile, I wanted to protect you"
Qilin just froze in shock as he heard Azlin say all this things and he wasn't able to say anything for a while
Azlin sighed and released Qilin's hands "But it might seem that I have gone past my boundaries and offended you unknowingly. You definitely don't want to talk to me right now so when you're ready to talk, I'll be here"
Qilin just stood there with his head down and out of his senses while Azlin carried his pillow and duvet then left
When the door slammed closed, Qilin snapped back to reality and tears streamed down his eyes as he collapsed onto his knees 'What the heck just happened? It's like I went into paradise and dropped back to earth all in a millisecond... Lin likes me?'
Few minutes later, Someone texted Qilin and he heard the notification but didn't bother to check it as he curled up on the floor and cried himself to sleep
The next day around seven in the morning, a knock sounded on the door and Sean came in only to find Qilin curled up like a ball on the ground "Linlin!"
Andre sighed "Come on, Azah, tell me what happened last night, did you get rejected?"
Azlin replied "I don't know yet"
Andre patted Azlin's shoulder "You two will be alright, I'm sure of it"
Sean helped Qilin up with worry "What happened to you? I sent you a bunch of texts but you weren't replying, I wanted to come over but Azlin told me not to disturb you so I rushed over as soon as I woke up this morning. Come on tell me what's wrong"
Qilin didn't say anything as he started crying so Sean hugged him and patted his back "There there, let it all out, I'm here for you"
When Qilin stopped crying, Sean gave him a glass of water to drink and calm down then some wipes to clean his face
Sean asked "Are you ready to tell me what happened?"
Qilin sulked as he narrated the whole ordeal that went down the night before
Sean hurriedly said when Qilin got to the part when Azlin left the room "Wait, hold up, Azlin confessed to you?"
Qilin nodded and Sean said "And you didn't say anything? Why?"