After running out of the changing room and coming outside, I immediately opened my mobile phone. The ringing sound in my ear made me restless. With each ring, I couldn't help hoping that the other party would answer the phone quickly.
"Hello?"
After dialing several times, the sound suddenly stopped and a leisurely voice came through.
It's only been about two days since we last contacted each other, but it feels like it has been a long time since I last heard this voice. Realizing how much I long for him makes me feel that I'm really hopeless.
"Teacher, where are you now?"
"Could it be that you are running?"
Finally getting through the call but getting an answer unrelated to what I wanted to ask made me extremely annoyed. I couldn't help but hold back the urge to click my tongue and took a deep breath.
The more impatient I am, the easier it is for my inner nature to show. But in front of him, I want to restrain myself. Otherwise, I'll hurt him somewhere someday. I'm very afraid of that.
"Where are you?"
"Ah, here I come."
"Ah?"
Looking back without knowing why, I saw in the not-too-distant place the same voice that I heard by my ear. Looking closely, at the edge of the dim road, I found a figure sitting on the guardrail.
"Teacher!"
Hurrying over to him, he raised one hand as if we haven't seen each other for a long time yet acting as if nothing had happened. Standing in front of him, his head slightly tilted, making me feel extremely dizzy and not knowing how to deal with it.
"Are you all right?"
"I'm not all right."
His question made me blurt out the truth. Suddenly feeling completely drained of strength, I put my hands on my knees. I could sense that he was a bit at a loss.
"Sorry."
Damn it—I might have made him uneasy. Even if he acts as if nothing is wrong, this person can't possibly really think like this.
"Please don't apologize."
"Ah, it's still early, right."
"I've already finished work today."
Understanding the unspoken meaning in his words, I quickly corrected him. He muttered in a low voice and lowered his head. Seeing his appearance, I couldn't help but hold my head and squat down.
If following the normal work shift to finish work, it would take at least another hour. Could it be that this person planned to wait here all this time?
"It seems that I urged too tightly. Sorry."
"Please don't apologize anymore. Receiving such a text message, it's impossible for me not to be anxious."
"Sorry."
I said not to apologize, but he frowned, lowered his eyes and showed a troubled expression. Seeing his expression, I suddenly stood up and hugged him tightly. Then I held his falling body tightly without the slightest gap.
"Blake?"
"You are really too unaware. It gives me a headache."
The text message he sent proactively for the first time was really short. Just one sentence—I want to see you. Just these three words.
"How could I not run over here when hearing you say you want to see me."
I thought he might be tired of me already. Unexpectedly, this person who is slow in realizing his own feelings would say such a willful thing. I never dreamed that he would want to see me. I thought only I had been thinking about him all the time.
"I'm very happy."
Holding him tightly and pressing my face against his cheek, he hesitated and carefully wrapped his arm around my back. This tiny action made me extremely affectionate. This is the first time he touched me like this. The warmth felt on my back is extremely warm.
"Hey, Blake."
"What's wrong?"
But for some reason, he suddenly became incoherent. Puzzled by his voice, I suddenly looked at his face that he avoided. I saw his wandering gaze and his flushed cheeks.
"What's wrong?"
Seeing him suddenly starting to waver obviously, I tilted my head and looked at him. The arm that was wrapped around my back loosened. He gently pushed my shoulder away and kept some distance. Not knowing what the reason was, but this sudden change made a sharp pain in my chest. Being even just a little bit rejected by the person I love is extremely painful.
"Do you dislike me?"
"No, it's not like that."
Facing my question, he shook his head forcefully from side to side.
"Then what is it?"
But he completely turned his back to me, which really hit me hard. But he was still busily moving his gaze. Looking at him intently all the time, he held my cuff and muttered something about the button for some reason.
"Ah?"
Not understanding his meaning for an instant, I frowned. Finally realizing it, I couldn't help but give a wry smile. I didn't expect to be avoided because of such a thing.
"Sorry. I was too hasty."
I apologized and reached my finger towards my shirt. Anyway, first straightening it up. Because I came out in a hurry, the bottom two or three buttons of my shirt weren't buttoned. Only part of the shirt was tucked into my pants and it was open in the middle.
"Sorry, I look bad."
"No, it doesn't matter."
"Still so cute."
Looking at his face that was lowered, his cheeks became even redder. Usually he would definitely complain a word or two, but seeing such a cute expression of his makes people's heart flutter.
"Teacher, what's wrong with you today?"
After tidying up my clothes, I turned towards him again. He was still fidgeting.
"Blake, um..."
Looking at his lowered face again and wanting to pull closer his body that was moving away, he anxiously grabbed my arm. His fluster made me stunned.
"..."
I think under such circumstances, he shouldn't reject me cruelly. Although thinking like this, my chest still aches faintly. It doesn't matter being rejected by anyone in the world, but if rejected by this person, I really feel that I won't be able to breathe. I like him so much and love him so deeply that I can't extricate myself.
"Don't have such an expression. No, it's not like that."
Hearing him say in an almost inaudible voice that he doesn't dislike me, I couldn't help but almost cry. Just because of this sentence, I felt extremely relieved. I exhaled all the breath in my body and put my hands together like praying and lowered my head on my forehead.
"I, I like you."
"Ah?"
He tightly held my cuff and lowered his flushed face. I couldn't help but tilt my head.
"What did you say just now?"
"So..."
Feeling that my brain can't function properly. His flustered voice seems a bit distant. I didn't expect such a thing to happen. I never thought that he would say such words from his mouth.
"I like you."
This time he looked at me who was stunned and said this sentence directly.