Chapter 3 - Let go

It was already late in the afternoon when classes finally came to an end. Most of the students headed straight for the dining hall for a quick dinner before settling for the night study. 

Sheng Wang, however, decided he'd go straight to the library and borrow a few books for a more advanced study session he'd planned out in his mind earlier. 

Walking down the empty hallway, his eyes were focused on his hands, mentally ticking off the subjects he wanted to study. 

He was so lost in thought, trying to remember exactly which topics he needed help with, that he didn't notice what lay directly in front of him. 

So, as he took another step forward, his body collided with what he thought was a wall.

He didn't fall on the floor, but his forehead received the impact. 

"That hurts!" he complained. 

And then, out of frustration, he lifted both of his hands to hit the wall that he had bumped into, only for the wall to wince when he hit it.

He looked up, expecting to see a wall, only to find himself staring at someone's chest instead.

"H-hey!" he stuttered, not knowing what to say.

It wasn't a wall, but a person! 

And out of all the people who could be the one he bumped into, it happened to be Jiang Tian! 

"Oh, no," Sheng Wang thought, embarrassment flooding his cheeks. He instantly felt an overwhelming urge to shrink down, turn around, and dash out of there as quickly as possible. But his feet stayed planted, frozen in place as he stared up at Jiang Tian, who was looking down at him with a faint, unreadable smile.

He was waiting for him to get mad, to say something, or to do anything, just so the awkwardness would ease, but he didn't. Instead, he just looked at him, his eyebrows slightly furrowed. 

He wanted to say sorry to explain why he did it, but nothing came out of his mouth. He felt terrible. He knew he had done something wrong—something really embarrassing. 

There's this confusion in Jiang Tian's eyes that made him wish that he could take back what he did, but he couldn't. All he could do now was wait for Tian to say something, anything. He felt a lump form in his throat as he realized that he'd probably just stand there and stare at him, waiting for him to break first.

Jiang Tian merely raised an eyebrow, his expression unreadable.

Sheng Wang braced himself, waiting for a scolding, but it never came.

It felt like an eternity had passed, and Sheng Wang could barely stand the silence. He wished Jiang Tian would just say something, anything, to ease the awkwardness that had settled between them.

The silence was so loud that only the chirping of the insects and the undeniable loud beating of both their hearts could be heard in the background. 

They stayed like that, staring into each other's eyes, for God knows how long. 

Until Jiang Tian let go of the sigh that he'd been holding. He looked away, not wanting to show how his cheeks suddenly heated up due to the way that Sheng Wang's eyes are full of expressions he couldn't name. 

He couldn't bear the sight of it because he knows too well that it's making his heart race at such speed that would soon lead to his heartstrings going crazy and bursting out if he wouldn't stop himself from looking at the boy in front of him. 

"Damn it, why would he torture me with those eyes?" he thought. 

Sheng Wang, on the other hand, followed the direction that Jiang Tian had turned his head into, not realizing what he's doing, worsening the scenarios in his Ge's thoughts. 

Sheng Wang tried to speak, but he found himself momentarily lost in Jiang Tian's gaze. His chest felt tight, and his heart was racing, each beat echoing louder in his ears. 

As if sensing his tension, Jiang Tian reached out, his hand moving toward Sheng Wang's wrist. Before Sheng Wang even realized what was happening, Jiang Tian's hand wrapped around his wrist, holding it in place against his chest. Sheng Wang's breath hitched, his eyes widening in surprise.

"Are you planning to keep your hands on my chest all day?" Jiang Tian's tone was low, almost a murmur, with a hint of playfulness. Sheng Wang felt his cheeks flush even more, his mind reeling as he realized his hand had somehow found its way to Jiang Tian's chest and stayed there all this time.

"I-I… no, of course not!" he stammered, trying to pull his hand back. "Let go," he said, his voice almost pleading.

But Jiang Tian's grip on his wrist was firm, not allowing him to move. Instead, Jiang Tian pressed Sheng Wang's hand a little closer, making Sheng Wang feel the warmth and solidity of his chest through the thin fabric of his shirt. Sheng Wang's pulse raced, and he struggled to meet Jiang Tian's gaze, his mind a whirl of confusing emotions.

For a brief, heart-stopping moment, he thought Jiang Tian might lean in closer, closing the distance between them. His mind was filled with thoughts he didn't quite understand, feelings he wasn't sure how to process.

But before anything more could happen, the distant sound of footsteps and voices drifted down the hallway. Startled, Jiang Tian released Sheng Wang's wrist and took a small step back, breaking the intense, electrifying moment.

Sheng Wang could barely hide his disappointment, but a part of him was relieved, too. His heart was still racing as he quickly pulled his hand back, clutching it to his chest as if it might calm the chaotic thumping within. Trying to regain his composure, he took a deep breath, avoiding Jiang Tian's gaze as he turned toward the library, eager to put some distance between them and escape the tension that lingered in the air.

He took a step forward, brushing past Jiang Tian as he walked toward the library doors. But as he passed by, their shoulders brushed, sending a jolt through Sheng Wang's body, a warmth that lingered even after he pulled away. It was as if a spark had ignited, spreading from his shoulder down to his chest, leaving him feeling breathless.

His heart thudded wildly, and he clenched his fists, willing himself to keep walking, to leave that overwhelming feeling behind. When he finally reached the library, he paused just outside the doors, taking a moment to steady himself before he pushed them open and stepped inside.

The quiet of the library greeted him, a stark contrast to the flurry of emotions swirling within him. He shut the door behind him, leaning against it as he took a deep breath, pressing a hand over his chest in an attempt to calm his racing heart. His mind was a haze of confusion and longing, the image of Jiang Tian's face, so close and so intense, etched vividly in his thoughts.

"Get it together," he whispered to himself.

When the librarian at the front desk waved her hand to get his attention and gave him a curious look, Sheng Wang forced a sheepish smile. He straightened up, trying to shake off the lingering effects of his encounter with Jiang Tian, and approached the counter to sign in. However, while doing so, a thought suddenly popped up in his mind. He didn't give Jiang Tian's phone back.