Eighteen (4/4)

"Can I kiss you?" Gu Xiao whispered.

As though a memory just passed by Lan Yuning's mind, his neck heated up and he averted Gu Xiao's eyes. Yet, he still nodded in embarrassment.

Brushing his fingers through his hair again, Gu Xiao leaned in and kissed him again as though he had been yearning for him for so long.

When their faces parted even just slightly, one of them would pull the other closer, and before they knew it, they laid their lips together once again. Their kiss might have even sunk in deeper than the last.

"Gu, Gu Xiao?!" Gu Heiyu yelped before dropping her tub of clothes.

Lan Yuning immediately whipped his head away as Gu Xiao turned around.

Glaring back at Gu Heiyu, Gu Xiao pierced her with his cold eyes that signalled her to leave.

She laughed in guilt, but their father, too, stood there in complete astonishment until Gu Heiyu pushed him back into the house.

"Sorry. Please continue with what you were doing," she said and dashed back in.

"Your dad and sister saw, ah... oh no, I'm sorry. Are you going to be... alright? I shouldn't have acted so irrationally... You're probably in such an uncomfortable spot now," Lan Yuning panicked.

"I'm the one who is coming onto you, so why are you worrying? It's fine. Gu Heiyu already knows, and I'll just tell my dad later, though there's not much explaining to do." Gu Xiao shrugged.

"But your dad might..."

"I'm already moving countries because of him. If he can't accept the fact that I like you, then I'll just run away after landing," he joked.

Lan Yuning's numb mouth slightly parted in fluster, and he continued panicking, though Gu Xiao just watched him spouting out words. It was adorable. If someone told him that these were the words that he was going to say to Lan Yuning in the past, he would probably not believe it himself.

The ground was littered with damp, fallen leaves from the morning rain. Both of their chests were igniting in this inexplicable heat.

Even with the silence, none of them heard silence. They were too busy sorting out their thoughts even though there were none.

They were in this complete state of blankness, yet they were also full of thoughts.

He ruffled Lan Yuning's hair, allowing his soft hair to tickle his fingers as he ran his hand down and up Lan Yuning's head.

Upon the sudden contact, Lan Yuning's back stiffened, and he blinked in confusion as his face heated.

This time, Gu Xiao smiled brightly. This smile that no longer had any regrets.

His smile. His laughter. His voice. His words. Everything he offered to Lan Yuning was all genuine.

He didn't regret any of it.

He didn't regret spending time with him.

He didn't regret getting into fights or misbehaving for him.

He didn't regret telling him his feelings.

The only part he regretted was that he couldn't stay with him yet. He wanted time to stop. He wanted to be with him longer, even if it was just a little more.

However, seeing Lan Yuning before him was already more than what he deserved.

"Lan Yuning, I will become a better person. I can't deny it myself that I've been a complete mess these past few years, but I will become someone who deserves to be around you. I guess that's another reason why I like you, Lan Yuning. You make me want to be a better person. That's why, I will never hate you even if you push me away."

Gu Xiao brushed Lan Yuning's short hair behind his ears, only to let it fall back in front. His smile forced tears to well in Lan Yuning's eyes once again.

"Don't cry, don't cry. I might start crying too," he laughed softly as he wiped Lan Yuning's cheeks once again.

Gu Xiao ran to the car and dug through the bags and boxes in the trunk. After grabbing what he searched for, he ran back to Lan Yuning.

"Do you remember the first time we had to clean the classroom together? I told you that you will get Alzheimer's, so you shouldn't worry about the breakup you had," he laughed.

He handed Lan Yuning a small pink beverage with the same cow logo. It was the familiar strawberry drink that followed him wherever he went after Gu Xiao kept buying it with every chance he received.

"I promise you will be happier when you drink this. This is my favourite drink, you know?"

Lan Yuning took the drink, cupping it with his two hands. Suddenly, his tears broke free again and followed was an unbroken stream of his agony.

"Why— why are you crying again? Did I do something wrong?" Gu Xiao panicked. He rubbed the corner of Lan Yuning's eyes with his thumb lightly as Lan Yuning attempted to catch his breath.

Lan Yuning's nose clogged again, and every time he tried to speak, his voice would crack and stutter.

"How could I not know this is your favourite when this is all you drink!" Lan Yuning uttered, and Gu Xiao didn't know whether to laugh or not.

All he could do was stand there, stunned.

"You," Lan Yuning breathed. "You probably don't remember, but we met at the beach three years ago... and you gave me this too."

Gu Xiao pondered. Abruptly, as though that memory had stirred in him, and now, as he stood gazing at the figure of the slim boy, the full image of the description flashed across him.

"At the shore? You were that person...? Wait, I— I remember doing something stupid and embarrassing that night, but I didn't know it was..."

"You... you idiot! You even gave me this back in cram school, too. Why... how can you keep drinking this for so many years!" he cried.

Gu Xiao was the type of stubborn youth that didn't overthink his actions or drown in any complicated thoughts when speaking to others, because the way he behaved became soon became an instinct.

As the leaves and flowers continued to scatter throughout the pathway, travelling to the side of their feet, the wind soon greeted their long parting.

"Gu Xiao, we need to go now. Miss Luo is already waiting for us at the airport and dad is in the car," Gu Heiyu informed.

"Okay, I'll be there in a second."

Lan Yuning blinked faster, and his unsteady lips parted. His eyes were still clouded with his tears, as though it was covered with a thin layer of smoke that had fallen asleep.

The grip he had on the drink grew stronger and tighter, but he eventually let go of this tension and accepted everything.

Gu Heiyu went inside the car and Gu Xiao turned back, only to once again, see the top of Lan Yuning's head.

"Lan Yuning."

He didn't respond and kept his head lowered.

"Lan Yuning, look at me."

He reluctantly lifted his head up, but all he saw was the bright youth.

"I'll be going now, so take care of yourself. Make sure to wear more layers because your body gets cold easily," he nagged.

"How do you know?"

"Your hands are always cold," he said.

Soon, Gu Xiao offered Lan Yuning his last smile. It was no longer an expression constructed for deceit, but something genuine and sorrowful.

He turned around and walked to their car.

Before he reached their car, Gu Xiao took one last look at Lan Yuning and waved.

"Chase after your dreams, Lan Yuning! Thank you for everything!" Gu Xiao beamed. "Let's meet again someday!"

The engine started and Lan Yuning watched that back grow smaller and smaller.

This scene of Gu Xiao's back fading into the distance was entrenched in his heart. It was like this every time.

Every time they parted, he would watch Gu Xiao's back disappear from his vision. Yet, this tenderness that he provided lingered within him for a long time, and this prolonged fondness remained until their next meeting.

Amongst the sea of people, thank you for choosing to love me.