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MANSPREADING.
Something endemic to men. Xiao Zhan hated it. He wished he could get people to sit appropriately while riding the subway. He’d often scorn at them, turn up the volume of his EarPods and look away every time he took the subway. He was the good “good” boy, an introvert but he had his principles and you would find him signing up for causes he believed in, in his college campus and attend protests and vigils making time for them besides submitting papers and meeting deadlines for assignments.
He had more girl friends, who he thought in general were nicer beings than men. He was also gay but believed men were mostly scum and was never really open to dating. That one experience he had in high school which he thought was going well until it turned out the guy was just “experimenting” made him completely give up on the idea of it. He thought it would be best he just spent his time more fruitfully supporting causes he was interested in. Yet as of late, he wanted to do more than what he was doing, perhaps helping someone in need or just speaking up when he watched something happen. It could be something big or small, he knew the repercussions he could face, especially being gay from straight men who he hated more than anyone else for their general lack of compassion for anything that wasn't like them.
He took the subway more often than the bus to get to college and would often spot the manspreaders invading their co-passenger’s seating area. He’d lately started staring at them in disgust until they took the cue to fold their legs but this one time the guy seated opposite him didn't seem to have noticed him at all, let alone get the message.
Xiao Zhan tried looking away, it didn't help that his stop was almost half an hour away and by that point his neck would hurt if he kept looking away. He looked again at the guy in front of him. For some reason he had his black Chanel goggles on and was in black leather pants and jacket. He probably was well off and a first timer to the subway experience. It wasn't an excuse though, for putting his crotch on display. He could only hope that the guy would get down soon enough so he could erase that sight from his mind.
He wasn't one song into his quick fix for the situation when he decided it was probably his moment to do more. This probably was his calling to step up and educate the manspreaders to understand that public spaces weren't their couches at home.
And so he gets up from his seat. A seat that is immediately taken by another passenger standing by the entrance of the coach.
He then takes the careful few steps up to the guy unable to make out if he’s asleep or awake behind those goggles. He adjusts his own glasses just in preparation. He feels a little bit of nervousness creeping in before he speaks up instead of cowering to it and walking away.
“Excuse me, Sir. Do you mind sitting properly.” He says but it was that part of the ride where they would pass through a tunnel and the sudden change in light in the coach makes it difficult for him to understand if the guy even heard him.
He can faintly make out the guy looking up but a small jerk indicating that they were approaching the next station causes him to lose his balance. He is about to land his face on the guy he was speaking to and tries avoiding that but the guy seems to have held him by his waist.
So the guy was indeed awake.
He tries standing up but there really wasn't much else except for the guy’s thighs to hold onto for support. Yet he tries getting back onto his feet. He feels like a complete fool already, wanting to turn away and stand in some other corner of the coach. A sense of defeat and mostly embarrassment taking over him as he somehow manages getting back on his feet. He turns around to walk away.
The train however jerks again speeding up from the stop and he finds himself lose his balance once again. His hands go up in the air trying to find the handle on the top for support. He closes his eyes realising that his back would hit the guy or the floor depending on where his legs would end up going.
Yet to his relief and shock he finds himself in a seated position after a few seconds of confusion. He opens his eyes to determine exactly where he landed. He looks around and it looked like everyone really was just as busy as ever. The rush hour crowd couldn't be bothered by a woke kid on the subway. The coach was now almost completely packed with the crowd that got in from the stop before, something that was common given how it was one of the main hubs for people to switch trains.
He then tries examining the seat he was on. He looks at the people beside him and realises that he had a slightly elevated vantage over them. He wondered if he grew taller than he already was but then realises how his ass felt slightly different. It then hits him that he wasn't seated on the usual flat seat. He feels slightly mushy yet sturdy under his ass cheeks.
He was seated on the manspreader.
He tries getting up but a sharp turn by the train only pushes him further up the guy’s thighs. His back hits the guy’s chest. His nape could feel the guy’s breaths falling on it. He bites his lips worried about what was happening.
He decides against attempting free himself from the guy anymore given how he’s failed so far. None of the people around seemed to care or find it awkward. Some probably would have assumed they were boyfriends making up for the lack of space in the coach, something that wasn't uncommon anyway.
He is surprised however given how the guy made no attempts to get him off his lap. He gulps thinking about it. He probably was a creep after all and he grows further stiff, worried if he’d try doing anything to him. He’s mildly astonished when he doesn't feel any attempt from the guy’s end to take any advantage of the situation. And so he sits like that for the rest of the journey, almost like a robot, trying not to get any deeper into the guy’s lap whenever there was a sharp turn.
He is almost too robotesque given how he didn't realise the fact that people started getting off the train. In fact there were seats around him that were now empty. He also misses his stop as he stares out the window that was once again visible opposite him.
A beep followed by an announcement in the coach finally gets his attention indicating that they were approaching the last stop. He finally stands up, doesn't bother looking back at the guy and walks up to the door waiting for it to open as the stop approached.
He had to go to the opposite side to catch the train. He needed to get back to the stop he was supposed to get down at and stands waiting for the train once he gets there.
“Hi.” He hears someone call him from behind.
He turns around to take a look. It turns out to be the guy who he thought he’d already forgotten about. The goggles were now tucked into his white shirt. If not for the failed confrontation he’d probably talk to him or admire his handsome features but he’s cautious given his views about manspreaders in general.
He tries turning back to pay attention to the tracks to see if the next train was approaching them, but his real intent was to just keep his distance from the guy.
“I’m sorry about earlier.” He says and Xiao Zhan half considers reiterating how he shouldn't assume public spaces are his personal property.
“I was asleep when you approached me.” He tries explaining himself but Xiao Zhan wasn't ready to consider it.
“My legs probably spread apart when I fell asleep. I’m sorry about that.
I mean…… I totally get why you or anyone would find it disgusting. I know I would.” He continues saying but Xiao Zhan keeps quiet.
“I need to turn in an assignment today.” He adds.
“We’re from the same University actually.” Xiao Zhan is surprised when he hears that. He wasn't sure anyone from there besides his friends knew anything about him, let alone recognise him outside campus.
“I’d drive my bike but I was just tired from pulling an all nighter so I ended up taking the subway.
The deadline is ten on the dot today.” The guy continues explaining himself so Xiao Zhan wouldn't get the wrong impression about him.
The train approaches the station and Xiao Zhan gets into the coach with the guy following him. He takes a seat and is surprised when the guy sits beside him, his legs crossed. He turns to him just to take a look.
“My name’s Wang Yibo. You’re my senior. I’m a freshman here at the Chemical Engineering department.” He says pulling out his ID just to put the ge at ease and it seems to have worked.
“I’d noticed you at some of the rallies around the campus.” He says.
“In fact I wasn't sure if you were following me around or if it was simply coincidence when I noticed you in a lot of places I’d go to, including the library. I know it doesn't look like it, but trust me I take my studies seriously.” He tries easing things between them.
“I don't know if it was the universe working to help me out but suffice to say I was pleasantly surprised to have you in my arms…….rather lap this morning.” Xiao Zhan knew he shouldn't let his guard down but he feels a blush creeping up his cheeks betraying his determination.
“Would it be weird if I asked you out?” He’s pretty unswerving about it.
Xiao Zhan wonders where this was coming from.
“Why didn't you tell me anything when the stop approached?” He asks him instead of answering.
“Well, because I was sort of dumbstruck having you on my lap, and also because I didn't want to make you feel unwelcome.” He tries his luck flirting with is ge and it seems to be working when he half blushes in front of him, his cheeks now resembling tomatoes and he’s glad he could make him smile and put his doubts at ease.
They chat away until the stop approaches and get down at the University. Yibo learns that Xiao Zhan was pursuing Creative Arts and Design from the Department of Design over there. They get down and walk together until they are supposed to part ways to make it to their buildings.
“So Zhan ge” Yibo says.
“What about what I asked you earlier?” He alludes to when he asked him out in the train.
Xiao Zhan tugs at the hem of his oversized sweater considering it again.
“Hmm” He answers looking at the guy who gives out a cute lopsided smile and Xiao Zhan smiles back.
Yibo marvels at him for a moment before trying his luck in what he considered was already a successful morning. He gets a little closer to him and Xiao Zhan seemed to get the message reciprocating.
The kiss was beautiful, Yibo knew it would feel good but wasn’t prepared for the strawberry like taste he felt from his lips. He lingers just a little longer when Xiao Zhan pulls back.They exchange numbers before Xiao Zhan gives him a peck on his cheek. He walks away from there with Yibo watching him go.
A text from his friend reminds him about the deadline. He runs as he tries to make it to their building already feeling like he aced the assignment by submitting it on the dot.
-FIN