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Books and reviewers were scattered on the table when Xichen entered the room. He was holding a cup of Hot Caramel Macchiato and a cup of Hot Emperor’s Clouds & Mist Tea from Starbucks on one hand, and a take-out dinner from a Chinese restaurant on the other. However, the person he was anticipating to come home to was nowhere to be seen. Xichen expected him bent down on the table, reading the assigned cases for tomorrow’s class.
He made a beeline towards the kitchen hoping to see the person he’s been wanting to see all day but to no avail. He immediately put down on the table the drinks and the food on his hands to make a quick search for the man. He checked the bathroom but no one was there. He checked the balcony but it was also empty. Finally, he made his way towards the bedroom and slowly opened the door.
“Wanyin?” Xichen softly called out for the man. He could hear soft sniffling coming from the lump on the bed cocooned by the blanket. He cautiously went near and the bed and sat gently sat on it, trying very hard no to jostle the man.
“Wanyin? My heart?” Xichen called once again. The lump only made a small movement but it’s already enough for Xichen to know that the other acknowledges his presence in the room. He softly patted the head of the man, or at least what he assumes is the head. “What’s wrong?” Xichen added.
“Nothing,” Wanyin quietly answered while sniffling.
“It’s not nothing if it made you this sad,” Xichen countered.
“It’s just something petty. I’m okay. You don’t have to worry. You must be tired, coming from your duty,” Wanyin replied. He slowly removed the blanket from his head, freeing it from being cocooned.
Xichen felt his heart break when he saw the tear tracks on Wanyin’s face, as well as the red-rimmed eyes of the man. Wanyin’s lower lip was also bruised, an indication that the man had been biting his lip to stifle his cries. “Oh, Wanyin. Come here, my heart.”
Wanyin rearranged himself so that his head was being pillowed by Xichen’s lap. Xichen gently run through his fingers on Wanyin’s hair, trying to calm down the latter and at least offer some comfort. “Please tell me what’s wrong.”
Silence enveloped the two, only Wanyin’s deep breaths can be heard inside the room. Xichen patiently waited for the other to speak for he knows Wanyin will tell him once he’s ready. And he was not wrong.
“It’s nothing. I’m just overwhelmed with everything right now,” Wanyin explained.
“My heart, it’s not nothing. Please tell me if there’s anything I can do to help you,” Xichen immediately replied. He’s willing to do anything just to see Wanyin smile right now.
“It’s just that, final examinations are near and all of our professors are trying to catch up on lessons. There are still so many cases to read and digest and provisions to memorize. Not to mention the books that I still have to read. There are also papers from minor subjects I have yet to write and their deadlines are near. It’s just… everything’s too much right now.”
Wanyin finished his explanation with a hint of tears clinging on his lashes. He looked up at Xichen, lips slightly trembling from trying to stop himself from crying. Xichen wiped Wanyin’s face dry and then leaned down to kiss his forehead. Wanyin closed his eyes as Xichen’s lips touched his skin, savoring the calm that seems to surround Xichen.
They stayed in that position for a few minutes, Wanyin’s head on Xichen’s lap while Xichen gently ran his fingers through Wanyin’s hair. After a while, Xichen started humming under his breath, trying his very hardest to give Wanyin the comfort he knows the other needed.
Wanyin was starting to get sleepy. Xichen’s humming and the gentle fingers on his hair lulling him to a peaceful sleep. He would have fallen asleep if it weren’t for Xichen talking.
“Wuxian called me earlier saying you’re feeling a little down when he talked to you on the phone. So I thought Caramel Macchiato and take-out from your favorite Chinese restaurant would make you feel a little bit better,” Xichen smiles down at Wanyin. Hoping against hope that it would at least make Wanyin feel a little bit better about everything.
“From Starbucks?” Wanyin was looking at Xichen with twinkle in his eyes.
“Yes,” Xichen answered as he leaned down again to kiss Wanyin, this time on the lips.
Wanyin’s eyes started to get teary again. “Thank you, Xichen-ge. For everything. For listening to me.”
“Always, my heart. I’m always here for you. I love you.”
“I love you too, Xichen-ge.”
“Now, come on. I’m sure the coffee and the dinner is already cold.” Xichen said as he ushered the both of them out of the bedroom and into the kitchen where their drinks and food were waiting. Wanyin’s eyes lit up and a wide smile bloomed on his face when he saw his favorite coffee on the table.
As Xichen looked at Wanyin sipping his coffee, he knows that Wanyin can overcome whatever he is going through right now. And if Wanyin experiences another breakdown, he just has to make sure he’s there for him, ready to listen and give him his favorite coffee.