Work Text:
"So," Jiang Cheng says.
"Ano?" Wen Qing looks at him. Waits. She glares because Jiang Cheng is grinning at her in a way that makes her want to punch him in all the hurtful places.
Hinintay ni Wen Qing na ituloy ni Jiang Cheng ang sasabihin niya kaso ang kupal, nakangisi lang habang naggigisa ng bawang para sa sinangag na niluluto nito. Finally, humarap sa kanya ang lalaki matapos nitong ilagay ang kaning lamig sa kawali.
"Kumusta ka naman kagabi?” casual na tanong nito kay Wen Qing. “Nag-enjoy ka ba sa day-off walwal mo?”
Wen Qing inwardly groaned. Kaya nga siya pumunta sa apartment na ‘to dahil sigurado siyang wala si Wei Wuxian ngayon (most likely overnight na naman sa condo ni Lan Wangji) at hindi naman chismoso ang kapatid niyang si Jiang Cheng. Joke’s on her kasi nagkabalikan nga pala sina Jiang Cheng at Nie Huaisang a few weeks back, so matic na chismoso na ulit ang epal na ‘to.
“Saks lang,” she shrugs. “Hindi naman ako nalasing.”
“Oh? Last thing I saw, you and Mianmian were holding each other up and doing a pretty good rendition of Girls Just Wanna Have Fun"
"Yeah, that happen pero hindi naman ako lasing no’n."
Nagpasalamat si Wen Qing sa ilang minutong katahimikan dahil muntikan nang masunog ang sinangag ni Jiang Cheng sa kadadaldal nito. Tinapos niya muna ang pagluluto at nagprito pa ng kaunting tinapa bago binaling ulit ang buong atensyon kay Wen Qing.
"So…" Jiang Cheng continues, occupying the seat in front of her with that shit-eating grin again
“Kung anu-ano na naman iniisip mo dyan.”
"I'm just saying, you were pretty cozy. And Nie Huaisang said–"
"Jiang Cheng," Wen Qing warns. She deserves some of this, she knows. Months of trying to set Jiang Cheng up with his ex-boyfriend, teasing him just like this, at ito na nga ang karma niya. Note to self: hinding-hindi na siya makikipagpustahan kay Wei Wuxian. Sa kanya nabu-boomerang ang malas, eh.”–
"Are you gonna ask her out?"
"No."
"Ba’t naman hindi? Himalang may gusto rin sa ‘yo si Mianmian, at sa lahat ng nakilala kong kinausap mo, siya lang ata ang hindi mo ihuhulog mula sa rooftop.
"Shunga, hindi ako ganyan, ano," Wen Qing says. Jiang Cheng looks at her. "Fine, pero hindi ko itutulak si Mianmian mula sa rooftop."
"Exactly," Jiang Cheng says. "Because you like her."
Wen Qing groaned. She hates this so much kasi ganito rin siya kay Jiang Cheng noon. "We're not teenagers, Jiang Cheng. We're just… co-workers."
"Friends,” Jiang Cheng corrected.
"Fine, friends."
"Friends who slept together."
"Friends are allowed to bang on New Years," Wen Qing says. She's not flushing, at all, and she's not thinking about Mianmian. It’s been five months since that night, okay? They were both drunk, and it's not a big deal, and – whatever. Unlike her stupid best friend Wei Wuxian, alam na alam ni Mianmian ang ibig sabihin ng one night stand. "I read it on the internet somewhere. Marunong ka naman gumamit ng Google, ‘di ba?"
Jiang Cheng shakes his head and laughs at her, but he doesn't say anything else for the rest of the morning.