Chapter Text
Back when he was still a student, Feng Xin thought being a college student would be more fun. At least he didn't have to sit in class from morning to evening. However, it turned out that his fantasy had to be shattered when he lived a student life. Indeed, studying activities only lasted until noon, but not infrequently his practical classes kept him up until night. Luckily he lived in the campus dormitory provided, so his tired steps quickly reached his bed.
Speaking of the dormitory, Feng Xin had lived there for a long time, since he first entered college. His roommate changed occasionally, but for the past year he had a permanent friend and it seemed like he would be roommates until they both graduated. His name was Mu Qing. Feng Xin met him when the young man with long hair—who liked to tie his hair into a ponytail—first set foot in the room. The two of them got to know each other briefly, chatted about their respective majors as small talk, then started to ignore each other.
Actually Feng Xin didn't really ignore him, however, Mu Qing did seem like that. Several times Feng Xin tried to chat with him but the young man's responses were only casual, making Feng Xin lose the topic of conversation. The two of them could not even talk for a few days, Feng Xin could see that Mu Qing seemed busy with his own world. He could just look at his phone all day, typing something on it, even if the phone rang he would immediately pick it up.
Feng Xin was a little curious, but he didn't want to interfere in his roommate's business. The awkwardness between the two melted when Feng Xin found Mu Qing sick in his dorm room.
That night, Feng Xin had just returned from campus and found his room dark with the curtains still open. Even though it was only 7 pm, it was unusual for his room to be this dark. Could it be that Mu Qing was away? He thought as he turned on the light. The room suddenly lit up, making Feng Xin realize that there was Mu Qing there, rolled up in a blanket while shivering.
"Mu Qing?!" Feng Xin panicked a little seeing it then approached his roommate. He put his hand on Mu Qing's forehead. Fever. The tall young man immediately looked for the medicine he kept on his study table. Once he got it, he approached Mu Qing again.
"Mu Qing, have you taken your medicine?" he asked softly which was responded by Mu Qing with a slow shake of his head with his eyes still closed. The young man pulled his blanket until it almost covered his face. Slowly, Feng Xin sat Mu Qing down.
"What are you doing, idiot," said Mu Qing when his body was sat down, his eyes then opened, staring at Feng Xin in annoyance. His head was already very dizzy and his body was cold, he had no energy to get up at this time.
Without replying to Mu Qing's annoying words, Feng Xin gave Mu Qing medicine and took a bottle of mineral water from his bag. "Drink your medicine, then sleep," Feng Xin gave him his drinking bottle. Mu Qing looked at him for a moment then took the water bottle and immediately drank the medicine that Feng Xin gave him. He didn't say anything, after giving the bottle of drink back to its owner, Mu Qing lay down, covering his entire body.
Feng Xin let Mu Qing fall asleep, the cold rumbling from Mu Qing that had been heard earlier then disappeared. Replaced by the young man's regular breathing. After feeling that Mu Qing seemed fine, Feng Xin decided to take a shower.
The dormitory bathroom was located at the end of the hallway on each floor. The hot water only operates from 5 am to 9 pm, so students who live in this dormitory must be able to manage their time to clean themselves comfortably. After taking a shower, Feng Xin returned to his room and found Mu Qing had opened his blanket, revealing the sweat pouring from his body. Feng Xin had time to check his friend's body temperature and felt that his fever was starting to go down. After that, he walked to his bed and went to sleep.
Feng Xin woke up the next day, finding Mu Qing who was already dressed to go to campus. As soon as he saw Feng Xin, Mu Qing looked at him. "Thank you for the medicine," he said softly which was answered with a brief nod from Feng Xin.
"And sorry for cursing you stupidly," Mu Qing said again. This time Feng Xin just laughed, "No need. I can understand. Sorry for forcing you to take medicine last night. But are you really cured?" Feng Xin sat on the edge of his bed, staring at Mu Qing. He then stood up and approached his friend, intending to check his body temperature but Mu Qing quickly avoided it.
"I'm fine, thank you again," Mu Qing immediately left the room, leaving Feng Xin standing there stunned.
Since that incident, the two of them communicate comfortably. Sometimes they chat until late at night, sometimes they ask each other to be woken up when there is a morning lectures. No wonder each of them started to memorize the lecture schedule just to wake each other up. In fact, they would let each other know if one of them would be home late.
Until today, Feng Xin was surprised to find Mu Qing in the dormitory. Even though he remembered, Mu Qing sent a message that he would be home late because he had an appointment with someone. Feng Xin wanted to ask but it seemed like Mu Qing was chatting with someone else on the phone, he sat at his study table and didn't realize Feng Xin's presence. Faintly, Feng Xin could hear the conversation from the phone line. It seemed like he was sneering at Mu Qing. His roommate was silent, even his hands supported, covering his face.
"Sorry," that was all that came out of Mu Qing's mouth after a long time. "I know, it's my fault," he said again. There was a long pause, it seemed like Mu Qing was listening to the person on the other end talking. Then he took a deep breath.
"Why... every time we fight do you always say break up so easily?"
Hearing that, Feng Xin just realized, Mu Qing already had a boyfriend. However, from the faint voice on the phone it seemed like a man's voice. Feng Xin actually didn't have a problem with someone's sexual orientation, but he just didn't expect Mu Qing to have a male lover. His face was handsome enough for women to fight over.
"Okay. I'm sorry." That was the last sentence Mu Qing said before finally hanging up. He still covered his face, rubbed it slowly and then angrily threw his phone back—towards Feng Xin whose presence he didn't realize.
"Hup!" Feng Xin immediately caught the phone. Being the president of the basketball club on campus certainly made it easy for him to catch the phone. Mu Qing jumped in surprise when he saw Feng Xin there.
"SINCE WHEN DID YOU COME HOME?!" he asked hysterically.
"Since hearing you say sorry and I know this is my fault?" Feng Xin repeated Mu Qing's sentence on the phone earlier, making his roommate even angrier.
"Can you knock before you come in?!" he asked again. Now he snatched his phone from Feng Xin's hand.
"You told me you were coming home late, so I thought you weren't here. Who would have thought I found someone fighting with their lover," Feng Xin explained then took off his jacket and bag. Since hearing Mu Qing's conversation earlier, he had been listening to him without moving an inch. Mu Qing seemed to be holding back his anger. He squeezed his phone tightly but didn't want to refute Feng Xin's words.
Silence enveloped the two of them, Mu Qing was still sitting at his study table while Feng Xin seemed to be playing a game while lying down. "So, what's the problem that made him scold you like that?" Feng Xin asked without looking away, while excitedly fighting the final boss. The person being asked didn't answer immediately, "I forgot to remind him about today's promise," Mu Qing answered then.
Hearing this made Feng Xin stop the game on his phone. The young man sat down and stared at Mu Qing's back with a big question mark on his head. "We were supposed to meet today, but I forgot to remind him, so he already has an appointment with someone else," Mu Qing continued. Again, Feng Xin did not understand, he immediately asked again, "I didn't hear wrong, right? You should be the one who is angrier here, he forgot your promise."
Mu Qing did not answer him, his head then lowered even deeper. For a moment Feng Xin could see the young man's shoulders shaking. "I know ... I know I should be the one who is angry," Mu Qing's voice sounded hoarse. He cried, making Feng Xin widen his eyes in surprise. After that, no one spoke anymore, only the sound of Mu Qing's sobs could be heard, even so, Feng Xin did not know how to comfort his roommate but in his heart he could feel deep sorrow. As if he didn't want to see Mu Qing like this. There was a desire to calm him down, but he didn't have the heart to just rub the young man's head. As a result, he just stayed where he was, letting Mu Qing drown in his sadness.
***
"I haven't seen Mu Qing all day. Do you know where he is, Feng Xin?" Xie Lian who was sitting in his faculty cafeteria asked. An unexpected coincidence turned out that Mu Qing was Xie Lian's classmate and Xie Lian was Feng Xin's best friend since high school, Mu Qing's initial entry into the dormitory was also because Xie Lian recommended him. According to Xie Lian, the two were very suitable to live together in the same dormitory considering Feng Xin's indifferent personality and Mu Qing who didn't like to be disturbed by anyone.
Occasionally, Feng Xin would come to Xie Lian, having lunch together like today. "In the dormitory. I don't think he's feeling well," Feng Xin answered uncertainly.
This morning when Feng Xin was about to leave, Mu Qing had not moved from his bed. Even though he had a morning class schedule, just like him.
However, Mu Qing only said that he didn't want to go anywhere today. Finally, Feng Xin left Mu Qing alone in the dormitory. "Maybe he's still thinking about the fight with his boyfriend," Feng Xin said again while continuing to eat.
Xie Lian seemed to frown, "I just found out he has a boyfriend."
"Exactly. I also just found out yesterday afternoon and you know that his girlfriend is really hot-tempered." Feng Xin began to tell what he heard yesterday afternoon to Xie Lian who seemed enthusiastic to listen to him. The two of them were rarely interested in gossiping but when it came to Mu Qing, Xie Lian would be very interested in listening to it. After all, Xie Lian considered Mu Qing his close friend, the two of them even always sat next to each other in class.
"Doesn't their relationship look unhealthy?" Xie Lian commented which was answered with a nod by Feng Xin. "I didn't dare to say it because he kept crying all afternoon."
Xie Lian's expression looked sad, making Feng Xin feel quite guilty. His best friend was quite easy to sympathize with others. "If you meet him, just pretend you don't know, okay?" Feng Xin advised which was agreed by Xie Lian. According to him, he knew about this problem secretly.
After chatting with Xie Lian for quite a while, Feng Xin said goodbye and went home. That day was quite free, so he decided to rest in the dormitory while entertaining Mu Qing who was probably still curled up in his blanket. The young man stopped by the nearest minimarket, bought some snacks and cold drinks for himself and Mu Qing. Since the two of them became close, they occasionally shared food together, making each other know what they liked and disliked.
Feng Xin opened the door to his room, Mu Qing's figure was still curled up under the blanket. Busy playing with his cellphone. "Go home?" he asked, a little surprised because the door was open.
"En." Feng Xin put the snacks on Mu Qing's bed then took off his jacket and bag. "Are you still sad?" asked Feng Xin who had taken the laptop from the table and placed it on his bed while fiddling with it for a moment, "Want to watch a movie?" he asked again without permission immediately sitting on the floor, leaning against Mu Qing's bed
Seeing his roommate playing a movie on his laptop, Mu Qing had no choice but to get up and move to sit next to Feng Xin. On his lap was the plastic bag that Feng Xin had given him earlier which now caught Mu Qing's attention, there were some buns in there, "I know you haven't eaten, so I brought you some buns," said Feng Xin—who seemed to know what Mu Qing was thinking.
"Thank you," said Mu Qing, he took one of the buns then opened it. The screen on Feng Xin's laptop began to show a movie. Both of them were quiet for a moment before Mu Qing finally broke their silence.
"Do you have a lover, Feng Xin?" Mu Qing took the snacks in the plastic bag and opened it, after putting one in his mouth, he offered it to Feng Xin who seemed surprised by Mu Qing's question just now.
"Not yet," he replied while taking some snacks from the package and moving them to his hand. "Why ask a question like that?" Feng Xin asked, his eyes focused on the movie that was playing while chewing.
"Just curious," Mu Qing returned to watching, his mouth couldn't stop chewing on the snack in his hand.
Feng Xin chuckled softly, "Are you interested in being my boyfriend?"
Mu Qing choked a little then laughed softly, "You want to fight with my boyfriend?" he asked, now turning to Feng Xin who had apparently been looking at him first. His mischievous smile was visible on his face, feeling so confident. "No problem, I can punch him and take you easily," Feng Xin answered confidently which invited laughter from Mu Qing.
Maybe for Mu Qing this conversation meant nothing, but for some reason Feng Xin said it quite seriously. If only Mu Qing didn't have anyone right now, Feng Xin would try to approach him. Mu Qing's laughter was still heard, enough to make Feng Xin smile too. At least, Mu Qing no longer felt sad about yesterday's problem.
"Are you so happy that someone is fighting over you? Huh?" Feng Xin mocked.
Mu Qing who was still laughing responded by shaking his head. "No, it's not like that hahaha."
It took a few seconds for Mu Qing to completely calm down his laughter, Feng Xin was still waiting while looking at him. "It's not like that. It's just that this is the first time someone has said they want to take me away from him. I feel like someone is chasing me right now," replied Mu Qing who ignored Feng Xin's gaze and went back to watching the movie. The two of them didn't talk much, but Feng Xin had already returned to focusing on watching. He didn't respond to Mu Qing's words because his heart was beating fast right now.
"But, Feng Xin, if I don't have a boyfriend right now. I also think I will chasing you,” Mu Qing continued. Truly, hearing it made Feng Xin’s heart feel like it was going to jump out of his chest. The young man felt his face heat up a little and after a while to calm his heartbeat, he said, “Unfortunately, if you don’t have a lover right now, I might be the one chasing you first, Mu Qing.”
That sentence made Mu Qing’s face turn red.