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The last time Wu Suowei saw Chi Cheng was back in the clinic. When he found out the revenge plan and they ended their relationship.
Chi Cheng didn’t even show up at the burial of his mom. Wu Suowei can’t help but wonder if he did visit them but only when he wasn’t looking or he wasn’t aware. Well, he did leave them flowers. It even said, “From your son, Chi Cheng”. He could have gone here or he could have just told someone to bring it for him. Either way, it’s been a very long time since Wu Suowei last saw him.
He’s thinking about this now because he’s on his way home. Alone. His mom had just been buried and it was late in the afternoon. He has been busy taking care of her funeral and at the same time, his company. A week. A whole week or more that his head was occupied. He didn’t let himself succumb with the grief. He didn’t even let himself think so much of their breakup. But now that it had been all taken care of and he didn’t have anything to think about for the rest of the day anymore, Wu Suowei finally had the time to think.
Back there, he bid his goodbyes with Jiang Xiaoshuai, who has been so worried about him. It took him a while to convince him to let Wu Suowei go home. He didn’t want him to go alone and even offered to let him sleep at his place or even in the clinic if that's more comfortable for him. Wu Suowei just insisted on going back home. He wanted to fix the altar in their home and put his mom’s picture frame right beside his dad.
When he stepped in their house and it was too quiet with no one to welcome him, Wu Suowei’s suddenly hit with the realization that he’s really alone now.
Maybe it was the silence. But as soon as he set his mom’s picture beside his dad, his tears began falling.
He broke down on his knees and cried his heart out.
No one came to comfort him. This time, there was no one to engulf him into a tight and warm embrace. No one to whisper sweet names into his ear and to assure him that everything’s gonna be alright.
“I just don’t think it’s a good idea to leave you alone just yet,” Jiang Xiaoshuai said, concerned.
Wu Suowei could only roll his eyes. “I’m doing fine, shifu. I’m a grown man, I could handle myself just fine.”
Jiang Xiaoshuai squinted his eyes at him.
Wu Suowei laughed. He slapped his shifu on the shoulder and said, “It’s been months already, I’m doing much better now.” He smiled at him reassuringly. “I could take care of myself. You go and enjoy your time with Guo Chengyu.”
Jiang Xiaoshuai sighed and looked away. “I told him, it wouldn’t be a good idea to leave at a time like this.” He clicked his tongue. “But he insisted on making me sleep over.”
Wu Suowei smiled. “He misses you.”
Jiang Xiaoshuai halted and stared at Wu Suowei. His mouth hung open as if he wanted to say something but didn’t. For the past few weeks, if it's not in the clinic, Jiang Xiaoshuai insists on making Wu Suowei spend the night where he could immediately come to him. It must have been a great disturbance to their relationship, having his shifu to take care of him every single day.
“Thank you for taking care of me, shifu. I’m doing much better now, I promise.”
Jiang Xiaoshuai frowned. “Chi Cheng hasn’t really contacted you yet?”
Wu Suowei’s smile faltered.
“It’s already been months, right? Since he found out between you and Yue Yue? And you two haven’t seen or talked since then?” He shook his head in disbelief. “I didn’t think he’d last this long.”
“He must’ve been back together with Wang Shou.”
“What?” Jiang Xiaoshuai was confused. “Impossible. He was at Gou Chengyu’s place for a while. Never mentioned him. I don’t even think he knew about Wang Shou flying back to the states or if he did, he just didn’t care.”
And just like that, a boulder had just been lifted off of his chest.
“S’that so?” Wu Suowei picked at his nails. But he hasn’t called me.
“Are you still jealous of his ex?” Jiang Xiaoshuai asked. “He has no reason to be back with him anymore, Da Wei.”
“Then why hasn’t Chi Cheng come back to me yet?” is the question he wanted to ask but he kept to himself.
Jiang Xiaoshuai could only sigh at his silence. “Call him. It’s time for the two of you to finally sit down and talk. You two are torturing yourselves by not being together.”
Wu Suowei smiled. “He already broke things between us, Xiaoshuai. We’re not going back together anymore.”
“You say that but it’s obvious you’re still waiting for him.”
“I’m not.” Wu Suowei shook his head. “Believe me, Xiaoshuai. I’m not.”
It’s one of those days where Jiang Xiaoshuai comes to visit him at work.
“Da Wei.”
“Hm?” Wu Suowei asked, looking up from the computer.
Jiang Xiaoshuai walked up to him and stood in front of him across his table. “Aren’t you going to eat? It’s past lunch already, but I have seen you get up from there since morning.”
“Ahh I’m not hungry yet, you go on ahead and eat first. I will eat later after I finish this.”
Jiang Xiaoshuai coming to get him to eat has become a routine now. Wu Suowei often loses track of time and forgets to eat. For some reason, he can’t feel hunger.
The clinic has been closed and Wu Suowei can hear Jiang Xiaoshuai preparing to leave for today. Before he leaves, he makes it a habit to come and check Wu Suowei back in his room. Like most nights, Wu Suowei always spends it sitting up on his bed and his laptop on his lap. He can’t sleep.
“Working this late everyday is not good for your health, Da Wei. You should rest. Please,” said Jiang Xiaoshuai after a while. He got up from leaning against the door rest and walked near to Wu Suowei’s bed.
Wu Suowei glanced at the other and gave a smile. “I’m fine, Xiaoshuai. I do rest. I’m just not used to sleeping early.”
The doctor crossed his arms. “Why don't you take tomorrow off? The company’s gonna be fine if you rest at least once a week, Da Wei. Do you want to just drop dead or what?”
“Haha! I won’t, I promise.” He even raised his hands in the air.
“Da Wei. . .”
“I’ll rest after I’m done. I promise.”
Jiang Xiaoshuai has his brows raised at him. “Oh, you’re not gonna spend the night here tonight?”
The clinic was already closed for the day when Wu Suowei walked out of his room. Jiang Xiaoshuai must have known from him juggling his keys that he was leaving for the night. “Ah, yes. Somebody has to keep the house in shape. Can’t leave it to fall apart, you know.”
Jiang Xiaoshuai’s eyes scanned him first, as if checking he’s truly okay. That made him laugh a bit.
The doctor shook his head, amused. “Ok, ok, when are you gonna be back then?”
“I’ll be back by the morning for sure. I really can’t last long there, or I’m gonna go insane.” He lowered his gaze and sighed. “It’s too quiet.”
It must’ve been the haunting silence in the house.
Wu Suowei’s trembling fingers hover over the call button. The name of the contact flashes on the screen. His eyes should be hurting by now if not for the water slowly pooling at the corner of his eyes. He’s breathing heavily and his heart was hammering against his chest.
His fingers finally slipped and he tapped the call button.
His mind was blank and he hadn’t rehearsed what he should be saying. His heart was pounding and when the line clicks—
“The number you have dialed is no longer in service.”
His mind was running miles and as every second passed, the more his realization made sense. Chi Cheng changed his number.
He changed his number.
Wu Suowei hangs up.
“You’re not okay, Da Wei.”
“Hm?” Wu Suowei didn’t catch what the other said.
They are both having dinner and sitting across from each other. “You look like you haven’t slept at all,” he observed. He leaned back and stared at him intently.
“Ahh. Haha!” Wu Suowei forced a laugh. It’s true that he hasn’t slept at all. It’s a miracle nothing bad happened to him while driving back to the clinic. “It’s fine. I just couldn’t sleep, so I worked through the night without realizing how late it got. I’ll sleep a bit later.
Jiang Xiaoshuai stared at him with concern. “Did something happen last night?” he asked, his tone careful.
Wu Suowei froze. It took him a second before responding, “What do you mean?” He continued eating. He couldn’t look straight at Jiang Xiaoshuai. “It’s fine, I’m okay. Just a bit,” he shrugged, “tired.”
Jiang Xiaoshuai clicked his tongue and shook his head. “Next time you have to go back home, I’ll come with you. Is that fine?”
“Haha! You don’t have to but okay.” It’s good to have a friend like his shifu.
It’s like an itch he needs to scratch.
Before he realized where he’s going, he’s now back to their home.
He didn’t know why he was there and how long he had been standing there, just staring at the door. He’s still not sure what his intention is for going here. His head feels foggy and his body feels numb. He feels like he hasn’t been thinking clearly and he’s not sure what he’s really feeling anymore.
His eyes flicked over the keypad lock. He walked up the door and his fingers were trembling as he pressed the passcode he remembered.
He swallowed. Breathless.
A red light flashes. Denied.
He tries again. Beep. Wrong again.
Before he can try again, the door clicks open and opens just a few inches.
Someone, a man, peeks through the gap.
“Can I help you?” they asked.
He stilled. His mouth hangs open as he scrambles his mind for words other than “Who are you?” and “What are you doing in my house?”. Is this person Chi Cheng’s new play thing? Since when? Wu Suowei didn’t even realize he held his breath. Suddenly, he felt dizzy.
All the questions he had, he suddenly had no energy in his body to ask. He should just leave. Say sorry and just turn on his heels and just leave.
And that’s what he was about to do when he catches a glimpse past the narrow opening. The walls are now painted differently. The furniture that his eyes can reach are all unfamiliar to him now too. From where he was standing, he could conclude that everything inside has completely changed.
The realization hits him like a punch.
His eyes landed back to the man. He’s now staring back at him, his expression mixed with confusion and concern.
That snapped Wu Suowei back. He cleared his throat and asked, “Is. . . Chi Cheng here?”
The man blinked. “I’m sorry, who?”
That alone was enough of a confirmation for his gut feeling but he repeated, “Chi Cheng. Is he here?”
The man shook his head. “I don’t know anyone by that name. Sorry, dude. I actually just moved in recently.”
He swallowed hard.
“Right. Sorry. I thought he still lived here.” He nodded. He stepped back, lowering his head a bit to the stranger. “Sorry to bother you. Thanks.”
The man hesitantly nodded and slowly shut the door. The click of the lock echoes across the hall.
He lingered there. He didn’t know what to feel and he didn’t know what to think.
Wu Suowei pressed his lips then turned and left.
Wu Suowei called Jiang Xiaoshuai. His voice quiet and somber.
“Xiaoshuai.”
“Da Wei! Yes? What? Why do you sound like that?” His voice came in, firing him questions.
Like what? “Can you ask Guo Chengyu if Chi Cheng changed his number?”
“He changed his what? Wait, wait. Chengyu’s beside me.” The line goes silent for a while. “Da Wei. He did. This asshole. Why didn’t you tell me? You should’ve talked him out of it. They need each other especially at a time like this.” He’s talking to someone else. Wu Suowei just quietly listens from the other side of the call.
“I did, babe. But I can’t get to him. He seems so certain already.”
“Tsk. Anyway, Da Wei? Are you still there?”
“Mm.” Wu Suowei could merely hum in response. He didn’t know what to do with what he heard. Certain, he said. Certain of what exactly?
“Do you need his number? Chengyu has it. I could send it to you.”
“. . .Please.”
Chi Cheng’s things were all scattered on Wu Suowei’s bed. He’s been busy taking pictures of it and now that that’s done, he’s gonna send it to Chi Cheng and say something like, “Come pick your things up or else I’ll throw them away” or something like that. He hasn’t decided yet.
The cursor was glaring back at him, waiting for the words to be typed. He is biting his nails, tapping his feet against the floor. He’s anxious dammit. Why is he overthinking this? This is Chi Cheng he is talking about. What is he getting shy about when they’ve done all sorts of shameless things already. What’s with texting him after the first real fight they have and telling the other to come pick his things up. In other words, the most obvious come-to-my-house invite.
Whatever. Fuck. He didn’t care. He just wanted to... talk? He didn’t know. But if they’re going to separate, at least they’re gonna be on good terms.
After overthinking for almost an hour, Wu Suowei purposely messed Chi Cheng’s things on his bed again, took a picture of it and sent it to the other with a message,
“Get your things.”
He went back to pacing back and forth after. Completely restless, he started cleaning the whole house. And then he started overthinking if he cleaned too much. Would it be weird? Like he prepared too much? Which is why he intentionally left some things messed up.
It took another hour for him to receive a response from Chi Cheng.
“Have it delivered.”
His mouth hung open. Look at this asshole.
He was fuming while typing back a reply when Chi Cheng sent a message again.
“I’ll pay, if that’s what you're concerned about”
Wu Suowei deleted the whole paragraph of him complaining.
He sank to his bed and began thinking of a message again. He bit his nails as he rummaged his mind for an idea.
He knows it's a long drive from work to here but how else is he gonna get Chi Cheng to come to him if not by this? Should he just pack all this up and go to their house? But what if Chi Cheng is not there? It would be weird to bring his things back along with him. And if he’s there but isn’t willing to talk anymore, he doesn’t have anything with him anymore to make Chi Cheng come to him anymore.
He kept thinking and thinking until he got so frustrated he screamed against his pillow.
In the end, he went with a ‘fuck it’ mindset and just sent, “Just come and pick up your things.” He didn’t dare threaten that he’ll throw Chi Cheng’s things away because he’s afraid the other would just say, ‘sure’ or ‘go’ something like that. Like Wu Suowei is asking for permission. Fuck him. If Wu Suowei really wanted to throw his things away, he wouldn’t be asking for permission. His things would now be burning somewhere.
It's beginning to get dark outside and Wu Suowei’s starting to lose hope. Hours went by as he waited and laid right beside the mess of Chi Cheng’s things beside him. He wanted to barrage Chi Cheng with messages. Where is he? Why isn’t he replying? Is he on the way already?
He wanted to dunk his head in the toilet for feeling excited over that. Excited, his ass. He’s not excited the fuck. Why would he be excited over that motherfucker who only thinks with his dick.
He just wants to talk. Separate on good terms. That’s all.
It was dark when Chi Cheng finally responded.
“I’m outside”
His initial reaction was excitement. For some reason, it got followed by a spark of irritation in his chest. Is he asking for my permission to let him in? He could’ve sworn he left the gates unlocked. Why would he need to get his permission now?
His brows knitted and his heart aching, he replied, “Just come in. The gate’s open.”
The gate creaked open, familiar footsteps followed and Wu Suowei didn't even realize he’s holding his breath until he felt dizzy. Or is it just the familiar scent slowly dominating the room?
The steps paused and by that time, Wu Suowei knew that all it would take was a turn of his head toward the door and he’s finally gonna see Chi Cheng for the first time after their fight.
It’s not that endearment, “Wei Wei” or his name but a thud that he first heard from Chi Cheng.
Wu Suowei turned around and sat up, his eyes on the big box on the floor beside Chi Cheng. Dropping it must have been the cause for the thud sound.
“What’s that?” Wu Suowei asked, already frowning.
“Your things,” Chi Cheng answered. He hadn’t heard this asshole talk for months and as soon he did, it made Wu Suowei’s heart drop on his stomach. “Do you have a bag or something I can put my things at?”
“No,” — Was Wu Suowei’s answer but as soon as he saw Chi Cheng step back to go outside of the house, panic surged in his body and before he knew, he was already have his hand held up signing for the other wait, “I think, wait, I think we have one somewhere in the house. Wait here.” And then walked past Chi Cheng to find a bag or something somewhere in the house. He’s not sure if he could really find a bag somewhere but the thought of Chi Cheng stepping out of the house as soon as he came sent alarms ringing in his head.
He walked around the house, opening drawers here and there but his mind was elsewhere. His chest felt tight and his thoughts were racing so fast. His eyes felt unseeing.
Chi Cheng came. He came with Wu Suowei’s things.
He’s not planning to come back. Chi Cheng’s not planning to take him back.
He came back with an eco bag, his body numb and hands cold. Chi Cheng was sitting on the edge of the bed, folding his clothes messily. It looks like he just folded them clumsily, only enough to make them fit in the small bag.
“Here.” He handed the eco bag.
Chi Cheng didn’t bother looking up and just took the bag from Wu Suowei. He merely sighed and set the bag down then went back to folding his clothes.
He did all that without meeting his eyes.
He fucking sighed too. What? He’s tired now? Sick of it? Is that it?
Wu Suowei could feel the sting of tears at the corner of his eyes, so he turned away quickly and moved towards the first things his eyes landed on.
Wu Suowei kicked the box, peeking at what was inside. “What’s all these?”
Chi Cheng didn’t bother repeating himself.
His silence pissed Wu Suowei off, so he huffed and kicked the side of the box again.
The box rattled from the kick, making its contents shift around and what seemed like a belt peeked through. Chest tight, Wu Suowei crouched down and pulled it out. It’s the belt that he gave Chi Cheng before they even got together. Even his watch from their couple set was here. He rummaged some more and found the pants that he gave the other.
“I gave this to you, why would you give it back?” he asked, his voice coming out sulky, almost like a complaint.
Chi Cheng’s brows knitted, he replied, “Throw it away if you don’t want it back.”
“You don’t want to wear it?” You said you’d use it forever because I gave it to you. “What?” Wu Suowei forced a laugh. “Is it because it’s not your size? Do you feel stupid wearing them?”
Chi Cheng’s brows furrowed and kept silent.
Wu Suowei kept waiting for a reply. For an explanation. At this point, he’d accept whatever the fuck Chi Cheng will throw at him. If he’ll scream, if they’d fight. He wouldn’t be surprised if he would feel a sense of comfort from it. Because if the other gets mad and they fight, it means he still cares. Didn’t Chi Cheng know that his indifference is slowly killing him? He used to be so sensitive to his feelings, always prepared to comfort him, to welcome him into his arms? Where had all that gone? Did he not care anymore?
It seems like Chi Cheng really has no plans explaining himself, and Wu Suowei is starting to feel pathetic so he just went back rummaging through the box. The worst decision he made that day, because as soon as his hands reached the shoebox at the bottom, he already felt a bad feeling in his gut. He removed the cover and his heart dropped when he finally saw what’s inside.
It’s their pictures. All of the things pinned at the board near the entrance of their home.
It took a couple of seconds for Wu Suowei to make sure he could talk without bursting into tears. “What am I going to do with these?” he asked quietly.
“Do whatever you want with them.”
“Whatever I want?” He couldn’t believe what he was hearing.
“Throw them away. Burn them. I don’t care.”
Wu Suowei’s lower lips quivered. You burn them, asshole!
“And this watch?” asked Wu Suowei. “You’re the one who bought this. Why are you giving it to me? Why are you giving all this back to me? I gifted some of this to you, it’s yours already.”
Chi Cheng sighed. Annoyed. “If you don’t want it back, I’ll give it away.”
“What, no!” Wu Suowei is now fully facing Chi Cheng. He’s folding his clothes and putting them in the bag. “Why would you do that?”
“Because I have nothing to do with all of that anymore.”
He stood up, finished shoving all of his things in the bag. The bed that was filled with all his things is now empty. No traces left of Chi Cheng’s things.
“I’m leaving.”
Before he could get to the door, Wu Suowei stood up and walked up to Chi Cheng.
If there’s something that he realized during their time apart, it’s that Wu Suowei has completely, undeniably and irreversibly fallen for this man already. And there’s no chance for him to turn back now.
He’s broken without Chi Cheng. He can’t live like a normal being without Chi Cheng.
It’s just a weird feeling, a thought weighing at the back of his head, carefully at the corner of his every thought. But Wu Suowei has a feeling he might just not make it out alive if this keeps going on like this. He might do something stupid if he sees the other leave again. He might do something he didn’t even know if he has any place in his heart and head for regret if he did do it because he’s all alone now anyway and he didn’t know if living past this would ever be worth it at all. If Chi Cheng leaves now, Wu Suowei would live a life so lonely and he would just rot away his years. He’s starting to think if it’s worth living a life like that.
“Chi Cheng,” Wu Souwei called. “Please.”
He sobbed. “Chi Cheng.”
Chi Cheng finally looked at him, only to immediately look away. He shook his head, seemingly unimpressed by what Wu Suowei was doing.
“Don’t look at me like that.” He looked up. Blinking. “Don’t fucking look at me like that.”
“Like what?”
“Like you love me.”
“I do.” He cried. “I do, Chi Cheng. You should have known that.”
Chi Cheng merely chuckled. “Let me go.” And attempted to pull back his wrist but Wu Suowei held him with two hands. “Wu Suowei.”
Wu Suowei didn’t say anything. He just pulled the other by the wrist back to the bed and made him sit back at the edge of the bed. The bag he was holding dropped at the side.
Wu Suowei then lowered himself in front of the other’s feet.
“I was not in contact with her.”
Wu Suowei’s voice came in muffled from his lap. He already lost track of time and he didn’t move at all. He refuses to move. There was a long time of silence before he decided to talk. He is on the ground, his arms wrapped tightly around Chi Cheng’s waist. His head on the other’s lap.
Chi Cheng didn’t reply.
His arms tightened around Chi Cheng.
“I,” Wu Suowei decided to look up from the other’s lap. He swallowed dry. “I am not talking to her anymore during our time together.” Chi Cheng’s not looking at him. His eyes began to water. “Chi Cheng, look at me. Please.”
Wu Suowei wanted to pull down the front of Chi Cheng’s shirt but he’s afraid that if he let his hold on to the other, he’d escape.
“I did contact her once but it's not to reconnect. I promise. It’s true that I had that petty revenge plan at the start but that didn’t last long. What we had, it’s real. It’s real for me.”
Chi Cheng inhaled sharply. “Let go.”
“Will you come back to me?”
His heart sank to his stomach when Chi Cheng’s hands began to rip his arms that were clinging to him off his body.
“Wu Suowei.” Chi Cheng cut him off sharp. His heart aches with how the other’s voice felt like his patience to him is running thin, like he didn’t have any tolerance left with Wu Suowei’s bullshit anymore. “I’m leaving.”
But Wu Suowei refuses to give up just yet. He shifted and stared up at Chi Cheng who had his face turned away, but his eyes were glaring. His eyes were red and glazed over with unshed tears.
“Chi Cheng. Hubby.” Wu Suowei called, smiling sweetly through tears. “You like me calling you that, right? I’ll call you that anytime you want me to. Hm, Chi Cheng? Hubby?”
“Enough,” said Chi Cheng.
“Are you still angry about me sleeping over at someone else’s house? I won’t do it again. I promise. Hm, Chi Cheng?” He lightly pulled his shirt from the back. “You don’t want me talking to him, right? I will block his number, wait—”
Wu Suowei struggled to reach for his phone that was on the bed near them. He shifted around in front of Chi Cheng. He's still kneeling in front of him with his other hand and arm still holding the other down.
“Here.” Wu Suowei opened his phone and showed the other the screen of him blocking the number. “If you’re still doubting, I could—”
Chi Cheng is not looking at him. His eyes elsewhere and not paying attention to him. His eyes looked close to dead, he looked uninterested and unimpressed by all of this. Wu Suowei’s voice became smaller and quieter. His resolve began to waver.
“Chi Cheng.” Wu Suowei climbed up to Chi Cheng’s lap and wrapped his arms around the other’s neck.
“Tsk. Wu Suowei!” scolded Chi Cheng and tried to hold both of his arms and pull it away from him.
Wu Suowei panics when Chi Cheng managed to slowly unwrap his arms around him. “Stop—” He wrestled to get his arms back and when Chi Cheng lost grip on one of his arms, he punched the other multiple times on the chest. “Stop pushing me away!”
His fist has no strength left. But he kept on punching the other on the chest. He couldn't rip his other arm off of Chi Cheng’s hold and so he began squirming restlessly on the other’s lap.
“I said stop pushing me away!” He screamed. He cried like a child. He sobbed openly in front of Chi Cheng, punching him with no force. “What more do you want me to do huh? Just for you to stay?”
Chi Cheng’s grip from his other wrist loosened and Wu Suowei took it as a chance to wrap his arms around Chi Cheng. His face buried completely against the other’s neck.
“I made the mistake of letting that bitch play his game, thinking it’s what you needed. I thought it’s what you wanted. But I fucking lost you in the process. I lost us. And now you’re fucking erasing me from your life! You even sold our house. Do you not cherish our memories anymore? How could you throw it all away like this? What do you think you’re doing?”
He cried and cried. He screamed. He didn’t care about anything else.
“Try me right now. Fucking try me right now.” He pointed at Chi Cheng, who was just staring at him with wide eyes all this time. “You’re not leaving me.”
Wu Suowei didn’t know how long he went on crying and screaming. He went from punching whatever he could punch to pulling whatever his hand could reach. All because he’s frustrated. All because he’s mad and upset.
When he got tired, he slumped against Chi Cheng. His head spins and he’s losing consciousness already.
He fell asleep.
Wu Suowei was half awake when he felt it. He’s combing Wu Suowei’s hair. He was still on Chi Cheng’s lap when he caught faint sounds coming from Chi Cheng. The tremor in his breath, his muffled sobs.
Chi Cheng was crying silently.
And when Chi Cheng embraced him tight, as if he felt finally safe and secure, he drifted back to sleep.
(+extra)
WU SUOWEI’S BEDROOM (OLD HOUSE) - NIGHT
The couple both sit at the edge of the bed when WU SUOWEI pulls a paper bag from beneath the bed.
CHI CHENG is on his phone when WU SOUWEI taps him in the back and gives him the paper bag.
CHI CHENG
(confused)
What’s this?
WU SUOWEI
WU SUOWEI shrugs. He looks down, avoiding eye contact and fidgets with his hands.
“A gift. I got it personally tailored for you this time.”
CHI CHENG
CHI CHENG pulls out the pants from the bag. His eyes widened a fraction. He turns to WU SUOWEI.
“Wei Wei. . .”
WU SUOWEI
(sadly)
“Use it, okay? Wear it. If we, if we fight in the future, don’t give it back to me, okay?”
A beat.
CHI CHENG
“Come here.”
CHI CHENG pulls WU SUOWEI to his lap.
WU SUOWEI
“If one day, you decide that you want to get rid of me—”
CHI CHENG
“That’s not going to happen.”
WU SUOWEI
WU SUOWEI taps CHI CHENG’S nose.
(playful yet sad)
“You didn’t talk to me for months. You gave me all my things back. You moved out and sold our house. It could. It happened.”
CHI CHENG
“I was—”
WU SUOWEI
“I know.”
WU SUOWEI nuzzles his cheek against the other.
“Just promise me, you’re gonna keep it this time. No matter what happens to us, okay?”
CHI CHENG
“Okay.”
WU SUOWEI
“You don’t get to erase every trace of me in your life. My existence should be woven to every aspect of yourself, okay? Don’t erase me from your life. Don’t throw our memories away like that again.”
CHI CHENG
“Yes, yes.”
CHI CHENG kisses the back of WU SUOWEI’s hands.
WU SUOWEI
“Hm. Do you love me?”
CHI CHENG
“My heart is yours. Only yours, wholly.”
WU SUOWEI
“Ok.”
WU SUOWEI nods.
“Ok.”
WU SUOWEI smiles. Content. He kissed CHI CHENG on the lips.
“I love you, too.”
#