The room was an empty white, a bit depressing, but he was already used to it.
The phone alarm rang.
He slowly opened his eyelids, stared at the ceiling of the same color, and soon stretched his arm toward the nightstand, turning off the device.
He got out of bed, gently rubbed his eyes and scratched his head a bit. Then went to the bathroom.
His pinkish hair was a little messy, and he looked at himself in the bathroom mirror. He put the pink toothpaste on his light blue toothbrush.
He brushed slowly while staring at his reflection.
"Want me to come with you?"
An image of Nu Yang formed in his mind, and he almost choked on the toothpaste.
— What was that? Why am I thinking about him?
— I think I'm getting sick.
He grabbed the towel from his shoulder and went to take a shower.
. . .
He walked down the marble stairs, which, oddly enough, were also white. — What a lack of creativity from these people.
Once again, he was the only one at home, alone again. Since childhood, it had been like this. His parents were important people.
He walked into the kitchen, grabbed a lunchbox, and started preparing rice balls. As he arranged them in the lunchbox, an image came to his mind.
It was Nu Yang, eating the rice ball that had fallen to the floor. His smile made Xiao's heart leap.
Xiao Xing placed a hand on his chest, trying to catch his breath, his face so flushed it looked like it would explode.
— Why am I thinking about him?
He said while looking at the rice balls.
— I think I'll prepare another lunchbox.
He looked for another one in the kitchen. The only one he found was kind of embarrassing… but it was what he had.
He checked the time on his phone.
— I'm late!
. . .
— What's with that face?
— I think I caught a cold.
He grabbed the newspaper next to him.
— And where's my sister?
— She already left.
— At this hour?
— Do you even know what time it is?
Nu Yang pulled his phone out of his pocket.
— Damn it!
He grabbed his backpack and ran out — he was very late.
— Not gonna eat anything?
When he noticed the silence from his son, he lowered the newspaper.
— That airhead.
Then returned to reading.
. . .
He ran like crazy through the empty streets. Punctuality was strictly enforced at the school. He had been late too many times the previous year, but he had promised not to be late anymore.
Clearly, life didn't like him — or maybe it was the other way around?
In front of the school, he bumped into someone, who also seemed out of breath.
— I'm really sorry, it's just that I...
He quickly realized who it was — that pink hair was unmistakable.
— Xiao Xing? What are you doing here?
He got up and brushed the dirt off his pants.
— Looks like I'm late too.
Yang tried not to sneeze, but couldn't hold it back.
— Nu Yang, you caught a cold? Could it be from that day?
Xiao seemed lost in thought.
— We don't have time to waste.
Yang grabbed Xiao's hand and ran.
To Xiao, time stopped. Yang's hand was warm, but not in a bad way — it was comforting.
With the teacher facing the board, Nu Yang quietly led Xiao Xing into the classroom.
Luckily, everything went fine — no one even noticed they were missing.
. . .
It was break time, and Nu Yang and Xiao Xing were sitting alone by the fence on the rooftop.
— It's my fault you got sick.
— Don't worry about me.
He beat his chest.
— I'm like a gorilla.
Since he left home without eating anything, his stomach roared like a condemned man.
Xiao chuckled a bit.
— Gorillas get sick too.
Then he pulled out the two lunchboxes.
— Here.
— Are you sure? Thank you.
Yang took it and, as he removed the cloth covering it, tried not to laugh — but he really couldn't help it.
— Hey, don't laugh!
It was a very small lunchbox, customized with panda stickers.
— Sorry, it's just so random.
He opened it and saw some rice balls, but something caught his eye.
— About the shape of these rice balls… were they meant to look like this?
— What are you talking about?
When Xiao Xing looked, he blushed so hard he couldn't move.
Nu Yang laughed.
— Thanks for worrying about me. These rice balls… they totally look like me.
He immediately ate one. Each rice ball had the shape of his face.
"Why didn't I notice that before?"
Xiao Xing thought.
— It's the first time someone hasn't treated me like a monster.
That had been stuck in his throat for a long time. He had never had the courage to tell anyone, not even his sister.
But Xiao was different. Something told him to trust him. Every time he was near him, he felt a sense of peace running through his veins.
As he slowly chewed the rice ball with his face, a tear fell from his eye. It was a tear of happiness. Despite being tall and having the look of a delinquent, he was actually a sweet person inside.
Xiao pulled out a little cloth from his pocket, stretched out his arm, and gently wiped away the tears.
Yang held the hand that was wiping his tears.
It was so small and soft — like a princess's hand.
— Thank you so much, Xiao.
Their eyes met. It was something pure and sensitive.
His lips were delicate — unlike his own, which were a bit thick.
Slowly, involuntarily, their faces drew closer.
.
. .
. . .
The alarm sounded.
Hi, this is Lu Kawang!
This chapter was special to me — I wanted to show the beginning of a connection between two boys who don't fully understand what they're feeling yet, but whose hearts are already being touched in subtle ways. 🌸
The idea of the rice balls shaped like Nu Yang's face came out of nowhere (and I honestly laughed while writing it 😅). It's kind of silly, but I thought it was a cute way to show how much Xiao Xing is starting to care — even if he doesn't realize it yet.
I know this chapter didn't have any big twists, but there's beauty in calm moments too, right? A little breath before the storm (or the next chapter 👀).
If you read all the way through — thank you so much! 💖I promise the next chapters will bring more emotions, secrets, and maybe… some confessions? 👀✨
See you soon, and keep shining.