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“I’m okay,” the freshman responded, undoubtedly seeing the panic blooming on Cheng Xiaoshi’s face. That claim was immediately negated by the blood trailing from his nose. The sight of it only made Cheng Xiaoshi feel guiltier.
It wasn't just his fault, his teammates had the same amount of blame resting on their shoulders. Yet Cheng Xiaoshi felt miserable . It was his pass that had hit the white-haired boy after all.
“Wait here! I’ll get the doctor from the infirmary!” He said, as a means to offer… what? Comfort? Who would equate the idea of needing the doctor with comfort?!
Ridiculous. I’m so ridiculous.
Being responsible for people’s pain made Cheng Xiaoshi’s sanity abandon him. He always found himself unable to think when pain crossed someone’s face because of him.
What do I say to make it better? What do I do?
Every time it happened, no matter how rare, Cheng Xiaoshi wished he had some sort of ability to rewind time and make it better. Or maybe he wanted someone to guide him out of making mistakes like this. Someone to guide him on what to say when he slipped and caused someone harm.
He stood up and turned away, hoping to run to the infirmary faster than ever before when a hand grabbed his forearm.
“I’m okay!” The freshman insisted and he turned around to stare at the blood smudged under his nose. The white-haired man claimed he was fine yet he stared at the ground like it held the answers he needed, as he held onto Cheng Xiaoshi like he was his lifeline.
Maybe Cheng Xiaoshi had been reading too many romance novels because no way this newbie felt anything that ridiculously sappy for a stranger.
“I am okay.” This time, he sounded surer, as if he finally believed what he had said the last two times. Cheng Xiaoshi didn't know why the man was so reluctant to see the doctor but he couldn't force him to do something he clearly didn’t want to do, even if it was for his own good.
Slowly, one finger at a time, the grip on his hand loosened until they were no longer touching. Despite that, the touch felt like it was seared into Cheng Xiaoshi’s skin like a brand. He felt the ghost of the grip, even as he stepped away.
Finally, he found himself moving to where the ivory-haired man’s camera had dropped. Cheng Xiaoshi picked it up and moved to kneel in front of his victim, offering the camera to its owner.
“Are you a freshman from Guidu University, too?" he asked, just to make sure he was right about his assumption. He received no verbal response, but slate-grey eyes shifted to the camera he held out, so he continued: “I live in the Hero Photo Studio nearby. If anything’s wrong with your camera, come find me. I’ll fix it for you.”
For free, he didn’t add. It was implied, wasn't it? The least Cheng Xiaoshi would do after assaulting the man with the full power of his passion for basketball.
The newbie took the camera from him and Cheng Xiaoshi stood up, throwing one last apologetic smile at the unfortunate man before walking towards the field with his friends again.
Footsteps rushed behind him and instead of wondering what the guy could want now, he elected to throw the basketball towards him, making sure to not put his full strength in the pass.
“Oh, by the way, one player’s short for the two-on-two game now.” He grinned as the freshman caught the basketball easily. “You in?”
Cheng Xiaoshi tried not to look too hopeful. Qiao Ling told him it was a dirty trick and no one could say no if he truly felt like pleading. He had no intention of coercing his ex-victim into playing with him.
The man – Lu Guang, he introduced himself as – took a step too close to Cheng Xiaoshi as he nodded and his friends decided that they should team up. What a riot. But Cheng Xiaoshi couldn’t deny the thrill he felt every minute of the game as he played alongside Lu Guang. Every moment was intense, every look they exchanged, full of unspoken cues as they hurtled towards the hoop, shooting their way towards a certain victory.
Initially, Cheng Xiaoshi had doubted Lu Guang’s athleticism because of the hit to the face he had taken. He took his words back after watching his partner expertly weave between their opponents, not losing control of the ball for a second as he eyed Cheng Xiaoshi.
Lu Guang was good. Very good. He wasn't just good at the basics, he was good at not falling for the feints and tricks Cheng Xiaoshi loved to pull. He had always felt like he didn’t belong with the other players, unable to employ the full arsenal of tricks he had to confuse his rivals. Yet Lu Guang covered for his mistakes and amplified the plays Cheng Xiaoshi made so effortlessly that it took his breath away.
As if he was made to play by Cheng Xiaoshi’s side, created to fill the holes Cheng Xiaoshi’s act first, think later instincts created.
For someone like him, who equated every pass of a basketball with utmost trust, Cheng Xiaoshi was thrilled. He had always loved basketball but playing with Lu Guang made him remember all over again why he loved the game. Made him love it all the more for how perfectly their partnership worked, despite its novelty. It made him decide Lu Guang was someone he very much liked and would absolutely do his best to spend time with.
Qiao Ling would have a field day and tease him but he could swear he’d never felt that way about a partner!
Where Cheng Xiaoshi was skilled with running in confusing patterns and feints, Lu Guang had precise ball control and a level of calculatedness he always wished he had. The white-haired man could throw the ball from a bad angle from the end of the court and end up scoring.
It was no surprise when they won. Not to them and not to their rivals.
Cheng Xiaoshi turned to Lu Guang and beamed and his partner smiled back as they high-fived.
“Good game! From now on, you’re my buddy!” Cheng Xiaoshi nodded, running towards the bench before Lu Guang could respond. He emptied half of his bottle, dabbing the sweat from his forehead as Lu Guang followed sedately after him.
This was the best game he had played in… forever.
I want to feel like this again and I know exactly why the game today felt so much better than any I’ve played before.
He wondered how he would ask Lu Guang for his number and started thinking of ways he could convince the man to play with him again, preferably more than once.
What do I say that'd make him more likely to say yes? I can't pout him into submission…
(“You’re so stubborn, Cheng Xiaoshi!” Qiao Ling yelled, pushing a cooked carrot on his plate. He picked it up and shoved it in her mouth before she could scold him again, snickering at her indignant expression.)
That’s right. He had another card up his sleeve.
Stubbornness.
Putting the bottle back on the bench, Cheng Xiaoshi stared expectantly at the new friend he had made. Lu Guang stared back, looking as if he was ready for something to come and Cheng Xiaoshi stood up, threw his towel on his shoulder and waved.
“Let’s play basketball together tomorrow. Promise me you’ll come!” Cheng Xiaoshi yelled, watching a tiny smile play on Lu Guang’s lips. “I’ll wait here until you come!” He threatened and Lu Guang snorted.
Accepting the water bottle the raven-haired man poked him with, Lu Guang rolled his eyes. “I’ll be here when my classes are done.”
“I need more than just words as reassurance, partner.”
Lu Guang’s cheeks took on a pink hue for some reason. None of his business. He had more important things to do.
“Like what?” Lu Guang asked.
“Your number, of course!” Cheng Xiaoshi grinned, pulling his phone from his pocket and waving it in front of Lu Guang.
Lu Guang took it with a sigh, adding himself to Cheng Xiaoshi’s contacts with the solemn expression of a man attending a funeral. Cheng Xiaoshi grabbed his phone, eagerly sending him a message about playing basketball tomorrow so his new friend had his number too. Lu Guang didn’t reach for his phone making him pout before he straightened, lips twitching up in a pleading smile.
The rest of his teammates left, bidding them goodbye. Now it was just Lu Guang, Cheng Xiaoshi, an empty field and the early spring breeze ruffling their hair gently.
“Now that we got that out of the way… wanna shoot some hoops?”
Lu Guang didn’t reply, just picked up a basketball and chucked it at him. Cheng Xiaoshi grabbed it before it reached him, smiling warmly at his new partner.
“I’ll walk you home.” Lu Guang didn’t look at him as he uttered the words, picking up his bag from the bench.
“I am not some fair maiden who’ll get snatched up.” Sure, they had played nonstop for almost two hours, but the sunset was still hours away and Cheng Xiaoshi lived close enough.
“Please, it'll make me feel better,” the fair-haired man responded, touching his nose a little too pointedly. Embarrassment crashed into Cheng Xiaoshi like a tidal wave at the gesture. Lu Guang had been so good at pretending he was fine that Cheng Xiaoshi had forgotten the unfortunate incident.
“Oh Okay, only because I feel sorry about hitting your pretty face.” He tried to keep his voice even, as if he was just being gracious and wasn’t about to grab Lu Guang’s feet until he was forgiven.
“You think I am attractive?” Lu Guang asked, eyes filling with an emotion Cheng Xiaoshi hadn’t learned to decipher yet.
Seriously?
“Shut up, Lu Guang, I already told you that you are,” he grumbled. The corner of Lu Guang’s lips twitched up for a second. He turned, walking out of the field, leaving Cheng Xiaoshi to give chase like a jerk.
They walked quietly, Cheng Xiaoshi always a step ahead, stopping now and again to point out some places he had fond memories associated with. Lu Guang took it all in stride, asking a question now and again and Cheng Xiaoshi felt happier than he remembered feeling with anyone else before.
Maybe Qiao Ling was right. Friends could be a good idea. Speaking of his sister…
“This is the place my landlady orders her boba from. Sometimes she blesses this poor soul with her generosity too.” Cheng Xiaoshi waved his arms in the direction of the shop, like a magician building hype about the best trick of the show.
Lu Guang side-eyed him before walking towards the shop, leaving him befuddled.
“Hey! What the hell?” He yelled, running after his friend and entering the shop. Lu Guang ignored him, too busy giving his order. Cheng Xiaoshi crossed his arms, pettily puffing out his cheeks.
Oh this was bad . Why in the world was he acting like Lu Guang’s attention was his to hog already? What if he left too? If Cheng Xiaoshi didn’t reign it in, Lu Guang would cut him out of his life and he’d never play amazing basketball with such a well-matched partner again.
Is this really about basketball? Qiao Ling’s voice was teasing even in his imagination. Stupid, annoying, perceptive-
Something cold rubbed against his cheek and he yelped, skipping back. Blinking back to the present, he found Lu Guang sipping on a boba tea while offering him the other cup. The chocolatey pearls taunted him, daring him to ignore them and Cheng Xiaoshi gulped trying to ignore the temptation.
“I can't take this.” Lu Guang ignored his attempts at courtesy, putting the top of the cup against his lips.
Oh he knows what he’s doing… He’s seducing me into drinking it knowing I am craving one now. Evil!
“Take it as a promise. I am a student too so I'll never say no to you paying for a drink.” Lu Guang’s voice broke the staring contest Cheng Xiaoshi was having with his crumbling resolve. “I show up for the game tomorrow and you treat me to a boba after. Sound fair?” He asked, tilting his head a little like a cat.
How could Cheng Xiaoshi say no to such a rational argument? “Perfect!” He grinned, grabbing the cup and taking the straw Lu Guang offered, stabbing it in the lid.
Oh… this is the exact flavour I go for. Lu Guang’s guessing game is good, huh? He thought as they walked out of the shop. From there, the studio was only a five-minute walk. They spent the rest of the walk sipping on their milk teas, Cheng Xiaoshi pointing at random things and Lu Guang squinting at them as if willing them to explain themselves since Cheng Xiaoshi wasn’t.
“This is where I live… and work,” Cheng Xiaoshi pointed his empty cup at the studio, suddenly feeling shy for no reason. It was fine. Friends bought each other things and visited each other all the time, right? So what if Lu Guang had walked him home under the guise of promising him about tomorrow.
Cheng Xiaoshi dismissed the confusing feeling, turning towards Lu Guang fully.
“It was nice meeting you. I had a lot of fun today. I have a feeling we’d be good friends!”
“I feel the same, Cheng Xiaoshi,” Lu Guang responded immediately as if he had been waiting to say those words for a while. Cheng Xiaoshi let it slide, not willing to sound presumptuous.
“I’ll let you go now… maybe I should walk you home.” He offered, embarrassedly rubbing the back of his head at the sheer dumbness of his words. Qiao Ling’s right. Look before you leap, Cheng Xiaoshi…
“That’d defeat the purpose of me walking you home.” Lu Guang gave him a soft smile and all shame was forgotten because holy shit he looks stunning when he smiles!
He really should smile more often.
It shouldn’t be possible for a man dressed so simply, holding an empty cup and a bag to look so beautiful. Lu Guang had no right! Or maybe the gods had no right to make someone this ethereal-
He laughed, cutting off his train of thought as a furious blush flared up his cheeks.
Oh fuck! Hit me with a basketball already what the hell is wrong with my thoughts today?
“Thanks. For the game…” His words felt empty, devoid of all the weird feelings the time spent with Lu Guang had evoked in him so he added: “and the promise.”
That sounded so half-assed! Maybe he should do something else to show how happy he was. But what?
With a bitten-off huff, Cheng Xiaoshi marched forward, pressing his lips to Lu Guang’s cheek. That should do it, right? Friends do that all the-
A puff of breath against his lips made him realise just what he had done.
It wasn’t Lu Guang’s cheek he had kissed.
They stayed like that, wide grey eyes staring into even wider brown ones as their lips remained pressed together.
His lips feel soft and chapped at the same time… So Lu Guang has a bad habit of biting his lower lip, huh… I wonder what makes him do it.
It was Cheng Xiaoshi who snapped out of the weird haze first, pulling away with a gasp as his cheeks and ears burned.
“I am so-!”
“Cheng Xiaoshi, I-?”
They bowed deeply at the same time, resulting in an unfortunate collision of heads.
“Fuck!” Lu Guang gritted out.
“Today is not my day,” Cheng Xiaoshi groaned, straightening up and rubbing his head and Lu Guang let out a semi-pained chuckle.
Oh no, he hates me now right? I embarrassed myself and him so much. How am I gonna face him now?
“I am sorry! Goodbye!” And then he was turning, making a mad dash inside the studio and having another ridiculous incident.
Great! Now Lu Guang will doubt my sanity because only the dumbest run face-first into a locked door.
Shoving his hands in both pockets, Cheng Xiaoshi rooted around, praying he found the keys fast so he could end the streak of dumb things he was on. Gotcha!
He unlocked the door at record-breaking speed, rushing inside and closing it behind him, never once turning to look at the man he had just given his first kiss to.
Fuck! That was my first kiss!
Cheng Xiaoshi leaned against the door, breathing softly as he tried to make sense of all the dumb things he had done in a span of ten minutes before sliding down the door.
My first kiss… all things considered, it wasn’t a bad one.
If he had to give his first kiss away to anyone, Lu Guang was the best choice. Not only was he gorgeous but he was kind… and good at basketball.
He touched his lips, smiling as he leaned his head against the door.
Outside Lu Guang licked his lower lip, smiling shyly to himself before he turned to walk away.
Cheng Xiaoshi was startled awake, wondering why his alarm hadn’t woken him up before he realised he didn’t have classes that day.
Thank god I didn’t open my eyes. I’d have lost all my sleepiness. What time is it anyway?
He reached for his phone with his eyes closed. Swiping to unlock it, Cheng Xiaoshi brought it closer to his face, finally opening his eyes to check the time. That’s when he noticed a new message notification from Lu Guang.
Since he took the time to respond, it must mean he didn’t hate Cheng Xiaoshi, right?
He tapped the message and saw that Lu Guang had left an emoji to express agreement about playing together again.
The response was so concise, so typical of what he had started to expect from the quieter man that it made him smile.
The grin stayed on his face, even when he put his phone back and closed his eyes again.