"I'm not sure this is going to work out," Yitian said for at least the seventh time when he was moving his things into Chao's room.
Zhang Huobai, MoSHU in the game, their guild member and future member of their gaming team, was moving in today. And Yitian had to sleep in Chao's room, because of that. From now on. And he wasn't sure his heart could take it.
"What are you talking about? We already slept at least twice together," Chao said and smiled at Yitian. He was just changing bed sheets, so they would sleep in new ones.
"You say it as if it was nothing. But…" Yitian sighed, unable to finish his sentence.
"But what? We are both guys. You don't have to be shy with me…" Chao came close with a half-covered pillow in his hands. Yitian was looking down, unable to raise his gaze and look him in the eyes.
"If I was a girl, would you sleep with me?" Yitian asked quietly. Not sure, if he wanted to hear the answer.
"NO!" Chao exclaimed and slapped Yitian with the pillow over his head, "and you know, that would never sleep with a woman." he continued more quietly.
"Did it really scare you that much? Are you afraid of girls?" Yitian knew he was insensitive but he had to ask. Chao sat back on the sofa and played with the pillow, not answering for a while.
"I was too young. I never knew why she did that, but... yeah… I'm afraid of them. I would never be with a girl in my life. Probably. I don't know. I'm confused..." Chao exhaled sadly. And Yitian was regretting asking him about that. His own insecurity made Chao remember something painful.
"I'm sorry. I shouldn't have asked. I'm here for you." He came closer to Chao, looking down at him. When Chao hugged his waist and leaned his head onto his stomach, he did nothing, just played with Chao's hair.
"Why is your heart beating so fast? Are you scared of me?" Yitian had almost a heart attack. He forgot about that.
"No. No. I'm just…" Yitian had no idea what to say, but he was luckily interrupted by the doorbell. He looked down at Chao, who had his chin resting on his stomach now, smiling.
"We have to open the door…" Yitian said, but Chao was unwilling to let him go. When Yixing burst into the room, without knocking.
"He is here! I opened the doors!" He yelled, but then he noticed those two and coughed. "I will show him everything, ehm, keep doing what you were doing…" He chuckled at the end and backed up from the doors.
"Idiot…" Chao muttered and then yelled, "next time knock!"
"We have to go. Let me go. What if he thinks we were doing something else…" Yitian started to struggle to get out. But Chao was still holding him tightly.
"What if they misunderstood? aren't you afraid of what they think?" Yitian was nervous, he did mind what others think about him. Still hasn't let go of that, comparing himself to others.
"To be honest? No, I don't care about what others think at all. I will do whatever I want to do." Chao said firmly, surprising Yitian in the process, who became still and stopped struggling out of Chao's hug.
Soon after, Chao let him go and got up from the bed, looking sulky.
"You shouldn't think about what others think. They don't compare to you in my eyes. You are the best friend I have." Chao opened the door and left speechless Yitian in their room.
Yitian had to compose himself before going to meet Huobai. His thoughts were scattered. He didn't know whether to be happy or sad. His heart was beating bast at the thought of being only one for Chao. But at the same time. He was only a friend. A friend. He closed his eyes and took a deep breath, then he put a fake smile on his face and walked out of the door too.
"Oh, this is Yitian, be careful they are super close together with Chao. Knock before entering their room." Yixing said while leaning on the new guy.
Yitian looked at him carefully, Huobai looked exactly like his pictures on Weibo. Tall, dark brown hair, honey brown eyes, handsome features. Yitian shook his head.
'Why is everyone here so damn handsome, except me? Is this some movie or what?' He thought for himself, but then he regained his composure.
"We are just normal friends…" Yitian had to hold himself back not to flinch when he heard that word, "...we are the same as in the game and in voice chats, so don't take Yixing's words seriously. He loves to tease everyone." He smiled at Huobai who nodded.
It was a bit awkward at first, but soon they started talking like they normally did. Huobai looked around and saw the three tables, facing the big windows, with computers on them.
"Wow, that's epic guys, you have the newest equipment. So cool. I brought my computer too, so where should I put it?" The three of them stopped at this question and rubbed their foreheads, almost as one.
"How could you forget about that!" Yixing turned to Chao.
"Me? That's not my fault… It's everyone's fault." Chao raised both his hands and made a step back.
"Real captain, huh, putting blame on everyone…" Yitian shook his head and went to his room, to find boxes there already. He coughed, closed the doors, and went to his 'new' room, hearing laughter behind him.
He took a sketchbook and pencil and sat on the sofa. He quickly drew new positions of the furniture, so that the fourth table could be placed there too. Chao peeked behind his shoulder.
"If I show you house plans, can you design new interiors?" Chao asked, Yitian flinched a bit, startled.
"I can try, but I had any interior design lessons yet," Yitian answered. He was in his second year, what the heck Chao expected? Being able to make a new house?
"Good, good," Chao said and picked his phone and went to the room, shooting death glare to anyone that was able to eavesdrop on him, so Yixing.
"As if I were going to listen to his call…" Yixing sulked while walking up to Chao's door and placing his ear on them. Huobai looked at Yitian.
"This looks like fun and crazy at the same time," Huobai whispered and Yitian had no chance than to nod. It was fun and it was crazy. But healing.