❦ ♪

CHAPTER FORTY EIGHT : euphoria

"i'm sorry for liking you."

❦ ♪

— mei pov.
- 3rd person.

mei finally walks inside, mentally screaming at herself for spontaneously deciding to come here to apologise when she doesn't even know if he wanted to see her or not.

thankfully hao wasn't the first person she saw as professor lee was already walking towards her. she guessed that the headmaster told him she was coming. "mirae you're here!" he whisper-shouts, giving her a little wave.

she awkwardly laughs. "yep!! i just wanted to see how it was after a month."

"i'm glad." he nods. "how's uni, by the way? are you still a little music prodigy there too?"

mei snickers. "of course, i was born one." she jokes, making the man chuckle in response.

he turns around quickly and looks back at mei. "give me a minute, you can go sit next to hao as i get you a violin." he gives her a thumbs up before walking away.

this left mei to take a moment to calm down before walking up to hao, who she was 99% sure didn't actually notice her earlier when she peeked through the door. she was scared for his reaction of her just coming back randomly. even if it was for just today, she felt overwhelmed.

once mei came into his vision, his attention went straight from his phone to her. "what the fuck?" hao whispers to himself, his eyes widening just from seeing her in his physical view properly again. "mei?" he mutters, not loud enough for her to hear.

she doesn't say anything and sits down at the seat next to him before the professor walks over to them. "so hao, we invited mei back today for fun," he grins, pointing at mei. "you two have learned a song together right?"

they both nod slowly and he nods back. "i just wanted your joint song thing recorded to submit to mei's university." he explains, watching as the two sat in silence, not really having their eyes on him. he sighs and hands mei a violin. "hao can you reteach her the piece and i'll record it later?"

hao nods and watches as the professor walks away. he took a glance at mei and didn't know if he should be the one to talk first or not, since they obviously didn't talk for over two weeks and it definitely made things awkward.

mei wasn't sure to apologise just yet so she sighs and tries to break the silence before it became too loud. "so, can you teach me it again please?" she asks, making him quite surprised.

"um, yeah." he chuckles awkwardly. "how do you want me to teach you?"

"like before, you guide me." she shrugs, not really realising him guiding her through the pieces would send them both thinking about their old times together.

hao was taken aback but didn't want to say anything in case she would shout at him, which he was pretty afraid of recently for obvious observations. "okay.." he replies, standing up.

he picks up the piece of paper with the notes on and places it in front of the two before walking behind her. "are you sure i can guide you?"

mei nods. "it's fine, just do it." she sighs. the atmosphere was too thick at the moment and they only just started speaking. "do the whole song." she says, earning a nod from the other.

there was some tension as hao finally began to guide her. at first it was pretty awkward but after a minute, the two ex partners became familiar to it and it was more comfortable to have his hands on hers with his eyes on the piece.

mei on the other hand was just letting hao move her right hand for her. she took a small peek at his hands to see if what youngjae said about the ring was right, since she ended up not texting renjun about it at all.

she frowns when she notices that the ring is not to be seen on his finger at all. she felt something in her stomach after seeing it, and sighs to herself when she looks down at her own, and she was still wearing the exact ring she bought them.

she began to overthink, even with her playing 'always' on the violin with him right behind her. after thinking of the most pessimistic outcomes of the story behind the ring being gone, she stiiffens suddenly, letting go of the instrument and cursing. "fuck, sorry." and she wasn't even finished with the piece yet.

"are you good..?" he asks, letting go of her arms. "am i making you uncomfortable or something? i can teach you another way if you want.." he quickly says as he walks besides her.

she sighs again. "no. it's just...." she says as she places the violin and the bow onto the side and watches him walk in front of her, fully covering her view to the rest of the hall.

"it's just what?" he asks with crossed arms. "if you still feel awkward with me then you can say it you know... it's fine."

"no i'm not awkward but..." mei didn't know what got into her but her first instinct was to kiss him, pulling his face down to her level on the chair and cupping his cheek.

he breaks apart after a few seconds in a panic. "mei you do realise people can see us right?" he whispers, looking around at how they were literally out in the open. "wait you just kissed me what–"

"who cares?" she rolls her eyes. "they're all down there anyway." she says before turning his attention back to her on the chair.

his eyebrows furrow at how calm she seems even after she almost just dropped the violin in the middle of playing. "yeah but um, why'd you stop?"

mei doesn't say anything at first. she takes his hand in hers and shows it to him. "where's that ring i bought you?" she asks him anxiously, she felt bad if her actions just caused him to take it off.

hao's eyes widen and he sighs when he sees her semi-hurt expression. "it's at home, i promise. my mom noticed it and asked where i got it from."

she hums. "what'd you say?"

"i said it was a gift." he shrugs. "why are you so concerned though? i thought you didn't like me and didn't want to talk to me? i'm still baffled that you're back in the building." he rambles, still not being able to process her sudden presence along with a kiss.

mei chuckles dryly, letting go of his hand. "well i came here because wanted to talk to you..." she smiles up at him. "since i've realised how immature i was and i feel bad."

he rolls his eyes jokingly. "mhm, where's my apology?" he tilts his head, waiting for the apology. but mei took it as a sign to pull him back into another short kiss. she found this as the only way to avoid telling him she's sorry since she knows she'll cry right then and there.

she hoped that later they could be somewhere more comfortable so she could properly talk about how she felt; letting her feelings out in the music hall was a terrible idea. even if she tried to, the huge hall would be echoing with her cries.

hao didn't complain about her just kissing him; why would he avoid a kiss he's been wanting for like, so long?? yet he knew there was some sort of meaning behind it and he made sure to force an apology out of her later. he was just happy and relieved that she was back and probably still likes him.

"oh mei and hao!" they hear professor lee's voice and immediately break apart, hao letting go of her and turning around to the man innocently. "i forgot to tell you this."

"what's wrong?" she asks from behind him, "we were just catching up, sorry." she smiles, hoping no one saw what they were doing.

"we have to do a band practice, mind if you practice in your old studio just for a bit?" he asks with a chuckle, pointing at the many boys behind him who were waiting to be sat in the space they were in.

"of course." she smiles, standing up and taking hao's hand. "we'll practice in there for now then, yeah?" well her prayers were heard as she can finally be alone with him where she can cry without being seen by everyone.

"yes, i'll call you out soon." he nods, dismissing the duo and they walk hand in hand towards the studio as if they didn't not talk for a whole month. mei felt a little funny going into the place where all of the prime memories between the two were held. but then again, this was undoubtedly the best place for them to be for this situation.

as she opens the door, mei felt a strong feeling in her chest and she immediately pushes hao against the door and pulls him into a hug. "i've fucking missed you."

hao definitely did not expect her to hug him, let alone kiss him at all. he just scoffs playfully as he hugs the smaller girl back. "you want to be a bitch and ignore me for a month and then just come back and kiss me without apologising?"

"look i would apologise but if i don't kiss you again i might go insane." she jokes, pulling apart from him. "i'm joking. um. i'm sor–"

he rolls his eyes as he cuts her apology off. "you're so desperate, i thought you didn't like me." he raises a brow. "what happened to that huang mei?"

"you see..." she chuckles, pulling his face down to her level and kissing him gently. hao still wouldn't want to complain from the way she just ignored what he said just because he feels the exact same way that she did.

kiss and make up guys!!

it was just like any other of their romantic experiences together however this time it had more emotion and meaning built into it, especially after being apart for a month (a month too long according to them..) he rests his arms around her waist and runs his hands through her hair softly, making the girl feel somersaults in her stomach.

they hear a knock on the door, distracting them again as mei immediately lets go of hao and pushes him away from the door. she clears her throat and opens the door slowly, only to see professor lee again. "sorry, what is it?"

"you both forgot your violins, silly people." he chuckles, handing mei two violins. "how can you just come in here without using the instruments you actually practice with?"

mei laughs awkwardly. "oh my days i'm so sorry. i'm so stupid." she says as she places them on the desk. "i was just trying to figure out how to record the audio again."

"do you need help? i can help you for a minute if you'd like?" the professor asks. mei looks behind her to see hao shaking his head aggressively, she giggles and turns back around. "i'm alright, hao knows how to do it now." she says with a smile.

professor lee grins. "okay, have fun you two! we can properly record in an hour or two, after this band practice."

mei nods. "okay, thank you again for letting me come here for a bit." she smiles before waving at the man and shutting the door slowly. she locks it and sighs deeply with closed eyes.

she turns back around and once she sees hao looking all cute sat on the sofa, she somehow felt emotional. "come here." he stretches his arms out for a hug.

mei didn't get the idea of just a hug and she jumps on top of him into a what felt like getting strangled kind of hug. he was surprised and chuckles. "why the fuck are you on my lap." his laughing stops as he hears her immediate sobs and feels the teardrops falling onto his shirt.

he lifts her head up and frowns from her quiet crying. "woah woah why are you crying?" he asks in surprise. "no mei oh my days stop, what's wrong?"

"hao i'm so so so so sorry for everything. i'm so stupid." she sobs. "i couldn't apologise earlier i was too scared i'd cry but i'm already crying."

he snickers, moving her hair out of her face and attempts to wipe the tears that seemed to never stop flowing. "you are really, really stupid."

"i know." she cries again, her head falling back into his chest. she sobs continuously. he was quite surprised at the fact she was the one crying here instead of him since obviously he was the one who got hurt in this situation.

but he then realises that it definitely hurt mei just as much as it hurt him. it must've hurt way more ignoring someone you really liked just to try get over them stupidly.

he pats her back softly and whispers into her ear. "i didn't realise you'd be crying this much.."

"i'm sorry for liking you." she mumbles, but he still hears it.

he frowns again. "what do you mean sorry for liking me?" he asks with an empathetic smile. "you shouldn't be apologising for that."

"i feel like ever since we met i've just ruined your fucking life." she says with hiccups and shortages of breath in between. "but you're just so fucking boyfriend i can't stop liking you. i can't do this. fuck you."

he chuckles at how unserious this apology was. "i liked the compliment." he jokes. "but i promise you, you haven't ruined anything."

"stop fucking lying you egotistical rat." she whines. "i basically ruined your little university experience."

he snorts, lifting her head up again. "you're so fucking dramatic." he wipes her tears. "you shouldn't even be apologising for liking me."

"i don't even know what i'm apologising for anymore. i'm just sorry for everything."

he presses his lips on hers and pulls the girl closer to him. "keep apologising, it's cute." he smiles, cupping her face. "it's good you know you did something really shitty."

"shut the fuck up." she complains, hitting his chest. "i'm trying to be sentimental about it and you're making fun of me."

he pinches her cheek. "i know but it's cute to see you go from a bitch who ignored me into this." he laughs, lifting her head up. "did you miss me that much?"

"yes like i genuinely couldn't deal a month without you." she continues to sob in his face. "i like you so much that i cried every night."

he then kisses her in her favourite place (which was on the forehead of course) and smiles widely with so much affection in his eyes. "you like me that much?"

she felt almost alive again just from feeling him kiss her forehead again. "no." she scoffs. "you're not taking me seriously go die."

he shakes his head. "okay sorry sorry, i accept your apology. but in all seriousness, i was genuinely so awful without you. a month is too long."

"i heard. everyone called you depressed." she snorts. "i cried a lot but you were just a pissy little boy." she starts to laugh just by the thought of it.

"i probably seemed like it. do you not know how hard it was confessing to you just to be ignored the day after???" he rolls his eyes.

"okay i'm sorry again. i was really stupid and i only thought about how your parents felt and not actually caring about us. i thought being a cunt would end everything but i can't bring myself to do it."

"awh, i hated that. my parents weren't even talking about you as much anymore either. you just did nothing then fucked off to yunji."

"don't get me started on her. oh my god i can't believe she kissed you!" mei complains. "little liar. all you do is lie."

he sighs. "you do realise it happened for like half a second. i don't count that as an actual kiss."

"you lied to me for so long you know, at this point i don't even know if you actually like me or not." she scoffs. if there was a how many times hao had lied counter, at this rate it'd be endless.

he chuckles. "well you were some nosy nepo baby, why would i tell you most of the truth about myself? all you knew about me is that i'm popular in your uni."

"i don't know but i swear to god those girls loved assaulting you. i fucking hate yunji the most. it was so embarrassing when she showed me the picture because she looks fucking crazy."

he snickers, beginning to play with her hair. "it would've been funny if you two fought for me."

"i like your confidence but absolutely not, we were arguing over something that wasn't you. then she just decides to make it about you. do you not see how fucking love crazy i seem now?" she scoffs, already cringing at the thought of her and yunji arguing over a boy. "and plus, i'm not you and hanbin."

hao rolls his eyes jokingly. "that was a time. i was a side character in your life at that time you liked hanbin wasn't i?"

"well yeah, you're annoying. hanbin is just very likeable, but i am kind of glad i started liking you instead." she shrugs.

"hanbin is likeable.." he repeats with an offended face. "joking, yeah i'm kind of glad it turned out this way. hanbin likes jimin now right?"

mei nods. "i'm excited, they're getting really close."

"we're better than them right?" hao tilts his head, putting her hair behind her ears.

she snickers. "of course. but ew you actually want me so bad."

"ehh i'm just glad you're not some bitchy person trying to ignore me." he shrugs. "so, can i get a proper, sober, in person confession please? i've been waiting hwang mirae."

mei side eyes him. "i literally said it like twenty times." she complains until she notices how serious the silly boy looked. "okay i like you, happy?"

"i didn't hear you." he says, putting his hand to his ear. "say it again for me, a bit louder so i can hear it properly."

"..."

"come onn just say you really like me, it's fun to hear." he begs, holding her hands and squeezing them like a little spoiled child.

"no." she crosses her arms. "i always tell you that i do anyway."

"say it or i'm not forgiving you." he detaches her arms and wraps them around his neck. "don't be boringgggg." he whines.

"I SAID IT IN YOUR FUCKING BIRTHDAY GIFT!" she screams in frustration. "it was in the letter come on you little beg. you already know i do so just.."

"nope. say it now. verbally." he hugs her a little tighter to try convince her.

"i hate you." she sighs, rubbing her forehead in embarrassment. "okay i really fucking like you!" she says with an exaggerated voice. "god, i hate this. you're the worst."

"awwwww" he laughs, cupping her face. "tell that to yourself in march earlier this year. you want me so bad."

she shakes her head. "do you want to be me because i'm so smart or do you want to be with me because i'm so smart.." she raises a brow. she knows full well on the inside, she's enjoying this annoying and clingy side of hao.

"all of the above except you're not smart?" he chuckles, "you ignoring me for a month was not a smart move, was it?"

"shut up." she rolls her eyes, flicking his forehead.

"never." he laughs, kissing her cheek. "oh yeah, i still haven't checked my rank you know. have you?" he says in realisation. how did the top student forget about his own rank.

"first obviously. i love having full marks in my first month back." she giggles excitedly. "it was bad how i opened the paper then went straight to arguing with yunji though."

"wow i'm actually proud of you. becoming so studious because you want to be like me right? he teases, pinching the side of her waist.

"you're so fucking annoying. i'm going to start crying again." she groans, falling off of him on the sofa and hugging a pillow. she screams into the pillow, it sounded like she was really annoyed. but instead, that scream was just excitement that he forgave her so easily and that they're back to normal again.

he leans down and pecks her cheek. "took you a month to come back, i expected you to hate me but i guess not." he chuckles before standing up and sitting on the desk. "mei come here, look at this."

she throws the pillow away and walks behind him, wrapping her arms around his neck. "oh my god my account is still there?" she cackles, looking at the narcissistic email with her hao profile picture. "that's so funny."

he chuckles before taking out two tablets and handing one to her. "your dumbass also forgot this." he says. "confession that i haven't been in here ever since you left. which is why everything is the exact same."

she snorts, wiping the dust off of her tablet. "i had headmaster kim's earlier. i don't even know where i put it." she says before looking at the back of the tablet, spotting her little doodles from ages ago.

hao taps her waist as he looks down at hers, she averts her attention to the goofy 'Rank 1' message on the screen. "okay wannabe mirae."

he places the tablet down and looks up at her. "shut the fuck up."

she sticks her tongue out before sitting back on the sofa. "add me back to the groups, i want to see them all again."

"no one knows that you're here besides this class." he chuckles. "but yeah i'll add you now."

mei hums. "thanks, let's stay here for a bit. i still need to exchange serious apologetical words then we can surprise them."

❦ ♪

native koreans
10+ members

— hao added mei.

hao:
so um

HIIII❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

hao:
she's back (unfortunately)

xiaojun:
THE LESBIAN IS BACK

yangyang:
HI OUR TOKEN GIRL

renjun:
WHAT THE FUCK

renjun:
YOU FUCKING SLAG

renjun:
CHOOSE THAT FUCKING GAY MAN
OVER ME ??????????

hi Renjun 😁

renjun:
we are BREAKING UP

No please i lpved you😭😭😭😭😭
Renejuen ur the bestestfriend ever

renjun:
dttm.

xiaojun:
wait mei why are you on This gc.

i don't want to face the ORIGINAL
twinkatrons yet so i'm texting us
(native koreans)

xiaoting:
MEI WHAT THE FUCK

haknyeon:
oh bro is mad

chenle:
LMFAOOOO

Guys walk into LOUNGE ROOM in
5 minutes for Surprise 1 MILLION
Dollar prize!!!!!!

ricky:
hao are you dating mr beast

chenle:
MR FUCKING BEAST HELP

haknyeon:
do we all need to go (i want the money)

Yes because hao and i are MAKING OUT
wait i meant making up Omg
well we're doing both

hao:
No comment.

renjun:
that is the most zhangmei thing ever stop

ningning:
mei that is TMI

ricky:
i am so confused.

same (i just ugly cried to hao)

ricky:
HELLO WHATS THE CONTEXT

ningning:
mei disappeared and i just found out
it was cause she wanted to see her man

xiaoting:
this bitch man

shuhua:
Cries did you guys actually kiss and make
up😭😭😭😭😭

hao:
she cried then we had a funny convo
straight after it was so unserious

🤓 Guys i was crying my life out and
he just kept laughing at me and calling
me dramatic

yuqi:
Deserved

yangyang:
IJOLLLLLLL HAO THANK GOD
HUMBLE HER!!!!

hao:
Guys did you not clock she's in the
uni building rn

chenle:
WAIT

haknyeon:
HELLO??????

haknyeon:
WAIT THATS WHY YOU SAID

haknyeon:
I'm having my dumb student arc omg

ricky:
did u walk in as a boy or smt

ricky:
"is she trans?" - jiwoong

bye what LMDAOOAOA
my Bff youngjae let me in

shuhua:
your bff WHO??

hao:
Wait what

Oh shit i didn't tell you guys
We r friends

xiaojun:
but like

xiaojun:
is he not a hao hater

chenle:
Init like What

ricky:
oh they're gone

ningning:
if they argue LMFAOOAOAO

shuhua:
NO DON'T.

haknyeon:
friends with youngjae is crazy

xiaojun:
now that i think about it that lad has
been very quiet lately...

❦ ♪

later !!!

chismosas
10+ members

— renjun added mei.

Hi

gyuvin:
Look it's the LESBIAN

xiaoting:
homophobe.

gunwook:
HUANG MEI !!!!!!!!

Hi i am in love with Hao

yujin:

yujin:
Zhang Hao has GAMEEEE

hao:
shut up Han Yujin Gaming

hanbin:
LMFOAOAOA

taerae:
MEIIIII

HI TWINKS! I MISSED YOU
Sorry for being #Cunt i forgot to serve

yujin:
Clearly

matthew:
hao was depressed

hanbin:
withdrawal symptoms and all

LMFAOOO

jeno:
even renjun was depressed

renjun:
everyone was

donghyuck:
Bring back our token Girl gay

Bye you know i hated walking into this
stinky campus like

jaemin:
why did you have your main character
moment or something

no i

felt like this

donghyuck:
Ugh so real

jeno:
oh

xiaoting:
real your university is full of GAY
people

hao:
LMFAOOOO

xiaoting:
the gay full is laughing

hao:
shut up you like women

xiaoting:
What are you trying to say about mei

He's racist
wait i mean sexist

taerae:
how are you a top student and just
mix that shit up

Idk help

jiwoong:
Stop with the unfunny memes plz

yujin:

yujin:
Why it look like jiwoong

jiwoong:
????

matthew:
PISSING

❦ ♪

a week later.

the huangs!
3 members

— father added yuta

why is Nakamoto here

yuta:
cause i'm cool

yuta:
and we forgot to tell you we're all
going to an event today so you'll be
home alone until late if that's okay

Sobs what
where is our Family fun time

father:
if you stopped crying over an attractive
boy then maybe you'd be invited xx

I hate you guys
disowning myself

father:
no more nepo baby

mother:
IJBOLLL

yuta:
their language is taking me out

I wanna cry guys.

mother:
talk to hao or something

mother:
we are with hanbin's parents

?/?/!:&@:&;!;'d
I thought they died ngl

yuta:
MEI?????

father:
no what the heck

mother:
what the heck! 🤓☝️

father:
shut up woman

yuta:
mei idk what got into them

LMFAOAOAOAAO

father:
okay so just stay home i guess
important meeting so don't call us

I'm sad why is yuta away too
i don't want to talk to the guards

mother:
too bad sweetiepie!

mother:
now hush we as wealthy people are doing
wealthy people things

❦ ♪

— hao pov.

dad

Me and your mom are at a meeting.

okay

We'll be home late.

❦ ♪

mei<3

hi princess💕

wtf

hi babygirl

um.

can u atleast say hi back

no

jealous that I'M the ultimate top
student are we😂😂😂

speaking like you're in danganronpa

okayy ultimate twink!!!!

mei there's no way u js called me that.

U DON'T LIKE IT???

Wishing a danganronpa execution
on you❤️❤️❤️❤️

this basically means you love me
but which one..

U can decide that for urself

i will die with you

no thanks

Kill yourself
Hao i wanna cry

what's wrong?

YOU😭😭😭😭😭
jk my parents left me

omg same💔

ACTUALLY

yes they JUST texted me

omg your dad is so funny like
the way he texts sends me away

LMFAOOOO HE SAID
We'll be home late.

sounds rather Suspicious

like what's with them

my parents and EMOTIONAL
SUPPORT NAKAMOTO YUTA
left like 5 mins ago nrs. (they're
never in the house but i'm still
really really depressed)

awwww i'm attracted to depressed girls

shut up ur so

amazing i know

Shut Up ur unfunny

you know what else is unfunny??
when you ended our almost relationship

Haha What 😭😭😭😭

sorry i had to

Unfunny when your fuckass dad. Was
like Mirae I am breaking up with you.
Dirty slag. Ur ruining me.

LOL

why r u laughing i was so sad
i'm crying again now☹️☹️☹️

good
#deserved

how dare you
i think i also deserve an apology

for what

idk just apologise so i look like the victim

damn okay
i am sorry !

not good enough
send a pic of u and i'll forgive

i look bad rn

you never look bad what the fuck are
you talking about you fucking weirdo

oops!

Stop please i need to see your face😭
😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭

your withdrawal symptoms are worse
than mine my god

I'm gonna cry
ur the reason why i'm failing (life)

STOP

if you liked me you would send me
a picture of your gay little face

yeah i don't like you

yes
I HATE WOMEN!

Omg
are you being Discriminatory towards
me because i'm a woman with privilege

yes i hate pretty girls

Stop i'm in love with you
no more homosexuality PLZ Date me

HELPP

you called me a pretty girl

you are

ikr
H-he called me p-pwetty🥺🥺🥺🥺👉👈

omg ew ur so ugly don't say that
ever again PLEASE

LMFAOAOAOAOAOOAOAO
Sorry are you just jealous that i
didn't say you're also pretty

yes bc what about me
compliment me too

i said you had a gay little face

not nice

WOW ARE YOU BEING HOMOPHOBIC
NOW??? DO YOU FIND BEING CALLED
GAY OFFENSIVE???😥😥😥😰😰

NO MEI ISTG

I AM CANCELLING YOU

mirae

oh.
Hi. 😊

call me
i miss you

OKAY❤️

LMFAOOA we're so bipolar

true i kinda hate you sometimes

at least i'm on the KINDA hate basis

Stfu call me now or else i cry

okay hold on

thanks princess

barf

mei started a video call.

❦ ♪

soo as my Formal apology for having these last few chapters be really depressing and boring here is a zhangmei redemption arc along with somewhat funny socmed since i felt bad

love you guys! stay tuned for the last two chapters<3