Hong rejoiced in her victory, her plan had been a success. Now she didn’t have to wait for her turn to go to the beach, because the others would often suggest it themselves. She was very satisfied, now she could have the summer she dreamed of while looking outside from her classroom window: no more boring stuff indoors, her summer days will be filled with real summer-bliss, like swimming with her friends, resting on the beach, taking walks on the shore... just like a real summer should be.

It was not a complete victory, though. She was a little disappointed because  apparently she hadn’t won Wei over. She thought she had: she had tried so hard to please him, knowing that he loved books, and was rather bothered when it came Wei’s turn and he still chose to go to the mall saying that he wanted to ‘buy the book’.

'What difference does it make?!?!' She thought. 'You could borrow it from Arcova's library and read it first (while I'm swimming with Jin) and if you like it, just buy it on a rainy day!' but of course she kept the thought to herself.

She couldn't know that for Wei a day at the mall felt like having a ‘free day’ from the exquisite torture that was seeing Yunlan like that and not being able to touch him.. and every time they went there, he thought of not joining them, but he simply couldn’t stay away. It bothered him immensely. He felt disloyal towards Ren and a bad friend towards Yunlan. He started to despise himself like never before.

He was relieved when Ren phoned him saying that he was coming back in a few days, cutting by half their time apart.

As soon as he came back, Ren showed up at his door.

They went into Wei’s room. After locking the door, he turned towards Ren and remained speechless. He could read so much in those eyes, Ren loved him, Ren wanted him, Wei felt so unworthy of him that he almost cried. 

Ren put his arms around his waist to hug him and bring him closer, slowly leaned down to kiss him while one hand slid under his shirt. Wei wanted to find himself again into that warm embrace, and so he let him go on when the other hand joined the first in caressing his chest and back. He felt a rush of desire but something was tugging at his heart.

He tried to ignore it, pulling Ren even closer and circling his waist with his arms. Ren’s kiss was more and more passionate, but when Wei closed his eyes to give in to him, Yunlan’s image filled his brain, with his eyes closed he couldn’t recall Ren’s face at all, all he saw was Yunlan’s eyes, Yunlan’s arms, Yunlan’s body...

Wei suddenly broke the kiss and took a couple of steps back, turning his face away so Ren wouldn’t see his shame.

Ren looked at him, got closer without touching him, and whispered, "I love you."

Shen Wei started crying.

Ren's heart was bleeding. He thought he knew what was going on, but he couldn’t let go without trying.

"I love you," he repeated. "And always will."

"You shouldn't," was Wei's reply.

Ren leaned closer and whispered in his ear, "I do love you."

"No! Don’t, I’m horrible."

"You’re adorable."

"Im despicable."

"You’re wonderful," Ren whispered.

Wei kept crying silently, so Ren sighed and murmured, "I'll see you tomorrow."

Then he left.

Once alone, Wei fell on the bed burying his face in the pillow; he had tried to move on but had failed, he knew now that he couldn't reciprocate Ren's feelings. Such a wonderful person, and he couldn't bring himself to love him like he deserved!

Even though Ren would always have a special place in his heart,  he couldn't deny anymore that he really, really liked Yunlan, he was in love with someone that wasn't interested in him, and why should he? Why would he be interested in someone as plain as he was? He knew this and had tried to be a good friend, but couldn't even do that.
Wei silently cried and cried, feeling like the worst person in the world.

~~~~~

Wei was troubled. It was Jin’s turn and he opted for the beach (it may seem unlike him, but there was no denying that something in him had gone for a definite bikini-videogames=1-0 ), and before Wei could say anything Yunlan had put an arm on Wei's shoulders saying, "It'll be fun, come on," making him shiver.

Ren had had no objections so that’s where he was now, with Ren on the chair at his right, so beautiful and so affectionate, and Yunlan on his left, so handsome, so charming, so intriguing and, lately, so touchy.

Maybe it was just his fancy imagination, after all it was nothing more than small innocent gestures, like touching his shoulder, grabbing his arm, brushing their hands together, but he felt his body respond and it troubled him deeply.

Ren saw that there was something up with him, they hadn't spoken about what had happened at Wei's house, so now he tried to distract him chatting and joking, and rejoiced when he made him laugh. Yunlan looked at him, he liked to see him laugh, he had already established that, but still there was something bothering him he couldn’t yet point out.

He joined in, the two of them kept chatting while Wei listened, he was making use of all the Zhao-Yunlan-charm, he laughed and made jokes after jokes, making Wei laugh again, and now Yunlan knew what it was. It felt better when it was him, making him laugh. It wasn’t simple jealousy, he was sure of it, it was something much more special: he felt a deeply satisfying feeling of pride and joy whenever he himself made Wei laugh.

After a while Ren took Wei's hand and insisted they'd go for a swim; Wei looked doubtful, he'd rather stay there, chatting or reading, but Yunlan again joined in saying that he couldn't go home without swimming at least once,  this time he wouldn't let him, so Wei gave in and they all went.

The others all jumped in but Wei entered slowly, one step at a time, but then Yunlan suddenly disappeared underwater and reappeared under him, lifting him up and throwing him in the water.

As soon as his head reappeared on the surface, Wei scolded him for it but Yunlan hugged his shoulders tight, laughing before swimming away.

Their bodies had been so close. Yunlan had hugged him so tight, Wei thought he could still feel the contact of his warm, wet body... He stayed where he was, without moving, like frozen in the moment. Ren hugged him closer to ask him if he was alright; he felt something hard, and thought ‘is it because of me or Yunlan?’ but he didn’t, couldn't dare to say anything.

Suddenly they heard a scream. Turning, they saw Yunlan’s contorted face before he disappeared under water.

Worried, Wei quickly swam to him and helped him out. The lifeguard had already reached them and now he quickly helped washing Yunlan's leg with sea-water before helping Wei in carrying Yunlan to the doctor’s cabin.
Wei turned towards their worried friends.

He said, "You stay here, I’ll go with him," then focused his worried gaze on Yunlan without waiting for a reply.

The doctor treated his leg and put something on it to soothe the irritated skin, then he left them alone to rest for a bit. Yunlan was lying down on the patients’ bed, with Wei on a chair next to him.

Wei's face was still worried, but Yunlan only felt embarrassed. A jellyfish! Just a stupid jellyfish, and he had screamed like a child.

That was so lame, what would Wei think of him now?

He laughed awkwardly saying, "You can go, it’s nothing really," but Wei looked at him severely.

"I’m not leaving you."

Yunlan raised his eyes to stare into Wei’s; looking at those deep, beautiful, worried eyes, it all came back to him stronger than ever, and he couldn’t hold it anymore, he wanted to get closer to him, he wanted to know, he needed to know what those lips would feel like against his... maybe he shouldn't, but he purposely ignored that part of his brain telling him that Wei wasn't his, because honestly right now his heart couldn't care less, nothing had ever stopped him from going after what he wanted, and nothing other than Wei himself could stop him now.

So what if he kissed him just a little?
After all, it was just a little kiss, right? No big deal, right?

So he kissed him.

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Their first kiss 🤗

I honestly feel that Wei was hurting more than Yunlan because many things were going on inside him, while Yunlan wasn't really hurt by Ren's presence because he wasn't yet at the 'he's mine' feeling, but now things are changing.

My true hope is that I was able to keep their souls as Priest intended them: they are much younger here, but still, Wei is someone who always thinks too low of himself, and Yunlan is one that thinks a lot about things, but once he's set on something, nothing will stop him.

Thanks again to all of you who read, vote or comment this little story, you make me happy 💕💕

Now, on to the next one, eheh 🤗

Crys.