The guys had originally planned to head over to the mall only because Shen Wei wanted to buy a book, so without him in the group Yunlan thought that there was really no reason to go there anymore.

“Why don’t we go to the park instead?” he said.

Unconsciously he suggested the place that more than anything made him think of Shen Wei.

“It’s all the same for me,” said Hong loyally.

Jin thought otherwise, though: "There’s a new game out, I was going to buy it today."

Wang joined him: "I also wanted to go there and look for a new shirt."

Da Qing had something of his own to say: "I’m hungry, an ice-cream is not enough, I want to go to the Fish&Burger place."

Hong looked at Yunlan and shrugged. They were outnumbered, so Yunlan had no choice but to yield and follow the majority's wish.

They were all cheerful as always, he seemed to be the only moody one.
Jin had his new game, Wang  bought two new shirts on sale and was giggling happily, Da Qing had eaten half of the Fish&Burger provisions, they all had enjoyed their day out and were about to go back when Yunlan’s eyes landed on a shop-window.

The whole time he only had one thing (one person) in mind, and now he asked his friends to wait for him and he went inside on a whim; he didn’t really know where to find it, so he asked the girl working there and bought it immediately. It made him feel better, he didn’t know why so he didn’t ponder on it too much.

When they were all done, they went back home.

Once alone in his room, Yunlan had nothing to keep the image of Wei and Ren walking side by side off his mind.

'Just like we did that day' he thought, then he scolded himself: so what, many people walk together every day, what was so special about it now? He would see Shen Wei the next day and everything would be back to normal.

The next day they met as usual but Wei was silent and barely looked at him, although they sat next to each other as always.

Yunlan opened his bag and took out a package, and handed it to Wei.
"Here, I bought it for you."

Wei looked at the book and then at Yunlan, with big opened eyes. For a moment, they just stared at each other, then Yunlan laughed awkwardly and asked, "This is what you wanted right? Since you couldn’t come with us, I thought I’d get it for you."

“Thanks” Wei ssid and then he smiled happily.

Yunlan murmured, "That's what friends are for," feeling something nice inside at being the cause for that shining smile, feeling happy with his decision until a hand came out of nowhere and took the book. Everyone stopped their chatting and looked at him.

“What’s this?” Ren asked with the book in his hands.

Yunlan suddenly stood up and said with a harsh voice, "Give it back."

The atmosphere tensed immediately, Yunlan kept looking at a bewildered Ren with a serious face. Wei felt the awkwardness and stood up too, “that’s my book” was the only thing that came out of his mouth before Yunlan, unchanging, said, "You heard him, give it back."

Wei didn’t like this at all, what was happening? He looked from Yunlan to Ren and back, looking for something to say.

Ren looked at Yunlan with a confused look on his face, then at Wei, before giving him a big smile.
"Of course, here’s your book Wei Wei."

Everyone was staring at them now and Wei felt really embarrassed. Yunlan’s eye twitched at the familiarity in Ren’s voice, but he sat down again, and so did Wei. Ren sat next to him, and for the first time Yunlan didn’t appreciate the long benches of the cafeteria.

“You always loved books,” said Ren fondly, uncaring that everyone was staring at him.

“He.. he bought it for me, yesterday,” replied Wei looking at the book with heart-eyes.

“Yesterday? Oh you mean, while we were otherwise occupied...” Ren said, leaning closer so that he was breathing in Wei’s ear.

Wei shivered remembering the kisses-filled afternoon, then murmured, "Not here please, I’ll see you later."

Ren looked at him a bit troubled, he never wished to be separated again, but thought it best to give him some time, so he gave him a smile, a peck on the cheek then stood up to leave.
"Whatever you want, Wei Wei, see you later then."

He left with a cheerful “byeee” to the group, which got a few “bye” in response, a glare from Hong and what seemed like a grunt from Yunlan. As soon as he was gone, all eyes were on Shen Wei.

Hong: "Who is that?"

Wang: "How long have you two known each other?"

Jin: "Is he going to join our group too?"

Da Qing: "Are you gay?"

Wei was overwhelmed to say the least, but before he could choose which question to answer first, many eyes turned to Da Qing, then on him expectantly.

Well, now he knew that Hong hadn’t disclosed their little conversation... so now it was up to him, and he had no other choice but to reply to them.

"Yes, I’m gay and that was Ren, we’ve known each other for quite some time and he is... he was... he is..."

He felt his throat dry and a small sense of confusion on what he should say now, everything had happened so fast, but he was interrupted before he could say anything more

"Your boyfriend?" Hong hissed at him.

Startled by her aggressive tone, Wei looked utterly helpless. Hong was looking at him with narrow eyes, like a snake ready to attack, confusing him, ‘why in the world...’ he thought.
Finally he lowered his eyes and said, "Yes."

Wei didn’t know what to think. He hadn’t expected this.
The guys were launching questions at him.

Wang: "Do people at school know?"

Sang: "Did anyone give you a hard time?"

Guo: "Have you been b... bullied?"

Da Qing: "Did you guys kiss already?"

Da Qing was never one for beating around the bush, he always bluntly said what was on his mind. Yunlan said nothing, his mind was blank.

Wei: "We... were together before he left, and yesterday we talked and we... we..." but Hong interrupted him again.

She looked furious.
"I don’t like him, I don’t want him to join our group!"

It was a firm statement, a demand not a question, she knew she’d have Wang’s support, which meant Sang’s as well, and probably, hopefully Jin’s. Guo wouldn’t take sides anyway, so she spoke like a group leader.

Wei didn’t understand her reaction, after a second confusion gave space to anger; he didn't like her attack and suddenly he felt a burst of loyalty that forced him to defend Ren.

"You don’t even know him, if you give him a chance..." but Hong wasn’t going to calm down easily when she was enraged.
"I don’t want to know him!"

Everyone was silent, none of them really disliked Ren but he was an outsider while Hong was one of them, so they said nothing waiting for them to settle this 'problem' on their own - although they really had no idea what the problem was.

Yunlan couldn’t really explain, not even to himself, what he felt or thought, but somehow Hong’s fury soothed his heart.
It did comfort him, in a strange way, and he now looked at her with a subtle smile, like the ally that she was.

Yunlan always hated talking about himself, so he never explained to anyone what Hong was for him, never deeming it important, never suspecting that their strong bond could one day turn against him.

Yunlan didn't notice that Shen Wei saw the way he looked at her now,  with so much fondness that Wei’s heart ached. ‘He still loves her’, he thought, ‘he’s not... he’ll never be mine’ he thought to himself as if in need to remind it to his heart.

Wei lowered his eyes but kept his voice steady.
“It’s not my intention to cause trouble in the group, but I’m sorry because I really liked studying with you all.” - 'I liked studying with you, but I guess it's better this way.'

At Wei’s words, an alarm sounded loudly in Yunlan’s heart.
"Are you leaving us?"
‘are you leaving me?’ screamed his soul, shaking him to the core.

It was difficult for him but Wei had made a decision already, what good would it do to him to wait for someone that could never want him? Ren had been important to him, still was, and even if he didn’t feel with him like he felt with Yunlan, at least this was real.

“He just came back to me, he’s my boyfriend now so I’ll be studying with him from now on,” he said, sounding bolder then he actually felt.

Yunlan didn’t say anything but he was glad to feel Hong fuming next to him, it really felt like a projection of something inside of him that he will have to address, sooner rather than later.

Wang, Sang and Guo kept silent, Jin muttered a “My room isn’t big enough anyway” while Da Qing giggled.

"Yeah, studying..."

Wei left.

------------------------------------------------------------

Please don't hate me, they'll get there I promise, it's their destiny after all 💕
Sometimes one's own feelings can be confusing, but in the end love always wins 💕

This is the first half of this little story, now things will get more interesting for all our dear characters.
I really hope you're enjoying reading it as I'm enjoying writing it.
Thank you 💕💕💕