They ended up loosing the game.

No one wanted to blame it on anyone, but Yu Hao had been off his game all night. Everyone had noticed the usually smiling boy was frowning and even had tears in his eyes at one point.

Cheng En could tell his best friend was acting weird at dinner too, ignoring Yu Hao and in a mood as well.

Cheng En was laying on his bed, aimlessly scrolling through his phone, trying not to pay too much attention to the pouting Zi Xuan. He knew they must've gotten into a fight, but he had no idea why.

He rolled over, on his side facing Zi Xuan, who looked unfazed, eyes locked on the TV.

"So... what's going on between you and Yu Hao?" He asked, wide eyes trying to find their way into Zi Xuan's soul. Zi Xuan looked at him, rolling his eyes.

"We're fighting."

"Why?"

"Because..." Zi Xuan seemed to think for a minute. "He wants to spend his life with me. I've never planned that at all."

Cheng En furrowed his brows, his heart softening slightly. He knew Yu Hao must be hurt, but so was Zi Xuan. "I think you should go try to make things better with him." He said, noticing Zi Xuan's eyes sadden.

"I know I should... I just don't think he would forgive me." Cheng En huffed, sitting up and looking at the TV.

"Zi Xuan.... Yu Hao loves you, can't you see that?" He said, looking down when Zi Xuan wouldn't look at him. He looked back up, seeing a snarl form on Zi Xuan's face.

"He shouldn't."

"But he does." Zi Xuan looked at Cheng En, a tear spilling out of his eye. "You guys have something special, you know? You guys are so close, and.... it's the way you look at each other. After or before a match, in the hallways, even last night after you kissed him goodnight. That's what true love is. That's why I think even after this argument, he'll still love you, and you'll still love him too." Cheng En reached out and wiped away one of Zi Xuan's tears. "Now, do you want to go to bed, or do you want to go say I'm sorry?"

Zi Xuan laughed, sniffling away his tears and pulling Cheng En in for a huge hug. "Thanks, dude."

Cheng En smiled, putting his arm on Zi Xuan's back and squeezing him tight. "Anytime, buddy."

•••

Zi Xuan was climbing up the stairs when he felt a sharp pain in his knee. He fell, grasping the railing and groaning in agony.

It took a few minutes, but the numbness settled in and he was left with an aching pain. Pulling himself up, he hobbled up the rest of the flight of stairs, wincing every step, yet refusing to give up.

He couldn't give up.

He wouldn't.

Now, without the rail or anything to grip onto, he glanced at the hallway in worry. His knee was throbbing now and he knew he had to get ice on it, or else tomorrow he wouldn't be able to walk.

To an outsider, he would be looking frail in this moment. In a baggy sweatshirt and pyjama pants, gripping the door frame for dear life, his eyes filled with tears, his heart, a million different pieces. He would be looking troubled, sickly, even.

But to anyone who knew why he was gripping that door frame so tightly, why his cheeks were stained with water, and why his heart was coming undone at the very moment... well, it would be a whole different story.

But now, Zi Xuan held tighter to the door frame, closing his eyes and thinking about what he wanted.

He thought of Yu Hao's hands on his legs, carrying him to a place where he could properly take care of his knee.

He thought of Yu Hao's lips along his neck, kissing and mending all his wounds in one movement.

He thought of Yu Hao's eyes on his while he tutored the boy, watching him roll his chin on his old volleyball.

Zi Xuan let a tear slip, not wiping it away.

In that moment, he knew that all he ever wanted was Yu Hao.

And so, with a cramping leg, a broken heart, and a tear rolling down his cheek, Zi Xuan took four stumbling steps to the door and slammed right into it, knocking the wind out of him and alerting the boys inside.

A/N:

And that's where we'll leave off for today!

This book is coming to an end in about 1-2 chapters. What do you guys suggest I should write next?

As always, please vote/comment!

Love you all!