Chapter 17

Shide's Pov

I saw Shuyi's message when I was in the middle of a conversation with a professor but I rushed towards the music faculty as soon as he left. But my pent up anger even doubled when I saw Yue opening his car door for Shuyi and driving away.

"He knew I was waiting for him, yet he didn't even care to wait for me or atleast inform me he was leaving with someone else?"

I felt like a complete fool. My heart had never hurt like this even after breaking up with my ex girlfriends.

"I never thought I could be replaced so easily"

Shuyi's Pov

Yue dropped me home early enough to prepare dinner to surprise Shide. I texted him to ask where he was but got no replies.

"He must be busy since he even forgot to pick me up"

I sometimes miss the times we were in a relationship....fake relationship. We used to be right next to each other all the time. With him, I'm completely myself, nothing to hide. He is comfort, he feels like home.

I was lost in my thoughts when the door unlocked. Shide came in and took a water bottle out of the refrigerator and started walking towards his room.

"Hey, I've made dinner for us, quickly go freshen up!" I said quickly blocking his way.

"I'm not really hungry, I'll just sleep now" he told me without even looking into my eyes and walked away.

I stood there frozen and confused as for why was he suddenly treating me so coldly.

Shide's Pov

I shut my room door and lay down on my bed. Even when my body was at rest, my mind kept racing back and forth to the thought of being replaced by someone else. The thought of some other person being close to Shuyi drove me crazy.

A few minutes later, I heard a knock on my door so I quickly closed my eyes to act as if I was sleeping.

After a few knocks, the door opened and Shuyi's fragrance spread in the air of my room making my heart beat uncontrollably faster.

"Shide..Shide..hey..are you asleep already"

No matter how angry I was at him, I couldn't stop myself from answering to his sad voice.

"not yet, why?" I said still keeping my eyes shut.

"you shouldn't sleep hungry, if you don't eat your dinner, I won't feel like eating either"

I might still be a little unclear about my exact feelings for him, but in this moment all I wanted to do was hold him in my arms. But alas, my actions have limitations. Instead, I got up slowly and smiled looking in his little puppy eyes.

"Okay okay, you can stop with the emotional blackmail now. You go ahead and set the table, I'll wash my hands and follow you"

"He nodded excitedly and went out."

***

We sat face to face and quietly ate our dinner, but I could feel his constant curious gaze on me.

"if you wanna ask something, you can"

"uh....sorry if I made you uncomfortable....it's just that you look upset since you've come back. Did something happen?"

"Don't worry about it. How did you come back home anyway?" I wanted to hear what explanation would he give for not waiting for me.

"ah, I forgot to tell you. Yue dropped me home. Since I got free very late in the evening, I thought you would have already left, and I didn't want to bother you to come all the way back to pick me up, so..."

"hm...just so you know, I was still waiting for you in the college"

"huh really?...so late..why would you?"

Damn Shide, I shouldn't be so direct and straightforward, it is only going to make him uncomfortable since he doesn't see me the way I see him.

"I had to meet a professor, that's why"

"oh..okay"

"next time before you get into someone else's car, make sure you call me first. I'd never break my promises to you"

His cheeks instantly turned red making him look even cuter. He shyly smiled and nodded. "I'm sorry for not informing you today"

"that's okay, finish your dinner"

We ate, washed the dishes together while talking about his day and how much he loved to play guitar after so long, and later went to sleep in our rooms. I'm glad we were able to clear the air about today's events, since not talking to him is even worse than seeing him with some other guy.

***

Next morning~

Shide's Pov

Shuyi and I drove together to the campus as usual. I accompanied him to his classroom before walking towards mine.

"Ah...Shuyi!"

He turned back to look at me "hmm?"

"Wanna have lunch together today?"

He smiled softly and nodded "I'll see you in the cafeteria at 2 then?"

"Alright, go in now. Bye-bye" I waved at him with a big smile across my face. He turned again and went inside his class. "Did I really wave at him like a child? Why do I get so excited when he's around..do I...really have feelings for him?" I shook my head trying to avoid overthinking and just go with the flow of time.

The day went on like usual and it was already a few minutes past 2 when I got free from the lecture. I knew Shuyi would be waiting for me so I ran all the way to the cafeteria. I looked around for him before finding him sitting alone in the corner seat reading a book.

In that moment, I was so mesmerised by his ravishing beauty that I could not help but stand still and appreciate him for a few minutes.

After I had admired him enough, I walked up to him.

"Hey.. sorry, I got a little late. What do you wanna eat? I'll go get it"

"It's okay, and don't worry about it. Yue has already gone to get the food."

"Yue...?" My excitement turned into agitation hearing this name in no time.

"Oh..I forgot to tell you, I invited Yue to eat with us since he was coming here anyway and I didn't want him to eat alone. It's okay, right?"

He invited Yue when he was with me? Am I the one intruding in their personal time? How can he suddenly get so close to someone he barely knows that he no longer wants to spend time with me?

Anger, irritation, shock. I had lots of feelings rushing through my mind when Shuyi's new close friend came back with food.

"Shide! I didn't know you'd be here, I just bought meals for two" He said putting the plates down on the table.

"You're a surprise for me too (or more like shock, I said in my mind). Don't worry about it, I'll go get my food myself." I tried to stand up but Shuyi held my hand.

"You can share with me, I don't think I'd be able to finish all of this anyway" He said putting half of his food in my plate.

Even when I was still a little upset over the presence of an unwanted guest between us, I still loved the fact that nothing or no one could ever shake the bond and care we had for each other.

Looking at him serving me his share of the food just like family, I realised that there was no one else I wanted to share this feeling of closeness with, except for him. I had truly and deeply fallen in love with him.