Chapter 23

Shide's POV

I opened my eyes from the memories of him to see him right in front of me.

I couldn't believe my luck to realise my wish had come true. I met him again just like I prayed that day, and still all this time I failed to realise the impact he had made in my life. As a matter of fact, he still continued to make everyday. How many people get a second chance at love at first sight? I did. He was there for me even on my worst day and without even realising it, he got me through it back then.

It was because of his song that I found the courage to tell my parents about my real feelings. I wanted them to be happy in their lives, I found the strength to finally tell them that I love them both equally and will never pick a side because no matter what their personal relationship was, I will always love them as my parents. It was his song that day that made me realise the real power of love.

How it is not dependent on the other person to reciprocate or not, cause even if they don't, the love and care still remains. This realisation gave me the strength to accept the reality of my parents separation and create a life of my own. That's when I decided to move to Bangkok.

People might think its stupid to find so much meaning in a random song that I heard accidently in a school fest, but I like to think of it as destiny, cause that day, those words are the exact words I needed to hear. If he wasn't there, I might have ended things on a bad note with my parents forever regretting my decision.

And today, when I needed some assurance, something to hang onto, something that gives me hope for us, I hear this song again. Every time I am at a point in my life where I think there is nothing to look forward to, be it looking forward to spending time with my parents after school, or making Shuyi my man, whenever I think my dreams have fallen apart, he is always there to reassure me even when he doesn't know it himself.

I can't ruin something so beautiful because I am too afraid to accept my feelings. Yes I am in love with a man, I am in love with Shuyi!, and I don't care what it makes me as a man anymore. I am not going to ignore the signs that the universe is giving me because I'm not sure of how he feels as long as I'm sure of how I feel.

He sang the same song that made me fall for him the first time just as beautifully.

"How long will I love you?

As long as stars are above you

And longer if I can

How long will I need you?

As long as the seasons need to

Follow their plan

How long will I be with you?

As long as the sea is bound to

Wash upon the sand

How long will I want you?

As long as you want me to

And longer by far

How long will I hold you?

As long as your father told you

As long as you can

How long will I give to you?..."

Everyone was enjoying his angelic voice when the music cut in the middle of the song because of some technical failure. Shuyi's mic and guitar both lost the connection. Some people started whispering and smirking. I could clearly see Shuyi gradually loose his confidence.

Before I even realised, the words flew out of my mouth at the top of my lungs for everyone to hear.

"As long as I live through you

However long you say"

Everyone turned around to look at me with shock and amazement in their eyes. No one knew the song since it was Shuyi's own work, and yet, I was able to complete his lyric. The only reaction I cared about was Shuyi's...who's eyes were set on me. He dropped his microphone and slowly walked towards me as I did the same through the crowd.

I sang the next line looking straight into his eyes to show him how he didn't need any mic or music as his voice had the power. "How long will I love you?"

And he was back as he continued!

"As long as stars are above you

And longer if I may

How long will I love you?

As long as stars are above you"

He sang just as gracefully like he always did. By that time we were right in front of each other as the crowd cheered for him in the background. Everyone clapped and chanted his name out of sheer appreciation for his talent and confidence. Meanwhile I looked at him with teary eyes as that moment made me realise how we completed each other in what ever the universe makes us go through.

I wasn't gonna hold back anymore. I want him to know.

Shuyi's POV

It was going great just like I had hoped it to, the crowd was cheering as we played the song. But suddenly my mic and guitar both connected to the same power source short circuited and lost the connection. All my band members started looking at each other not knowing what to do. I was feeling so incredibly embarrassed standing in front of the entire university not knowing what to do next when I heard the voice.

His voice was soft yet loud, strong yet passionate. What I couldn't believe was the fact that he knew the lyrics. I originally planned to surprise him with this song but instead ended up being surprised myself. How was this even possible? Without realising, I felt like I was drawn to him. It was like something within me screamed for him closeness. I walked off the stage as he walked towards me through the crowd.

It felt like two worlds colliding. The world had vanished from behind us and it was only him and I alone. There was this undeniable tension between us in that moment, I didn't care how many eyes were watching us. His captivating gaze on me while singing the song I had written made my stomach tingle and my heart cry with passion. I was shocked to see how my body was reacting to him. It was like I belonged to him.

As we got closer, he nodded at me gesturing I should continue. I was anxious and nervous cause I didn't know if even I had it in me but he was right there, and even if the worst happened and I ended up making a joke of myself today, I knew with all my heart, he would still be standing right next to me. His mere existence gave me the strength to face all my fears, cause of the end of the day, I will always have him.

I sang the last part, with my eyes set on him like I subconsciously knew this was the closet i'd ever get to confessing my feelings for him. The crowd cheered around us as I finished. Shide's eyes glistened as if he was just about to cry. He, all of a sudden took my hand in his and lead me through all the people and I followed without a question. I could vaguely hear Yue call out my name in the back but neither of us stopped.

He took me to the senior's locker room and asked the guys sitting there to walk out like an alpha, and they immediately followed him without any questions. I was so impressed by the amount of respect he has earned. While I was looking at them walk out, I sensed his eyes on me. I turned to look at him and saw his watery eyes. I didn't care and immediately put my hand on his cheek. "Heyyy, what happened?" he looked down. "Shide, talk to me" I said trying to get him to say what was he so anxious about. I then lifted his face and held his chin up "please".

He suddenly reduced the distance between our faces and kept moving closer and closer very slowly without uttering a word. He stopped when our lips were just a hair breadth away for each other's. I couldn't stop myself from looking into his eyes and then his slightly parted intensely tempting lips. My mind completely went blank as I couldn't believe I was this close to him.

"Shuyi.there's something I've been wanting to tell you since a long time. Ah...I don't know how you would react....I'm so scared to hurt you.." He whispered slowly as I felt his breath on my face. I could feel his nervousness when he started looking at his feet to avoid eye contact. I wanted more, I wanted to know what was he thinking so deeply. I slowly put my hand behind his ear and slowly ruffled his hair with my fingers to calm him down. He slowly looked at me again making my heart almost jump out of my chest. I don't know how I found the courage to whisper in his ear "baby say it".

I would clearly see he was surprised but I guess it was needed to get him out of his shell as he held my face lightly, looked into my eyes and said "Shuyi, I don't know how to explain this to you in words but I am completely, fully, with all my body and soul, deeply in love with you". I felt my whole body tremble and heat up to his words. "You have been my support, my strength even without realising it all this time. Its just surreal how the universe made you the creator of a song that has such a deep meaning in my life."

Yes, my song. How did he know the lyrics? What deep meaning is he talking about. My mind was filled with questions, but before I could ask him anything, some guys walked into the locker room but this time, Shide didn't move away from me instead he held me hand even tighter and whispered in my ear, "let's go home baby". I could sense the curious eyes on us, but I didn't really care, I was busy controlling my heart from exploding out of my chest.

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