Chapter 28: The First Christmas 3

Chapter 28: The First Christmas 3

Exiting the cinema, Yun He's laughter echoed, his sides aching and tears welling up in his eyes. "Hahahaha, Gu Jiabei, you're so timid! Hahahaha..."

"Let's go," Gu Jiabei glanced at Yun He coldly before striding away.

"Hey, wait for me, hahahaha, sorry, I didn't mean to laugh at you, hahahaha..." Yun He hurried after Gu Jiabei, his laughter dampening his vision.

Gu Jiabei remained silent, not turning back, but walked with an aloof demeanor.

"Wait, Gu Jiabei, where are we going?" Yun He finally managed to stop laughing, though his smile still lingered on his face.

"Home," Gu Jiabei uttered the word with icy detachment.

"Are you angry?" Yun He tugged on Gu Jiabei's arm, his large, sparkling eyes filled with mirth.

"No," came the same cold response.

"Then let's play a little more," Yun He pleaded.

"No, I'm not playing anymore. I'm tired," Gu Jiabei said, still holding Yun He's small hand on his arm.

"Damn, seriously? Are you really angry? Is it because you're embarrassed about being scared of ghosts, or because you're embarrassed about me calling you 'brother'?" Yun He asked with a playful expression, finding Gu Jiabei particularly adorable when he sulked.

"Brother?" Gu Jiabei finally paused, studying Yun He with a critical gaze.

"What's wrong?" Yun He felt a bit guilty under Gu Jiabei's intense stare. It was as if Gu Jiabei was sizing him up like prey. "Did I say something wrong?"

A crooked smile appeared on Gu Jiabei's lips, and he approached Yun He with an evil glint in his eye. "Do you want to be my brother?"

Despite their heavy winter coats, Gu Jiabei's sudden proximity, along with the scent that Yun He adored, sent Yun He's heart pounding wildly. He sensed an unspoken pressure from Gu Jiabei, as if there were countless words left unsaid.

Yun He greedily inhaled Gu Jiabei's fragrance, gazing foolishly at his impossibly handsome face.

"Or maybe you should be my brother..." Yun He blurted out instinctively.

Gu Jiabei smiled contentedly.

Although Gu Jiabei laughed, he still led the way back home, leaving Yun He standing downstairs with a pouting lip.

"Are we really going home?" Yun He asked, unwilling and unhappy.

"Wait for me here a moment," Gu Jiabei said.

"Hmm?" Yun He didn't catch Gu Jiabei's meaning.

"Stay here. I'll be down soon," Gu Jiabei repeated before turning and entering the dark stairwell.

Yun He realized belatedly that Gu Jiabei wasn't ending their Christmas night just yet. He happily bounced on the spot a few times. Then, his gaze fell on Gu Jiabei's bicycle parked downstairs. Covered in thick snow due to neglect, Yun He walked over and brushed off the snow from the seat with his sleeve. Recalling something, he took out a pen and notebook from his backpack. Rapidly jotting down a few words, Yun He tore the page from the notebook. Fiddling with the paper in his hand, he initially intended to fold it into a heart shape but failed after a few attempts. Instead, he folded the note neatly into a square and slipped it into the small hole beneath the bicycle seat. Not long after finishing this, Gu Jiabei descended the stairs with his guitar in hand.

"What were you doing?" Gu Jiabei observed Yun He furtively fussing with the bicycle.

"I was clearing the snow off your bike..." Yun He explained while continuing to pat the remaining snow with his sleeve. Pointing at Gu Jiabei's guitar, he asked, "What about you?"

"Follow me," Gu Jiabei said, taking Yun He's hand and leading him towards the small basketball court.

The court was deserted at this hour, without any aunties dancing or young men playing basketball. Only a thick layer of snow covered the entire area, untouched and uncleared.

As Yun He stood with one foot deep in snow under the basketball hoop, looking at Gu Jiabei, an anticipation stirred within him.

"Yun He," Gu Jiabei gazed at Yun He intently.

"Mm," Yun He replied softly.

"I'll sing you a song," Gu Jiabei offered.

Yun He nodded in agreement.

With his slender fingers dancing across the guitar strings, Yun He recognized the familiar melody. As Gu Jiabei began to sing, Yun He's mind drifted back to their first encounter - a sunlit classroom where a boy in a black T-shirt had stood with his back to the door, his tall figure discernible even while seated on a chair.

"I can't forget the first time I saw you, with those captivating eyes that linger in my mind. Your figure refuses to fade away. Holding your hands, I feel your tenderness, leaving me breathless...

Gu Jiabei sang the song from their first encounter, his voice as deep and gentle as ever, defying the chill of winter to recall the warmth of that sunny day.

"Your innocence, I long to cherish, seeing you upset would break my heart."

In that memory, the boy turned with a smile under the sun, his irises darker than diamonds yet sparkling brightly.

"I'm afraid of falling for you, hesitant to draw too near. Afraid I have nothing to give, loving you takes great courage."

In my memory, the boy went wildly berserk in the alley, pinning the other against the wall with brutal force, all because the blood was flowing from the arm of that other boy.

In my memory, the boy shielded another boy with his own chest on the crowded bus, creating a small haven of space for him from the pressing crowd.

"I fear that I might fall in love with you. Perhaps there will come a day when I can no longer resist. Missing you only tortures myself. Loving you is beyond my control..."

In my memory, the boy rides his bicycle, carrying another boy through the labyrinth of streets and alleys.

In the recesses of his memory, the boy pulls out an assortment of breakfast items from his backpack for the other boy.

The boy from his memory sealed his lips against another under the same basketball hoop.

The youth's voice was always pure and gentle, and their emotions intense and sincere. Yun He didn't know why, but he felt a tinge of sourness at the tip of his nose. Though Gu Jiabei hadn't said anything, Yun He could sense their mutual feelings, the same affection, the same joy, and the same uncontrollable longing for each other.

"I want to cry..." Yun He rubbed his nose bashfully.

"Isn't it too early to cry now? I haven't read my love letter yet," Gu Jiabei smiled warmly, his fingertips red from the cold.

"There's still a love letter?" Yun He could hardly believe it.

"At first, there wasn't any, but if someone insists tonight, I'll write one for you right now," Gu Jiabei said, setting his guitar aside before slowly approaching Yun He. His eyes shimmered with warmth that could melt even the iciest of landscapes.

Yun He watched Gu Jiabei eagerly and expectantly.

As Gu Jiabei stood in front of Yun He, his gaze deep and intense, he began, "I might never have told you this, but when I came to this city, I wasn't happy – actually, I was quite sad. It wasn't because I left my familiar city or my accustomed life, nor was it due to my father's business failure. It was because…" Gu Jiabei paused, seemingly suppressing his emotions, "I found out that my father was having an affair."

Yun He was taken aback by this revelation, his eyes widening in surprise. Unconsciously, he held Gu Jiabei's cold hands tightly within his own.

Gu Jiabei shook his head as if comforting Yun He, then continued, "But my mother still doesn't know. She lives in a world of false lies up until now. The day I discovered my father's infidelity, he came home that night with a bouquet of roses for my mom. Watching her happily arrange those blood-red flowers in a vase made me feel incredibly nauseated…."

"Gu Jiabei…" Yun He felt the evening breeze was chilly, but Gu Jiabei's hands were colder. He longed to embrace him tightly, seeking warmth in their togetherness, yet he also wanted to see Gu Jiabei's face, afraid of missing any hint of emotion.

"But I can't tell her the truth. I know since the day I was born, she sacrificed her life for both my father and me. We became her world. So, I have to pretend that her world hasn't changed, that her sky hasn't collapsed…" For the first time, Gu Jiabei's expression tugged at Yun He's heartstrings, his eyes reddening around the edges.

"When my father's business ran into trouble, we had no choice but to move here. I became even more hesitant to reveal the truth to her. I was afraid she couldn't withstand consecutive blows. My mom usually seems optimistic and gentle, but only I know how fragile she is. Thus, my resentment and hatred towards my father grew each day… Yun He, you have no idea how much I despised life here. It seemed devoid of vitality, hope, anything that could bring me even a little joy…" Gu Jiabei held Yun He's hand tightly, gazing at Yun He's pained expression, and spoke softly, "Until I met you. The moment you appeared in the music room, you were like an unexpected surprise in my world. Do you know that you were staring at me that day, completely absorbed? Your eyes were glued to me. Back then, I wondered if you were like Lu Angyu, but later realized you were rather clueless, rushing about foolishly. You blushed easily when teased, and seeing your shyness amused me, yet also worried me."

"Were you worried that I would like you…" Yun He smiled gently, his eyes reflecting hidden pain.

"Yes... afraid that you might not really like me," Gu Jiabei replied with a smile. "So, I intentionally avoided you. But then you insisted on being a guide for Lu Angyu, maintaining a stern expression all day." Recalling Yun He's demeanor at the time, Gu Jiabei chuckled, "You couldn't hide anything, yet you tried so hard to act nonchalant around me."

"Not at all!" Yun He protested, playfully punching Gu Jiabei's chest. "I wasn't pretending. It's just my first time experiencing the feeling of liking someone, so I don't know how to act or express it properly..."

Gu Jiabei cupped Yun He's cheeks with both hands, lifting his face slightly to meet his own. "That's why I should thank you for your honesty under the influence of alcohol, for that clumsy yet passionate first kiss, and for giving me a sense of happiness for the first time since I came to this city.

"Yun He, it's been a pleasure getting to know you."

Slowly, Gu Jiabei leaned in and brushed a gentle kiss against Yun He's lips.

"Gu Jiabei, I'm equally glad to have met you." Yun He was both delighted and pained, tears involuntarily slipping down his cheeks. Embracing Gu Jiabei's neck with both arms, he smiled through his tears, beaming radiantly. "This is the most beautiful and touching love letter I've ever received. I'll cherish it forever in my memories, even if I develop dementia one day and forget myself, I won't forget this..."

"Fool," Gu Jiabei chuckled, gently wiping away Yun He's tears with the pad of his finger. "Are these tears of physiology too?"

"No, these are tears of emotion. I cried because I wanted to... I just think you're too good..." Yun He leaned in, kissing Gu Jiabei as he spoke incoherently.

"Teary one," Gu Jiabei said affectionately. He moved his hands from Yun He's cheeks to his back, then brushed against the hood of Yun He's down jacket. With a gentle pull, he covered Yun He's head with it. Grasping the edges of the hood, he skillfully returned Yun He's kiss.

The snow began to fall, delicate flakes becoming visible under the dim streetlights. On the snow-covered basketball court, the two teenagers were entwined in an embrace. One had their face hidden in the voluminous hood, their appearance obscured, while the other kissed their partner with unwavering focus.

No one else passed by. The world belonged solely to them, and the quiet, tender snowflakes, like understanding companions, shielded them from the worldly disturbances.

At this very moment, the hearts of these innocent youths tremble together in a sincere and intimate embrace.