My lovelies, here is your update. A long chapter. I kinda liked writing it. So, let me know what you think. It feels worth writing when you guys show appreciation.

Pic courtesy- YuZhou.Studio19520

Important- I have no idea about Beijing or its whereabouts. Every place mentioned in the story (except for the canon one) is my own imagination.

My clingy panda hugs and "thesis" and a "pencil" for those those commented/voted in previous chapters! You guys are my sunshine!😘🙌😍💗💗💗

Special thanks to-

My dearest friend @LuanaPapaianopol for always boosting me up and listening to my endless ranting! You are the coolest dudette! Love ya!😘😍💗💗💗

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"And I want to wake up with the rain
Falling on a tin roof
While I'm safe there in your arms
So all I ask is for you
To come away with me in the night
Come away with me..."

- 'Come Away With Me' by Norah Jones. (My ultimate romantic song)

*********************

Chapter-11

Morning came and brought nerve wrecking dilemma with it. JingYu laid there on the bed, hours after waking up. Or at least it felt like hours. Thousands of questions rolling inside his head, but the one which was at the forefront of his mind was the one he avoided like the plague.

He could not face why he felt this itching anticipation at the thought of seeing Timmy. Not now.

“Why did I agree?” He asked the ceiling, which unsurprisingly did not answer him back.

“Now he’s going to think we are dating!.......’Cuase, it’s a date, isn’t it?”

Stupid ceiling still refused to budge.

“I mean, he asked me on a movie. It’s gotta be a date, isn’t it? And I agreed promptly! Hell, I even suggested it! What was I thinking? Clearly I wasn’t.”

He turned sideways and hugged a pillow, burrowing into the fluffy softness. Things that seemed possible, even promising, in the darkness of the night, posed an earth shattering challenge in the light of the day.

To let it be or not to let it be…

He thought of cancelling the plan over a text. But Timmy’s morose face popped up, and he groaned.

“What should I dooooooo?”

He knew he was over analyzing things and that was what scared him most. He was never a blushing virgin when it came to meeting new people or going out with friends.

Friends. Yes, friends. That was the word he would have to remember. Timmy and he were friends. Bros. And there was nothing more natural than spending Sundays with friends. Yes. Friends.

It’s a date. It’s a date. It’s a date.

“No, it’s not.”

It is. It is. It is.

“We’ll meet, goof around, talk about girls and have fun.”

Meet. Mee .Meet.

“It can’t be a date unless we have dinner at a fancy place, or sit and gaze lovingly, or hold hands or kiss-”

An image of Timmy’s lips came unbidden.

Kiss. Kiss. Kiss.

“We won’t do any of those things. We won’t mention that weird moment we had on that bridge. We’ll just chat and crack jokes like all those times in this past month.”

The bridge. The hug. The bridge. The hug. The bridge. The hug.

“Neither this will be the first time I’ll be alone with him.”

Alone. Alone. Alone.

“Nor we will end up in bed.”

Timmy in a bed. Beneath him. Staring up at him with those hypnotic eyes.

As though being struck by electric volts, JingYu sprang up from the bed. This was not happening. He would not be thinking about the boy in this manner. They were friends. And he’d keep it that way. He would not let him be thrown into that maze.

Let it be. Let it be. Let it be.

And if, in a completely hypothetical way, he lost his head and fell, there was no way he would let Timmy know about it.

XOXOXOX

“Dude, seriously? Knitting?!”

Pip was slouching on the chair beside Timmy’s desk and snooping around the cabinets. And now the moron had found about the knitting.

“Yeah, so? What’s wrong with it?” Timmy opted for non-chalance.

“What’s wrong?” Pip’s eyebrows vanished into his hairline. “Everything is wrong with it! I should have found condoms or even Viagra in your room, not balls of wools and stuff! And why on earth are you knitting?”

Eyes on the music sheet, lips glued tight, Timmy didn’t answer.

“Holy shit! It’s for your boyfriend, isn’t it?”

“He’s not my boyfriend.”

“The fuck he’s not. Why the hell are you knitting him this- this,” Pip held up the yarn ball and the bundle, “what even this thing is? A….mop?”

“That’s a scarf, you moron!” Because, honestly!

“You’re knitting him a scarf? By yourself? Who can’t even bother to make his own bed?” Pip half rolled, half dragged his chair to sit in front of his friend.

“Dude, you do realize that you are not his grandma, right?”

A kick from Timmy had Pip’s chair swiveling to the other side of the room.

“Shut your gob, you tosser.”

Pip scrambled close again, “Come on, dude. I’m not even kidding. You bring him food, you make sure he gets home safely, texts him to check if he’s sleeping… and now you’re knitting Knitting him a scarf! The next thing I know you’d be roping for adopting him! What the fuck dude? You are seriously turning into his grandma!”

Timmy scowled, “There’s nothing wrong with wanting to knit him something.”

“Yeah, right.” Pip snorted. “And why that thing is so red?! You trying to be his secret Santa or something? Or is it your fucked up way of proposing him, huh? If  I can’t give him a red rose, let me give him a red mop.” Pip mimicked him and guffawed. “And you should gift me something for being hit by that battering ram of yours! Seriously dude, don’t let him top.”

There was nothing worse than a cheeky best friend. Timmy sighed and collapsed on the bed. Arms bent to cushion his head.

“I’m gonna meet him tomorrow.”

“You meet him every day,” said Pip. He was bouncing a paper weight now.

“No, I mean….just to meet. Like a…uh..”

“A date?”

“No, well, yeah, sorta. It’s… I asked him out for a movie, you know. But he turned it down; said he’s claustrophobic. But then he said that any other place would be cool. So, I’m not sure what it is. I nag him too much and even I don’t-”

“Dude-“

“-like it but what should I do? Things are not moving forward! He always treats me like a child that I’m not,  even though he feels something for me, and it frustrates me, and I end up being more desperate.”

“Dude-“

“What? Pip, please, don’t start.”

“I wasn’t gonna. What I mean is, isn’t that obvious?”

“What is?”

“That your dude is pretty eager to meet you as well. He’s just being sneaky about it, that’s all.”

Timmy lifted his head hurriedly to look if Pip was having him on. He wasn’t.

“You really think so?”

“Come on, dude! Even you are not that dim! He suggested it.”

Because these things demanded a vertical position, Timmy got up.

“He did, didn’t he? I mean, if he didn’t wanna go, then, he would have let it slide, right?”

Pip gave him a lopsided smile, “But he didn’t.”

Timmy smiled back, “No, he didn’t.”

“So? What might we deduce from that?”

“It’s a date!”

“It sure is!”

And like that they whooped and high fived.

There was nothing better than a best friend who understood.

XOXOXOX

Timmy was on the verge of hyperventilating. Since Pip had confirmed it as a date, he was on cloud nine and as a result, his eagerness had turned into anxiety which now pushing him to have a full blown panic attack. All these months of pining, of baring himself open in front of the man, of overlooking his pride had now come up to present him with the chance he was begging for. A date. A few hours spent in private.

But what if things would not go as expected? Because he had expected, had dreamt of every little thing he would do, would say today. But what if the night ended up in disappointment?

Hope was the cruelest thing for someone who loved in secret.

They had decided to meet in front of the Baihao Gardens. He wanted to go somewhere quite and suggested it. JingYu had agreed promptly, igniting another flame of hope and anticipation within Timmy. Now here he was, way early than the scheduled time, feeling skittish and nauseous, checking his watch every five second. Worrying the daylights out of himself.

Finally a tall figure appeared out of the street corner, freezing Timmy on the spot. JingYu was wearing a long black Belstaff Milford styled woolen coat with a turtle neck and his usual jeans that made him look taller and more mature. And devastatingly handsome. He stopped at a distance, eyes locked with Timmy.

“Hi,” with an awkward smile Timmy greeted him.

“Hi,” the answering smile looked equally awkward and the way JingYu’s eyes widened in surprise told Timmy that he wasn’t planning on that smile.

Well, at least he knew he wasn’t alone in his nervousness.

Baihao, one of Timmy’s favourite places in Beijing, was not his first choice because of its vastness or the carefully implanted ecology, but also the dream like state in turned into at night. The shrouded path they were strolling on at the moment was sprinkled with the deep saffron of the setting sun.

The initial odd quietness that was growing between them earlier felt lessened somehow. Maybe the time like this, the twilight moment, had the ability to connect souls with a thread.

“How was your weekend?” JingYu asked, eyes ahead. “I mean, it’s still officially weekend but, well, you know what I mean.”

“Yeah, yeah I know. It was okay. We had a long rehearsal yesterday at Pip’s. Then Pip came back with me at my place and had a group study-“

“You studied? So, you weren’t faking when you said you’re majoring in Music?”

The mock surprise at JingYu’s face had Timmy shoving the guy on the side of the track.

“What? I never hear you talk about your studies! Always thought it must be a bluff.” JingYu continued to tease.

“Yeah, as if I’d give you any more ammunition to preach on me. Huh.”

“Eh? How many dirty secrets have you been piling up in here?” JingYu poked Timmy’s temple gently. “I must know them all! I really need to have some insurance against you. The way you go on pulling stunts…boy, someday I’ll end up bailing you out of the jail.”

“Shut up.”

And just like that, the thin layer of ice that was erected between them was broken and quite easily they fell into their usual bickering self.
Time went on.

XOXOXOX

They had found a bench that faced a small stream. Water lilies floated over the surface.

“You didn’t call me ZhouZhou for once today. Why? You did while texting.”

Timmy was looking away from the man sitting beside him. He needed courage to bring this topic on and looking at JingYu would only make him tense and shy.

“I…I don’t know. Maybe because it’s difficult to change your approach when you get habituated to something in a specific way.”

Licking his dry lips and swallowing hard, Timmy willed his mind to make the move.

“Is that why you don’t want to see me more than as a friend?”

Complete silent. Even the leaves, the water, the air around seemed to pause.

Despite wanting to gauge JingYu reaction like hell, Timmy didn’t date to move his eyes from the lilies that held themselves open to the moonlight for the taking.

“Uh..ahem..” A little cough followed by a throat clearing, “Do- do you want to get some candied fruits? I saw the shop selling some-“

Timmy closed his eyes and ground his teeth, seriously? “JingYu…”

“Wait here while I go and buy some. You like sweets, don’t you? I’ll be right back.”

Timmy saw as JingYu flew the scene and rolled his head backward to look up at the sky.

Why are you always eager to leave?What are you afraid of? That you may like me back?

XOXOXOX

They were standing on a small pull over a teeny tiny water fall, JingYu half sitting on his arse over the pull’s edge, Timmy eating his candies with a maddening concentration. He could feel JingYu was feeling uneasy for some time now. Well, serves you right.

“Say….are you planning to continue with the pub?”

“Why?” Still munching on the sweets and eyes on the packet, Timmy asked back.

“It’s that…it’s a waste of your time and talent. You are way better than that.”

“And you are not?”

Finally Timmy looked squarely at JingYu.

“What?”

“You don’t think you are better than bartending in that pub?”

JingYu averted his eyes to gaze at distance.

“A friend of mine has been asking me to give modeling a try.”

Timmy choked on a candied nut.

“Modelling?” What the fuck is this? Here I am losing my head over people staring at you, propositioning you at the bar, and you want to go on a display for the entire world? No no no, don’t doom my chances like this!

“I have never imagined myself as a model, nor did I ever think of bartending. I don’t like the idea of one and don’t like the experience of the other.”

Yes, that’s right. You won’t like it at all. Just think about BJJ and march on.

“But I’m thinking of giving it a go. I mean, what’s the harm anyway…So,-“

“I- my dad can help you out with something…I mean, he has multiple business lines and-if you don’t mind-“ Timmy blurted out, desperate to change JingYu’s mind.

“I do mind,” Although JingYu’s small smile took the harshness away from his words. “While I am grateful for the help you just offered, I’d like to make my own way.”

“Oh, okay.” Even though JinYu said those words, Timmy felt like he had made a blunder.

“Timmy, I didn’t mind your will to help me. I just cannot accept it. So, don’t go over thinking again.”

They looked at each other, letting the words set in and then, they both smiled.

“Now, tell me, when are you gonna quit?” JingYu inquired.

“At the same time as you. I won’t leave alone.”

XOXOXOX

“I never see you with your friends. Don’t you have any?”

“Never? Must be slacking in your stalking duty.”

“I most definitely do not stalk you.”

“No? Hah. Anyway, my friends here are busy with their lives, like me. And most of my friends are in Dandong. I hangout with them when I go there.”

“Dandong?”

“That’s where I’m from.”

“Really? Why didn’t I know it before?!”

“Because you’re not as good of a stalker as you think.”

“Shut it, will you?......I’ve never been to Dandong before.”

“Mmhm.”

“Sooooo, maybe some day you’d like to take me there….?”

“……..Maybe.”

XOXOXOX

There was a wisteria tree where they were standing, spreading its majestic cloaks above their heads. The pale moonlight was dripping over the lake in front, making small ripples that glittered like satin ribbons. Soft breeze ruffling their hair, their coats…..their hearts. JingYu, leaning on the fence, was gazing at a distance, eyes unfocused. Timmy, throwing caution to the wind, was staring at the handsome face beside him. The susurration of the wisteria flowers calling him like a mermaid’s song, telling him the tales of a Utopia. A few falling petals were dusted over JingYu’s broad shoulders. Everything was like a lucid dream, soft focus with blurred edges.

“Will you please sing a song?”

“……What have you in mind?”

“Anything you like….”

“……………..Okay.”

Tearing his eyes off JingYu’s face, he looked at the half moon. So, imperfectly perfect. So near, so so very near yet so far. Skin could touch but heart longed to reach.

“Come away with me in the night
Come away with me
And I will write you a song…."

Eyes wanted to find the most secret recesses.

"Come away with me on a bus
Come away where they can’t tempt us with their lies…."

Lips wanted to map every strip of skin.

"And I want to walk with you
On cloudy day
In fields where the yellow grass grows knee-high
So, won’t you try to come…."

Soul wanted to connect.

"Come away with me and we’ll kiss
On a mountaintop
Come away with me
And I’ll never stop loving you…”

Timmy’s voice trailed off into the soft night, adding more magic into the ethereal quality of the scene.

They stood there in silence. JingYu’s hands were resting on the fence. Timmy looked at the left one that was on his side. He put his own right hand beside it. It didn’t seem like JingYu was even aware of his surroundings.

Timmy’s fingers inched closer.

The night whispered into his ears.

And closer.

Wisteria swished in encouragement.
And closer.

The lake swelled in pride.

He hooked his little finger with JingYu’s own.

And waited.

Moments passed by….

And finally, the other finger answered the call by curling itself around.

Timmy’s heart sang in overwhelming joy. He looked up to see JingYu’s Adam’s apple bob. Taking his fill of the face that had enchanted him so thoroughly, he turned to look at the moonshine that witnessed their union.

XOXOXOX

They were standing at the entrance once again. So similar to that of the scene a few hours ago……and yet, this could not have been more different. They didn’t talk much, or rather at all after that. But their hearts were chaotic and fingers were hooked.

“You sure you are going to be all right going home alone?” JingYu asked in a quiet voice.

This subdued demeanor was not etched with reluctance or worry, Timmy noted; it was a different kind of quietness. Something that didn’t build a wall between them, pushing him away.

“Yeah, I will be. Don’t worry, I- I will be.”

JingYu gave a nod and with a bowed head began to shuffle his feet. He looked so young, so uncertain, making Timmy’s heart clench painfully. Just when he thought it was impossible for him to love this man any better, JingYu proved him wrong. There was an endless ocean of love inside Timmy for JingYu.

“There is,” he hesitated, wanting to say but afraid of the answer.

“Yes?” JingYu coaxed.

“We, our band I mean, have a show next week. At the RBN Engineering college fest.”

JingYu nodded to show that he knew of that place.

“And I..uh..will you please come?”

The slightly widened eyes indicated that it was a totally unexpected invitation for the other man.

“Will you write me a song if I come?” The try for a joke fell flat as the words from the song took them back to that lake side, ceasing the time, opening their hearts to one another.

Timmy’s throat closed up with the lump of emotion that throbbed inside him. He didn’t know what was happening, or if it was even real….But it was everything.

A shaky, soft “I will” spilled from his lips.

A stunned expression, followed by a blush and a shy smile were his rewards.

“I’ll come to your show…..ZhouZhou.”

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If anyone wants to take me on a date like this, please do! I'll write you a fic.😭😭😭😭😭😭😭