Was I Ever There?
39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvM6Erv4W4K
The rain poured steadily, wrapping the surroundings in a rhythmic hum as droplets splashed against the pavement. Yuen stood outside the university, hands tucked into the pockets of his jacket, eyes scanning the street for any available ride. He had forgotten his umbrella—again. It wasn’t the first time, and it probably wouldn’t be the last.
39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrveBo5sJQT
"You don’t have an umbrella, do you?"
39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfylI9aV5L1
Chase’s voice cut through the sound of the rain. He stood beside Yuen, holding a black umbrella with a slightly worn-out handle, proof of years of use.
39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd5vm8YAxcs
Yuen glanced at him and gave a small shrug. "I forgot."
39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiOfA7VjQrO
Chase sighed, shaking his head slightly before stepping closer, extending the umbrella over Yuen. The rain had grown heavier, and if he didn’t do this, Yuen would be soaked within minutes. Without a word, Chase lifted a hand and placed it gently on Yuen’s shoulder, pulling him slightly closer to keep him dry under the canopy.
39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7OJkOCqA0f
A simple gesture, a small act of care.
39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ33kEi6JJBg
But to Yuen, it was nothing. He barely reacted—he didn’t flinch, didn’t stiffen under the touch. Instead, all he offered was a neutral, almost dismissive, "Thanks."
39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMGK9q1GQ8E
Chase let out a soft chuckle, though it was more for himself than anything else. "You’re always like this, Yuen," he murmured, half teasing, half resigned.
39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsrGLkKHm3R
Yuen raised a brow. "What?"
39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmggCsFJ8sM
Chase hesitated. He wanted to say it—to voice out the emotions he had been suppressing for years. But, as always, he bit back the words. Instead, he simply shook his head and let the silence settle between them as they walked side by side, the rain falling around them like a quiet reminder of things left unsaid.
39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8HYdzylT79
For years, Chase had been doing this—offering small pieces of himself in ways Yuen never noticed, never acknowledged beyond a simple, indifferent, "Thanks."
39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ00hCw9QdI5
But how much longer could he endure being unnoticed?
39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTs4roo3QLA
The class began soon after. Most students listened attentively—except for Yuen. It was obvious he wasn’t paying attention, though his eyes idly followed the teacher’s movements at the front of the room. The lesson continued, but he remained slouched over his desk, one hand holding a pen while the other rested near his cheek. At a glance, he looked like he was listening, but if one observed closely, a faint smile played on his lips as he quietly hummed along to the music in his earphones.
39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrjvPl97lIA
When the break came, the students hurried out of the classroom. As always, Yuen stayed behind, scrolling through his playlist, searching for a song to match his mood.
39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY0mx2E8P2S
Before leaving, Chase glanced at him for a moment. But he didn’t say anything—he simply walked away.
39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡURfeDDnDgF
At the cafeteria, Chase’s friends were teasing him about his love life.
39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6szJ7X0NoS
"Dude, why don’t you have a girlfriend yet? Almost every girl here likes you!" one of them laughed.
39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIwwWJh6ICN
"Yeah! You should just say yes to one of them. You never run out of admirers, bro!"
39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVu7Nt6M9fU
Chase smiled but shook his head. "I’m not interested right now, man."
39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6nDeuYY3YC
Just then, Vivian arrived—effortlessly stunning as always. She confidently walked up to Chase and took the seat beside him, her long hair cascading over her shoulder.
39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlisqYk90Qi
"Chase, why were you ignoring me earlier? You knew I was waiting for you outside your classroom, right?" she pouted, playfully resting her chin on her palm while looking up at him.
39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0rCoZqsYNa
Chase let out a small chuckle. "Sorry, Vivian. I really didn’t notice."
39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7YgLo22NFr
Vivian leaned in closer, tracing small circles on Chase’s arm. "And now? Do you notice me now?" she asked, batting her eyelashes flirtatiously.
39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn4AQPkYSKO
Their friends whistled and cheered teasingly, making Vivian giggle. "You know, Chase, you’re so unfair. You make every girl here fall for you, yet you don’t even give anyone a chance."
39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvWkNjrBgni
"It’s not like that," Chase replied, smiling but not really answering her statement.
39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMIFOwOzxN6
But Vivian wasn’t about to give up. She moved even closer, almost whispering against his ear. "You know, a lot of people are curious about you, especially... your size." She laughed softly, making Chase raise an eyebrow.
39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzSPdg2QUGY
"Cut it out, Vivian," he chuckled, clearly unaffected. "You’re thinking too much about the wrong things."
39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9gvFVE5W9P
"Oh? So is there something I should be thinking about, Chase?" Vivian teased, biting her lower lip.
39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZUG85WrsVO
Their friends erupted into laughter.
39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkhDSXIwel3
"Damn, bro. Think you can handle it if Vivian takes the lead? You might not survive!" one of them joked.
39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBMbynGbOgb
Chase smirked. "You underestimate me too much."
39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZIeXQzJOGz
On the other side of the campus, Esreld spotted Yuen sitting alone under a tree, flipping through a book with his earphones still in.
39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSyGeTH4Hlo
He approached and tapped Yuen on the shoulder. "Hey, Yuen. What’s that?"
39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIx59LSw02Q
Yuen looked up and immediately turned off his music. "Ah, nothing. Just passing time."
39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLDAYoR16Ye
"Can we take a picture?" Esreld suddenly asked.
39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡplpho67dwf
Yuen frowned. "Why?"
39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVsMDM0x4Vq
"So we can put it up on our class door frame. You’re probably the only one left without a picture there," Esreld teased.
39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbfNTkx5mhH
Yuen sighed but eventually smiled. "Fine, fine. Let's get this over with."
39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5yq07ycG9d
They walked over to the display of student photos. As Yuen scanned the pictures, his gaze landed on one particular image—Chase, smiling while surrounded by girls, clearly enjoying their attention.
39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡulNUiYuQ16
He rolled his eyes. "Whatever," he mumbled under his breath before turning back to Esreld.
39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKXp6IHF7Ir
Esreld took out a polaroid camera, positioning himself beside Yuen. "Let’s go," he said.
39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡho7RXXNI3R
The first shot was a casual pose. The second one, Esreld playfully made bunny ears behind Yuen’s head.
39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS8YAVoKEno
And for the third, Esreld suddenly pulled Yuen closer—close enough that it almost looked like they were about to kiss.
39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvesVBkUz02
Yuen’s eyes widened slightly, but he didn’t pull away. The camera clicked, capturing the moment perfectly. When Yuen saw the result, he let out a soft laugh.
39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzQ2UuegI3Z
"That’s enough, or people might start thinking there’s something between us," he joked, though he didn’t seem to mind too much.
39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRMKiavrAK9
Esreld smirked. "And what if I actually want there to be something between us?"
39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcbmaXXqvaw
Yuen rolled his eyes playfully. "Don’t go looking for trouble, Esreld."
39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa1kAKuAt8q
After getting the prints, Yuen carefully placed them on the class display.
39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqH2HPykVer
"There. Now I'm officially part of this wall. Happy?"
39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq4eTcZph8Z
Esreld grinned. "Very. Now, let’s eat!"
39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVrgBlfQjJi
The two walked off toward the cafeteria.
39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqNmKTxpR1G
Later, when the students returned from their break—including Chase and Vivian—the classroom buzzed with excitement.
39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW4edYDdiAw
"Is that Yuen?? Sheesh! He’s not even wearing glasses!" one of their classmates gasped.
39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9aOqhoL00L
Chase turned toward the class display, his eyes landing on the pictures of Yuen and Esreld together. His gaze froze on the last one—the almost-kiss pose.
39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3dZWkf51BC
His grip on his bag strap tightened.
39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEZ1SX3DAYl
Something inside him stirred. A feeling he hadn’t quite acknowledged before.
39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS2bYraWpNO
Jealousy.
ns3.139.108.138da2
然後按「加至主畫面」