MY FIRST LOVE

TAKE CARE OF ME OF MY FIRST LOVE

MY FIRST LOVE

Chapter 6: "Take Care of Me"

Day 4. Lin Xia's House. 6:15am.

Lin Xia woke up and couldn’t move her arms.

"Ow," she groaned.

Yesterday’s shooting practice. 100 arrows. Her muscles were dead.

She tried to lift her arm to turn off the alarm. Failed.

Knock knock.

"Xia? You okay?" Chen Yi’s voice.

"Yeah," she lied. "Just... tired."

The door opened a crack. Chen Yi peeked in. Still in pajamas. Hair messy.

"You look like you got hit by a truck," he said, then immediately covered his mouth. "I mean—"

"I do feel like that," Lin Xia mumbled into her pillow.

Chen Yi came in. Sat on the edge of her bed. Careful.

"Let me see," he said.

He took her arm. Gently. Like she was made of glass.

"Here?" he asked, pressing lightly on her bicep.

Lin Xia hissed. "Yes. There."

"And here?"

"Ah— yes!"

Chen Yi frowned. "You overdid it."

He stood up. "Wait here."

Two minutes later he came back with a warm towel and some ointment.

"Sit up," he said.

Lin Xia struggled. Chen Yi’s arm came around her back to help.

His chest against her back again.

"Okay," he said softly. "I’m going to rub this in. Tell me if it hurts."

His hands were warm. Strong.

He started on her shoulder. Slow circles.

Lin Xia bit her lip. "It... it doesn’t hurt."

"Good," Chen Yi murmured. Focused. "You shouldn’t practice that much alone."

"I was trying to get better," Lin Xia said.

"For what?" Chen Yi asked.

"For... nothing," she whispered.

For you, she thought.

Chen Yi moved to her other arm. His fingers were careful. But firm.

"Better?" he asked.

"A little," Lin Xia said. Her voice was weird. Soft.

Chen Yi blew on her arm. Like she was 5 again and fell off her bike.

Lin Xia’s face went red. "I’m not a kid."

"I know," Chen Yi said. Smiling. "But you’re still my Xia."

---

7:00am. Getting Dressed.

Lin Xia stood in front of the mirror. In her bra and skirt.

Her arms hurt too much to button her shirt.

Knock knock.

"Xia? Breakfast is—" Chen Yi opened the door. Saw her. And stopped.

Lin Xia yelped and covered herself with the shirt. "CHEN YI!"

"I’m sorry! I didn’t—" Chen Yi turned around fast. Ears red. "Your arms hurt, right?"

"Yeah," Lin Xia said from behind the shirt.

"Do you... do you need help?" Chen Yi asked, still facing the wall.

Silence.

"Yes," Lin Xia whispered.

Chen Yi turned back around. Slowly.

Lin Xia was holding the shirt out. Back to him.

Chen Yi’s hands were shaking a little as he took it.

He started buttoning. From the bottom up.

One. Two. Three.

His fingers brushed her back.

Lin Xia shivered.

"Sorry," Chen Yi whispered. "Is it cold?"

"No," Lin Xia said. "I’m fine."

Four. Five. Six.

"Done," Chen Yi said. His voice was rough.

Lin Xia turned around. Face red. "Thanks."

"Don’t mention it," Chen Yi said. Not meeting her eyes.

---

8:00am. The Bicycle.

Chen Yi held the bike for her.

Lin Xia climbed on.

This time, she couldn’t even hold on properly. Her arms hurt.

"Xia?" Chen Yi said.

"I can’t," Lin Xia admitted. "My arms."

Chen Yi was quiet for a second.

Then: "Hold onto my waist. I’ll hold your hands."

"What?"

"Like this," Chen Yi said.

He reached back. Took her hands. And placed them around his waist. Then he covered her hands with his.

"Now pedal," he said. "I’ll steer."

Lin Xia’s heart was pounding. His hands were warm over hers.

They rode to school like that.

Everyone saw.

---

12:00pm. School Infirmary.

"Still hurts?" Chen Yi asked.

"A little," Lin Xia said, sitting on the bed.

Chen Yi sat next to her. Took her hand.

And started massaging her palm. Slow.

Lin Xia stared. "What are you doing?"

"Helping," Chen Yi said. Like it was obvious. "Muscles connect to here too."

His thumb pressed into her palm.

Lin Xia melted. "That feels... nice."

"I know," Chen Yi said. Smiling a little. "I looked it up."

He did it for both hands.

When he was done, he didn’t let go right away.

He just held her hand.

"Better?" he asked.

"Yeah," Lin Xia whispered. "Thanks, Yi."

Chen Yi froze.

"Yi?" he repeated.

Lin Xia realized what she called him. "I— I’m sorry—"

"No," Chen Yi said quickly. "I like it."

---

6:30pm. Home. Dinner.

Lin Xia couldn’t hold chopsticks.

Chen Yi sighed. "Here."

He picked up food. And fed her.

One bite at a time.

Lin Xia’s face was red the whole time.

"You don’t have to—"

"I want to," Chen Yi cut in. "Open."

She opened.

Rice. Veggies. Meat.

"You’re taking care of me too much," Lin Xia mumbled.

"You took care of me when I broke my leg in 7th grade," Chen Yi said. "For 2 weeks. Remember?"

"That was different," Lin Xia said.

"How?" Chen Yi asked.

"Because... because I liked you," Lin Xia blurted. Then covered her mouth.

Silence.

Chen Yi put down the chopsticks.

"Xia," he said softly. "I know."

Lin Xia’s eyes widened. "What?"

"I’ve always known," Chen Yi said. "Since we were 12."

Lin Xia couldn’t breathe.

"Eat," Chen Yi said. Picking up the chopsticks again. "Before it gets cold."

But his hand was shaking.

---

10:00pm. Her Room.

Knock knock.

"Xia. Hot milk," Chen Yi said through the door.

Lin Xia opened it.

Chen Yi handed her the cup. Then hesitated.

"Can I... can I check your arms?"

"They’re fine," Lin Xia said.

"Please?" Chen Yi asked.

Lin Xia sighed and rolled up her sleeves.

Chen Yi touched her shoulders. Light. Checking.

"Still sore?"

"A bit," Lin Xia admitted.

Chen Yi nodded. "Sleep early, okay?"

"Okay," Lin Xia said.

Chen Yi turned to leave. Then stopped.

"Good night, Xia."

"Good night, Yi."

---

TO BE CONTINUED IN CHAPTER 7...

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Writed by Omahcbeauty

Chapter 6 DONE!