MY FIRST LOVE

JEALOUSY AND TRUTH OF MY FIRST LOVE

MY FIRST LOVE

Chapter 8: "Jealousy and Truth"

Day 6. 8:00am. School Gate.

Bai Lu was waiting.

With two bikes.

"Chen Yi!" she called when she saw him. "I borrowed one for you! So you don’t have to walk!"

Chen Yi stopped. Lin Xia was behind him.

Lin Xia looked at the two bikes. Then at Bai Lu’s smile.

"Oh," Lin Xia said quietly. "That’s... nice."

Chen Yi looked at Lin Xia. "Thanks, but—"

"I can ride with Xia," Bai Lu cut in quickly. "Right, Xia?"

Lin Xia felt cornered. "I... I ride with Chen Yi."

"But there are two bikes now," Bai Lu said. Sweet. Deadly. "It’s more fair."

Students were watching.

Chen Yi stepped between them.

"I ride with Xia," he said. Firm. "Every day."

Bai Lu’s smile dropped. "Oh."

"Thanks for the bike though," Chen Yi added. "You can give it back to whoever you borrowed it from."

He got on his bike. Patted the back.

Lin Xia climbed on. Fast.

They left Bai Lu standing there.

---

12:00pm. Cafeteria.

Chaos.

Bai Lu stood up on a chair.

"Attention everyone!" she said. Loud.

The whole cafeteria went quiet.

Lin Xia froze with her chopsticks mid-air.

Chen Yi put down his milk tea.

"I just want to say," Bai Lu said, looking right at Chen Yi. "Chen Yi, I like you. A lot. Will you go out with me?"

Gasps.

Phones came out.

Lin Xia’s heart stopped.

Chen Yi didn’t move.

"Well?" Bai Lu asked. Still smiling. But her eyes were sharp. "Yes or no?"

Silence.

Chen Yi stood up.

Walked around the table.

Stopped in front of Lin Xia.

Held out his hand.

"Xia," he said. "Come with me."

Lin Xia stared. "What?"

"Please," Chen Yi said. "Come with me."

Lin Xia put her hand in his.

Chen Yi pulled her up.

And in front of the whole school, he said:

"I don’t like Bai Lu. I like her."

He pointed at Lin Xia.

The cafeteria exploded.

---

12:05pm. Rooftop.

Lin Xia was shaking.

"Why did you do that?" she asked. Voice small.

"Because it’s true," Chen Yi said.

"But everyone saw," Lin Xia said. "What if—"

"What if what?" Chen Yi cut in. "What if they know I like you? What if you know?"

Lin Xia looked down. "I didn’t ask you to—"

"I know you didn’t," Chen Yi said. Softer. "I wanted to."

He stepped closer.

"Xia. Since we were 12. It’s always been you."

Lin Xia’s eyes filled with tears. "You said no girlfriend."

"I don’t want a girlfriend," Chen Yi said. "I want you."

Lin Xia cried. Finally.

Chen Yi wiped her tears with his thumb. "Don’t cry. Please."

"I’m not sad," Lin Xia said. "I’m just... stupid. For not seeing it."

"You’re not stupid," Chen Yi said. "You’re mine."

---

4:00pm. After School.

Bai Lu was at the gate. With her bags.

"I’m transferring back," she said when she saw them. "To Beijing."

She looked at Chen Yi. "I should’ve known. You two..."

She shook her head. "Goodbye, Chen Yi."

Then she looked at Lin Xia. "Take care of him."

And left.

---

7:00pm. Lin Xia's House.

Quiet.

Chen Yi was cooking. Like always.

Lin Xia sat at the table. Watching him.

"Yi," she said.

"Hmm?"

"Can I ask you something?"

"Yeah."

"Do you remember when I threw the teddy at you?"

Chen Yi laughed. "How could I forget."

"I was so jealous," Lin Xia said. "Of your family friend."

"I know," Chen Yi said. "That’s why I ran to you in the rain."

Lin Xia stood up. Walked to him.

Wrapped her arms around his waist. From behind.

Like on the bike.

Chen Yi stopped chopping.

"Xia?"

"I’m not sleepwalking," Lin Xia whispered.

"I know," Chen Yi said.

He turned around. Pulled her into a hug.

Real. Tight.

"I’ve got you," he said into her hair.

---

11:00pm.

Lin Xia couldn’t sleep.

She walked to Chen Yi’s room.

Door open.

She got in.

This time, she didn’t pretend.

"Yi," she whispered.

"Yeah?" Chen Yi whispered back.

"Can we... can we stay like this?"

"Like what?"

"Like this," Lin Xia said. Scooting closer.

Chen Yi pulled the blanket over both of them.

"Okay," he said. "We can stay like this."

---

TO BE CONTINUED IN CHAPTER 9...

---

Writed by Omahcbeauty

Chapter 8 DONE!

WE GOT: PUBLIC CONFESSION → BAI LU LEAVES → "IT'S ALWAYS BEEN YOU" → FIRST HUG