Betraying Heart

empty seat, sat next to me

In the earlier morning, where the sun hasn't fully risen yet, final year students of Gusu were gathered at assembly point waiting for their bus to Lotus Pier. The youngsters seem excited, sharing stories with cheerful faces with their friend's cycle while waiting for the bus to arrive, except for one beautiful man with a pinched expression. It was so obvious that beautiful man isn't highly anticipated for the trip,

"Ah Zhan, can you smile a bit? And stop tapping your legs, it's annoying and you scared Wen Ning with your bitchy mode" Xingchen remarked calmly, eyes fixed on his book and legs crossed. Lan Zhan huffed in frustration, exaggerated exhale before glance towards Wen Ning, who smiles warily at him with worried gaze. Seeing that, Lan Zhan face soften and his lips automatically turns upward into a motherly smile

"Sorry wen ning-ah, you know how I'm with crowd. I was diagnose with socialize allergic" Lan Zhan claim with dramatic tone, hand reach to ruffle their baby giant' hair as comfort. Xingchen snicker over Lan Zhan made up illness.

"Huh? Is that why pretty ge always avoid crowd and acting like a girl on period when he had to?" Wen Ning concernly asking, his sincere question make Xingchen burst into small laugh, finally forgetting his book while Lan Zhan nodding, but with a tightness to it, holding back from saying something. Damn, he felt betrayed right now. Wen Ning eyes widen in realization, seems like he manage to connect the dot

"Oh, that's why pretty ge easily irritated, short-tempered, annoying and harsh to others. It was the illness symptom", Wen Ning talk to himself, breathless like everything is making sense for him right now. Xingchen can't hold it anymore, he was laughing loudly, crouching to hold his stomach. Lan Zhan eyes lid twitch in annoyed. His self-diagnosis is back-fired to him. Sulking, Lan Zhan cross his arm and lean against the back chair with pouty lips. Wen Ning who fail to read the situation, look at them in confusion and Xingchen being his devil self, keep feed Wen Ning with ridiculous theory. Poor Wen Ning listens to it with genuine interest, infuriating Lan Zhan more.

Before Lan Zhan can interrupt the deviant learning session, a familiar pleasant laugh reach his ears. Lan Zhan turns to the source, watching Wei Ying animatedly chatting with Xue Yang and few others friends. From time to time, people will greet Wei Ying, calling his name here and there. Wei Ying is totally opposite of him, likeable by everyone and a social butterfly. Lan Zhan allows his eyes to rake over Wei Ying figure, and he had to admit Wei Ying is definitely a handsome man with lean muscled body, sexy and hot. No wonder, everyone crush on him. That bunny smile should be illegal as it traps your soul, once eyes set on it. Watching Wei Ying smile and laughing with others make Lan Zhan felt pang on his heart. He wonders why Wei Ying can't do the same with him. Lan Zhan not an i***t to be blind on Wei Ying despise on rich spoiled brat. Although Wei Ying was laugh and being sociable, he did notice the eyes roll, the grimace and disapproval look plaster on that handsome face when people act petty or spoiled. So, if Wei Ying can tolerate others, why that man can't tolerate him? Is it him being too unbearable or he didn't worth the effort?

Lan Zhan unintended sighing, since his last conversation with Wei Cheng, Lan Zhan mind was full of question and Wei Ying. His mind play Xue Yang' word in library again and again like a loop, and his brain unhelpful connected the dot that maybe, just maybe, a tiny bit of maybe Wei Ying like him. He knew it silly but the thought of it make his heart thump loudly, his heart flutter with giddiness. Lan Zhan was too deep in his world that he didn't notice the silence surround him. Xingchen and Wen Ning stare at Lan Zhan, whose dreamily smiling to himself with tip of ears flushing into crimson.

"ge, is this another symptom of social allergic?" Wen Ning whisper curiously to Xingchen. Xingchen glance a bit at him before chuckle lightly. Pick up his book, stand up to fixing his cloth elegantly before

Pak!

"ouch, xingxing! It hurts, you i***t" Lan Zhan groan in pain when Xingchen hit his head with a book, shattering his reverie.

"Stop drooling over my Xue Yang" Xingchen sassily remark

"ewww...who look at your Xue Yang! I'm staring at....." Lan Zhan manage to stop himself from admit loudly he was thinking about his supposedly enemy. Wen Ning blinking his eyes waiting for Lan Zhan to finish the word while Xingchen smirk knowingly, making Lan Zhan curse himself inwardly. Damn, he should be more careful, after all what he had is all assumption, he can't let others knew what ridiculous thing in his mind right now, for God Sake, he had pride to nurture. Wen Ning get curious as he tired waiting for Lan Zhan finish the word, thus he turn back seeing Wei Ying and his friends

"Eh, did pretty ge stare at Wei Ying ge?" Wen Ning innocently asking for confirmation, Lan Zhan faces instantly flushing in red and freeze in the spot. Xingchen bite his lip hard to restrain upcoming smile. Lan Zhan open and close his mouth like gaping fish to spurt any excuse but his mind was blank from the unexpected expose. Fortunately, Lucky Godness decides to be on his side, the awaited bus finally enter the assembly point, honk at the students to alert them about his arrival. Seeing his escaping chance, Lan Zhan grabs his bags and run to the bus, ignoring his friends call him to wait for them.

......................................................................

Wei Ying grin in content, being the first man enter the bus giving him huge advantage to choose the seat. After a second of thought, Wei Ying chooses the middle row seat, next to window. Xue Yang who right behind him, was ready sit next to him when Wei Ying kick his ass away from the seat

"Hey man, what the heck?! It's so not cool" Xue Yang exclaimed shockedly, he glare at Wei Ying with deep frowning.

"If you sat next to me, when you will have progress with Xingchen? Take your chance, and let me go. I afraid that you will marry me instead of Xingchen if you keep this pace" Wei Ying remarked dryly. Xue Yang eyes brighten in realization, wasting no time he move to the right lane but in the same row with Wei Ying, putting his bag at the empty seat next to him, marked for his sweetheart. Eyes keep looking at the bus entrance, waiting for certain someone, Wei Ying chuckle over Xue Yang enthusiasm.

"xingchen! Hey! Hey! Over here!" Xue Yang eagerly wave at Xingchen with big grin. Wei Ying saw Lan Zhan grimace over his friend antic while Xingchen shyly approach them. Lan Zhan strut behind Xingchen with arms crossed on his chest while glaring at Xue Yang all the time, like a protective father being sceptical of anyone approach his chick. Not even once, Lan Zhan' antic escape from Wei Ying hawk eyes, whose land at him from the first step he taken into the bus.

"I save the seat for you" Xue Yang lifts his bag to invite Xingchen. His tone is hopeful and nervous, fear of rejection. Xingchen try to hold his smile over Xue Yang cuteness, seeing Xue Yang effort the feeling of warmth spread all over his body, but never ever, even in his dream to leave Lan Zhan alone. He knew, despite tough and aloof appearance, Lan Zhan hated the feeling of been alone. Xingchen glance warily at Lan Zhan, who busy digging hole into Xue Yang skull with his sharp glare. Xingchen can see Xue Yang broke into a cold sweat because of his friend icy glare.

"Ah Zhan" Xingchen reprimand his friend to behave. Lan Zhan rolled his eyes and grunt frustrated

"sorry xue yang, I..."

Hearing Xingchen apologize make Xue Yang heart crushed a bit, once again he being rejected. However the feeling isn't stay long as Lan Zhan interrupted Xingchen sentence

"Don't bother xingxing. Just sat with him, after all I promised to let you pursue whatever this about" Lan Zhan moving his hand between Xingchen and Xue Yang back forth. Xue Yang grin getting wider upon Lan Zhan word

"but Ah zhan..." Xingchen attempt to protest

"nah, nope...shush... no more word, I'm going but you!" Lan Zhan point two fingers at his eyes then at Xue Yang, signing that he is watching him, so better be careful. Xue Yang, Wei Ying and Xingchen struggling not to burst into laugh because instead of threatening, Lan Zhan looks so cute with pouting lips and furrow eyebrows. Lan Zhan intends to walk past them with his supposed threatening face fix at Xue Yang. He supposed to look dominant and aggressive but then

Arghhh!

Lan Zhan will deny if someone said that high pitch scream was coming from him. Someone had audacity to yank his arm, make him fall into the owner lap. Furious at the stranger audacity, Lan Zhan sharply glares at the assault and was pleasantly surprise when his eyes land on Wei Ying, who already eyes on him. Wei Ying smirk at him, hand tighten at his waist, raised one eyebrow like challenging him "it's me, so what you going to do?"

Regaining back himself, Lan Zhan wiggling to stand up but Wei Ying be Wei Ying, he tighten the embrace, lazily yet authoritatively said

"sat here, princess".