two teenaged boys sit on a bus, side by side. one teenaged boy looks out the window and the other teenaged boy looks at the other boy. lu han looks out the window and kris looks at lu han. it’s morning, they’re on a school bus. the sun is rising. it is winter. the moon and the sun are beginning to coexist.

lu han has his earbuds in, so kris doesn’t say anything. he stares at lu han staring out the window, looking at the sky, which has become a silvery pink. lu han reaches over with his eyes still glued to the window. he puts his hand on kris’ face.

lu han’s hand is cold and kris doesn’t know what to do. kris keeps staring at lu han and then, at one point, lu han turns his head and stares back at kris with drowsy, first-thing-in-the-morning eyes. kris doesn’t say anything. lu han puts his face next to kris’ ear and says, “you dummy. hold my hand.”

kris nods meekly and lu han drops his hand, putting it in kris’, which is resting in his lap. lu han easily laces their fingers together and kris feels relieved. the silvery pink in the sky has intensified, but kris barely notices this because he’s too busy looking at the subtle smile on lu han’s face.