Yixing wasn't planning on making friends, until he met Jongdae. He transfer was supposed to be a new start, a second chance. And it was. He arrived at school each morning, took notes diligently during class, went back to his aunt’s restaurant, did some homework, waited tables, did more homework. It was a needed routine. But he couldn't help the smile that crossed his face every time Jongdae would whisper translations from the seat beside him.  To everyone else, it must have been a funny sight. Jongdae, top student in every class, honey brown hair always clean cut, uniform pristine, whispering into the quiet exchange student's ear. He was really smart, that Jongdae. Yixing thought it was amazing that Jongdae knew when he was struggling just by looking at him. Yixing was thankful for his help, and before he knew it, they were exchanging greetings every morning. He began to look forward to seeing Jongdae smiling and waving at him as he entered the classroom. Yixing had only realized how much he thought about Jongdae when he passed a vending machine one morning and subconsciously bought two coffees instead of one. He knew he was screwed when “For you, Chenchen” slipped out of his mouth as he handed Jongdae the can. When Jongdae questioned it, he blamed it on pronunciation problems. But when Jongdae said “it’s cute”, Yixing was beginning to feel like Jongdae could see right through him.

    Yixing would spend his lunch breaks on the roof as a force of habit. He didn’t need to be outside to focus, but it was a comfortable place, a familiar place. He would do homework, stare at the sky, chew through sticks of gum like it was going out of style. When he started bringing Jongdae to the rooftop, the place became much more special to him.They would study together or try to determine the shapes of clouds. It was no longer his sanctuary, it was theirs. One day, he offered Jongdae a piece of gum. Jongdae made some offhand comment about how he offered gum like cigarettes. As he placed the package of gum back in his pocket, Yixing realized how hard it is to break habits. He was beginning to show Jongdae more than he had planned.

    But Jongdae was good company, a good listener. So good, in fact, he listened with more than his ears. He could understand Yixing without a single word. Or at least, that what Yixing believed until one lunch time. They were sitting side by side, Jongdae sipping some probably fruity-flavored milk while Yixing started on his homework. He could feel Jongdae staring over his shoulder.

    “Why do you always work so hard?” Jondae asked. This confused Yixing. Why did it matter? He put his pencil down.

    “You know I’m not as inherently smart as you, Chenchen.”

Jongdae embarrassedly clarified what he meant, “I mean it seems like you never get a break.”
    “I can’t afford any breaks,” Yixing replied. When Jongdae just stared at him, he elaborated, explaining why his parents sent him to Korea.

“Are you ever going to go back?”

“Maybe, but I don’t think I’d be very welcome.”

“Why’s that?”

“What use is a son who will never give his parents grandchildren?” Yixing half-regretted saying this. He felt like he had said too much. Jongdae was smart, he would understand what he meant. But would he accept it? Yixing was afraid. But hopeful. And when Jongdae put an arm around his shoulders and hummed a tune to the sky, Yixing knew everything would be fine.

Yixing didn’t know why he had brought it up. It had been about a month since he had mentioned anything about his past, and he knew Jongdae was probably dying to ask. Maybe it was because he trusted Jongdae, because he could feel himself falling in love with Jongdae, that’s why he told him. He had never told the full story to anyone, except his aunt, who, as his guardian in Korea, sort of had a right to know. Maybe he told him because that day, the sky was so blue he could swim in it, the breeze so calming he only wished to soar on it. It just felt right. He spilled everything: the smoking, how he met Yifan, how he fell in love, how they were caught, why he was really here. It was hard, admitting how he felt about Yifan. When they were together, he really felt in love. But, to Yifan it must have just been lust. And these thoughts were circulating throughout Yixing’s head while he relayed his past to Jongdae.

“I’m sorry, Chenchen, I shouldn’t have bothered you with this.”

“It’s no bother,” Jongdae said, “I’m glad that you told me.” He was too kind, too kind to someone like Yixing. And then Yixing said it. It accidentally slipped out. Another bad habit.

“Well I still think of him every now and then, but there’s somebody else I like now,” Yixing confessed, flopping his head over to look directly at Jongdae.

“Really?” Jongdae said as he met his eyes. Yixing took Jongdae’s hand, blood pounding in his ears.

“Yeah, there is,” Yixing said, smiling gently. Even if he didn’t accept his feelings, Yixing trusted Jongdae enough to know they would stay friends. So it was either now or never.

“Is it me?” Jongdae asked, squeezing his hand and smiling back at him.

“Who else?”

Yixing was beginning to love Jongdae more than he ever loved Yifan.

Author's Note: Hello hello! As you can see, this is a kind of parallel chapter in Lay's POV. It's even shorter than the first one, omg ;o;
but!!! i've actually got something big planned for this story (an actual substantial one-shot maybe??? :0 ) so count these as like the prologues before the real thing. i'll warn you though, it's gonna be some really sugar sweet fluff (like i-cant-believe-im-writing-this-super-cute-crap)
As always, feedback/comments/criticism is always appreciated!!! :0
thank you so much!!