The condo unit was big and spacious for only one person living; it was good for a couple or a family of three members living in it. Dai Yanni the lights when she arrived in the room. She went home early when she finished her paperwork in the student council office, it was Friday anyway and she needed to rest. She walked into the kitchen to drink a glass of cold water and when she passed by the fridge, she noticed a sticky note on it.

I cooked a hot pot for you - Mama

Dai Yanni filled her glass on the water dispenser and drank it. She dialed her mom to call her and leaned on the kitchen counter table

"Hello, mama?"

"Honey, did you read my note? I knew you're going home late, so I cooked you a hot pot."

"Yeah, I did. Also, I'm assuming you cleaned the whole condo again."

"How could I not? I knew you weren't coming home this weekend, papa misses you."

"I know he's busy on his business trips with uncle Zhao."

"But still, you know he misses you... Mama, misses you too, honey."

"Mmm, I miss you too mama."

"Aiya, my sweet child, mama loves you so much. Come home next weekend, ok? You're not yet a college student, but you're busy with your school activities."

"Mama, didn't you say this is a preparation when I live alone on my own?"

"But still, mama misses you so much."

"You worry so much. I'm a big girl now."

"No, dieting, eat a lot, and take some vitamins, ok?"

"Ok."

"Mama loves you so much."

"I love you too, mama. Bye."

Dai Yanni's mom comes to the condo to visit and checks on her from time to time. She usually comes home every weekend to spend time with her parents. But these past few weeks have been busy, so Dai Yanni didn't come home, or maybe she didn't want to come home. Her mother keeps saying her father misses him a lot. Although, she doesn't see her father often as he was busy with his work. It was her father's idea to enroll Dai Yanni in Qingchun Youni and live in a condo that is near to their school. He wanted to train her how to be a strong independent woman and has high expectations of her only daughter. He wanted her to be successful in the future and continue the legacy of working with the Zhaos, one of the largest business corporations in China. Her father is friends with Xiaotang's father which is why she knows Xiaotang and she's been friends with her since they were ten.

Dai Yanni's father was a middle-class person until he helped Xiaotang's father during his stay in their place for business. Xiaotang's father was in gratitude so he gave Dai Yanni's father a position in his company. Soon later, he did his best to climb up and be on Mr. Zhao's side, loyal. Dai Yanni's father was in great gratitude for the position Xiaotang's father had given him. Xiaotang's father told his father if only he had a son, he would arrange a marriage to their children. Unfortunately, Mr. Zhao has an only-daughter and he is quite not sure of her daughter's uality either, he could feel that she's not the typical girlish type. Mr. Zhao was glad that Xiaotang is friends with his friends' daughter. He thinks that Dai Yanni will be a good role model for Xiaotang as he sees Dai Yanni as a well-mannered lady. He wanted Xiaotang to be out of trouble as she's quite the opposite of Dai Yanni. He begged Dai Yanni to keep an eye on her daughter because he knows that Xiaotang is mischievous and sometimes gets into trouble. That is why Dai Yanni keeps reminding Xiaotang to behave herself not just because she was asked by Mr. Zhao but as a close friend. She cares about Xiaotang's well-being, it may not be obvious but she cares a lot about her. If anyone knows about Zhao Xiaotang, it would be Dai Yanni.

Dai Yanni was reheating the hot pot since it turned cold and it was time for dinner. Suddenly, she heard the doorbell ringing. She went to the living room to check on the monitor of who was outside the condominium building. She scoffed when she saw who it was. She pressed the button to let the person in. A few minutes later, she heard another doorbell; she opened it and was surprised by Xiaotang's state.

"Hi, Dai Yanni!" Xiaotang beamed as she was covering her right eye with a face towel.

Dai Yanni was surprised to see her with a bloody shirt and a bruised face. "Oh my god! What happened to you?!" She pulled her inside and let her seat on the sofa. "Zhao Xiaotang, you cut classes, and now I see you in this state?! How will your parents react to this?!" Dai Yanni was panicking; she didn't know what Xiaotang was thinking. She thought she was ganged and beat up for whatever reason that she doesn't want to hear.

"The students from the-"

"-Shut it! I don't want to hear any of your excuses! You are badly hurt, can't you see that?!" Dai Yanni is so mad that her nostrils were flaring. She knew Xiaotang is quite troublesome and unruly but she couldn't believe that Xiaotang would get into this kind of trouble. She was pissed to see Xiaotang's swollen eye, she has a cut on the side of her brow, a bruise on her cheek, and her PE shirt is dirty and has bloodstains. She was more pissed when Xiaotang was just smiling despite her state looks awful. "Please, don't smile. I'm not happy to see you like that." So Xiaotang frowned since she was told not to smile. Dai Yanni groaned as she felt defeated by Xiaotang's immature behavior. She walked out of the living room to go to the kitchen to check the hot pot that she was heating.

Xiaotang followed her into the kitchen. "Is auntie going to come here?"

"No, and I won't go home this weekend either," Dai Yanni said, opening the coverlid of the hot pot to check it and lowering the heat of the gas stove.

"Why not?" Xiaotang asked, she was twisting the face towel and Dai Yanni was disgusted by the blood which Xiaotang seemed to not care about and how bad she looked.

Dai Yanni walked into the bathroom and prepared a nice hot tub for Xiaotang. "Because I don't want to," She gave Xiaotang a clean towel. "Please take a bath. And don't ask me why I know you came here," Of course, she knows why Xiaotang decided to come to her condo instead of going home. She'll get scolded if they found out she got into a fight. She didn't want to give her parents a heart attack.

"Thank you!" Xiaotang grinned.

"Don't take too long, we'll have dinner at 7," She told her.

Xiaotang stopped on her way to the bathroom to ask Dai Yanni a favor to call her mother. Dai Yanni rolled her eyes and dialed Xiaotang's house, telling her mother that Xiaotang is spending a night at her condo. Xiaotang's mom didn't pry why her daughter is staying there as long as she is safe and she's in Dai Yanni's care, she trusts Dai Yanni so much as she treats her as a family too. Dai Yanni signaled Xiaotang that her mother was ok with it and then she proceeded to enter the bathroom.

A couple of minutes later Xiaotang came out of the bathroom in towels. Dai Yanni told her she can change into pajamas that she prepared in her bedroom while she sets the plates on the table. After Xiaotang finished changing, she went to the dining table and ate dinner with her. They didn't talk because Dai Yanni wouldn't talk to her; she was still pissed at Xiaotang for being reckless. When they finished their dinner, Xiaotang insisted on washing the plates. It's the least she can do since she's staying for the night. Dai Yanni felt happy by Xiaotang's initiative to do a little household chore while she takes a bath.

After she finished cleaning the kitchen, Xiaotang was in the living room, switching the channels to find something interesting to watch. She realized Dai Yanni doesn't usually watch TV which answers there are no other channels besides the normal ones. She decided to watch online videos on the Smart TV to watch the old episodes of Naruto. A couple of minutes later, when Dai Yanni finished taking a bath, she brought a medical kit and sat beside Xiaotang.

Xiaotang didn't realize that Dai Yanni was finished taking a bath. She stopped watching Naruto and changed it to 3 Hours of Lofi Jazz Music video. Dai Yanni gestured to turn her head on the other side while she applied an anti-inflammatory cream on the cut area on her brow. "I didn't know you're also a nurse," Xiaotang jokes. Dai Yanni pressed her wound which made Xiaotang shrieked in pain. "AIYOOO! You're so sadistic!" She held Dai Yanni's hand firmly.

"This won't hurt if you just didn't get into trouble," She raised her brow. Xiaotang released her grip from Dai Yanni. "You'll give aunt a heart attack if she sees you like this."

"I know... I'm sorry," Xiaotang replied. She stayed still while Dai Yanni continued applying the cream and put a bandage on her wound. She could smell Dai Yanni's scent. It was the same scent as the floral soap she used when she took a bath. She likes the floral smell as much as she likes Dai Yanni.

Dai Yanni could sense the glimpses but she couldn't tell what Xiaotang was thinking at the moment.

She doesn't want to know.

She could feel the tension between them. The longer she touches Xiaotang the more she gets absorbed by the moment. It was dangerous for her. She needed to make a boundary between them. It happened once, they had already talked about it in the past. She just hopes it won't happen again because it's wrong. She couldn't be the person that Xiaotang wants. She can't let her feelings swallow her as she has to set her priorities first. She immediately finishes putting the bandage on Xiaotang's wound and puts the stuff back in the medical kit.

Xiaotang noticed Dai Yanni's sudden change of demeanor. She wasn't like this before. They were close, they talk a lot, share things about school, and interact as normal friends do. She remembered that Dai Yanni goes to her house to visit her and vice versa. But then, she remembered she made that horrible mistake last year, she regretted that she did that all of a sudden but she never regretted telling her how she feels about Dai Yanni. Until now, her feelings for her have never changed. She still likes her, she can't remember when exactly but she knew it started during their junior high school years. It's just distressing that a lot has changed when she kissed Dai Yanni in the student council office.

Dai Yanni wasn't disgusted by Xiaotang per se, she was just surprised that she kissed her. She told her that what they did was wrong and how would their parents react if they knew they did something indecent.

Xiaotang was thinking that maybe, Dai Yanni was just scared of what their parents might react if they knew something was going on between them, even though there wasn't a clear statement that was spoken yet. Dai Yanni thought they already talked about it but truthfully, they set aside the matter and moved on and pretended it was just a foolish mistake.

Maybe, what happened to Xiaotang today and her choice of action lead her up to this point, to talk to Dai Yanni about things that they have left in the past. She wanted to make it clear that it was still there, or were there any chances of them. Because she could feel Dai Yanni also likes her but she doesn't want to acknowledge it because of their family ties.

Xiaotang wants to know.

When Dai Yanni stood up to put back the medicine kit in the cabinet, Xiaotang held her hand and hugged her from behind. It brought jitters to Dai Yanni. "What are you doing?" She wanted to protest but her body is failing her to do it.

Xiaotang didn't say anything and just hugged her as she missed her so much even though they see each other every day at school. "Forgive me, just this once. I miss this," Xiaotang burrowed her face onto Dai Yanni's shoulder, hugging her tightly. She used to do this when she senses that Dai Yanni is in distress because of school or her responsibilities. If only they haven't changed. She misses hugging her like it was normal. Or maybe, she does want it to change. She wanted Dai Yanni to have feelings for her too. Xiaotang can tell, deep those barricades, is a heart that needs a nudge for it to be opened. When she thinks about it, it wasn't just a one-sided feeling. She remembered back in the student council office, Dai Yanni reciprocated the kiss. She thought, maybe, at that time, Dai Yanni wasn't ready but maybe today, things could possibly change.

"Dai Yanni, I like you..." Dai Yanni was taken aback by Xiaotang's words. It's back to square one. She didn't want to hear them again. She's scared to acknowledge what was there. "I still do. I just hope you'd let me in. I hope..." Xiaotang paused when Dai Yanni put her hands off her to release herself from Xiaotang's embrace.

"Xiaotang, you're asking for too much," Dai Yanni faced at Xiaotang and put the medicine kit down. Xiaotang could see Dai Yanni's ocean eyes, they were deep, alluring, and expressive. Her eyes tell a lot of her mounted feelings that she's been keeping. It was difficult in her situation, the responsibility of a student, a friend, and a daughter is overbearing. She prioritized her duty over her feelings. She likes Xiaotang but she wasn't ready for it, her focus is the future planned for her. Her parents' expectations are on the line. She doesn't want to disappoint them.

Dai Yanni has to swallow first before saying it. "I'm sorry, I can't reciprocate what you have for me," It was the choice she made. She fought so hard not to cry in front of Xiaotang, but she failed when she saw Xiaotang's tears trickle down her cheeks. She started crying too, knowing she was weak for not choosing what's right for her. This time it was her who cradled Xiaotang who was sobbing hard. It hurts when she has to let go of the only thing she wants for herself.

And by that, Xiaotang has understood it.

It was clear that Dai Yanni was bound by her responsibilities and was scared of the judgments. She has a choice and she made one. Xiaotang could only respect it. At least she tried asking one more time and got her answer - Dai Yanni would never choose her.