The air in the room felt thick, charged with something neither of them had been able to fully acknowledge until now. The silence that stretched between them was heavy, but not uncomfortable. It was a moment suspended in time, where everything that had been left unsaid finally hung out in the open.
Vein's hand was still resting on Xia Fei's cheek, his thumb brushing lightly against the soft skin as if savoring the contact. Xia Fei could feel his heart pounding, the beat of it racing in his chest like a drum in the quiet of the room. His breath was shallow, and every time he dared to look into Vein's eyes, it felt like a jolt to his system.
"I love you," Vein said it so quietly, his voice a whisper, as if confessing something far too vulnerable to be uttered aloud.
Xia Fei froze. His whole body went rigid at the words, but his heartâhis heart was beating like crazy. He didn't know what to say. He wasn't sure if he could speak at all. His mind was a blur, thoughts colliding with the weight of Vein's confession.
Vein's hand slowly pulled back, but not before letting his fingers lightly trace over Xia Fei's skin, lingering for just a moment longer than necessary. The touch felt like a trail of fire, leaving behind warmth in its wake. Xia Fei shuddered slightly, though he wasn't sure if it was from the intensity of Vein's words or the tenderness in his touch.
"I love you," Vein repeated, his voice firmer this time. "I know it's sudden. I've never been good at this... but I can't pretend anymore. I can't hide it. Not from you. Not from myself."
Xia Fei's eyes widened. His lips parted as if to speak, but no words came out. His throat was dry, and his mind was whirling. Love? Vein loved him? He could feel the weight of those words pressing down on him, but it was more than just the shock. There was something elseâsomething deep inside him that was stirring. Could it be possible? Could he, too, feel the same way?
He thought back to everythingâtheir time together, the moments where Vein had cared for him, protected him, and even when he'd let Xia Fei into his world, a world Xia Fei hadn't known existed. He thought of all the late-night talks, the quiet companionship, the way his chest would ache every time Vein's eyes lingered on him a little too long.
"Iâ" Xia Fei finally whispered, but his voice faltered. He had no idea what to say. What could he say? Could he say it back? Did he feel the same way?
Vein stepped back slightly, sensing the hesitation. His gaze softened, and for a brief moment, there was a trace of insecurity in his eyes, though it disappeared just as quickly as it appeared. "I understand," he said softly. "You don't have to say anything right now. I just... needed you to know."
Xia Fei's heart clenched at the sadness in Vein's voice. He had said the words with such honesty, with such openness. And yet, here he was, unsure if Xia Fei would reciprocate, unsure if Xia Fei could even return those feelings.
But Xia Fei couldn't let it end like this. He couldn't let Vein think that his confession was something that should be hidden away.
"IâVein," Xia Fei finally managed to say, his voice breaking the silence. His heart was racing again, but this time, it felt like something was shifting within him. He wasn't sure what he was supposed to feel, but he knew one thingâhe wasn't going to run away from it.
"Iâ" He paused, his words caught in his throat again. He took a deep breath. "I don't know what to say. But I don't want you to think that I don't care about you, because I do. I care about you more than I've ever cared about anyone."
Vein's eyes flickered with something, something that was hard to read but unmistakably warm. There was a small, almost imperceptible smile tugging at his lips, and Xia Fei swore he saw relief in his eyes.
"You don't have to say it back," Vein said, his voice calm now. "I didn't expect that from you. But I wanted you to know the truth, no matter how messy it might be."
"Veinâ" Xia Fei began again, but this time, it wasn't the hesitation that kept him silent. It was the weight of everything he was feeling. The intensity of Vein's presence, the rawness of the moment, and the realization that he had been avoiding something that had always been there.
"I think..." Xia Fei looked up into Vein's eyes, and for the first time, he let himself truly acknowledge the feelings that had been slowly growing inside him. "I think I might feel the same way," he whispered, his voice trembling.
The words were like a release, a weight lifting from his shoulders. He wasn't sure what came next, but for the first time, he felt a sense of clarity. Vein's confession hadn't been a burden. It had been the truth, and now that Xia Fei had said his own truth out loud, he didn't feel so lost anymore.
Vein's smile deepened, and before Xia Fei could even process what was happening, Vein had closed the space between them again. This time, there was no hesitation, no distance. Vein's hand gently cupped his cheek, and he leaned down, his lips brushing against Xia Fei's forehead in a tender kiss.
"You don't know how long I've wanted to hear that," Vein murmured softly, his lips lingering against Xia Fei's skin. "I'll wait. I'll wait for you to figure this out, to figure us out. I'm not going anywhere."
Xia Fei's heart pounded in his chest, but this time, it didn't feel overwhelming. It felt right.
"I'm scared," Xia Fei admitted softly, the vulnerability in his voice making his chest tighten. "I don't know how to do this."
"You don't have to know," Vein reassured him, his thumb stroking gently over Xia Fei's cheek. "You don't have to have it all figured out. I'll be here, every step of the way. We can take it slow, if you want. Or we can take it however you need. Just... let me be with you."
Xia Fei swallowed thickly, and for the first time in a long time, he felt like he wasn't alone in his fears, in his uncertainty. Vein was offering him somethingâsomething real, something honestâand Xia Fei didn't know what the future would hold, but for the first time in ages, he felt like he could face it.
He took a deep breath and let it out slowly. "Okay," he whispered, his voice trembling but determined. "Let's take it slow."
Vein's eyes softened, and a small, knowing smile curled at the edges of his lips. He leaned in again, this time pressing a soft kiss to Xia Fei's lips.
"Slow sounds perfect," Vein murmured, his voice full of warmth.
And in that moment, Xia Fei realized that maybe, just maybe, this was the beginning of something worth holding onto.
___
GUYS I LOVE THEM SO FRICKIN MUCH WAHHHH
So now that Vein declared his love for Xia Fei how do we feel?
Also I kinda kinda rushed this chapter ngl
(I am still sick and at home, writing all day)
*Cough cough*
Also big Thanks to you guys for all the comments and votes (â ã¤â â§â Ïâ â§â )â ã¤â¨