Aki Apricot Juvenile - Chapter 3
“Can I ask you for directions?”
Qiu Xingyou looked blankly at Jiang Ji standing right in front of him. He understood perfectly well what Jiang Ji had said, but for some reason, he couldn’t move. He just stood there, watching as Jiang Ji slowly walked toward him, step by step.
“Where to?” His voice was the only thing that seemed to work properly now, and sure enough, it trembled.
“To your heart.”
Jiang Ji slowly raised his left hand and placed it right over Qiu Xingyou’s chest.
“I’m sorry.”
Qiu Xingyou turned his head away, unable to bear Jiang Ji’s sorrowful gaze.
“Love me again, please. If you still insist on saying no, I’ll have to take you to the hospital because there’s something wrong with your heart.”
Jiang Ji took Qiu Xingyou’s hand and placed it against his own chest. The distance between them seemed to grow and fade all at once. Qiu Xingyou’s vision blurred with tears. Through the haze, he felt Jiang Ji’s fingers slip away once more. His own hands searched aimlessly, but he could no longer find that pair of warm, familiar hands that used to hold him.
“Huff… huff…”
Qiu Xingyou jolted awake from the nightmare, wiping the sweat from his forehead. Ever since returning to Luozhou, he had been plagued by dreams vivid, tangled memories that all seemed to come from this city… and from one person in particular. (Yes, that very same Jiang Ji.)
Early that morning, he borrowed Meng Li’s keys and returned to Sakura University once more. Though anger still lingered toward Jiang Ji, Qiu Xingyou couldn’t deny that Jiang Ji was like a drug one that had an addictive pull he could never resist.
But no matter how much he wanted or loved, some things could never be his. Jiang Ji deserved a normal life, and so did he. He couldn’t destroy Jiang Ji’s future just because of his own selfishness.
The campus was almost empty, it was vacation season, and most students had gone home. Qiu Xingyou lay down on a bench, gazing up at the blue sky. Cherry blossoms drifted down, landing softly on his body. If only time could stop right here, he thought. He lifted a slender finger toward the sky, tracing circles in the air when suddenly, another hand reached out and caught his finger, seizing both his touch and his aching heart.
Qiu Xingyou turned and saw the man beside him. He sat up. “Jiang Ji.”
“Yeah.”
Jiang Ji sat down next to him in silence. Neither spoke. Time seemed frozen between them.
Then Jiang Ji slowly leaned in, his breath warm against Qiu Xingyou’s ear.
“I’ve missed you so much,” he whispered, resting his head on Qiu Xingyou’s shoulder.
Those simple words burned against Qiu Xingyou’s skin. You shouldn’t say that, he thought bitterly. You can’t love me anymore… so why say such cruel, greedy things?
“You know it’s impossible,” he said, turning away to avoid Jiang Ji’s eyes. He knew that if he met that gaze, he would lose this fight.
“You’re lying.” Jiang Ji lifted his head, his voice rough and low. “Why won’t you look at me?”
He caught Qiu Xingyou’s hand and pressed it to his chest. “Feel it. My heart it’s still alive for you. It always has been.”
“Don’t you see?” Qiu Xingyou said quietly. “No one can replace pain. Grief always lingers with those who leave… and I’m the one who walked away.”
He pulled his hand free and stood up, taking slow steps away from Jiang Ji.
“If there’s still a chance for us to be together,” Jiang Ji shouted behind him, his voice breaking, “I don’t care how late it comes!”
Qiu Xingyou’s tears fell. Once again, he collapsed under the weight of his own weakness.
In this absurd world, he thought, meeting you was still the best thing that had ever happened to me.
Mini Story: Love at the Fingertips
The first time Qiu Xingyou met Jiang Ji was also at Sakura University. The cherry blossoms were in full bloom that season, and just like the flowers, the new freshmen arrived bright and full of life.
There was an unspoken tradition at Sakura University: every batch of new students would be welcomed well, teased by their seniors.
When Qiu Xingyou arrived, laughter filled the air. Though the university wasn’t elite, its facilities and atmosphere were well-known. Each dorm housed two students, and the selection process was… unconventional. All the new students had to wear blindfolds and find their roommates purely through touch.
At first, Qiu Xingyou panicked. He had never done anything like this before, though he’d heard about the school’s quirky traditions. Blindfolded, he fumbled forward, bumping into people, brushing shoulders yet no one stopped for him.
Just as he started to lose hope, his fingertips brushed another hand. Trembling, he reached forward again, and the other person grasped his hand firmly, pulling him into a warm embrace.
“Hi,” the stranger said.
“H-hi.” Qiu Xingyou stammered, pulling away a little. The other person smelled faintly of something fresh and clean familiar, comforting.
“I think you’ll be my roommate,” the voice said with a smile. “You have a scent I like. I feel like I’ve met you before.”
“Alright,” Qiu Xingyou replied softly. The stranger still held his wrist, maybe afraid he’d run away. They stayed that way until someone shouted, “Time’s up! You’ve all been paired remove your blindfolds!”
Qiu Xingyou pulled off the cloth. The sunlight was dazzling, but before it reached his eyes, someone stepped in front of him, blocking it.
“Hi, I’m Jiang Ji. Please take care of me from now on.”
The boy smiled, spinning Qiu Xingyou playfully before switching places and letting go of his hand.
“Sure,” Qiu Xingyou replied, smiling back.
The boy before him had smooth skin, bright eyes, and a radiant grin that revealed perfect white teeth. His light brown curls caught the sunlight. He was half a head taller than Qiu Xingyou.
“I’m Qiu Xingyou,” he said.
“Nice to meet you, Xingyou,” Jiang Ji said, draping an arm casually over his shoulder as they walked toward the registration booth together. “Don’t find me annoying, okay? And since it’s a hassle, I’ll just call you Xingyou from now on.”
“Okay.” Qiu Xingyou smiled.
And just like that the story between them began.