The Stars In Your Eyes

As time passed by, soon new year passed, and also the final exam of Bai Yutang's last semester. The hall was bustling with cheers and joyful sounds from the students who finally had their exam burden lifted from their shoulder. Most of them happily chatter with holiday plans and things they suppressed to do since they had to study hard.

Bai Yutang absentmindedly walking through the corridor. There's a lingering feeling he wants to savour now. This is the last exam he takes for the years of his life as an undergraduate study in this university. He hoped nothing bad happened with his project and exams. 

Somehow Bai Yutang never feels at ease for feeling satisfied with his life before the final result comes out, written in black over white. Life caught him unprepared when his father left. Since then he always prepares for the worst thing that could fall upon him before expecting for the best.

That's what makes him take the worst decision in his life. Deciding to leave his lover before demand for his explanation before he fought for it.. Turns out, the worst things happened when you didn't fight for what you wanted. So he changed a little bit. But still, the uneasiness still stuck deep inside his mind and heart, always preparing for the worst for him. He refused to be caught unprepared in another turbulence of his life.

But he was now closer to the first goal he wanted to achieve in his life. Graduation. He submitted his final project's revision and it was approved already. Now what's left only waiting for his final exam's result, and then submitting all the documents needed for graduation. Getting his diploma.

Bai Yutang reaches home at 3 o'clock. He decided to ride his bicycle for exercise this noon before the chilly wind got colder when the sun went down. Bai Yutang didn't forget his coat and his shawl when he exercised. January's winter is still cold to the bone.

Bai Yutang decided to exercise more, since now he will have a lot of free time. He felt ashamed with his flabby belly. Since he was skinny, there's not much fat accumulated there, but still far far far away from his lover's tight abs. Bai Yutang envies his lover's genetic cheating. His lover's whole family is the body type who easily gains muscle and loses fat. 

Life is unfair.

Since his jacket was thick enough, Bai Yutang soon felt his body sticky with sweat. Today is Friday, his lover won't come home until 9. Bai Yutang parks his bicycle and rides the lift back to their apartment. He wants to take a bath and then cook dinner. He already planned to cook cashew chicken with ginger and shrimp lettuce wraps tonight.

There are lots of recipes for cashew chicken, but this one recipe he got from auntie Ming. Bai Yutang wants his lover to praise his cooking skill recreating the childhood dishes in his lover's memory.

His lover love the flavor from the fresh ginger and the crunch of the crunch of the cashews. Bai Yutang glad since this dishes was easy to made. Bai Yutang modified the recipe a little since he added toasted sesame oil when he sauteed the chicken and the veggies. He also avoids red pepper flakes from auntie Ming's original recipe.

Tomorrow is Saturday. Bai Yutang prepares for another long exercise in the bed with his lover. He admitted he was kinda hoping it happened. They haven't made love properly in this last month. Bai Yutang felt ashamed for his lewd expectation. He was a young man in his prime age. It was natural for him to have an abundance of sexual desire.

The food didn't take long for him to prepare. After he finished, he felt empty. He wants to play games and read his book which he abandoned since he was busy this semester. But suddenly he felt the urge to see his lover as soon as possible.

Bai Yutang looked at the clock hanging on the wall. It was almost 7 o'clock. He grabbed his coat and shawl, running to catch the taxi. He didn't ride the bus, since he was afraid to miss his lover on his way.

Bai Yutang looked at B city citizens walking by and cars who stuck in the traffic jam. B city was lively, the city who lived up to its reputation as this country's capital. From ancient walled capital to showpiece megacity in barely a century, B city spins breathless of triumph, endurance and innovation.

He had lived in this city for more than 5 years. He planned to live the rest of his life here. But his grandparent's words were disturbing his conscience. Bai Yuren is busy, and will be more busy in the future. Should he neglect his mother to pursue his happiness with the man he loved the most?

The taxi driver asked him a few questions, engaging conversation with him. Probably the taxi driver was sleepy, or bored. Bai Yutang politely answers the questions and gives a light response to converse back.

Taxi driver is a boring job. Sitting inside the car for hours, drive across the sea of vehicles every day on this long and never ending road. Different passengers everyday, but same old routine. Bai Yutang used to hate people talking to him when he wanted to enjoy the calm moments. But now he tried to respect every person, all thanks to his lover's teaching.

Bai Yutang politely smiled and relayed his gratitude for the taxi driver when he safely arrived at his lover's hospital at 8'clock. He walked inside the hospital which was full with people passing by at this time. This is the prime time for them visiting hospital. Whether it was for visiting their friends or family, or went to see the doctor to seek wellness for themselves.

Bai Yutang knows where the kidney clinic is located. He was there as a patient months ago when he pleaded for forgiveness and one more chance. Bai Yutang was too nervous last time and didn't pay attention to his surroundings.

Now he sat there with the people who were still waiting for their turn, or waiting for their family to fetch their medicine in the pharmacy. The people who sat with him here varied. Young, old, male, female, thin, fat, all of types mixed together with a solemn face. Some were talking with their relatives who sent them here, some were just closing their eyes with pale faces.

These are faces that his lover's must face everyday. This is the situation his lover had to encounter everyday. Each one of them has an expectation for his lover to get them back safe and sound just like before.

Bai Yutang waited and waited, until his lover finally emerged from the examination room. His lover smiled and talked a little bit with the nurses on the station in front. Bai Yutang didn't know what his lover was wearing today, since he left earlier today before his lover took a bath. 

At this moment he saw the tall and handsome man who occupied every inch of his heart still wearing his white doctor coat over the grey shirt and dark grey wool pants. His lover often dresses in monotone color, but instead of dull it just adds an elegance charm to his overall appearance. The trace of time starts to show in his lover's face. But as life was unfair to some people, the time was gentle to Jian Kang Lu. He looked even more attractive with his age.

Bai Yutang stood up, but he didn't call for his lover. When his lover turned and walked away, his lover halted his step when he saw Bai Yutang. That smile who was still plastered from his face changed. Bai Yutang could recognise it, a different smile, who only showed at him. A warm smile, with his black pupils sparking under the incandescent light.

"TangTang." His lover's voice and face clearly show his surprise and delight. Bai Yutang smiled to see it.

"Why don't you tell me? This is just a surprise for me, right? Not because something happened to you?" His lover's gentle voice gradually changed from excitement into concern.

Bai Yutang just smiled, "Just want to surprise you, gege."

"How many hours are you waiting here? Why don't you tell me? You can wait inside next to my examination room rather than waiting outside. Are you riding a bus or taxi?"

"If i told you, it won't be a surprise anymore. I ride a taxi, gege. Don't worry." Bai Yutang walked together with his lover out of the outpatient hall, and when they near the car, he suddenly whispered in his lover's ear.

"I just miss you so much, and want to meet you sooner."

Jian Kang Lu stunned. How he wished to kiss his lovely kitten right now. He hurriedly grabbed his kitten's hand and put him inside the car. Once they drive outside the hospital's parking lot Jian Kang Lu peck his kitten's cheek lightly.

"I miss you more, baby. I should say this is a wonderful surprise. Suddenly i'm not tired anymore." He holds his kitten's slender hand and kisses its fingers one by one, infatuated in its tenderness.

They have their dinner first, and Jian Kang Lu told his kitten the dishes today taste just like Auntie Ming's cook, but even better. Bai Yutang smiled, and teased his lover by saying that if he was not destined to be a successful architect then maybe he could learn under Luo Yan and Song Lixia to open his own restaurant.

His lover looked at him, a hint of pride written in his smile. "I'm sure you'll gain achievement in whatever you do, baby. No matter what, i'll support every decision you make."

After bathing his lover, turns out his lover also had the same expectation with him, and Bai Yutang glad he didn't add the red pepper flakes on the cashew chicken. He was still asleep after passed out last night before his lover woke him up this morning. To be precise, wake his little brother down there before the sensation wakes Bai Yutang up too.

With rigorous activity like tonight and this morning, his little hole down there will suffer if he eats spicy food.

Jian Kang Lu held his kitten tight, savouring the heat his kitten emitted from his body after Jian Kang Lu turned and tossed his kitten around for nearly one hour this morning. He already restrained and fasted like a dedicated monk for one month. Only eat vegetables since the meat was forbidden. 

The risk of touching the meat for last month was too big for Jian Kang Lu to handle. So right when the meat was free for him to taste, his inner beast was roaring, wanting to eat it until his heart content.

This is not enough. But Jian Kang Lu still has many days ahead, no more fasting, no more restriction, no more vegetables to chew. Now this tasty tender meat was available for him to chew and swallow. He was smiling and imagined bright days ahead of him.