The Stars In Your Eyes

Bai Yutang was slightly disoriented when he woke up. The table clock shows him that it was already 7.30 in the morning. He looked at that unfamiliar light grey ceiling. It reminds him that he was not in his dorm.

The room's dominant color is light gray. There are three white and black printed landscape photos hanging on top of the bed. Two identical rectangular shelves with black colour in the both sides of the bed also function as the night lamp. The bed headboard is also black, with black table next to a big window.

Bai Yutang stood up from the bed and opened the curtain to let the morning winter sun rays shine fall to his face. He can see the small park down there, with a forest of high rise building protrude from the earth below. He heard someone talking outside the room.

He walked out from the room, and saw Jian Kang Lu standing in the door talking to someone. He then walks into the living room with food in the brown paper bag and is a bit surprised to see Bai Yutang standing in the living room.

"Have you woken up? Right on time, the breakfast is here. Let's eat first." Jian Ge's gentle voice filled the air around him.

"En.. Let me wash my face first, Jian Ge."

Bai Yutang then goes into the bathroom next to his room. He washed his face and rinsed his mouth with mouthwash. Then he walks into the dining room.

This apartment layout is simple yet very sophisticated. Outside his bedroom is the living room, seamlessly blended with the dining room outside Jian Kang Lu's bed room. Each room has their own window, and the dining room's wall is made with a glass door leading to the terrace. The kitchen also blends with the dining room.

The view of the kitchen is not seen from the living room, separated by the laundry room accessed from the kitchen. This 12 x 8 m apartment looks so spacious from the ingenious layout and designs. Bai Yutang wonders, who's the architect.

Bai Yutang hurriedly tried to help Jian Kang Lu prepare breakfast. But Jian Kang Lu is already done. Nothing to prepare actually. Just put the food on the table and place the utensils beside them. Jian Kang Lu made him warm chamomile tea to help his digestive system.

Bai Yutang can feel this apartment a little bit cold, compared to the warm personality of Jian Kang Lu. He could understand that the design is minimalist with light grey and black color, just like his bedroom. But somehow, he thought that this apartment made Jian Kang Lu look lonely. He lives alone here, everyday.

Suddenly Bai Yutang feels a bit glad he decided to stay here. He can accompany Jian Kang Lu and ease his loneliness even just for a little bit.

"Your apartment is very nice, Jian Ge. I really like the design. Do you mind if i take a walk around here?" Bai Yutang said that while eating his egg rice congee. He noticed Jian Kang Lu also had the same menu with him.

Jian Kang Lu poured the chamomile tea into his cup and answered, "En. I don't mind. I'll give you the card and the pin number for the door. Did you bring your jacket and shawl? Don't stay outside for too long. It's so cold out there. You are still in the recovery phase."

"En, I didn't bring my shawl. But my jacket is warm enough."

Jian Kang Lu frowned, "No. I'll lend you my shawl and gloves. Or you can wait for me and I will take you to tour around here later. I got feeling that if i let you go out now you will stay outside for hours."

Bai Yutang pouted his mouth, "No, Jian Ge. I promised that I will take a look around just for a bit. By the way, you didn't need to go outside today? After all this is the new year."

"No, I still feel uneasy. I changed my mind. Please promise me to wait for me. I'll take you look around later. Don't go out by yourself. Just stay at home and rest."

Somehow when Bai Yutang heard that firm tone from Jian Kang Lu for the first time, he couldn't help nodding his head and obediently following Jian Kang Lu's words. "Okay, Jian Ge. Then i'll wait for you at home."

After they finish the breakfast, Bai Yutang insists on cleaning up. But Jian Kang Lu told him that today and tomorrow his only task is to rest and recover soon. He can wash the dishes on the last day if he is perfectly recovered.

He sent Jian Kang Lu to the door and waved him goodbye. Then he took a bath. After he freshens up, he sits in the living room. He likes how that glass door reflects the sky above and gives him a tranquil feeling. He decided to study here for his final exam while waiting for Jian Kang Lu back home.

Like Jian Kang Lu promised him, he came back from hospital before 2 pm.

"Have you eaten your lunch? Do you still wanna go outside? Let's go now if you're not tired." Jian Kang Lu asked him once he arrived back from the hospital and saw Bai Yutang studying in the living room.

Bai Yutang laughed, "Jian Ge, how could i get tired just sitting here all day. You're the one who must be tired. Is it okay for us to go now? You have to eat your lunch first if you haven't eaten before we're going outside."

"I have my lunch at the hospital, no worries. Come, let's go now. Before the sun set down and the temperature decreased." Jian Kang Lu suddenly seems to remember something important. "Oh, wait for a moment."

Jian Kang Lu then walks inside his bedroom. Bai Yutang was already preparing his jacket outside, so he was wearing his jacket and trying to zip his jacket up, when suddenly he feels something warm on his neck. He raised his head and saw Jian Kang Lu's gentle gaze, his hand draping the shawl around him.

Bai Yutang dropped his head again, and said in a low voice, "Thank you Jian Ge for borrowing me your shawl." The shawl is warm, enveloped the whole him. He feels the warmth spreading to his body, and his heart beating a little bit faster.

Bai Yutang saw Jian Kang Lu just smiled, and said "Come, I'll give you the tour."

Luckily today is not snowing, the freezing wind is milder than the other day. Bai Yutang likes to listen to Jian Kang Lu's voice explaining the apartment area. His voice is clear and soothing, like the crystal clear lake under the spring sun.

"So why did you choose this apartment, Jian Ge. As an architect i really like this building design and smart layout. But I want to hear the customer and residence perspective." Bai Yutang converse with him as they walk around the small park surrounding the apartment building.

For the first time, Bai Yutang noticed Jian Kang Lu didn't answer right away. When he looked at him, Bai Yutang suddenly regretted asking that question. It seems the question triggered something unpleasant in Jian Kang Lu's memory.

There's something dimming the light in that handsome face. But it only happened in a split second that made Bai Yutang wonder whether he only imagined that. But the heavy atmosphere he felt telling him that it was not his imagination.

"Mmm.. I guess because of my friend and the price. This apartment building belongs to my friend. The architect is also my friend. So I got a lower price compared to buying the same quality apartment in this area. And it is also not far from the hospital." Jian Kang Lu laughed hearing his own answer. 

"Sorry, i think i didn't help you with my perspective. But maybe if you design an apartment building in the future, make sure your friends buy. Like my friends did to me."

Bai Yutang feels that answer is not the real answer. But he said nothing, and gave Jian Kang Lu a laugh as a response to that answer.

"I will, but it means I have to buy three apartments in the future. Yu Dong's, Liu Xiang's, and Tang Yuxuan's designs."

Jian Kang Lu let his laugh unrestrained hearing his kitten's answer. He looked at Bai Yutang. And smiled. That smile looks so bright, but gentle like a spring breeze. The atmosphere around them turns back into normal. "No, you can buy two, and let me buy one. So both of us each have two apartments."

"By the way, tonight is welcoming the new year. I don't think you can stay late or go out though. So as a celebration, let's order some fancy dinner while watching some movies in the apartment. What do you want to eat?" Jian Kang Lu asked him.

Bai Yutang doesn't want to say 'I'm okay with anything' even though he is really okay with anything. All the food Jian Ge bought him is very tasty. After all, for university students, even the cafeteria menu is sufficient for him. Moreover, all the fancy food Jian Kang Lu introduced to him. But he knows how annoying it was, if your friends or companion keep saying 'up to you' or 'i'm okay with anything.'

So he answered "How about steamed dumplings and braised beef ho fun noodles? For the dessert we can have honeyed lotus seed and snow fungus soup. Though i have no idea where we can order that."

"Mmm, good idea. Let me call the restaurant I told Tang Yuxuan last night. They don't do delivery orders, but I think we can ask the courier to fetch and deliver it here." Jian Kang Lu took his mobile phone from his pocket and immediately called the restaurant.

They come back inside after a while, and Bai Yutang feels that Jian Kang Lu is patiently waiting for him to look at every detail around the apartment lobby, the elevator, and even the parking lot.

After they finish the tour and come back to the apartment, Bai Yutang decides to ask the thing that has been bothering his mind since yesterday. "Jian Ge, tomorrow is new year, and Sunday. I remember you told me that you have family lunch every week on Sunday." He firmly added, "Me being here alone is okay, Jian Ge. So you don't have to cancel your own plan."

Jian Kang Lu was putting his shoes in the cabinet and looked stunned hearing that question. He only said, "I have no plan, and my parents just like Liu Xiang with his sister. They visit the hot spring. Have I told you that my father won the local golf tournament? The prize is this honeymoon for two days at a hot spring. Besides, our family prefers to celebrate Chinese new year more."

Bai Yutang staring at those peach blossom eyes that look so warm, and only can answer in a low voice. "Okay, Jian Ge. I just don't want to burden you."

"You are never a burden to me."

Bai Yutang can't help but give his sincere smile hearing those comforting words. They spent the new year eve with fancy dinner, and watching other super heroes movies. Bai Yutang feels quite sleepy after a while. Must be his medicine's effect. His cough medicine made him feel sleepy every time he took that.

Bai Yutang tried to stay awake. But his eyelid felt so heavy. And he really likes the times he spent here with Jian Kang Lu. He feels safe around him, shielded from every bad thing in the world.

In this living room, Jian Kang Lu who always feels that his apartment is just a place to rest his tired body, now feels the warmth he never felt from this space before. Who would have known that this place finally feels like a real home.

Just because one particular person, this whole place feels like his own small world. And suddenly this particular person's head dropped into his shoulder. He can feel his body heat and soft breath radiating the summery scent around him. His little tiny universe feels right for the first time in this few cold years.

He didn't wake his kitten. He still wants to enjoy this feeling a little bit more. The feeling of summer sun soaks into his thick soul, inhaling this small little happiness from the old duffle coat feeling. Friendly and soft.

I thank you for the autumn. For letting me meet you, and letting my world spin one more time.