The Stars In Your Eyes

Bai Yutang spent the days just walking around the hotel. Jian Kang Lu gives him some money and a credit card to use if Bai Yutang wants to have lunch or walk around.

When Bai Yutang wanted to reject it, Jian Kang Lu just used his weapon, "I can't rest assured inside the conference room if you didn't take this. I'll be very happy if you just take it, no matter if you use it or not."

This hotel's location is really good. It was connected by bridges to the shopping mall in the next block. A lot of fancy restaurants and high class stores around the hotel. Just 5 minutes walking and he could enter the Boston Public Library. The library is one of the important architecture sites in the city, designed by Charles Follen McKim.

There's a square next to the hotel and a beautiful church stood there. The Richardson's Trinity Church.

The Trinity Church was founded in 1733, but built and constructed from 1872 to 1877. The architect was Henry Hobson Richardson. The building's plan is modified Greek Cross with four arms extending outwards from the central tower. Trinity church is the only church in the United States and the only building in Boston that has been honored as one of the "Ten Most Significant Buildings in the United States" by the American Institute of Architects.

Before they came here, Bai Yutang already read and saw a lot of pictures of Trinity Church. He was surprised to see the church location is very near to their hotel. He just walked for 5 minutes and already reached there.

Bai Yutang only spent his first day in Boston looking around and took a lot of pictures of these two buildings. He was so grateful. And all of this made him think about Jian Kang Lu again.

Bai Yutang bought a sandwich and coffee as his lunch from the cafe at the connecting bridge from the hotel to the shopping mall. He can't find simple restaurants around this area. All the restaurants look fancy and expensive.

After lunch he was back to these two buildings and satisfied his thirst looking at these magnificent designs. He took a lot of pictures there. Jian Kang Lu was right, Bai Yutang definitely loves this city.

In the afternoon he was back to the hotel, because the weather outside is really cold, especially when the sun starts to hide. He was very sleepy and tired. He could not imagine how it feels for Jian Kang Lu. In their home country, it should be dawn.

Bai Yutang tried not to sleep, but when he sat on the sofa doing sketches from what he saw today, he fell asleep. He was awoken by Jian Kang Lu's touch. When he opened his eyes, Bai Yutang saw Jian Kang Lu caress his head.

Bai Yutang heard that gentle voice, "Do you want to have dinner with me, TangTang?"

Bai Yutang blinked several times, and nodded. He washed his face, then followed Jian Kang Lu. Since both of them are tired, they just eat at the Japanese restaurant located on the connecting bridge also.

The Japanese restaurant is a fusion restaurant, not an authentic one. But the nabe, or the japanese hot pot, is really good. The ingredients are fresh, especially those thin sliced wagyu beef. It's quite expensive, but Bai Yutang feels the price here is similar to the restaurants Jian Kang Lu took him in the B city.

Jian Kang Lu asked him what he did today, and he was glad to see his kitten's eyes brighten, and excitedly told him about the buildings. Jian Kang Lu personally loves this city, the atmosphere, the scenery, the parks, all of it makes him feel so peaceful.

Three years ago, he strolled through this city alone, soothing his empty soul. But now every empty and painful moment is replaced with blithe memories. He was coming back here with someone he loved so much.

Jian Kang Lu smiled gently, staring at his kitten. He really loves those sparkling eyes. Even though that sparkling fused by those beautiful buildings instead of him, Jian Kang Lu could stare at it for hours, and never felt bored. He wished to see those sparkling eyes for the rest of his life.

Jian Kang Lu also asked his kitten what he wants to do tomorrow. His kitten said he wanted to try Walking the Freedom Trail. It was a 2,5 miles red line route that leads to 16 historically significant sites in Boston. From the Boston Common Park, Massachusetts State House, Church, Granary Burying Ground, Old South Meeting House, until the Bunker Hill Monument.

Jian Kang Lu frowned, asked him whether he took a tour guide or alone. Jian Kang Lu knows that Bai Yutang's english skill is limited to reading and writing, but not so good in conversation.

Bai Yutang assured him that he had already downloaded the information and brochure from the internet. Jian Kang Lu still felt uneasy, but Bai Yutang always managed to silence him when he held Jian Kang Lu's hands and caressed it.

"I'll be okay, Jian Ge. I'm an adult. I won't get lost."

Sometimes Jian Kang Lu hallucinates and asks in his own mind. Is this all intimate gestures from his kitten is a sign that his kitten likes him back? But he was too afraid to confirm it.

If it was the old Jian Kang Lu, definitely he would already make his next moves if he received this kind of signal.

But his kitten is so young and pure. Jian Kang Lu is afraid that his kitten doesn't know that all these intimate gestures ignite something that is not pure at all inside Jian Kang Lu's mind.

Because they're so tired, Jian Kang Lu fell asleep after took a shower. Bai Yutang already slept for two hours before. So he just laying in the bed, looking at Jian Kang Lu sleeping beside him. Seeing that peaceful face lay here with him, for the first time in his life Bai Yutang realised what it means to have a blessed life.

This was enough.

Bai Yutang fell asleep when he stared at Jian Kang Lu's face. The result is when Jian Kang Lu woke up in the morning, he saw that beautiful peaceful face sleeping next to him. The distance between them is an arm length distance. His kitten sleeps facing him.

As a healthy man, Jian Kang Lu also had a condition when his brother awoke in the morning. Add this to the effect of seeing the man he loved as the first thing he saw when he opened his eyes, the result is devastated.

Jian Kang Lu cursed loudly inside, and hurriedly went to the bathroom. He can't believe he had to release himself two days in a row. He's 37 years old this year. He already learned how to control his desire more than ten years ago. But why now he acts like an adolescent who can't think straight.

This happened for the next few days they spent together, until the last day of conference. Even though it was called a gala dinner, the doctor's gala dinner is not like the gala dinner those rich people attend. Even if you wear a long sleeve shirt with a coat is fine. Some of the eccentric one is still wearing jeans and boots.

Jian Kang Lu is a man with decent fashion sense, so he wears a normal dark blue suit, dark blue vest, and white shirt inside. But he doesn't wear any tie. The suit has some patterns in the fabric, the kind that won't be noticed unless you see closely. It was semi formal, and very classy.

Bai Yutang only has a black suit, so he wears his suit with a blue shirt inside. He already gained his weight back, so the suits wrapped his body perfectly just like when he bought it two years ago. Because Jian Kang Lu didn't wear any tie, he also didn't wear any.

When both of them comb their hair in the bathroom, Jian Kang Lu helps Bai Yutang to style his hair. His short hair from that nightmare haircut already grew and the hairdresser that saved his hairstyle truly has good skills. Now Bai Yutang's hair already looks decent, and looks better day by day.

To stand in the bathroom and feel the hands of the man he loved tidying his hair, really makes Bai Yutang's heart pound wildly. Sometimes Bai Yutang is afraid if Jian Kang Lu could hear his heart thump so loud.

Jian Kang Lu saw his kitten shut his eyes, and saw his kitten's ear tips tainted with a pink colour. Jian Kang Lu felt his heart skip a beat. He really wants to kiss his kitten's smooth forehead, and the tip of his nose, that looks very inviting.

Jian Kang Lu's string of sanity broke a few times these past few weeks. He abruptly turned around and said, "It's done, let's go. Don't forget your coat. Who knows we need to go outside."

Jian Kang Lu walked straight out of this dangerous place. His dirty mind flashed with a lot of pictures of what he wanted to do there with his kitten. Bathrooms are dangerous.

Jian Kang Lu introduced Bai Yutang to his colleague. Most of them bring their spouse. Some bring their children too. Bai Yutang sits next to a smart looking woman, she's also a nephrologist from S city. Most of them talking by themselves, discussing about the hospital life.

Bai Yutang didn't understand ordinary medical terms, moreover the advanced one these people were talking about. So he just silently ate his food. The food is standard hotel food, but tasty enough.

The woman sitting next to him already moved and talked to her colleague from some foreign country, Jian Kang Lu excused himself, joined the conversation there. Bai Yutang feels that nothing that Jian Kang Lu can't do.

It was clear for him that Jian Kang Lu speaks english much better compared to his colleague from the same country. He often acts as the interpreter for them. His pronunciation is very good, didn't sound like a man who never studied abroad.

When Bai Yutang looked at Jian Kang Lu in awe, a young boy came to sit by his side.

"Boring, right?"

This boy looks like a 14 or 15 year old. He looks bored to death.

"So, whose child are you? How come i never saw you around?" That boy asked him again.

Bai Yutang didn't know what to say, he just could only answer honestly. "I'm not someone's child here. I came with my friend."

That boy looked at him curiously. "A friend, not your uncle?"

Bai Yutang feels a little bit angry. Jian Kang Lu looks young, he doesn't look like his uncle at all. "No, my friend."

"Ah.. Usually we the youngsters refused to come to this occasion. But my father forced me to come or else he won't buy me the new sneaker and bag I really want. When did you arrive?"

Bai Yutang is a little bit annoyed, but he can see this boy truly bored. "Six days ago, right before the conference started."

"What? Then what are you doing here? I just came here yesterday. It was boring to stroll here alone."

Bai Yutang keeps answering each question from this boy. He was the son from one of the professors attending this conference. This boy said his father will take them to Los Angeles tomorrow. This boy was surprised to know that Bai Yutang is studying architecture at T university.

"Usually all of us here attend medical faculty or will attend someday. My father already told me if i could not be accepted in P or T university, i have to throw all my game consoles away and won't give me any allowances until i accepted there."

Bai Yutang pity this boy. While they're chatting, another young girl comes and joins the conversation. Soon the tables are full with these youngsters from 8 year old until 15 year old. Bai Yutang is the oldest, and he feels like a kindergarten teacher.

These kids knew each other, they often met at the conference like this. Following their parents, because holiday for them means conference for their parents.

Bai Yutang could see, their parents are the top doctors in the country. Bai Yutang hoped his sister would also have a happy life. Sometimes he regretted that he suggested Bai Yuren to take medical faculty. He saw that Jian Kang Lu is so busy, and didn't have much free time. He imagines his sister will lead the same life, and it makes his heart ached.

At 9 o'clock Bai Yutang is already tired and sleepy. These children are already going upstairs, back to their room. Jian Kang Lu noticed his kitten tried to hold his yawn. But he is still stuck here, talking about the project between their country and one of Europe's countries. He planned to slip away, but Professor Wu successfully aborted his plan, gripped his hand tight, and won't let him go.

At 9.30 Jian Kang Lu finally can release himself from them and apologise to his kitten. He knew his kitten must be bored. But his kitten just smiled, and said that it was okay.

They're going back to the room after saying goodbye to few of Jian Kang Lu's colleagues. Bai Yutang felt a bit cold. The weather outside is below freezing point. Even though the hotel inside has a heater, Bai Yutang is sensitive to cold weather.

Bai Yutang washed his face, and instantly fell to sleep when his head touched the pillow. He's really tired. And cold.

But he enjoyed the dinner today. Those kids are funny, and Bai Yutang is glad to know a little bit more about Jian Kang Lu's world.

The world that seems so far away from him, now a little bit closer. And Bai Yutang felt that would bring him closer to his precious one.