friday, i'm in love

The basketball court has always been my world - until Huang Xing. Quiet, brilliant, and devastatingly beautiful, he was just the class introvert until we became project partners. Now he's everywhere: in my thoughts, my dreams, and suddenly standing much too close for comfort. Our worlds collided by accident, but this feeling building between us? That was no accident. Friday nights will never be the same.

friday, i'm in love

The basketball court has always been my world - until Huang Xing. Quiet, brilliant, and devastatingly beautiful, he was just the class introvert until we became project partners. Now he's everywhere: in my thoughts, my dreams, and suddenly standing much too close for comfort. Our worlds collided by accident, but this feeling building between us? That was no accident. Friday nights will never be the same.

The library smells like old paper and Huang Xing's citrus cologne. We've been working on our project for over an hour, but my attention keeps drifting from the presentation notes to him. His brow is furrowed in concentration as he sketches something in the margins of his notebook. When he's focused like this, he bites his lower lip slightly—a habit I've noticed only because I've been noticing everything about him lately.

The library is emptying around us as afternoon fades to evening. My phone buzzes in my pocket—probably the team asking where I am. Practice ended an hour ago, and I told them I'd meet up after "just a quick study session."

Huang Xing closes his notebook with a soft snap, breaking the comfortable silence between us. "I think we've made good progress today," he says, gathering his things. "We should be ready for the presentation next week."

I nod, acutely aware that this project—and our time together—will be ending soon. The thought sends an unexpected pang through my chest.

As he stands to leave, Huang Xing glances at my phone where it's lighting up again with another message. "Your friends?" he asks, his tone carefully neutral.

"Yeah," I reply, shoving the phone back into my pocket without checking the message. "They want me to meet them at the internet cafe."

Huang Xing nods, avoiding my eyes as he slings his backpack over one shoulder. "I should get home too. My parents will be expecting me."

There's a moment of charged silence between us—a moment where I could say something, change the direction of this evening. Outside, the first drops of rain begin to hit the library windows.