Chapter 30 New Couple? (2/2)

”Nu-uh,” Xing Han retorted. ”That's in the past. I am going to explore my inner sportsman! I am going to show them that I can do physical sports as well! I am strong! I am ..”

”So, what is it already?” Ali asked, cutting in.

”Tennis,” he replied smugly.

Kyle and Ali both turned their heads at the same time to look at Xing Han. ”Wh-a-at?” he huffed, puffing his chest out.

Kyle didn't say a thing, but simply looked at Xing Han, from top of his head, to the bottom of his feet. Then, he pinched Xing Han's baby face fat cheeks, squeezed the slight flab under the arm and then messed up the hair as he patted the head.

”There, there,” Kyle said comfortingly, ”It's okay. You don't have to try so hard.”

Ali nodded in agreement, ”Yes, not everyone can have this God-given Body like us.”

And with that, both Kyle and Ali struck a pose. Kyle flexed his arm muscles as he ran his fingers through his hair while Ali placed an arm on Kyle's shoulder, while putting his chin on the fist of his other hand. Both poses didn't look too ostentatious, but it was enough to hint of their taut body just from the show of their tight arm muscles.

”Aaargh!!” Xing Han screamed out loud, smacking the both of them squarely in the chest. They both pretended to double over in pain, before Kyle hooked Xing Han's neck with his arm.

”Come on,” he said as he pulled him over, ”You're fine the way you are, Xing Han. Embrace your cuteness. Just choose what you love to do.”

Xing Han grumbled, but conceded. He thought of changing his image a bit in secondary school. From the 'dependable older brother' to a 'hot sportsman' or something. Deep down, though, he knew that it wasn't possible. He had that face that just screamed ”friend” rather than ”hot”, and nothing could change that. Even with all the dieting and exercise, he couldn't be as lean as Sam or as muscular as Ali or Kyle. He wasn't as fit either ... he just loved food too much and was just too lazy to exercise everyday.

”Fine, fine,” he said, signing up.

When he got up, he gave a huge smile to Kyle. Only Kyle truly knew him, as was evident from the art booth he had brought him to. He had never truly revealed his passion for drawing, and it was something that his family didn't quite agree on. It wasn't even okay as a hobby, as they saw it was a waste of time. If it was up to him, he would venture in to the world of an illustrator, creating and designing things.

Xing Han suddenly turned and gave Kyle a tight hug, and Kyle tried unsuccessfully to push him away by the shoulders. Xing Han just squeezed tighter, shaking his head. He was too emotional and touched at that moment, for only Kyle would indulge him and speak right to his heart. Kyle gave up, looked in resignation towards Ali, who pretended not to see anything, whistling away.

The reason why Kyle didn't have the heart to really push Xing Han away was because he knew that Xing Han needed this sort of release. He bottled up everything so deeply, and only appeared to be bubbly. He came from a family that was very strict, and was very sparse with their emotions. Kind of like how his previous life family had been like before, but worse. Xing Han was to be the Heir, and there were expectations. In his entire life, he never lived for himself.

Everything was calculated and designed for him, and he merely needed to follow. Even this action of Xing Han, to come to Sakura Academy, was at a great cost - and with great manipulation. This was the first time Xing Han could do something that he, himself, wanted to do without having to give up something in order to get it. In the end, Kyle just patted him on the head until he calmed down.

Xing Han pulled away, sniffling, and rubbed Kyle's shirt as it was stained with his tears. Kyle smiled, indicating that it was okay, and Xing Han gave a rather huge grin in return as he looked up.

To the eyes of everyone else, however, it looked completely different. It appeared like Xing Han was caressing Kyle's chest lovingly, after exchanging a loving hug. All sorts of thoughts flashed through everybody's mind. Was there something there that they didn't realise before? Kyle not only allowed the hug, but after that, the both of them were exchanging tender looks of loving smiles?

Some hearts were broken, some were blossoming at this scene. The interactions between the two was undeniably sweet. Even the image of those two fit. One was the ultra cool idol, while the other was the sweet, adorable kid. Suddenly, everything that had happened between the two of them were seen with new eyes, and in a new light.

And so, new rumours began.