Thread by @GuardianofJupi1

#xicheng #modernAU

"All these feelings are annoying. What am I supposed to do with these? Tell him?! "

LXC stops short from entering the room when he hears JC's voice talking to the phone. His brain short-circuited as it quickly made its conclusion - JC has feelings for -

- somebody else and it's a he. LXC's heart races in the mixture of exhilaration that JC is interested in men and trepidation that JC is interested in someone that is not LXC.

JC seems to be listening to whoever it is on the other line for while before exploding, "What?! I can't-

-do that!" he sounds stress. "What if he doesn't feel the same way? What if what we have now went to shit because of my feelings?!" LXC hears the self-mocking tone at the word 'feelings' and his heart aches.

JC has never indicated that he wanted any relationship nor does he -

-ever show any interest to anyone. Whoever JC likes right now is one lucky man, LXC lamented.

"He knows I'm an absolute mess. I barely smile, I can't do small talks, I'm too straightforward, too brash, too harsh; why would he ever want to be involved further with me?"

LXC hates the way JC always talks down to himself. While LXC can't fault JC for any of that, as he knows about JC's past and upbringing, he likes to think after being friends for nearly five years, LXC has a hand in making JC see the good in him.

Because all LXC can see when he-

-is with JC is how incredibly good (and poignantly beautiful) the man is. JC is like a lotus - he grew up to be so pretty despite its muddy origin.

If JC thinks the man that he has feelings for can only see his flaws, LXC doesn't think the man is good for JC. Green monster of -

-envy within him nodded in agreement.

"But he drives me crazy!" JC moans in despair. "I hate how he always looks good, I hate how his voice make me weak in the knees, I hate how I can't find any reason to hate him! He brought me to that new cafe just I mentioned it to him once!-

-How can he be that attentive and not drive me crazy?"

LXC is affronted. He was the one took JC first, okay. Why did he got all the credit? LXC is the attentive one! And is that how JC sees that man? Handsome and has good voice? How mundane, LXC can barely hold in his snort.

He listens a few more minutes of JC listing all the good things of that man.

A good listener? LXC spent nights with his phone next to his pillow with JC grousing about his day!

Generous? Well, he doesn't pay the daily morning coffees just for anyone.

Talented? Excuse you, he can play traditional guqin and xiao and he can paint. LXC remembers those lovely weekends he spent with JC just painting the man as JC lounges on the sofa reading book.

Extremely patient? LXC is the epitome of patient! He is a headmaster of an academy -

-being patient is practically a job requirement.

The man is unnaturally strong and it makes JC incredibly weak in the knees? What?! LXC's family is well-known for their arms' strength. LXC will carry JC in his arms all day long if JC wanted him to.

LXC's internal tirade comes-

-to a heart-stopping halt when he heard JC says, "I can never match up Xichen-ge." JC sounds so heart-breakingly sad. "I have too many baggage and if I ever loved him, I should never burden him with my feelings..."

LXC's eyes went wide in utter disbelief. The man... is him?

He has been jealous of himself all this time? And JC - beautiful, beautiful A-Cheng - is in love with him?

A huge smile breaks on LXC's face as happiness begins to fill in every crack of his heart. JC loves him! JC LOVES HIM!

Unable to hold himself back any longer, LXC pushes-

-door wide open with a bang. He laughed in sheer giddiness when he sees JC jump in surprise and deep fondness fills him when he see the bright amethyst eyes widens in fear.

Oh shit, JC thinks in hysterical manner. "Xichen-ge... Wait, I can explain..." JC takes several hasty-

-steps back when he sees LXC practically stalks purposely towards him. Before he knows it, LXC has crowded him against the wall.

"Wait!" JC tries again. Is LXC going to punch him for harbouring feelings for him? "It isn't what you think!"

LXC puts his arms against the wall, -

-caging JC in between as he looks down. "No? You mean to tell me that all the things you said about me is wrong?" LXC asks deeply, loving every shades of pink on JC's cheeks.

JC turns his head away, the phone is clutched tightly in his hand. He doesn't understand this. Is LXC-

-angry because why the hell is he smiling like that?

"A-Cheng..." LXC takes pity on the JC. JC always appreciates honesty above all else. "You drive me crazy too."

JC flicks his eyes up to LXC in utter shock.

LXC smiles softly. "You have been driving me crazy for years."