Outside, Huang waved his hand excitedly, flashing an annoying smile. Tsk, Jinhai wanted to spit at Huang if he could.

“Jinhai? Are you okay?”

Jun startled Jinhai out of his reverie again and again, but this time, Jinhai wasn’t angry. He stood up and began packing up his school supplies. He didn’t say a word, his eyes looking so tired and dull. Jun already knew Jinhai’s condition; he was working so hard that he wasn’t thinking about himself.

“Jinhai, do you want to go to a cafe? I’ll treat you!”

“No-”

Before Jinhai could answer, Jun cut him off. He grabbed Jinhai’s arm and pulled him out of the classroom, running away from the school. Jinhai had no energy left to resist and chose to comply.

.

.

.

"Huang, do you want to go to karaoke?" Muyang called from afar, jogging toward Huang. Before he patted Huang's shoulder, he paused. Huang was probably unaware of Muyang's presence, as he stood silently staring out one of the windows on the third floor of the school building.

"Waiting for him to look outside again?" Muyang kept trying to get Huang's attention. But Huang didn't respond again. He was ignored for a minute, until Huang finally waved his hand in the direction he was looking. After that, Huang straightened his posture and looked at Muyang and said,

"Karaoke? Let’s go, I feel like my head’s going to explode if I keep studying."

The small talk ended, and the two of them headed to the karaoke venue in question. They'd only taken a few steps when, in the blink of an eye, perhaps not that fast, Jinhai was seen running, pulled by someone. A burning feeling seemed to have appeared out of nowhere and slowly grew in Huang's chest.

"Huang? Do you want to or not? If not, I'd invite someone else."

"O-oh, I want."