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msawesomehalffinishedfics · 2 years

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Heart and liver – Ming (falling into your smile)

A/N: So yeah, this is random, but if you followed me for the Sean fanfic and wonder what the fuck this is. I did it completely procrastinating writing my masters, based on falling in love with a background character in a show I haven't finished yet, and now that this is done, probs never will, because ADHD. Anyways, I really love this story actually so give it a read if you want.

Warnings: None

Words: 13.500

Tong Yao’s P.O.V.

I walked down the road towards the base deep in thought. About what to do about Cheng, about what it all meant. Did he like me or not? I was puzzled as I walked to our guardsstation, and I saw a girl standing there. Worse, it was a very pretty girl.

I looked her up and down shocked, before noticing her arms being crossed as she was talking to the security guard, phone in hand. I walked over there and greeted him, and they both turned to me. She was angry at first but then turned to smile and a sigh.

“Oh thank god, you’re the new midsolo, Tong Yuo? Right?” The woman in front of her said, I looked at her a little annoyed, but the look on the strange girls face did indicate that she did not mean any harm by not being able to remember her name.

“Tong Yao.” I simply said and her eyes widened and she put up her hands.

“I’m so sorry, Tong Yao! I’m just terrible with names. Xin Gan always says: The only thing I’m worse at than remembering names is cooking.” She rambled and I smiled a little at that seeing as the girl clearly had meant no harm.

“Anyway, I’m rambling. Could you let me in? We can walk to the base together. I promise I am not some stalker fan, I’m just trying to surprise Xin Gan in there, and well, won’t be much of a surprise if he comes to let me in is it?” She said looking at me a little pleadingly, Tong Yao looked her over, she did not look like the type of crazy fan she had seen before, and the fact that she couldn’t remember her name was an indicator that she wasn’t a fan. But she was still sceptical, not wanting to be responsible for trouble she bit her lip in doubt, the woman clearly noticed.

“Look, I have Chengs number, you can compare it to the one you have, would that be good proof?” She asked and Tong Yao smiled a little and nodded taking out her phone, the woman read out the number and it matched the number she had on her own phone. Clearly this woman knew him, Tong Yao began to wonder if she was here to see Cheng, was he the Xin gan she was talking about? The green monster inside of her stirred a little but she could not exactly explain why she should keep her out. And so Tong Yao put on a brave face with a smile that didn’t quite reach her eyes and nodded to the security guard to let them in.

The woman sighed and smiled at her.

“Thank you. I’m Huang Min by the way. I have heard a lot about you.” She said extending her hand, Tong Yao took it hesitantly not liking the woman who was probably here to see Cheng, but she tried to keep that feeling down.

“Only good, I promise.” She followed up as Min let go of Tong Yaos hand and both girls started walking towards the house. They talked on the way there, mostly Min commenting about how she had heard about her great gaming skills. Normally this would have flattered Tong Yao immensely, heck, if this praise was actually coming from Cheng it was a fantastic compliment, but something about her being so close to the boy she liked did not sit right with her.

They reached the base quickly, and Tong Yao tried to keep her feelings in check by instead studying the girl. She was only a little taller than herself, dressed in a t-shirt and suit jacket over some normal pants. Her hair was dark brown and long, but clearly she was not someone who seemed to care too much about her appearance. Sensible shoes indicated that she preferred practicality over style, and her little to no make up said the same thing. Yet she could not help but wonder how she was still very pretty? And worse, was this the kind of girl Cheng liked? Was she simply wearing too much make up and wearing too many skirts for his liking? Tong Yao let them into the base, a little reluctantly, Min put a finger to her lips indicating for her to keep her presence quiet. Tong Yao put on a smile and nodded, taking off her own shoes, Min doing the same quietly.

“I’m back.” Tong Yao said trying to avoid suspicion, it would most likely give Min away if Tong Yao didn’t announce herself like normal. Min smiled and nodded following Tong Yao into the gaming room, she went over to her normal place and sat down, everyone was there except Rui and Ming, who were probably reviewing upstairs. Tong Yao turned and looked back at Min who just shrugged.

“Hey guys, did you miss me?” She said not too loud, the men around Tong Yao turned surprised, before taking off their headsets. Cat and Chubby was instantly up and smiling walking over to Min giving her a hug, she looked uncomfortable during it and they quickly let go. Tong Yao turned to K to see him smirk ever so slightly, which was as close as he ever got to smiling.

“Give me some air would you guys? So I can say hello to the brothers.” She said and Cat and Chubby gave her some space. She walked over and first hugged Lu, before walking over and Cheng also gave her a hug with a smile.

“Min, what brings you here?” He said before letting go, Tong Yao noticed how stange it was that the girl, while they all seemingly knew each other, seemed to not hug any of the boys back, as if she was incomfortable being touched. Something about this calmed Tong Yao a little, Cheng also seemed to quickly sit back down and while he smiled slightly at the present, it didn’t seem like she was there to surprise any of the men currently in the room.

“Well, I missed you guys, and I am writing a show about E-sports at the moment. I figured it would be the perfect time to visit.” She said with a wide grin, Tong Yaos eyes widened.

“You’re not a reporter are you?” She said shocked not wanting anymore bad press around her, luckily she could breathe a little easier as Min laughed lightly.

“God no. No. I write television shows. C-drama at the moment to be exact.” She said and Tong Yao smiled and nodded feeling calm once again.

“No other reason you wanted to visit. You just missed us?” Cheng said a little sarcastically, raising an eye brow as if daring her to answer, as he seemed to ignore their small conversation, she looked at him before rolling her eyes, but then smiled.

“Aw, of course I’m here because I miss you guys. How could I not miss that wonderful smile and charm Hu Zi?” She said and he shrugged with a knowing smile.

Moreover, while it confused Tong Yao, she did calm a little hearing Min call Cheng Hu Zi, she was clearly not talking about him earlier. But that did make her wonder who she was actually here to see, who Cheng has referred to as the person she missed besides them?

“Besides, I had to meet your new Midsolo and–“ She seemed to want to say more, but just then Rui and Ming could be heard talking as they walked down the stairs, the boys attention seemed to be focused between the men coming downstairs and the girl in front of them.

Min stopped herself, before grinning wider once again, lighting up it seemed, as she turned around. Everything around them seemed to stop, as they got downstairs Rui stopped talking as he noticed her in the room, but more importantly Ming continued before looking at Rui weirdly and finally checking for himself what was making the manager act so strangely. Ming paused his own sentence and turned to see what he was looking at, before seemingly freezing as well, but in a different way. Like he couldn’t believe what he was seeing. While Rui looked surprised and Ming did as well, it seemed like Mings world seemed to completely stop as he laid eyes on the girl. Suddenly Min seemed to leap forward and she ran a little towards them, which seemed to break Mings trance ever so slightly, he grinned widely, as she hugged him tightly, he reacted as a few seconds doing the same and seemed like he couldn’t help but laugh a little. Tong Yao was watching this in awe wondering what this was and seeing the other boys around them smile slightly at the sight, she knew that Min had to be someone very special in the otherwise reserved retired Midsolos life. Ming seemed to lift her slightly and they held on each other tightly, for a good while, before finally letting go, but not completely like he couldn’t really believe that she was there if he was not touching her.

“You’er here.” He said and she nodded excitedly.

“I’m here.” She said.

“What are you? How are you here?” He said and she laughed lightly, before hitting his shoulder playfully.

“Well you didn’t tell me you were gonna retire! Had to come confront you about that didn’t I?” She said playfully and he laughed a little and looked down seemingly embarressed.

“Sorry. You know I never keep anything from you.” He said and she nodded with a shrug before turning to quickly greet Rui.

“I know. Still, I can’t believe I had to read about that on Weibo!” She said and he shrugged, he looked up, before seemingly also being drawn out of their little trance bubble noticing the eyes on them.

“Why don’t we take a walk and talk yeah? Clearly we are distracting everyone.” He said seemingly embarrassed but also glared lightly at the players in front of him that should be practicing not watching the two of them. She seemed to blush lightly as she noticed as well, and the boys seemed to look away feigning innocence.

“Can you talk them through what we discussed while I go out for a little while Rui?” He asked turning to the manager who nodded widely.

“Of course, go ahead Ming.” He said, Ming nodded and smiled before putting his hand on her arm and they walked quickly to put on shoes and go outside.

______________________

They went outside and not too far into the garder they found some furniture to sit on.

“I can’t believe you’re here.” Ming said and Min just laughed a little and shrugged.

“Of course I am. I mean I read you retired and knew I had to hurry over here, but not come right away while you and the boys were still adjusting.” She said and he laughed a little and shook his head.

“Always three steps ahead.” he said and she shrugged with a smile.

“How are you?” She asked in a serious tone and he put his hands in his jeans pockets looking down slightly.

“I’m good.” He said before pausing, looking at her she gave him an expecting look and he smiled a little.

“Fine. I’m fine. It’s been a big adjustment, and it has been weird as hell, coaching boys who used to be my teammates. But I don’t hate it as much as I thought it would. I get to stay with them and still seeing them improve, while not worrying about disappointing them. And I don’t hate the dataanalysis as much as I thought I would.” He said honestly and she nodded with a smile, putting her hand on his arm giving it a light squeeze.

“That is good to hear. I always thought you would be good at this kind of stuff. You could always read other people plays so easily, even when you started out. And I know, as well as you and as well as they do, that you could never disappoint those boys in there.” She said and he smiled at her grateful, it seemed like after just looking at each other for a moment, she realised how intimate what she was doing was, and she pulled back looking down, fidgeting with the hand that was just touching him.

“How are you?” He said and she shrugged.

“Pretty good.” She started as well, before looking at him he had the exact same expression as she had had before and she smiled a little and shook her head at how easily he could read her as well.

“Good and bad. Good as in, I’m the writer for a TV-show about e-sports. I think it could be amazing, and it was actually inspired by the girl on your team.” She said with a smile and he nodded proud of her as always, but also nudging her lightly with his elbow.

“And bad as in?” He said and she sighed putting her head into her hands.

“I fucked up.” She said and he chuckled slightly.

“Tell me.” He said calmly and she sighed before looking back to him with a pained expression.

“I fucked up. I signed on to do the show, and gave up my apartment since they wanted me to turn in the episodes weekly in person here in town.” She started and he nodded.

“That’s not bad, I have been begging you to move closer to me for years. Unless you’re implying me visiting more often is a fuck up?” He said with a small grin, and she rolled her eyes at him knowing he was kidding.

“Never.” She said before continuing, glad he still managed to cheer her up a little in the middle of all of her misery.

“But I figured I could just pay for a new place with the money from the show. But I didn’t read the contract close enough, and now I am not allowed to get other work, and they don’t pay me until after the show is finished. I should have read it more closely, I have been in this business long enough to know that people are always trying to screw you over.” She said putting her head in her hands again. He lightly put his hand on the top of her head as a means to comfort her.

“So you can’t afford a new place if you want to cover your living expenses?” He said and she nodded, he had figured it out.

“And I will not accept your money, and well, my parents are, you know. What do I do Xin Gan?” She said turning to look at him, feeling and looking lost.

He mulled it over, he knew she would not accept his money. She did not want money to come between them and therefore they had always promised to help each other out in other ways no matter how much the other person was struggling. Like when she lowered his rent to almost nothing while he was training to go pro and she had a good steady job. He wanted more than anything to repay her from back then. Hell he had promised he would, even if she refused him. He thought it over, thought about what he could do, and he had an idea, a bad one, but an idea non the less. She would also refuse it if he used his earnings to buy her a small apartment till she got paid, knowing it would be the same as borrowing money from him. Sadly he lived at the base and did not have a place outside of there, so there was only one option for him.

“You could move in with me, for the time being.” He said with a small smile, she turned to him with an annoyed expression.

“We both know I can’t do that, unless you got an apartment in the last hour.” She said feeling a little hopeless. He just shrugged.

“I didn’t. But I mean it. Move in here, I am sure none of the boys would mind.” He said and she rolled her eyes once again.

“Ming, I know the rules, only staff and players are allowed at the base and last time I checked I was neither. Besides, there are no more spare rooms.” She said a little frustrated about how calmly he was about this, she had come to him for advice and comfort, not to hear bad ideas. He grinned and shook his head at her.

“First off, we can bribe Rui not to tell on you, and the boys won’t either, so the club doesn’t have to know. Besides you mostly just need somewhere to write, and I have an officespace in my room that I never use. As for the lack of rooms, we can share. There are meant to be two people in my room and I have it all to myself. We both know we don’t mind living together, and besides it is only temporary until you finish writing. The club can’t exactly fault me for that, and even if they do, we will just tell them you’re my girlfriend, and technically there are no rules against spouses living at the base, for players yes, but I am no longer a player.” He said with a grin. She looked at him biting her lip a little nervous as she thought over his words.

“I don’t wanna be an inconvenience, and I especially don’t wanna risk you getting in trouble with the club.” She said and he shrugged putting his arm around her shoulders in a comforting manner.

“You’re my Xin Gan, you can never be an inconvenience for me. And I will not get into trouble, even so, I will risk it for you. Besides I have missed living with you after all these years.” He said and she chuckled lightly.

“Okay. I imagine it is my famous cooking you’ve been missing all of these years.” She said making him laugh. He hugged her close and they sat like this for a moment, this time his spell seemed to break and he realised how intimate what he was doing was and he pulled away.

____________________________

*Meanwhile back at the base*

After some grueling training with Rui, the team sorely missed their normal coach. Since Rui didn’t understand the game the same way his explanations seemed to drag on and on. After a good training game they all got a little break before the next one. Tong Yao took of her headphones and turned to Cheng.

“Cheng-a, what is up with Ming and the girl, Min?” She said innocently, she was simply curious, seeing how strange this all seemed if you didn’t know them. He turned to her and shrugged, but he could not help but smirk a little while doing so, wanting to tease her a little. Her eyes widened.

“Is that Mings girlfriend?” She said and he could not help but smile a little at that comment, plus seeing her reaction was priceless.

“He wished.” Cat interrupted, earning himself a small slap on the arm from K who did not look up from his computer. Tong Yao looked at him confused but Cheng cleared his throat wanting the girls attention back on him.

“She is, well she is hard to explain. She and Ming grew up together, best friends, even shared an apartment when they went to uni.” He started and Tong Yao looked at him a little surprised, knowing how uncommon it was for unmarried people of the opposite sex living together was.

“Then Ming went pro, and was disowned by his family. And well, she stayed so she became the only family he had left.” Cheng continued looking down slightly knowing how many games and support that girl had been to, knowing she was trying to fill a hole that shouldn’t have been left. Tong Yao looked down, in the beginning it had comforted her to know that everyones family was against their decisions to play e-sports, but hearing this, she really felt how she had been let off easy with her own parents.

“When he got comfortable here as an e-sports player she decided to drop out of university as well to pursue her dream of writing TV. She succeeded, and well, she has been just out of town doing just that ever since. She visits as often as she can, and he visits whenever the rest of us go home to see our family for holidays.” He continued and she smiled a little thinking about how wonderful it was to have a relationship like that. Cheng seemed content with his explanation and turned back to his computer. Tong Yao however was not content and had one burning question about their coach whom she thought she knew everything about.

“So does he really wish she was his girlfriend?” She said and Cheng just shook his head indicating how he did not want to answer, she turned to Chubby who just shrugged, but Tong Yao knew she could always get an answer out of Chubby.

“Come on, tell me. Please.” She said pleading and looking over at the boy whose will seemed to be crumpling easily.

“He loves her, obviously, and she loves him.” Chubby said with a smile, but earning a glare from Cheng which shut him up slightly but he did want to continue.

“But neither of them think the other one feels the same way, blind fools if you’re asking me.” He said and Tong Yao nodded with a small smile seeing how they both seemed to look down and away, while desperately wanting to look up and the other one to do the same. But once again the captain piped up, he glared at Chubby and then Tong Yao.

“But, it is not our business and we should therefore not get involved or invested.” He said sternly. She nodded for once understanding exactly what he meant by what he said.

Thankfully that had shut them all up, and not a moment too soon, a minute or two later the two walked back into the gaming room smiling and laughing as they talked lightly walking in. They stood at the end of the room before waving Rui over to talk to him. After seemingly clearing it with him, they turned and Ming cleared his throat getting everyones attention.

“Listen guys, if non of you object to it, and please remember you really can at any time you being comfortable is the top priority. So if non of you object to it, I want Min to move into my room until she can find her own place to stay. Any objections?” He asked looking at them all kindly, she smiled a little also but also looked a little nervous. He looked around at all the players and Tong Yao looked around as well trying to gaze the others reactions. Seeing no objections she was going to pipe up.

“You’re more than welcome Min, at least speaking for me.” Cheng said calmly and she nodded with a smile. Soon the rest of the team followed suit declaring their welcomes for her.

“I don’t object either, but will the club allow it?” Tong Yao said slightly concerned Ming just smiled and shrugged.

“Don’t worry about that. Besides what the club doesn’t know won’t hurt them.” Ming said with a small smile and Tong Yao nodded.

“Thank you guys. I promise to repay you for this some time.” Min said with a wide smile looking at them all.

___________________________

And so there was another girl living at the base, she didn’t seem to bring much, and she was put up in Ming’s room. Tong Yao noted how it would have been much more appropriate for her to move into her room, but she did not complain about still having the room all to herself while she mulled over what to do about Cheng.

It was almost no adjustment to having another girl at the base, she clearly tried to be as little in the way as possible and mostly seemed to stay in the room while she was working. Only occasionally sitting in the dining area to write.

It was a little uncomfortable for the two friends at first, that much was obvious. It had been years since Ming had moved to the base leaving Min in their old apartment, before she had moved out of the city to work for a network. Their habits had changed a little, Min seemed a little startled as Ming woke her up gently in the morning, he smiled at her before walking off to get ready.

“It’s been a while since you woke me up like that.” She commented as she sat up in her bed checking her e-mails on her phone. He just smiled to himself as he got out his clothes for the day.

“I’m still surprised that you’re less of a morning person than I am.” He said remembering how he had to almost pull her out of bed for university. She rolled her eyes but smiled a little at the memory as well.

“You used to also set the clocks back an hour so I thought I was late. I still hate you for that.” She said and he laughed as she pointed at him feigning annoyance.

The conversation died down, and she continued to check her e-mails as he got dressed. Finally she got up as well and picked out her clothes as well. She bumped into him on the way to the bathroom and both of them seemed to blush and look down but said nothing as they walked around each other. Brushing their teeth in zync seemed both very familiar to them both, as well as a little weird. He did his hair, she brushed hers. They seemed to compliment each other, but clearly had gotten comfortable doing their own rutines, having do adjust back to how it was when they developed their rutines.

They walked out together smiling at each other lightly. They talked with the boys and Tong Yao during breakfast, and as they walked off to work out, they put away the dishes together.

“You don’t have to help, you got work to do.” Min said as Ming started helping her, he just tisked lightly.

“You don’t have to help either. And you also have work to do. Otherwise you’ll have to live with me forever.” He said and she shrugged.

“You thought I was leaving when I’m finished?” She said with a smirk indicating that she was kidding.

They joked around as they put away the dishes and then walked to the room to get their respective work supplies.

He decided to stay in the room and sat down at the desk as she stood up pulling out a marker and started writing on the whiteboard behind him. She always put on headphones and walked around as she thought up her stories. He had read her stories since they went to school and they were just short stories she loved to make up. He felt himself focusing less and less on the game he was supposed to be reviewing and more on watching her walking around thinking and writing. He noted how much he had missed this. He had always loved watching her work, whether it was studying for school or writing, or anything else. Something about the complete concentration on her face was mesmerising for him. He knew he should not feel this way, after all this was his childhood friend, his best friend, the only family he had left. But he could not help but want to ruin it all. Some part of him hoped and prayed that one day he would have the guts to grab her arm and kiss her. And he dared whenever he allowed the thought to happen, to imagine her kissing him back. But he also reminded himself that this was all a fantasy, and while they loved each other and deeply so, even going as far as calling each other Xin Gan, he also knew it was not a love like that. He knew she loved him as family. And Ming reminded himself that he was contend, or had to be content, with that.

He had of course tried dating other girls, but something about them was not exactly right, and he kept looking at them wishing that they were her. And so, he had always ended up breaking it off, it never seemed fair to be with someone if you were only trying to replace someone else.

His stare was broken when she waved her hand in front of his face. She gave him a smile and a knowing look. He composed himself, feeling kind of embarrassed that he had been caught starring at her.

“Oi, aren’t you supposed to be watching that? If my pacing and stuff is distracting you I can always work somewhere else.” She said and he just smiled and shook his head.

“No, it’s fine. I just, I guess I just missed seeing you work.” He said and she smiled and looked down before shaking her head. She felt butterflies in her stomach when he said that, but she knew he never felt the same way about her, so she suppressed it as always and tried to change into a playful, friendly, safe, tone.

“Well you can watch when you’re done with your work.” She said and he smiled a little and shook his head, but did turn back to the laptop knowing she was right, and knowing she would hate if she was the cause of him not doing a good job.

She had always pushed him to work hard, practically feeding him when he was working on becoming a pro-gamer. She shook her head with a small smile, and after watching him refocus, she turned back, but this time she was distracted. Thinking about all the nights she had spent admiring him play games when she was supposed to work or study. She always admired his ambition and skill, and she knew he would be great as a pro player, she had promised herself as soon as he started getting serious about gaming that she would support him no matter what. He was like family to her yes, but also something more, she noticed years ago how when he complimented her or said something sweet how she got butterflies in her stomach. And while that never passed completely like she had hoped it would. But there was more to it than that. She had also noted that while she dated other boys she always seemed to compare them to him, and then they never quite stacked up. More importantly she noted that even if her dates were able to give her butterflies in her stomach, she never got as comfortable around them as she could around him. She never felt as safe and like she could be herself, like she could with him. She also knew she was never comfortable with others touching her, always having a weird feeling when it happened – and yet she always felt herself not having a problem hugging him back like she did everyone else. The worst was when she was writing love stories like this, she always felt herself imagining what it would be like if Ming were to do those things with her. If he would finally wake up and realise how much she really loved him. If at some point he would stop her from walking away by grabbing her wrist like they always did in the dramas.

She even imagined doing it herself whenever he had visited her and had to go, but she always stopped herself from doing it. She hated it but she was scared and no matter how much she sometimes wished that she could just get herself together and get up the courage to ruin their friendship. She also knew that they were all both of them had left. They were each others family. And she knew he didn’t feel the same way as her, so the risk of ruining what support net and family they both had left, seemed selfish to her. And so she stayed quiet and sometimes watched him as he worked, and she would be happy to watch from that small distance.

_____________________

She worked hard knowing how much needed to get done quickly, she had already planned out the gist of all the episodes, which was what got her hired int the first place and now she just planned them out scene by scene before writing it.

When she was just writing she had taken to write at the dining table, it was nice to have background noise, but more importantly whenever she felt herself lacking inspiration she could look up and watch the people around her. Watch Ming as he instructed them all.

Some evenings while they were still playing but more having leisure time, she was still writing in the same spot, Ming would sit beside her reviewing his notes from that day. Whenever she got frustrated with the story she would lean over and put her head on his shoulder and sigh almost wimp in frustration. He could not help but laugh a little as she seemed to only need some comfort and contact with him for a few moments, before looking up annoyed but lifting her head and getting back to work. Eventually all the players went to bed and it was just the two of them. Ming had finished reviewing his notes, but she was not finished, and so he kept his eyes on the notebook not wanting to leave her while she was writing, taking to watching her more and more as she did so with a small smile. He had really missed having her around like this.

Eventually she seemed to pause after putting a period on a line, she then sighed and save the document before turning to him.

“You should be in bed.” She said and he smiled a little and shook his head at her.

“So should you. And since when do I have a bedtime?” He said and she laughed a little at his comment hitting his arm lightly.

“Since you were my alarmclock. Now, if you behave maybe I’ll tell you a bedtime story.” She said grinning and he got up quickly as a gesture making her laugh.

She folded her laptop and took it in one hand, before taking his extended hand as he helped her up. They let go shortly after and looked down and away from the other, not wanting to show how much they wanted to continue to hold the others hand. As they walked towards their room. They chatted lightly about their day as they both changed into sleeping clothes and brushed their teeth. It made his heart skip a beat when he noticed that her sleeping t-shirt was once of his old ones, but he knew he had probably just left it in their apartment when he had moved out and it had naturally gotten into her clothes. Even as he reminded himself of that and that it meant nothing he could not help but love seeing her wearing his old t-shirt, slightly imagining her walking around in a newer one. But he pushed that thought and feeling down and walked instead to take off his watch and get in bed. She walked into the room with a small smile, before turning off the lights, and walking to her bed, turning on the reading light.

“So, what kind of story do you want?” She said smiling a little and got comfortable under the covers before turning to lie and look at him, he could not help but turn as well but just shrugged.

“Something with a happy ending?” He said and she chuckled lightly.

“I will see what I can do.” She said and she started telling a story, making it up as she went on, and she lied there looking at him, and he looked at her as she talked, seemingly neither of them wanted to look away, and he was mesmerised, he wished he could always fall asleep this way, looking at her, hearing her talk quietly. He stopped himself from thinking further than that, knowing the only thing that would be better would be if he was allowed to hold her as well. But that thought was only comforting for a second, before it made him feel bad knowing he would never have that.

______________________

She wanted to come see them at their next tournament, but knowing she would have to take time off to do so, she started spending day and night writing in order to make time for it and still meet her weekly deadline.

One night she had asked Ming to go to bed, promising to be in in an hour, he lied awake waiting to hear the door open, but as he checked his watch seeing it had been more than an hour, he went up to get her. He smiled a little as he walked out seeing her having fallen asleep sitting up, laptop still open. He walked over to her quietly and saved her document, before closing down the laptop. He shoved her lightly but she only seemed to stir, he didn’t wanna wake her. Both knowing how exhausted she was having written until early morning to late in the night these past few days. But he also knew she could not sleep out there, and he thought over how to move her without disturbing her too much. He decided to lean over and putting her arms around his neck, before carefully lifting her up and begun carrying her the short distance towards the room. He could not help but smile as she seemed to intuitively lean her head against his chest, feeling both comfortable and like he lost some breath when he felt her breathing on his neck. He walked to their door and shut it with his foot before carrying her over to her bed. He put her down and tugged her. She continued sleeping but he did not want to get up and go to his own bed, not yet. He sat at the edge of her bed for a moment admiring her before getting up knowing it was time for him to go sleep in his own bed. He sighed and looked her over one last time before going over to his side, he sat on his bed then turned off the reading light and got into his own bed.

__________________

Tong Yao quite liked having another girl in the house. She talked with Min whenever she had the time and she had so far appreciated the woman's advice, seeing as she was older than herself she did have more experience even than her good friend. Tong Yao had yet not dared to ask Min about Ming, her slight scolding from Cheng still sitting In her. One afternoon they were sitting outside, her taking a break from writing and seeming to enjoy the weather as a means to clear her head. Tong Yao joined her outside and min gave her a smile as a greeting.

“Min-a, I have been a little scared to ask and please do not take offence, but whats the deal with you and Ming?” Tong Yao gathered the courage to ask, she looked down but continued to smile clearly wondering if she should tell the young woman just how complicated their relationship was, at least when you considered her feelings.

“No worries. I can’t imagine my answer will differ much from whatever the boys already told you. We grew up together, shared an apartment in university, then he moved out to well, here, and I stayed and supported him as he went pro. His courage inspired me to pursue my writing. Neither of our parents liked our dream careers, and so even if we became successful, we haven’t really seen or talked to them in years.” She said looking down seemingly feeling her feelings stir inside as remembered just why she depended that much on the man in there.

“That is terrible.” Tong Yao said, not knowing how else to respond and Min just shrugged.

“Yes. But on the other hand I am a little grateful. Ming might be my only family, but I chose my family, and choosing to love someone, and continuing to choose to love them throughout the years. I think that that bond is just as great as any love we could have received from our real family.” She said with a smile looking at the boys who were fooling around inside fondly.

“If you love each other, why aren’t you together?” Tong Yao blurted out, after having acknowledged how beautiful the older woman’s sentiment was. Min snorted a little startled at question but just smiled afterwards mulling over how to explain this to her. She always had a hard time explaining it to herself. Thankfully Cheng walked out and interrupted before Min could explain and she was grateful for not having to explain that she was in love with her best friend and that he would never love her back in that way.

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She went with them to the arena, but stayed quiet most of the time, letting them all focus on getting ready for the game. She stayed in the player lounge with Lu, Rui and later Ming as well as they watched the game on the screen there.

She sat next to Ming during and nudged him lightly and grinning whenever the team did something well as if to silently praise him, he smiled back at her as she did so.

She only started piping up and talking again once they went out to dinner, and she seemed to beam about how great they had all played.

“You don’t have to come out to dinner with us, you know?” Ming said as they were sat on the bus and she just smiled and shook her head at him.

“Of course I wanna come celebrate your guys success. But you don’t have to stay. You know you should go out some time, there is a whole world out there and you’ve missed most of it playing pro all these years. You’re retired. You should go out and experience all those things you couldn’t before!” She said and he just shook his head laughing a little.

“Are you calling me boring?” He said playfully but she just rolled her eyes at him.

“Not the point. I’m just saying, you're more cooped up in that base now that you’re retired than you were when you were playing. Why don’t you go out some time? Live a little?” She said encouraging and he just shrugged and looked out the window, knowing exactly what she was implying.

She wanted him to experience more from this world than he could from inside the base, she had always been the adventurous one, always dragging him to try new restaurants, and stuff, always had. He paused also to stop himself from saying his first thought which was: but I only wanna go out and experience the world if it’s with you.

A part of him wanted to say it, wanted to tell her that he had gone out every once in a while, but now that she was constantly at the base, working, that was the only place he wanted to be.

“Maybe another time?” He settled on saying still wanting to make her happy, but knowing he could not say what he really wanted to. She shook her head lightly at him.

“Fine. But I am holding you to that. I want you to go out and experience life!” She said and he nodded knowing fully well that she would pester him until he went out.

__________________

As the weeks went on pester him she did. He knew she had his best interests at heart. But he felt like his heart was breaking every time she asked him to go outside off the base. He used the work as an excuse, but that got hard as well when the players had days off they both knew fully well there was nothing stopping him from going out as well. Except for the fact that he just wanted to be with her.

“Just go out. Just go out.” She was following him around saying one day where everyone had the day off.

“No.” He insistere they both knew she was getting on his nerves and she was counting on that breaking him so that he would finally accept her advice.

“Why not?” She said they seemed to have had this conversation a million times over the course of these last few weeks. He seemed to finally have had enough, something inside him just cracked and he couldn’t take it anymore so he turned around almost angry that she had pushed him to this point.

“Because I love you, and you're the only person I would go out to see!” He yelled, it felt like his whole world stopped as the words just leapt out of him.

Like he had had no control over what happened. And he knew as soon as he said them that he could never take them back. He felt like he had just ruined his life all over again. Even if it did feel somewhat good to say. It felt good to get out. To finally admit what he had been feeling for years. The weight may have been lifted, but that lightness was immediately cancelled out by his brain, his logic, his reasoning. The part of him that reminded him that he had said the one thing he had promised himself to never say. He had uttered words worse than a curseword. He had said something and he could never take it back. He had ruined their friendship. He had ruined his last hope, his family. He would lose everything, all at once. He had ruined everything.

He stood there frozen and felt all of these things, but then he looked at her.

He dared.

She stood there, having stopped in her tracks and she looked at him completely frozen as well.

It was almost like they both unconsciously thought that if they just stayed completely still then this would have never happened. He felt his heart break into a million pieces as she stayed there seeming completely shocked, and he knew what it meant. He knew what she was going to say.

He had fucked it up.

“Ming, I…” She started, but paused not knowing how to say anything right now.

She was shocked, everything up until now had been playful, normal. Then he yelled that out of the blue, and it was like he had knocked all the air out of her. She stood there frozen trying to regain her breath. No idea how to react.

This was amazing, it should have made her the happiest person in the world. The man she loved just confessed that he loved her. Her heart seemed to skip as well, and she felt like she could hear it beating just like in those old western cartoons.

But she was pulled back to reality by her brain. Her logic, her reasoning. The part of her that reminded herself why she had never acted on this. She panicked as she dared to meet Mings eyes, and his heart seemed to break. She knew she was doing so, and she hated it. She never wanted to see him hurt. And so she did the only thing she knew how to do. She turned around and walked away. She took her shoes and left the base, she walked away not know where she was going just that she needed to get away, it felt like the further away from Ming she got the more she seemed to be able to breathe. As she was finally at a good enough distance the emotions that built up inside of her boiled over and she started crying, but she continued on needing to get away. Not wanting him to see her cry. Not wanting to him to think he was the cause of this.

She cried for a good while and the emotional release felt good, but she knew that her problems would definitely still be there when she stopped crying. Some part of her hoped if she just cried long enough it would all disappear.

Someone cleared their throat behind her. She had completely gotten wrapped up in everything and forgotten that people lived around here. She quickly wiped her eyes and stood up to face whoever had caught her. She smiled at the girl in front of her, the girl looked at her seemingly kindly but also in a curious manner.

“Are you okay?” She asked and Min just chuckled a little.

“No.” Min said thinking about the absurdity of it all. The girl smiled a little at that response.

“What are you doing here, crying?” She asked curiously, and she took a deep breath calming myself down.

“I live with ZGDX, or lived, I might have fucked it up. I’m Huang Min, you?” Min said and the girl nodded, and made an oh face.

“I’ve heard of you. I’m Tong Yao’s friend, Cheng Jin Yang.” She said greeting her back, Min nodded having heard Tong Yao talk to her on the phone.

“Tong Yao told me you’re Ming’s best friend. What happened?” Jin Yang asked and Min just looked up into the sky and sighed not knowing how to explain this all to her. The worst part about all of this was the fact that the person she really wanted to talk to about this, was Ming.

“Long story.” Min simply said not having the energy after her long cry to actually explain it all.

“The short story is I am broke and need a place to sleep for the night while I figure out how to deal with my fuck up.” Min said thinking logically, she knew herself well enough to know that she could not go back to the base, she needed to calm herself, figure out what this all meant before she faced him. She needed a plan before she just ran to him. To this Jin Yang grinned.

“Lucky for you, I have a couch, some wine and plenty of time to listen to relationship drama.” She said and Min laughed a little and shook her head lightly.

“I don’t wanna be an inconvenience.” Min said and Jin Yang waved her off.

“I have a spare room for Tong Yao. And besides, I love relationship drama. Think of you telling me about it as payment for me.” Jin Yang said and Min laughed a little and shook her head at the girl who seemed almost silly to her, she did think it through though, knowing she needed the place and time to cool off, and she was currently out of most options.

“Fine.” She said and Jin Yang grinned and led her to her car.

____________________

At her place they got some food and Jin Yang sat across from her on the couch, Min wanted to hide but she knew there was no way to escape the curious girl. They had talked about more trivial things on the way there. She told her about her boyfriend and how her and Tong Yao had become friends. Min only felt comfortable talking about her job, everything else seemed to lead back to Ming which led to all of those emotions.

“So what happened?” Jin Yang said not letting Min escape it anymore. She sighed and put down her food knowing it would be a long explanation.

“Me and Ming, the coach, we have been best friends since we were kids. We went to uni together and even shared an apartment. He went pro. I got my job. Our families didn’t approve. And he just told me that he loves me. I knew, sort of, but a different kind of love than he meant just then.” Min started and Jin Yangs eyes widened.

“What are you waiting for then? From what I heard from Tong Yao you two have been head over heels for each other!” Jin Yang said and I sighed knowing it was not as simple as that.

“I didn’t think it was possible that he felt the same way until today. But there is more to it than that.” Min started letting her worries completely consume her.

“We have known each for so long, what if there is no more left to learn? And we just gradually get bored of each other?” Min said and Jin Yang just gave her a glare but Min continued.

“And more importantly, yes we love each other, but this would completely change everything. And I have no idea how to be in a relationship with him. I haven’t dated too much since I always just wanted him.” Min said and Jin Yang looked at her confused.

“You have always wanted him, and you have known each other forever. You want him, have had for a while, what is stopping you? And if you have been friends for this long, clearly the both of you can’t get enough of each other.” Jin Yang said and Min nodded mulling over the words. They calmed her slightly but not enough.

“But more importantly, for almost 10 years, he has been my only family and I have been his. We don’t have anyone else. I can’t risk losing him because we start dating and have a stupid fight.” Min said wanting to cry, that was her biggest worry, having to give him up because couples fight and when they did he would leave and never come back. Maybe being his best friend she didn’t get everything she wanted but at least she knew he would stay.

“You won’t. But I see why you’re worried.” Jin Yang said clearly having no good response to this one. Min leaned back her head feeling like she had just validated all of her worries.

“But wouldn’t it be worth it?” Jin Yang said and Min looked at her confused.

“You will actually both get to have what you want. You will both get to be happy. Maybe that happiness is fleeting, but at least you don’t have to live waiting for him anymore. You won’t have to settle for anyone else.” Jin Yang said and Min nodded understanding her reasoning completely. She simply felt that all her worries had a stronger emotional pull on her at the moment.

“Besides, your relationship has already changed right now. So in my opinion you have the choice between losing him now or maybe losing him later.” She said and Min nodded feeling horrible. The girl put her hand on her arm in a comforting manner.

“I have to go to bed, stay up as long as you’d like.” She said and Min nodded thanking the girl who got up and got ready for bed. Min continued sitting on the couch enjoying the view of the skyline, but mostly she was lost in thought.

___________________

*Meanwhile back at the base*

Ming watched as her eyes met his finally and he felt his heart break, like it could stop and he wouldn’t care. Then he stood there and watched her walk away. Take her shoes and leave.

She left him.

She had promised back when his family did that she would never do that and here she was leaving him. And he felt his heart somehow break once again.

She was gone and he was not only worried about where she would go, but also what he would do. He had ruined it. He had ruined his chance at happiness. He had said what he promised he never would.

And now all he could do was stand there looking at the door where she had just left, praying that somehow she would come back. Somehow she would forget everything and maybe she would come back to him.

But he knew that that was all a fantasy. The reality was that he would most likely never see her again. That he had just watched his Xin Gan walk out the door for the last time. And he thought almost wanted to laugh about how much it now fit that they had called each other than for so many years. Because truly he had no idea how he was going to continue living without his Xin Gan.

Finally he felt a hand being placed on his shoulder. He was pulled out of his gaze and he looked up at Cheng-a giving him a sad look. Ming tried to contain himself and just put on a small smile to try to convey that he appreciated what the young boy was doing. They both knew that there was nothing either of them could do to rectify this. He turned around and looked at the players in front of him, who had also seemed to stop in their place to watch them.

“I’m sorry you guys had to see that and therefore feel involved.” Ming simply said trying his best to focus on them and not how much he wanted to break down. He wanted to still seem professional, no matter how much these people were also his friends.

“That’s absurd. You shouldn’t be apologising to us Ming.” Tong Yao finally piped up the rest of them piped up saying the same and it made him smile a little and look down.

“But what are you going to do Ming? Go after her?” The young girl asked and he sighed trying to think. What was he going to do? He thought about his best friend and how she reacted to things, what he could possibly do. The annoying thing was mostly that the only person he wanted to talk about this with, the only person whose advice he wanted, well it was her.

“I will stay here, continue to coach you guys. Don’t worry about me.” Ming said hoping they would all just let him off, deal with this on his own and not let this steal focus from their training.

“Forget about us. Why don’t you go after her?” Chubby said and Cheng gave him a stern look as if to once again say not to get involved. Ming sighed and shook his head.

“I can’t go after her.” He admitted looking down not wanting to explain how much he had really just royally screwed up his life. He looked back at them and gave them the best smile he could muster at the moment and then walked towards the sofa area to sit down to try and process all of it. Sadly they all seemed to follow him and sat down opposite him, even if he could hear Cheng protest.

“I’m gonna be fine guys. No need to be worried about me like this.” Ming said not wanting them to spare too much of their focus on his stupid mistake. That would just add to his already mile high pile of guilt.

“But I don’t understand. It was so clear how much you two loved each other. How could she just leave like that?” Tong Yao protested earning herself a small smack from Cheng who was clearly trying to control the group around him.

“That is non of our business.” Cheng said sternly looking at the far too invested Chubby, Kat and Tong Yao in front of him. Ming looked at Cheng a little grateful, but figuring he might as well explain it to them, knowing he would have to do so eventually. Maybe ripping the bandaid off earlier could help him get over it quickly. He knew that was a lie. But maybe he would be able to not think of it as much or at least not have them bring it up.

“I shouldn’t have said anything. And I am not going after her. Not because I don’t want to, but because I know there is no point. She is either off dealing with it and then she will come back and reject me. Or she will never come back and leave me a note rejecting me. Either way I lose her. No point in hurrying the process more than necessary.” Ming said looking down certain that this was it. He had ruined his entire life. He would no longer have anyone to spend the holidays with.

He was truly alone now.

No longer on a team.

No longer any family.

Alone.

“How are you so sure she is rejecting you? Maybe she just had to deal with the shock.” Tong Yao said clearly just trying to cheer him up, Ming just shook his head.

“It’s fine Tong Yao. Let’s not talk about it anymore. It’s getting late, you guys should go to bed.” He said looking at his watch, wanting to continue being the responsible adult they needed in their lives.

He ushered them all off to bed, and then walked to his own bedroom, but paused a the doorknob knowing what awaited him.

Her things.

Their room.

He stood there for a good while, not ready to go inside, terrified to go inside. Because once he did he knew he would truly have to accept the reality of the situation. After a while he knew he would have to. And so he took a deep breath and opened the door.

He walked inside and looked at it all. Her unmade bed. The notes on the whiteboard in her handwriting. Her clothes hanging beside his in the closet. He sighed and simply went to bed without changing clothes, too tired to do anything else. Everything was weighing so heavily on his he felt like he would never get up again. He knew he would, but more importantly he felt like he would never be happy again.

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*The next day*

Ming tried to go about his day as perusal, but somehow he had already gotten so used to his rutine involving her, and without her there the space all felt empty. Everything just seemed to quiet. Too empty. Lonely.

He tried to keep focus on work and working with the guys but he knew he wasn’t making the best decision at the moment. He was making them based on logic alone, feeling like if he locked up all of his emotions he could make it to bed at night. The hours passed and in the evening he watched them play the practice match but knew he wasn’t really there.

They won and he congratulated them all, and they were happy, but none if it reached him. He didn’t feel like himself, and he didn’t feel like he had earned their victory.

They were all just sitting around some of them playing games for fun. And he looked at his notes, trying to get an overview of his future strategy. But he felt like his brain was in a fog. Suddenly the door opened and Min walked in with Jin Yang who greeted them. He could feel his breath get stuck in his throat as he felt like he might be seeing things. But after blinking a few times he knew it was true. She was there. She was back. She had come back to him.

And then it all sank in all over again. She was back, she was there to break his heart all over again. And then she would leave again, this time forever. Leaving him to live this miserable existence.

“Ming, can we talk?” Min said.

Her eyes had barely left his as she had entered, she had had a plan in her head all day thinking of what she was going to do, what she was going to say when she finally saw him again.

And then there he was, right in front of her. And she felt like she couldn’t breathe all over again. She could feel all of her nerves build up. She felt how much she had broke his heart by leaving and she felt terrible knowing she had caused him to feel this way. She neared him and finally he nodded looking around to notice everyone once again looking at them. He didn’t want them involved in this. He did not want them to worry about him, he nodded once to indicated that they would go to his room, their room, he almost cringed as he thought so, thinking of how painful it was going to be once she left him there all alone.

They went inside in silence. Both of them not knowing what to say. Not yet.

Min felt like fidgeting but fought the urge to, trying her best to think of how to tell him everything she felt. She had practiced it in her head all day and now that she was here it was like the words all faded away. She was never good with words like this. She knew she was a good writer, there she had control and could perfectly communicate what she wanted. But out here in the real world, there were stakes, there were people she loved, true emotions attached. Out here she could fail by saying the wrong thing. Out here she could ruin her life and relationship with her only family by saying the wrong thing. And so, she was nervous.

Even if Jin Yang was right, she would lose him either way, it was better to give it a chance and at least be happy for a while. Part of her couldn’t leave the past behind. Part of her couldn’t help but not want to risk it all, and simply go back to where they would both be safe. Even if it meant neither of them really got what they wanted. At least then they wouldn’t have to risk it. She cleared her throat trying to get the words out, but as she looked up at him she froze and she felt like the words were stuck in her throat like a lump. He looked at her sadly, wanting desperately to say anything that would keep her from leaving him again.

“I’m sorry.” He started looking up at her in a pleading manner, she didn’t want him to say that, and she opened her mouth to speak but nothing came out still. She wanted to protest. Tell him that she was the one that should be sorry.

“I’m so sorry Xin Gan. I shouldn’t have said that. I shouldn’t have felt that. I will stop. I just. Please if I could take it all back I promise I would.” He said pleading with her feeling desperate inside and he reached out but stopped himself from touching her, feeling like it would somehow make it all worse.

She looked back at him and she felt frozen all over again. She hated seeing him like this, hating seeing him looking so heartbroken all because of her. She wanted to reach out and tell him that all he clearly thought was a lie. She hadn’t left because he had ruined everything. She had left because she was scared of how much she wanted to as well. She wanted to tell him that. Tell him that she loved him just as much as he hopefully loved her. She wanted to tell him that a small part of her was grateful that he had ruined everything, because now they had a chance to actually both be happy. Get what they want. She wanted to tell him how she had decided to be brave, once again because he had done it first. And that she would risk it all for him.

Yet she didn’t seem to be able to express any of it. She couldn’t get any words out. She looked at him desperate to tell him it all, to actually be brave.

She wanted to, but something inside of was stopping her. Holding her back from telling him how she felt.

Finally she thought: Fuck it. If I can’t say a word then.

She paused mid thought and quickly decided that maybe what was stopping her from speaking would stop her from doing anything if she thought too hard about. And so she just did.

She reached out, put her hand on Mings cheek gently. Before walking closer and pulling him closer, so that she in one swift motion could lean over and kiss him.

She kissed him.

She tried to tell him everything she had wanted to say, hoping somehow he understood her.

He was frozen, shocked. He had stood there knowing the signs of her being nervous but he was convinced it was because she had no idea how to tell him the bad news.

Then she did this.

She kissed him.

She was kissing him.

He cheered this mentally and then finally seemed to break his own trance. Realising she not only didn’t seem to be leaving him. On the contrary he might finally be able to hold her like he had day dreamed about. Kiss her. Express how much he had loved her for so many years. And if he was as lucky as he felt at the moment – she would love him back.

After she managed to begin panicking, thinking she might have made a mistake doing this, that he wasn’t going to respond. That her actions weren’t louder than the words she couldn’t get out. She started to panic. Thinking about how this time she had ruined it all.

Then it happened, he reacted, after what felt like an eternity. He kissed her back.

Not only that but she could feel his arms wrap around his waist pulling her closer. Lips moving perfectly against each other. She couldn’t help but smile a little into the kiss and he did as well, but neither wanted to let go. She wrapped her hands around his neck, and even when they pulled away for air, he leaned his forehead against hers. She could feel his hot breath on her face, and part of her didn’t dare open her eyes again, almost scared he would disappear if she did.

“I love you too.” She muttered, and almost let out a sigh of relief knowing she could talk again.

He seemed to relax even more and she opened her eyes to see him pulling away to look at her with a big smile on his face. The biggest she had seen probably since he got contacted for his contract. He was stunned and felt almost confused that this was happening. He understood or at least hoped he understood what this all meant. He had never before dared to dream that she actually felt the same way. That she would reciprocate his feelings. And yet here she was, her hands around his neck, having just kissed him. He kissed her cheek not knowing what else to do how else to express how happy he was.

Suddenly there was a loud sound from their door and it seemed to pull them both out of their little trance. The reality of their situation dawned on them. Ming just smiled at her and kissed her forehead quickly.

“One second.” He said quietly, he hated to but he let go of her and walked over to the door, overjoyed over everything else but annoyed that he even had to do this. He swung the door open and looked at the team, Rui and Jin Yang, was stood there trying to not look suspiciously like they had been listening in. He crossed his arms looking at them all sternly.

“Go away.” He said as calmly as he could, but seeing frustration on some of their faces.

“But what happened? You went all quiet and–“ Chubby protested and Ming just put up his hand.

“This is non of your business. Now, go away and train or I will make you play till your hands ache. Capice?” He said looking at the players sternly, they seemed disappointed but clearly non of them wanted to mess with their coach in his current mood. He was usually very fair, hardworking but fair. And seeing this side of him felt like getting scolded as a child all over again.

As Ming was satisfied that they had all gotten that message, he grinned not being able to hide how happy he was any longer.

“Now. Rui, I’m taking the rest of the day off, okay?” He said looking at the team manager, who seemed to now understand what was going on and he grinned and nodded widely. Ming just gave one nod to show he took that as a yes, and so he turned on his heel closing the door sternly behind him.

He walked back to Min grinning and pulled her closer immediately.

“Now. Where were we?” He said and she chuckled lightly wrapping her arms around him as well, smiling widely as well.

“About to ruin our friendship?” She said and he chuckled a little leaning closer.

“Don’t mind if I do.” He said before leaning back once again to meet her lips again.

This kiss started out as the other one did, sweet and where they could really feel all the emotions in it. But while they continued to kiss something inside them seemed to stir as well. This time he took initiative and moved his hands from her waist further onto her stomach, clearly testing the waters. While they had known each other for many years this was definitely unfamiliar terrortory. She responded by deepening the kiss and they naturally started making out more, exploring each other with their hands while. Trying to saviour every touch and kiss like it was the last. This had been many years in the making. And Min was definitely no longer scared that there was no more left for them to learn about each other. This was definitely new.

______________________

Later they laid on his bed. She was lying on him, his arm wrapped around her shoulder, slowly playing with her hair, as she caressed his chest. He never wanted to leave that spot again.

“I’m sorry I scared you.” She said and he just hummed, he had almost forgotten how horrible he had felt all day in all of this bliss.

“I forgive you.” He simply said not wanting to overcomplicate it. He mostly just wanted to put it all behind them. She smiled and hugged him tighter for a moment.

“How long have you known?” She said after they laid there in comfortable silence for a while. He sighed feeling anxious admitting just how long he had kept this to himself. It almost felt silly in retrospect. It did now knowing he could have been truly with up until now, if he had only yelled that he loved her sooner. He sighed knowing nothing good would come of not telling her the whole truth.

“I noticed when we entered high school. But I chalked it up to hormones. I knew that I completely loved you back in our old apartment. We had just watched a movie, you had made me take a break from gaming. And while the credits rolled you ranted about how the story was unrealistic. How you would have written this differently and fixed that plothole. I know it’s silly, but watching you talk so passionately about that I just realised.” He admitted she smiled thinking back to all of the times she had done tha while they lived together. He hugged her tighter for a moment before relaxing again.

“What about you?” He asked and she sighed, her nervous side wanted to lie, tell him it wasn’t until recently. But knowing he had loved her since back when they were living together she felt comfortable saying so as well.

“I kind of noticed but didn’t really know what it was during high school. I realised back home, I was watching you play the game for like the fifth hour in a row. Seeing you so happy, so passionate about something. I couldn’t help it.” She admitted and he smiled thinking back to all of the times he had tried to not get caught watching her write.

_______________________

They stayed in their room all day and night. Falling asleep in his bed. Ming woke up first and admired her for a moment before waking her up as well. She just snuggled into his bare chest more and he chuckled lightly.

“As much as I would love to stay with you here all day. You have a deadline to meet, and the team has a game coming up this weekend.” He said and she just sighed, but still didn’t let go.

“I don’t wanna face the outside world yet.” She said and he kissed the top of her head knowing exactly what that meant. Once they left this little bubble they would have to face questions, and maybe a small part of him, was terrified that if they went outside, she would realise that she had made a mistake. But here she was holding on to him tightly, and he smiled a little at that.

“I know. But we have to eventually.” He said and she sighed knowing he was right. She slowly sat up slightly untangling herself from him. She kissed his cheek once before getting up putting out her hand to help him up, but he stopped and just admired her. She looked at him expectingly, but he just smiled and took her outstretched hand pulling her back to kiss her back on the bed. She kissed him back immediately, but as they pulled away she chuckled at him and shook his head.

“You were the one pestering me to get up.” She protested and he just sighed and nodded with a big dumb smile on his face.

“Yeah. But I forgot that that meant seeing you like that, and then I just had to kiss you. Had to remind myself you haven’t left me.” He said looking at her seriously and she just sighed and nodded.

“I won’t leave. I will never completely leave you. But you are right we should get up and face it all.” She said looking at him also a little sadly and he kissed her once again, savouring it, before pulling away and getting up. She did the same.

They got dressed almost like they had just two days before. Brushed their teeth, got ready. Grabbing the others hand to hold whenever there was a chance to was new. Touching each other, even if it was just to brush past the other person was done everything chance they got.

She was walking around gathering her things, and he stopped her pulling her into him and he smiled as he leaned in to kiss her. They pulled back and he sighed.

“You ready to leave the room?” He asked and she sighed this time she was the one pulling him back for another kiss. He pulled away and she chuckled lightly.

“For good luck.” She said and he nodded. He put his hand in hers and she opened letting their fingers interlock. With a small squeeze from each other he walked over and grabbed the doorhandle, he opened the door and they stepped out – seemingly completely different people than the two broken ones who had entered the room.

__________________

They quickly got used to being a couple, finding most of it more natural than breathing. And they both seemed to notice how much they had held back doing most of the things they did now that they were dating. They held hands every chance they could. Touched the other every chance they could. Everyone around them seemed happy for them. The team (except for K and Cheng who hid it much better) were way too excited to hear what had happened between the two of them. Thankfully they quickly got out of it and everyone around them seemed to accept their relationship quickly. They had yet to ask each other to be girlfriend and boyfriend, but it seemed natural to them both that that was what they were. After talking more in bed they both confessed how they had tried but figured out that they didn’t want anyone else.

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“Omg! Who is that girl in the back ground!?!”

“Holy shit, why is she hugging and kissing Ming?!”

“Are they dating?”

“Who is she?”

The comments flooded Chengs earphones, he cringed and then he looked behind him, seeing the streaming camera was accidentally angled in a way that Min and Ming could be seen in the background behind him. He wanted to roll his eyes at them, but just turned behind him to get the newly lovebirds attention. He was truly happy for his friends, seeing how truly happy they had both become as they got together. Plus he figured that Ming deserved this, having to retire early because of his hand.

“Hey guys, you’re on stream. Wanna say hi to the fans?” He said getting their attention and Mins eyes widened as she felt embarrassed and hid her face in Mings shoulder. He however moved them a little closer and put his arm around her, clearly wanting to read the comments.

“Okay, so most of the comments are the fans concluding that I have a girlfriend and the other half wants to know who she is.” Ming said chuckling lightly seeing the livestream freak out, he was a little glad he no longer had to deal with that pressure. He was still a coach and had to do some things in the public eye, but he was not at all as exposed as he had used to be.

Cheng who was now half wearing his headset looking at them amused.

“Wanna tell the fans who she is?” Cheng said in an almost daring manner. Ming leaned a little closer as if he was about to, and Cheng even took off his headset offering him the microphone that way. Then Mings serious expression changed into a grin.

“No.” He said laughing a little as he saw the comment section explode.

“Why not?” Cheng said pulling back the mic when he said it, and then held it in front of him amused at this all.

“Because I am retired, and therefore you guys are no longer entitled to know the details of my private life.” He said with a grin.

Cheng smiled slightly before he took back the headset knowing that his old friend was done. He put it on and continued streaming as the couple walked away. As much as Ming had almost regretted that he hadn’t told her sooner, thinking of how stupid it was that they could have been together for so long. He now remembered why he was grateful that he hadn’t. He would have hated for the distance and the constant snooping and pressure from the fans to get in the way.

#c-drama #falling into your smile #falling into your smile one shot #falling into your smile fanfic #falling into your smile imagine #falling into your smile Ming #God Ming #Midsolo

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