Summer confession
The summer after the college entrance exam is like a spilled orange soda, filled with bright, bubbly freedom and a slightly intoxicating sweetness. The pressure suddenly disappears, and the days become long and slow, leaving only anticipation for the future and a slight anxiety about waiting for the college acceptance letter to arrive.
Jiang Qi's admission letter from University A arrived first, without a doubt, like a reassuring pill. He remained calm, but when he looked at Su An, a hint of barely perceptible expectation appeared in his eyes.
Su An's acceptance letter arrived one afternoon. His hand trembled slightly as the deliveryman handed him the heavy envelope bearing the B University emblem. Tearing open the seal and pulling out the beautifully crafted acceptance letter, the words "B University Chinese Literature Department" came into view. He let out a long, deep sigh, as if releasing the weight of his entire senior year of high school. He immediately took a picture and sent it to Jiang Qi.
Almost immediately, Jiang Qi called.
"Congratulations." Jiang Qi's voice on the other end of the phone carried a clear smile.
"Yes!" Su An nodded vigorously, her joy almost overflowing even though the other person couldn't see her. "Jiang Qi, we... are in the same city now."
"I know," Jiang Qi said firmly and gently.
Jiang Zhao's acceptance letter arrived as scheduled, accepting him into the Sports Management program at D University in the city. He excitedly shouted at home, calling all his relatives and friends to share the good news. Finally, he called Lin Jun, chattering away for a while before belatedly asking, "Brother Jun, has yours... arrived yet?"
There was a few seconds of silence on the other end of the phone, then Lin Jun's voice came through, calm and even: "We've arrived. UCL."
That's a world-class university. Jiang Zhao's smile froze for a moment, then he cheered in an even more exaggerated tone, "Wow! Awesome, Brother Jun! I knew you could do it!" But after hanging up the phone, looking at the bright sun outside the window, he felt a sudden emptiness in his heart.
To celebrate and to bid farewell to Lin Jun who was about to embark on a long journey, the four of them agreed to take a short trip to the seaside.
On the southern coast, the summer night breeze carried a salty, warm scent. They rented a seaside guesthouse with a small courtyard and set up a barbecue grill on the beach at night. Jiang Qi was in charge of starting the fire and controlling the heat, his movements as methodical as ever. Su An helped him by handing him seasonings and skewering ingredients; the two worked together seamlessly, occasionally exchanging a smile, the air thick with silent sweetness.
Jiang Zhao was unusually lively, running around the barbecue grill with Lin Jun, laughing and talking loudly, as if he was using all his strength to dispel the impending sadness of parting. He tried to grill all sorts of things, but they were either half-cooked or charred black. In the end, Lin Jun helplessly shooed him aside and gave him a can of iced cola.
"Don't cause trouble, just sit and wait to eat." Lin Jun's tone carried her usual disdain, but her eyes were gentle.
Jiang Zhao, holding a can of cola, watched Lin Jun skillfully flipping skewers amidst the smoky atmosphere and suddenly fell silent.
After eating and drinking their fill, they lit a campfire on the beach. The waves lapped rhythmically against the shore, fishing lights twinkled in the distance, and the night sky was a deep, inky blue, studded with stars like scattered diamonds.
Jiang Qi and Su An sat side by side on the beach a little further away, listening to the waves and looking at the starry sky. Jiang Qi naturally reached out and took Su An's hand, her fingertips gently caressing his palm.
“Next semester,” Jiang Qi said softly, “I’ll come to B University to see you on the weekend, or you can come to A University.”
"Okay." Su An nodded, leaning on his shoulder, feeling the sea breeze and the steady body temperature from the person next to her, feeling that everything in the future was full of bright hope.
Beside the campfire on the other side, Jiang Zhao sat with his knees drawn up to his chest, chin resting on his knees, staring blankly at the leaping flames. His usual boisterousness had vanished, leaving only a quiet loneliness.
Lin Jun sat down next to him and handed him a freshly opened can of beer.
"Thank you, Brother Jun." Jiang Zhao took it and took a sip in silence.
"What's wrong?" Lin Jun looked at him. "You got accepted into the school you wanted, aren't you happy?"
"I'm happy." Jiang Zhao forced a smile, but it was a little forced. "It's just... the thought that we won't be able to get together like this so often in the future makes me feel a little... well."
Lin Jun didn't speak, but simply tilted his head back and took a sip of wine, his Adam's apple bobbing. He gazed at the dark horizon in the distance, his eyes lost in thought.
As night deepened, the campfire grew dimmer. Jiang Qi and Su An got up, preparing to return to their guesthouse.
"Let's sit a little longer," Jiang Zhao waved to them.
Watching Jiang Qi and Su An's figures disappear into the lights of the guesthouse as they walked away hand in hand, only the two of them remained on the beach, accompanied by the sound of the crashing waves. The world suddenly became very quiet.
Jiang Zhao opened another can of beer, and as if to encourage himself, he drank half of it in one go. Then he suddenly turned his head and looked at Lin Jun. The embers of the campfire flickered in his eyes.
"Lin Jun." He didn't even call him "Brother Jun" anymore; his voice was tense with nervousness.
Lin Jun turned her head upon hearing the sound, and was slightly taken aback when she met Jiang Zhao's unusually serious gaze.
“I have something to tell you.” Jiang Zhao took a deep breath, the salty sea breeze filling his lungs. He gripped the can tightly, his knuckles turning white. “I… I like you.” He spoke quickly, as if he would lose his courage if he slowed down. “It’s not the kind of liking you have for a brother, it’s… it’s the kind of liking Jiang Qi has for Su An.”
He finished speaking in one breath, his heart pounding in his chest, almost bursting out. He didn't dare look at Lin Jun's expression, and suddenly lowered his head, staring at the soft sand at his feet. His voice lowered, trembling almost imperceptibly: "You...you went to England, so far away, you must have met many more outstanding people...but...but you mustn't forget me. Do you hear me?"
He uttered the last sentence with his usual arrogance, yet it revealed his deepest unease and vulnerability.
Time seemed to stand still. Only the waves tirelessly washed over the beach.
Jiang Zhao's heart sank little by little. Just when he was about to be crushed by the silence and was about to jump up and cover it up with a joke, a warm hand gently cupped his cheek, the force gentle yet undeniable, making him raise his head.
He met Lin Jun's deep eyes. Gone was the usual playfulness or helplessness; instead, they were filled with complex and intense emotions that Jiang Zhao had never seen before, like the vast ocean in the dead of night before him.
Lin Jun didn't say "I like you too," nor did he say anything else. He just looked at Jiang Zhao quietly for a few seconds, then slowly and solemnly lowered his head and kissed him.
That kiss, carrying the slight saltiness of the sea breeze and the faint malty aroma of beer, was both raw and tender, like the waves gently kissing the beach.
Jiang Zhao froze completely, his mind went blank, and the can in his hand fell to the sand with a clatter. He stared wide-eyed at Lin Jun's tightly closed eyes and slightly trembling eyelashes, feeling all the blood rush to his head.
After what seemed like an eternity, Lin Jun finally pulled away slightly, his forehead still pressed against Jiang Zhao's, his breathing slightly erratic. He looked at Jiang Zhao's completely bewildered expression, and chuckled softly, his voice hoarse:
"Idiot." His tone was filled with unprecedented doting and indulgence. "Now, are you still worried that I'll forget you?"
Jiang Zhao opened his mouth, but no sound came out; only scalding tears welled up unexpectedly. He suddenly threw himself into Lin Jun's arms, hugged him tightly, buried his burning face in the crook of his neck, and shook his head vigorously.
Lin Jun hugged him back, his arms tight, as if trying to meld him into his very bones. He looked up at the boundless starry sky, the boy in his arms warm, carrying the scent of sea breeze and sunshine. The distant road to his studies no longer seemed so daunting, for he now had a clear date of return and something to look forward to.
Midsummer, starry sky, ocean waves, embers of a campfire, and a belated, salty kiss tinged with tears. On this night, all unspoken feelings found their final resting place.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
