6 - The Short Story That Was Promised.

TW // Drug Use

“Why are you so eager tonight?” Su Yimin asked laughingly, holding onto Gu Hao.

Gu Hao’s face flushed red from embarrassment, yet, didn’t scold or push him away, which was rare.

He was quiet for a while, before mumbling from within Su Yimin’s embrace, changing the topic, “How did you come out?”

“I had a boyfriend after entering university, but my dad and mum kept pestering me to get a girlfriend. Everyone else around me also kept pushing me and my female classmates together. I felt that it was unfair to my boyfriend, so I came out.”

“What happened after that?” Gu Hao asked.

“My dad nearly cut ties with me, but still accepted me in the end. Tons of busy-bodies people still managed to gossip about this for four years though.”

Back in those days, Su Yimin could also be considered the most handsome guy in school. Combined with his good personality, he was no doubt very popular in school. This news, as a result, travelled like wildfire.

“…” Gu Hao was never good with words. He couldn’t find any words to offer comfort to the other , simply gazing at the other with bright, black eyes.

Su Yimin caught on, stroking his face and smiling. “It’s fine, I never cared about those people, and moved out just to not hear those people again. I only feel a bit sorry toward my dad and mum.”

“Then. uhm…What about your…ex-boyfriend?” Gu Hao asked. His heart clenched unpleasantly as those words left his mouth.

So, Su Yimin had cared this much for another before.

But, he understood it too. Su Yimin was so caring, and was now twenty-eight years old; there was no way he was single all these years.

“Him?” Su Yimin scoffed. “He cheated on me not long after I came out.”

Hearing this, Gu Hao couldn’t bring himself to be jealous, and only furrowed his brows.

“It must have hurt you a lot.”

Su Yimin smiled. “I wasn’t hurt. Back then, I didn’t know how to love others, so the breakup was quick and easy. It wasn’t easy to find another man who also liked men, so when he wooed me, we got together since we were kind of compatible. I was good to him because I felt responsible, that’s all.”

Gu Hao could feel the coldness within those words, a kind of coldness he never felt from Su Yimin.

Gu Hao suddenly felt uneasy.

He swallowed nervously and asked. “Su Yimin, What about you and me…?”

“Gu Hao, you’re different.”

Su Yimin suddenly turned around, looking at Gu Hao, and comforted his anxiety, saying gently yet firmly, “I love you.”

Those words came so suddenly, Gu Hao was naturally stunned, his heart started to beat fast.

“Gu Hao, let’s live together.”

“Sure.”

.

Their days of living together were harmonious.

The only thing was, Su Yimin thought that Gu Hao would slowly get better. Since they were living together, Su Yimin could now personally take care of Gu Hao. However, he realised that Gu Hao’s complexion only got worse day by day, and by now, it was extremely obvious.

Su Yimin couldn’t stop worrying about it and had planned to take Gu Hao for a checkup. However, Gu Hao did something rare, he rejected the notion because he felt it was too much trouble for him.

Su Yimin started to suspect if Gu Hao had contracted any diseases, but was unwilling to admit it.

“Be careful, he might have AIDS and he’s just playing around while he still can.” One of Su Yimin’s gay friends had warned.

Su Yimin’s smile disappeared, an uncommon sight, and he replied sternly, “Watch your mouth! I’ve known him for so long, I know what kind of person he is. If he really contracted that, he wouldn’t stay even if I begged him to. Furthermore, even if he has AIDS, i wouldn’t leave him.”

“You’re in too deep, I’m only looking out for you, It’s not like this type of thing hasn’t happened before, it’s not worth getting so agitated about.” That friend clicked his tongue and scoffed.

They took another sip of their alcohol and sighed. “But seriously, if such a sexy hunk was willing to sleep with me, I’d do him even if I contracted AIDS. Fuck! How in hell did you get that person? I really do believe that, if I was determined enough, the most insensitive man can also become a lewd bottom!”

“Tsk, can you shut up your mouth for a while?” Usually, Su Yimin couldn’t be bothered with his friends’ locker room talk. However, he was naturally pissed off when they decided to talk about Gu Hao.

“Hey! You-you’re unsalvageable now.” His friend shook their head.

Su Yimin no longer had an interest in what his friends were saying, only silently puzzled by Gu Hao’s strange problem.

.

The mystery only grew bigger in Su Yimin’s head.

Before bed, Gu Hao would start becoming fidgety and avoiding the other by insisting that he needed to take a bath first. After his bath, Su Yimin would start embracing Gu Hao, and Gu Hao would get excited fast, even uncontrollably eager.

It went on until one day, Su Yimin was bathing when he realised Gu Hao was outside the door, pacing back and forth.

“What’s wrong?” Su Yimin saw the moving silhouette and couldn’t stop himself from asking.

“You … are you done?” Gu Hao asked, a tinge of discomfort in his voice.

“What? You’re eager for it already?” Su Yimin laughed, he immediately finished washing up and opened the door.

However, he saw a hurt expression on Gu Hao’s face as he stepped around Su Yimin to get into the restroom, closing the door behind him

Su Yimin heard a noise from inside and furrowed his brows. Gu Hao seemed to be taking a leak, seeming like he had held it in for a long time.

When did Gu Hao start avoiding him when using the washroom?

Gu Hao finished fast and hurriedly flushed the toilet, washed his hands and came out. Seeing him, Gu Hao seemed surprised, and said uncomfortably, “What are you doing here, standing around and not on the bed?”

Su Yimin could only find an excuse, saying a low voice, “Oh, I … also need to take a piss.”

He walked in and closed the door, walking dizzily to the toilet, shocked by what he saw.

“Blood in his pee? Could you have mistook it?” Su Yimin’s friend asked.

“No. That was definitely blood. He was holding in his urine and rushed off when he was done.There was a little still left on the toilet bowl.” Su Yimin said. “I’m a doctor, I take good care of his health when I’m with him. He was fine last night, but why is this happening now?”

“Hopefully it’s not what I’m thinking of.” His friend muttered.

“What?” Su Yimin asked.

“I’ll tell you as a warning. Did you know that many types of *** medicine, if taken in excess, can cause pain and discomfort in the entire body, and can even cause hematuria ?”

“I remember this hunk I used to know. He was handsome and hot, similar to your one. It was such a pity that he would find any physical contact disgusting, much less be willing to sleep with a man. But, to please his gay boss and get a promotion, he would take those medicine every day and pretend to be lewd. There was once they were overzealous in the office, and he died on the spot, it was extremely serious…”