My Childhood Friend, Who Has a Crush on Me, Feeds Me After I Turn Into a Cat

A Tong has always had a secret crush on his childhood friend, Xiang Yuzhi.

But for quiet, introverted A Tong, confessing his feelings is an almost impossible task.

Even though he'd wondered countless times if the way things were was already pretty good.

He could go to school with Xiang Yuzhi,

walk home beneath the same evening glow,

do homework and play games together,

and share half a chilled watermelon.

But whenever he saw Xiang Yuzhi, heard his gentle voice, or caught his fresh, clean scent,

A Tong's chest would fill with a sour, swelling ache.

He liked him. He liked Xiang Yuzhi.

The feeling of love was like soda bubbles,

rising nonstop to his throat.

*

Summer was nearly over, but his long-lasting, passionate crush showed no sign of fading.

Just as A Tong finally worked up the courage to knock on Xiang Yuzhi's door,

he turned into a cat.

Xiang Yuzhi bent down and gently picked up the kitten with his long, pale fingers.

The fluffy little furball's round eyes were filled with his reflection,

and it meowed over and over.

*

Xiang Yuzhi had many things on his mind that he couldn't tell anyone,

especially A Tong.

Because some words, once said aloud, would surely ruin what they had.

What if they couldn't even be friends anymore?

What if A Tong got scared and ran away?

What would he do then?

But he could tell the kitten.

"I like someone."

The kitten stopped licking its paw.

"His name is A Tong."

The kitten's ears perked up.

Xiang Yuzhi kissed the round back of its head,

his voice soft as a warm spring flowing by.

"I've liked him all along, from the past to the present."

/ We once sat beneath the shade of a summer tree,

gazing at a white cloud peeking over a distant hill.

You wanted to hold it in your hands.

I drew it on paper. /

Theme: People choose the meanings they love from a poet's words, but the ultimate meaning of the poem points to you.