Taking Forever to Catch On

*

Jiang Tiao lost a game with her friends.

The forfeit was to confess to the first man she saw.

Thinking no one would recognize her once she left the private room, she confidently pushed the door open.

A man happened to be passing by. He had handsome, open features and a tall, straight figure... and looked awfully familiar.

Oh.

He was her sworn enemy, the one she could never get along with.

Jiang Tiao's smile froze on her face. After a long moment, she finally forced four words through clenched teeth: "...I... like... you."

He Xiesheng stared at her for a while, then suddenly raised an eyebrow and said in a smug tone:

"Jiang Tiao, has your taste finally improved?"

-

After they got together, Jiang Tiao found a password-protected album on He Xiesheng's phone.

She made him unlock it, only to discover that it contained just one photo.

One evening, she was asleep with her head on her desk, wearing her school uniform. A half-profile of her fair face peeked out from under her messy hair.

Jiang Tiao froze for a moment, then grabbed He Xiesheng by the collar and demanded angrily, "You'd had your eye on me for that long?!"

He Xiesheng pulled her into his arms, lowered his head to kiss the top of hers, and gave a careless laugh. "That's right. It took you ages to catch on."

"Good thing I like a challenge."

2021.10.2

Theme: In a place where no one could hear, I told you I loved you