Hard to Quit

[Independent, passionate ENFP with a mischievous streak x reserved, perceptive INTJ with a touch of insecurity]

"I don't understand. After all these years, is it really that hard for you to let go?"

"Well, I only realized I liked him recently~"

"Even so, you know it's impossible, and you still like him?"

"..."

"You really are... too heartbreaking!"

And with that, Bai Xi and Sang Tian ended the conversation they'd had most often while living abroad.

*

Bai Xi, an outgoing, high-energy Sagittarius, never imagined she'd run into romantic trouble one day. And the person she likes is her childhood friend, whom she's known for almost twenty years!

They always say childhood friends can't compete with someone who appears later, so why is it different for her? Before she could even meet some future love interest wandering around who knows where, she suddenly discovered this earth-shattering secret about herself.

What should she do? What should she do?

Should she act like nothing has changed, or

No, no, no. Had she already let something slip in the past? Yikes~

"Have you ever considered that he already knows?"

"No way. How could that be?" Bai Xi instinctively denies it with all her might, while carefully replaying the details of their time together.

"Kiddo," Yuan Sili says with a teasing laugh, "to him, you're practically running around naked. It'd be stranger if he didn't know!"

"Well, I think he doesn't know. I haven't noticed him acting any differently." Bai Xi racks her brain but can't reach any conclusions, so she stubbornly insists on her denial.

"Then he's just indulging you and pretending not to know, haha!" On the video call, Yuan Sili laughs so hard she doubles over and can't stop.

"Sister Yuanyuan, do you think he might feel the same way?"

The question is followed by a moment of silence. Bai Xi almost thinks the connection has frozen.

Yuan Sili finally reins in her laughter and sits up straight. "Um, what I have to say may be a little harsh, so I, "

"You're so mean, leaving me hanging. Just tell me!" Bai Xi's tone is still light. She thinks Yuan Sili is only teasing her like usual.

"I can only say, based on what you've told me, he doesn't seem to have any feelings for you at all, and..."

Bai Xi's voice finally loses some of its cheer. "And what?"

Once again, all she gets is silence...

Theme: Love yourself before loving someone else.