In The Eyes Of Madness

A question that should've been easy to answer, yet it lodged itself in Thiên Dục's throat. He couldn't speak, only lowered his head slightly, avoiding Huyết Minh's direct gaze. Inside the quiet café, the soft background music only made the silence between them feel heavier.

Huyết Minh tilted his head, his eyes softening, his voice gentle but tinged with a sadness he couldn't hide:

"If you don't want to see me, at least… say something. I won't bother you anymore."

At that moment, Thiên Dục's chest tightened, his heart giving a sharp, unfamiliar twist. But before he could say anything, Huyết Minh's voice hardened, each word cutting through the silence:

"But don't make me stand in front of your house, over and over, like some fool! Do you think that feels good?"

Thiên Dục's eyes widened slightly, startled by Huyết Minh's sudden seriousness. He stammered:

"I… I didn't mean to… it's just…"

"Just what?" – Huyết Minh interrupted, his voice low and firm, his gaze pressing Thiên Dục to meet his eyes. – "Then tell me. What are you thinking? Why won't you say anything?"

The air felt thick, as if it could suffocate. Thiên Dục sat frozen, his body rigid. After what felt like a long time, he finally let out a slow breath, his voice barely above a whisper, a confession even he didn't want to hear himself say:

"I… I don't know. I don't know how to face you. Like you said… I don't know what it means to 'give you a chance.'"

Huyết Minh was silent for a few seconds, then leaned back slightly, a faint smile forming, as if the answer didn't disappoint him at all.

"Then just face me like normal. I'm not going to bite you, am I?"

Thiên Dục shot him a sidelong glare, his voice hoarse and awkward:

"But… you keep looking at me like…"

Huyết Minh tilted his head, one brow raised:

"Like what?"

The tips of Thiên Dục's ears flushed red. He looked down, his voice dropping to a murmur:

"Like… like you know every thought in my head."

A fleeting smile touched Huyết Minh's lips. Resting his arm casually on the table, he spoke slowly:

"Then just admit it. I'm in your head, aren't I?"

Thiên Dục's head jerked up, his eyes widening. His heart skipped a beat, the question striking at the very thing he had been trying to avoid. Huyết Minh's gaze didn't waver, steady and bright, demanding a reaction. But in the end, Thiên Dục turned away, blurting out defensively, his voice sharp:

"It's not what you think!"

Huyết Minh only shrugged, saying nothing more. He placed a bag on the table, sliding it gently toward Thiên Dục:

"Alright, I won't push you. Here, I brought this for you. No matter how long you avoid me, I'll still show up."

Thiên Dục looked at the bag, something complicated flickering in his eyes. He muttered softly:

"You're really…"

Huyết Minh smiled, his voice as soft as the wind:

"Someone who likes you a lot. That's all."

Thiên Dục stayed silent, his eyes lowering. Something inside him stirred, a tangled mess of feelings. Though he didn't say it, he couldn't deny that those simple words carried a strange warmth. After a moment, he gave a small nod — a silent, reluctant acceptance.

---

The two of them strolled through the park. The sky had turned a pale orange, leaves drifting down in the gentle wind. Their steps were slow, mingling with the distant chirps of birds.

Hands in his pockets, Huyết Minh's voice was low but tinged with a quiet happiness:

"Have you noticed? We've been seeing each other a lot more lately."

Thiên Dục glanced sideways at him, smirking:

"Isn't that because you keep clinging to me?"

Huyết Minh chuckled, shrugging:

"Clinging? I'd say I'm just taking advantage of the fact that you're not avoiding me anymore."

Thiên Dục quickly turned his face away, his gaze evasive. His voice softened, awkward:

"Who said I was avoiding you…"

Huyết Minh leaned closer, his face nearing Thiên Dục's, a teasing smile tugging at his lips:

"But your face is red, Thiên Dục."

Thiên Dục flinched, quickly shoving him away, his tone rising in mild annoyance:

"Stop getting so close to me!"

Huyết Minh laughed, his voice echoing down the quiet path:

"Alright, alright, I'll stop teasing you… at least for now."

---

They stopped by a game stall — a ring toss challenge where the sound of laughter and chatter from children and adults filled the air. Huyết Minh picked up a ball, rolling it in his hand before glancing at Thiên Dục:

"If I win, what do you want me to get for you?"

Thiên Dục crossed his arms, his tone flat:

"I don't need anything."

Huyết Minh narrowed his eyes, a playful smirk curving his lips:

"If you won't say, I'll choose for you."

The ball flew and hit its mark. The staff handed him a large, soft teddy bear. Holding it, Huyết Minh turned to Thiên Dục, his eyes glinting mischievously:

"Here. For you."

Thiên Dục blinked, taking a step back, his hands raising in protest:

"Why are you giving me this? I don't need—"

Huyết Minh winked, his tone drawn out deliberately:

"Because you are my 'prize.' So of course, I have to give you something in return. But it's fine if you don't take it… I'm not giving it to you, after all. I'm giving it to the person I love."

Thiên Dục inhaled sharply, flustered. He took the bear, turning away to hide the faint smile tugging at his lips:

"You're ridiculous…"

---

Night fell by the lake. Streetlights shimmered across the water, scattering into ripples of golden light. The two sat side by side, the cool night breeze drifting between them.

Huyết Minh gazed out into the distance, his voice low and unhurried:

"You know… if time could stop, I'd want this moment to last forever."

Thiên Dục's eyes lingered on the water, his voice soft:

"You're starting to sound cheesy, Huyết Minh."

Huyết Minh turned to him, his gaze steady, his tone serious:

"It's not cheesy… I mean it."

Thiên Dục lifted his eyes, meeting the depths of those pale blue ones. After a pause, he murmured:

"I… don't even know how to respond to you anymore."

Huyết Minh smiled, unwavering:

"You don't have to say anything. Just… don't leave me. That's enough."

Thiên Dục let out a quiet sigh, his gaze softening. He looked at him, voice faint:

"Alright… I won't go anywhere."

Feigning gravity, Huyết Minh teased:

"You said it yourself. If you change your mind… I'll knock on your door every single day. No escape."

Thiên Dục gave a quiet laugh:

"You're insufferable."

"But you like me being insufferable, don't you?" – Huyết Minh grinned.

Thiên Dục turned away, his ears tinged pink:

"Shut up."

Huyết Minh chuckled, leaning his head lightly against Thiên Dục's shoulder. This time, Thiên Dục didn't push him away.

---

On the walk home, the night was still, broken only by the sound of their footsteps. Neither spoke, but the quiet didn't feel awkward. Suddenly, Huyết Minh slowed his pace, his voice dipping low:

"Thiên Dục… I want to ask you something."

Thiên Dục tilted his head, a flicker of surprise in his eyes:

"What is it?"

Huyết Minh kept his eyes ahead, his tone absent of teasing, stripped bare:

"If one day… I do something that hurts you, or keep a truth from you… would you forgive me?"

Thiên Dục froze, his eyes widening slightly. He couldn't tell if this was a joke or something deeper. But when he saw Huyết Minh's face — shadowed by a strange, fleeting sadness — he asked quietly:

"Why are you asking me that all of a sudden?"

Huyết Minh's lips curved into a faint smile, but his eyes didn't shine like usual:

"It's nothing… I just wanted to know."

Thiên Dục studied him for a moment, then said slowly:

"If you're sincere… I'll forgive you."

Huyết Minh's smile grew, the light returning to his gaze:

"Then… I can rest easy."

Thiên Dục shook his head, a soft laugh escaping him:

"You're the most confusing person I've ever met."

Huyết Minh shrugged, his teasing tone slipping back:

"But you still like me, don't you?"

Thiên Dục's face flushed, his voice snapping instinctively:

"Stop spouting nonsense!"

Huyết Minh's laugh rang out into the night, bright and unrestrained. He strode ahead, leaving Thiên Dục standing still, watching him. Slowly, a faint smile touched Thiên Dục's lips — so slight he didn't even notice it himself.