'Let's break up.'
Yiran's (shorter for Lin Yiran.) Smile faltered for a moment. He laughed softly, as if he didn't hear it right. 'What? All of a sudden? Why? Are you upset with something?' His tone wasn't serious, it was more like teasing— as Yiran was used to Yelin (shorter for Xu Yelin.) throwing the word break up casually when he was upset— and Yiran knew, they wouldn't fall apart, because they've been together for 5 whole years. Plus, Yelin would mention break up several times in the past, but it was never serious. There would be some arguments between them, but after sometime they would again reconcile.
Yiran looked at Yelin, who stood in front of him with an annoyed expression. Yiran slipped his hand in his and smiled. 'Yelin, let's go inside. It's cold our here. Okay?'
Yelin jerked his hand away, 'Yiran I'm serious right now!' He paused, then continued. 'We can't be together. Let's break up.'
Yiran now shook his head and laughed, almost awkwardly. 'What?' His gaze darted everywhere, except, to the man in front of him. 'Yelin— did I do something to upset you? Why are you saying it like that?'
Yelin sighed, now visibly annoyed. His hands rested on his hips, 'No, its nothing. I just want to break up with you. Okay?'
'But, why? Just . . . Just tell me what I didn't wrong! I can fix it!' Yiran grabbed Xu's hands, looking at him with pleading eyes. 'Yelin, don't . . . We've been together for 5 years now . . .'
Yelin looked away, the corner of his mouth twitched.
Yiran cupped Xu's face, trying to meet his gaze. His eyes full of sadness, 'Is it because I didn't get you the watch you wanted? I'll buy it for you. Just wait a little more, okay? I'll get you anything you want—'
'Anything I want? With that crap salary of yours? You can't even take me to a date with that money, and you say you will buy me anything?' Yelin scoffed. 'If I wait, that wait will extent up to years, untill I get old.'
He crossed his arms, 'plus, you always buy me cheap stuffs, either from sales, or from who knows where—You're so stingy! I've had enough now! You can't give me the life I want. Yiran.'
Yiran pursed his lips. His eyes were now teary— trying hard not to cry.— Yelin hated when he cried. And even now, he wanted to be the best version that Yelin liked.
'I'm sorry . . .' He wishpered. 'I'll do better, okay? I'll pick up extra shifts. Let's work things out. I'll fix it. Ill try my best to give you the life you want. Just don't . . . Don't leave like this . . .'
'Yiran—' Yelin groaned, brushing off his hands. 'You still don't get it.' He took a step back. 'I don't want to fix us. I don't want to work things out. I'm done, Yiran.'
The finality of it felt like a door slamming shut. Yiran stood frozen. A lump in his throat. Tears that refused to fall.
'Take care of yourself.' Yelin said, already turning to leave. 'And . . . Don't text me again.'
And then he was gone.
Just like that.
The tears that didn't fall moment ago, started to run down his cheeks. The cold crept into his sleeves, but he didn't notice. He stood still. As if, staying long enough, would make Yelin return.