I flinched as if I had been shocked and quickly pulled my hand back.
"It's not like that!"
My voice came out so loud that even I startled myself.
Dạ Uyên looked at me in confusion.
As for me, my face burned with embarrassment. Flustered, I began to stammer.
"I... I just thought it was a pillow."
I hurriedly tried to explain.
"Besides, I just woke up, so my mind wasn't fully awake yet."
The moment the words left my mouth, I realized the explanation sounded more like a clumsy excuse.
So I immediately jumped out of bed.
"I... I'm going to wash my face!"
Without waiting for Dạ Uyên to reply, I hurried straight into the bathroom.
Click.
The door shut behind me.
I immediately buried my face in my hands.
"Someone save me..."
I looked at myself in the mirror.
My face was so red it looked like it was about to steam.
Why did something like that have to happen first thing in the morning?
Outside.
Dạ Uyên sat on the bed.
His gaze lingered on the closed door.
For a long while, he didn't say a word.
Only the corners of his lips curled up ever so slightly before quickly falling again.
Breakfast that morning...
Was incredibly awkward.
I kept my head down and ate.
Dạ Uyên did the same.
Neither of us took the initiative to speak.
Even the sound of our chopsticks and bowls clinking together seemed unusually clear.
After taking a few bites, I secretly looked up.
Just then, my eyes met Dạ Uyên's.
Our gazes locked.
After a brief three seconds, I immediately lowered my head again.
Dạ Uyên also looked away.
The atmosphere became even more awkward.
Throughout the entire day, I couldn't shake the feeling that something wasn't quite right.
By evening.
After taking a shower,
I stood outside the bedroom door for a long time, deep in thought.
In the end, I decided not to go in just yet.
At that moment, Dạ Uyên was sitting on the bed reading a book.
When he saw me standing by the door, he looked up.
"Brother... Brother A Xuyên, aren't you coming in to sleep?"
I cleared my throat.
My eyes instinctively avoided his.
"Uh..."
"I still have something to do."
Dạ Uyên looked at me.
There was a hint of curiosity in his eyes, but he still nodded and said,
"Then I'll wait for you, and we'll..."
I immediately shook my head, cutting him off.
"No need. A Uyên, you should go to sleep first."
He froze for a moment.
Dạ Uyên looked at me.
His gaze lingered for a few seconds.
It seemed as though he had realized something.
But in the end, he didn't ask.
"...Alright."
I let out a silent sigh of relief.
"Then I'll be going."
As soon as I finished speaking, I almost immediately turned around and left.
I didn't see what happened behind me.
Dạ Uyên remained seated on the bed.
His eyes quietly followed my retreating figure until the bedroom door slowly closed.
In the silent room,
he lowered his gaze to the book in his hands.
After a long while,
he softly murmured,
"...Was I really too impatient?"