Temple of Truth

Chapter 49

It was a tone that Wu Xi hadn't heard many times before and the few times he had, he couldn't tell what was on Zhangs mind.

How infuriating. Normally he was pretty good at reading Zhang, but now he had no idea. What he was thinking or feeling.

He could still remember, how Zhang used to avoid standing even remotely close to other people Wu Xi wasn't an exception in this. He always stayed as far away as possible while still being part of the group. Even inside of tombs, Zhang either led the way or stayed back, to keep a distance.

Later, he only allowed Wu Xi and Fatty to get closer, but even now Wu Xi could often tell that he was keeping at least one arms length distance of him. He knew that Zhang grew more rigid ceased moving and paid more attention to the distance between them - if he stepped any closer.

Wu Xi could only conclude that being close to others – even him and Fatty – made him feel uncomfortable.

And he doesn't want Zhang to feel uncomfortable around them. He didn't want him to leave because he felt uncomfortable.

But Wu Xi still forgets to mind the distance more often than he should. Only remembering when he notices how close he had gotten.

Normally everything was fine as long as Zhang was the one approaching or catching him again. Then Wu Xi was allowed this close – was allowed to stay that close until he was back on his own feet.

Other times than that – Wu Xi had once forgotten about it. He had approached and touched Zhang to get his attention from wherever his mind had been off to. Wu Xi could still remember it as clearly as if it had been just yesterday.

Zhang had flinched away from him, stepping away even further before he had stilled again.

The distance he had stopped at, was almost exactly one arm's length away from him. First his reaction had shocked Wu Xi. He had never seen Zhang moving that fast before. Later it dawned on him that that was Zhangs reaction on him getting to close.

He simpley hadn't appreciated being touched, and Wu Xi getting that close to him that he had immediately re-established a proper distance between them. So he had tried not to get too close to Zhang ever since.

But this time, Zhang hadn't put distance between them. He had been sitting there quietly and only after Wu Xi and left his side and apologized for invading his personally space he had told him that it was fine – in that tone.

He couldn't help but feel puzzled about it – even if he tried his best – he couldn't make any sense of it – because he couldn't understand – what that tone meant.

He didn't know if Zhang was feeling unwell about the situation because he had never allowed other this close. Or I he wanted to get closer to him, having a friendship of hugging and teasing like he and Fatty had – Wu Xi didn't think that Zhang was the type for this.

He just couldn't tell at all.

Theonly thing he was sure about was that Zhang wasn't mad at him for it.