Will you still love me even if I'm a man?

Chapter 12: You said that you won't hurt me

'If it can't heal, then let it scar.' AnZiyan quipped sarcastically.

'You sure are a mean bastard. I took a three-hour bus to see you. All that just to hangin the sky for a few seconds?'AnZiyan had no reply, not because he was feeling alittle guilty, but rather he was too lazy to respond.

Mai Ding continued, 'Are youregretting being with a guy? And are you afraid that others will know about me?That's the reason why you brought me to this place, right? No one will fucking seeus!'AnZiyan didn't understand why Mai Ding was suddenly reacting in such a strangeway. But thinking back, he has always been like this.

'Do you always have to talkthrough your ass? Possible to think before you speak?' AnZiyan was frowning whenhe softly rebuked Mai Ding. He surveyed the surrounding, and his gaze rested on thatblack piano at the centre of the room. He stood up suddenly. Mai Ding was wonderingwhere he was going to. He took his seat in front of the piano to Mai Ding's surprise.He was only in his T-shirt and jeans and some would say that his dressing made him alittle out-of-place, but in reality it was a breath-taking sight to behold.

AnZiyan was looking intensely at the piano. His long fingers brushed the keys of thepiano, seemingly caressing them. And with each motion, music was created and soonthe whole place was filled with the melody he had created. It was overwhelming MaiDing's every sensory perception. The tune that filled the air was seducing him and hecould only surrender to those melodies, captivated by everything An Ziyan was doing.And then An Ziyan began to sing. In English.

Nobody wants to see us together

It's ok because I have you; we have each other

Nobody wants to see us together

That's ok because I have you, we have each other

We will fight on

Yes, we will fight on

I believe we will continue to fight on

We will fight to have our right to love

Nobody wants to see us together

But it's ok because I have you, we have each other

Nobody wants to see us together

Nobody believes that our love is forever

I'm feeling, I'm hoping, I'm praying

That it's only going to get better

It seems that people will only think for themselves

They won't respect personal boundariesBut you must know, you must rememberYou are always my number oneAnd I will keep you satisfiedBecause it was in English, Mai Ding couldn't understand every word, but he got thegist of it. When he saw An Ziyan walking towards him after singing that song, he wasjust feeling overwhelmed. He couldn't help but love this boy even more. Every smalllittle thing that An Ziyan did was able to captivate him.But very quickly, An Ziyan was able to drag Mai Ding back to reality.

'There. That'syour romantic beginning to the date you wanted.'

'You sound as if you were forced!'Ziyan shrugged and waved to the waiter to call forthe bill. After paying for dinner, both boys sauntered out of the restaurant. It wasalready getting dark outside. As both boys walked down the lane together, Mai Dingquietly wrapped his arm around An Ziyan's, enjoying the company.

'You even knowhow to play the piano. Is there anything you don't know?' Mai Ding said in envy forhis boy could do anything in his eyes: play the piano, drive a car, even his schoolresults were stellar. To Mai Ding's, An Ziyan was almost like a demigod.

'There is something.'

'What is it?' Mai Ding asked in all earnestness.And gently, An Ziyan held Mai Ding's face in his hands, pulled him closer.

'I don'tknow and I will never hurt you.' And with that, he kissed Mai Ding, taking the boy bysurprise.After the kiss, Mai Ding became aware of his surroundings. Fortunately no one wasaround. Mai Ding could sense that he was blushing.

'Why is it that you will always say such words to me in such a setting? Why can't you do it when we are alonesomewhere? Just feeling a little wary and difficult when this happens suddenly.'

AnZiyan adjusted the mirror of his car so that it faced Mai Ding. 'Could you alsoensure that your facial expression matches what you are saying?' he said sarcastically.

It was then Mai Ding also realised that he was obviously beaming and it was this thatbetrayed his real feelings. He was obviously relishing every word, every action.AnZiyan realised it was getting late and it was time they headed home. 'Do you wantto sleep with me tonight?'

'Can you stop asking me such embarrassing questions with that serious face of yours?Who wants to sleep with you? I've already promised by parents that I'll be hometonight. If I'm not home, they'll be worried.'AnZiyan really wanted to laugh. His lover was really such a mama's boy 'Come, letme send you home then.'

But for some strange reason, Mai Ding didn't want to get into the car. 'You don't havea license to drive. I don't want to be your partner in crime.'Ziyan saw that Mai Ding was being rather self-righteous again. 'You sure about that?'

'Yes I am very sure. And you shouldn't drive too. Let's take the public bus together.Leave the car here or get someone from the company to drive the car home.'He must be joking, right?

'So are you coming in or not?' AnZiyan asked one moretime.

'No. I told you just now. The police is becoming stricter by the day.'AnZiyan took out some cash and folded the notes together so that each fold wouldlook like a flower petal. In reality, it looked like a crumpled mess of paper. He passed the 'flower' to Mai Ding and said very matter-of-factly. 'Here's the romantic endingto our date. Use the money to go home.'

'You call this a flower?' Mai Ding asked, flabbergasted.

'And you call this a romanticend?Such a lack of effort.'Before Mai Ding could finish, An Ziyan had already driven off, sending Mai Dinginto a rage.

'That moron! You actually chose your car over me! And left me here allalone!' In a fit of anger, Mai Ding threw the 'flower' in the direction where An Ziyanhad driven off.

'You fucking idiot! You said that you won't hurt me!' But no matterhow angry Mai Ding got, An Ziyan was not there to listen to every word.The more Mai Ding thought about it, the angrier he got. But he also knew he couldn'tblame An Ziyan.

'He did try to seek my opinion. But I rejected his offer to send mehome.' Mai Ding thought, and under his breath, he was cursing himself.

After some time, Mai Ding finally picked up the 'flower' that he had thrown away andslowly walked towards the bus stop. He was still frustrated. 'I said I won't take yourcar, and you actually just left. Couldn't you have stayed a while more? I could havechanged my mind. I could be your partner in crime too.'

Suddenly,after saying that, the headlights of a car shone in his direction. AnZiyan hadnot gone very far. He was actually parked in one corner all this while. He drove hiscar to where Mai Ding was and opened the car door. This time, Mai Ding didn't wantto criticise him any further and obediently got on.