12 Chapter 11

Time was moving slowly for the pair. They continued to look into each other's eyes for a long time, even after they have stopped panting. There was a heavy air surrounding them. It was not that they did not want to separate, both were afraid that any large movements will cause the moment to dissolve and the other would jump away in disgust and never return. Kai Xia was afraid Qiang Feng would leave the forest whereas Qiang Feng was worried that Kai Xia would leave him behind.

Thump!

Only when they heard this loud sound did they jolt away from each other. They peered towards the source of the sound. It was a young woman who had dropped a basket filled with food in her hands. She looked surprised, even more surprised that the duo who were caught in that moment. However, she seemed interested and excited at the same time. A light blush covered her face.

"Erm, don't mind me Kai Xia ha ha ha. I'll be on my way now. You guys can continue on whatever you were doing just now. Bye bye !" The woman said and rushed off to god knows where.

"Jie! Jie! Come back! I can explain!" Kai Xia exclaimed and hurriedly ran out the door but the woman was long gone.

Eyebrow raised, Qiang Feng questioned, "You can explain to her? How about you explain to me first huh?"

Kai Xia bowed his head, his whole face red up till his ears. He weakly shook his head in reply and awkwardly shuffled back in and back onto the bed. Suddenly eye contact seemed too intimate for Kai Xia. He lightly bit his pink lips until it turned red. Qiang Feng's eyes could not help but follow those actions of Kai Xia. At this point, he knew there was no fooling himself or Kai Xia about this attraction he has been feeling but strictly ignoring till just a few moments ago. All he had in mind was "I really want this man to be mine." If Kai Xia had heard this, he would have probably just exploded immediately from where he was sitting.

Words were at the tip of both their tongues but yet no one spoke. The only sounds for a long while were the chirping of the birds and an occasional rustle of the leaves. Qiang Feng finally pulled together enough courage to speak. "Ge, I think that that was a mistake. I hope that you won't-" before Qiang Feng could finish speaking,this time, Kai Xia pressed his lips against the other man. However, this time it was a simple, romantic, deep and chaste kiss- one that was full of unsaid feelings. This time, it was Kai XIa who spoke up. "Xiao Feng-ah, does that feel like a mistake to you? I know we've only known each other for a very short period of time but that period of time had kick started a whole roller coaster of feelings I had for you. I'm afraid that you would walk away from me. Even if don't reject me, I know you won't ever be able to accept living in the forest like I am now."

After he spoke, Kai Xia carefully looked into Qiang Feng's eyes. "Kai Xia ge, I never expected that you would feel this way towards me. I mean I know I started the whole make out session but, I, I don't know if I would be able to accept whatever it is that we are right now. I don't even know who I am right now. For all you know, I could be holding on to heavy baggage that you can't handle. I don't want to live selfishly like that." As Qiang Feng said these words, memories of the last few days before he died previously came flooding back to him. Before those memories could hurt him and make him break apart in front of Kai Xia, he pushed them away as hard as he could and he got up to leave. However, before he managed to successfully leave, Kai Xia had grabbed his wrist tightly. He tried to pull away to no avail.

The waterworks were coming, he could feel it. He did not want Kai Xia to see this side of him. He did not want anyone to see this side of him. With a burst of strength, he pulled away from Kai Xia's grasp and started running full speed away from the hut. He just continued running. Wet, hot tears started running down his face at some point but he did not notice it. He just kept on running away. He had no idea where he was going but he could not stop himself.

Kai Xia stared dumbly as he watched Qiang Feng's shadow disappear into the dense forest. Only when the other man's figure disappear did the panic set in. He had lost Qiang Feng! Kai Xia can't possibly let him run around in this dangerous forest alone, especially not before they clear things up between them. Kai Xia started blindly searching for some kind of clue of where Qiang Feng could have possibly ran to but every time he thought he found a track, it fell short and disappeared. The sun was now almost setting.

Kai Xia had spent the day trying to find Qiang Feng but he had somehow disappeared so cleanly. It scared him thinking of all the possibilities as to what could have possibly happened to Qiang Feng. What if he was mauled by a spirit beast? What if there were some more people that tries to kill Qiang Feng? What if he had gotten lost and somehow fell off a cliff? Kai Xia was extremely afraid and worried. Even if he was going to leave the forest, Kai Xia would have preferred it if he was the one who led the way.

Qiang Feng had left with nothing on him. Kai Xia suddenlt had a wishful thought. Perhaps Qiang Feng had turned back? With this as his motivator, he sped up and ran towards his hut. He saw a figure in the hut from afar through his window. His heart started to pump vigorously, a bright smile overtook his features. Qiang Feng really came back? Kai Xia was so excited. He slammed open the door. The figure inside was sitting by the mattress, a huge smile on their face.