Ming’s Decision

In University Z, Li Ming and Ming Yue Guang were having lunch together. Today, Li Ming gave off a very different vibe from the usual. Ming Yue Guang noticed this and asked, "Did something good happen today?"

"Not today. Yesterday night, Sato finally recovered from his vegetative state." Ming smiled in delight. Yesterday when Sato had messaged him saying that he able to move around again, Ming was relieved and glad that the boy was finally back to himself again. It would be a while before he comes back to school, but for now, such news was good enough for him.

"Really? I'm glad to hear that." Ming Yue Guang was happy for him. Seeing that his junior had cheered up substantially, Yue Guang knew that Sato was really important in Ming's life.

"Oh? I forgot to ask. What was the news that you wanted to share with me?" Li Ming remembered the purpose of today's lunch.

"Well this Friday will be my first Nationals soccer game. I was wondering if you would like to come and watch?" Ming Yue Guang invited nervously. He was more nervous telling this to Ming than to anyone else.

"Of course, I am more than willing to come." Ming did not disappoint. Although the price of the ticket would be something to worry about, he still had some savings to spare a soccer game. Though, that worry was unfounded.

"Thats perfect. I have a ticket for you, so there is no need for you to buy one."

"Really? Aren't tickets expensive to buy? You do not have to give it to me, you know."

Ming Yue Guang shook his head, "The players of the match get tickets for free so this costed me nothing."

"Alright, I'll take this opportunity to watch your game then." Ming didn't continue to squabble about it.

"Sweet," Ming Yue Guang smiled gleefully.

After five months of on-site training and various in-house matches, the Head Coach deemed Ming Yue Guang ready for the international stage now. The match on Friday was going to be Yue Guang's resumption in Country Z's national soccer team. It was all thanks to Ming's words of encouragement that got him back into the sport that he loved. And so, it was nerve-racking to invite his junior to the match.

For Ming, after the boy came out to his family, he had stopped all forms of contact with his parents. His siblings, however, continued to keep in touch with their older brother. After all, the one that had taken care of them all those years was Li Ming and not very much their parents. Unlike Rong Xing and Li Fei, the siblings were more open on the concept of Ming being gay. In their hearts, all they cared about was their brother's wellbeing.

Many times they tried to ask Ming to reconcile with their parents, but the eldest declined such requests. Ming knew that there was nothing that he could say that would change his parent's minds. Only time will tell his tale. If both of his parents were unable to see past this, Ming would continue to live in solitary.

Without the financial help of his parents, Ming became more reliant on his scholarship. The money given to him every month was just enough to get him through his university life. There was no need to tap into his savings. In addition, Ming applied for a different financial aid and had gotten in via discretionary admission as the deadline had been overdue. The financial aid did request that Li Ming has to partake in an overseas exchange program with a partner university in Country U. The exchange program was 16 months long, stretching all the way to the end of his four year degree.

It was a hard decision to make, but Ming chose to follow through with it. The financial aid offered was by a benefactor named Liam Payne. He was the founder of the Space Exploratory Program, The Black Box and had been finding notable students to take under his wing. Li Ming had written an email under his scholar's program and was able to score an E-interview with Mr Payne. Although there was a slight upset in Ming's GPA last year for university, he had explained to the founder about his situation during that period.

To his surprise, the man was touched by his honesty and seeing how Ming's GPA was normally exceptional, he allowed the boy to enter his financial aid program. Everything in his studies was paid for and when he had finished his studies, depending on whether Ming continued to do a Masters or pHd, he would then enter The Black Box space program as a full time employee for a bonded 5 years.

The reason why Ming had entered as a Mechanical Engineer in the first place was his interest in the space exploration industry. He had debated on whether studying Aerospace Engineering or Mechanical Engineering would be a better idea. In the end, he chose the latter as his parents thought that it was a suitable course.

The young man was scheduled to leave for Country U's notable university, Muller's Institute of Sciences and Technology (MIST) on the coming Sunday. It was lucky that Ming Yue Guang's soccer match was held before his flight. The problem Ming was facing now was how should he tell his close friends. Both Sato and Ming Yue Guang had very deep impressions on Li Ming and one of them had just recovered from his health condition, while the other was extremely busy with his soccer preparations.

In the end, Ming decided to wait to tell Ming Yue Guang after his game, while for Sato, he would break the news to him when he visited him the next day.

"So, I will see you then alright?" Ming Yue Guang placed the ticket beside Li Ming's food tray as he stood up to leave. "I will be heading for soccer practice again. Bye!"

"Goodbye." Ming waved as his heart felt heavy again, just right after Sato's health incident.