Loyal Friend

"Pass me another beer. This is going to be a long night," said a male student.

"I can't believe we finally made it to the end of the semester. It's time to let loose and have some fun!"

"Let's play beer pong. Who's in?"

The party had just begun, but the atmosphere was already lively. Everyone was in high spirits, including Quan Feng. As a high school student, he couldn't help but celebrate the start of the holidays. These were his closest friends, and they had been hanging out together for years.

After losing his mother to illness and his father to gang violence, Quan Feng was an orphan. His friends were his lifeline, and he knew that without them, he would be truly alone in the world. They were the reason he had not fallen into depression.

As the night wore on, everyone drank copious amounts of alcohol until they passed out. Only Quan Feng and his best female friend Qiaoer Zhang remained sober. They were the only ones awake as the others had fallen asleep.

"Want to get some fresh air outside?" Qiaoer Zhang suggested.

She was a stunning young woman, with long flowing hair that cascaded down her back in waves. Her deep, mesmerizing green eyes seemed to change with the light. Her features were delicate and refined, with high cheekbones and full lips that curved into a natural smile.

Quan Feng nodded, and they made their way outside. The cool night air was a welcome relief from the stuffy, crowded house. They walked in comfortable silence, enjoying the peacefulness of the night..

As Quan Feng gazed up at the starry sky, he was unaware of the faint blush on Qiaoer Zhang's face. She was sitting next to him on a bench, but he was too lost in his thoughts to notice.

Having known each other for many years, Quan Feng had grown accustomed to Qiaoer Zhang's physical affection, so her head resting on his shoulder did not bother him. It was just her personality, nothing more.

Qiaoer Zhang broke the silence, her voice low and filled with nostalgia. "The stars are really beautiful tonight. I miss how we used to observe the sky together at night."

Quan Feng nodded in agreement, but as Qiaoer Zhang raised her head from his shoulder and gazed at him, he felt his heart skip a beat. They were only inches apart, and he could feel her breath on his skin.

Suddenly, Qiaoer Zhang's words shocked him out of his reverie. "Quan Feng, I really like you. Will you be my boyfriend?"

For a moment, Quan Feng was speechless. He had never considered Qiaoer Zhang as a potential girlfriend, despite her beauty, intelligence, and closeness to him. He valued their friendship too much to risk it by taking things further.

Taking a deep breath, Quan Feng tried to let her down gently. "I'm flattered, really, but I don't think I can see you in that way."

Unfortunately, Qiaoer Zhang did not take it well.

"You're saying you just want to be friends?" Qiaoer Zhang stepped back, her arms crossed tightly over her chest as if to shield herself. Her narrowed eyes and shaking voice betrayed her anger and hurt. "Is that all I mean to you? You've led me on all this time, making me believe there was something more between us, only to crush my heart like it means nothing to you."

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to lead you on. I just don't feel the same way," Quan Feng replied, genuinely confused. He had never considered a romantic relationship with Qiaoer, but now realized he may have unintentionally given her the wrong impression.

Qiaoer Zhang's eyes welled up with tears as Quan Feng rejected her confession. As she tried to hold back the flood of emotions, tears streamed down her cheeks, leaving a trail of sadness and hurt on her face. Her shoulders shook with sobs, and she struggled to catch her breath, as the pain of rejection overwhelmed her. Despite her efforts to control herself, she couldn't stop the tears from falling, and she turned away, ashamed and broken-hearted.

"Save your apologies. You'll regret the day you turned me down. I'll make sure you pay for this." With that, she turned and left.

After that day, their friendship was never the same. Qiaoer manipulated their mutual friends to turn against Quan Feng. He felt as if he had lost something precious once again.

At school, Quan Feng kept to himself, but occasionally overheard conversations about him.

"I can't believe he rejected her. She's such a great catch. He must be crazy or something."

"He's always been so selfish. I don't know why we keep putting up with him."

"Did you hear about how he treated her? He's such a jerk."

"We should all go to the beach this weekend. Oh, but let's not invite him. It'll be more fun without him bringing us down."

"I don't really feel like hanging out with him anymore. He's just not a fun person to be around."

Quan Feng felt betrayed by people he once trusted and cared for. But amidst all of this, he still had one true friend who stood by his side.

It was Peanut, who always brought a smile to his face, even when the world seemed against him. They remained loyal friends until Peanut's untimely death.

'I used to believe that humans were the most loyal companions, but they are not. Look at how easily they can betray you, hurt you, and turn their backs on you. Animals, on the other hand, never pretend to be something they're not. They show their true selves, and their loyalty is unwavering.'

Under the starry sky, Quan Feng stood atop of a building, and beside him was Peanut. He shook his head to dissipate away his past memories, and focus on his current objective.

"Are you ready, Peanut?" he muttered, a faint grin adorning his lips.