In Your Orbit
Meng Yao had laughed at the idea of Hanahaki Disease, thinking that it was just some silly myth that explained the idiocy of people who fell helplessly in love with people who can never be theirs. But now, he doesn't know. Not when he had a handkerchief pressed to his mouth as he coughed hard, his whole body trembling violently with each hack he did. Not when the bitter taste of petals in his mouth continued to grow. Not when all of his senses were filled with the scent of flowers.
Not when MingJue and XiChen tried to rub his back to ease his coughs.
He had to run to the bathroom, away from his boss and the love of his life. Away from the cause of this whole thing. Once he had locked the door behind him, he removed the handkerchief from his mouth and crushed petals dropped into the bowl. Fuck.
He swallowed, wincing at the aftertaste of the petals in his mouth. Crazy. This was crazy.
—xxx—
He didn’t return to the meeting room, claiming that he might have caught some virus and that he had to go home immediately. Thankfully, XiChen let him go without any question.
No one should know that he was in love with a sharp-tongued man who pitied him. He may be short and weak in others’ eyes but he will NOT let anyone look at him with pity. He was a bastard son of CEO Jin GuangShan but hell if he was gonna make himself feel small for it.
He slammed his door closed and leaned against it, his head and chest still throbbing from the violent coughs he had. Operation. That was the only solution to this. He’ll just go through the surgery and forget his feelings for a man he will never get.
—xxx—
“What’s the surgery for?” Nie MingJue asked XiChen when the younger man told him about Meng Yao’s decision to go through with the surgery. It’s been a while since the last time he had seen the short man after all. “Is he sick or something?”
XiChen chuckled and shrugged. A part of him wanted to tell MingJue that Meng Yao had the Hanahaki Disease just to tease the man with a huge crush on his secretary but he also knew it was not his position. “Maybe you should go ask him.”
—xxx—
And that was how Nie MingJue found himself in front of Meng Yao’s apartment. He needed to know what was wrong with the man. He wanted to help.
Surprise painted his face when the short man looked up at him with a face mask over his mouth and nose. “Meng Yao, are you okay?” he asked, his voice rough even when he wanted to soften it.
The shorter man coughed violently and tried to close the door but MingJue was fast enough to keep it open before it even closed on him.
“Hey,” MingJue eased the door open and gently rubbed Meng Yao’s back. He closed the door behind him and took the sick man to his room. “Rest here. I’ll go make you something to eat.”
He felt so big in the small kitchen but he started to prepare the ingredients for the soup. Being the older son sure had its perks.
“What are you doing here?” Meng Yao asked breathlessly, his eyes sharp on the other man. He looked weak, ready to drop.
“I’m here to take care of you. I heard from XiChen that you’re about to get a surgery so back to your room. I won’t–”
“Why?”
MengYao’s tears made MingJue stop and put the knife he was holding down. It looked like he had stepped on a boundary. “I’m sorry, Meng Yao. I just…”
“Why?” Meng Yao asked again, his fists shaking, and his chest puffing with every difficult breath he took. "Why are you here? Why do you want to take care of me? JUST WHY??!" Petals fell from his lips as he coughed once more.
MingJue blinked at the petals on the floor, his mind racing. Petals? Why was Meng Yao coughing petals? Was this a new kind of cancer?
Why was he here, watching the man he had always wanted cough petals all over the floor? “I’m in love with you,” he heard himself say, softer than he had ever spoken in his life. Almost unwilling to let the other man hear him.
There was prolonged silence and MingJue swallowed hard as he put his hands in his pockets. “You… you don’t have to say anything. I just… I wanted to help out here just a little.”
When Meng Yao did not say anything, MingJue cleared his throat and turned around. “I’ll just finish cooking your meal then I’ll–” his words were stopped short by arms wrapping around his waist. “M-Meng–”
“You love me?” Meng Yao asked, his voice muffled against MingJue’s wide back.
“Yes,” MingJue replied, not moving from his spot.
“You really love me?”
“Do I have to keep repeating myself?” the tall man growled.
Meng Yao’s laughter was obvious and MingJue had to turn around to grab him and pull him up by the thighs. “You’re not coughing flowers anymore.”
Meng Yao wrapped his arms around MingJue’s neck and smiled. “I wonder why…” His lips found the older man’s lips, letting the flame of their passions ignite. Breathless, but all for a different reason now, he pulled back and chuckled. “Wow… Another.”
MingJue was more than happy to take Meng Yao to the nearest couch and sat there with the shorter man on his lap. “Your food…” he started while peppering Meng Yao’s neck with kisses.
“I don’t need the surgery anymore,” Yao replied with a smile before cupping MingJue’s cheeks. “I don’t want to forget you or my love for you.”
Then it finally clicked. “Hanahaki Disease?” MingJue asked, blinking in surprise. “You? To me?”
“Yes…”
MingJue chuckled and gently fondled Yao’s ass. “So you’ve been in love with me?”
Yao rolled his eyes but he kissed the older man deeply to shut him up.
