Oh boy, Roulan didn't expect this.
As soon as the five of them went to the university, they were greeted by Huiqing, who was waiting outside the school. Of course, they already have an idea of whom she's waiting for.
Roulan looked at the woman beside her, seeing as Yanmei's eyebrows furrowed while her eyes stared blankly at the woman who stood still in front of the school gates.
The taller woman held her hand out, rubbing the almost white knuckles Yanmei had because of the tight grip on nothing. The older woman looked at the younger woman, her lips curving into a tight smile.
"Are you okay?"
"Of course not."
Yanmei rolled her eyes, snatching her hands away from Roulan's grip before crossing her arms over her chest. She huffs a breath, eyes looking away from the taller woman.
Roulan shakes her head; her eyes glance at the car in front, which opened quickly, and her friends get out. She can see the glint of happiness inside Huiqing's eyes, and this makes her feel guilty.
"Go out and meet her."
"But—"
"I'm fine."
The car was filled with silence after that. Roulan stares at the older woman while the latter stays glued outside the car.
Yanmei can feel herself getting teary at the thought, yet she didn't hear any movement from beside her. She tried to sniff quietly, but it still made a sound, her hand wiping the lone tear that escaped her eye.
"Aren't you—"
"No."
Roulan gently held Yanmei's arm, turning the older woman towards her. Her gaze melted, looking at the teary eyes and tear-stained right cheek of the woman.
"Don't cry."
"I'm not crying."
Roulan's lips curve into a smile, her left hand going to her pocket before she grabs her handkerchief, wiping the tear from the woman's eyes as well as the snot coming out of her nose.
Yanmei's eyes glare at the taller woman in front of her, but she receives a laugh from the latter. Roulan's eyes looked at her gently, her hand cupping the woman's face.
"Don't cry; you and I both know we have something special."
Roulan scrunches her nose, leaning her face towards the older before she gives her a peck on the forehead. She looks at her phone, feeling it vibrate inside her pocket.
"I'll go out now; she won't stop pestering Yu and Lanfen."
The older woman's cheeks were painted a deep shade of red. Her head looked down on her lap as she played the memory of them inside Roulan's apartment last night.
Roulan went out of the car without looking back at the older woman. Her ears perked up at a soft and quite eerie voice from Huiqing.
"Roulan!"
The woman inside the car quickly went out, her eyes staring blankly at the wide-smiling woman from the side of the school. Huiqing's bright smile became gloomy, seeing as Roulan got out of Yanmei's car.
She can see the older woman smirking, and it causes her to ball her fist in anger. Her eyes close, sighing to calm herself down.
"Roulan! Yanmei!"
Yu and Lanfen waved at the two, their lips curving into a bright smile. The older woman's lips curve into a smile as she walks gracefully towards the two.
Roulan went towards them, nodding at the two before looking back at the woman who seemed to have been standing for a long time.
She offered her hand, which the woman gladly accepted. Huiqing quickly clings onto the woman, her knees giving up.
"Have you been waiting for me?"
Huiqing nodded cutely, her lips still laying a wide smile on her face. Yanmei couldn't help but gag secretly at Huiqing's reaction.
It was caught by Guang, and the woman nudged the older as she snickered in the process, trying to stop herself from laughing.
Roulan's eyes stared at the smaller woman on her side, her lips curving into an awkward smile before she shifted to look at her two friends.
"Let's go, guys? It's the finals for the basketball team."
"Can I come with you?"
Huiqing's eyes blinked rapidly, her lips curving into a small smile as she held Roulan's arms gently. The taller woman nodded, looking back at the two and nodding her head.
-
"Yanmei, your face."
The older woman glares at her friend, who stands beside her. Guang's lips twirl a playful smile at the older, her eyebrows raising up and down.
It has been 3 hours since they went to the university. After the finals of the basketball game, they went out and tried multiple booths.
Ranging from haunted buildings to escape rooms. Right now, the circle is in front of the photo booth, and they decided to do it in pairs.
Yu and Lanfen. Yanmei and Guang. Roulan and Huiqing. Of course, the older woman didn't like the idea of that.
Imagine Roulan and Huiqing inside a claustrophobic photobooth, with Huiqing leaning her body towards the taller woman.
Her rivalry might even do something unexpected, and she happens to see it outside, being printed out.
"Once I see those pesky little lips of hers on my bubby's cheeks, she'll be dead meat."
"I don't think you can do that."
"Next!"
Roulan and Huiqing entered the booth. Yanmei quickly went to the side, waiting with Yu and Lanfen as the two women did their business inside the booth.
Roulan sat down at the far right corner, her mind quickly thinking of a way to change places with Huiqing, as she already had an idea of what the woman would do.
"Should we change places?"
The smaller woman looked back at her, eyebrows furrowed, before she put on the glasses she got outside on Roulan.
"Isn't this ideal?"
"Uhh—ok."
Roulan sighs in defeat, her face turning to look at the camera as the woman clung to her limbs. The first picture was taken, with Huiqing leaning on and hugging the taller woman's left arm.
She quickly removed the pieces from them, grabbing a small veil and a suit ribbon to put on the taller woman.
"We got married, so it's alright to actually have a wedding picture."
The taller woman's lips flatten; she squats a little, giving the smaller woman a way for her to wear it. Huiqing smiled while brushing off imaginary dust from Roulan's shirt.
Her hand reached to give the taller woman her veil, the woman grabbed it and put it carefully on Huiqing's head.
The two quickly turn, the monitor counting in 3 as they both smile at the camera. The second picture was captured.
Huiqing was quick to snatch everything. Her hand reaches for the beach neck accessories as she puts them on herself and Roulan.
"What is this?"
"For honeymoon."
Huiqing playfully rolled her eyes, laughing a little before she pulled Roulan down to match her face level.
The taller woman's eyes widen, the monitor flashing a white background as it indicates that the third picture was captured.
Roulan's lips release a sigh of relief when Huiqing finally lets go of her shirt. The smaller woman removes their costume, putting it at the side before looking at the 10-second timer on the screen.
She looked at the taller woman, her lips curving into a satisfied smile, as she didn't mind everything around her.
Huiqing felt safe.
Roulan made her feel that way.
All she wanted to do was run away, be with Roulan, and actually feel real happiness.
"Roulan."
3.
The taller woman looked at the smaller, her eyebrows raising as if asking her the question, "What is it?"
"Do you want to run away?"
2.
Huiqing pulled her back down, their faces inches away as her breath fanned on Roulan's face.
1.
The smaller woman presses her lips together, her eyes closed, while Roulan's are open wide. The monitor flashes a white background, indicating the last picture was captured.