The next day Ah Chong didn't see Jia Wei around in the morning. When the bell for lunch rang, He Fei quickly dashed out of the classroom and soon returned back with a glum look on his face.
"Wei-ge's not here." He says, sullenly.
Shen Yun shrugs, "Maybe he's skipping the morning, he'll probably come after lunch."
Ah Chong simply keeps quiet, his thoughts running amok. A part of him wishes that Jia Wei would actually come in the afternoon.
_______________________
Jia Wei didn't come in that afternoon.
Neither did he come the next day.
Nor the day after that.
By Friday, Jia Wei still hadn't shown up to school.
Shen Yun and He Fei were skipping evening study session, so Ah Chong ended up joining them. It was still early in the semester—Old Li only became a hound once exam season loomed—he wouldn't be so forgiving and would personally drag everyone back by the ears to class.
They ended up on the outdoor court with Luo Yan. When He Fei started whining about wasting his youth in evening study, Luo Yan immediately suggested a game of basketball, grabbing the ball and dragging Ah Chong and Shen Yun with him before either of them could protest.
The court was still warm from the afternoon sun, the sky washed in soft orange. Luo Yan dribbled circles around He Fei, taunting him loudly, while Shen Yun fought for rebounds like his life depended on it. Ah Chong was trying to focus on defending and blocking the goal.
Excited whispers and stifled squeals drifted in from outside the court—three or four girls had gathered by the fence, watching their impromptu game like it was the finals of some tournament.
"Look at Ah Chong—he's so handsome!"
"He's so lean and athletic… my heart is pounding…"
"That face is killer…"
"So tall, fit, and smart… do you think he has a girlfriend?"
Ah Chong darted forward, swiped the ball cleanly from Luo Yan, and sprinted toward the hoop. With one smooth leap, he dunked it—effortless, precise.
Instantly, the fence erupted.
"GO, AH CHONG!"
"HE'S SO COOL—OH MY GOD!"
"My heart can't take this—he's too handsome! Too cool!"
Ah Chong landed lightly, turning to the fence and giving a small smile and nod to the girls which erupted more screams from them.
Shen Yun chuckles, "Your fanclub has new members, I see." He says, nudging Ah Chong at the side lightly. Ah Chong rolls his eyes.
"Bored and obsessed girls are scary," He Fei added from behind, dramatically fanning himself. "Wow, Ah Chong, so cool, so handsome—sign my shirt, please! Please notice me!" he mocked in a shrill voice, clutching his chest.
Ah Chong threw the ball at him—not hard, but enough to shut him up. He Fei yelped anyway.
Luo Yan bounced on his heels, already fired up again. "Come on, one more round! First to eleven!"
After the next round, the boys were gasping for breath, sweat dripping down their necks. He Fei threw his head back dramatically and groaned, "Okay, that's it for today! I swear my legs are going to snap off." He collapsed onto the court in a perfect starfish.
Luo Yan snorted and plopped down beside him. "Then crawl to dinner. Let's go get something to eat."
"I'm down! I'm craving those meat pancakes!" Shen Yun declared, wiping his face with his shirt.
"For dinner?" Luo Yan raised a brow at him.
Shen Yun shrugged like the answer was obvious. "Doesn't matter what time it is. Meat pancakes transcend time."
Ah Chong let out a soft laugh, rolling out his shoulders. The ache in his muscles felt good, grounding.
He Fei lifted his head toward Ah Chong. "You coming?"
Ah Chong stood there for a moment, still catching his breath. "Hm… I'll pass. I'll eat dinner at home tonight."
The other three turned to look at him, mildly surprised.
It was true that he hadn't eaten with his family in a while. Most days he came home so late that dinner was long over, the dishes washed and stacked, the house quiet. Maybe… maybe showing up early for once would make his mum happy. Or at least stop her from complaining that she only ever saw the back of his head.
It's not like he had a bad relationship with his parents or anything. With school, studying and club stuff, he was usually never available to come back home to eat dinner with them.
_______________________
"I'm home." Ah Chong called out as he stepped inside, slipping off his shoes.
The familiar smell of soy, ginger, and simmering broth drifted from the kitchen. When he rounded the corner, he found his mother—Huang Wanling—setting down a steaming dish of chicken stew on the dining table. Petite and slight, she looked much younger than her age suggested, her hair pulled into a tidy bun, eyes bright and alert. She looked like she was just about done preparing dinner.
She froze when she saw him. "Eh? Gege, you're home early?" Her eyes widened in genuine shock, and she hurried over. Without warning, she reached up and pinched his cheek hard. "Are you skipping evening self-study? Has my son finally turned delinquent?"
"Ma—ow—ow! Stop, I'm not skipping—okay maybe a little—ow!" Ah Chong protested, swatting her hand away.
"I just wanted to eat at home for once." Ah Chong muttered.
Huang Wanling clicked her tongue but her smile was warm—relieved, even. "Well, good to know you still remember you have a family. Come, put your stuff down and wash your hands, dinner will be ready soon."
Ah Chong nodded and made his way to his room, but a loud voice suddenly boomed, "Wah! My son is home for dinner?"
Ah Chong turned and saw his father—Ah Zheng—lean and tall, with a lean frame that Ah Chong had clearly inherited. His hair, though showing hints of gray, framed a youthful face that belied his early fifties. Glasses perched at the tip of his nose, he looked every bit the eccentric professor type. His mouth hung open in mock awe as he gestured wildly.
"What a rarity! This means my luck for the lottery will be good this week, right, Ma?" He swung an arm around Ah Chong's neck and ruffled his hair with exaggerated enthusiasm.
"Pa—!" Ah Chong groaned, half annoyed, half amused, trying to wriggle free from the playful grip.
Huang Wanling shot her husband a look. "Don't teach him nonsense."
Ah Zheng released Ah Chong, dramatically pretending to faint, and gestured toward the table. "Nonsense? This is father–son bonding!" Ah Zheng declared proudly, still clutching Ah Chong like a prize catch.
Ah Chong finally managed to squirm free. "I'm going to my room—before you start talking about lucky numbers again."
Huang Wanling rolled her eyes. "Go wash up, both of you. Dinner is ready."
Ah Chong escaped to his room, dropping his bag on the floor with a small sigh. As chaotic as they were… it was nice. Loud, but comforting.
He washed his hands and came back out to the dining table, the dishes already set—chicken stew, stir-fried cabbage, tomatoes with egg, and a plate of fried chicken gizzards. His mouth was already watering at this point, he's always loved his mother's cooking.
As he sat down, Ah Min, shuffled out of her room, earbuds still dangling around her neck.
She stopped mid-step when she saw him. "…Why are you here?"
Ah Chong narrowed his eyes. "Wow. Great to see you too."
Ah Min smirked. "Just asking. You're usually out or whatever."
"Eat," their mother cut in firmly before either sibling could escalate.
"Gege, it's rare to see you home for dinner. Did something happen at school?" Huang Wanling asked, concern softening her features as she carefully placed a piece of chicken into Ah Chong's bowl.
"No, Ma… I just wanted to have dinner here. I missed your cooking," Ah Chong replied, flashing her a small, sincere smile.
"Oh, you—always the charmer! Just like your father," she exclaimed, her eyes twinkling.
Ah Zheng, still leaning back in his chair with his usual dramatic flair, raised a chopstick in mock salute. "Indeed! My son inherited my charm, my wit, and of course, my incredible good looks," he declared, clearly expecting exaggerated admiration.
Ah Chong groaned, "Pa… seriously?"
Ah Min joins in with a groan too, "Pa…come on now…"
Ah Zheng just laughed, leaning back with a satisfied grin. "Ah, but it's true! You both have my genes, whether you like it or not. And that, my children, is a gift to the world!"
Ah Min rolled her eyes, plopping her chopsticks down with a dramatic sigh. "Gift or curse, Pa…sometimes it's hard to tell."
They continued eating, the soft clatter of chopsticks against bowls filling the room. It was a comfortable, familiar rhythm—until Ah Zheng hummed thoughtfully and said, "Hm… if it isn't school troubles… maybe it's love troubles!"
Ah Chong choked on a bite of chicken, coughing violently as Huang Wanling's petite frame tensed beside her husband.
"Pa! What are you talking about?!" he sputtered, frantically waving his hands.
Ah Zheng leaned back, a playful glint in his eyes. "I'm just saying, my son—you seem distracted… could it be that a girl has your brilliant mind in a twist?"
Ah Chong's ears burned, and he lowered his head, muttering, "I'm not—there's nothing like that…" Ah Min was snickering next to her brother and smirked. "Gege… finally, some excitement in your life!"
Huang Wanling gave him a smile, sweet and calm. "Gege, if there is someone, you don't need to hide it from us. We just want you to be happy."
Ah Chong groaned again, resting his head in his palm, the heat in his cheeks refusing to fade. Even as the family laughter filled the room, his thoughts drifted stubbornly back to Jia Wei which didn't help his mind at all in this situation.
-
After dinner, and after doing his best to avoid any more questions about his so-called "love troubles," Ah Chong quickly took a shower. He grabbed his camera and decided to take a walk, hoping the night air and some aimless photography would help clear his mind.
He wandered the quiet streets, snapping photos of cats slinking through alleyways, stray bicycles leaning against walls, and the occasional car splashing through puddles left from an earlier rain. The city lights reflected softly on wet pavement, giving everything a warm, golden glow. Eventually, he found himself at the nearby children's park and took a seat at the bottom of one of the slides, resting his elbows on his knees as he scrolled through the pictures on his camera.
A soft breeze ruffled his hair, and the usual distant hum of the city felt almost comforting. Until a voice broke the quiet:
"Genius Ah Chong of 2-2."
His head snapped up so fast it nearly gave him whiplash.
The voice—calm, teasing, unmistakable—made his chest tighten.
There, standing a few meters away with his hands in his pockets was Jia Wei.
Ah Chong's breath hitched. Time around him seemed to slow. His camera dangled uselessly in his hands as the world narrowed down to one person—Jia Wei.