Sleepwalking Into You Chapter 6

I flinched. Damn. Forgot the mark would show.

“Uh… hit the rail by accident.” I tugged my sleeve down fast, avoiding his gaze.

But his hand slammed firm on my shoulder, pinning me back against the chair. His teeth clenched audibly.

“You tied yourself up,” he spat. “Just so you wouldn’t sleep near me? You hate sharing a bed with me that much?”

Caught in his hold, I stopped struggling. My chest rose in uneven breaths.

“Or maybe…..” My voice snapped, bitter. “Maybe you’re the one who should explain. Zhou Yichen, sometimes I just don’t get you. What real straight guy chooses to cuddle his male roommate every single night?”

The silence after cracked like glass.

Then his gaze flared. His eyes rimmed red, jaw pulsing with veins.

“Who the hell told you I’m straight?” His voice shook with fury, rough and guttural. “Do you think the entire dorm doesn’t already know I like you? Are you seriously still blind about this?”

My head spun, his words smashing into me like slabs of stone.

Wait. What?

Everyone else knew? The meltdown he’d had at the mention of me and “straightness,” the way he’d looked every time.

But hadn’t he said before how much he hated guys? Hated the idea of a man liking him?

Confusion choked me. Anger too, bursting reckless. My arm ripped free and before I could think, my palm snapped across his cheek.

The slap stung all the way up my feverish arm. My hand throbbed instantly but I forced the pain back, voice breaking raw:

“You’re insane, Zhou Yichen….If you like me, why didn’t you just say it? Do you know how scared I’ve been, tiptoeing every day, terrified you’d find out I had feelings for you? And now you act like it’s obvious, like this whole time was my fault?”

My voice cracked mid-sentence. Stupid tears pooled anyway, body betraying me like it always did under pressure.

I hated crying. But my throat burned. My eyes stung. And suddenly I was just a mess in front of him.

Immediately, his fury deflated. He swore quietly, biting his lip, then lifted both hands helplessly to wipe at the corners of my eyes.

“Damn it, don’t cry.” His tone softened, like he was pleading with a child. “I’m sorry, alright? I should’ve told you sooner. I didn’t mean to make you.”

His eyes shuttered, words trembling like confessions uncaged. “Look. Imagine being ‘straight’ for twenty years, then one day realizing you’re not. Took me a while to figure out if I was just drunk on novelty or if it was real. If it meant anything permanent. I needed time to be sure.”

He hesitated, the truth hesitating on his tongue.

“I wanted to confess days ago. I had it all planned out. Then the night I kissed you, you looked so freaked out I thought I’d scared you too badly. I told myself I’d wait, wait until you adjusted. But instead, I pushed you this far.”

Every word was a blow straight to the heart.

Unexpected. Unshielded. Crushing me and buoying me in one breath.

For a second, I couldn’t breathe. Couldn’t do anything but drink in the absurd, miraculous truth:

He likes me, too.

Through blurred vision, I met his gaze. He thumbed absent-mindedly at my bruised wrist, a dry little laugh tumbling out.

“I can’t sleep without you anymore. Please. Don’t tie yourself away from me tonight.”

It was the first time I’d ever heard Zhou Yichen sound desperate. His usual arrogance melted into something trembling and terrifyingly gentle.

My pulse was chaos. Heat blitzed my ears.

Okay, fine. I gave a tiny nod.

His eyes lit instantly. Mischief replaced every trace of guilt. He bent, kissed the inside of my wrist lightly, grinning wolf-like.

“By the way. You admitted you were scared I’d figure out your ‘feelings.’” His brow quirked sly. “So. What are your feelings for me, hmm?”

My face erupted hot.

“Damn you, Zhou Yichen, you already know. Why make me….”

“I want to hear it.” His lips brushed mine in teasing repetition, eyes gleaming.

I thrashed, then muffled my voice into my hoodie. “Like you.”

“Didn’t catch that. Like who?”

“Like you, you bastard. Fine? I like you.” I yelled, mortified.

He chuckled low, smug. “Alright. Then I’ll accept your confession, boyfriend.”

My jaw dropped.

Excuse me? Pretty sure he confessed first. How did I suddenly become the one begging?

Before I could protest, he planted two more kisses along my cheek, one on my ear, then murmured against my skin with dark playfulness:

“You’ve got a thing for ties, huh? Let’s try them out somewhere else tonight.”

I snapped upright. “I do NOT.”

“I do,” he cut smoothly, voice low, deliberate.

Shit.

I had a very bad feeling about tonight.

Zhou Yichen’s Pet Peeves and Love-Sick Rants –  Found in His Private Notebook

Day 1 of Military Training
Stupid campus rules. Forced dorm life. Got stuck with two annoying parrots for roommates, plus one quiet kid a little turtle.

Hot as hell. Sun’s brutal. Hate this.

At least Turtle doesn’t talk much. Cute face, too.

Day 3
So hot I can’t eat. Turtle brought me snacks from home. Voice barely audible. Said, “Try it.”

His name’s Li Ansheng. Fits him. Soft, sweet.

Not like the parrots.

Dorm life maybe not total crap.

Day 7
Ansheng delivered me chocolates. Ugh. Bitter trash. Not my thing.

Still took it. Didn’t want him crying.

DAMMIT. HE TOOK GIFTS FOR ME BEHIND MY BACK.

Kid’s insane. One drink down, he’s all over me. Hanging like glue, bawling apologies.

Annoying. Irritating. Cute.

I carried him home. Don’t tell him.

Day 10
Fine. I admit it. I’m hot. Being liked by a guy? Normal. Doesn’t mean I enjoy being stalked like prey.

Saw that idiot from arts school sniffing around Ansheng. Beat his ass.

Hate this. Hate them. Why can’t he only look at me?

Day 20
Now he’s avoiding me. Doesn’t talk. Just smiles at everyone else.

WHAT THE HELL.

I’m way better looking than those clowns.

Fine. I forgive him anyway. Because I’m perfect.

Day 40
Laundry. Waste of life. Who invented clothes that needed washing? Hellspawn.

Day 50
Turtle forced me to learn laundry. Got tricked.

Whatever. I learned fast. Not like it’s hard.

Day 80
Guy on my team asked me about Ansheng’s legs. Said they were long and pale.

Agreed out loud. Secretly made sure his drills doubled. Nobody looks at those legs but me.

Day 90
Caught Turtle showering with the door open.

Nearly killed someone. Shut the damn door…..

Pretty though. Not just the legs.

Day 100
Another teammate asked if Turtle was single. Wanted to chase him.

Are you blind? You’re not even in my league. Take a hike.

Day 120
Half-asleep. Dreamed Turtle kissed me.

Turns out not a dream. He did. Sleepwalking.

Didn’t tell him.

Day 130
Why isn’t it night yet? Why isn’t he in my bed? Rolling around. Not insomnia. Definitely not because I miss him.

Day 140
Crap. Kissed him too hard. Lip split. Blamed it on him. Whatever.

Day 142
Diagnosis confirmed. I’m gay. For him. Hard.

Day 145
Pretended to be drunk. Nibbled my wife’s neck. Yes, my wife. Nearly drooled all over him.

Why didn’t he kiss me back? Self-control bastard.

Fine. Still managed tongue action when he tried to listen to me mumble. Worth it.

Day 150
He likes ties. Bondage enthusiast. Naughty.

Perfect.

END