It's actually not bad advice. Thinking about only two minutes in the future erases all the fears about the big things potentially waiting for him, and he feels himself very slowly relaxing.
"I'm going to sit here, and hope that you'll maybe sit next to me."
"Yeah, of course," he says. "I ain't got nowhere to be." He conveniently forgets that he had been on his way out the door. But he can stay. Shut off the rest of his brain that tells him he has feelings or that he's selfish or that he's still very, very hurt.
Aaron reaches over. "I think it's been a couple of minutes. So - what's for the next couple?"
He doesn't know what he's doing, only that it's worked for him before. When things were bad at home, when he didn't have anywhere else to go, when he didn't have anything else to think. When his life stretched so far ahead of him that everything seemed bleak, it was easier not to plan.
He bows his head softly and takes the small cup to down the wine.
Aaron was going to leave, but he'd kept him here. Huaisang knew in the back of his mind that Aaron was the only friend in the world he'd been able to share his secrets with, but the realization hits him hard now.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
timeasmymeasure
no subject
Date: 2023-12-31 03:19 am (UTC)"I'm going to sit here, and hope that you'll maybe sit next to me."
no subject
Date: 2023-12-31 03:20 am (UTC)Those things can wait.
no subject
Date: 2023-12-31 04:13 am (UTC)He sits beside him quietly, leg touching his accidentally. He keeps it there, just letting them exist together for the next two minutes.
no subject
Date: 2023-12-31 04:32 am (UTC)He doesn't know what he's doing, only that it's worked for him before. When things were bad at home, when he didn't have anywhere else to go, when he didn't have anything else to think. When his life stretched so far ahead of him that everything seemed bleak, it was easier not to plan.
no subject
Date: 2023-12-31 01:18 pm (UTC)He has no idea what time of day it is, but he doesn't really care.
no subject
Date: 2023-12-31 01:22 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2023-12-31 01:38 pm (UTC)Aaron was going to leave, but he'd kept him here. Huaisang knew in the back of his mind that Aaron was the only friend in the world he'd been able to share his secrets with, but the realization hits him hard now.
no subject
Date: 2023-12-31 01:56 pm (UTC)"You want me to stay?"
no subject
Date: 2023-12-31 02:02 pm (UTC)“No, I’ll be alright. You can go.” After a beat he adds, “thank you again for helping me.”
no subject
Date: 2023-12-31 02:07 pm (UTC)And then he stands up and heads out.
no subject
Date: 2023-12-31 02:23 pm (UTC)He watches Aaron finally leave, exhaling shakily when the door shuts. He pours himself another drink and downs it.