Chapter 4#

When the weather was good, Yan Wei would take Yu Lin to the mountains. Usually, a few tagalongs would join them, and they would have a picnic together. Everyone brought their own charcoal, pots, and food to grill from their homes.

Occasionally, it was just the two of them. Yu Lin had a camera at home, so he would bring a few rolls of film and wander around the front and back of the mountain.

Yan Wei hung the camera around his neck and took pictures of everything. He aimed the lens at Yu Lin, with a cluster of mountain flowers behind the boy. “Smile, Yu Mumu, smile.” Yu Lin tried hard to curl the corners of his mouth, but he was never very successful.

“Say cheese.”

Yu Lin said, “Cheese.”

The flash went off.

Yan Wei poked his head out from behind the camera and laughed, grinning from ear to ear. “Hey, you can smile.” He squatted on the ground and pulled up a handful of foxtail grass. “Mumu, next time let’s find someone who knows how to take pictures to take a photo of us together.” “Okay.”

They fiddled with the camera. After the last picture was taken, the sound of rewinding the film was long. Their two heads were pressed together, and they refused to go back until it was getting dark. There were many forks in the mountain path, and the road was slippery. Yan Wei held Yu Lin’s hand tightly.

One said, “I know the way.”

The other shook his head and said, “I’m afraid of losing you.”

Hearing this, Yan Wei was overjoyed. He put his hands in his pockets and walked around the living room a few times. He forgot to take off his shoes again, leaving shoe prints on the floor. With his short, prickly hair, the back of his head looked green. He smiled like this and wandered aimlessly for a long time before saying, “Yu Lin, aren’t you afraid that you spoke too soon?” The two of them looked at different corners of the room. Occasionally, their eyes met, and they would casually look away.

Yu Lin closed the door to the small balcony with a backhand swing, arranged the hair scattered on his forehead with his hand, and walked past Yan Wei, looking exhausted.

Yan Wei suddenly reached out and loosely hugged Yu Lin’s neck from behind, hanging on his back like a buddy, and whispered, “I’m clinging to you now, annoying you, making you angry, because I can’t bear to tear you off like a calendar page and turn to a new one. I still like you, so I won’t do anything I’ll regret.

“But Yu Mumu, if one day I don’t care about you anymore, you’ll be nothing.” Yu Lin was taller than Yan Wei, and his shoulders were broader, so it was a bit strenuous to hold him like this.

Yu Lin trembled a little, not knowing if he was extremely angry. He suddenly raised his hand and threw Yan Wei off his back. He clenched his fists tightly, loosened them, then clenched them even tighter, and strode up the stairs.

Yan Wei shouted at his back, “I’m not as patient as you, I can’t compare to you, you know that! If we miss this again, there won’t be another fucking chance. In this lifetime…” He couldn’t catch his breath, and his voice became hissing again. His internal organs were all panting.

“Don’t fucking miss it.” This wish was as anxious and painful as a splashing faucet, overflowing.

Those thoughts he had about Yu Lin were heavy and golden like a great treasure, making him truly feel that for the sake of this care, losing some face and stealing someone’s love was no big deal. A vulgar person like him only had this concern, transparent as crystal, that he dared to present to others.

The sound of rushing water on the second floor didn’t stop for a long time.

Yu Lin splashed cold water on his face and gradually calmed down.

He took down the towel, dried the water, and changed into a jacket.

Before leaving for the company, seeing Yan Wei’s door locked, he stood quietly in front of it for a while.

Yan Fengxiang’s office was located on the top floor of Soie, a head taller than the nearby commercial buildings.

When Yu Lin went in, the two people talking inside stopped almost simultaneously.

Yu Lin paused and handed over the proposal. “The one you wanted.” Yan Fengxiang signaled him to put it on the table and waved to the other person, who then took his leave.

Yu Lin left, and the person followed him into the elevator, pressing a different floor button.

Yu Lin fastened his cufflinks and asked casually, “What were you talking about?” “Looking for someone.”

“Looking for someone?”

Meeting Yu Lin’s inquiring gaze, the person just smiled. “The manager and Young Master Yan haven’t broken up yet, right?” Yu Lin’s face changed, the expensive gem cufflinks flashing faintly between his fingers. “What do you mean?” The elevator doors slowly opened. The person got out of the elevator and waved his hand. “If you haven’t broken up, I can’t say.” The brief encounter with Yu Lin didn’t give Yan Wei more chances. Yan Xi ran back with his music scores a few days later. When he wasn’t there, Yan Wei would always lie on the sofa and turn the TV volume up to the maximum. But now, as soon as Yan Xi came out of his room, Yan Wei would lock himself in his room.

Putting two people who hated each other in the same room meant that while one was at ease, the other was on pins and needles. Yan Xi liked to hold a basket of french fries, lie on the carpet and watch TV dramas, with Fugui next to him, snoring softly. Inside and outside the room were two different worlds. No one could say for sure if Yan Wei was sleeping in there or if he hadn’t closed his eyes all night, sitting on the edge of the bed with his back arched.

After suffering for a few days, Yan Wei started running out. There was often some loose change on the stereo. Yan Wei took the money and went further each time. Once, when Yu Lin came out of the company, he saw Yan Wei wandering across the street, a soy milk straw in his mouth. Yu Lin followed him for a long distance until the guy disappeared into the crowd.

Yu Lin was restless that day, making several mistakes in the proposal. At night, he dreamed that Yan Wei had left. He couldn’t breathe and woke up suddenly.

The next day, Yan Wei went to feel for the money on the stereo but found nothing. He looked at Yu Lin, who was following him, and scratched his head. “Wood, I’m going out for a walk.” Yu Lin looked at him for a while and whispered, “You haven’t recovered yet. Whatever you want, I’ll bring it back.” Yan Wei was unwilling. “I just want to go out for a walk.”

Yu Lin looked at him quietly. After a while, he took out his wallet and took out the loose change. Yan Wei happily pushed the door open and heard Yu Lin call him from behind, “Weiwei.” Yan Wei turned his head, and Yu Lin gently touched the hair whorl on the back of his head. “Come back early.” When Cui Dong came to visit, he happened to bump into Yan Wei coming back from outside. His hair had grown long, and he had groomed it himself, looking much more spirited. Seeing Cui Dong sitting on the sofa, he said hello and went back to his room.

They exchanged a few pleasantries, but Yu Lin was distracted. Listening to the sound of Yan Xi eating french fries, Cui Dong smiled and said, “Congratulations. After worrying for so many years, you can finally let go.” Yu Lin turned to look at him, and Yan Xi also turned his head. Cui Dong was stunned, raised his eyebrows, and smiled. “What’s wrong?” Yan Xi sat up from the carpet. “You guys talk.”

When he walked past Yu Lin, the corner of his mouth twitched as if in mockery.

Suddenly, there were rumbling gunshots and explosions on the TV, one louder than the other. The volume was high, making it feel like the whole living room was shaking.

Yu Lin said after a long while, “I don’t want him to go out…”

Separated by a sofa, Cui Dong said, “Ah, what? Speak louder.” “I said, it’s chaotic outside. I’m worried about him. I don’t want to let go…” Cui Dong turned his ear, but the war movie was still filled with smoke and gunfire, and he couldn’t hear a word. So he grabbed the remote control in exasperation and pressed mute.

“What did you say?” Cui Dong asked him, throwing the remote control back onto the sofa.

The surroundings suddenly became quiet, and one could almost hear the old cat snoring.

Yu Lin took a book from the side, opened it, and slowly smoothed out the creases on the pages. “Nothing.” Yan Wei never thought Yu Lin would come looking for him. That road was messy and very narrow; cars could hardly drive in. On both sides were barber shops decorated with dark blue neon lights. Black plastic bags were piled up at the back door of the KTV. Yan Wei and a few others were squatting by the roadside, holding steaming bento boxes and burying their heads in their food.

A cold rain had just fallen here, and there were puddles everywhere, flowing greasily towards the sewer.

Yan Wei, with his snow-white shirt collar turned up, was stunned when he saw the headlights of the luxury car dim in front of him.

Yu Lin rolled down the window and said to Yan Wei, “Get in.”

Yan Wei didn’t move. Yu Lin smiled. “Get in.”

The person squatting with him widened his eyes, watched Yan Wei walk over slowly, and whispered, “I’m working.” Seeing that Yu Lin had no intention of giving in, he hesitated and got into the car.

“How did you find this place? I was doing fine. I just got my salary for this half month…” Yan Wei said, reaching into his pocket and taking out a cigarette pack that had been deformed from being sat on.

Yu Lin saw in the rearview mirror that he had a cigarette in his mouth and was looking everywhere for a lighter. His Adam’s apple moved, and he snatched the cigarette pack and threw it out.

Yan Wei was startled by him and consciously put out the cigarette in his mouth. “I just smoke occasionally. I’m not addicted.” Yu Lin frowned and said, “Who did you learn that from? Throw it away.” Seeing Yan Wei hesitating, he growled again, “Throw it away!” Yan Wei threw the crumpled cigarette out as if venting.

Yu Lin was silent for a while, leaned over to fasten his seatbelt, and slowly backed the car out. “Where did you buy the fake ID? They’re checking strictly recently. Wait until your ID is reissued, then find a job. It’s not too late.” Yan Wei looked out the window and laughed. “It’s okay… Staying in the house is really boring. Look at me now. Expecting you to support me, what is that?” Several streetlights were broken on this section of the road. The taillights in front held a dark red color, illuminating the license plate clearly. But it kept changing. Someone overtook and cut in, someone changed lanes, so the license plate closest to them changed again and again.

The soft car lights illuminated Yu Lin’s upright profile. He wasn’t driving fast, but he was frowning. Frowning, yet steadily controlling the speed.

Yan Wei remembered the past again. At that time, Yu Lin liked to wear white pullovers without a single stain, like an elegant tree growing out of a bush. Now, he kept everything inside. He was tired himself, and others had to guard against his sudden anger. He was very different from the past.

“I’ve thought about it,” Yu Lin finally spoke. “Living together was ill-considered on my part.” Yan Wei was a little embarrassed, tugging at the ends of his hair that had grown longer. “Do you want… me to move out? I haven’t found a place yet. Give me a few more days…” “Weiwei, I’m not driving you away,” Yu Lin’s voice was inexplicably anxious. “There’s a new residential area. I’ll take you to see it.” Yan Wei stammered, “No, I, I can’t afford it.” He didn’t know where to look for a moment, his eyes wandering.

Yu Lin stepped on the gas. “Just go live there.”

Yan Wei stared at him with a questionable look. It took him a long time to say, “No, I don’t understand you. You said we should break up, and we, we did. Why do you still care about this and that…” Yu Lin cursed, “Stop rambling!”

Yan Wei stared at him for a while before sneering, “I’m rambling. Yes, I, I eat your food and live in your house, so I have to live wherever you tell me to live. If you let me speak, I have to speak. If you don’t, you think I’m rambling.” He started stuttering completely, pausing several times in one breath, gasping for air, racking his brains to think of words, trying to express one ten-thousandth of the anger in his heart.

“I have to take the money you give me? I have to live in the suite you give me? I won’t live there. I’d rather sleep on the roadside! This is, this is… charity!” He finally remembered that word and pounded on the car window hard, making a thumping sound. “Stop the car.” He pulled the door handle hard, but it was locked and wouldn’t budge. “Stop the car!” Yu Lin was a little at a loss. “No.”

He reached out, wanting to grab Yan Wei’s hand that was smashing the window. Yan Wei’s still thin arm exerted all its strength. Yu Lin had to spare a hand to drive and couldn’t hold him down for a moment.

“That’s not what I meant.” He was a little anxious and used a bit more force. Seeing Yan Wei shiver in pain, Yu Lin loosened his grip but didn’t want to let go. He dragged Yan Wei, turned a corner, and drove into an alley.

Yan Wei covered his eyes with his hand. “I really, really can’t take it.” Yu Lin’s mouth moved, but no sound came out for a long time. “Weiwei, I just want to help you.” Yan Wei covered his eyes, the corners of his mouth raised high. “I don’t need anyone’s help.” Yu Lin’s breathing became rapid, as if he was feeling uncomfortable inside. “I didn’t mean that just now. You know, I just want to take good care of you.” Yan Wei moved the hand covering his eyes a little. Under the car lights, seeing those eyes, Yu Lin felt like he had been punched in the chest. First, he couldn’t breathe, and then he felt the pain.

Yan Wei laughed muffledly. “You said it. I’m fucking late. I’m late.” Yu Lin looked at Yan Wei and found that he couldn’t concentrate on driving no matter what. He stopped hastily by the roadside but refused to press the unlock button for the doors. His face was a little pale, but his eyes were dark.

“I am with him, but this… and me taking care of you are clearly two different things. It’s so chaotic outside. It’s not easy to be alone. I just want to help you. Why… why do you have to go where I can’t see you?” Yan Wei stared at him in surprise. He felt that Yu Lin was unreasonable, but there was a lingering familiarity that he couldn’t describe. He remembered how Yu Lin used to hold him many years ago.

That face almost overlapped with the past. Yan Wei composed himself before letting himself forget this illusion.

Thinking about it, he wiped the corner of his eye with the back of his hand and smiled. “You just said, you and him, you and me, these are two different things?” Yu Lin turned his head to look at him, then turned back, rubbing the leather on the steering wheel with his hand. “Two different things. Just consider it something I should do. We are still friends, brothers. I can’t leave you alone.” Yan Wei pressed his head against the car window, using a little force. The slight dull pain made his splitting headache feel better. He tapped the glass with his finger.

“This is not two different things, let me tell you. Yu, can you be my brother? Can you be my friend? This is one thing! I was also your lover. If you chose him, don’t worry about me. Why don’t you understand!” Yan Wei glanced at Yu Lin, who was still looking at his own hands on the steering wheel.

Yan Wei stared ahead. After a long time, he said word by word, “If one day, it really becomes two different things, I’ll pretend I never knew you. I’ll go far away.” He seemed to be extremely uncomfortable, dazing.

Yu Lin turned his face to look at him, hesitated for a while, and gently patted the back of his hand.

The two of them sat in silence for four or five minutes, each thinking their own thoughts. Yu Lin said, “Why are you still throwing a childish tantrum?” He tightened Yan Wei’s seatbelt a little, coaxing him, “Let’s go see the house first, okay?” Yan Wei didn’t say no again.

After a drive of more than ten minutes, they arrived at the place. Yu Lin got out of the car first and opened the passenger door. Yan Wei jumped down slowly. The decorative lights on top of the residential area were all on, and the landscaping was done, but the flower and tree seedlings had just been planted, the soil was not yet covered, and there was a smell of organic fertilizer.

The door to the sales office was locked. Only the model house had been decorated; the other buildings were still unfinished roughcast houses with scaffolding not yet removed. Although the red-painted elevator was powered, no one dared to take it.

Yu Lin searched in his pocket, took out a bunch of keys, and led Yan Wei up the stairs. The model rooms were decorated decently. The bookshelves were full of books. He picked one up casually, only to find it was foam with a sticker on it.

Fresh flowers will wither, but plastic flowers and grass never fade. Real things get hurt and bleed; fake things can be eternal. A model room, a model home, cannot tolerate too much reality.

Yu Lin said very little and let Yan Wei choose for himself. Yan Wei finally pointed to a room randomly. The two of them had been together for less than two hours, most of which was spent arguing. When they finally quieted down, they were overly silent. Yu Lin twisted two keys off the bunch and handed them to Yan Wei. “I’ll have someone clean it up and buy some things. You can move in tomorrow night.” Yan Wei sat on the sofa with his legs crossed, took them, stared at the keys for a while, and asked, “Did you keep a spare?” Yu Lin’s face changed, and his tone was a bit aggressive. “Alright, let’s go.” Yu Lin seemed to have his mind read. He walked in front all the time. The hallway lights were not installed properly. In such a big place, there were only the two of them, with echoes.

Yan Wei followed a few steps, lost his footing, slipped, scraped his heels against four or five steps, and sat on the concrete floor. He suffered in silence, opening his mouth wide in pain and gasping for air.

Yu Lin’s voice came from below. “Did you fall?”

He came up very quickly. It was pitch black, and his face couldn’t be seen clearly. Only his rapid breathing could be heard. “Does it hurt? Let me help you up.” Yan Wei tried and found nothing sprained, so he stood up holding the wall. “I’m fine. Don’t bother.” He walked a few steps and found Yu Lin’s footsteps following him closely. In a moment of distraction, he almost stepped on air again.

Yu Lin grabbed his left hand. “Watch the road.” His tone was a bit urgent. “I’ll help you.” Yan Wei looked at the pitch-black area below and was a little afraid of falling. He leaned his whole body over. When he came back to his senses, his face felt a little hot. He secretly swallowed his saliva. It was so dark, and there were only the two of them. The roughcast houses on both sides didn’t even have doors to block them, like big black holes ready to swallow people at any time. Yan Wei was afraid, but not because of these things.

He said cautiously, “Wood, I spoke a bit harshly today. We really never argued like this in the past.” Yu Lin responded, and they were about to reach the first floor.

“Mumu,” Yan Wei felt sweat all over his forehead, “Come back. I’ll listen to you about everything.” He regretted it as soon as he finished speaking. For this kind of thing, there should be a moon, some wine, atmosphere, and some certainty before making a move. Although Yan Wei could swallow his pride and say it a few more times, the first time is always the most valuable. If said too much, it loses its value.

Yu Lin stood silently. Even through the clothes, the temperature of his palm could be felt. His cherishing of words at this moment made Yan Wei even more apprehensive. His thoughts kept changing, rising and falling drastically.

Yu Lin didn’t say it clearly in the end. After waiting for a while, he only said, “You only have to think about yourself, but there are actually many things to think about.” Yan Wei felt the layer of sweat on his head dripping down, sticking to his eyelashes, salty and spicy. He asked somewhat dully, “What do you mean?” Yu Lin helped him walk down. “Let’s go down first.”

Yan Wei broke free from him. “Make it clear right here before leaving.”

Yu Lin’s breathing changed slightly. “I can’t do it.” He was silent for a while before asking, “Is that clear enough?” Yan Wei stood for a while, then walked in front of him, walking faster and faster, wanting to leave someone behind. But where could he go if he left him? Or maybe he could go anywhere, as long as it was away from him—Yu Lin grabbed him from behind. “You wanted to hear it yourself.”

Yan Wei wanted to pry his fingers open one by one. He didn’t have anything handy, or he would have smashed it at his head.

Yu Lin’s grip was very strong. That motionless, cold touch was like iron pincers. Yan Wei tried to pry it open a few times but couldn’t. He kicked him several times with his foot. Yu Lin staggered back half a step.

“What kind of madness is this!” Yu Lin’s face showed some anger, which made him look less lifeless.

Yan Wei threw his elbow and finally freed his hand, cursing loudly, “Fuck you!” The smell of paint, fertilizer, and industrial waste was like various colors on a palette, smeared into pungent, viscous blocks of color in this empty corner, stirred into the thick night.

Yan Wei rushed towards the direction with streetlights. Yu Lin followed him. “Where are you going?” Yan Wei didn’t answer.

“Speak, Weiwei, where are you going?”

He followed for a few steps, and gradually there were signs of human habitation. Yu Lin reached out and pressed his shoulder. “Be obedient. Let’s talk at home.” Yan Wei shook him off and walked even more urgently. Pedestrians in twos and threes, carrying full shopping bags, passed by laughing and talking. Yu Lin called him from behind, suppressing his voice, “Where are you going? Not going back? Do you have money on you?” Yan Wei’s voice was also hoarse. “I have it.”

Yan Wei drilled into the crowd like a fish. Once in the water, he couldn’t be caught. Yu Lin said, “Stand still.” There was some hot sweat on Yu Lin’s forehead. Even in the middle of summer, wearing long clothes and pants, he had never been seen sweating like this.

“If you mess around again, I won’t care about you anymore.” Yu Lin shouted in a suppressed voice in Yan Wei’s direction. Passersby looked back at him, making him look even more embarrassed.

“I really…” He said, turned around, walked a few steps, and finally couldn’t help looking back at Yan Wei’s reaction.

Yan Wei had already blended into the crowd. With so many people with black hair and yellow faces, in the blink of an eye, one couldn’t tell who was who.

The car was still by the roadside. Yu Lin pressed the remote control, opened the door, and got in. However, he couldn’t align the car key with the lock hole several times. It took a long time to insert it. He dropped his head on the steering wheel and turned on the music to the maximum volume.

He drove a few hundred meters in the direction of the sanatorium, but couldn’t help turning around abruptly, rolling down the window, and searching all the way back.

Yan Wei had just received half a month’s salary that day. He made up his mind to leave and ran all the way to the station. Entering the hall, there were only four or five people in line. Seeing which bus was about to leave, he bought a ticket for that one. Others had big and small bags, but Yan Wei was empty-handed.

There were sparse passengers sitting in the carriage. The further in he went, the darker it got.

Yan Wei got on the bus like a reckless man who had lost his treasure while fleeing for his life, and sat down in a window seat, looking lost.

Just bump along for more than ten hours, open your eyes, and you’ll be free. Thinking like this, Yan Wei pushed the window up a bit, leaving a gap the height of a fist, just in time to see a man buy a ticket and come in.

He seemed to have been stung fiercely by a scorpion tail, trembling all over in pain.

Yu Lin looked up along the position of the windows, walking all the way, calling out, “Yan Wei, Yan Wei.” He knocked on the window until someone pried it open a little from the inside, letting him see clearly.

Yan Wei suddenly pulled the window down, composed himself, and moved further inside. The person outside patted the metal sheet. “Yan Wei, Yan Wei.” Someone in the carriage had already started cursing. At this time, Yan Wei heard the train make a long sound. His eyelids twitched, and suddenly a thought rushed out, making him want to kneel down and beg the gods and Buddhas to let Yu Lin follow, let Yu Lin come up too, if only they could leave together.

After reciting it silently in his heart three or four times, he saw a figure come up, followed by a conversation:

“Ticket?”

“I’ll pay on the train.”

He heard light, textured footsteps.

“Weiwei. Weiwei?” Yu Lin called softly, holding the chairs and moving over here, trying to find that one person among thousands.

Yan Wei stared at him, afraid of missing an expression. The train hadn’t started yet, so he couldn’t be caught. He moved back, sitting in a place where the lights weren’t on, holding his breath, like someone who had successfully abducted someone, ecstatic but even more fearful.

Yu Lin couldn’t find anyone and stood in the middle of the aisle.

The train body shook, and the door finally closed tight. The tiny spark from the friction between the wheels and the rails seemed to splash into Yan Wei’s eyes. The clanking sound of rotation shook his ears into a roar. He only felt the wind blowing against his face, his body alternating between hot and cold. Yan Wei stood up, grabbed Yu Lin’s hand, and pulled him to his own berth.

Yu Lin’s body was cold. Seeing Yan Wei, he was like a suffocating person who had obtained his oxygen, gradually warming up. He grabbed Yan Wei’s hair and combed it. “We’ll get off at the next stop.” Yan Wei pulled him hard. “Just try once, just for a few days, just think about me. Or you go by yourself.” Yan Wei looked at Yu Lin’s profile, distinguishing the sound of his breathing. They sat side by side like this, vaguely retreating a few steps towards the verdant yesterday along the tracks amidst the swaying sound of the train.

A gust of night wind, mixed with a warm breath. Under the lamp shadow, silence was the breath that kept him alive, making him believe in the man who frowned all day, repressed and reticent, just as he believed in the young man whose clothes were always ironed, neat but quiet.

After a long time, Yu Lin asked him, “How many days?”

Yan Wei looked at him, stunned for a moment, and suddenly broke into a smile.

That smile was simply like a clenched fist suddenly opening, startling people. With a canine tooth like half a grain of glutinous rice, his eyes were full of joy.

Yan Wei smiled and said, “Three days.”

After waiting for a while, Yan Wei smiled again and said, “Then two days. One day is too little.” Yan Wei looked at Yu Lin, still smiling radiantly. “Two days?”

Seeing that Yu Lin didn’t voice any objection, he gradually relaxed his shoulders and wrapped Yu Lin’s tightly clenched left hand in his palm. He saw Yu Lin’s eyelids tremble, so he smiled and said, “Smile. You promised, just think about me.” Yu Lin closed his eyes tightly, his eyeballs rolling uneasily under his eyelids.

Yan Wei reached out and pushed the corner of his mouth. “Don’t be silly.” The rough calluses on his fingertips, combined with the tone of coaxing a child, made people dizzy.

“Smile, Yu Mumu, smile.”

The playful words from back then, the head poking out from behind the camera, were now whispered in his ear, within reach. Yan Wei used gentle force, trying to smooth the wrinkles between Yu Lin’s eyebrows.

“We are going out for a trip, eat delicious food, crabs this big, stay in a hotel, one with a TV. My treat.” Yu Lin looked at him, his breathing gradually becoming rapid. The carriage was a bit bumpy, making people drowsy. He only remembered those long-lost fingers gently pressing against the corner of his mouth again, teasing him, “Cheese. Here, cheese.” It was itchy.

How long ago was that? The flash went off, and everything was white. He only heard a clear and crisp voice. “Hey, so you can smile.” Who was more distracted than whom?