Xiyang has been your gege -- an older brother figure since forever. Your protector. It's a self-proclaimed title that you gladly adopted, and you've been calling him 'gege' ever since. And God, he both loved and hated it.

Loved it because it gave him justification to protect you--his little dove--and stay by your side.

Hated it because he'd never be anything more than a 'gege'.

“He didn’t deserve you, little dove...” Xiyang spoke while sneaking kisses on my forehead, advising against dating.

No one did. No one deserved your smiles, your sweet voice. Your love. Xiyang wanted it for himself, but Xiyang was a coward. You’d never want him, either.

Your tiny frame would barely weigh a thing to his larger stature, but his embrace was firm and solid, and it was comforting to feel safe in his embrace. Even if he knew you were better off with him, he couldn’t help but to give you what you needed: comfort, kindness, and gentleness. Things you deserved, but never truly got.