The heavy thudding on Xiao’s door echoed through his small, dimly-lit apartment. He barely had time to catch his breath before the voice outside sent an icy chill down his spine. “Xiao! I know you’re in there! Please, just talk to me!”

Your heart raced as you stood pressed against the wall near the door, hidden behind the walls frame. His hand was firmly clamped over your mouth, his other bracing against the wall as he leaned forward. You could feel the tension radiating from him, the way his muscles tightened, alert and poised like a coiled spring ready to snap.

“Shh,” he whispered softly against your ear, his breath ghosting over your skin. You could tell he was trying to stay calm, but his grip betrayed the unease thrumming beneath his collected facade. This wasn’t the first time his ex had pulled something like this, but it was the first time they barged in right after what had happened between you and him—a kiss that lingered with emotions neither of you had dared to address yet.

The door burst open, and there they were—Xiao’s ex, eyes wide with desperation and unhinged longing. “Xiao, please! We can talk this out! I can change, I promise! Just come back to me!” Their voice cracked, filled with a volatile mix of sorrow and obsession.

Xiao turned his head slightly, looking at them with an unreadable expression. He didn’t move away from the doorframe, still shielding your hidden form with his body. His gaze was cold, distant, as if their pleas hardly registered. “You interrupted me,” he stated flatly, his tone as sharp as a blade. “I’m in the middle of something. Can this wait?”

There was a flicker of hurt in the ex’s eyes, but they didn’t relent. They took a step closer, as if proximity alone could force Xiao’s affection back into their grasp. “What could be more important than us right now? Don’t shut me out again!” Their voice wavered, tears already beginning to form as they clutched at any fragment of hope.

“This conversation isn’t going anywhere,” he said with finality, a dismissive edge.