If You Could See the Sun

by Ann Liang

I’m friendly with everybody...but I’m friends with nobody.

only to find Taylor Swift’s latest album playing instead.

His gaze darts to some spot near my chin, as if he’s looking for me. As if I’m suddenly an important part of this conversation.

“I remember everything,” Henry is saying.

My lips twitch. “I didn’t know you had such a praise kink.”

Maybe it’s just a trick of the light, but I swear I see his ears turn pink.

But Henry’s lips tug up at the corners as if I’ve just paid him the biggest compliment in the world,

“You know,” I muse out loud, “if it weren’t for the fact that we hated each other’s guts, we’d probably make an impressive power duo.” I expect Henry to raise his eyebrows at me as usual or make a cutting remark, but his footsteps suddenly slow beside me. “Wait. We hate each other?”

Yes, is the obvious answer. I do hate you. I hate everything about you. I hate you so much that whenever I’m around you, I can barely think straight. I can barely even breathe.

“Wait.” Something shifts in the black depths of his eyes. “You think I’m attractive?”

“You tend to stop being so scared when you’re angry,” he explains. Confusion bubbles inside me. “How—how do you know that?” “I notice,” he says simply.

Maybe I care about this partnership more than I want to admit.

“You can see me?” I ask in surprise. “No. I sensed your presence.”

god me when

We could kiss like this. The treacherous thought floats, unbidden, to the surface of my consciousness. I know, of course, that we won’t. That he’s too disciplined, and I’m too stubborn.

Some emotion I can’t name passes over his face. He reaches out, his fingers forming a warm circle around my wrist, and I stop walking. Stop everything. “Then tell me,” he says, very quietly. “What exactly do you feel toward me now?”

After a few minutes of pure, unadulterated silence, I realize Henry’s watching me, sharp-eyed and tight jawed, waiting for my response. This might be the most nervous I’ve ever seen him.

“Is this the part where you kiss me?” He leans closer, and even in the dim hotel lights, I can make out the silent laughter in his eyes. “That was not my intention.” A pause, teasing. “Why? Did you want me to?”

I stare at him. “Henry... Did you just admit that I’m smarter than you?” He shoots me a half exasperated, half affectionate look. “Don’t make me say it again.”

But Xiaoyi’s already turned her attention to Henry beside me. I’m not exaggerating when I say that her eyes literally light up, her jaw dropping all the way to her feet. You’d think she’s never seen me with a tall, good-looking, well-dressed boy my age before. Okay, fine. She hasn’t. Still, she doesn’t have to look that surprised.

Xiaoyi glances at me, amused. “Yan Yan. Your face is very red.” “I... Thank you so much for pointing that out.”

“It’s a deal then,” I say, angling my head to look up at him. “You’ll become the head of the number one tech start-up in all of China, and I’ll be a renowned, award-winning journalist or English professor. Together, we’ll—” “Be the nation’s greatest power couple?” he offers. “I was going to say conquer the world,” I admit. “But sure. I guess we can start small.”