Xiaojun was asleep.

Then, the unmistakable new email bing echoed from his phone.

Xiaojun checked his new email and read King of Hearts's new message.

"I told my dad. It was insanely awkward but in the end, it went well, we even decided to throw caution to the wind and light the menorah for real."

Xiaojun imagined Winwin's dad light the Chanukah candles with a Bic.

"That went less well."

The sprinklers in the room turn on, dousing Winwin and his dad with water.

Xiaojun smiled before continuing to read.

"Also, you've got it backwards. It's you who inspired me but, I'm sorry. I'm just not ready for us to know each other's identities, Love, King Of Hearts."

Xiaojun's smile faded as he came crashing back to earth.

Then, he noticed he had two unread texts: one from Kun and one from Ryujin.

He opened Kun's first.

Great job orchestrating today's hang. I feel like Ryujin and I were really vibing. Keep up the good work and maybe your secret will stay in the closer.

And then: Sorry, autocorrect. Closet.

Xiaojun looked worried.

Then, he opened Ryujin's text.

You coming out made me think, life is short. Don't care about Yangyang's past. Gonna tell him how I feel. ❤️😰 Sorry for late night text. XX.

Xiaojun stared at his phone, very worried.

Shit.

Xiaojun was desperate to protect his relationship with King Of Hearts...

●○●○●

Yangyang closed his locker door and was startled to find Xiaojun standing right behind it.

"Ahh! God, ever since that sinus surgery you're such a quiet breather." Yangyang and Xiaojun started walking to class.

"I figured out your dream."

"Huh?"

"Putting in your contacts backwards. I figured out what you can't see that's right in front of you."

"Oh, yeah. That was a good one but not as good as the one I had last night. I was playing goalie for Atletico Madrid and Lionel Messi is about to shoot on me when I realize that there's a heart shaped hole in my shorts and my balls are hanging out-"

"Shut up! I figured out what you can't see that's right in front of you."

"What?"

"Lia."

"What about her?"

"She's who you really want to be with."

"Uh, wouldn't I know if I wanted to be with Lia?"

"No because you're too close to her. You've been best friends so long that you can't see what's right in front of you."

"I don't think so-" Yangyang spoke doubtfully.

"Of course! It's always been Lia. Ryujin was just your way of distracting yourself because you're scared to go for it with Lia."

"I dunno, the Ryujin thing feels real and I've been thinking, the sexual experience thing isn't really that big a deal."

Yangyang leaned forward, dropping his voice to a whisper: "Actually, I've been practicing. I got this thing on the internet called a pocket puss-"

"Ryujin likes Kun!" Xiaojun blurted out.

"What? Qian Kun? No way." Xiaojun took a breath.

It was time for some more lying.

"I know. I was surprised too, but they've been spending a ton of time together at rehearsals. She likes how quirky he is."

"Wow... but Kun definitely isn't good at sex!"

"I heard he learned a ton from some divorced woman. On a family cruise." Yangyang looked disgusted as they stopped outside his classroom.

"Just promise me you'll think about asking Lia out. You're the one who's always saying the subconscious works in mysterious ways."

"I do say that." Yangyang said, feeling unsure.

Yangyang headed into his class, lost in thought.

Xiaojun stared at his friend, feeling like the biggest shit heel in the world ...

●○●○●

Xiaojun shut his locker door to find Lia standing behind it, a la Xiaojun just a moment ago with Yangyang.

"Ahh!"

"So... Yangyang asked me to have dinner before the Christmas homecoming game."

"Uh, okay?" Xiaojun feigned ignorance.

"No, you don't understand. He was like, 'Do you want to have dinner?' And I was like, 'Sure, are Ryujin and Xiaojun in?' And he was like, 'I was thinking it could be just the two of us. Like... a date.'" Lia spoke uncomfortably.

"Oh. Wow, this is amazing!"

"It is?"

"I mean, isn't it? I know you're into him." Lia looked surprised, like she didn't realize that Xiaojun knew that.

"Come on, Lia. I'm your best friend. I see things and I've always thought you guys would be great together."

"Really?"

"Of course. You were born two weeks apart, you grew up across the street from each other, you both speak english. You guys are one tragic boating accident away from being a Nicholas Sparks movie." Xiaojun saw that Lia still looked very unsure... and he was pretty sure he knew why.

"I know you haven't really dated before but you have nothing to be worried about. It's Yangyang." Xiaojun spoke gently.

"Okay, then. I guess I'll say yes." Lia finally managed to let out nervous words. 

"I'm so psyched for you guys." Xiaojun gave her a hug, praying that he hasn't set Lia up to get her heart broken by the guy she's in love with...