One of my entries for PyarKaTropeFest ( entry #3)
Trope: opposites attract
Setting: Medical
characters: Duan Jia Xu x Original Character
graphic-er: ssttuuttii ( Stuti)
Anatomy of Assumptions
Duan Jia Xu had only just stepped through the hospital’s exit doors when he heard hurried footsteps behind him. He sighed inwardly, having had a hard day at work and not having the mental energy to deal with it because he knew who it was before he even turned.
“Duan Jia Xu!” Lin Wei’s voice was sharp. “What the hell was that back there?”
Jia Xu barely had time to drop his bag onto his shoulder before Lin Wei grabbed his arm, eyes blazing.
“If you’re referring to the patient in the OR,” Jia Xu said calmly, “I did what I thought was best.”
Lin Wei scoffed. “You cut me off. In front of everyone. Do you have any idea how humiliating that was?”
Jia Xu exhaled. “The patient—”
“Oh, save it,” Lin Wei snapped. “I know you think you’re better than me. You always have that damn righteous look, like you’re some saint, like I’m just some reckless surgeon who doesn’t care.”
“That’s not true,” Jia Xu said, his voice steady, but a flicker of something unreadable in his eyes. “I never thought that.”
“Then why the hell do you keep treating me like this?” Lin Wei demanded. “Like I’m someone you just tolerate?”
Jia Xu’s jaw clenched. “You really think that low of me?”
Lin Wei let out a bitter laugh. “Don’t act so surprised. It’s not like you make an effort to prove me wrong.”
The accusation stung more than Jia Xu expected, and something inside him frayed. “Lin Wei—”
“You know what? Maybe you just hate me.” Lin Wei’s voice was sharp now. “Maybe it’s because of who I am. Maybe you’re just—” He swallowed. “Homophobic.”
Jia Xu froze, his eyes narrowing. “What?”
“I heard you earlier,” Lin Wei said, defensive now. “You were talking to Dr. Zhang and said—”
Jia Xu pinched the bridge of his nose, exhaling slowly praying for patience. “Lin Wei, what exactly did you hear?”
Lin Wei crossed his arms. “That you didn’t want to be around people like me.”
Jia Xu blinked before realization dawned. His voice was quiet but firm. “I was talking about Dr. Zhang’s dog. I said I couldn’t be around him because I have severe allergies.”
Lin Wei’s mouth opened slightly, but no words came out. For once, he looked genuinely thrown. “You—”
“I don’t appreciate being accused of something like that,” Jia Xu said. “You easily assumed the worst of me, when you hardly know me.”
Lin Wei shifted awkwardly, rubbing his neck. “I—” He hesitated, then sighed, looking away. “Okay. That was… a mistake.”
Jia Xu crossed his arms, watching him closely. “It is. But why would you even think that about me, Lin Wei?”
Lin Wei let out a small, dry laugh. “Because you’re you. You always act so composed, so perfect, like nothing gets to you. And me? I’m the complete opposite. Loud. Messy. Arrogant, incompetent, according to you.” He shook his head. “We’re total opposites, and you always seem to be irritated by me.”
Jia Xu sighed. “I’m not irritated by you, Lin Wei. Not in the way you think.”
Lin Wei’s brow furrowed. “Then what way is it?”
Jia Xu hesitated, running a hand through his hair. “You frustrate me because you’re good, Lin Wei. You’re a damn good doctor, but you act like you don’t care for anyone's opinion, like you have nothing to prove. And yes, you’re arrogant, but I know you also care more than you let on.”
Lin Wei stared at him, unblinking. “You—” He exhaled, shaking his head. “ Is that what you really think?”
“Yes,” Jia Xu said firmly. “I admire you. But you make it so hard to talk to you because you always assume the worst.”
Lin Wei scoffed. “You think I assume the worst? You’re the one who’s always keeping me at arm’s length. You never even tried to talk to me outside of work.”
Jia Xu’s lips pressed together. “ It is not like you tried hard either.”
Lin Wei fell silent, his fingers twitching slightly. Then, in a quieter voice, he admitted, “I wanted to. But every time I thought about it, I convinced myself you hated me.”
Jia Xu sighed. “I never hated you, Lin Wei.”
Lin Wei looked at him, something vulnerable flickering in his eyes. “Then what was all this?”
Jia Xu exhaled. “The truth is, I’ve always liked you, more than I should.”
Lin Wei’s head snapped up, eyes wide. “What?”
Jia Xu’s gaze didn’t waver. “I’ve liked you for a long time. But at the same time, you drove me insane too. I hated how you got under my skin, how you always made me feel like I had to prove something to you. And maybe I did keep my distance, but it wasn’t because I hated you. It was the opposite.”
Lin Wei blinked, looking uncharacteristically speechless. Then, after a pause, he let out a quiet laugh. “That’s funny.”
Jia Xu arched a brow. “What is?”
“I could never gather up the courage to talk to you properly,” Lin Wei admitted. “I always thought you looked down on me. So I acted like I didn’t care what you thought.”
Jia Xu studied him for a long moment before stepping forward. “So all this time, we both have been making useless assumptions?”
Lin Wei chuckled. “Yeah, looks like it.”
A brief silence fell before Jia Xu, in a move so unexpected that Lin Wei barely had time to react, grabbed his collar and kissed him.
It was firm, intentional, the kind of kiss that left no room for misunderstandings. Lin Wei tensed, fingers tightening in surprise before slowly relaxing into it, and pulling Jia Xu deeper into him. It was quite some time before they came up for air. Jia Xu pulled back slowly and Lin Wei was left breathless, his usual smugness replaced with quiet astonishment. Their swollen lips were proof of the crackling chemistry between them.
Jia Xu exhaled. “Never assume again.”
Lin Wei swallowed, staring at him. “Are you really —”
“I’m gay, Lin Wei,” Jia Xu said simply. “I have no reason to lie.”
Lin Wei let out a short, breathless laugh, shaking his head. “Well. That’s… totally unexpected.”
Jia Xu smirked slightly. “Why ? are only handsome, arrogant, know-it-all doctors allowed to be gay ? Are you still convinced I hate you?”
Lin Wei shook his head, a bright smile tugging at his lips. “No. But I think we still have some things to clear up.”
Jia Xu nodded. “Dinner tomorrow?”
Lin Wei arched a brow. “Is that your way of asking me out?”
Jia Xu chuckled. “ Would you consider accepting if it was ? Consider it a peace offering from my side.”
Lin Wei stepped back, hands in his pockets, but the soft warmth in his eyes made Jia Xu's heart skip a beat.
Will it ever be more than that between us, Lin Wei thought to himself. "Fine. But if we’re doing this, you don't get to cut me off in surgery again.”
Jia Xu smiled. “Only if you stop assuming things about me.”
Lin Wei smirked. “Goodnight, Dr. Duan.”
This time, as Lin Wei walked away, Jia Xu didn’t just watch—he found himself looking forward to what came next.
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approximately 1220 words
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