𝐟𝐚𝐤𝐞 𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐩𝐥𝐞

twenty-eight

I sat on the roof, looking at the stars. It was a pretty sight. The only thing keeping me company is the stuffed panda.

"You wanted to talk?" Zimo suddenly appeared beside me. "Fen ge told me you'd be here,"

I bit my lip as he sat down. I don't even know what to say to him. Should I ask him how he feels? Should I apologize because I mistook him for Yanchen the other night?

"You're not mad at me?" I whispered, playing with the panda's ear.

"Believe it or not, I can never hate you."

"Zimo, I'm sorry,"

He shook his head, "You don't have to apologize. These are my feelings. I will take care of them."

Tears started to fall from my eyes. I never imagined that this would happen between Zimo and me. I always see him as a brother and a best friend ever since he was adopted by our neighbors.

Zimo turned my head around and cupped my cheeks, "Stop saying sorry. I don't like to hear that."

"But -!"

He cut me off by stretching my cheeks, making me smile, "Show your smile more. I miss seeing that."

I couldn't take it anymore as I crashed myself on his chest, crying on his neck. I felt Zimo getting nervous and debating whether or not he could hold me, but he did.

He caressed my hair, hugging me tight as I continued crying. The only sounds heard were the crickets and my sobs.

I also felt a trickle of tear fall from his eye as it landed on my cheek.

"Mingzhu," Zimo whispered, removing my body away from his. He looked at me again, "Do you want Yanchen back?"

I slowly nodded, but whispered, "But he doesn't want me. So maybe not."

I saw Zimo bit his lip, then stood up, "You're the most amazing person there is. Who wouldn't want you?"

.·:*¨¨*:·. .·:*¨¨*:·.

"Why are the lights off?" Yanlei asked, trying to touch something. "I thought Zimo was going to show us something?"

Peiyao suddenly exclaimed, "That's my butt, you idiot!"

Multiple slaps were heard and Yanlei was already crying. "You didn't have to hit that hard, Yao-ge!"

"Are we playing hide and seek?" Zuo Ye asked, trying to find a chair to sit down on.

Jeffrey decided to do push ups, since he doesn't know what to do. He called the older brother who was with them, "Bo-ge, have you seen the candles?"

"No!" Mubo screamed from the kitchen. "Where the hell is that kid anyway? Plus does he ever clean up in here?"

The lights suddenly came back revealing Zimo wearing a long coat.

"What the hell are you up to?" Peiyao asked, scratching his head.

"Is it really Qin Zimo?" Yanlei threw a pillow at him.

"It is -"

He was cut off when Yanlei threw a candle at him again. Followed by a cellphone charger, then a banana peel.

"It's me, Dong Yanlei!" Zimo exclaimed. "Stop throwing things at me!"

Yanlei shrugged, "I was just making sure."

"Where have you been?" Jeffrey asked.

Mubo returned, pointing out the most important thing to him, "And why haven't you washed the dishes yet?"

"I'll answer your questions later," Zimo said, removing his coat. "I need you guys to help me."

"Help you with what exactly?" Jeffrey asked, crossing his arms.

Zuo Ye's eyes lit up, "Ohh, is this about Mingzhu jiejie?"

Mubo smirked, "Are you finally making your move?"

Zimo showed a faint smile, "Even better,"

The boys tilted their heads waiting for an answer. But what Zimo said wasn't the one they were expecting.

"I need your help to get Yanchen and Mingzhu back together again,"