He finally boarded the plane and rested his head, gazing at the view outside, his eyes started to dilute as the plane took off and all he could think was "Yibo~" he called his name in a low voice as he felt tears choking him, with that he closed his eyes while his mind wandered in all the memories that he had collected over the past one year, all of which belonged to that of Yibo.
3 week's later ...
"Yeah the place is good, oh it's closer to the lab, I got it I got, stop nagging me jie", it's been 3 weeks since Zhan moved to US for his internship, even though he had been busy running around jogging back and forth with internship and his research, his mind couldn't help but wonder what Yibo was doing. He had every urges in his nerve to call Yibo, but he knew it was for the best that him and Yibo didn't call each other let alone see each other anymore.
"Hello earth to Zhan, are you there?" Zifan, who walked sat in front of Zhan waved his hand to bring a lost looking Zhan back to attention, he held two cups of coffee, one of which he gave it to Zhan. "umm... I forgot to tell you, I'm going to LA tonight, I have a small work over there and I won't be probably back until next Sunday" Zifan said sipping his coffee.
Zhan shrugged "Take care I guess" he wasn't particularly in a mood to talk to Zifan, but he didn't want to come up as a rude jerk hence he simply acknowledged him. At first it was a difficult decision for Zhan to attend the internship with Zifan, but once they talked through their mistakes and past, Zhan came terms with Zifan. Even though he still felt a bit uncomfortable around him, it did improve way better than it was before.
"My break is over, Are you leaving right away ?" asked Zhan. Zifan nodded "Yep, I have a flight at 3pm" Zhan nodded and waved him goodbye, since his break was over, he walked back to the lab where he was interning.
"Hi Doctor Daniel, do you need me for anything ?" Zhan asked wearing his lab coat. Doctor Daniel looked at him and handed over some samples. "These slides came this morning, can you examine them and write a basic report" Zhan nodded "Are you sure you want me to examine them, I mean this could be serious" Zhan said to which doctor Daniel laughed "It's alright, this is just a case study and moreover I will reexamine them once, I just want to get an idea on how you analyze a crime scene" he replied.
"Sure, I'll do my best" Zhan said taking the samples to his workplace, he began working at once. As someone who was workaholic, Zhan had lost track of time, by the time he knew it was already past 9pm and he was the only one left in the lab. He was utterly exhausted as he rested his head on his desk to rest, he looked at the lock in the wall and gasped "It's 9:15? No wonder my eyes are aching" he said rubbing his eyes slightly.
He quickly began to wrap up his work, just then he heard slight tapping sounds on the window, he looked outside only to see it was pouring outside. "wow , it's raining" he said in a mono tone, he sure wasn't excited about the rain since he had to walk 3 blocks to his house. He quickly wore his jacket and locked the lab behind. He began spirting to his house. Zhan was drenched already and was shivering due to cold, he just hoped to reach home quickly.
***
The rain fell relentlessly outside Zhan's cozy home, a rhythmic drumming against the windows. Zhan was lost in his thoughts, after he dried his hair and changed his clothes into something comfortable.
Looking at the rain he couldn't help but think of the time it was raining back in Beijing where him and Yibo were stuck in heavy traffic, they had tuned the radio and they began a karaoke session in the car. Thoughts of Yibo had quickly made Zhan brood over the bitter argument that had driven a wedge between him and Yibo, his closest friend. Who was he kidding, Zhan knew he saw Yibo more than just friends, even though in his mind he was prepared to take Yibo as his friend, his heart said otherwise. Zhan knew after a fight like that and all this while of torturing Yibo, He never expected to see Yibo again.
As he sat by the window, drinking a cup of hot coco, the doorbell rang, interrupting his reverie. Zhan's heart skipped a beat as he opened the door, revealing a drenched Yibo, rain-soaked clothes clinging to his frame. His hair was disheveled, and his eyes held a mix of determination and vulnerability.
"Yibo?" Zhan's voice trembled with surprise and disbelief. "What are you doing here?"
Yibo's breathless, rain-soaked smile was enough to melt Zhan's reservations. "I couldn't stay away, Zhan. I needed to see you."
Zhan stepped aside, allowing Yibo to enter. He couldn't help but notice how Yibo's eyes followed the raindrops that still clung to his skin, forming glistening trails along his jawline.
As Yibo stood in the warmth of Zhan's home, he began to speak, his words heavy with sincerity. "Zhan, I've been such a fool. I let our fight tear us apart, and I realized how much I've missed you. I flew all the way here to tell you something."
Zhan's heart raced, his eyes locked onto Yibo's. "Tell me, Yibo"
"I'm mad, I'm confused, I'm arrogant, I'm childish, I'm weird. I'm stupid, I'm an idiot, but I'm all that just for you, I know I hurt you, I know I've been a clueless idiot, but I'm never a clueless idiot, I know what I feel and I know how to say it out exactly, but with you my feelings are thrown off the radar, I know I want to stay by you, I want you to stay by me, but my heart is afraid to tell it to you, confused but mostly scared of getting rejected by someone who is as perfect as you" Yibo said, Zhan moved closer and opened his mouth to speak, only to be interrupted by Yibo once again.
"I would lying if I said I wasn't taken back by you when I first saw you, when every girl I liked had a crush on you, I had an anger for you, but when I flung opened the lab door which revealed your handsome self I was not only stunned but was at lost of words, but your handsome face wasn't the only one which drew me in, but the way you cared, the way you were both strong and sensitive, I knew why those liked you, so as someone who was definition of perfection, I was afraid you would not want to be with someone like me, even when I knew my feelings for you were more than what I should have had for a friend".
Zhan fumbled "I...What...I don't...Get it"
Yibo moved closer, his voice barely above a whisper. "I love you, Zhan. More than I can put into words. I've loved you for a long time, and I can't bear the thought of losing you."
Tears welled up in Zhan's eyes as he took a step closer to Yibo. "Yibo, I love you too. I've missed you so much, and I was just too stubborn to admit it. I thought I had lost you forever."
Yibo's fingers brushed against Zhan's cheek, wiping away a tear. The rain outside continued to fall, a gentle backdrop to their emotions. In that moment, they both knew that love had the power to mend the deepest wounds.
Yibo leaned in, and their lips met in a passionate kiss, sealing their confession of love. The rain outside seemed to echo their emotions, washing away the pain of their past argument.
As they pulled away, Yibo smiled at Zhan, a smile filled with love and hope. "Zhan, will you forgive me? Will you give us a chance?"
Zhan nodded, his heart lighter than it had been in a long time. "Yes, Yibo. I'm willing to start over, to give us a chance."
They held each other close, rain-soaked and vulnerable but united by their love and the belief that sometimes, even the stormiest of nights could lead to the most beautiful of reconciliations.
Zhan pulled back from the hug and smiled "Look at you all drenched in rain like a homeless puppy" he said wiping the rain drops from Yibo's face. Yibo bit his bottom lip and looked at Zhan's lips "This homeless puppy needs some love" he said in a low tone. Zhan gulped hearing Yibo talk like that, it was first time hearing Yibo say such words in such a seductive tone. He looked at Yibo's eyes and they conveyed more emotions than the words said. Yibo slowly walked forward while his hands still wrapped around Zhan's hips.
Zhan too backed up slowly, until his head hit the wall behind, before Yibo could dive in for another kiss, Zhan kept his hand in the middle "I...I'm exhausted, can we do this some other day ?" Yibo blinked in confusion for a couple of seconds, but later nodded to what Zhan said "Anything for you" he smiled kissing Zhan's cheeks, while Zhan too kissed Yibo's cheek .
"By the way, you tasted like coco" Yibo said making Zhan blush "I...drank hot coco" Zhan shyly replied while handing Yibo a towel to wipe his head "Can I have some as well" Yibo asked yo which Zhan hummed.
***
"I'm afraid what will happen, this is my first time and I don't want to mess it up, I feel anxious that this might end"
To be Continued ...