HIME – Chapter – 18

Message

(“Come to the old building *** near the university if you want to save your darling. ” )

Without thinking twice he ran outside the dorm making yubin furrowed in confusion. Yubin yelled his name but Zhan didn’t bother to reply. His mind was occupied by Yibo and how to reach there in time. He tried to calm himself by chanting “nothing will happen to him, i will save him”. But no matter what he did or say, nothing was working. He was scared.

After going outside the university, he looked around to see if there is any taxi available so that he can reach there as soon as possible.  Luckily he found one and paid triple the amount.  He was keep checking his phone and dialling Yibo’s number again and again but no one was picking up.  His heart was getting restless and he was sweating hard even though the air conditioner was on.

For the first time in his life he get out of taxi and ran inside the old building without thanking the taxi driver. He was searching for pool for quite long and he couldn’t able to find it as the building was so big. He stopped in a middle of gallery, he was breathing fast and sweat was dripping from his whole body.

There was a pin drop silence and only his breathing could be heard. But there was another sound too. He stopped breathing and tried to listen it more clearly. It was a sound of water,  coming from the left side. He immediately ran toward it like it was the last hope of his life.

Finally, he saw a swimming pool there and unfortunately Yibo was still lying there unconscious. Water reached to the level of his mouth and if it would not stop then yibo would drown there. Zhan nervously looked around and saw the faucet there. He immediately ran to stop the water and then came back to help Yibo.

He jumped inside the pool and untied his hands and legs inside the water so it would become easy to took him out of the swimming pool. Zhan also didn’t know how he managed to do all these things. He doesn’t know what he was doing but he just want to get him out of the water safely. His mind was continuously chanting “i will save him “.

At last he grabbed Yibo’s shoulder and  started dragging him out of the pool. He helped him lay down on the wet ground and started tapping his face with his nervous heart and trembling hands.

Zhan :  Yibo ! Yib-yibo !!! Wake up !! Y-

There was a boom sound inside his head. He couldn’t able to think properly, he was scared as hell. He started breathing heavily to control the urge of crying.  His heart was aching to see him like this. Yibo wasn’t waking up. And Zhan was feeling so helpless.  He started crying while calling his name again and again.

Zhan : Yibo!!! Wake up!! —Please!!  Don’t scare me —wake up, I’ll be good to  y– You.. I’ll lis-listen to yo- wak– yibo!! Why aren’t you waki— No..

He wiped his tears and took deep breath to calm down. He checked his breathing and luckily he was breathing. Zhan sucked breath like he got his life back again. For  no reason he started crying while thanking god. He is really grateful that Yibo is fine. He grabbed his shoulders and hugged him while crying loudly.

After getting adult it was the first time when he was crying like that. There was so much pain inside his heart. Even though he knows Yibo is fine but  still he was feeling pain just by thinking about if.. If he- No! He doesn’t want to even imagine. He can’t live without him. He need Yibo’s presence in his life to live. No matter what their relationship is. Even if they are enemy. Zhan need him.

Suddenly he felt two weak arms around him. Zhan stopped crying and widened his eyes before breaking the hug to look at Yibo. Yibo smiled at him weakly and shook his head to tell him not to cry, making it harder for Zhan to not cry.

Zhan : Yibo.. How are you feeling??  Are you feeling any pain? Does it hurt somewhere?  Let’s go to the hospital–

Yibo : I’m fine. Let me hug you for a while.

He said and pulled Zhan closer to hug him tightly.  Zhan hugged him back releasing deep breath while rubbing Yibo’s back. They both were wet and sitting on a wet ground without saying anything. They both were scared to lose each other. But hugging like this,  they felt calmness was spreading inside their heart and body.

Zhan was the one who broke the hug again and looked at Yibo with his furrowed eyebrows before asking.

Zhan : Who did this to you? Why you came here?

Yibo furrowed eyebrows and found it confusing after listening Zhan.

Yibo : You messaged me and called me here. I thought, you wanted to meet me privately because we couldn’t able to meet in university. But when i reached here, someone put handkerchiefs on my mouth and everything started getting blurry. Its not like, i was totally unconscious. I saw and felt them tying my hands and feet and then i felt i was floating in a water. And then i saw you hugging me.

Zhan : Wait.. I called you? Yibo i didn’t call you here. I was waiting for you inside the dorm.

Yibo got more confuse and checked his pocket but his phone was missing.  He looked around and saw his phone in a corner. He got up and went toward his phone before picking up, Zhan followed him in confusion and saw him checking something on his phone.  Then yibo shown his chat with Zhan to before asking.

Yibo : Didn’t you send this message?

Zhan widened his eyes before shooking his head in surprise.

Zhan : No. I never called you here. However, i said i was waiting for you. But i meant i was waiting for you in a dorm  not here. I didn’t know you were here until i received message from your number.

Yibo : Show  me ..

Zhan took out his phone and showed it to him. Yibo widened his eyes while seeing it. And he started thinking who else known their relationship? Because from the last text, it could be seen that, the person know their relationship.

Yibo : Did someone use your phone?

Zhan got shocked and immediately nodded remembering the girl who used his phone. He gave her phone because he thought she need to call someone but in reality she was scheming against him. But why did she do that. He doesn’t know her and it was the first time he saw her then why would anyone do that. Unless,  someone make her do that.

Yibo hugged him while caressing his back. Zhan was looking so confused and scared. There is very few times when Zhan look like this. Yibo knows Zhan shows that he the strongest but in reality he is the weakest when it comes to his love ones.

Yibo : Thanks for saving me again.  I owe you 3 life Zhan. Now, stop thinking about all these, gege will handel everything.  Nothing gonna happen to you or me. Hmm?

Zhan punched his back listening the word Gege. He scoffed with his teary eyes.

Zhan : Who is gege ? Stop spouting nonsense.  And it was kind of refreshing to dive inside the cool pool. You think i did just to save you. ?

Yibo laughed listening him. Zhan also realise that he is not making any sense and suddenly become awkward while hugging him.

Yibo : Let’s go or you will caught cold.

Zhan nodded after shrugging his awkwardness and yibo grabbed his wrist to clasped his hands with Zhan while smiling.  Zhan shook his head after scoffing in disbelief, no one will say he just came back from the mouth of death. They both started walking outside the building while talking normally.  Zhan felt nothing seems serious with Yibo. With Yibo, he can overcome with any type of difficulty.

Zhan was secretly stealing glances and Yibo was noticing it but he decided not to point it out as Zhan already suffered so much today. He let him do anything he wanted because why not, this person saved his life again.  Yibo was really feeling grateful to have Zhan in his life. He smiled secretly and intertwined his fingers with him.

On the other side of the road, there was car that was going toward the university but suddenly stopped after the sudden unexpected encounter. Yibo’s mom was already doubting the relationship of Yibo and Zhan after witnessing the last scene so she decided to go their university to see the truth by herself. She also didn’t expect that she will found them on the road, walking towards the university while clinging to each other. She saw them laughing, blushing and teasing like a sweet couple.

Her whole body was fuming with anger.  She was thinking what did she do wrong that her son become like this? She clenched her fist and shook her head as she wasn’t ready to accept such thing about her son. No matter what she will fix this problem before the matter goes out of her hands.

She took out her phone and messaged Yibo to come home as soon as possible.

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After reaching dorm they both changed their clothes and before Zhan could discuss anything with Yibo. Yibo started speaking first..

Yibo : Zhan .. I need to go home. Mom called me for urgent matter. I’ll be back soon. Okay?

Zhan was feeling something was off. He doesn’t know why he doesn’t want to let Yibo go anywhere. He wanted to tell him ‘don’t go, or I’ll accompany you’ but words weren’t coming out of his mouth. He pursed his lips and nodded a little with his heavy heart. And at last he decided to say the most difficult sentence of his life.

Zhan : Come back soon. Do you want me to accompany you?

Yibo smiled and kissed his forehead lovingly and pulled away immediately. Zhan’s heart was becoming restless again. He wanted to grab him and hugged tightly but for some reason he couldn’t get the enough courage to do so.

Yibo : Just rest a little..  I’ll be back before midnight okay?

Zhan nodded with slight smile and Yibo left the dorm. Zhan sighed with a heavy heart and suddenly he received a message from an unknown number.

(Message)
??? :  Whatever happened today was just a warning. If you won’t clear the misunderstanding between me and Yanli then… I don’t know what I’ll do next. Don’t underestimate me Zhan. If you can ruin my dreams then i can ruin your whole life. I hope you will understand.

Zhan clenched his jaw after reading that. Without any doubt he can guess who that person is. He really underestimated Yuchen.  Zhan’s blood was boiling with anger.  How could he dare to touch Yibo. Zhan wasn’t going to do anything before but now Yuchen forced him to show what zhan is capable of.

But for the first time in his life he get scared of taking next step while thinking about Yibo. Yuchen is threatening him with Yibo because he knows their special relationship.  Zhan shook his head and thought he would not take any step without proper planning.

He unwillingly started recalling the words Yanli said to him when he asked her about the love. His heart started beating while thinking about yibo. His mind was placing Yibo on each and every words of Yanli. And sudden rush of  adrenaline made him realise that he can really feel each and every thing about love with Yibo. So it means…. He like …. Yibo?

Blood rushed toward his cheek making him feel hot. He immediately got up from his place and fan himself with his hands. He shook his head to shrug off all the nonsense he was thinking but suddenly he recalled the recent forehead kiss that yibo gave him before leaving.  He touched his forehead and smiled while blushing.

This feeling of feeling love is really new for him and kind of special because he thought he would never able to feel such thing but somehow he also turn out to be human who is greedy for such feeling.  He started remembering Yangzi’s word that Yibo likes him. If its really true then maybe…  Maybe they can turn their complicated relationship into simple.

Zhan smiled with his red cheeks and look at the watch to see the time. He really wanted to talk to Yibo as soon as possible.  He isn’t a person who is good at waiting and is ready to hide their feeling.  He is a straightforward person and decided to tell him everything today only.

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On the other hand, Yibo’s mom dressed up and gave her son a elegant suit to wear. Yibo without questioning wear it and asked where are they going.

Yibo’s mom : My friend’s daughter just came back from abroad and she organized a huge party. Your dad is busy with work and he can’t accompany me there so please come with me.

Yibo nodded even though he has a slight doubt in his heart. His mom never likes to attend party and function but somehow he shrugged off that uneasy feeling from his heart and they both sat inside the luxury car to attend that so called party.

After reaching the destination and spending 120 minutes there. Yibo understood why his mom here and why she made him accompany her.

Yibo’s Mom : Yibo, she is my friend’s niece Li Xue. She is graduating from the top university of our country and you both are of same age.

That girl smiled shyly after seeing the handsome appearance of Yibo. She was ready to exchange wechat account but Yibo wasn’t showing any interest. She was the 15th girl that her mom introduced to him. He glared at her mom to tell her stop all these things. But her mom turned blind eye on him.

Yibo’s mom : oh i forgot about her, yibo come with me i wan—

Yibo : Mom stop please!!

That girl flinch immediately turned around to leave after seeing Yibo’s furious face. His mom looked at him with her expressionless face and started pretending like she doesn’t understand what he means.

Yibo : Lets go home and talk, can we?

Yibo understood that something is wrong, there must be a reason of her doing so he really want to clarify things. And luckily his mom sighed and nodded her head without any other word.

The whole drive was too quite. No one dared to utter anything before reaching inside the home. Yibo was the one who broke the silence first.

Yibo  : You must have guessed that I’m gay right?

His mom widened her eyes and wanted to slap him for saying such thing about himself. Her eyes turned red and she was at the verge of crying but she gulped hard to control herself.

Yibo’s Mom : You are normal Yibo. Mom will find solution for you. You are feeling like this because you never made any female friend. If you didn’t like anyone today then no problem, I’ll find the most beautiful girl for you.

Yibo sighed and felt helpless seeing his mom like this for the first time.

Yibo : Mom, i like Zhan.

Yibo’s mom : No you dont!!!! Yibo listen to mom. I know what you are feeling right now but its wrong. This cant be happen yibo. How can you become something like this?  Few days ago you used to hate Zhan. Please don’t be confuse its not right. Who made you like this?

Yibo took few steps closer toward her and said in his soft tone

Yibo : Mom I’m serious. I can’t like anyone let alone girl if its not Zhan. And no one made me gay, i was born this way and used to like Zhan from childhood. At that time i was too small to understand anything but now i can —

His face turned toward the left side with huge impact. His mom slapped him before he could complete his sentence. He rubbed the burning sensation on his cheeks and turned his head to look at her mom. She was crying. It was the first time when he saw her crying.  His heart ached seeing her like that he gulped hard.

Yibo’s Mom : I’m really ashamed to have you as my son! How could you do this to us Yibo.?? We gave everything you needed and fulfilled each of your wishes just to see this day? Didn’t you think about us before doing such thing!?? How could i live knowing my son is fagg– disgusting!

Yibo’s tear fell from his eyes. He scoffed in disbelief listening his mom’s words.  He knows his path would be tough but he is determined to walk and face any difficulty.

Yibo : Mom, when i thought i would be walking in a difficult path, i thought about everything, except you would feel disgusted of me. I thought no matter what, my own parents will understand me accept me the way I am. But i was wrong. I’m sorry for becoming unfilial son. But I’m not gonna back off. I really like Zhan.

His mom wiped her tears and nodded hysterically and said in her cold voice.

Yibo’s Mom : Good.. I accept you if you are really determined to live such life.  Go and live the way you want. If you don’t care about me then i don’t care about you too. Do whatever want because I’ll be not there to watch you.

After saying that she started walking toward her room leaving Yibo in a daze with his widened eyes.  For few seconds he couldn’t understand the meaning behind her words but he immediately came out of the trance when her mom locked the door from inside.

He immediately ran toward her room and started banging on her door in his trembling voice.

Yibo : Mom open the door!!Don’t be stupid mom open the door. !! We can talk!!

After trying for few seconds more when he realised his mom wasn’t ready to listen to him. He started kicking the door with his whole strength. His hands were trembling and heart was getting heavier and heavier.  He look around to find a spare keys of every room and luckily found in a near drawer. After opening the door her room he saw the most horrific scene of his life.

His mom kicked the chair and was about to ha*g herself with a fan. He immediately rushed toward her and caught her legs while crying loudly. He stood on the bed and forcefully remove the rope from her neck before making her sit on bed. His hands were shaking and for few seconds he lost his voice. He was breathing heavily and sweating hard while grabbing his mom his with both hands.

Her mom’s heart softened seeing him like this, he was looking like small kid who us scared to be apart from his mom. She never saw him even though when he was forced to go school without his mom but she tried to remain as cold as possible.

Yibo’s mom : Let me die Yibo. I really don’t want see you become the disgusting thing.  After me,  you can do whatever you want.

Yibo didn’t dare to look up at her he was still scared.

Yibo : What the hell are you saying!. How could i live peacefully without you.

Yibo’s mom : Why not.? You love zhan more than us!. I can’t understand so it will be good if i die so that you can do everything you want.

Yibo look up at her. His eyes were red and he looked like lifeless. He was still breathing heavily, after staring at his mom for a minute in pure silence he said something his mom wanted listen from the very start.

Yibo : I will do whatever want but please don’t do that again.  I beg you mom.

To be continue..

Thanks for reading..
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