DC- chapter 5

“He did say it!” Zhan’s usually calm voice was shrill with a happiness born of over excitement.

“What am I going to wear… oh my gosh I can’t believe it, I get to see Bo for real and to think that after my agony about what happened at the company, I’d be this happy again, oh my gosh I am so excited Jiyang!”

Jiyang cast a quick and embarrassed glance about the restaurant before he pinned Zhan down with a distasteful look in his eyes.

“You are shouting Zhan and people are staring,” Jiyang muttered.

“I am not.. and guess what, he said I should fix a date myself, I am sooo the happiest person on earth right now.”

Zhan’s happy glance went round every corner of the restaurant then he put down his utensils and pressed his hand briefly against his throbbing heart.

“Oh Jiyang, I think I’m going insane!” he whispered.

“Now hold it mr Bo, calm down, we have a lot to do you cat go on your first date looking like my grandma.”

Jiyang said unapologetically spearing his turkey with his fork and knife.

Zhan dimmed his eyes in annoyance and twitched his eyebrow.

“What’s wrong with my sense of fashion?” he demanded.

“Everything sweetheart, now we don’t have much time, you told him tomorrow, so we have to get you ready for the date and most importantly I have to set you up for a get ready date.”

Zhan nodded readily.

“Alright but when you say… a get ready date, what do you mean?”

“A pretend date darling and who will be the best… ” Jiyang paused abruptly, thinking hard he ran his fingers over his head.

“Oh yeah, Haoxuan is the perfect man for the job.”

“No.. I can do this, I am not a teenager for crying out loud, it’s awkward to get me into a pretend date just because…”

“Well you are a 24 yrs old virgin in this 21st century.” Jiyang said stuffy with a mocking smirk.

“Jiyang!” Zhan gasped in whisper.

“Look you need this honey, listen to mummy, mother knows best.”

He said musically.

Zhan sighed deeply.

“Well are you sure Haoxuan will agree to it”.

“Of Course honey, Haoxuan will be more than happy to help! Now let’s get you a new dress and a pair of contact lens.” Jiyang said cleaning his mouth with a tissue.

He signaled the waitress to remove their plates.

“Wait, what happened to my glasses?” Zhan protested.

“Don’t act like you love them that much, you’ve always tried to get rid of them.”

Zhan sighed again.

“I know but… I want him to see the real me you know.”

“Contact lens makes no difference and besides honey it’s a first meeting, there is nothing wrong in trying to look as pretty as possible, don’t worry your anonymous lover will definitely love the now you.”

“Alright.. I guess ” Zhan shrugged.

He looked out of the window deep in thought.

What if he wasn’t impressed by my looks or maybe he only wanted the same thing that Dylan wanted then, it’s a date and we are both adults right, what if he wants something I can’t give up.

“Really, where did he drop his phone!” Jiyang groaned loudly, cutting into his thoughts.

“What.. what are you saying Jiyang?”

“Haoxuan, he is not picking his call, I better text him, he got to be here tomorrow night.”

Zhan admired the fact that Jiyang was really happy for him and would do anything to make him happy, he is literally more excited than he is right now, he smiled softly at him.

“Jiyang we still have a whole day so don’t be so stressed out.”

“Oh I am not, come on let’s get to the boutique right away”.

××××

The next day

“Now you can open your eyes, Haoxuan.”

The long awaited instruction came to him, Slowly he dimed his eyes open as his jaw dropped open in astonishment.

His eyes ran over Zhan, Adorned like a new bride yet simple, His small slender body was flattered by the dress, below average height and slender built but with curvier hips and fat in the lower body. His eyes were the major attraction, Doll like, large beneath his big glasses and aquamarine.

They were fringed with long lashes and a glittering eye shadow.

The rest of his features were flawless, a small straight nose, a wide generous mouth with full lower lip and even fuller upper lip and mole under lips.

Haoxuan wondered why Zhan didn’t even get to be on the list of the company’s average beauties.

Beauty sure lies in the eyes of the beholder.

“So what do you think?”Jiyang asked tartly.

Haoxuan was still speechless.

“Is it that bad? Jiyang insisted on this clothes, he said it looks great on me.” Zhan asked innocently.

“Of course not! He is obviously stunned by your beauty, don’t you dare underestimate my magic fingers” Jiyang growled angrily at him.

“Sorry.”

Zhan mumbled.

Haoxuan chuckled at their little argument even though he was a bit tense.

“You look lovely Zhan, I really don’t know the words to describe it.”

Zhan couldn’t hold his gaze.

Haoxuan knew him well enough to notice his uneasiness.

“It’s such a rarity to find a man of your age who still blushes at every little compliment.”

“Stop it already!” Zhan cried.

“Don’t make him so nervous Haoxuan!’ Jiyang snapped in his defense.

“My apologies, I just can’t hold back, he is pretty I had to confess.”

This time Zhan looked up at him and met his longing eyes, glistening with love and affection for him, Jiyang, who knew quite well of Haoxuan’s secret crush on Zhan, had to get him back to his feet or else he might ruin their moment.

Jiyang cleared his throat, breaking the lengthy moment of awkward silence.

“I think this will be the time we all get into our characters.”

Jiyang commented gesturing at the table at the middle of the room, he had set up earlier for the fake date tonight.

Zhan admired how skillful Jiyang’s decoration, he totally turned the room into a little event center for a romantic date!

Everything was perfect from the fairly light shadows to the romantic red petals on the floor.

The blinding white sheet spread on the table with the coated chairs kissed with ribbons.

The open window too was a great view, the romantic candles and the scent was heavenly if this hadn’t been a fake date.

Zhan would have confessed of having his simple fairytale dream date come true.

Haoxuan on the other hand couldn’t take his eyes off Zhan not until his eyes caught him.

“Mm… May I?” Haoxuan asked with a slight bow offering his hands like he would do to a royalty.

Zhan chuckled softly at the gesture and accepted his offer.

He took him to the table and pulled the chair for him.

“Thanks” Zhan mouthed.

He nodded at him with a soft smile and went on to sit at the opposite chair.

Jiyang came to the table and lifted the lids which had kept their food warm, Zhan mouth watered at the sight of the dishes and his inside shook with hunger.

She spread a serviette across over his knees with excitement.

The steaks were hot and tender and also succulent, the salads fresh and rich and the potatoes had been fried deep enough to leave it soft beneath and crispy on the outer layers living golden brown.

Just then did Zhan realize how hungry he must have been before now as his tummy continued rumbling with an extremely exciting hunger trigger.

“They look delicious, don’t they?” Haoxuan cuts into his thoughts.

Zhan looked at him and smiled.

“The chef sure is good, too good I suppose.” Zhan said and turned to Jiyang.

“I hope you enjoy the food mr and also your pretend boyfriend”.

Jiyang said with an air of mockery shading off the compliment.

“Go on enjoy” Jiyang continued, ignoring the “I will kill you” look from Zhan.

He chuckled and left them.

He then walked over to sit at the dining table which was feet apart from the room and opposite.

There was a moment of intense silence between the two supposed lovers.

Jiyang, who was watching from afar in expectation, got bored by their awkwardness.

Asking Haoxuan to be his pretend boyfriend must be a bad idea given that he was fully aware of Haoxuan’s huge secret crush on Zhan, he thought in his own disappointment.

Zhan still hasn’t shifted his gaze from the plate while Haoxuan toyed with his spoon, sweating profusely as he stared at him intently.

He looks like he got a million things to say to him but none was forthcoming.

“Are you guys fucking kidding me!”

Jiyang growled in frustration.

“I think we should keep it natural don’t you think so, I might be a little bit shy with the real Bo you know…..” Zhan said calmly.

“I agree with Zhan. ” Haoxuan concurred, Zhan smiled back at him.

Jiyang groaned loudly.

“Fine! Good idea by the way and remember, you are the Bunny and he is Bo.”

The two nodded as if they had been addressed by their teacher.

Jiyang sighed out loudly and went back to his seat.

Zhan, knowing quite well there was no time he had to practice, decided to overcome his shyness and start a conversation since Haoxuan strangely was not quite as good at this as he thought Haoxuan might be, he looked disturbed and wouldn’t do anything but stare.

Zhan had to speak first but before he could find the right words to begin with, Haoxuan mouthed.

“I love you Zhan.”

Zhan looked up at him as a strange expression flitted across his small face. His feet suddenly felt horribly unsteady beneath him and his heart started pounding uncontrollably hard.