THE PERFECT TWIN

Chapter 20: Pants??

Three weeks later, Xiaozhan would sit on that empty bed, with that same sheets freshly washed, with his scent all gone. His gaze directed outside the window looking toward the night sky. He would recall on that very warm night when Yibo was just by his side. It was so warm and comforting. a silver band reflected the silver light of the moon, the only thing left to comfort him.

He had called him a few times that day but Yibo had been busy and hadn't returned his call. He surely would call back. Right? Xiaozhan smiled at the ring on his finger, before falling asleep. That night, he forgot to close his balcony and when a rare summer rain came, the chilly wind entered the room so he came down with a cold the next day.

The knocking on the door persisted but Xiaozhan faintly heard it he couldn't tell if he was dreaming.

Wangji came in anyway.

"Xiaozhan? Aren't you going to work?"

Xiaozhan was curled up like a ball on the bed. By the bedside were a bottle of pills with its lid half opened. He picked up the bottle and read the inscriptions. Wangji frowned at the words.

He sat on the bed beside the man, nudging him. "Xiaozhan... why are you taking sleeping pills?"

Xiaozhan's face was flushed red and his lips were a little pale. He responded weakly to Wangji's nudging. Wangji felt that something might be wrong so he felt Xiaozhan's forehead.

"Hey you're burning up! Are you okay?"

Wangji faintly heard a murmur

He walked to the medicine box in the kichen and rummaged for a fever reducing tablet.

"Xiaozhan.. open your mouth for abit."

He had to place Xiaozhan's head on his lap and tilt his head slightly before giving him water.

"Thats it.. swallow it. Geez what do I do with you."

He put the glass down by the nightstand. Xiaozhan's eyes were still closed as his head touched his pillow. Wangji drew his phone out.

"Hey.. listen I'm gonna be late. Yes go ahead and do the run up without me."

He briefly spoke on the phone.

"Xiaozhan.. I'm gonna cook porridge for abit. You just keep on sleeping."

"Boo.. don't leave me.." his hand grabbed onto Wangji's firmly, refusing to let go..

"Geezz...How do you still have so much strength?"

Wangji frowned, then leaned close and gave him a light flick on the forehead before whispering.

"Zhanzhan, I'm back, I'm just going downstairs to get some breakfast. Be good and wait for me yes?"

"Boo... I've missed you.."

"Shh.. be good I'll be back soon"

Those times he heard Xiaozhan muttered his brother's name, Wangji truly wished he was Yibo. So automatically, he pretended to be Yibo briefly. He never knew he was such a great actor himself. He knew it was wrong to deceive him when he was still delirious yet Wangji could not help it. The temptation was too great and too good to pass.  Xiaozhan would believe the words from his mouth-just because he said he was LanYibo, Xiaozhan would turn all mushy and he would smile softly. And when he did, Wangji felt that he could not leave him alone. This guy was so easy to coax.

Opening the refrigerator, Wangji picked up some leftover bone soup from yesterday's dinner. He placed it in a pan to reboil it before adding the rice in. He then chopped up some spring onions and whipped up some marinated meat before dropping them onto the sizzling broth.  As he stirred the cloudy liquid mixture, a pleasant mouthwatering smell filled the kitchen. The broth was gradually reduced to its sticky texture and the color dull yellow - he added a splash of ginger sesame oil and soy sauce before serving it onto a white congee bowl.