Married Strangers (complete)

8. Reunion

"Darren! Was this whole thing planned?"

"A-Zhan, what are you talking about?"

"Don't pretend not to know. I'm not mad at you but you should at least give me a heads up."

"A-Zhan...I really did not...I didn't plan it"

"Then...how come?"

"You're not very difficult to find you know. Your information is all over the internet including the town you live".

"Then...how did he know I was going to be at the store?"

"What can I say A-Zhan, maybe you two were fated to meet".

Xiao Zhan drove home thinking about his encounter with Yibo not too long ago. Was it really a coincidence as Darren said? Darren was never one to pry into his private matters but this was too much of a coincidence. Darren for the first time, mentioned marriage to him that night then asked him to help him buy some items from the convenience store.

At first, Zhan went around looking for the items on the list, they were not too difficult to find. As he shopped, he felt like he was being watched. He turned around, only to find Yibo a few steps away from him.

"I felt my eyes were deceiving me. It's really you Xiao Zhan". Yibo had sighted someone who looked like Xiao Zhan from afar. He didn't want to run up to a stranger so he walked closer. Upon confirming it was indeed the person he hoped it would be, his steps faltered. He suddenly lost his nerve, not knowing what to tell the person in front of him. It had been 4 years after all.

"Wang Yibo... what a surprise. How have you been?"

In Yibo's eyes, Xiao Zhan hadn't changed much. He was still in his formal work suit but he had taken off his jacket and his tie, his shirt was no longer tucked in and he had opened up a few of his shirt buttons from the top. Yibo caught sight of his bare neck and couldn't stop himself from moving his eyes downwards. His eyes stopped at Xiao Zhan's Adam's apple and Yibo gulped subconsciously.

Seeing him unable to speak, Xiao Zhan scratched his head and continued. "I...I just got off work, I stopped by to pick up some items. Do you live around?".

Yibo who had finally gotten out of his daze responded this time, "No, I don't live here. I'm here to... to see you".

"..."

"Remember you asked me to come see the sunset here, it really is beautiful. I was also hoping to see you. Back then, I failed to collect your direct contact details and Darren wouldn't give no matter how much I asked. I really didn't expect to run into you here".

Xiao Zhan indeed remembered mentioning the sunset here, he never expected Yibo to take it seriously.

"Oh okay then", a part of Xiao Zhan still believed Darren had something to do with this. "Where are you staying?"

Yibo mentioned the name of a hotel. For the past 4 years, he had been coming into town almost every month in hopes to run into Xiao Zhan. Xiao Zhan was a little popular in the business world but getting access to him was not an easy task.

He had lurked around his company and got approached by men in black. He had to leave. He never caught sight of Xiao Zhan entering or leaving the company. All the times he attempted to send a mail, it was all received by his assistant who after sometime, decided to reply.

It turned out to be the same Darren he had been in contact with, asking them to meet up and discuss ways to proceed with the divorce. His meeting Xiao Zhan tonight was purely a coincidence. Both men agreed to meet up over the weekend. Yibo didn't forget to collect Xiao Zhan's contact this time around. They talked for a bit before parting ways in the car park.

Xiao Zhan didn't know why but he realized his footsteps were rather slow this time. He was happy to see Yibo again but all those feelings from back then came rushing back. Even though they had agreed to meet up over the weekend, he wanted something more. If only Yibo was not a heterosexual man, it would have been a lot easier.

Subconsciously, Xiao Zhan turned around to look at Yibo with whom he just parted ways and he noticed, even though Yibo had his back to him, Yibo had not moved an inch from where he was standing. Perhaps... Xiao Zhan dismissed that thought. Whatever he was thinking was a bad idea. He continued to walk towards where he was parked.

Xiao Zhan had walked a few steps when he heard Yibo call out to him.

"Xiao Zhan gege, back then, all the things I said to you that night, I didn't mean any of them. I was under a lot of pressure and said those things in anger. I've realized how wrong I was long ago, I just haven't found the opportunity to apologise properly. I have your contact now but I don't want to wait any longer. I'm sorry, I'm really sorry, please forgive me".

Back then, those words hurt him a little but they made him think deeply. Xiao Zhan wasn't upset with Yibo, instead, his words made him realize he had to stop running away from his problems. "Yibo...I really wasn't mad at you", Xiao Zhan had stopped walking when Yibo called out to him.

"You weren't mad but you were hurt. I'm sorry for hurting you and making you sad because of my crazy temper. We had something good going on but I said those things and ruined it. I've taken out time to work on myself. I'm not perfect but I promise you, I'm working really hard to avoid such a thing from recurring", Yibo moved closer as he spoke. Soon Xiao Zhan was within arm's length. He stretched his hands to hold him but Xiao Zhan took a step backwards.

Xiao Zhan understood that he regretted his actions. They indeed hit it off when they first met. That short trip was partly good until everything went bad. He understood Yibo had some trauma he was dealing with. He never held anything against him. He was hurt but he didn't feel the same way 4 years later. Yibo's apology...the way it sounded made Xiao Zhan feel a certain kind of way. He wasn't sure so he didn't want to take any chances.

"Ha Yibo, that's okay. It's been so long, I'm glad seeing my old friend again. I...", Xiao Zhan wasn't expecting it but he saw Yibo's face getting closer to his and before he could make any move, Yibo's hands were firmly around his waist and his lips pressed tightly against his. They remained like that for a few seconds before Xiao Zhan broke the kiss.

"Yibo..", Zhan scratched his head nervously. "..errm... kissing me like this, it's really unexpected. I...I thought..."

"You thought I was straight? Well I thought so too until our first kiss". Seeing Xiao Zhan's confusion, he added. "this wasn't our first kiss".

"What? When...?", Xiao Zhan could not recall ever kissing Yibo but somehow, he felt Yibo had no reason to lie to him.

"We were both drunk that night but I remember vividly. When you woke up, were you dressed?"

Xiao remembered waking up naked but he was sure nothing happened.

"I'd tell you everything but first... I missed you all this time and what I regret the most was being unable to tell you how I really felt".

"..."

Seeing Xiao Zhan's hesitation, Yibo understood it wasn't going to be quite easy to persuade Xiao Zhan that he had somehow fallen in love with him 4 years ago and he still felt the same way.

"I like you Zhan Ge, I really do. Please believe me".

Not that Xiao Zhan didn't believe, he just felt this was too good to be true but... before Yibo changed his mind, he had to do something.

Yibo was still in the process of trying to convince him of the sincerity of his words when he felt Xiao Zhan pull him closer and seal his lips with his.

Okay, main story is over but there are still are still 2 extra chapters. Hang in there a little.