Not Enough (complete)

1. Reunion

"A-Zhan, you've had these mittens since you were a kid. Are you planning on taking it on this trip? Look at you, your hands have grown bigger than them. Why don't you put them in the donation box? Maybe some kid would find them useful".

Xiao Zhan sat on his bed packing his backpack. As for the pair of mittens his mother tried to get rid of, Xiao Zhan intended to hold on to them for as long as he could. The mittens consisted of a pair made by two different mittens but they meant the world to him.

Xiao Zhan hardly made friends, he mostly kept to himself since he was a kid but he quickly bonded with the son of his mother's best friend; Wang Yibo.

Xiao Zhan and Wang Yibo were born in the same year but while Zhan was born in January, Yibo was born in December so they had almost a whole year between them. Xiao Zhan couldn't help treating Yibo as his younger brother but Yibo always insisted they were age mates.

Both boys became friends when Xiao Zhan was 5 years old. Unlike Zhan, Yibo had a lot of friends, he made friends wherever he went and he often got into trouble. Whenever he did, Xiao Zhan was dragged into the mess with him even though he was just a passive observer.

With time, Xiao Zhan and Yibo grew closer to each other. They walked to and from school together, did their homework together and weekends were spent in each other's houses. Xiao Zhan didn't know why but the day he overheard Yibo refer to him as his best friend, he believed they were going to be that way forever. Yibo might have many other friends but Xiao Zhan was always going to be his bestie.

To Xiao Zhan's dismay, Yibo's family had to move to another country when they were 7. Xiao Zhan found the separation a little hard to deal with while Yibo was excited to go to a new country where they spoke a different language. He had seen them in movies before and he was particularly interested in a very long bridge he had come across in one of those movies.

Upon realizing Xiao Zhan's worries, he promised to write him every day. Besides, his parents said they would visit often. Yibo asked Xiao Zhan to exchange one of their mitten, leaving each of them with one of theirs and one of the other's.

Xiao Zhan had kept this all these years. He was delighted to be going on this trip with his mother since he found out Yibo and his mother were also going to be coming on this trip. It had been more than 9 years and he hadn't seen or heard from his best friend.

Back then, technology was not as advanced and one had to go to a public phone booth to make a call. Whenever it was day time, it would be night where Yibo was, so they never got to talk. Their mother's conveyed their messages verbally.

Along the line, Xiao Zhan noticed Yibo no longer asked his mother to say hi to him. He on the other hand keep sending his greetings, waiting patiently for the visit he was promised. Well, that never happened, not until when he was informed by his mother that they would be going on a vacation to another country and Yibo would also be coming with his mother.

Xiao Zhan looked forward eagerly to their reunion. Xiao Zhan was now 16, he had grown a lot and he knew Yibo would have grown also. He wondered if he would be able to recognize Yibo if he came across him. Yibo was now 15, Xiao Zhan was sure he had changed too. Deep down, he wondered if Yibo still considered him best his best friend.

On the day of the trip, Xiao Zhan was packed and ready to go before the break of dawn. Looking at him, it was obvious he didn't get any sleep the previous night but he was more energetic than those who slept.

"A-Zhan, you're up so early. Our flight isn't till 11am, you should go back to bed". He didn't say anything but his mother understood him the most, she could tell Xiao Zhan was excited about this trip and she was sure Yibo was the reason.

Since Yibo left, Xiao Zhan had not had any friends. There were a few people who came around the house but it was obvious Xiao Zhan wasn't looking to make friends. She was inwardly happy to see him excited about something.

"I'm already awake Ma. Don't worry, I'd help you pack. You go back to bed". He had to find a way to channel out all of his excitement else, he felt like he was going to explode.

Their flight was on schedule, they took off at about 11:15am. Xiao Zhan had been on local flights but this was the first time he was leaving the country. He expected the journey to be about 1 hour long. 2 hours later, he decided to ask his mother.

"Ma, when are we going to arrive?"

"Ah, didn't I already tell you? The entire journey should take about 10 hours in total".

"..."

Xiao Zhan wished he could sleep for the rest of the journey, only waking up when they landed.

...

The journey was a long and boring one but they eventually arrived at their destination. When they arrived, due to the time difference, it was early in the morning.

"Yibo and his mum should arrive around this time. We should head over to the lodge, they'd meet up with us".

They had rented a short stay apartment with 3 rooms. The women would share a room while the boys took one room each. Xiao Zhan was tired by the time they settled down. He decided to lie down and rest his head but the lack of sleep took a toll on him and he slept for a long time only to be awakened by his mother's call.

"Wake up A-Zhan, they're here".