Not Enough (complete)

2. Spend time together

"No need to wake him up, allow him sleep". It was Wang Lu, Wang Yibo's mother who spoke. Xiao Zhan got up and his eyes fell on a vaguely familiar face.

"Hello Aunt Lu, long time no see. How have you been?"

Wang Lu turned to look at her friend. "Not only has he grown up, he has become even more handsome. I used to brag about my Yibo everywhere but I cannot brag to you". She pulled Xiao Zhan over as she spoke, pinching his cheeks and rubbing his hair. The women spent a whole lot of time praising each other's sons while Xiao Zhan sat there, his eyes fixed on the door the whole time.

As if sensing his thoughts, his mother spoke to him, "Yibo is taking a bath in his room. He came over here to say hello but you were asleep so he decided not to disturb you. When he is done, you can go over".

"Ah-Li, why are you acting like Xiao Zhan is a stranger? You should go over to his room. Yibo spends a lot of time in the bathroom, if he knows you're there, he might speed up his bath".

Xiao Zhan was reluctant to go but after being persuaded, he went to Yibo's room. He knocked on the door but there was no response so he let himself in.

Yibo came with a huge luggage. How long was he planning on staying here? Xiao Zhan had barely sat down when Yibo emerged from the bathroom with a towel on his waist and his hair dripping wet.

Their eyes met and Xiao Zhan felt his face heat up. "Xiao Zhan?", Yibo stood on the spot looking at him. Xiao Zhan didn't know whether to hug him or shake him. He didn't know whether to keep looking, as he noticed his eyes trailing to places he was sure he shouldn't be looking at, or look away. A smile formed on both of their faces.

"I'd have walked right past you on the road. I can barely recognize you. You've grown so tall. How have you been?"

Xiao Zhan understood why Aunt Lu bragged about Yibo's looks. He had grown up so well. His skin was slightly tanned but well-toned. He had also grown taller, just a little shorter than Xiao Zhan himself.

Xiao Zhan had been excited for this trip. He had anticipated their meeting several times in his head. He felt Yibo was going to run into his arms as he did when they were kids but it seemed like he was wrong. He could feel an invisible barrier between them. The little courage he had, he could feel it drain away.

"I've been good. It's been so long. You've also grown so tall".

Yibo chuckled and moved to his luggage, picking out a set of clean cloths. "Of course, I'm older now. still, I'm not as tall as you are."

"That's because I'm a year older than you".

"No, we're age mates, born in the same year..."

Same old same old, it seemed not everything had changed. Xiao Zhan just chuckled in response.

It looked like both boys had nothing else to say to each other so they kept smiling awkwardly while Yibo dressed up. Xiao Zhan felt he should liven the atmosphere a little bit.

"You promised to write every day before you left but not once did you write. I wrote you a lot of letters but I got no reply". After saying this, Xiao Zhan wish he could retract his words. He sounded like he was...hurt. Of course, letters could get lost in the mail, he was sure Yibo wrote. Besides, being in a new place, it would take time to locate the important places like the post office. Xiao Zhan wanted to apologise for his confrontation but then he heard Yibo say...

"I promised to write? I'm sorry I don't remember. Besides it's been so long. Don't tell me you hold a grudge. How long has it been, 10 years?"

10 years? How could Yibo say 10 years? Did it mean he was the only one looking forward to this reunion? When they parted, the promises Yibo made, where they for nothing?