Unsaid Love Story

Chapter 24

The air around them is thick as they stare at each other in complete silence. It is mesmerizing. Zhan is unsure of his actions, but he can sense the beauty in this silence. He can't shake off the electricity running between them through their eyes. Realizing the path he is heading toward, he averts his eyes and looks down at the floor, only wanting to hide his feelings.

"Don't think about me too much. I will come into your heart, not in your mind." Yibo wraps his arm around Zhan's shoulders, causing him to freeze in the spot. He ghosts his lips over Zhan's neck and breathes in the spice and lotus scent. "On a day of darkness, oh there, in my skies, you have arrived like the brightest of the lights in my life, like I'm a deserted sky, and you are the reclaimed moon!"

Zhan's eyelashes flutter, and he clenches his fists. The sandalwood scent surrounds him, leaving him unsure of what to do and forgetting the reason for his arrival. It's not good. He slowly loses his shyness as a strange urge possesses him to press closer. Looking up, his pulse races rapidly at Yibo's fond smile.

Unsure, he tries to move, but Yibo captures his attention by stretching a hand out to him. Is this real? Or is this an illusion? Before making a decision, his hand reaches out to hold Yibo's, but he catches himself in time and pulls back. "I have worked tirelessly to get to this point, and I won't let it all be a mere mirage. My body is made of iron, so it will never bend for anyone's tricks." He reminds himself of his inner strength.

Yibo chuckles and shakes his head, guiding Zhan to the window. "Maybe your body is made of iron, but my heart is like a magnet, so you can't escape from me," he says, shocking Zhan as he reads him like a book. He then adjusts Zhan's face toward the darkened sky. "Come to this topic now. What will the moon do if you fill the darkness with your pretty face, huh? What is this secret, bunny? I suggest we make the moon and stars infamous because you're better than them."

Zhan looks at Yibo again, a reminder of the unsaid things lingering between them. Despite talking all day, even in their dreams, their conversations are never quite finished. It is the story, from the eyes to the dreams. Knowing that staying puts his life at risk, Zhan removes Yibo's arm from his shoulders and starts to walk away. But before he can leave, Yibo grabs him by the wrist and pulls him back.

The sudden gesture catches Zhan off guard, causing him to be twirled in the air and ultimately thrown into Yibo's waiting arms. A pair of lips press on Yibo's cheek. It's just an accident, nothing intentional. But Zhan's eyes widen and stay on Yibo's cheek before glancing up. The alpha's fragrance strikes him, trying to change his thinking. Suddenly, the night seems new to him, and it tells him to change himself.

Deep within his soul, he knows he has feelings for Yibo, and it is the purest thing he has ever felt in this life or any other. If he lets his guard down, it will not only spoil his life but also his brother's. He will never let that happen. He tries to break the moment by placing a hand on Yibo's chest and nudging him a little to loosen the grip. "Please listen to me. I want to live..."

"...With me!" Yibo finishes it, tightening his grip and pulling Zhan against his chest.

An arrow pierces Zhan's heart as the weight of the alpha's words settles on him. He blinks away the unshed tears, testing his patience. Like a swing, his scent changes into bitterness with one pull. "No." He pushes Yibo away, grabbing him by the arm and slamming him against the wall. "Never!" he exclaims before realizing why he came.

"Where are my glasses?" he demands, trying to maintain control over the intense emotions swirling inside him.

Yibo laughs. "Can we, uh, do this another time?" He asks carelessly, like he isn't taking anything seriously. "I feel sleepy."

Zhan is getting irritated. He can't take it anymore. "I'm not playing, Yibo," he seethes, glaring. "Give me the glasses."

"Okay, God, just let me go, and I'll get it for you," Yibo says, managing to give the most convincing look.

Zhan narrows his eyes suspiciously, slowly backing away while still looking wary. He doesn't want to believe Yibo, but he has no choice. Hoping the alpha will return his glasses without any tricks, his gaze shifts to a clock, noticing the time as 4:21 a.m. It's getting late. He needs to head back to his room before his brother returns.

"Bring it fast!" He yells impatiently, with so many thoughts running through his mind. Each passing second leads him into trouble. He doesn't want to imagine it. He bites down on his lip nervously enough to draw blood as his eyes glue to the mirror, watching the reflection of Yibo wandering around. Probably trying something. "No use. I'm just a path buried in the snow. Will the sun gleam on the frozen path?"

"Of course, if your ears hear the words spoken by my heart," Yibo says, staring into Zhan's eyes and reading them through the mirror. He stands right behind Zhan and wipes away the blood before putting his chin on the omega's shoulder and wrapping his arms around him. "I look great alongside you. I think we can make a wonderful couple."

Zhan's heart is either intoxicated by the words or the fragrance of Yibo. He doesn't know why he's staying silent, but he doesn't want to think about the reason, if any. It's too much. Thinking is a problem, neglecting is a problem, and life is painful. Not wanting to adjust to it anymore, he grabs Yibo's hand and uncurls his fingers to check for the glasses, but they're not there.

"Where are my glasses?" He asks, looking up into Yibo's eyes through the mirror.

Smiling brightly, Yibo holds his other hand out and shows Zhan the glasses. He leans forward and puts the glasses on Zhan's eyes before resting his head alongside him. "You're no different from me. We're not apart, either. Like a lotus in the water, you still live within me." His words run through Zhan's heart as his path, and they bring tears to Zhan's eyes. He has the magic in Zhan to cross every boundary.

Blinking the tears away, Zhan slides out of Yibo's arms and leaves the room quickly. It gets more difficult as time goes on. He can't help it.

While running in the hallway, Zhan pulls his glasses off and wipes his eyes to stay strong. He doesn't know whether it will last long. But he knows he has to keep pushing forward, no matter how uncertain the future may seem. As he reaches his hotel room, he puts the glasses in his pocket and unlocks the door. His eyes can't get any wider as his heart races in his chest. "B-Brother!!"