Loveless 'solitaire' {YiZhan FF}

.22.

Leone sat leaning on the rails eyes closed, allowing the sea breeze to sweep through his soft wavy hair.

Sean enthusiastically described to him in detail all the exciting places and amusing festivals around. Leone was silent all the time, thinking that the other party had gone to sleep, Sean stopped his babble.

He watched amusingly at the younger man. Now dressed like this, he really looks his age, a twenty-one-year-old boy. 

Sean's unconsciously stretched his hands wanting to feel the swaying hair. Abruptly, Leone's eyes fluttered, and Sean instantly pulled his hands back.

Leone: "Why did you stop talking Zhan ge?"

Sean: "I thought you were sleeping"

Leone (smiling): "I wasn't, I was just enjoying listening to you"

Sean: "Haa...?"

Leone (in a low deep voice): "Zhan ge, I like to hear you talk, so don't stop please"

Sean thought to himself, -His voice, is really bad for the heart, Zhan, you are falling deeper...-

Sean (wants to divert his own thoughts): I have been wanting to ask you something, it may sound stupid"

Leone (sipping apple juice): "Shoot"

Sean (curious): "Which one is this your real look, this one or  the previous one?"

Leone (almost pilling the apple juice): "Which one do you like, ge?'"

Sean (curious): "I like both... hey, I asked you a question first"

Leone (mischievously): "It is a Secret!"

Sean (pouting): "Then, I'm gonna stop talking from now on"

Leone (gently placing his hands on Sean's ):"No no no... I'll tell you, talk to me okay... the previous one... I didn't want any unwanted attention, that's why I changed my look"

Sean: "Ohh..." --but you still stand out, how can anybody miss such a handsome face? (thought internally)-- "Leone, I have been thinking about this for a while... why do you help us? You are nowhere involved in this matter"

Leone: "Zhan ge, they are my bosom friends... I just wanna help them... simple"

Sean: (in his mind) --Simple?... just helping?... you are practically running the show, Leone --

(speaking out) "It's okay If you don't want to disclose... I can wait"

Leone: "I'm just doing my part, something I'm good at, and I have plenty of  time to spare with"

Sean: "Hmm... (nodding his head) Leone, aren't you hungry, it's almost dinner time"

Leone (looking at his watch): "Oh it's this late? when I'm with you, time moves very fast. Shall we eat something then?"

-He is again choosing only lean, fresh, and healthy food, just like at the lunch. Is he on a special diet or something? - Sean thought while choosing from the scrumptious buffet.

Sean: "Leone, don't you like seafood?"

Leone: "I'm sorry, I'm allergic to crustaceans"

Sean (worrying): "Oh, I should have asked you beforehand, my bad"

Leone: "No need to fret Zhan ge, I'm allergic to lots of types of food... So I mostly eat homemade food."

Sean (serious tone): "Next time do tell me in advance so that we can choose what's suitable for you, okay?"

Leone (smiling): "So there is next time?" (winking) "I'll be looking forward to  our next date"

Sean: "Leone, are you flirting with me...?" 

"I wish I could..." Leone said under his breath.

"Shall we call it a day?" both said at the same time and they laughed. They were stepping out of the yacht, Sean's foot got hit by something and he suddenly lost his balance. Leone was quick to catch him, "Are you okay?" 

Suddenly a shard of memory flashed in his mind. "Are you okay?... breathe... ge, breathe... it's okay... " a warm hand held his back.

Sean came back to his senses, "I'm fine Leone... thank you... I always appear to be a damsel in distress" 

Leone carefully released his hands and looked straight into Sean's eyes, "I'm more than happy to help. And Zhan ge, you are no damsel in distress,  you are one of the bravest people I have met."

Somehow those words filled his heart, moistening his eyes.

Leone insisted on dropping Sean, and he somehow didn't want to refuse it. He informed Jay about it and his brother happily agreed.

.

.

.

Leone was back in the villa, he was greeted by two overexcited human puppies, Song and Wen.

Song: "How was it?"          

Wen: "Where did you guys go?"

Leone (flat tone): "Normal, I guess... We just went cruising... that's all."

Song: "How romantic..."             

Wen: "So did you confess already?"

Leone:  "What confession? Have you both lost your minds?"

Song: "That you are in L.O.V.E with Zhan ge?"

Wen: "You didn't even tell him, 'who you are' didn't you?"

Leone (defending): "Guys, we talked about this over and over... I'm not going to tell him. period."

Song (feeling frustrated): "What are you afraid of Leone?... I have a feeling that he already likes you"

Leone: "'Love' and 'Like' there is a wide difference... and he is not emotionally strong yet"

Wen: "Leone, I agree with this idiot, probably Zhan ge hasn't realized it himself... but he definitely feels something for you."

Leone ( his voice full of pain): "Telling him, who I am would be like opening Pandora's box. It will unlock all those carefully locked memories. His partially jumbled memory itself made him waste away. He will not survive another mental shock."

Wen: "But Leone we will never know if you don't try...  If something negative happens, we are all here to support him"

Leone (a little stern): "I don't want to... I would rather see him live in peace than be marred by the pains from the past"

Song (tearing): " I just don't get it... for the sake of a crappy past, you are giving away the love of your life... Leone, he should know that it was you who saved him and all of us from that hell hole."

Wen (gratefully): "We all are alive only because of you, Leone"