Tides Of Healing Love

2. Mention not.

"Where are you going?" Yibo asked Zhan, who was planning to leave.

"It's recess and I don't want to stay in the class."

"Then where will you go?"

"At the rooftop."

"But it's going to be very hot, how about I take you to a quiet place?"

Zhan looked at him skeptically, while Yibo was packing his bag and got up as well, "you are coming?"

Zhan said nothing, instead he got up and silently followed Yibo out of the classroom, Yibo took Zhan to another building and after climbing some stairs and walking they finally came to a classroom, which was empty.

Yibo sat on a chair and opened his lunch box and offered some to Zhan as well, who refused and instead decided that he could do his homework instead, since he had a lot to do anyways.

And while Yibo was munching on his snacks he said, "you know, you should take part in the debate club."

"What?" Zhan said as he looked at Yibo, this came out of nowhere and the latter said, "The more you take part in these extracurricular activities the more it is good for your performance."

Zhan looked at the poster that Yibo just took out from his pocket and gave it to Zhan, who looked at Yibo, "I have never done this before."

"I know, but it's always good to try new things."

Zhan sighed as he looked at the poster and then threw it away, "It's all nonsense, if I made a mistake, then people are going to laugh at me."

"Why do you care so much what other people think about you?"

"Well, because I don't know... it's basic human nature to think about it."

"Yeah, but why are you letting it affect you that much."

"Perhaps because people are really making my life hell right now!" he said rudely as he glared at Yibo, "what do you even know about? it's easy for you to just give me a lecture, but you have no idea what is going on in my life."

Yibo's smile was gone and he became quiet, there was silence between them and Yibo said, "I am sorry, I really have no idea what is going on in your life. I just wanted to help you."

Zhan looked at him and Yibo said, "You can use these extracurricular activities as a distraction you know, they can help you get distracted from whatever is bothering you."

Zhan said nothing he just stared ahead, the recess was soon over, and then after a few more classes another day had ended.

That day when Zhan went home he saw that his mother was at home, "mom." he called out to her and she looked at him with a smile, "Oh you are back honey, come here sit beside me."

Zhan sat down beside her and smiled, his mother stared at him and gently kept her hand over his face as she said, "How was your college."

"It was good."

His mother sighed, "How is everyone treating you?"

Zhan's heart sank when he heard that he didn't want to tell his mother that he had become an outcast, a topic of gossip and nothing more.

He It was very hard for him to keep up his smile but he still did as he said, "Everyone is treating me fine mother, no one really bothers me."

She smiled as she said, "I am happy to hear that, I was so worried that your friends might turn their back on you and you might have to suffer alone. Thank god that isn't the case."

Zhan smiled unable to tell his mother the truth, that her fears had come true, she said, "I know that it is a hard time for you, but son, now you have to focus solely on your studies, I am sorry, that things are not the same as before and I can no longer give you the lavish things as before."

"No, Mom, it's alright, I trust you, you are a fighter and I am sure you are going to get us out of this mess soon, by the way, why are you home so early?"

"I wasn't feeling well, so your brother  forced me to come home."

Zhan grabbed his mother's hand and gave it a squeeze as he said, "I am sorry, I wish that I could help you guys as well."

His mother gave him a smile and said, "Of course, you can of course you can help us just focus on your studies and graduate with flying colors, and then come join us in the company we would really need your help but for now focus on your academics."

"I love you mom."

"I love you too, darling."

"Wait I will make something for you, till then you go back and rest in your room," Zhan said as he walked to the kitchen to make something for his mother while thinking about what Yibo had said.

It's not like he has never participated in these things before, he had and used to love it.

He used to love the attention, the praises, and being the center of attention being the best and now everything had just crumbled.

He still got the attention but for the wrong reasons, from loving the attention to hating it, from having a big friend group to having no one, from throwing parties every weekend to now looking for part-time jobs, things have really changed so fast.

He sighed as he thought about what Yibo had said.

~~

"You are going to take part in it?" Yibo asked with a smile.

Zhan looked at him and gave him a nod, "I am also thinking about taking part in the upcoming event as well."

"Oh wow that's great news, you know what if you want help, then you should ask Nicole for it."

"Whose Nicole?" Zhan asked and Yibo rolled his eyes and said, "The assistant librarian, she is good in this."

"I see." 

Yibo then went to his bag took out a notebook and handed it over to Zhan as he said, "Here."

"What's this?"

"Notes, take this home and copy everything, or you can just have it photocopied."

Zhan slowly took the notebook and looked at Yibo, "you don't need it?"

"For today no, you can bring it back tomorrow."

"Thanks, I guess."

"Mention not."