Tides Of Healing Love

18. Past 2.

Yibo sat beside Zhan, feeling extremely guarded, nervous as well and scared.

He tried not to look at him, because just a moment ago he had beaten up his father so badly and Yibo didn't want to provoke Zhan, who knows of he got mad then he might beat him to. But somewhere deep down in his heart, he felt that Zhan would not beat him.

He hesitantly gave him a side glance, and saw that Zhan was looking at him,  Yibo looked away and Zhan said, relax I won't do anything, I heard from back then that you had an accident. And I have to say this but your parents are trash." Yibo said nothing and Zhan said, "And so is mine."

Yibo looked at him and gave him a warm and gentle smile as he said, "my mother is fine, she is weak and a coward but other than that she is fine, my father however is a piece of work, today he was beating my mother and I came in between and guess what he did."

Yibo was now curious as Zhan said, "he beat me till I fainted and he also broke my arm."

Yibo's eyes widened when he heard that, and Zhan said, "When I heard your father talk like that, I was reminded of my father that's why I beat the crap out of him, but if you felt bad then you can slap me, I won't say anything. But I think he deserved it."

Yibo gulped as he looked at Zhan and his bruised face and then his hand, before his eyes got filled with tears, "it must have hurt."

"Ah... yeah it did, but he has been beating me since I was very young, I am quite used to the pain, my brother was not at home today that's why I got my arm broken, but if he was there then I am sure I wouldn't be here today."

"Why does he beat you?" Yibo asked.

Zhan shrugged, "I don't know maybe because he is a monster, who knows but he surely hates me a lot. He also tried to kill me multiple times but my mother and brother came to my rescue, he hates me the most in our family." zhan said with a smile.

Yibo asked, "Why?"

"Why? Because I never obey him, because have a rebellious attitude, and also because I am more powerful than him, today he got me because I was more focused on saving Mother otherwise I would have beaten the crap out of him. Sometimes I feel enraged, sometimes I am so close to murdering him, but then I stop myself. Sometimes I think what if I am like him too."

Yibo looked at him, "why are you telling me all this?"

Zhan shrugged, "Who knows because I just feel like talking to someone, my friends are busy, they had to attend a party and so they told me they can't come, my relatives don't care, my mother is in another room fainted and my brother is with her, and I have so much to say and also I think that you might understand me."

Yibo looked at him, and when smiled at him he felt his heart do a flip and he looked away.

As Zhan said, 'We might never meet again, so let's talk, and Let me tell you don't try to kill yourself again."

Yibo clenched his fists and Zhan said, "I know it can get hard, but it will pass, my father had once locked me in a dark room and released a lot of cockroaches all because I scored fewer marks in exam, I yelled, and cried and begged him to open the door but he didn't, I felt like dying that day and time passed very slowly but it passed and here I am today."

Yibo's eyes widened when he heard that, his own parents had always neglected him but they never raised their hand to him, what Zhan was describing was torture, Yibo's parents had always ignored him, missed his birthdays, and his special days, and forgot about his important events but they never beat him, never let him go on an empty stomach.

Yes, his father wished for him to die but at least he never tried to kill Yibo himself, Yibo suddenly thought that Zhan was a very strong person, to be able to go through all this and still smile and one about, it was truly admirable.

"You are so strong," Yibo said.

"You think so? I think that you are stronger."

"Why do you think that?"

"You were very close to letting go of that railing living life needs courage and ending it also needs a lot of courage, and you have that. I can never be that strong to end it." Zhan then looked at Yibo and said, "Why don't you use your strength and courage to get away from this environment start over, and turn your life around?

It's going to be worth it.

I know today you feel down, I have my fair share of those days as well, when I feel like losing control but in the end, that phase comes and goes. I don't mean to give you a lecture, but I just don't someone so beautiful like you to give up so soon."

Yibo looked away as he felt shy, he knew that his face was covered with bruises cuts, and bandages besides, Yibo knew that he was not beautiful no one had ever said that to him,  "how can you say that I am beautiful? I must be looking hideous."

Zhan suddenly touched his face made him look at him and said, "yeah... don't say that, I told you that I am your guardian angel right? I think that you have one of the most innocent and pure souls, just a little tortured but I know you are going to overcome it and shine like that beautiful moon up there."

Zhan said as he pointed at the sky and Yibo looked at the beautiful bright moon shining above them. He pressed his lips together as he said, "No one has ever said that to me."

"Because you are surrounded by ugly and blind people but trust me, I know that you are wonderful."

"Here you are!" Zhan and Yibo both turned to see who it was and Yibo stood up, "Aunt."

Yanli walked towards Yibo and she looked angry, "where were you! I was looking around for you! Come with me it's so cold here, idiot." she said as she grabbed his hand and dragged him away but before leaving Yibo turned back and saw Zhan who gave him a smile and then waved his hand before he resumed staring at the moon again, "beautiful ."

Once Zhan was out of Yibo's sight he turned to look ahead and whispered, "Beautiful indeed."

~~

"You are leaving?" Yibo asked Zhan and he gave him a nod, "I am getting discharged today, I have to go home and prepare for my entrance as well."

Yibo looked at him and hesitantly asked, "What college are you applying for?"

"Gealach Academy." Zhan said before he smiled, "Remember what I said yesterday, let's meet again someday, and I hope when that day comes you will be a successful person who takes me to lunch as a treat."

Yibo smiled, "sure. Bye."

"Bye."