The Line That Can't Be Crossed (YiZhan fanfic)

Chapter 1 - Home

(A/N: This is me challenging myself with a forbidden love au: XZ's mom married YB's dad, and they became stepbrothers. This kind of plot is already overused, but I want to see where I can get with this. As one person said before, a huge part of writing is making the idea your own. 

The theme song for this fanfiction is "You Were Beautiful" (English version) by Day6)

"Winter break is almost over. Are you really not going home? Our parents miss you. I miss you."

Xiao Zhan has been staring at the message he sent to Yibo a few hours earlier. He keeps on checking his phone, waiting for the younger's response but until now, it remains unanswered.

"He's just busy, let him be!" He tried to brush it off but the longer he waits, the more he gets anxious.

'What are you even waiting for? He's obviously avoiding you!'

This is the first time he texted Yibo in months. Since the younger started university in a different city, they don't talk much any longer.

Xiao Zhan sighed and resigned himself to focus on his drawing tablet. He works as a graphic designer and has been trying his hands on motion graphics. He's been doing some designs for his client but since sending that text to Yibo, he got sickly anxious and couldn't concentrate.

Cursing himself out, he picked up the stylus and was about to work again when—

*beep

Xiao Zhan jolted when his phone made a sound. He excitedly tossed the tablet and the pen aside, grinning as he took his phone.

"On Monday." The message reads.

His eyes widened. Yibo will go home in two days? That fast, when he didn't go home for months despite everyone's efforts in persuading him to come home? Yet, just one text from him and the younger one decided so quickly.

"Idiot. He might have planned to do it beforehand." He murmured to himself.

"We'll wait for you then, Bo-di!"

"Ok."

Xiao Zhan pouted because of the short reply... but what does he expect?

He can only sigh as he recalls how people often complain to him about how quiet and aloof Yibo was. He's not very warm around others except for a few people and Xiao Zhan took pride in knowing he was among those people...

Actually, he wasn't just among the few, he was the most special one. But, now, even his standing in Yibo's life has changed. It's not like he has no idea why it happened that way. Xiao Zhan knows why... he's the only one who knows.

When Yibo started university, he used to come home every few months but in the passing of time, his visit became less and less frequent with a different reason each time. He rarely comes home even on holidays. The younger also takes advantage of their parents' monthly visit to his condo unit to say that he doesn't need to hurry going home since they can still see them often.

However, Xiao Zhan hasn't seen him for five months now—the last time being when Yibo came home for the last 2 weeks of his summer break. They didn't talk much then and he confirmed right that the younger was still avoiding him. Yibo's avoidance has been going on for three years now and it's only getting worse, Xiao Zhan is afraid they won't go back to how they used to be.

"Tell me what you want to eat then, I'll cook everything for you." He texted again, wanting to break the ice.

"Nothing in particular. You don't have to cook for me."