🫧REDEMPTION // Zhanyi ff

6💙

Weeks later, Yibo found himself standing once again on the rooftop bar, the city lights shimmering around him. It's been a habit for them to meet at this place.

Zhan has joined him, his eyes searching youngster's for answers to why he was so silent since he has arrived.

"Yibo," he began, his voice a mixture of curiosity and vulnerability, "there's something you're not telling me. I can sense it."

Younger met his gaze, his eyes reflecting a myriad of emotions. For once, he looked sure to let out whatever he has kept in his heart because the sooner, the best.

"Zhan ge, there's a reason I came into your life. A reason that goes beyond what you see on the surface."

The older furrowed his brows, confusion etched across his features. With a hint of nervousness, he asked, "What do you mean?"

Yibo took a deep breath, his gaze unwavering. His heart beat was raising, lips trembling  a little. "I was here to take revenge, T-to make you understand what it feels like to play with someone's feelings, to break their trust."

The brunette's heart skipped a beat, his mind reeling from younger's revelation. It had  to be a prank, he kept repeating in his mind like a mantra. Gathering his all strength, he spoke- "Revenge? But who's? why?" He panicked.

He stared at the younger intensely, hoping that the words he just heard would somehow disappear in the thin air and time would get reversed.

A mixture of regret and anger crossed the youngest's face, disliking where it was going. "Because I'm the best friend of the girl you slept with that night, the girl that had magnetic aura that was hard to resist for you, The girl you played on and left broken, one week before we met "

"Yang—" Zhan whispered, audible enough for the younger. In a matter of seconds remember the fragile girl but not her name because his list was really long to remember each name.

"Yes, my childhood best friend Yang Zi. You don't even remember her name. It just tells you how much of a playboy you are, Xiao Zhan. Do you know what her condition was when you left her broken? She doesn't even know about me being with you" Yibo spat, pushing the older with his one hand on the brunet's chest, Zhan stumbled on his spot.

He breathed heavily as he looked at the younger softly with a hint of panick. The red light shimmered on them, drowning them in the reddish sea of light waves.

On the other hand, Yibo couldn't stop the tears streaming streaming down his face. He can't get out the horrifying state of his bestfriend out of his mind and it was all caused by the man standing right in front of him— a notorious playboy.

Zhan's world seemed to freeze in that moment, the weight of his past actions crashing down on him. As he looked at Yibo, he saw not just the person he had fallen deeply for, but the embodiment of his mistakes. The karma was coming back at him.

"Yibo-," he whispered, words aren't forming in his mind, his voice laced with remorse, "I had no idea, I- I never meant to hurt her like that. For me, it was quite normal so I didn't realise t-that she'll get the wrong idea."

Yibo's gaze softened. He absolutely hates it too because the painful look which was swarming in the eyes of older was doing something to him. He was here all strong but then what happened to him that he turned all soft, revealing the vulnerability beneath his facade.

"I needed you to understand, to feel what she felt just like you hurt all the others, played with their feelings. And not just her, you've played with a lot of people. It's really not cool at all. Being a playboy is nothing but a disgrace. Heart is not to be played with, Xiao Zhan."

It was like a thunderstorm for the older who hastily shook his head.

"I - I've changed Yibo. Y-you changed me, love. Don't say such things. I'll change furthermore w-with you by side." Zhan stammered ,clearly afraid of what's coming. He can sense it that there was no way that his angel was going to stay with a playboy.

Zhan's heart ached as he realized the complexity of their connection. When Yibo didn't show any expression, he feared the silence which was so loud.

"And what now? What h-happens to us?" He voiced out his fear.

Yibo's expression wavered, torn between the mission he had set out on and the emotions he had unexpectedly developed. "I don't know. I thought revenge would be enough, but I never anticipated... this."

Their gaze held, two souls entangled in a web of conflicting emotions. Both of them wanted to say a lot of things but none did.

In that moment, the rooftop bar felt like a battleground of hearts, where love and vengeance waged war against each other. One was hoping for love while the other was trying to bury the love deep.

Younger turned to face him, his gaze softening as he studied him. "Zhan, do you understand now? Do you see how it feels to be led on, to have your emotions toyed with?"

Zhan nodded, turning to another side, harshly biting his lower lips preventing those already form tears to fall. He has never cried for anyone in whole life yet here he was.

A mixture of emotions swirling within him as the older cleared his the. "I get it. I see what I've done to others. And I've learnt well from my mistakes." He whispered vulnerably

Throughout these months, Yibo's plan unfolded. He engaged in conversations, shared smiles, and built connections with Zhan, only to pull away when he seemed most invested because he was afraid of where their bond was going.

It was a rollercoaster of emotions, just like a cruel mirror of the games the brunette had played in the past. Yet Yibo himself become the victim. He was here for just revenge yet his heart was aching a lot.

Yibo's expression softened, a hint of empathy in his eyes. "Now I don't want to hurt you. Despite knowing what you did to others, I wanted you to understand the pain you caused them. But now, it's time to end this game because it gonna hurt us more."

Zhan just nodded, still not turning to face his sweet angel who left a bitter imprint on his heart. But he couldn't bring himself to hate Yibo because he knew that whatever the other said wasn't a lie. Yibo had just held out a mirror for him to realise the truth.

"O-okay but c-could you please not hate me, l-love?"

Hearing Zhan's request, the younger felt a pinch in his heart. He hastily turned the older to face him.

Before Zhan's numb body could react, Yibo closed the distance between them, his lips pressing against his in a kiss that held a mix of vulnerability and longing. It was a kiss that spoke of unspoken forgiveness and a chance at redemption.

The world seemed to have paused around them and Zhan wished the time to never fly and let it stay however it is right now.

As they pulled away, Zhan looked into younger's eyes, his heart pounding.

Those eyes already speaking even without shading a word. "Yibo, I've fallen for you. Despite everything, I can't deny how I feel. I love you."

Younger smiled softly, his fingers gently brushing against Zhan's cheek. "I never planned for this to happen. But perhaps, in the midst of seeking revenge, we've found something unexpected. Yet the future is yet to come and it's not that easy for me either but we don't have any other way."

With those words, the weight of their shared journey hung in the air.

Their paths had intertwined in the most unconventional way, leading them to a moment of reckoning and a chance for something real.

Their journey was far from over, and the road ahead was uncertain. But as they stood there, facing each other with open hearts, Zhan realized that sometimes, love could arise from the ashes of player, a determination of getting his angel back was rooted to his heart as he watched Yibo climb off the stairs and leaving behind whatever they've once shared, their love and memories, everything behind.

To be continued.....