Together 2

50. Uneasy

"Take a break!" Gao Tai Yu said, making all the knights bend down in exhaustion as sweat dripped off their foreheads. Feeling tired, Xiao Zhan slowly walked over to a tree and slumped underneath it. As he did, he winced slightly when he moved his leg. "What's wrong?" Cao Yuchen asked. "I think I dislocated my leg. I'll be fine after some rest." Xiao Zhan replied as he pulled off his boot.

"Let me see." Cao Yuchen said as he gently held Xiao Zhan's foot which was swollen. "It's swollen. Do you feel any pain?" Wang Yibo asked as he walked towards them after seeing Xiao Zhan's foot. "A bit." Xiao Zhan replied. "Then go back to the tent for a first aid." Wang Yibo said. "I will go with him." Cao Yuchen said.

"Cao," Wang Yibo said as he gently pulled Xiao Zhan to his feet, "I know you're worried about your friend. But for honor, you should focus on your training now." However, Cao Yuchen was far from giving up and held Xiao Zhan's arm. "Sir Yibo is busy with training, so it's okay. I'm his friend so I'll be responsible for taking care of him."

Just like before, Xiao Zhan felt as if he was stuck between two bombs as the two alphas glared at each other. "Are you injured?" Gao Tai Yu asked. "Just let Sir Yibo take Tang back to the tent. Cao, come back for practice." Wang Yibo smirked at Cao Yuchen, making the latter narrow his eyes in anger. Wang Yibo helped Xiao Zhan walk by supporting him. He held his shoulder while Xiao Zhan held Wang Yibo's waist to support himself. Cao Yuchen simply looked at Xiao Zhan and Wang Yibo as he felt a pang in his heart.

***

In the infirmary, Wang Yibo made Xiao Zhan sit on a chair and gently cleaned his wound before applying an ointment on it. Soon after he was done giving him a first aid, Wang Yibo pulled out a bandage and started wrapping it around Xiao Zhan's ankle.

Xiao Zhan kept staring at Wang Yibo, his face turning red. 'I never noticed this before but... his fingers are really long.' Suddenly, Wang Yibo accidentally ended up touching Xiao Zhan's wound, making him hiss slightly. "Does it hurt?" Wang Yibo asked as he looked up. "No, it's just a little itchy." Xiao Zhan replied, making Wang Yibo nod as he continued dressing up Xiao Zhan's wound.

'Why am I so nervous? It's just a first aid treatment.' Xiao Zhan thought as his face turned pink. Suddenly, random thoughts started filling Xiao Zhan's mind. 'What if my feet are stinking? Or is it because he's just too close?'

"This wound is easy to get hurt again, so take rest for today." Wang Yibo said as he gently lay down Xiao Zhan's foot from his knee. "Today's training is almost over. I'll talk to captain Tai Yu." "Thank you." Xiao Zhan said. He had just bent down to pick up his boot when Wang Yibo picked it up.

"And..." Wang Yibo said as he bent down again and helped Xiao Zhan wear the boot. "Cao Yuchen. Do you know the way he looks at you?" "Who? A-Chen?" Xiao Zhan asked. "A-Chen only sees me as his first friend and lifesaver. Don't misunderstand like that. He just thinks I'm a bit different from everyone else. Even before he knew I was an omega-" "Because I'm an alpha too," Wang Yibo cut in as he stood up, "I know it's different. Also," Suddenly, Wang Yibo held the chair and leaned forward, turning Xiao Zhan's face red. "I feel strange. I'm not that patient, just so you know."

Xiao Zhan stared at Wang Yibo in shock as his face turned red with how close he was to him. Wang Yibo gently touched Xiao Zhan's cheek and leaned forward, their lips mere inches away from each other. Xiao Zhan tightly shut his eyes, waiting for the inevitable.

However, when Xiao Zhan didn't feel anything even after some time, he took the courage to open his eyes, only to see Wang Yibo's back as he exited the tent. 'What was that?' Xiao Zhan thought with a red face. 'I thought he was going to kiss me.'

Just like that, three days passed, with Xiao Zhan being called an alpha quite a number of times making him smile nervously. Eventually, the last night of the training came. Wang Yibo and Gao Tai Yu prepared a huge feast to celebrate everyone's success in the rigorous training they were put through. As they were eating, Gao Tai Yu raised his cup of wine to everyone. "This cup of wine is to thank everyone who followed me to complete the training schedule until today. Tonight is the last night. Eat and drink whatever you want. Enjoy this and relax." "Cheers!" Everyone said as they raised their wine glasses before they all gulped it down.

"I can't believe today is the last day. It went so fast." Xiao Zhan said. "Ya. Tang San worked hard too." Cao Yuchen said, making Xiao Zhan smile. He had just raised the cup to his lips when he suddenly saw Sun Jian walk over and raise his cup of wine to him and Cao Yuchen.

"Tang, Cao," Sun Jian spoke. "You guys worked hard. Also, I'm sorry for being mean to you all this time." Xiao Zhan and Cao Yuchen looked at each other before they smiled and drank together.

Xiao Zhan gulped the wine in a go and smiled. "It's been so long since I drank wine. This wine is so sweet." Cao Yuchen chuckled and handed over a glass of water to Xiao Zhan. "Tang San, add more water and drink slowly. Don't throw up like last time." "That's from so long ago! Stop making fun of me!" Xiao Zhan shouted making Cao Yuchen laugh. Xiao Zhan smiled while Cao Yuchen looked at his face.

"Tang San, can we talk outside for a moment?" Cao Yuchen asked, making Xiao Zhan nod. The two of them got up and walked outside. Wang Yibo, who was about to drink his wine, saw Xiao Zhan and Cao Yuchen walking together towards the door, making him lower the glass from his lips.

"Looks like training together got them closer right?" Gao Tai Yu said as Wang Yibo stood up. Wang Yibo ignored Gao Tai Yu's question and walked outside, following Xiao Zhan and Cao Yuchen, while Gao Tai Yu looked at Wang Yibo with a confused face. 'Was it something I said?'

***

Cao Yuchen led Xiao Zhan under a tree and the two of them stood in front of each other. "What do you want to talk about?" Xiao Zhan asked. "Tang San, I don't know if you're surprised... but I really hope you'll hear me out."

Cao Yuchen looked straight into Xiao Zhan's eyes before he spoke up. "I... I like you."