When the right time comes

8: Break up

"Thank you and sorry."

Xiao Zhan says, slowly nuzzling on Yibo's shoulder. It made the younger frown until he sensed wetness on his neck.

Is Xiao Zhan crying?

Just then, someone came, calling for Xiao Zhan. It was his colleague who went to the washroom and came back to find Xiao Zhan. They both came to the club together. Also intended to go back together. But seeing Xiao Zhan hugging someone else, he came forward to hold Zhan, thinking he was drunk within the time he went to the washroom, now hugging a stranger. He had a responsibility to send Xiao Zhan back without any injuries, after all.

He grabbed Xiao Zhan by arm but the more he pulled Xiao Zhan out, the more Xiao Zhan tightened the hug to Wang Yibo. The colleague cursed something similar like 'pain in the ass' and was about to use more force as he apologised to Yibo. But Yibo stopped him with a gesture and asked for a few minutes. The companion had a hard time registering it since he too drank some but at the end he recognised Yibo as the ex fiance of Xiao Zhan and went away, giving them space to talk.

Xiao Zhan again hugged Yibo, refusing to let go. Yibo let him. He felt like allowing it.

"Xiao Zhan? Do you think you can hug someone without permission?" Yibo asked, patting his back to make sure Xiao Zhan heard what he said.

"Call me gege, Yibo." Xiao Zhan says, sniffling.

Yibo frowned but he found it funny. He suppressed the urge to laugh and asked seriously. "Why should I? You are no one for me." It is the truth but Yibo felt a sting in his heart saying it.

He got no verbal reply. Only the hug became impossibly tight to a point that Yibo felt difficulty to breath. Pushing hard on Xiao Zhan's sturdy chest, Yibo made space in between them.

"Do you want to kill me?" Yibo didn't hide his annoyance at Zhan.

Xiao Zhan is too drunk to understand it was asked metaphorically as a joke.

"I would never kill Yibo. Yibo mine."

In a slurred voice, he says with glassy eyes and red nose.

"It hurts."

and taps where his heart is supposed to be.

"Don't die, Yibo. Gege wants."

He hugged Yibo again.

Just looking at the devastated state of Zhan, Yibo understands he is in so much pain though he couldn't measure its depth. What Xiao Zhan showed him before was only the surface. There is more for Yibo to know about him. He is complicated. Like a peaceful lake that hid whirlpools in it. It is dangerous to step into them. They can suck anything that falls on them whether it can swim or not.

Yibo hesitated. Once he decides to step inside, he may no longer leave. Is he ready to hold someone else's burden? For a lifetime?

He pushes Zhan from his body, this time with a considerable force even though every cell of his body aches to be in that warmth.

"Tell me. Why didn't you come to our engagement?"

He gritted teeth, remembering the very day he became a joker in front of a crowd. He hadn't yet recovered from the insults and innuendos. Him and family. They became a laughing stock for people. Yibo couldn't forget it no matter what Xiao Zhan's situation might be.

"It was my fault. I should have never agreed to that in the first place." Xiao Zhan hiccuped, eyes wandering on the ground beneath.

Yibo froze. He never expected Xiao Zhan to say that. The last thing Yibo wants to hear is Xiao Zhan regretting choosing him. There was a crack in his heart, ready to split it into shreds anytime. "W-what do you mean?" He breathed weakly. Eyes getting watery.