In Between Us || Zhanyi

Confrontation?

Under working: 17/08/2024

Same night at the dorm

After recovering his emotional distress, Yibo sat hunched over his desk in his new dorm room, trying—and failing—to focus on his studies. His phone lay face down on the furthest corner of the bed, dead. It had been on lying that way since he arrived, he was sure there were no one who would call him so he didn't even bother to check, his mind too preoccupied with the decision he had made. 'It's for the best,' he told himself, his hands shaking slightly as he flipped through his notes. 'I need to focus on school. I need to prove myself. To Zhan.'

But no matter how hard he tried, his thoughts kept drifting back to Zhan. 'Had he eaten?' Yibo wondered, his mind filling with images of Zhan at home, sitting alone at the dinner table, perhaps eating something hastily thrown together. 'He needed the green tea just after coming home. He must be irritated not getting his tea'...........'Wang Yibo!!! he is not a toddler......He can take care of himself' Yibo reprimanded himself, but the guilt lingered. 

Yibo had always made sure the house was in order, that meals were cooked, that things ran smoothly, even if Zhan never acknowledged it. Now, with him gone, Yibo felt an emptiness in his chest. 'He doesn't need me' he thought, trying to shake the feeling off.

But just as quickly, Yibo's thoughts turned dark. He remembered the harsh words Zhan had thrown at him the night before, words that still cut deep even now. "Do you even know anything apart from spreading your legs?" The memory of that night burned into his mind, and he felt a pang of pain in his chest again. Zhan's cruel words echoed in his ears, making it impossible to focus on anything else.

'Stop thinking about him' Yibo scolded himself, forcing his eyes back onto his textbook. He needed to stay focused on his studies. He had to prove to Zhan—and to himself—that he wasn't just some failure. But no matter how much he tried to convince himself otherwise, part of him couldn't help but feel like he had failed in more ways than one. He had left the house, left Zhan, but why did it feel like a part of him was still there, lingering in the silence?

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Yibo woke up feeling the weight of last night's distress still heavy on his chest. His eyes were tired, his movements slow as he dressed mechanically. A glance in the mirror showed the fatigue etched on his face, but with a deep breath, he grabbed his bag and stepped out, ready to face the day despite the lingering unease. 

In the early hours of a bustling university, the campus buzzes with life. Students flood the wide pathways, some rushing to their first class, others chatting animatedly in small groups. Cafés hum with activity, the aroma of fresh coffee mingling with the crisp morning air. Bikes whiz past, and the soft shuffle of feet echoes across the courtyard. Professors, clutching briefcases and lecture notes, weave through the crowd, nodding at familiar faces. The day begins with a vibrant energy, full of promise and the subtle chaos of an academic world just waking up.

The professor was standing at the front, writing on the board while explaining a complex concept. The students were focused, taking notes, except for the occasional rustle of pages. Yibo sits at the last bench as usual, staring intently at his notebook but clearly distracted.