Hidden Desires (YiZhan)

Chapter 20

The city lay shrouded in shadows, its towering buildings casting long, foreboding silhouettes against the night sky. Zhan stood by the window of his modest apartment, staring out into the distance. The flickering lights of the city felt both comforting and isolating, reflecting the whirlwind of emotions churning inside him. A message had come through—an invitation to a secluded part of the city that stirred a mix of curiosity and unease within him.

Just then, Yibo entered the room, his expression serious and his eyes dark with concern. “Zhan,” he began, his voice steady but laced with urgency, “are you really thinking about going alone?”

Zhan turned to face him, the weight of the decision pressing down on him. “I have to. I can’t just ignore this. It might be important.”

“Important?” Yibo’s voice rose slightly, frustration seeping through. “It could be dangerous! You don’t know who you’re meeting or what they want. You need to let me come with you.”

Zhan shook his head, determination etched on his features. “I appreciate it, Yibo, but I need to handle this myself. I can’t always rely on you to protect me. I have to show that I can stand on my own two feet.”

The silence that followed felt heavy, filled with the unspoken weight of their uncharted relationship. Yibo stepped closer, a mixture of frustration and concern evident in his posture. “Zhan, please. Just promise me you’ll be careful. If something feels off—”

Before he could finish, Zhan took a step forward, closing the distance between them. In that moment, the world around them faded away, leaving only the two of them in their shared space. Zhan searched Yibo’s eyes, finding a depth of emotion that made his heart flutter.

With an overwhelming sense of urgency, Zhan leaned in, their lips meeting in a kiss that felt electric and all-consuming. The warmth of Yibo’s body pressed against him ignited a fire deep within Zhan. Their lips moved together in a dance of passion, a tender exploration that soon turned fervent, each seeking the solace and connection they had both been longing for.

Yibo’s hands slid around Zhan’s waist, pulling him closer, as if he could merge their souls into one. Zhan's heart raced, drowning out the worries of the world outside. He could taste the lingering sweetness of Yibo's breath, a tantalizing mixture of relief and longing. The warmth radiating from Yibo made Zhan forget everything else, drowning out his anxieties, fears, and the dangerous mission ahead.

As they kissed, Zhan felt the world around them dissolve. Every gentle stroke of Yibo’s fingers against his back sent shivers down his spine, igniting a heat that spread through him. The kiss deepened, transitioning from soft tenderness to a passionate embrace that spoke volumes of their shared struggles and unspoken feelings.

When they finally broke apart, breathless and with flushed cheeks, Zhan rested his forehead against Yibo's, their hearts racing in unison. “I… I’m sorry,” Zhan stammered, unsure of how to express the whirlwind of emotions swirling within him. “I didn’t mean to—”

Yibo silenced him with a gentle finger against Zhan’s lips. “Don’t apologize. I wanted that. But please, be careful. Whatever happens, promise me you’ll call if anything seems wrong.”

Zhan nodded, the weight of Yibo’s concern tugging at his heart. “I promise. I’ll be careful.”

With one last lingering look, Zhan stepped back, feeling the warmth of Yibo's presence begin to fade as he walked away. As he exited the apartment, the air felt charged with an electric tension, their kiss echoing in his mind like a promise that lingered in the space between them.

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Zhan made his way through the dimly lit streets, the chill of the night air brushing against his skin. The thrill of the kiss replayed in his mind, but he pushed it aside, focusing on the task at hand. Arriving at the designated alley, he scanned the area, the flickering streetlamp casting an eerie glow on the ground. His heart raced, every step bringing him closer to an unknown fate.

The alley was narrow and dark, the walls closing in around him, creating a claustrophobic sensation. Graffiti marred the bricks, shadows twisting into grotesque forms in the dim light. Zhan’s instincts screamed at him to turn back, but the weight of curiosity compelled him to move forward. Each heartbeat echoed in his ears, mingling with the distant sounds of the city, creating an unsettling symphony that made him feel alive and terrified all at once.

In the center of the alley, a bag lay ominously, its presence unsettling. Curiosity piqued, Zhan approached it cautiously, his heart pounding in his chest. He knelt down, unzipping the bag with trembling fingers, a knot of apprehension tightening in his stomach. Inside, his breath caught in his throat—a bomb, ticking steadily, its ominous presence a stark reminder of the danger lurking in the shadows.

Panic surged through him as he scrambled back, the weight of realization crashing down like a tidal wave. The sharp ticking grew louder, each tick resonating like a countdown to disaster. Just then, he heard footsteps behind him and turned to see Yibo emerging from the darkness, eyes wide with horror. “Zhan! Get away from there!” he shouted, his voice cutting through the tension like a knife.

Before Zhan could react, Yibo rushed toward him, adrenaline fueling his movements. The sound of the ticking bomb seemed to fill the air, growing more frantic, each second feeling like an eternity. Zhan’s heart raced as he stumbled back, and together they moved further from the bag, Yibo’s hand gripping Zhan’s tightly, a lifeline in the chaos.

“Yibo, what are we going to do?” Zhan gasped, fear lacing his voice.

“We need to get out of here now!” Yibo replied urgently, pulling Zhan with him as they rushed toward the mouth of the alley. Zhan's mind raced as they fled, panic clawing at him. Just as they reached safety, a deafening explosion erupted behind them, the ground shaking beneath their feet.

The world was engulfed in chaos. The sound of shattering glass and the violent rush of air filled Zhan’s ears, his body thrown against Yibo as they stumbled away from the alley, debris raining down around them. Dust hung in the air like a heavy fog, obscuring their vision and making it difficult to breathe.

When the dust settled, Zhan opened his eyes to a surreal silence, the ringing in his ears a stark reminder of the danger they had just escaped. He looked up to find Yibo beside him, breathing heavily but unharmed. Relief flooded through Zhan, followed by a rush of gratitude that mingled with the lingering adrenaline coursing through his veins.

Yibo’s gaze met Zhan’s, a mix of fear and determination etched on his face. “I told you not to come here alone,” he breathed, pulling Zhan into a tight embrace. “You could have been killed.”

Zhan held onto Yibo, the warmth of his body anchoring him amidst the chaos. “I didn’t know,” he whispered, his voice trembling. “I thought it would be safe.”

“I’ll always be there to protect you, even when you don’t want me to be,” Yibo replied, his voice fierce yet tender, his arms tightening around Zhan as if to shield him from the horrors of the world.

As they stood together, the weight of their shared experience began to sink in. The kiss they had shared now felt even more significant, a promise of their connection in the face of danger. Zhan could feel the steady rhythm of Yibo’s heartbeat against his chest, grounding him in the reality that they had survived this together.

“Let’s get out of here,” Yibo urged, pulling back to meet Zhan’s gaze. The intensity of Yibo’s eyes, filled with determination and a hint of vulnerability, made Zhan’s heart flutter again.

“Yeah, let’s go,” Zhan replied, his voice steadier now, the fear beginning to dissipate as the adrenaline wore off. They turned to leave, their hands still intertwined, a silent agreement that they would face whatever lay ahead together.

As they walked away from the remnants of the chaos, Zhan couldn’t shake the feeling that this was just the beginning. The world around them was unpredictable and dangerous, but with Yibo by his side, he felt a flicker of hope igniting within him.
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Okay so I wrote this in a hurry. I don't know if it's good or not but I came to realise that it's been way too long since I've updated this story
-yizhan_BJYX