"Sean Zhan, let's go!" Fengmian called out to his son, who remained standing on the small dock.
"What are you waiting for?"
Zhan didn't say a word, just stared at the hotel and the beach. He was really wishing to see Yibo there. For a while now, he had been trying to hold back his tears, struggling to accept that he might leave without having a chance to meet and talk to Yibo.
Did Yibo really just let him go without any fight? Did what Yibo said to him make no sense? The promises? Yibo didn't actually say he loved him... But Yibo made a bunch of promises. Like, if they ever got married, he'd do everything in his power to make their marriage successful.
He was waiting for Yibo to show up at the hotel last night. It would be easy for Yibo to do so, but he didn't show up until dawn broke.
"Zhan, now what?!" Fengmian, already aboard the ferry, called out to his son again. Zhan walked toward the ferry, feeling a weight in his chest. He covered his mouth to stop himself from crying. Just a few more steps and he would be climbing the ferry's scaffolding when he heard a call.
"Zhan!"
Zhan quickly turned around. Yibo jumped down from the horse. Just as Zhan was about to dash over to Yibo, his dad's loud yelling stopped him in his tracks.
"Zhan, I'm warning you! Get on the boat now!"
"Please, Fengmian," Yizuan stopped her husband when he was about to get off the ferry. "Just give them some space for now..."
Fengmian's jaw clenched, and he clutched the railing of the ferry more firmly.
The ferry boat driver who was already annoyed scratched his head when he recognized who was coming. Zhan glanced up at Yibo, his eyes shimmering with unshed tears.
"I thought you won't see me go," Zhan said in a broken voice.
Yibo reached for Zhan, drawing him in and wrapping his arms around him tightly.
"Lord, I love you... I love you much Zhan..."
Zhan cried on Yibo's chest, feeling all the weight lift off him when Yibo finally said what he needed to hear. It washed away all his pains and insecurities. Now that he knows Yibo loves him, he's ready to tackle whatever comes their way.
"Take me with you." Zhan was sobbing unabashedly. "I don't want to go with them. Take me anywhere, Yibo..."
Yibo planted a kiss on the crown of his head, trying to hold back his emotions. He looked up several times, taking deep breaths to calm himself. After that, he moved Zhan slightly and leaned down to cup his face tenderly.
"Do you think I haven't thought of that?" Yibo said in a constricted throat. "That's what I wanted to do since last night. But I'm worried about you. I know you love your parents and they love you, too. We both wouldn't want to be together and keep running away from your parents..."
"Daddy will keep me away from you..." his voice frantic, his fingers clutching at Yibo's shirt, his tears unstoppable.
A faint, tender smile formed in Yibo's lips. "Where in the world can they possibly hide you from me?" Yibo softly wiped away Zhan's tears with his fingers. "And don't you cry, my darling. We will see each other sooner than you expect."
"What if I can't convince Daddy?" Zhan asked sobbing.
"Sshh..." Yibo kissed Zhan lips softly. "Let us reason it out with them, and if nothing happens..." Yibo took a deep breath, and in a determined voice, "Our love has waited for such a long time, Zhan. Nothing and no one will take you away from me. You are mine, sweetheart. And I'll get you back. Promise."
Zhan sniffed and nodded. Yibo raised his face, and whispered: "Tell me you love me... tell me so..."
"Oh, I love you so. You know I do," Zhan whispered back. Maybe I have always loved you. In another time, another place. Maybe when we first met at the airport, I subconsciously took your image with me back in time.
Yibo reluctantly let go of Zhan. "Goodbye sweetheart..."
Zhan shook his head frantically. "No! Anything but good-bye, Yibo..."
Again, a little smile broke Yibo's lips."Hasta la proxima vez, my love..."
Zhan gasped softly. Suddenly he felt cold. He felt a certain deja vu. Zhan turned around and made his way to the ferry boat, only a few meters from the dock when he heard Yibo calling out.
"You can date... you can party and dance. But please don't fall in love!"
"I won't even dare look another man, I promise!" Zhan shouted back, still gripping the ferry boat's railing. The thought of going through his breakup with Lan Wangji in 1948 again was too much to handle.
Yibo also stayed put at the dock, watching until the ferry was nothing more than a small dot on the ocean.
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