Walk the line

<5>

"Hey, Zhan, wake up! Classes ended! Don't you want to go home?", said Zhou Cheng.

Zhan opened his sleepy eyes and looked at his best friend to ask, " What?"

Zhou Cheng knocked his knuckles harshly on Zhan's head and howled, " The classes ended! Let's go home! Why the hell were you even sleeping during school time?!"

All sleepiness vanished from Zhan as he looked wide eyed at Zhoucheng.

" What? Classes ended! I need to go and pick Bobo!", Zhan said as he started to pack his bag and stood up, ready to leave. Suddenly a voice stopped him in his tracks.

" Xiao Zhan. Could you lend me some of your time."

Zhan turning back found the annoying voice belonging to, none other than, Yangzi.

" What is it? Be quick.", Zhan said nonchalantly.

"As you know, on Sunday we have got an important math exam and tomorrow's weekend, if you don't mind could you help me with math studies. Can I come over your house today? Please.", Yangzi said batting her eyelashes,trying to look cute.

" Why should I ? I'm not interested. Go and ask someone else.", Zhan said without giving the suggestion a thought.

"Oh, dang! I completely forgot bout the test! What am I gonna do?! Xiao Zhan please help me! Please!", Zhoucheng begged as he remembered he had barely passes the last exam.

"Me too! Help this poor soul!", Yubin, their close friend, chimed in.

With everyone's persistent nagging Zhan had to gave in.

"Go home. Get fresh and then come over.", Zhan said feeling annoyed.

" Nope. We will be going now with you. What if you don't let us in later.", Yubin said chuckling.

" But I have to go and pick up my Bobo. Then you guys will have to follow me.", Zhan said as he turned around to quickly get to Yibo's take care center.

On the way to Yibo's take care center, as they waited for the traffic light to show red, to be able to crossover, Yubin came by Zhan's side and slang a hand over Zhan's shoulder to pull him close so that he can whisper, " Oi Zhan, you know Yangzi has a thing for you, right? Then why don't give her a chance."

Zhan shrugged Yubin's hand from his shoulder and nonchalantly retorted, " Hell no. I'm fine being single. Also I don't think it's the right age to date."

Yubin clicked his tongue, " Come on, we are already fifteen! Some even start dating at the age of eleven! The 'age' excuse was too lame."

Zhan looked at the traffic light and said, " I don't care. And I don't wanna talk bout her or any other girl, right now.", Zhan saw that the light turned red and exclaimed loudly so that everyone could hear, " I think you guys should walk fast. It's already been 15 minutes since Bobo's assigned time ended at the take care center."

At the entrance of the take  care center, Zhan's group was stopped by Yibo's caretaker, Miss Liying, who was bidding farewell to a kid.

" Oh, Zhan. It's nice to meet you. You are here to pick Yibo, right?"

Zhan smiled and replied, " Obviously, Miss Liying."

" I'm sorry to say this, but he is not at the waiting area, instead he's at the care center's clinic."

Zhan frowned, "What?!"

" Don't worry. It's nothing serious. But we had exercise activities at the last period, and Yibo fell down during running and scraped his knees. He is there to get a bandage."

" Ah, I'll be going then, Miss Liying.", Zhan said in a hurry as he dashed towards the clinic forgetting about his friends who had followed him till now.

As he entered the clinic he found Yibo sitting on the clinic bed. Zhan scrutinized Yibo from the head till the toe to see if anything else was wrong. But Yibo seemed completely fine except a bandage was placed on his right knee, it was visible cause Yibo had wore shorts today, and maybe that's why he easily got scrapped.

Zhan hurried to Yibo's side to take him in a hug as he exclaimed, "Bobo!"

When Yibo looked at Zhan his eyes lit up and a wide smile got painted on his face as he happily replied, "Zhan-Ge"

Zhan hugged Yibo tight as he drew circles on his back, " Does your knee hurts, Bobo?"

Yibo shook his head in a reply.

Zhan sternly retorted, " Are you lying to me? If you are, Zhan-Ge will be really angry. If you lie I will be really hurt."

Yibo muttered in a low voice, " Hurts..a little. Ge, don't be angry and hurt. Yibo, will behave."

Zhan smiled and nuzzled his nose in Yibo's nape, taking in a deep breath of mint and strawberry. Zhan's favourite scent in the world. He found Yibo patting his head, which had him turned stiff a bit, but soon relaxed in it. Yibo has recently learned to do this, thus Zhan wasn't yet accustomed to it, but Zhan knew soon he will get familiar with it. From others view Yibo might be a 13 year old with a stoic face, but towards him Yibo had really gotten expressive, over the the years, which made him feel content and special.

He would like to continue hugging his Didi, but he remembered they weren't home. So Zhan reluctantly broke the hug. Then looking at the bandage on Yibo's pale skin really hurt Zhan. He bent down and pressed a light kiss and then smiled at Yibo, " Now the pain will fly away from my Bobo. Want me to give you a piggyback ride to home?"

Yibo nodded his head vigorously which made Zhan chuckle, as he turned around to bent, to let Yibo get on his back easily. Once he made sure Yibo had a stable grip around his neck and he was holding Yibo's thighs tightly, so Yibo wouldn't fall, he started to walk out. When he was the entrance he met his friends who he had abandoned before.

" Why did you take so long?", Yangzi complained.

Zhan  didn't pay a head to her and told everyone to follow them home. Though he heard Yubin asking Zhoucheng for a piggyback ride and was actually shoved aside by Zhoucheng, which made him chuckle.

The day was going to be a long one Zhan realized.
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Hey, my lovely readers! I'm back with another update! I hope during your quarantine days my update can make you a little happy!

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Till the next time!💚