When Only Love Remains

Chapter 10

"Xiao Zhan, Xiao Zhan.. where the fuck you are? Xiao Zhan," After the school hours, a figure was seen striding in the empty hallway of the second floor. He was calling out for someone known as Xiao Zhan. The handsome lad had anxiety marred on his face. 

On the staircase to the lower floor, he saw a girl climbing the staircase. He abruptly stopped descending. Stabilized his breath before asking, "Hi, have you seen Xiao Zhan?" His voice was quite nervous as if he was afraid of the answer the girl might give. 

"No. I saw him for the first lecture. Later I guess he went out with a girl from class 12B." She informed as she recalled the incident. Xiao Zhan had winked at her before exiting that class. The girl here was Xiao Zhan's classmate. 

"Okay, thanks. You should leave soon. They will lock the classrooms anytime." He advises her before going down stairs. The girl shrugged off his weird behavior and went ahead to get the thing she mistakenly left behind in her class. 

In the hallway, he bumped into his best friend who was apparently searching for him. "Hao Xuan, have you seen Xiao Zhan?" The panicked figure asked. The boy named Hao Xuan mischievously snaked his hand around the panting figure's shoulder. He spoke with all seriousness, "Come on Hua Chen, who had dared him yesterday?" Though the tone of voice was serious, it had nothing but mockery in the words. 

"Say it out you di*khead! Have you seen him?" Hua Chen sneered at his best friend. He knew Hao Xuan was aware of Xiao Zhan's whereabouts. 

"Outside the North-eastern campus. There's a path leading in the forest." Hao Xuan simply stated as if there was nothing wrong in Xiao Zhan's act. 

"You know what, just fuck off!" Hua Chen cursed before running in the direction mentioned by Hao Xuan. "Even if you run, you won't get her back. Bitches don't love." Hao Xuan yelled behind, expecting his voice to reach a running figure. However, despite listening to it, Hua Chen's steps didn't falter. Deep down he knew his girlfriend wouldn't cheat on him. She loves him. 

The management of the school has been planting trees on every environmental day to spread good thoughts. And over a period of years, the randomly planted trees grew up, creating a forest of wild trees. Xiao Zhan and his friends randomly come here to dork around. So, they are familiar with each tree and corner of this forest. 

Their school was neither in the bustling city nor in the countryside either. The surroundings were apparently the amalgam of both. The boy jumped over the compound and rushed towards the pointed destination. For a moment he regretted asking Xiao Zhan to show it to him. 

"Xiao Zhan! Xiao Zhan!" Hua Chen yelled on top of his lungs. He rushed towards the particular tree where they usually fool around after bunking. However, to his disappointment the person named Xiao Zhan wasn't there. Hua Chen cussed some more before mumbling, "Fuck! When will this guy stop playing around? It was just a dare. Does he have to take every dare personally?!" 

He turned around to search in the other direction. He rushed further and further not caring about the dense forest he was entering alone. He didn't even doubt the boy Hao Xuan if he lied to him about Xiao Zhan's whereabouts. After all, Xiao Zhan and Hao Xuan were known as the bastards of their group. 

"Xiao di*khead Zhan! If you really don't show yourself I'll chop your meat rod and feed it to the dogs on the street!" He again tried his luck to see if Xiao Zhan would respond to anything. However, the person he was calling was too far away to hear his voice. 

He searched aimlessly in the dense forest with a hope that Xiao Zhan will at least show some modesty and not take everything personally. If given a chance, he would never have challenged Xiao Zhan to show him this.