I Love You

13

Tonight was the last night for the running camp. Yibo and Xiao Zhan sat around the bonfire with the students.

"Teacher Wang! Why are you and Teacher Xiao drinking alcohol? That's not fair!" A student complained.

"What's not fair? Your are students" Yibo said as he shook his head. Of course he won't share the alcohol. He is hoping his Zhan Zhan gets drunk so that he can see Xiao Zhan's drunk side.

They started playing games and they ended up with the most simple truth or dare. When the bottle landed towards Yibo, the students cheered.

"Teacher Wang! Do you like Teacher Xiao romantically?" PeiXin immediately exclaimed. Yibo looked at Xiao Zhan who immediately looked to his feet.

"No... I love him" Yibo said, staring straight at Xiao Zhan while the students all gasped and cheered.

"Hah! Now come pay what you owe!" PeiXin laughed loudly and Xiao Zhan frowned. The kids were betting on whether their teacher likes the other?

"Teacher Xiao! Teacher Wang has confessed! What's your response?" Guo Cheng asked with a chuckle.

Xiao Zhan panicked slightly then smiled "It's not my turn to answer" The students started jeering and telling Guo Cheng he asked too early.

Yibo spun the bottle and Guo Cheng jumped in joy since it pointed towards Xiao Zhan "Hah! Teacher Xiao! Truth or dare?"

"Dare" Xiao Zhan responded, making the students jeer but Guo Cheng smirked "Teacher Xiao! I dare you to tell us if you feel the same way towards Teacher Wang!"

The students all cheered loudly and Yibo wondered if he should not have answered that question, since Xiao Zhan might be feeling uncomfortable.

"I... I..." Xiao Zhan muttered and after some time, he was about to reply when a teacher from the school they were staying at came over.

"It's lights off time, head back to your tents, take a shower and go to sleep. We'll have our last training tomorrow before you say goodbye to each other"

The students jeered and slowly left, leaving Xiao Zhan and Yibo there. Yibo went closer. "Zhan? You haven't answered the dare"

"... I... I'll take the forfeit" Xiao Zhan said, grabbing the alcohol in front of him and chugging it down, making Yibo feel bad.

"Hey, Zhan Zhan, stop that. It's fine if you don't want to answer" Yibo said, trying to take the hard liquor away.

However, Xiao Zhan spun around and drank it. He couldn't believe the answer running through his mind was 'I feel the same way'.

Knowing Yibo didn't cheat on him, knowing Yibo only loves him and is still waiting for him, knowing Yibo's first kiss actually belonged to him, the part of Xiao Zhan's heart which was reserved for Yibo became bigger.

After Yibo finally snatched the alcohol away, Xiao Zhan was already drunk, staggering about. Yibo worriedly held onto him.

Xiao Zhan looked at him, squinting his eyes "Y... You're not Darren... Go away..." Xiao Zhan tried pushing Yibo away.

It hurt Yibo that Xiao Zhan was saying Darren's name and calling for him but he still held onto Xiao Zhan's arm.

Xiao Zhan broke down, crying while hugging his knees "Go away... Only Darren... Only Darren won't hurt me... Everyone else... Go away..."

Yibo sighed and hugged Xiao Zhan "Zhan Zhan, I'm sorry. Please believe me, I didn't mean to hurt you and I don't want to. I'll try my best to never hurt you again"

Xiao Zhan only wept till Yibo picked him up bridal style. Yibo slightly froze when Xiao Zhan started biting him on his neck.

'So that's how it feels...' Yibo smiled to himself as he carried Xiao Zhan to the teacher's room.

"Zhan... let go..." Yibo said as Xiao Zhan had his arms wrapped tightly around Yibo's neck. "Zhan Zhan..."

"Hm... Bo Bo..." Xiao Zhan mumbled and Yibo smiled widely. He laid the both of them down, with Xiao Zhan still clinging onto him.

Yibo held him back lovingly, stroking his back and running his fingers through his hair. "I love you, Zhan Zhan" Yibo said as he gave Xiao Zhan a forehead kiss.

"Me too..." Xiao Zhan mumbled with a smile, surprising Yibo. "W-What about Darren?" Yibo asked, feeling unsure.

"... Confidant" Xiao Zhan mumbled. Yibo thought a little and gave Xiao Zhan another forehead kiss "Not lover?"

"Grateful..." Xiao Zhan replied. Yibo smiled but tears suddenly streamed out of Xiao Zhan's closed eyes.

"Hurt... You hurt me... Yibo..." Xiao Zhan mumbled. Yibo gulped. "I'm sorry, Zhan. I'm sorry. I should have treated you better and not take you for granted.

I should have chased after you with my loyal side instead of doing things that makes you doubt me..."

Xiao Zhan's tears lessened. Yibo tried asking more questions but it seems that Xiao Zhan was either mumbling too softly or not replying.

"Goodnight Zhan Zhan" Yibo said and kissed Xiao Zhan's forehead again. He let Xiao Zhan snuggle against him closely and looked back at a text conversation he had shortly after Darren left.

'It was Zhan's first relationship. He was fine being your closest friend but you gave him hope. It made him happy but you crashed it and to him, you crashed his world. You can't expect him to not be hurt deeply by it. I really hope you have grown up and be more careful in the way you treat your lovers.'

'Why are you telling me this?' Yibo asked, knowing it was Darren who sent him the text. Yibo doesn't understand why Darren seems to be helping him.

'Don't think I'm helping you. I just want Zhan to be happy with the person he loves, whether it is me or you.'

***NOTE***
Not sure if you have experienced it before but I have. I was sleep talking and when my mother asked me a question, I replied her and I did not remember after waking up.

Also, confidant actually means someone you trust a lot, not necessarily a lover.