THE PERFECT TWIN

Chapter 8: The flowers were beautiful and out of place.

"Bo.. Why are you getting up so early?"

"I have to go to work bunny."

"Wait.. I've something to ask you."

"What is it Zhanzhan?"

Xiaozhan pulled out a piece of leaflet for Yibo to see. It was the voucher for the seaside resort.

"What is this? You want to go? How long will you be gone bunny?"

"No Bo, lets go together.. Its been a long time since we've gone anywhere together. Xiaozhan put his head on Yibo's shoulder lovingly."

Yibo was silent for a while.

"Come on Boo.. This weekend is a public holiday.. Can't we go?"

"Baby.. Why do you want to go to the sea side all of a sudden anyway?"

"Its for work as well Bo.. I have to do a mural about the sea and so I'm gonna need take pictures for my research."

"Oohh.. If you're going there for work you can bring one of your assistant then. It doesn't have to be me right?"

"Bo.. they're girls. I can't possibly share the room with them. Plus they should already have plans."

"I can't go Zhan. I have to prepare for the MotoGP race the week after and the boys are planning to practice in the new racetrack in N city."

*sighs.. he would rather go with his friends..

"But Boo.. I'm sure you'll win anyway.."

Xiaozhan was never this insistent about anything. It must have been the influence of those girls in his workplace.

"Zhanzhan you don't understand. This is a big race. The biggest one this year. I can't sit idle while other competitors are working their asses off for this. Support me like you usually do will you? Plus we'll only be cooped up in the hotel making love all day long which we can also do at home. There's no point in going all that way for that babe!"

"......"

Xiaozhan looked down on the colorful voucher between his fingers. It would expire by the end of the month. A layer of glassy liquid formed in his eyes. The rejection had left his heart full of inexplicable sadness.

They had never been on any vacation for the three long years they have been together. It was always just a physical relationship between them. He wondered if Yibo was only with him for the sex. The question rang in his head like a loud bell shattering the quiet morning and the peace in his heart. He had to ask.

"Yibo.. Do you really love me? Or is it just the lovemaking that you're into?"

He asked the question finally. His hands were fidgeting nervously with the folds of the blanket.

"Huhh?? Zhanzhan? Why are you being this way again? Of course I love you! Wasn't the sex satisfying enough for you? I have a career which I'm passionate about and have to be responsible for. I hope you can support me!"

Sex.... It was indeed all about that in his head. He did not need love. Just sex. and it was not even fair since he did not understand it otherwise. Why did he even bother asking the question in the first place..

Xiaozhan chuckled to himself. He thought that If he were a plant, a cactus would best describe him: didn't take up much space, convenient, low maintenance, didn't require much water nor sunlight and could survive a long time in the face of neglect.

Xiaozhan had turned from a flower to a cactus in the few years they were together. He once believed that love was like a plant that needed constant love from the sun and sex would be the water it was needed to help it bloom.