THE PERFECT TWIN

Chapter 17: Promise you'll come home tonight

Xiaozhan stared wide-eyed at the food laid out on the dining table.

"Wangji??" Xiaozhan could not help but blush in embarassment.

Sashimi?

The were even arranged beautifully in a boat shaped wooden container, just like it would have been if they were to eat it in a fancy sushi resttaurant. So thoughtful it made his heart heavy.

"Are you always like this?" Xiaozhan pointed to the elaborate display, especialy the phoenix shaped radish that served as decoration on the sides.

"Thats how I like to have my sashimi." Wangji grinned proudly, satisfied by Xiaozhan's look of surprise.

"Come sit.." He even pulled out a chair for him in the sweetest gentlemanly style that seemed to magnify his charms tenfold. The saddest thing- He was not LanYibo. They guy he wanted to be with the most.

"Did he? did he get you to do this for me again?"

First it was their supposed getaway trip together.. Now this??

Xiaozhan wanted to cry.

"No silly! I wanted to eat sashimi so I bought it for the house."

His warm palm stroking Xiaozhan's head as he said to him gently.

Ah! That feeling again.

Despite knowing it was his habit and he might have done the same with many others, the touch made his heart unbearably warm. So warm that he felt his cheeks becoming a little wet.

That warm palm carress the wetness in his face.

"*sighs.. What do I do with you..."

Xiaozhan felt the warm embrace enveloping his body. Theirs fit so naturally against each other. Maybe he was in love with this type of body that felt like that other missing piece in his heart. The chests were firm and sturdy agaisnt his. His shoulders were wide and his head rested perfectly on it.

The sourness inside spilled out uncontrollably and Xiaozhan could hear his own muffled sobbings. Wangji said nothing and stood in place holding him, stroking his hair, he probably thought of his pet rabbit at this point. The same up and down motions against the soft fur, the little rabbit leaning against his arm. Each stroke did calm the raging unrests in their hearts. Just as every time he was down in the past, the soft fur would made him feel better.

"Do you think he loves me?"

"He does. He's just like that. Not the romantic type of lover you might have liked."

"Wangji you're such a nice person. Your girlfriend is so lucky to have you."

Girlfriend? Since when he thinks I have one? But nevermind. Wangji did not say anything to that. There was a part of him that was curious how Xiaozhan would react to that fact.

"You're lucky too.. You're like my brother in law. I've always wanted a younger sibling. Its no fun being the youngest."

Xiaozhan chuckled softly, the sourness gradually melted away through his smile.

The dinner was too beautiful to pass or even shed tears for. He should enjoy it to his hearts content! After all, it was somewhat comforting to think Wangji went this far just for his sake - or it was him being vain again? Who knows.. But the grumbling in his stomach could only point to one thought.

With chopsticks in hand, their baked clay mugs containing warm roasted brown rice tea clinked and they sipped the warm liquid heartily. He picked up a neat looking otoro, dipped it in soy mixed with wasabi and took a huge bite. The umami flavors danced in his tongue and images of the sea conjured in his mind.