A few weeks later, Zhan was sitting alone on a Friday at their department's veranda. He had just finished a voice call with Aunt Fin on WeChat. He had sent her some videos he couldn't understand, so he just called her since she was online. After they finished the call, Zhan couldn't move an inch from where he was sitting. He looked so confused and shocked at the same time. As if on cue, he lifted his head and saw Yoki walking with a young girl. The girl was telling him a story in English.
She didn't look like she was from China, even though you could tell she was African-American. Zhan lowered his eyes, looking at his phone, until they passed by him.
Then Bin came out of the study hall with his backpack in hand. Reaching Zhan, Bin sat down and said, "Didn't you see Yoki just pass by?"
Zhan remained silent, because even now he hadn't recovered from the shock he was in. Bin burst out laughing and said, "I'm annoyed with Hailong-ge for going to apologize to him for what we did to him. What did we do to him besides Hailong's cowardice? What he did showed us his true character. Since my mother gave birth to me, I've never seen a coward like Hailong-ge. Even I, have a stronger heart than him. You find a man like that going to apologize.
Honestly, I don't want this case to die quickly....I want there to be a fight. I hate to see a serious case like this fizzle out. After the apology Hailong-ge made, I see that even Yoki is afraid of A-Bo. You know I told you my friend Sulaiman told me that A-Bo actually wanted to beat him up, but people quickly intervened.
Nevertheless, he got a beating for sure. So even that scared him, and he restrained himself with us. But I know he'll use the excuse that Hailong-ge apologized. And he saw that A-Bo took you from your apartment and moved you to his house. You see, he must have been scared by the matter. Heaven willing, I hope your housemate didn't give Yoki any apology either, because from the way he spoke to me on WeChat when the matter happened, he even scowled me... asking me why I disrespected Yoki. No doubt your housemate also did apologize. I hate to see men dragging a case of violence behind like women.
That's why I liked that A-Bo, showed him madness. Well, whatever it is, he's been squeezed. You see, he hasn't come near us at this school again. Ah, now we've seen that Yoki is actually healthy. And he's never been married, just wandering in arrogance..."
Bin fell silent when he saw that Zhan's attention was completely disconnected from his body. Bin lowered his voice, took Zhan's hand, and said, "What happened, my friend? Is anything the matter? I thought you were fine when I left to get my backpack. Why the sudden change of mood? Did Yoki say something to you?"
Zhan couldn't say anything to Bin; tears filled his eyes. Bin dropped his backbag on the ground and said, "Please, what happened? What did Yoki say? Should we call A-Bo right now?"
Zhan wiped his eyes with all his courage and said, "I spoke with Aunt Fin just now."
Bin opened his eyes wide and said, "What happened?"
Zhan lowered his eyes quietly and said, "She just told me that my housemate went to our house yesterday."
Bin gave him a look, then said, "Please, the way you've made my heart sink, I thought there was a death in your house. So because he went to your house, you start crying? Or is there something bothering you that you wanted to cry about, but only now found the space?"
Zhan shook his head at him, more tears gathering in his eyes, and said, "He bought a house for my father."
Bin opened his mouth in surprise, looking at Zhan, then held his chest and said, "A house, Zhan?" Zhan couldn't say anything; tears were streaming from his eyes. He opened his phone, went to their chat with Aunt Fin, stopped right at the videos, and handed the phone to Bin.
Bin was speechless for almost two minutes after finishing watching the videos of the house. It was a modern, well-furnished house. Quietly, Bin said, "I am short of words too, Zhan. Honestly, I don't know what to say. But just know that your housemate is one in a million, Zhan..."
Zhan burst into tears. Bin embraced him soothingly and said, "It's something to be happy about...not something to cry over. The way he made your parents happy, may Heaven make him happy forever. May Heaven reward him with the best. Now, when you go home, calm down and call him."
Through tears, Zhan said, "Even if I call him, he doesn't answer."
Bin fell silent, then said, "Maybe he has his reasons, Zhan. Just text him via WeChat. And I will also thank him via WeChat on your behalf. Every happiness of yours is mine too..."
Zhan couldn't say anything; he was so emotional. He couldn't stop crying. Just then, the driver came to pick him up. Bin walked with him to where the car was parked, opened the back door for him, and said, "Please, don't go home crying like this. This is something to be happy about, not sad, to cry like that."
Zhan just nodded at him, wiping his tears. Bin waved at him and said, "I'll call you later, if all goes well." Zhan just nodded at him, and the driver pulled away.
After they arrived home, Zhan opened the living room door and entered with a greeting, his head down. He saw A-Bo sitting in the living room with Sanxing and greeted him, then went upstairs. A-Bo glanced at him once, then looked away. After a few minutes, he looked at Sanxing and said, "I'm going up to get some rest. Will you still be around?"
Sanxing said, "OK, I'll wait until you come down."
A-Bo stood up, took his phone, put on his house slippers, and went upstairs. He stopped at the door of Zhan's room and knocked. Zhan, who had been lying on the side of the bed with his head on a pillow, feeling very emotional, sat up and looked at the door. A-Bo opened the door, and Zhan started wiping the remaining tears from his eyes. A-Bo entered, closing the door behind him, and looked at him, saying, "What happened?"
Zhan lowered his eyes and didn't say anything. A-Bo said, "Didn't you hear me?"
Zhan slowly shook his head at him and said, "Nothing."
A-Bo said, "If it's nothing, you come into people's house crying?"
Zhan remained silent and didn't say anything. A-Bo said, "Did someone bother you at school?"
Zhan lifted his head, looked at him, and slowly shook his head, saying quietly, "No, I just have a headache."
A-Bo looked him up and down, then said, "Did the crying cure it?" Then he turned and left the room.
:
:
Around five o'clock, Zhan woke up from the sleep that had overtaken him since A-Bo left the room. He sat up, slowly reached for his backbag, opened it, and took out his phone. He dialed his housemate's number...a number he still hadn't saved....hoping he would answer his call today. But it rang out without being answered. He called again, and still he didn't answer. So now, what would he even say to him on WeChat? Words would fail him. He didn't even know where to start.
He lifted his head when he heard knocking on the door. After a second knock, he got down from the bed, walked slowly, and went to open the door. One of the house workers was standing there with a tray of food. He was surprised because since he came to the house, no worker had ever brought him food to his room. In fact, he cooked whatever he ate in the house himself.
He took the tray quietly and said, "Thank you." Then he turned and went back to his room. After putting the tray down, he opened the covered plate and saw Jollof rice, steaming hot as if freshly made, with a wonderful aroma rising. He opened another plate and saw two full grilled chicken laps. There was also a bowl of vegetables with dressing on the side, two bottles of water, a glass cup, and a can of drink. Still on the tray, he saw headache medicine. Quietly, he took a spoon, wiped it with the tissue it was wrapped in, and started eating. The food was very delicious and spicy, as if made in China. He ate what he wanted and left the rest for dinner.
(Aww...😍 A-Bo cook for him)
***
The next day, breakfast was also brought to his room. He was even still sleeping since he didn't have school. He got down from the bed, put on his head covering, and opened the door. After taking the tray, he locked the door and put the breakfast aside so he could bathe first...
Around five in the afternoon, A-Bo was in the living room with Sanxing when the living room door opened. As soon as his stepmother entered, A-Bo was looking at her and the persons following behind her...her maid and close friend, Uming, a friend who didn't look older than 25. Sanxing stood up and welcomed her politely.
She responded to him curtly without looking at him. Only after she sat down in the living room and her maid quickly adjusted a throw pillow for her did A-Bo greet her. She responded with arrogance, saying, "We came from Boston, Massachusetts. We went to Anshu's convocation at Harvard University. We'll be spending the night here before leaving for China tomorrow."
A-Bo didn't respond to her. He greeted her friend, whose convocation they had attended at Harvard. Anshu, who was looking at him, greeted him. He responded without looking at her, then stood up and headed upstairs. Sanxing turned and left the living room. As A-Bo went upstairs, he went directly to Zhan's room, knocked, and then opened the door.
Zhan, who had been studying on his laptop, turned and looked at him. Briefly, A-Bo said, "Don't look at me that way. Get anything you'll need...you're moving to I-Bo's room because we have guests in the house...."
Before he could even finish, the room door opened. The aunt was standing at the doorway, looking at Zhan through the mirror on the wall with her mouth agape. Zhan slowly lowered his eyes and said, "Good afternoon..."
The aunt came into the room in surprise, looking at A-Bo, and said, "A-Bo? Who is this?"
Without turning to look at her, A-Bo said briefly, "Sanxing's younger brother."
With a certain expression, the aunt said, "Sanxing's younger brother? What is he doing in this house? And sitting on a bed in a room?"
Only then did A-Bo turn, looking her in the eyes, and said, "The apartment he was staying in was sold out yesterday, and he's homeless. So he's here for today before moving to his new apartment tomorrow."
The aunt said, "With whose permission did you do that? So this is your house now that you make decisions on your own like you own it? I can't remember his Majesty saying this house is yours in any way, A-Bo. You don't have the right. Besides, his parents who sent him to study didn't find him an alternative...only you, the chief of Chinese people in Baltimore? Besides, I don't see how he resembles Sanxing. What does Sanxing, who is fair-skinned, have to do with this white man? You're lying....he's one of those worthless men you're arrogant with in this country. Do you think we don't know what you're doing?"
Calmly, A-Bo said, "You can say whatever you like. But I also can't remember our father saying we are to share this house with you and your visitors. Because our father bought this house in this city for me and I-Bo, not for everyone. So I don't see why you keep bringing people here without notice, turning our house into a guest house. From Massachusetts to Boston, aren't there hotels? Do you have to come to Maryland to find accommodation?
Besides all this... you're not even in the right place to tell me what to do and what not to do, because our father bought this house in my name and I-Bo's. So you have nothing to do with anyone I bring to the house. Since you can't do without intruding, come and do your intrusion in peace and leave without questioning me."
The aunt, who had opened her mouth looking at him, said, "Are you going to insult me as you usually do, A-Bo? Are you going to say dark words to me? Are you going to show me the disrespect you usually show me, even here?"
A-Bo said, "Whatever. All I know is that you can't just appear here without notice with other people, inconveniencing us and spying on us."
She just smiled, looked at Zhan, then turned and left the room. Zhan's entire body went cold; he couldn't move from where he was. After a few seconds, he got down from the bed, looking at A-Bo, who had fixed his gaze on the dressing mirror, knowing that when she left, she was going to call his father.
In a low voice, Zhan said, "Why would you speak to her that way?"
A-Bo stopped him with a firm face and said, "None of your business, mr. Do you know her?"
Zhan lowered his eyes and didn't say anything else. A-Bo turned and left the room, rubbing his hair. He felt such pain. Where was he even going to start explaining this to his father for the second time? And I-Bo wasn't in the house...just him and that boy in the house. What explanation would he give his father that he would accept?
He went to his own part, sat on the edge of the bed, and held his head, which felt heavy. If it were his mother, they would just fight and settle it with her without her involving his father in this issue. In fact, she wouldn't even want anyone to hear about it. He felt so emotional thinking of his late mother.
The aunt went back downstairs, sat on a chair, pulled her bag, and took out her phone. Uming, who was watching her, said, "I see you're upset?"
The aunt gave a sad smile and said, "Let me just call his Majesty first." Saying that, she went to the room where she was staying and found her maid-sarvant inside, busy mopping even though the room was already clean. As she was about to leave, the aunt signaled her to continue what she was doing. Then she sat on a chair, dialed his Majesty's number, tapping her foot while hoping that he would be able to answer the call...since she knew he was in his own section alone.
Sure enough, he soon answered. After they exchanged polite greetings, she said in a calm voice, "May Heaven help you and lengthen your life. We arrived in Maryland not long ago."
On the other end, he said, "By Heaven's will."
She lowered her voice further and said, "But I'm not happy with what I came and found in this house."
His Majesty fell silent after hearing what she said, because nothing came to his mind except what he had seen in A-Bo's room days ago when he visited Baltimore. Hearing his Majesty's silence, the aunt said, "Are you with guests that there's no space for us to talk?"
Calmly, the father said, "I'm listening."
The aunt adjusted her sitting position and said, "A man....I came and found him in the Crowned Prince's room in a very unpleasant situation. My mind was greatly disturbed. I was very confused by what my eyes saw. I did not like that at all. And it seems this is not the first time...he is used to doing this. May Heaven sort them out for us."
His Majesty fell silent, because what she said truly hit him hard, to the point that he leaned his head back against the chair he was sitting on.
She lowered her voice and said, "But it's nothing....don't let this make you feel bad or worried. If Heaven wills, when I return, we'll know what to do. We'll know where to start with this matter, because we won't just sit and watch it continue like this. You see, this is a big slap to our faces if news of what he's doing in this country gets out. That will only ruin the reputation of our throne. That's why days ago, I told you to find a sensible, calm young woman from a good family to marry him to, even if she's not from a royal family. But I see that didn't satisfy you, since you didn't give importance to my words....I noticed you don't want to force him. And the reason I gave this advice is that the Crown Prince doesn't care about women there in China."
Calmly, his Majesty said, "Did you go to his side?"
The aunt started stammering a little, saying, "Yes, I went there. Since we entered the house, I saw his car, but we didn't see him. Since he had a fever a few days ago because of the weather, I thought maybe he wasn't feeling well. So I went to his side, and that's when my eyes saw this terrible thing."
His Majesty said, "If possible, try to converse with the man you saw....find out which state in China he's from. I want to know his background. Just talk to him."
The aunt fell silent after hearing what his Majesty said, then said, "He's not from China....he's a white man, and an old white man at that."
His Majesty released a sigh and said, "I understand."
The aunt said, "Now, when I return, we'll sort everything out, your Majesty. Calm your mind. If Heaven wills, this is the last of it. We will put a stop to this soon. And please, don't tell anyone close to you about this matter, because it's not a matter that should get out."
His Majesty was quiet, as his own thoughts were different. Finally, the aunt said goodbye, and he hung up. She looked at her maid sitting on the floor, smiled, and said, "I saw a man in the guest room. I don't know how long he's been living in the house. He just told me he came to the house yesterday. And there's no insult he forgot to give me."
The maid bowed even lower on the floor and said, "Honestly, you should take serious action on this lesson. What he does to you is enough. He doesn't see your respect at all, and this thing worries me, my Queen. You should call one of the house workers and ask how long he's kept this man in this house."
The aunt smiled and said, "You've given an idea." She stood up and left the room, with her maid singing her praises behind her.
After some time, A-Bo came out of his room and went to the room where Zhan was staying. Without looking at him, he said, "I'm waiting for you downstairs." Then he left the room. As he was about to go downstairs, he saw the aunt and her group in the living room with various snacks laid out in the middle of the living room. He just stopped in the corridor.
Quietly, Zhan stood up, put on his head covering, opened the door, and came out. Hearing that Zhan had come out without turning around, A-Bo said, "Let's go. And I didn't say you should greet anyone downstairs."
Then he started going downstairs, with Zhan following behind him, weak. As soon as they came down, the aunt, her friend, and Anshu were all looking at Zhan. A-Bo didn't even look at them; he headed to the door, with Zhan following behind him. Zhan didn't dare look in their direction either. He saw A-Bo head to his car, open it, and get in.
He went to the car, and seeing that Zhan hadn't gotten in, A-Bo twisted his face and said, "Aren't you getting in?"
Zhan quietly opened the seat and got in. A-Bo looked at him and said, "Is that how you came out without bringing anything?"
Zhan was silent, then said, "You didn't tell me to bring anything."
A-Bo sighed, opened the car door, got out, and went back into the house. Zhan watched him. He went back to Zhan's room, took his laptop, charger, phone, and its charger, then left the room, locking it so no one could open it, and went downstairs. The aunt and her group watched him. Anshu looked as if her eyes would glue to him all the way to the compound.
:
:
By the time A-Bo arrived at Zhan's apartment, he hadn't said anything to him. Zhan was also silent, with all kinds of thoughts in his heart. Anyone looking at him could see that he was completely weak. After they got out of the car, A-Bo went to the apartment entrance, took the keys from his pocket, opened it, and entered the living room. Zhan followed behind him.
✳✳✳
I-Bo was sitting in front of their father with his head down, listening to everything he was saying. Calmly, his father continued, "I am so disappointed in you, I-Bo. You see what your brother is doing but you fail to tell me. I am really disappointed. Even if you can't tell me directly, there are other ways to approach me, and I will understand you. So now, you think you're covering up for him while he's doing new things?"
I-Bo slowly lifted his head. After a few seconds, in a low voice, he said, "Dad, it's not what you think. I promise you that A-Bo is doing nothing against proper conduct. He doesn't even have time to pay attention to women, let alone have any long interaction with them. Trust me, Dad, I won't lie to you."
His father, looking at him, said, "I went to Maryland and saw a man in his room. Your aunt went yesterday and the same thing happened. How can I believe your words, I-Bo? What sort of silly coincidence is that?"
I-Bo said, "Forgive me, Dad, but I know that aunt didn't see a man in his room....she saw one in the guest room. A-Bo is the kind of person who, if he sees someone stranded, whether male or female, he doesn't refuse to let them stay in the house until the person sorts themselves out. You can confirm this from the house workers. That's his character....not because he has anything to do with whoever he's helping. Dad, you know I wouldn't lie to you just to cover a fault you think A-Bo committed, because if I did that, Heaven wouldn't let me be. I am telling you nothing but the truth. A-Bo has no connection with whoever aunt saw in that house."
His father was silent. After a while, he said, "I hear you, and I believe you. But I'm afraid the decision I have planned for him won't be pleasant for him. Still, he has to accept it, because that alone will give me peace and calm."
I-Bo just looked at his father. Quietly, he said, "What decision is that, Dad?"
His father said, "I have decided that I will marry him off, and he just has to accept it, no matter who the woman is. You are not excluded either, although there is the matter of you and Tian..."
I-Bo lowered his voice and said, "Please forgive us, Dad. We have just a few months left to finish our studies. We haven't even thought of bringing up marriage until we finish. Please, Dad, give us until we finish. It's just 2 to 3 months."
His father said, "You have given me a bitter taste even in these days. You've made me your grandfather."
I-Bo said, "Forgive us, Dad. We know you've given us a lot of leeway, and this will be the last, if Heaven wills."
His Majesty just smiled, looking at him. Everyone knows he is a man of few words, but with his children, they turn things however they want. After a while, his father said, "When will you return to America?"
I-Bo bowed his head and said, "Next month."
His father said, "May Heaven bless you both."
***
Zhan was sitting on a small stool around six in the evening. He had been sitting on the stool studying on his laptop, because in a month and a few days, their spring semester exams would start. He felt his phone vibrate with a text message. He pulled his phone and saw that it was from A-Bo's number: "Come out." That was all he sent.
He put his phone down, stood up, and put on his head covering. Since he returned to his apartment, almost every day A-Bo would come. Sometimes he would leaves his car parked in the garage, then order a ride and leave. Other times, he would come into his living room but wouldn't stay long before leaving. And he didn't really talk to him.
Zhan noticed that he didn't like to talk, so he would just greet him and go back to what he was doing. Sometimes he would return from school and see signs that A-Bo had come to the apartment....she would smell his cologne in the living room. And Zhan noticed that A-Bo did all this for security purposes, even leaving his car in the apartment's garage. If he came in the morning, he would take the car and go wherever he was going, then return it to park in the evening and order a ride to take him home.
And he really appreciated all this that A-Bo was doing for his safety. When he first returned to the house, he would cry almost every day and couldn't sleep at night, feeling that at any time, Yoki could come to the house. Gradually, he calmed down when he saw that A-Bo was coming to the house frequently. But none of these things made him not to think about his housemate. There was no day that passed without him thinking about him.
Sometimes even his crying had no reason. By now, he had even stopped sending I-Bo messages on WeChat, feeling that he was forcing conversation with him, given how I-Bo replied to him as if he didn't want to.
He opened the apartment door after coming downstairs and saw the bags placed by the door. Then he looked at the garage and saw A-Bo sitting in his car. Zhan brought the bags into the living room, then went out to his car, looked at him, and greeted him. A-Bo opened the car, got out, responded without looking at him, and locked his car.
Then Zhan saw him head to the taxi that was waiting for him. He stood watching until he got in, then turned and went back to his apartment, locking the door with the key. Zhan saw tea items in the bags A-Bo had brought for him: two large carton of milk, packets of sugar, Lipton tea, coffee powder, and chocolate, as well as three loaves of bread and various cookies. A-Bo must have gone into the kitchen, seen that there was no tea items, and bought it for him. And it had been a while since Zhan had wanted to go and do tea shopping.
⏭ ⏭
After two days, Zhan arrived at school. Bin, who was sitting in the lecture hall, gave him a look and said, "Please, won't you stop wearing these big head coverings? You're embarrassing me, Zhan. Have you finished this precious waiting period, or haven't you? Are you going to do the waiting period twice?"
Zhan just smiled, looking at him, and said, "Did I tell you I've finished?"
Bin said, "That's why I'm asking if you'll do it twice, because I'm here counting with you. You've finished. I've been waiting to see you start wearing colorful clothes and putting your divorce behind you. Now it's not the same...you've entered a different level."
Zhan said, "Well, you haven't counted correctly."
Bin said, "I am counting...it's you who isn't counting."
Zhan didn't respond; he found a place to sit. Now Bin was feeling a new kind of colorful fashion at school as a final-year student...sometimes he would come with a decent clothes from home, and later put it in his bag, walking around with just a tight ones or he would wear a terrible English outfit. He was tired of talking to Zhan about it, so he just rolled his eyes. They went back to Zhan's apartment together that day because Bin said he would make them bean flour porridge.
It was almost evening when Bin left the house....Hailong had been calling him non-stop. Zhan was in the kitchen, having finished washing all the utensils that Bin had refused to wash, and was mopping the kitchen floor, when he heard the apartment door open. He knew A-Bo would come, since he had seen earlier that A-Bo had left his charger in the living room...a sign that he had come to the apartment while he was at school.
Slowly, he washed his hands in the kitchen sink, trying to be sure of what he was perceiving. Gently, he patted his hands on the kitchen towel, drying them. Then he turned. His breath stopped for a few seconds, and his heart sank deeply.
I-Bo was leaning against the wall near the kitchen door, his arms crossed, looking at him. Zhan bowed his head, then headed to the kitchen door to go out to the living room. I-Bo caught his hand, looking at him with a smile on his face.
Zhan didn't know when he burst into tears. He tried to pull his hand away, but I-Bo pulled him close to him and said in a low voice, "Sean."
Tears were just streaming from Zhan's eyes; he couldn't look at him. Slowly, I-Bo embraced him and said in a low voice, "I am sorry, Sean"
The living room door opened. I-Bo quickly let go of him, but A-Bo had already entered. He looked at them once, then lowered his eyes, went and got his charger, turned, and left the living room.
💚💙❤🖤