Zhan watched I-Bo as he headed to the living room. Anyone looking at him could see that he also didn't like what he had done, because he wouldn't let his eyes meet his again, as if he didn't even know when he had done it. Seeing him sit down in the living room, Zhan lowered his eyes from looking at him, then turned and went back to the kitchen.
I-Bo dialed A-Bo's number, but it rang out without being answered. He hadn't expected A-Bo to come into the living room, because he had been telling him not to waste his time. He stood up and went to the living room window, checking the garage, but saw that A-Bo had left...his car wasn't there. He came back and sat down, removing his face cap.
Zhan came out of the kitchen, and I-Bo put his face cap back on without raising his head. Zhan kept his head down as he came into the living room, holding a bottle of water and a glass cup. He placed them down. Still not looking at I-Bo, he quietly said, "Welcome back." Only then did I-Bo glance at him. Seeing that he wasn't looking at him, he said calmly, "How are you, Sean?"
In a low voice, he said, "All good. How was the journey?"
He said, "Cool."
Zhan played with his fingers and said, "When did you get back?"
I-Bo still hadn't taken his eyes off him and said, "Not less than an hour ago, housemate."
Quietly, Zhan said, "How are your mother and the people at home?"
"They are all good, Sean. How are your studies? In a few weeks, you'll be starting your spring semester exams, right?"
He nodded at him. I-Bo just looked at him, then said, "How is Bin?"
Zhan lowered himself, resting his head on his knees, still smelling his cologne rising from his body, and said, "He left not long ago." Then he lifted his head and looked at I-Bo. I-Bo lowered his eyes from looking at him. Zhan also bowed his head and said, "What should I make for you? Earlier, Bin made bean flour porridge for us, and it's finished. Should I make you pasta or rice?"
"No, don't worry, housemate. A-Bo made some food for me back home."
Zhan opened his eyes a little, looking at him, and said, "Can he cook?"
He just smiled his lips barely moving and didn't answer. Then he pointed to the trolley he had brought into the living room and said, "I got you some stuff. I hope you'll love it."
Zhan was silent, looking at the box. He said, "Check them." Zhan lowered his eyes, then stood up and opened the box. Thick jackets were the first things he encountered as he opened it. He lifted his head and looked at I-Bo; their eyes met, and he smiled at him. Zhan lowered his eyes, just closed the box, and said in a low voice, "Thank you so much. But you really don't have to do all this for me."
He said, "So be it, Sean."
Still without lifting his head, he said, "And I also want to appreciate you for what you did for my parents. May Heaven give you even more than this. May Heaven grant you all your good wishes, but please...stop it right now, I know we're poor and lack worldly things. All this makes me feels low and not enough to be in your life."
I-Bo didn't respond to him; he looked at his wristwatch, seeing that it was almost seven, he said, "I will take my leave now, housemate. It's late already."
Zhan didn't say anything because he felt bad that he said he was leaving. He stood up, looking at him, and said, "Do you have lectures tomorrow?"
Quietly, he said, "Not until one in the afternoon."
"OK, I will come before then. Aunt Fin sent a package for you. It's in the car, and A-Bo took the car."
Only then did Zhan remember that A-Bo had indeed come into the house. He looked at him and said, "OK. But how are you going back home since he took the car? Did you order a taxi?"
I-Bo said, "Oh, I forgot." He came back and sat down, pressing on his phone, and said, "Let me order the ride now."
Zhan was silent, watching him without blinking. He finished ordering and lifted his head; their eyes met. Zhan bowed hos head, pulling at his fingers, and said, "Well, won't you eat or drink something before the ride arrives?" He said, "OK, let me use a bathroom ." He stood up and headed to the bathroom in the living room. Zhan also stood up and went upstairs.
After I-Bo come out, Zhan looked at him from behind the chair he was standing by and said, "Or should I make you tea?" He said, "My ride is waiting outside, housemate."
Zhan just nodded at him. He followed behind him until they left the apartment. Zhan walked with him to the Lyft that was waiting for him. He looked at him before getting into the car and said, "I'll come tomorrow. Take care of yourself."
Zhan nodded at him, because deep in his heart, he wished he wouldn't leave. Only now did he truly confirm how much he had missed him. Memories of their time together in his old apartment kept coming back to his mind, and he missed every bit of those moments. He wished it would happen again. Slowly, he turned after I-Bo got into the Lyft, walking like a sick person back to his apartment, and locked the door.
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I-Bo returned home, opened the living room door, and found Legend sitting by the door, as if waiting for him. Since he had returned home earlier after A-Bo picked him up from the airport, Legend had been jumping on him excitedly, as if about to hug him....a sign that he had missed him greatly. He had followed him all the way to the room, wagging his tail and shaking his head in happiness, and found a place to sit in the room. Before they left earlier, I-Bo had to lock him in his cage because he wanted to follow him and was getting agitated.
I-Bo looked at A-Bo, who was sitting in the living room pressing on his phone without lifting his head. I-Bo knelt in front of Legend, patted his head, opened the steak he had bought for him on the way, and put it in a pack for him. The dog then left him alone and focused on the steak.
I-Bo stood up, went into the living room, looked at A-Bo, and said, "Didn't you see my call?"
Without looking at him, A-Bo said, "I didn't."
I-Bo didn't say anything else to him; he headed to the kitchen. After a few minutes, he came out, looking at A-Bo, and said, "Where is the food you said you made?"
Still not looking at him, A-Bo said, "I thought you would sleep there. I gave all the food to the workers."
I-Bo just looked at him, then turned and went back to the kitchen to make himself a cup of tea. Even before he came out of the kitchen, A-Bo had left the living room.
The next day, around one o'clock, Zhan came downstairs when he heard the doorbell ring. After asking who it was, he opened the living room door. He greeted I-Bo, looking at him. He responded with a smile. Zhan was about to take the bag from his hand when he said, "Don't worry, Sean."
He turned and went back into the living room, and I-Bo followed behind him. After putting down the bag, he looked at him and said, "Aunt Fin's package that she said to bring to you." Zhan went and took the bag, looked at him, and said, "Thank you so much."
He took it to the kitchen and saw that it contained plenty of groundnuts and coconut candy, all well-packaged. In another bag, he saw tea spices, dried baobab leaves, potash, and a lot of ground pepper. Looking at it, he realized it was sent because of the bean flour porridge. He smiled a little, then took a takeout container from the kitchen, put some of the groundnuts and coconut candy into it, and brought it back to the living room.
He sat beside I-Bo with the container. I-Bo looked at him and said, "What's that?"
"It's groundnuts and coconut candy that Aunt Fin sent. I got some for you." He opened his eyes a little and said, "No, she gave us our own... me and A-Bo. It's at home. This is yours."
Zhan gave him a look and said, "I don't agree." He said, "I am serious. Even the tea spices and ground pepper, she gave us." Zhan smiled and said, "Well, I agree." He stood up, returned the groundnuts to the kitchen, then came out and said, "I made you some food...should I bring it to you now?"
He said, "I had breakfast before leaving home, Sean."
Zhan twisted his face, looking at him. He smiled, lowered his eyes, and said, "OK... but just pour me a little, not too much."
Zhan turned and went back to the kitchen. It didn't take long before he brought him rice and the chicken stew he had made. He looked at the food and said, "This is a lot." Zhan said, "Eat and leave the rest." He just smiled. Zhan went back to the kitchen, brought him water and a glass cup, and placed it for him.
I-Bo said, "What time did you say you have lectures?" He said, "One o'clock." He said, "OK, then get ready. When I finish, I'll drop you off, and I'll also go to school." He said, "OK, thank you." Zhan went upstairs, leaving him in the living room.
By the time Zhan came back downstairs around two-thirty, he saw I-Bo lying on the three-seater sofa, his eyes closed. He smiled because this was one of the parts he had missed so much about him. He gently touched the back of the chair, then knelt down, looking at his innocent face. Zhan walked around slowly, went to the vase of artificial flowers in the living room, took one, came back in front of him, knelt down right by his face, and slowly moved the flower back and forth across his face.
Still asleep, I-Bo reached his hand to his face quickly and turned his head away. That didn't stop Zhan from what he was doing. I-Bo tried to sit up and almost collided with Zhan, but Zhan quickly moved back. He burst out laughing, looking at I-Bo.
He smiled, leaned his head back against the chair, and said, "See this boy. Who told you I didn't see you come down? I just pretended I was sleeping."
Still laughing, Zhan said, "Honestly, you didn't see me. You were sleeping."
He rubbed his head, still smiling, stood up, and said, "I'm waiting for you at the garage. But I know I wasn't sleeping....I was just meditating."
Then he headed to the door. Zhan watched him, smiling. He looked at his phone, which he had left on the chair without noticing. Zhan waited until he left the living room, then he knelt close to the chair, picked up the phone, and saw that it had no lock. He saw missed calls... four of them from a number saved as "TIAN," along with a text message from him.
The call logs were mostly missed calls from him, but I-Bo did answer some of his calls. Zhan kept looking at the number. Then he went into the message he had sent him: "You should have at least picked up. Just wanted to know if you've arrived safely."
That was the content of the message. Slowly, Zhan scrolled through the text messages and saw where Tian had sent him: "I love you so much, Baby, and I want to spend forever with you."
Since I-Bo hadn't replied, he sent another one: "Hmm." Then I-Bo replied with "Love you too."
Zhan exited the messages without going any further. He tried to clear everywhere he had been so I-Bo wouldn't see, but he saw a picture they had taken at a park among many other apps that had been opened that day. He tapped to open the picture, but it showed him that it was locked. Zhan stayed kneeling there, holding the phone for over two minutes, because his whole body had gone cold...he couldn't even make a proper move.
Finally, he slowly stood up, took his laptop bag, and headed to the door, walking slowly. Before he could open the door, I-Bo opened it from the other side, and they almost collided. He stepped back quickly, and Zhan held his head.
I-Bo entered the living room, looking at him with concern, and said, "I hope you're not hurt? I'm sorry...I should have knocked."
Zhan just shook his head at him without looking at him. He said, "Are you sure you're okay, housemate?"
Zhan moved his hand from his face and looked at him. Quietly, I-Bo said, "Sorry, Sean. I forgot my phone...that's why I came back to get it."
He handed him the phone. He took it, looking at him. Zhan lowered his eyes. He opened the door for him, and he started to leave, then he followed. Zhan handed him the apartment keys; he took them, locked the door, and they headed to his car. Even then, I-Bo didn't stop glancing at him to be sure he was okay, until they reached the garage.
Zhan didn't look at him again. He opened the front passenger door for him, looking at him. Zhan smiled a little, still not looking at him, and said in a low voice, "Thank you." Then he got into the car. As he got in, I-Bo lifted the edge of his facemask and placed it on his lap, looking at him. Only then did Zhan lift his big eyes and look at him. I-Bo gave him a smile. He also smiled until hjs dimples showed, then bowed his head, playing with the edge of his face mask.
He locked the car, went around, got into the driver's seat, and started the car. After they had driven a distance, he glanced at Zhan and said in a low voice, "Are you sure you're okay, Sean?"
Zhan opened his eyes a little and said, "Sure..." To confirm it for him, he tried to create conversation, saying, "How is A-Bo?"
I-Bo returned his gaze to the road ahead and said, "Don't you talk to him on the phone?"
Quietly, Zhan said, "No, only if there's something important."
Without looking at him, he said, "Something important like?"
Zhan said, "Maybe if he brings me something to the apartment."
"Something like what?"
Zhan turned and looked at him and said, "Grocery shopping."
I-Bo nodded at him, continuing his driving. They arrived at school without either of them saying anything else. As for Zhan, he had gone into his own world of thoughts...
After I-Bo parked at the school, he turned and looked at Zhan. He was about to open the door to get out when he said in a low voice, "Sean."
Zhan turned and looked at him. He said, "What happened? Why the sudden change of mood?"
Zhan opened his eyes a little, then smiled forcefully, shook his head, and said, "Nothing is wrong."
"Are you sure?"
He lowered his eyes and said, "Sure."
"What time will your lectures finish?"
"We only have one lecture."
"So by 3 p.m. you'll be done?"
Zhan nodded at him. He said, "OK, I will pick you up then." Quietly, he said, "OK, thank you." He just smiled at him, looking into his eyes.
Zhan opened the door and got out; I-Bo watched him go, then picked up his phone. Suddenly, he realized that Zhan had gone through his phone because he knew he had missed calls from Tian and a message on the screen. He swiped and opened the phone and saw evidence that Zhan had gone into the messages as well as his call logs. He leaned back slowly against the car seat with different thoughts running through his mind.
:
:
By the time Zhan finished his lectures, he hadn't seen Bin come to school that day. He was sitting at their usual spot, trying to call Bin repeatedly, but his number wasn't going through. Every now and then, he would look around as if wanting to figure out something. At some point, he became confused and afraid at the same time, because some unwelcome memories were coming back to his mind. He feels he's being watched.
Students were only minding their own business in the vicinity; no one was even looking at where he was sitting. He was trying to get up and leave when a call from Bin came into his phone. Zhan sat back down, answered the call, and put the phone to his ear.
Bin said, "You see, I didn't come to school today...that's why you're calling me, this man?"
Zhan said, "I've been trying your line for a while; it wasn't going through. I hope you're fine? Why aren't you in school today?"
Bin burst out laughing and said, "I nearly call you to tell you that Peng died today?"
Zhan said, "What happened?"
Bin said, "Honestly, I've even lost hope in him, let me tell you, my friend."
Zhan frowned and said, "Please tell me what happened to him?"
Bin said, "Well, a terrible fever overwhelmed him to the point of unconsciousness. Then Peng, even holding my hand today, asking for help, confused me completely. Now he's there, put on a bed in the hospital. And I'm at home because of A-yue....that's why I didn't come to school today. A-Yue, whom he won't even let come near me. You see, if I were a witch, nothing would stop me from eating his child today."
Zhan said, "Well, may Heaven make it easy. May Heaven give him health. Which hospital?"
Bin said, "Well, I was left with babysitting. What about your housemate? I'm upset that I won't be able to see him and welcome him back. He'll just think it's arrogance that made me not come to welcome him back to you."
Zhan smiled unintentionally and said, "I'll say goodbye for now...we've finished our lectures."
Bin said, "Please, if he comes to your apartment later, call me and tell me. Even if I have to carry A-Yue, I'll do it and come. You see, it's not good that I haven't welcomed him back even until now."
Zhan held back because he didn't want to laugh and said, "Until we speak again, Bin... goodbye for now."
Bin said, "You, you're not saying that I want him? Everyone knows that the housemate is yours. Anyone who tries to interfere between you two should just die. Maybe he even asked your father for your hand in marriage, and your father gave you to him without us knowing."
Zhan opened his mouth, a bit shocked, because he never saw those words coming from Bin. Bin laughed and said, "Well, we won't refuse if the wedding is set for tomorrow, honestly. A-Bo will just pay his brother's bride price, and the housemate just parked here at your apartment while A-Bo and Sanxing accompany him. If there are s*x's power things, I'll get you Peng's things, because he even arranges them in the kitchen for me to see. The big bags are sent to him from home. You see, I'll just get some for you... you'll have tins of milk and yogurt, your things. The way you'll return, there'll be no difference from someone who's never been married."
Zhan didn't know when he hung up and put his phone on his lap, as if he had heard something terrible from Bin's mouth. He never know Bin was this shameless until today. He sat like that for over ten minutes, as if planted there. He felt his phone vibrate. Slowly, he turned the phone and saw his housemate's number. At first, he couldn't answer his call. Only when he saw that it was about to ring out did he pick up, put it to his ear, and stay silent like a coward.
On the other end, he said, "Are you done, Sean?"
He nodded and said, "Um."
He said, "OK, I'm waiting for you."
Quietly, he said, "OK." Then he hung up, put the phone back in his bag, stood up, he started walking to where he would find I-Bo.
Zhan got into his car without letting his eyes meet his. I-Bo just looked at him. After he quietly locked the car door, he said, "Good afternoon."
Calmly, I-Bo said, "Very well, Sean. How were the lectures?"
"All good."
"Did your friend come?"
Zhan shook his head at him and said, "He didn't come to school today. His brother's husband is sick."
He said, "May Heaven give him health." Then he started driving toward Zhan's apartment. When they were almost at his apartment, he glanced at Zhan and said slowly, "Do you mind going out for dinner with me later, housemate?"
Only then did Zhan glance at him. Their eyes met, and he slowly lowered his eyes and said, "Alright." He smiled at him and continued his driving. As he parked in front of Zhan's apartment, without looking at him, Zhan said, "Thank you so much."
He looked at her and said, "You're welcome, housemate."
Zhan opened the door, got out, then glanced at him; their eyes met. He smiled, waved at him, then turned and headed to his apartment. I-Bo watched him until he went inside.
By the time Zhan saw that it was six in the evening, he became tense. He couldn't figure out why he now felt such a heavy weight regarding his housemate. It wasn't the first time he had gone out to dinner with him, but today, everything felt different....he felt a special heaviness. Even at times when he wasn't ready, he just sat on the stool after bathing.
At six-ten, I-Bo call came into his phone. He e slowly pulled the phone, answered, and put it to his ear, staying silent. On the other end, he said, "I'm on my way now, Sean."
Quietly, he said, "OK." Only after he put down the phone did he stand up and start looking through his clothes to decide what to wear. I-Bo arrived at his apartment after 15 minutes, and Zhan still hadn't finished getting ready. He waited for him for another 10 minutes before he came out. He saw him standing by his car, arms crossed, waiting for him. He lowered his eyes as he walked to where he was standing.
I-Bo smiled at him, looking at him, and opened the front passenger door for him. Zhan didn't let their eyes meet; he got into the car. I-Bo looked at him and said, "Housemate." Only then did Zhan lift his eyes and look at him.
As if whispering, I-Bo said, "You look cute."
Zhan covered his face, smiling. He locked the car, went around, and got into the driver's seat. The ride was silent. Zhan was lost in his own thoughts, and I-Bo was too. After they arrived at the restaurant, he offered him a seat, and he sat down. Then he sat opposite him. He took the restaurant's menu and handed it to him, looking at him.
Zhan lowered his eyes and said, "I'm okay with anything you order."
I-Bo said, "Are you sure? You don't like Western food, and I mostly prefer it."
Zhan smiled and said, "I'll learn to eat it."
Quietly, I-Bo said, "Really?"
Zhan didn't say anything and didn't look at him. He ordered the kind of food he knew Zhan could manage. After the food was brought, Zhan took his lemonade and sipped it slowly. As if on cue, he lifted his head and saw I-Bo was looking at him in awe.
I-Bo smiled, took his own lemonade, drank it, and said, "I see you look very beautiful."
Zhan couldn't look at him and said, "You too."
I-Bo said, "How do you know that since you're not looking at me?"
Zhan smiled, lifted his eyes, and looked at him. I-Bo wink at him. Zhan hid his face, laughing quietly. And so they started eating. But Zhan couldn't relax and eat properly. I-Bo left his own food and took Zhan's. Zhan rested his chin on his hand and said, "Should I leave it all for you?"
I-Bo said, "You can also take what you like from mine....it's called sharing."
Zhan gave him a look, then continued eating his food slowly, right that time....he forgot the difference between them. He was so happy and lively like this. She saw I-Bo exchanging his food with his. He lifted his eyes and looked at him without saying anything, smiling.
I-Bo opened his eyes and said, "I think yours tastes better."
He started eating Zhan's food, then he stand up, come close to Zhan, and sit down with the food, looking at him, saying, "I think I can see the food more clearly from here."
Zhan just looked at him because his cologne filled him completely. He opened the pizza on the table. He take a slice and bring it to his mouth, looking at him without blinking, saying, "Here..."
Zhan couldn't look him in the eyes; at the same time, he was a bit shocked by I-Bo's action. In a low voice, he heard him say, "Take it, Sean." Slowly, he opened his mouth, and he fed him the pizza.
Whatever I-Bo saw him refuse to eat, he would take and bring to his mouth. Zhan was so shy. Finally, he shook his head at him and said in a low voice, "I'm full."
He looked at him and said, "Are you sure?"
He nodded at him, took his lemonade, and drank it. I-Bo just looked at him. Zhan handed him his remaining lemonade since I-Bo had finished his own.
I-Bo smiled, took it, sipped a little, and put the rest down. After a few seconds, he said, "I will like to discuss something with you, housemate. Something that's bothering me. Maybe you can give me advice."
Zhan looked at him quietly and said, "OK..." But even as he said it, he felt his heart sinking. Calmly, I-Bo began, "You know I am an only child to my parents, right?"
Zhan was silent, looking at him, because he didn't know that. He smiled and said, "Yeah, my father passed away before I was even brought into the world." Zhan's entire body went cold as she looked at him. He continued, "A-Bo's father was my father's younger brother, and he inherited the throne after my father's death...my father was a king then."
Zhan lowered his eyes and said in a low voice, "May Heaven have mercy on him and forgive him."
I-Bo said, "Thank you. I was partially raised together with A-Bo, because my mother couldn't let go of me entirely. So from time to time, I would go to the emirate. Sometimes I would spend my holidays there. A-Bo also lost his mother when he was just 3 years old."
Zhan kept looking at I-Bo, unable to say anything. I-Bo smiled slightly and said, "Yeah, it's still not easy for him to this day, but all good on his behalf."
Quietly, Zhan said, "May Heaven forgive her and let her rest."
I-Bo said, "Thank you on his behalf. So now, do you know what's happening, housemate?"
Zhan shook his head at him. He said, "I have this cousin brother, Tian..."
Zhan's heart sank deeply because he immediately recalled that name in his heart. He e almost told him that he didn't want to hear about it, but he held his heart, since he said he wanted his advice. The little happiness he had been feeling at that moment began to fade gradually.
I-Bo was silent for a while, then he lifted his head and looked him directly in the eyes and said, "At home, they want to join me and him in marriage. My mother, his mother, my late father's senior sisters....in fact, all the family members. It got to the point that they even took the matter before his Majesty. You know women, when they want something... At first, when they wanted to join me with him, I bluntly turned down the offer."
Zhan lowered his eyes and didn't say anything. Quietly, looking at him, I-Bo said, "I think all this explanation isn't necessary, Sean. In short, I want to refuse the offer too, for reasons known only to me. But I don't know where to start from, Sean. I don't know how everyone is going to take this. But deep down, I don't think my mother will force me into something I don't want. She is always after my happiness and comfort. I know she won't force me."
Zhan was mute because he didn't even know what to say, but his body had gone very cold, not a little. He felt I-Bo take his hand. In a low voice, he said, "You've gone silent, housemate. Say something, please."
Zhan couldn't look at him. His eyes were on his hand holding his, and he felt his heartbeat increasing. Slowly, he slipped his hand out of his, smiling forcefully, and said in a low voice, "But don't you think that what you're going to do will cause issues in your family?"
I-Bo said, "I don't care. As long as my mother supports me, I really don't care what anyone says. If I see that my mother is upset with my decision, that's the only time my mind will be troubled, because I love my mother so dearly. Sean"
Zhan still couldn't look him in the eyes. After a few seconds, he quietly said, "What is triggering the sudden change of decision you're trying to make, after initially agreeing to marry him?"
I-Bo smiled slightly, looking at him. As if he wouldn't say anything, he then said, "Look at me in the eyes, Sean."
Zhan felt like he was melting, because his intonation was something else. He couldn't look at him at all. Underneath his breath, he said, "Look at me, Sean." With difficulty, Zhan gathered the courage to lift his big eyes and put them into I-Bo's...
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