Unintended Love (BJYX Fanfic) - Completed

20: The Seeker - one

It was already deep in the night when the three realized how fast the time had passed. Yuan insisted for them to stay the night, and the Xiao brothers serenely agreed as they can't leave Yuan on his own at this time, with all the stress he is having through.

Yuan suggested for Jian to stay in his room whilst he takes their parents' space. And for Zhan? What else is there to offer but Yi Bo's quarters. The penthouse only has 5 massive bedrooms, however, 2 of the rooms have been converted to be something else. First, is a personalized workout gym/dance studio for Yi Bo, and the other, Yuan's own library/study room.

Zhan's heart rhythm suddenly changed when he heard the proposal, yet, he wordlessly abide as he does not want to cause any more bustle at such an hour.

He stopped advancing in front of Yi Bo's room, staring at the darkness of the black door.

"Is there a matter, Teacher Zhan?" Yuan politely asked seeing his hesitance.

Before Zhan can answer, his silly brother had already passed by him and opened the door wide for him to enter. "Come in!" Jian nudged him in, his wild grin, teasing.

Zhan sighed in resignation, following Jian inside Yi Bo's room. Like everything in that house, the detail of this room was intricately charming, yet for Xiao Zhan, it has a hint of intriguing particulars.

His eyes scanned the area quickly noticing the grand layout. A warm smile left his lips, 'Didn't expect this.', he thought.

Out of curiosity, his steps unknowingly moved towards the display of trophies and plaques on the side, they look somewhat familiar.

He remembered those days when he would cheer for Yi Bo from the crowd. How Yi Bo never failed to give a wink and flying kiss at his direction despite being nervous himself. Zhan chuckled when he recalled how the girls would grab that invisible kiss then swoon, pretending to collapse.

'Cheeky, Bo-di.', his head shook gently as he chuckled while reminiscing.

Then something hit his subconscious. "All the competitions Yi Bo joined in and won, are these all?" He thinks there should be more as Yi Bo is very active with extra curriculars.

Yuan responded, "Not really." He remembered seeing his brother offendingly blunt binning some immediately after his competition, while either Yuan or their mother will sometimes salvage it up and keep it in the storage room. "I am unsure, but for some reason he only chose those to display."

That's when it sinked-in to Xiao Zhan.

Half-doubting his realization, Zhan checked the trophies' engraved plates for dates and award types, and all within the display are only the ones Yi Bo had participated when they were still together in that academy, the competitions he had accompanied him, the competitions Zhan had cheered for Yi Bo.

Still in shock, Zhan's head spun around the room again, and his heart ached as he glaced at each and every item in that room, a tear impending to drop from his eye sockets.

Jian and Yuan silently watched Zhan as he affectionately caressed one thing to another, tracing curves and colors with his finger tips, regretfully smiling to himself, awkwardly chuckling in sorrow. It is as if those objects bear meaning to his soul. Neither of them know what is in Zhan's mind or what he sees in those, but they knew they have significant meaning to him.

Each item refreshed a memory Zhan thought he had already lost in the process of him moving on from his one-sided affection.

There was this diabolo which Zhan and Yi Bo had bought together one summer day, and it was Zhan who've picked that color, and Yi Bo did not fuss the slightest even if he liked red more than blue.

"Anything you choose, I will agree to. Anything you like, I will like them too." the 15 y/o Yi Bo told him then.

He next remembered that first skateboard Yi Bo bought and how he pestered him to paint something on it, saying it would be his lucky charm to enable him to flawlessly and safely perform a trick.

"You're really amazing Gege! I will treasure this my whole life! And whenever I use this, I will think, I am with you!" Yi Bo grinningly swore as he hug the skateboard Zhan had finished designing.

That baseball bat, how can he forget Yi Bo's whimsical first year try-out to be part of the baseball team?

"Gege, Didi is very nervous." Yi Bo pouted at him. "Wish me luck!" he begged.

Zhan carefully rotated the grip of that baseball bat and there it still bears his highschool scrawl of 'Goodluck Didi'. How can he forget that smiling bliss of Yi Bo, confidently walking to the field after he saw those words.

Beside it is the ball Yi Bo made a homerun with, a small stickman playing baseball drawn on the surface. Zhan shook his head, realizing the simplicity of his own sketch back in high school. But Yi Bo loved it. His Didi appreciated every single scrawl, word, and sketch he had made for him.

Why did Zhan not see that?

Everything in that room was related to him!

'Why? Yi Bo? If you treasure our past this much, why have you rejected me?!' Zhan vigorously searched his brain for answers.

'Zhan-ge...'

Zhan's subconscious heard Yi Bo's low but warm voice longingly calling his name. He turned his head, searching and seeking, full of hope, but there was no Yi Bo. Instead, his eyes landed on that unforgettable sunrise painting...

His parting gift, before he left him.

The mixed paint of blue sky and the yellow rising sun...its color extending to the walls and covering that room from all corners, engulfing him with tender and passionate warmth.

In that moment, Xiao Zhan finally surrendered all his fears. He let his defenses crumble, and let himself feel love once more.

"I love you." he whispered as another set of tears tickled his cheeks.

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Author's note:
The Seeker is a 3 part chapter, and is pertaining to Xiao Zhan.
The next part would be the confession flashback ❤️! AT LAST, right? 😂

Vote. Comment. Spread the ❤️
20&22-Feb-2020