Perchance it was love and other things, that eventually aligned the stars for our chance encounter, I still can not forget the hot, humid day at the end of the month, of July and me sitting on the bench chair sucking the red popsicle I bought from Renato's shop with the left-over pocket money my pocket had. As my tongue-red, worn-out black t-shirt drenched in summer sweat limply hung on my petit, tanned twelve and half years young aged body, the curious mind was busy discovering the secret treehouse of the absent stars in the morning sky. At then a distant chime of an old cycle with muttering profanities caught my ears. Summer mid-sun, buzzing cricket, and an almost empty road of southern Italy with a popsicle kid resting on the bench chair witnessed the harmony of profanities and the haste of reaching the library before the lunch break starts- of a certain person, whose long, dark eyelashes were forever engraved in the back of my mind. Like the summer wind, he passed by me for an instant, and the lingering scent of his body still lingered on my nose for a while, as I after a few minutes of comprehension went back to my house.

Unbeknownst to me, we would meet again, wearing black tuxedos instead of worn-out black tees, flower bouquet in my hand in the place of a red popsicle, and instead of muttering profanities, it would be us reading wedding vows together. A future- with you, without you, with you, without you, with you...

"Xiao Zhan!", Paola called from the other side of the room, the crimson red lips set on her Italian skin in the dark neon light, mouthed "you look hot" to which I could only smile. I opened my arms towards her, indicating she can if she want, glomp me like she always does after our long period of no meeting meets, and as expected, she literally jumped into my hug making me stumble a little.

"I missed you" she rubbed her nose on my shoulder, and I heaved a sigh,

"I missed you too, my dearest sister." I hugged her tight.

"How's Avan? Wait, is he here?" As soon as the name reached my ear, an instant hue of reddish blush covered my face.

I smiled, "He will be here soon, with his friend."

"His friend huh? Is it someone nice? Boy or girl? Can you perhaps introduce him with me?" Paola jumped while hugging my arm as we proceeded to the beverage section.

"It's Yibo, Paola." I deadpanned with a smile that never left my face. And as a reply she literally made a bizarre face mimicking puke.

"not him, please. Oh I should have remembered, that Yibo and Avan are inseparable. Just tell me Zhan, will Yibo be going for honeymoon with you two as well? I mean, to be honest, if that ever happens, I wouldn't be so surprised."

"Please, Paola, enough teasing. Yibo is a good guy, and they have been friends for like twenty- four years now."

"Yeah, diaper buddies. I get it... but isn't it just too much sometimes? I can't tolerate his stoic face."

"come on, now, what's with badmouthing him?"

"Zhan... I am your sister, and Avan is your about to be husband, so why are you defending Yibo so much? Hmm?"

"Cause, he isn't all that bad as everyone thinks of him, just because he is stoic, Paola."

It's true. Yibo is overly badmouthed, and misunderstood just because... well yeah, he doesn't like to interact with people, he is a misanthrope, he can be stoic, emotionless(which I don't think he is , as I have seen him smile twice in the course of our meeting of five years) or he can be a little detached to that of so called, public relations, but he is not that bad. He studies very well, was always the topper of his class, now pursuing Ph.D. in History, and a very very caring friend of Avan. They love each other endearingly, that I even often feel jealous of Avan, "What it is to be like to have a friend like him?"

Maybe I would never know. Cause Yibo hardly says anything to me. Or anybody in general. Avan and I would spend nights in Avan's Hostel, while Yibo would love to study in the hall room, and if we need space for our 'personal affairs', he would gladly and silently study in the café nearby.

I mean, how could you hate him? Cause I just can't.

"Zhan!" the melodious voice broke my soliloquy.

Avan. Avan Fazio. The beginning of my world, and the very end. He is someone I would bargain the deals with the nebula in the space, he is someone I would trade pearls with ocean. He is the love of my life, my beginning and my end, my Avan.

I met him when I came to Italy 6years ago, as a professor and settled. Despite me being a professor of English, he and I would often bump on each other with the stacks of books in our hands, in the library. Then the books would fall, and he would pick mine up, I would pick his up, and our eyes met, and something.... Something hit in both our brains, maybe sparks, or butterflies? Or maybe just some chemical reactions.

"Hello" he said, with a smile, and I mumbled, "Ciao"

"are you a new student here? Never seen you. And there are hardly any pupil here who has this habit like mine, to get so many books at one time."

"well, you are partially right. I am new, but I am not a student but professor,Department of English."

I could see how his ears turned hot red,

"Oh I am sorry professor, you looked so young and I-"

"Are you a student here?"

"Currently pursuing Ph.D. I am Avan Fazio." He forwarded his palm,

"Zhan Xiao, nice to meet you." And I accepted the handshake.

"How about we grab some coffee someday?"

And like that, one coffee date led to another, and then another, then dinners, and breakfasts, and hangovers, and laundries, tears, proposals, overwhelming emotions, and how those five years had passed, I still cannot fathom.

"Avan," I went to his opened arms, yearning for my hug.

"I missed you too much, Zhan." He kissed the side of my face.

"I missed you too. Don't leave me for too long. It's not good for my health, you know." I giggled as he smilingly kissed my eyes.

"Now, stop being so cute, I can't just resist the urge to kiss you. And I know a kiss would lead to what."

"Uh huh."

"Avan!" Paola screamed, as he almost dragged Avan from me, "How are you?"

"I am doing well, but you know without your brother, I can't function well, so yeah" three of us smiled at that, and we were just so busy that a certain figure in the back was almost forgotten.

"Okay, Zhan, I need to borrow Avan for a minute from you, so excuse us for a little, Avan you come with me, I have a some serious confidential stuff to discuss with you." With a cheeky smile, Paola dragged Avan with her. He smiled at me, as he willingly and forcefully went with my sister in the corner. I don't know what's the important confidential part they are in.

"hey," a grumpy voice grabbed my attention. It was Yibo.

"Hey, Yibo, long time no see."

"umm, yeah. Okay umm, I have something to tell you."

"yeah, what is it? You alright? You look pale?"

"yeah, I mean I am alright, can you come to that corner please, it's too crowded here."

"yeah sure, but what is it? Is Avan okay? I mean you can tell me without any hesitance."

"I-" he took a deep breath.

"You?"

"Okay so,"

"Hmm?"

"yeah, I, umm, it seems like, Avan is going to give you a marriage proposal, and if he does, I mean he will, just don't accept it. Instead accept mine, marry me. Marry me Xiao Zhan." Yibo Wang said it in one breath, with straight eyes, closed fists, looking at me, seeing me awestruck.

And my head buzzed with silence in the midst of chaos.

Hi lovelies, Cattleya is back lol, for the umpteenth time. Anyways, hope this cringe writing is fun to read lol, please bear with me as I am really busy but also finding my way out of this awful writer's block. hope you like it, and let me know what you think in the comments and don't forget to vote, if you do like it !

LOVE, CATTLEYA💖🤗❤🌼☔🍁