After a few days off  from the school, Zhan was literally flying to bus stop. It was hard for him to admit but missed kids so much and especially the most naughty one. Reaching there he looked around searching for familiar car, Zhan was hoping Yibo should ask his driver again to cross this street but sadly he wasn't coming. Zhan pouted from disappointment  and got in the bus.

School was very noisy as always, hearing bell sound Zhan ran to his classroom and dumped into someone at the door, seeing it was no one other but Yibo, his face instantly brightened and got ready to fight or tease him but the latter one just lowered his head and went in the room, Zhan followed with confused face, unable to understand why Yibo was acting different

"good morning guys, how have you been?" Zhan smiled at them and stared at Yibo again but no reaction from him 

"we're fine cute teacher, what about you?"

"I was dying from missing you" 

"we can't believe, maybe only one of us?"

"who knows? ok now about our today's theme. do you love flowers? Imn't romantic person but can't deny it's one of the most beautiful thing existed in the world. and do you know that every kind of them has it's different meaning. for example Daisy symbolizes innocence and purity,  Gardenia  sweetness,  Lilac youthful innocence and confidence, Tulip declaration of love and Rose is itself love. so i want you to draw your fave one using any color and send it to someone you're willing to confess something to"

"Wen Qing always gets many roses on Valentine's  day as the most beautiful girl in our class" 

"right, and Yibo too. his desk is always full from chocolates and flowers"

"Yibo?" Zhan leaned closer to Yibo who looked up at him with sad eyes "so you're this popular?because you're cutest one in the class no?"

"this is too boring and annoying" sudden unfamiliar voice made Zhan startled, he just noticed new student standing at the door and  mockingly staring at him

"teacher i forgot to tell you about Xue Yang, he is our new student" Wen Qing got up and glared at him, Zhan guessed they weren't in good relationship

"can i say it's nice to meet you?" Zhan smirked "first day and you already calling me boring? this isn't right way to talk to teacher, if you're late again i won't let you in"

"as i care, and you don't look like one" grinned Xue Yang  "everything and everyone is this school is stupid"

trying to hold his anger Zhan tightened his fist, he was used bickering with Yibo but this case was different, new student seemed too cocky, without any respect for others. his eyes're full of harm. Zhan got ready to reply when suddenly noticed Yibo went pale and his hands started shaking "i... have to go" murmured him and quickly got up running out from the room.

 "Start drawing" said Zhan and  followed Yibo back, catching his hand he pulled Yibo closer and looked in his eyes

"What is wrong? You're acting weird"

"Let me go, why do you care?"

"What the hell changed during this few days? Why do you treat me like stranger"

"You're, you have to be"

Zhan felt very hurt hearing this words from Yibo but he couldn't believe cause his eyes were saying other thing, like he begging for help  "Wait for me ok? I'll talk to you after class is done, please Yibo"

"damn it, just leave me alone" shouted Yibo  "just do your work as teacher don't come near to me" Yibo forcefully freed his hand from Zhan's grasp and left the school. Zhan strongly hit his fist at the wall almost making  it bleeding "this is so irritating, you can't do that to me Yibo"

*****

Cheng went back to home after very tiring work day, hearing no loud voices he got very surprised. usually Zhan was always watching Kpop  groups and talking about hot girls but now he was quietly sitting on the sofa and thinking about something with serious face. Cheng put his suitcase on the chair and sat next to him. patting on his thigh he asked with caring voice

"brother what is bothering you?"

"Cheng? when did you come?" Zhan woke up from his thoughts and sighed "i'm ok"

"you aren't, i know you better than myself so tell me"

"you'll tease me again"

"it's about Yibo no? i never tease you when you're being serious, what did you two fought about now?"

"brother" Zhan turned towards  Cheng  "i can't stop thinking about him, Yibo changed during this last days, i'm sure he has problems and i wasn't there for him"

"what do you mean by changed?"

"he was quiet during class, wasn't saying silly things and didn't scold me after dumping into him"

"wasn't you dreaming about this before? wasn't he bothering you?"

"i know but" Zhan covered his face "what are trying to make me admit? ok i want to hear his voice... always, i want him to tease me, to see him naughty smiling at me. i need Yibo next to me, i can't understand what kind of feeling is this yet but him ignoring me is too upsetting"

"you'll soon little silly" Cheng messed his hair and got up walking to the kitchen "if he really has troubles wait for the right time, Yibo will tell you himself. but before that make sure to help and protect him"

"mn i'll" nodded Zhan and joined Cheng, helping in cooking "thanks ge for listening me" 

"anytime" Cheng smiled and whispered "finally lil bro is in love"

*****

"Wen Qing may i talk to you?" Zhan stopped her and pointed at the park next to school

"sure teacher" they sat down and Zhan started with worrying tone "as i heard you and Yibo were going at the same school before no? until moving here"

"yes true"

"so you know him better than others, i wanted to ask yuan but he is sick and missing classes. did something happen to Yibo? he acts different and looks too down, but not willing to tell me"

"actually Xue Yang, i don't know if this is right to tell you" Wen Qing hesitated "he was bullying Yibo"

"what? bullying someone like Yibo?"

"i'm sure you already noticed that he is so soft inside, Yibo was totally different from what he is now but... only thing i can say is that his nightmare is here again, i could never imagine he was going to transfer in our school too"

"i got it, thanks Wen Qing" Zhan got up and looked around "you know where he is now?"

"i don't, just saw leaving building"

"ok, i'll find him"

***

roughly pushed at the wall and getting strong punch Yibo shivered and tried to cover his face, painful memories started returning in his mind, the hell he thought was left in the past was coming back again. 

"i found you again stupid brat, escaping from there was good try but look nothing changed, you're still scared and i'm going to teach you lesson, this time you won't get out just by little bruise"

"i did nothing wrong, why do you hate me this much?"

"i need no reason, weak  and quiet nerds who are all about study bothers me too much, willing to beat up them to death" he raised his hand again but suddenly someone grabbed him by collar. 

"i'm sorry but you can't do that" Zhan appeared  between them "only one who can do "something" to that boy is only me"

"so called teacher?" smirked Xue Yang "see our baby Yibo isn't all alone like before, you found protector? what are you giving instead? money or maybe body?"

unable to hear more, Zhan quickly wrapped his fingers around his neck and threw at the wall, raising  fist Zhan whispered at his ear "it's too long time already since i last beat up someone, maybe i'll do it now"

"you can't"

"why?"

"you're the teacher"

"didn't you say i don't look like one?"  Seeing he was already breathless Zhan let go but couldn't stop himself and punched strongly in the stomach, held anger was trying to free itself but Yibo ran to him and hugged Zhan from behind, begging him to stop

"You'll pay for that" Xue Yang shouted, crying from pain, but they weren't listening anymore, Zhan took Yibo to the school infirmary  and made him sit on the bed, bringing  first aid box

"Does it hurts?" Zhan gently touched Yibo's lip and tried to wipe blood, he shook from pain and  tears dropped from Yibo's eyes, feeling his heart was breaking into pieces Zhan slowly opened his arms and looked at Yibo, nodding a little. On the edge of sobbing Yibo tightly wrapped his hands around Zhan's waist and hugged him with all the strength, Zhan started softly caressing his back and hair, nonstop whispering "it's ok, i'm here with you"

"Gege"

"Mn"

"it hurts, can you do the same?"

"same what?" Zhan broke the hug

"before at the locker room, you did that" Yibo pointed at his cheek

"you remember" Zhan blushed so hard, but the fact Yibo was asking for kiss again made him more surprised, he leaned closer and touched his soft skin, one then another. after the cheeks he planted last kiss on the forehead and smiled showing his bunny teeth, causing Yibo to do the same

"Zhan ge, Take me somewhere quiet, i want to talk, i want to share"

leaving the school territory Zhan pointed at the motorbike  "i came here with my friend's bike today, if you aren't afraid let's drive it ok?"

"Mn, i would love to" smiled Yibo and dialed the number "dad i'll be a little late, no everything is ok, with my art teacher, yes the one you liked, love you daddy see you later"

"He liked me? Your dad?" Zhan was surprised

"Mn, i have same taste as him"

Zhan blushed on this cute silly confession, he carefully put helmet  on Yibo's head and sat on the bike

"Hold me t..." Zhan started but there was no need for that, Yibo was already tightly wrapped around his waist, making him breathless "are you taking advantage on me? How can i drive like this, you clingy one"

"Ok" pouted Yibo and lessened his grasp, instead of that he buried  his nose into Zhan's neck causing another shock

"Gosh you're killing me" sighed Zhan and started driving, Yibo closed his eyes and enjoyed cool breeze running through his face, warm body he was holding felt like home, safest place for him. unable to stop himself Yibo planted wet kiss on Zhan's neck, not removing his lips. Zhan stopped bike and get off helping him too. trying to calm down his racing heart, Zhan leaned on the bridge railing and deeply breathed out. 

"we can never escape from our past no?" started Yibo joining him  "it can always find and hurt us. i was always introvert child, closed in my own world and totally invisible for others expect bullies. boys like me are always perfect prey for them. and no one could protect me cause there was powerful parents standing beside them. i couldn't tell to my dad cause our family was poor then and it was totally meaningless. coming back at home with bruised body i was always making up stupid lies.  i was the happiest when we moved to this city, starting new life i decided to change my personality, it wasn't easy but kids here were too sweet it helped me too much. but you see everything stays in our heart and mind, every fear, pain, wounds. i'm still the same weak and unprotected"

"you have me now" Zhan moved closer and hesitantly joined their fingers, on this soft touch Yibo looked at him with eyes full of tears "i'll be next to you"

"the teacher with bad temper" laughed Yibo

"mn i'm crazy one who loves cursing and beating others but you still like me no?"

"who does? me? no way"

"as if" Zhan gently hit his shoulder and smiled carefree, feeling strong happiness "i love that, think i don't hate naughty kids anymore"

"oh i forgot" Yibo took something from his pocket, spreading out  the papper he handled it to Zhan "this is my drawing, for yesterday's lesson"

Zhan looked down at beautiful red  tulip picture  "who are you going to give this to?"

"i already did, right now"

So here is bittersweet chapter.
And maybe little angst in next one too 😓 but things like this causes them to get closer 🥰
Hope you enjoy dear readers 😘