21 Worry

Chao was scared so much. He did not know what happened to Yitian, but he found him in the bathroom all wet, but still in his clothes. He was trembling and sobbing so hard his heart was skipping a beat. He wanted to call an ambulance but he left his phone in the living room and he was afraid to leave him alone there on the ground. Helpless.

"I'm here," he whispered to him hoping Yitian would hear it. He probably did cuz he grabbed his arm and squeezed.

"No one will hurt you." He was swinging back and forth with him to calm him down. Yitian hugged him. Making him drenched, but he did not care. The main thing, now, was to soothe him.

"I'm here for you," he repeated again. And was caressing his back, occasionally he would stroke his hair. Soon, his breathing slowed down, it was almost identical to Chao's, and his heart calmed down. He fell asleep.

Chao was looking down at the boy inside his hug. Sometimes he was just like a child, crying himself to sleep. He couldn't help himself but smile. He was too cute to handle. He picked him up but groaned. It looked like those few weeks helped Yitian to become a healthy man. 'Looks like it's a time to start going to the gym again.' Chao thought for himself when he laid down Yitian to his bed and felt his backache. He was looking down at Yitian and did not know if to take down his wet clothes.

"Yitian..." the said person only mumbled an answer. 'Half awake, nice.' he thought, went to Yitian's closet, took out some clothes, and threw them beside him.

"Change into something dry," he said and to his surprise, Yitian started to take off his clothes. To give him some space, he turned around. Because Chao knew that Yitian didn't want anyone to see his scars. He was embarrassed about them. And he did not want to be pitied. So Chao followed his wish when he felt a slight touch on his shoulder.

"Thank you." A soft whisper was all he needed, the reward. He smiled and squeezed Yitian's hand.

"It was nothing. Next time please, tell me what happened. I thought I would die, how worried I was," he said and turned around. Chao saw Yitian sitting in his pajamas, having a slight smile on his face. He looked peaceful, as if his panic attack before never happened. Yitian laid his forehead to Chao's shoulder and sighed.

"Honestly? I have no idea what happened." Chao ruffled his hair, Yitian took a deep breath and just told him what happened. He told him what the classmate said to him. He even described what happened in the park. All that while holding back his tears.

Chao was really shocked. Yitian's self-esteem had to be really low when he was hurt by her words. So, he knew he had to be careful around him. Or maybe…

"Do you think you were right? The thoughts you had?" Chao asked. And Yitian hurriedly shook his head.

"No, I know the thoughts were wrong. I know that you said I'm a good person. I don't know why it happened."

"And you know that you are my friend right? That I would be really sad if something happened to you? I really need you by my side. Who else would play games with me? Oh my god, I would even starve to death without you," Chao said, worried. But the moment he said it Yitian rose his head and looked him in the eyes.

"Really?" His voice broke, but Chao saw a spark of life in Yitian's eyes. 'There it is. It's back. His spark of life.' Chao thought for himself and ruffled Yitian's hair again.

"Of course… Did you see when I or Yixing are cooking? It's a disaster. And Yixing vehemently refuses to play games with me, leaving me all alone." Chao paused and his smile disappeared when he took a deep breath. "I would be so lonely without you. You are the only one I have." Chao finished. He knew how cheesy it sounded, but it was the truth. His brother and father were always working. Yixing was a friend for a mere 2 months and he spent his time drinking and flirting in bars. He was always alone. Until he found Yitian. They needed each other.

"Are you still sleepy?" he asked Yitian. It still wasn't that late. Yitian got the message that he did not want to talk about it yet.

"No it's okay, I will cook dinner," Yitian answered and climbed off the bed, Chao followed him, when he got the idea to show him something. He took off the blanket from Yitian's bed and wrapped it around him. 'Sushi roll.' he laughed for himself.

"I will cook. We have some noodles. Maybe I can make them." Chao said laughing and made Yitian sit at the barstool at the counter. They were both laughing when Chao was cooking because he was a hopeless cook. He poured the water into the cup with the packages still in it. Yitian had to say what to do and many times, he had the urge to go and make them himself. But Chao successfully finished and they took the noodles into the living room.

"How many movies from the Marvel universe have you seen?" Chao asked and Yitian choked on the noodles.

"Ehm, what? I wasn't allowed to watch movies, only news." Yitian turned to him with one noodle hanging from his opened mouth. He slurped it in and swallowed.

"Oh, god we need to work on that," he smirked and turned on the movie he was talking about. Yitian was soon pulled in a movie about some American guy kidnapped and forced to make weapons, but he made a suit for himself. He was laughing and talking with Chao, eating soggy noodles. But it was the best food he ever had, the best movie he ever watched.