15. switching roles

POV Zhan

A/N: With a new cover for the book, it continues. Today from the POV of Zhan, so we learn a little more about his love for Yibo (roughly glanced at), and, see in what way he wants to take action on his little sister. I hope the chapter isn't too boring for you guys.

Switching Roles, Chapter 15.

It all started over a year ago with a message from a good friend. He wrote me a link and to it: "Check out this fan fiction. You are one of the two main male characters in it!"

I immediately clicked on the link, read through the first two chapters and just thought, damn, that's really me! And I was like, who the hell is this Yibo guy? And, why is my sister using him and me for her fan fiction?

Of course, I knew for a long time that my sister has a best friend, but since everyone in my family always called him BoBo, I just didn't figure out that he was Yibo. But I found out very quickly.

I called my mom and we were talking about this and that and then I asked her what Suri was doing. My mom said, "Oh she's out with our BoBo. He is really great. Your dad and I are very fond of him. Handsome, talented, athletic, very polite and also very smart."

It sounded like she was advertising for him. "Um mom? What's his real name anyway? It's hardly going to be BoBo."

"Mhhh, don't you know? His name is Wang Yibo. He and your sister even go to college together and study the same thing."

"Uh-huh, interesting. And between him and Suri, it's just friendship?"

"They are best friends. Yibo doesn't like girls you know? He's gay, just like you." My parents knew for a long time, since I told them when I was 17 years old. But Suri didn't know. My parents always wanted to leave it up to me to tell her myself. And until that day, I didn't and I know my parents didn't told.

"And what's he like? I mean, you said he's very handsome. Does he date a lot?"

"Haha, no. He's waiting for the one he's been in love with since he was 14. And guess who he's in love with!"

"With me?"

"Yes. Actually, I shouldn't tell you. But, I advise you, you should definitely meet him. Your dad and I are absolutely smitten with him. And if you bring anyone home, I hope it's him. Because he's a dream of a son-in-law."

If my parents are excited about him, then he definitely had to be impressive, I knew that much. Because there are no more critical people than my parents.

Since I had a free week ahead of me, I decided to fly to Beijing and take a closer look at this Wang Yibo. And I saw him the very same day after I arrived. And it was a -wow- moment when I saw this handsome young man.

At that moment, when I could see him from a hiding place across the street, I was absolutely fascinated by his appearance. And then I saw him helping an elderly couple, carrying their heavy shopping bags. He even missed his bus to do it. But instead of getting angry, he smiled slightly as he then sat in the bus stop waiting for the next bus.

I kept an eye on him for a week. I dressed up, sometimes standing behind him, listening to him and Suri talk. And they talked about me! Yibo talked about me so full of love and warmth that I wanted to go to him and take him in my arms.

When I was back in the States, I couldn't get him out of my mind. And whenever I thought about him, his appearance and his words, I felt this tingling in my stomach, my heart was pounding.

I read all the chapters of the fan fiction so far in one week. I thought, maybe I can forget him again, because a relationship with such a long distance, it doesn't work.

But, I couldn't forget him and I developed a feeling that was completely foreign to me until then. Longing! Of course I knew the longing for the family. But not the longing for a man I hardly knew.

Little by little I let my parents tell me about Yibo in almost daily conversations. Everything they knew about him. Until one day my father said to me, "Zhan my boy, if you want Yibo, come and get him. He's been waiting for you for so long."

"It's not that easy dad. I live and work here." I replied, suddenly feeling very sad about it.

And what did my dad say? "So what? We'll take care of it for you. You'll live with us again, and I'm sure you'll find a job as a photographer and model easily here. After all, you have good references."

My contract with the modeling agency, however, was still valid for two years. And what did my parents do half a year after I first saw Yibo, just so I could be with Yibo? They bought the contract from my agency! They didn't even tell me where they got so much money. They just did it.

I still had to stay in the States for five more months because I still had a lot of jobs there as a photographer and model where the contracts were already signed. But, I didn't have to wait another year.

My parents then suggested that I go on vacation with Yibo. So originally it was planned that only he and I go. But Suri had misunderstood it, and so it was Yibo, Suri and me. And then Emma joined us as well. Unfortunately I couldn't resist her pleading and begging anymore and so there were four of us.

The day I talked to Yibo for the first time, at the mall, was absolutely amazing for me. I mean, I had never been so scared. I really wanted him to get a good impression of me. I was acting a lot more adult than I actually am. But, I was just afraid what he would think of me if I, at 26 years old, acted playful or childish.

The time alone with him at the cinema was so great, especially the hand holding. I even felt a pang of jealousy when Suri was sitting next to him and Emma next to her and only then me. I wanted to sit next to him. So a new seating arrangement was needed.

And when he also put his jacket over my shoulders later during a walk, wow, I could have melted. And the whole time I was thinking how nice it might have been if I could have been alone with him.

Unfortunately, the first few days of our vacation went really badly and I was on the verge of losing him even before anything was between us. I frantically called my mother and explained to her what had happened. And what did she say? "Pull yourself together Zhan! Don't pretend to be an adult. Show him how you really are. Kind, playful and crazy. You know what you want. You know the goal. So ditch that Emma and finally grab Yibo, spend time together and tell him how you feel about him."

My dad yelled through the phone, "Don't you dare come home and tell us you didn't make it! Use your charms if you have to." I really had to laugh. But, my parents were right.

There was just one little problem. I didn't want to immediately blurt out how I felt about Yibo and tried to give him hints. But failed, since he didn't understand or notice them. And then in the bay last night, I just listened to my gut and let my crazy side out a bit. And, now we are a couple! And I'm beyond overjoyed because of it.

But now to today. Today is my little sister's 21st birthday and today Yibo and I are doing a little switch of roles. Suddenly he doesn't want to be with me anymore, while I ask Suri to help me with Yibo. And that started right away when Yibo and I went downstairs to the two women.

We wished Suri a happy birthday, gave her our gifts, from Yibo she got a necklace with a friendship pendant, very cute. And from me she got a shopping voucher that she wanted. And then I asked Suri to talk to me in private.

We went outside, it was drizzling lightly and I said, "Suri, you really need to help me with Yibo. I fell in love with him and confessed my feelings to him last night, but, well, he rejected me."

Suri looked at me confused and asked, "What did he? Why? Is he stupid or what?"

"He said he has feelings for me. But he doesn't believe me that I have feelings for him, too. He said I don't even know him. And he won't give me a chance until I know everything about him."

"I can tell you everything I know about him. But I don't understand. He didn't care about that before. He just always wanted to be with you."

"Really? Is that true?"

"Yes. That's why I don't understand it now."

"But maybe he doesn't feel the same way about me as he did before?"

"I don't think so."

"And if he does?"

"Then we have to find a way for him to fall in love with you again."

"But how? How can I make him fall for me?"

"Well, normally I'd say grab him and spend the day with him alone on the beach. But the weather isn't cooperating, and apparently it didn't work out for you last night either."

"So now what?"

"Oh man Zhan, I don't know either. I need to talk to him. I have to ask him what this is about now? I don't understand it. He was so in love with you until yesterday, he just wanted to be with you. What happened in those few hours while you were out? Did you do or say anything that upset him?"

"No. In fact, we had a lot of fun. We talked and laughed a lot. We even fooled around. And then when I told him I was in love with him, he just said, Mhhh I have feelings for you too. But I don't think you're serious. Besides, you don't even know me, so how am I supposed to believe you have feelings for me? And now I don't know what to do. I really want to be with him."

"I'll talk to him. I don't believe that. I think you guys are just fooling me. Because for Yibo, there's been nothing more important than you for six years. You know what he said to me back then when he wanted a friendship with me? He said he wants to be friends with me, but not because of me, but because he hopes to get closer to you. To distract himself from his feelings for you, he joined the basketball club, even became captain of the team in our senior year. He danced and sang with his friends at competitions. Learned to drive a skateboard. And all this just to not have to think about you all the time. And yet you were always in his mind and in his heart. I'll have to ask him. But I really feel like you're both bullshitting me. I know Yibo too well and I know he wouldn't give you up just like that. And certainly not if you confessed your feelings to him."

"But it's like I said. He doesn't want me anymore."

"No, I don't think so. Yibo is not like that. He loves you, no matter what, he loves you!" From this I can tell how close my sister and he are. Yibo already told me that they mean a lot to each other and tell each other everything. And she really knows him very, very well. She's really a best friend to him. Not like Emma and I are. She stands by Yibo and supports him in every way.

When I saw how sad Suri became and she was even about to cry when she looked inside at Yibo, I couldn't take it anymore. I felt so sorry for her. I had no idea how much it meant to her to bring me and him together. I really thought at first she was doing it out of self-interest, because of her love for BL stories.

But to see her now so broken up, so distraught, hurts me. I waved Yibo outside to join us. When he came, he looked at Suri and then at me. He took Suri in his arms wordlessly and then whispered, "All is well my dear Suri. Your brother was just trying to lead you around by the nose. Look at me, please."

Suri looked at Yibo, he smiled and said softly, "Thanks to you, he and I are together." And her look became clear. Her eyes lit up and she beamed happily all over her face. She hugged Yibo tightly, gave me a evil look, and then hugged me too.

"Zhan you are an asshole." She scolded and hugged Yibo immediately again.

"I'm sorry little sister. I didn't think it would hurt you so much." I replied.

"Yibo is my best friend and I love him very much. I know how he feels about you and it hurt me to hear that he supposedly doesn't want you anymore. I thought you said or did something that hurt him. And I don't want anyone to hurt Yibo and certainly not the person he loves the most. I thought he was hurt and now he's just pretending to be okay so I won't worry."

"No, nothing happened except we got closer. And we have you to thank for that little sister."

"You know what? You two being a couple now is my best birthday present ever." She said happily bouncing.

Only now do I realize again what a sweet, warm and open-minded person my little sister is. I always thought she was a hardcore BL fan and didn't care about anything else. I'm really ashamed to have thought of her that way. I should have told her a long time ago that I am gay and already fell in love with her best friend a year ago.

This is the new cover. What do you think about it? Is it okay for this story?