Yibo was thinking all the time how to cheer Zhan up again, because he knew even if Zhan smiled, it was not a real smile. Besides, he also thought about whether it would be better to spend another night in the safety of this building. After all, they had a long exhausting journey ahead of them, with dangers that they could not now foresee.

Zhan was still standing at the window, watching the struggling dying creature. On the one hand, it pleased him to see it die. But on the other hand, its death struggle was just intense to watch. It tortured itself so much that Zhan felt more and more sorry for it. Because finally he also realized that it only did what is in its nature. Eating!

"You Zhan?"

"Yes?"

"I've been thinking, and I think maybe we should stay here another night. With the dying creature out there in the parking lot and not knowing what else we're going to face on the way to that hotel, maybe we should use the time to gather more strength. Maybe more of them are dying right now and we'll be able to drive during the day soon."

"Mhhh, I see what you mean and I think it might be a good idea if we wait it out before we head out. And as long as this thing hasn't died, it may still be dangerous to us."

"So you'd be in favor of that, too? I mean, that we wait at least one more night?"

"At least?"

"Well, one day or more. I don't know. Right now I just think it would be better to wait. And we'll still get to the hotel before everyone else, I'm sure. Because they're only going in stages and in several groups."

"Well, I'd say we'll definitely stay another night and then we'll see tomorrow. You know, even if they die now, it doesn't mean all of them die. They have to reproduce somehow. So surely not all of them will die. I wonder if they give birth like mammals to living babies, or if they build nests and lay eggs."

"True, I hadn't thought of that."

"I think it would have been good if the explorers had looked around these caves first and explored everything before taking these creatures with them. Then maybe we'd know something about their progeny now, too."

"Mhm. Um Zhan? Can we talk about something else?"

"Sure, what do you want to talk about?"

"You've seen the picture of me and Lee."

"Yeah, and?"

"Well, I was with her for eight months. But I don't think I ever loved her. I mean, I'm sure I didn't love her."

"Yibo, why are you telling me this?"

"I don't know. I just want you to know that."

"Mhhh, I see."

"I know it's unfair to her, but when I think about it, then yes, I never loved her." Yibo felt relieved when he said that.

"I know this. I also had a girlfriend that I dated for 1 year and that's even though I never loved her."

"Oh, um, do you want to tell me more about that?"

"No. There's not much to tell. You better tell me how many supplies we have left. So we know how long we can stay here if need be."

"Okay." Yibo replied. He unpacked everything from the backpack and told Zhan that they still had supplies for three days. Zhan nodded and continued to watch the dying creature.

Yibo went into the bathroom and refilled the water bottles. He looked at himself in the mirror again, thinking about Zhan and how much he wanted Zhan to know that he never loved Lee. And if he thought about it right, he'd never had a stronger feeling for anyone else. Until now. Because now whenever he thinks of Zhan or looks at him, his heart beats faster in his chest and there was also this tingling in his stomach. Could it be that he was falling in love with Zhan?

Grinning, Yibo thought that he wouldn't mind if it was Zhan for whom his heart beat faster. Because he thinks he's totally cute. And Zhan is the first one he didn't mind if their skin touched. Usually, he always kept his distance from others, including Lee. But when it comes to Zhan, it's Yibo who seeks contact with him.

Yibo was washing his hands and suddenly Zhan yanked open the bathroom door and said, "You have to see this, there are two more creatures."

Yibo quickly ran with Zhan into the living room to the window and looked outside. Two creatures were circling the dying creature. They kicked and poked at it. With each kick, the creature shrieked. Zhan and Yibo had goose bumps when they heard the scream.

The scream was so full of fear and pain that it was almost unbearable for Zhan and Yibo to watch and hear.

Yibo put his arm around Zhan as he saw how affected Zhan was to watch the two creatures attack the dying one. Then, when one of the two creatures grabbed the dying creature's arm, tugged on it, and ripped it out of it, which caused a shrieking scream from the dying creature, Zhan had to turn away.

Yibo pressed Zhan's head onto his shoulder. Another wailing scream sounded as the other creature tore out its other arm. Yibo closed the curtain and held Zhan in his arms. Carefully, he led Zhan back to the sofa, where they both sat down. Yibo, however, did not let go of Zhan for a second. He didn't want to either. He wanted to hold Zhan, and if possible, for the rest of his life.

When the screams stopped, Zhan raised his head and whispered, "They are killers. Born to eat and kill. They even kill the weak of their own kind. Real animals."

"Mhm, I guess it's their nature." Replied Yibo as he suddenly couldn't take his eyes off Zhan's lips.

Yibo licked his own lips and lightly bit his lower lip when he saw Zhan's mouth. His heart was pounding so hard he could hear it beating. He didn't even hear what else Zhan was saying, so focused was he on Zhan's lips and his own heartbeat.

As Zhan looked at him in confusion, Yibo stroked his cheeks and Zhan asked him, "What's this about?"

Yibo, focused on Zhan's lips in a daze, replied in a whisper, "I want to kiss you."

Zhan stared at him with wide eyes. "You, you want to kiss me?"

"Yes."

"But, why?"

"Because I like you."

"But..."

"I want to kiss you Zhan. Can I kiss you?"

"I..." That was as far as Zhan got. Because Yibo couldn't take it anymore and couldn't wait for Zhan to agree. He pressed his lips to Zhan's and a firework of emotions awoke in him. Something he had never felt before in his life.

And Zhan also felt the same as he did. Shocked at the sudden kiss and delighted at the same time, he returned Yibo's kiss after a moment's hesitation.

The kiss, a gentle, longing yet passionate one, lasted not just a moment, but several minutes. And for both of them, it felt incredible. As if they had just been waiting for this to finally happen. And even as they kissed, Yibo wondered why he had waited so long for it to happen.

When they both released the kiss, they looked at each other with embarrassment and red cheeks. "I want to be with you." Said Yibo straightforwardly.

"But, what about your girlfriend?"

"Zhan, I already told you, I never loved her. I don't even know where she is. And if I do meet her again, I will tell her the truth."

"Um. Okay, yes, you should."

"Can you and I be together Zhan?" Yibo was always straightforward and never liked to fuss in any way.

"We can try." Replied Zhan. Everything seemed to be rejoicing inside him and he tried to hide how excited he was.

Yibo smirked when he saw Zhan's shining eyes. Zhan looked like Yibo felt. Happy.

For a moment, the two of them, through their own feelings for each other, had completely forgotten what was going on out there in the parking lot. But now the memory was back and they quickly ran back to the window.

What they saw was a dead creature with its arms and legs missing. Its wings torn apart and its head twisted unnaturally. The other two creatures had been out of sight. Zhan was glad to see the creature dead on the ground and no longer struggling. However, the way it had to die was anything but good.

Yibo stood behind Zhan, wrapped his arms around him and rested his head on Zhan's shoulder. "Maybe they killed the creature so it wouldn't torture itself anymore?"

"Maybe. But this creature seemed to be afraid."

"Mmm, yes. But we don't know much about these creatures. Maybe that's the way it is with them."

"Or there are two genera. Haha."

"Hey Zhan, don't scare me. Another genus of them?"

"Who knows? Besides, I'd be interested to know how we can differentiate the males from the females."

"Mhhh, funny isn't it? I mean, they all look the same. Maybe the females don't go hunting?"

"You mean they stay behind and take care of the young?"

"Yes, exactly."

"That would be quite possible. It's like that in many genera of the animal world. So yes, it's conceivable that the females could stay behind. But they certainly won't be far away." Replied Zhan.

Instead of answering, Yibo, grabbed Zhan and carried him back to the sofa. He sat down and took Zhan on his lap. "We should eat something first and make the most of the time we have together now and enjoy it a little." He said to Zhan.

"Wow you're progressing pretty fast." Replied Zhan.

"Not really. I'm just doing what I wanted to do all along and just didn't dare."

"You've wanted to do it all along?"

"Mhm. Ever since we arrived at the dam, I've wanted you to be with me."

"Oh, really?"

"Yes. I think I was even jealous of Hai Kuan."

"You didn't have to be. Not just because he has a boyfriend. But because I think I already liked you then."

"Good to know." Yibo replied with a grin.

Right now, Yibo is happy and overwhelmed by his own feelings for Zhan and doesn't care about anything else going on around him. If it were up to him, he would prefer to stay with Zhan in this place and in this building. Just him and Zhan and no one else.

Zhan turned to Yibo and sat wide-legged on his lap, the two of them looking into each other's eyes before Yibo, pulled Zhan close to his body and kissed him passionately. The hunger that Yibo had felt before was completely forgotten and something else spread inside him. A passion and lust, as he had never known before.