Zhan's pov
My mother was getting sick, and the job was taking a toll on her, she worked outside and then at the house, I tried to help as much as I could but no matter what I did, it wasn't enough.
I looked for jobs but there was no luck, my grades were falling and I was barely studying.
My father was against my mother working because he knew that she would get sick, and when he saw my grades he got even more angry and disappointed. My parents barely talked, and while the silence was good, the tension was so heavy that I could barely stand it.
When my father learned that I was skipping school because I was looking for a job, he got so angry and yelled at me, he lectured me for hours and even my mother joined him, this was the first time the two had reunited for something and it was good to know that.
After they were done scolding me, they hugged me and reassured me that everything was fine.
"Let's for an ice cream." my dad said and my mom agreed.
I missed this, us going out as a family eating ice cream, walking, and enjoying each other's company.
"How is Yibo?" my mother asked.
"He is fine," I answered. The truth was that after that day Yibo didn't talk to me, he avoided me like a plague and it hurt.
My father asked about school and my future plans.
"Son, you make sure that you study hard and get into a good college, we will take care of the rest." my father said and my mother nodded agreeing with him.
I gave them a smile and said nothing, they might not be perfect but my parents were the best, at least they were not abusive, they were loving and caring and I loved them.
~~
"I am leaving" I yelled.
"Wait Zhan." my mother called out as she came running to me, "here", she said as she gave me a lunchbox, "I prepared something good, make sure you finish it," she said with a smile.
I smiled as I hugged her, "Thanks mom."
"I have one more thing for you," she said as he gave me a box and when I opened the box I saw the shoes inside it.
My eyes widened as I saw the brand new shoes, while my mother smiled proudly, "Here you go."
"But mom... why did you..."
"Hush... this my gift to you from my first salary, wear them and show me."
I did just as she said, they were perfect, "Thanks, Mom."
She kissed my cheeks, "Have a good day."
"You too."
~~
Yibo was still not talking to me and honestly, it hurt, I did try to talk to him, I wanted to apologize and beg for his forgiveness but he ran away every time I went near him, I deserved that.
But I couldn't let things end like this.
Not like this.
So at lunchtime, I grabbed his hand and dragged him out of the class, I finally let go of his hand once we reached the rooftop.
He still wouldn't look at me so I grabbed his chin and made him face me.
"What?" he asked.
"I am sorry," I said, "I didn't mean what I said."
"It's okay, get it why you are trying to distance yourself from me it was because of my sexuality right?"
"Fuck no." I was bewildered, there was no way I would ever do that. Never.
I hated myself for making Yibo feel like that, he had confessed to me about his sexuality because he thought I was his safe place, because he felt secure with me, and I made him feel like shit.
I hated myself even more.
"It's alright Zhan, I get it. I am a horrible person anyways you are better off without me I..."
"What? No What are you saying?" I said as I looked at him and that's when I noticed him, I noticed the dark circles underneath his eyes, I noticed that he had become thin, and not just this even in class I noticed that he was always lost in his thoughts, he barely paid attention to class and was even reprimanded by the teacher.
It finally came crashing down to me that this wasn't normal something was wrong with him but I was so engulfed with my own thoughts and problems that I didn't notice, I was a horrible friend.
"Yibo what's wrong?"
He finally looked at me and the look in his eyes told me that my hunch was right, something was wrong, I wanted to know what was it, I wanted to help him but before he could tell me anything the bell rang and Yibo just shook his head and walked back to the class.
I waited for Yibo after the school was over.
"Wait Yibo let's talk," I said.
"I don't want to."
"I am sorry, I really am, I didn't mean anything I said... I swear I..."
"I know." Yibo snapped, he spoke in a harsher voice, "I know you are tensed you are worried you are having financial problems but I have problems too! and they are eating me alive too!" his eyes became red, "what is my fault! Why are you so rude to me! Why are you cruel to me! I just wanted to help, I just want to talk to share your worries, to share what's going on in my life with you but-" he became quiet and closed his eyes, "forget it."
He said and started to walk ahead but I grabbed his hand and stopped him, "Wait for me Yibo I-" Suddenly my phone rang and I saw the caller, it was my mother.
"Let me answer this," I said before I answered my mother's call but the one speaking from the other side wasn't my mother it was somebody else and what I heard next was going to change my life forever.
"Your mother had a stroke"