Chapter 1: Nutcase

Thick dark curtains shielded a young man from the harsh rays of the outside world. It was already 10 in the morning yet it felt like it's still night time in his own world inside his bedroom. Cold, quiet and impregnable, just like him, or so to say, just like what everyone says he is.

He had barely reached his teenage years of 12, but fate had already battered his being a bit too much for this young age, molding him to build walls of defenses making him introverted, reclusive, and intricately disconnected from the world.

This young boy is named Wang Yibo, a phantom, a mystery, a boy with an unparalleled perfect visage yet devoid of any emotions.

"Yibo!" A voice echoed in his room as a familiar figure rushed to his side.

Yibo adjusted his sight from the sudden brightness from the door being opened, pupils constricting painfully as his eyes landed on the intruder.

It was his elder brother, Wang Haikuan, who is like a warm summer breeze. Everything in him is pure sunshine and gentleness. And he's the only person connecting Yibo to the realm of reality.

"Come, quick. I'd like you to meet a friend of mine." He eagerly spat, yanking Yibo from his static stiff posture of sitting like a glued mannequin on his study chair.

The two jades of the Wang household paved their way around the house hand in hand, one blindingly bright, the other like a lithe shadow in that huge mansion of pure white and elegance.

Staffs they'd passed by bowed their heads, some mesmerised, some nervous of the sight of the Second Young Master who graces their sight only once in a blue moon.

"The elder is perfection, the second born a defect."

"It's a pity such a beautiful boy was born special. I bet Mr.Wang will lose face to the world if they knew the notable conglomerate head has a special son!" one of the stewardesses remarked in fake compassion.

Haikuan squeezed his brother's hand, glancing at him with worry, "They knew nothing, Yibo. Don't mind their words."

Yibo squeezed his brother's hand back, humming a low, "Mn." which Haikuan barely sensed.

The elder's heart breaks more than anyone can imagine everytime someone mocks his younger brother. 'They don't know anything about him. They don't have the right to judge him.' He gritted his teeth and suppress the boiling anger bolting inside his guts, pulling Yibo to walk faster away from those contemptuous piercing gazes.

Yibo isn't entirely special. He isn't a nutcase like what they think he is. The few of their servants who had been with them since he was born can atest to that.

He was just like a normal boy before his mother left his father. He was like the other kids before his mother died, alone and sad in a far away hospital banned from seeing her own kids. He wasn't like this empty shell before he knew his father's disloyalty to his mother, before his father brought one woman after the other in that home which is supposed to be the palace for their Mom and their family alone.

He isn't like this before. He isn't.

But everything has to fall apart. Yibo's innocent heart at the age of seven was battered and shattered with noone to mend the pieces back together. No, not even his father cared about them. Nor was Haikuan himself was around to support his brother in despair as when he protested against his father's lifestyle, he was immediately sent away into a boarding school in Korea.

'And some filthy woman...how dare she laid her hands on...' Haikuan's thoughts came into a halt when Yibo pulled his sleeve gesturing him that he is crushing the younger's hand with too much force. Haikuan instantly released his hand, patting Yibo's head, smiling apologetically. He inwardly reprimanded himself, letting his feelings lose while remembering the past. A sore point which will always breaks them both even more.

"I'm sorry, I just like my Didi's soft hand too much. I thought it was a soft fluffy toy." Haikuan regained his kind facade, smiling at his beloved brother.

Yibo wordlessly nodded, his light eyes staring fixed on Haikuan's dark orbs, making the older weak to the core, reminding him of their mother's lovely almond eyes which Yibo had luckily inherited.

"Haikuan! Is that him?" A perky voice interrupted the brothers' meaningful stare game. Yibo blinked in surprise and saw an unknown face he can't describe as the words beautiful, pretty and handsome won't even give justice to the man.

"Yes. He is. This is my brother. Wang Yibo." Haikuan introduced.

The man's face beamed brighter. His red bow lips pumped into a grin. "It's nice to meet you. I'm Xiao Zhan, your brother's classmate."

"...and our new neighbour." Haikuan chuckled nudging Zhan's flank while slinging his arm around his brother's shoulder to bring the two closer, as he knew Yibo isn't used to meeting strangers.

Yibo blinked a few more times to register their neighbour's face to his mind, bowing his head clumsily after realizing he had to greet his brother's friend back.

Zhan amusedly laughed, a playful and satisfying guffaw, before recollecting his manners. "You don't need to be so formal to me, Bo-di. You'll be seeing me quite often from now on. So, please let us not be strangers to each other."

"Mn." Yibo shyly replied, silently stepping away to half-hide himself at his brother's taller frame.

For some reason, this Gege's personality is too bright and too straightforward to Yibo's liking, making him uncomfortable. Every cell of his being cries in awkwardness, and the silence after his hum was a great representation of awkwardness itself. Yet, he was bedazzled by that presence, unable to look away.

As he stared at him, Yibo minutely saw the other's smile faltering when he backed away from him which made him feel guilt. But when Zhan turned his back, stepping away then running fast until he was out of Yibo's sight, there was a hollow space in Yibo's chest which felt more ghastly empty.

Uncomprehendingly, this strange feeling buckling in his chest made him question himself. 'Rejection? From a stranger?'

He stared at the empty hallway Zhan had ran off to, quietly waiting with batted breath. But what was he expecting?

Yibo released an audible sigh which did not escape his brother's ears, making Haikuan repress a chuckle. He knew he had made a good decision to let Zhan meet Yibo. The latter's contagious cheerfulness will surely overpass Yibo's walls. Or so, he assumes and hopes for. 'I'm just gonna wait.' He mentally chanted.

Few minutes later, Zhan came back panting like a dog with a tray of sweets on his hands.

"M-My Nanny baked these! P-Please have some." He offered to Yibo with deer-like eyes, pleading for him to have a go. His cheeks flushing scarlet and his hand stroking his nape in embarassment. 'How come a 16 yrs old guy still have a nanny?' Zhan wanted to slap himself.

The smell that swarm from the freshly baked delicacies made Yibo's salivary ducts drool and crave though he isn't a lover of such sweet treats. It was easy to refuse, but he knew it wasn't nice to do so, especially knowing it is offered by his brother's friend. And this friend had even ran back, to who-knew-where, to get these biscuits.

He needed more time to think, but as he stared at the giver, he was left stupefied by the pleading beautiful face and the panting breaths escaping his rich mouth.

"Have some Yibo, if you like. Don't be shy. I've had them before. I assure you, they're better than from the prominent shops we usually buy treats from." Haikuan encouraged making Yibo gulp his saliva and fondle his fingers at the edge of giving in.

Zhan was getting impatient. He never was. But something about Yibo makes him irrational. Before he think things through, a biscuit is already in his hand and had travelled to feed it in Yibo's plump red lips. He almost peed himself on the spot, realizing what he has done. 'A bad impression!' Yet, he wanted to crack into another laugh seeing Yibo involuntarily opening his mouth and then pause and think whether to bite it or not.

In the end, Yibo took a bite. The chocolatey taste bursted inside his cavern as if it was the first time he had actually tasted something extraordinary in his lifetime.

"D-Do you like it?" Zhan nervously asked, pulses misfiring rapidly on his vessels.

Yibo nodded which made the two older audiences breathe in relief and glee.

Yibo then reached for the half of the food hanging out of his mouth but had accidentally touched Zhan's fingers on the process. The light touch sent unknown electricity from the spot where their skin made contact and travel through Yibo's every single cell.

'What was that?' His eyes widen in shock and he retrieved his hand backing away in retreat.

"What a beautiful sight. Three charming boys. I didn't knew you have three sons, Dear." A woman came into their vision with her sarcastic remarks. Her arms snaking viciously on Mr.Wang's arm.

Yibo's whole being stiffened and a shivering chill run down his spine. His face paled and his chest tightened at the sight. He suddenly couldn't breathe. The air felt too thick and the atmosphere was too suffocating.

In a second, Yibo was flying his way back to his room, slamming the door behind then locking it as if his life depended on it.

He made his way to the bathroom, hugging the sink as he retched and throw up all his stomach's contents which was actually nothing else except for the single bite of cookie he had earlier and some yellowish bile since he hadn't actually eaten anything since last night.

The acid burned his throat and the bitterness lingered in there.

"Mom." Yibo's eyes blurred and he clutched his chest as it tightened again and leave him squirming in pain.

Closing his eyes, he let his silent sobs escape, savouring the hunting loneliness and sadness on his own.

Again.

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