When I Look At You

Once Upon A Time In ChongQing: Wang Yibo's Royal Chase

I woke up around 7 in the morning with refreshed and fully charged. With almost two hour sleep which was nothing unusual if you're an indemand artist, I can feel the energy flowing within my every veins. When I have a pretty tight schedule, waking up after a two-hour sleep is very difficult rendering me slow and unproductive. But today is a little different thus my vibrant mood.

"Can't move a little faster, you slowpoke." I'm done getting ready but Yuno is just waking up. If I hadn't knock on his door maybe he's still fast asleep until now.

"Too early. It's just 7:30." I kicked him when instead of getting ready he decided to go back to sleep. "Come on, man. ChongQing is not gonna run away. No need to be this hurry."

"Okay! Your choice." I let him be and picked up my oace to the door. "But don't blame me if tomorrow your photo in that tweety bird underwear and barney sleeveless undershirt." I said when i'm a out to open the door.

I saw him rise in rebellion and gave me a sharpeye which I answered with a lopsided grin. With the knowledge of how much he valued his privacy and care for personal image, threatening with this should make him comply for sure. Though I don't really have his picture, I know he's gonna believe me because he knew I woudn't waste my time just to play jokes on him.

"Ok! I'm now getting ready, grandpa." With frown and reluctance, Yuno rummage through his luggage and started preparing for our first day adventure.

We walk out of the hotel ten minutes before eight. Yuno didn't take a bath and just changed into his clean clothes after brushing his teeth. Works well with me because I get easily bored when waiting and he knew that.

"What are you thinking?." We are currently at Gorges Museum looking at every displayed artifacts and ancient relics together with their history. Yuno's busy taking video and still images.

I frowned at his sudden remark. "Am I supposed to be talking while viewing these old relics?."

"Hey! Stop with your sarcasm, dude." He said while being busy focusing his lens on a painting.

"This is a museum, i***t. What am I supposed to do?. Sing and dance?." I turned my back from the annoying Yuno.

"I know, oldie. What I am saying is that you seem distracted and in deep thoughts." He gave emphasis to every word he's saying. "You're absentminded from the hotel to here."

"I'm just thinking of few other things." I carefully read the description on one of the featured artifacts, an odd looking shovel or hammer. I can't really tell what exactly is it. "Besides, this is an actual vacation I took in the span of three years without spending it on the racetrack or inside the skateboard dome."

"You're a grandpa who prioritizes everything except relaxing." Is he rolling his eyes on me?

"I'm letting myself enjoy now."

"If you say so. I really can't tell if you are enjoying or annoyed." He stop on his track and turned his back to face me. "What are your plans? You didn't take a leave just to follow me, right?".

"Follow who? You're the one who decided to hitch." I barked at him.

"That's why i'm asking you. What the heck?!". He exclaimed while his eyes were glazed over me.

"If you are to do a documentary regarding a certain place or subject, where will you go?" I inquired ignoring his exagerated reaction. A random question but a chance for me to know where to start.

"Well, i'd go to places with relevance like museums which features the history of the place or a certain person." He answered after a moment of thinking. "And if you wanted to make a feature of the lifestyle and ways of the people living in it maybe film everything."

I have a very limited time so I just have to figure everything fast. "Give me the map you bought earlier." I just have to improvise.

"What are you up to?." He reach for the map in his pocket and handled it to me.

"Explore." I simply replied.

I have been here in ChongQing twice but stayed only on those specific location where my gig has taken place. So its my first time to roam around luckily there's Yuno who have been here many times already due to some of his projects and vlogs.

My eyes caught a cute pikachu poster hanging beside a stall when I drag Yuno outside the museum after he nearly bumped into a flower display because of being busy on his phone.

"Let's take a selfie over there." Pushing the confused Yuno to where the poster of pikachu is and took a quick wide shot using my phone.

"What's with the picture? It's the first time you initiated for it." Yuno is saving a copy and busy complaining about the blurry outcome of his picture. "Look how bad this photo of me."

"Get over it, dude." Checking my wallet if there is enough cash to make sure i'm good to go. "Just delete it. Besides, I didn't say its for you."

Grabbing the phone from him, I immediately walk away from Yuno when I spottted an empty cab that's about to park. I heard him yelling but decided to just ignore him. I seldom commute alone but this will do.

"Boss, where is our destination?" The cab driver inquired just as i'm about done with the seatbelt.

"Just drove around a bit." I said while studying the map I got from Yuno earlier. ChongQing is the largest municipality in southwest China and is refered to as the modern port city. Maybe it is situated between two rivers.

"Are you a tourist?." He asked after a few minutes of being silent.

"Hmmmnnn." I just hummed while continueously looking at the map. Wearing a black hiphop style pants, white shirt with checkered polo as topper and a bucket hat which was pulled down to hide my face, i'm sure nobody can recognize me. Right now my sunglasses is on top of my head but i'm not worried.

"You want me to tour you around?." He politely suggested after a while.

"No. But do you happen to know a certain place where idols often visited around here?." I folded my map due to confusion that didn't help at all.

"Idols prefered going to the pier and in the Great Hall." I immediately fetched back the map and locate the places he mentioned. They are a bit far from the museum. "I remember someone from around here who had just returned. He is currently filming at the Hongyadong Food Street."

"What's he look like?." My interest was triggered by what the driver said.

"Tall and handsome. He rode my taxi last night." He then smiled brightly. " I remembered his name to be Little Zhan though he's taller than a lamp post."

I snickered at his remark. It is Xiao Zhan he's talking about but he interpreted the 'Xiao' in his name as little instead of being a family name. Xiao is little in general.

"Can you take me there?." I might as well take advantage of this information and use it to make my work easier.

"No problem." He manneuveres the car towards the place.

We arrived at a pretty crowded street food capital here in Chongqing. Different delicious food aroma is all over the place coming from the line up of food stalls displaying different types of street foods.

Seing how crowded the place is, I hesitated wether to come out or just stay inside. I hate crowded area because its making me uncomfortable.

"Would you want me to ask around first?." This driver is too kind to offer that to a stranger. "Don't be surprise. I saw your heaitation." Maybe i'm a little transparent today for him to say that.

"Is that okay?." Bodyguard Lele usually do that for me.

"No problem with me." He park properly and went out to start with his inquiries.

After 10 minutes of waiting, I saw the man walking back to where the car was parked. He entered and wipe away his sweaty face.

"According to the vendors I asked about it, the group with cameras packed almost 15 minutes ago."

I am disappointed but I can't do anything besides sighing. "Okay." I said weakly.

"So where to now, boss." he started the car and started backing up.

"Can you bring me at Zuji Youth?." Instead of continuing to roam around, its best to just go back to the hotel and think of another plan.

"Sure, boss. We're just 2 kilometers away."

I stayed quiet as we hit the road back to the hotel. Together with the disappointment earlier, I feel quite tired all of a sudden. It seems this trip back is longer than earlier. Instead of sulking I texted Yuno to not wait for me anymore.

"Are you a friend of him?." I'm a bit startled when the drive asked all of a sudden.

"Who?."

"Xiao Zhan." He replied. "He said he came to visit Chongqing after not going home for three years." This person is surely too friendly.

"Yes. I know him."

"He's a fine young lad. I remembered girls swarming him at the hotel when I dropped him last night."

The whole trip was spent hearing the chatters of the driver which I barely participated. Lost in deep thinking, I am startle when the driver spoke.

"We're here, boss."

I look around and surely we're already at Zuji.

"Hey! This hotel is the same hotel where I brought Xiao Zhan." He exclaimed just before i'm about to open the door.

"Are you sure this is the hotel?" I inquired hopefully while eyeing the said hotel.

"Yes. I clearly remembered because I got frequent passengers who stay here." He said with conviction.

"Here's the money. Keep the change." I handed him five hundred dollar bill and rushed inside the hotel directly heading to the reception still bewildered by the fact of Xiao Zhan's whereabout.

"Excuse me, may I ask for the room number of Xiao Zhan?." Keeping my face formal amidst the excitement I directly ask the receptionist hoping of getting his room number.

She raised her head. "What's your relationship with our guest, sir? We have a policy of nondisclosure to protect our client's privacy."

"I'm a. . . ." My attention was diverted from the receptionist to a familiar back of a person walking slowly while on the phone. "Nevermind. Thanks anyway." I apologize and followed the person who's now entering the lobby. I made sure my hat and sunglasses hid my face properly.

Thinking that I can't just suddenly pop out in front of him. Pulling my hat lower that it almost cobered half of my face, I slowed down my pace until i'm almost a meter away from him.

From my distance, I can clearly see his thin waist and sexy back profile. All my life I haven't admire anyone's back until now because all body were all the same from my point of view. Busy with studying his back profile, I almost bump into Xiao Zhan when he suddenly stop walking.

He's sniffing the air then turned around directly looking at where i'm standing. Astaunded by this, I stood frozen and unable to think of anything. My whole body panicked when I saw him walking towards my direction.

"Hi! Are you a fan?." He has this huge grin plastered on his lips.

Hearing his voice made me realize how much i'm missing him all this time. That my decision to take a leave was worth it. Unable to force a word out of my mouth, I just nodded in response to his inquiry.

His lips curved into a full smile this time. "Hi, fan. Nice meeting you." He extended his hand asking for a hand shake.

I slowly lifted mine to receive his invitation. His familiar warmth wiped all my worries and longing when I didn't see him for more almost two months.

"I'm glad seeing you here, Teacher Wang." He exclaimed amidst my silence. I immediately withdrew my hand with disbelief.

"I know its you. You have a unique scent." he explained and grab my hand. "What a coincidence meeting you here." His smile casted a spell on me.

"I'm currently checking in here." Stating this in a matter of fact tone.

"C'mon then."

He's dragging me towards the elevator. Luckily there's only the two of us inside or it'd be awkward seeing two growups holding hands. I watch him pressed 3rd floor once we're inside. He let go of my hand finally so I pocketed both my hands to hide their shaking.

"You're on 3rd floor?" I'm asking for confirmation.

"Yes. Room 2300. Why?".

"We're neighbors. I'm at 2400." I exclaimed with mix emotions flooding my system.

The elevator opened. "Really? Wow!" Stepping out he juggled his keys and I can feel his excitement while talking.

"Well? What now?" we're already in front of room 2300, his unit.

"Want to have coffee inside?." His invitation is tempting but i'm feeling a bit uncomfortable. "The director and the others were staying at Hyatt Hotels."

"Ok."

He opened his unit with his key and I found myself following him inside. I surveyed the place and learned that the designs of each unit of this hotel are uniform because Xiao Zhan's unit is similar to mine and Yuno's.

"Why are you separated from your team?." Isn't it required for the whole team to check in one hotel only?.

"I like it here. Its near the food street area." He said while guiding me to the mini leaving room.

I saw two suitcases laying unopened at the corner. There were few take out boxes stacked on the table. And there were few clothes hanged near the window.

"Take a seat. Are you hungry?"

Looking at my watch its already 10:45 in the morning but i'm not hungry. "Not yet. You can eat. I'll just sit here to wait."

"I'm not really hungry." He sat opposite mine. "So what are you doing here? Are you filming too?" He inquired curiously while eyeing at my direction.

"No. I'm on a two-day luxury vacation."

"Wow! So you have a holiday too, huh!?. I thought all you do is work and no playing." He teased. "Who's with you? Don't tell me you're alone."

"I'm with Yuno but I have my own plans." and that is to look for you but fate brought you to me.

"Yuno Itagaki?" I nodded to confirm. "I saw him at the museum a while ago before I went here."

"You came from Gorges?! But I didn't see you there." We spent 30- 45 minutes tops wondering in that museum until I left Yuno.

He gazed at me with those beautiful eyes that currently filled with amusement. "I went there alone so there is no crew that'll cause commotion." He giggled. And I find it cute. "Its my free time today so I decided to return there."

I thought for a moment but I have no vivid plans on my next steps. "I don't really know." I shrugged my shoulders.

He fiddled with his fingers while lost in his thoughts. "Aha!" He shouted all of a sudden startling me a little. "Sorry! Have I startled you?"

"No. Continue." I don't want to spoil his excitement to whatever he's thinking. The way his face lights up indicated he thought of something brilliant is quite a sight.

"I have no work now so I was wondering if you would like to explore the city with me. If you like, that is." He's looking at me with anticipation.

Looking at him at this angle I can clearly see his delicate facial features. His eyes that captured me the first time I saw him. His little mole below his lips that added appeal to his already fine features. He may not be aware of his alluring beauty but it's very striking and prominent to those people around him including me.

I must have been lost in my own thoughts causing Xiao Zhan to wave his hand on my face. "Oh, I get it. You don't like coming with me. Its okey the.."

"I'm looking forward for it. Exploring Chonqing would be a great idea." I imediately interupted his nonsense interpretation of my silence.

"Great! It's settled then." He stood up and went to the kitchen. I heard noises like he's getting something from a cabinet and rummage through the cupboards.

"Here!" He said throwing a pack of chips and a can of diet soda.

"I don't really . . ." I'm not into chips and acidic drinks.

"What?". He said while munching on his chips.

"Nevermind." I should not disappoint that anticipation and generousity of his.

"If you don't want that maybe we'll start our adventure by eating outside." He interupted when i'm about to open mine. "C'mon." he said putting on a scarf while disregarding his empty can of soda and returning the unconsumed ones back to th kitchen.

"I should go back first. I need to change my clothes." Pointing at my door adjacent to his.

"Why change? You look good already."

"I've been out long enough to catch the pollution outside." In fact I just want to change into more comfortable clothes and sneakers.

I was shocked and surprised at him when he suddenly approached closing the distance between us. I was even more surprised when he suddenly began sniffing my shirt and my body. His proximity brought uneasiness to me then I felt my body tensed due to his action.

"You still smell good. Your scent is very manly." He said after he's done sniffing me. "A mixture of sandalwood and rosewood with a hint of patchouli." He stated afterwards.

I coughed to relieve the tension I was feeling. "Ok."

"So let's go eat and drink already." He walked away while I followed behind.

"You're not my bodyguard to always walk behind me." He dragged me beside him in order for us to walk side by side.